Now that Condoleezza Rice has left her post as secretary of state and returned to California where she teaches political science at Stanford University, she no longer gets up at 4:30 a.m. to start her day with a workout.
Now, she gets up at 5 a.m.
Rice updated about 2,000 people on her life Friday when she headlined the 15th "Perspectives," the annual speakers series hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber.
"At 12 noon, you're secretary of state and at 12:01, you're not," Rice told the $195-a-person white-tablecloth crowd in the main hall of the Sacramento Convention Center. "Personally, I felt great at 12:02 and was ready to move on to other things. ... One of the great things about this country is you can keep inventing yourself."
Rice spoke about America's need to protect itself, the threat of what she called failed states or countries that have unrest within, and how she couldn't get a hamburger while growing up in rural Alabama but still was able to become secretary of state.
"The American myth is the log cabin – it doesn't matter where you came from, it matters where you're going," she said. "And that's why we continue to be a magnet for the most ambitious people around the world."
The crowd gave a standing ovation to author Sir Ken Robinson, who talked about the power of imagination and the need to keep it an element of education. He compared today's system with fast-food restaurants where everything is standardized to the lowest common denominator. The goal is to create something closer to the Michelin guide, the rating system that judges restaurants based on their customization and personalization, he said.
James Bradley, author of the book "Flags of Our Fathers," spoke about his own father, who was one of the six servicemen captured on camera raising the American flag at Iwo Jima during World War II. He also talked about the need to build bridges with other countries instead of fighting wars of fear.
Personal finance expert Jane Bryant Quinn told the crowd of the need for health care reform as well as governmental regulation of the financial sector, which she blames for the current financial crisis. And entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki offered his 10 tips for success.
It was the fifth year that IT supervisor Rick Jenkins, 44, attended the event. The Sacramento resident considers himself a conservative, but after hearing Quinn's speech, he plans to research the health care package.
"That's why it's called 'Perspectives,' " he said. "You don't get just one food group."
As for the 10 protesters who greeted attendees – taking issue with Rice as the headliner – the chamber's president and chief executive officer, Matt Mahood, had this to say:
"Great! It's good. That's what America's all about, free speech."
Call The Bee's Gina Kim, (916) 321-1228.
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