I came from a different mind-set growing up, and my mind has changed.

Not to sound overly cheesy but I really appreciate the freedom we have in America - especially as a female.

At my second record label, they told me and other female artists that some of us were going on the chopping block. I was 19... and it was devastating.

I'm really critical of my posture, it makes a big difference. And I try to suck my belly in. Everyone should do that whether you're on a red carpet or not. Even if you're just going out to dinner with your boyfriend you should try and suck it in.

Obviously, things evolve; teams see you play a little bit and start try to do things, and the one thing that'll happen is if one team has success in something, you can bet the next three teams are doing some similar things, too.

I hope that with the success of the transition to democracy in Tunisia that we will export to Egypt a working democratic model.

Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

My journey has been up and down a little bit. Everything that has to do with success for me has sort of become a shock to me. You work so hard, you work so hard, and it happens; you're like, 'What? Wait, it's happening to me?'