Why there's nothing safe about it, plus some takeaways from my Success Story interviews
I’m a book coach and an author. There is nothing safe about what I do.
This is what I was thinking as I listened to my father and stepmom speak the other day. I could hear the fear in their voices and all the ways they want to protect my sister and I, not realizing that this is also how parents hold their kids back and keep them playing small.
We love our kids so much and want to protect them at all costs. But life isn’t easy and pursuing a meaningful, fulfilling—especially creative, entrepreneurial—life comes with major risks. It is not for the faint of heart or weak of faith.
My leadership trainer Michael Strasner often talks about “living life on the skinny branches.” In fact, he wrote a book on it.
And boy, are we ever, my sister and I.
Every day, it’s my job to have conversations with myself and others that most people avoid. Exploring questions of life and death, faith, the meaning of life, and what our role and responsibilities are in it all. The books we’re working on demand that readers be willing to take themselves on, reframe their perception of reality and perhaps even make life-changing decisions. To RISK, in order to receive. (Just like my favourite authors and books have always done.)
I know what playing safe looks like. I did it for 20 years, before I realized I’d rather be anywhere than there.
So now I’m a book coach and an author—and a mother. There is nothing safe about what I do. But it’s also the most rewarding place to be.
Cat xo
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Some takeaways from my Success Story interview series:
-It's never too soon to invite readers on your book publishing journey with you. Not only does it hold you accountable, but it also builds relationships with readers and gets them invested in your success.
-Chose the platform or mechanism that feels most natural and right to you to nurture your audience--whether that's an email newsletter, Instagram feed or YouTube videos. You don't have to be on TikTok to be a successful author, but you do need to show up somewhere your audiences are.
-You don't need a publishing house behind you to be a best-selling author, but you do need to be willing to do the work to market and represent your book if you go the way of self-publishing and expect sales.
PS: There's still time to sign up for my Success Story series and watch these fantastic interviews for yourself. Register here to get them delivered straight to your inbox.