I’ve been creative writing and journaling since I was a child, and I’ve had a goal to publish my own book since college. As a young aspiring photographer, my original vision included hundreds of stunning photographs from around the world, featuring personal stories and inspiration. I dreamed of working for National Geographic, so this idea was very fitting. Through the influence of a respected professor, I realized my greatest talent in photography was portraiture, so after graduation I opened a small-town studio in Montana, and quickly discovered my talent for connecting with people… I fell in love with networking, community involvement, and being a business owner. As a byproduct of life moving in a different direction than planned, my book idea faded into the background.
My life has changed in remarkable and unexpected ways, and I’ve taken each set-back, challenge, or opportunity as an invitation to evolve. I’m a high achiever willing to take risks when I believe in the potential for growth and positive impact. My artistic passions will forever influence my professional and personal life, but over time I transformed my other interests into new talents: business management, developing professional culture, creating a unique client experience, consulting and inspiring business growth, and high-end boutique sales. Photography moved into second place when I joined the dental field, and I quickly fell in love with orthodontics.
When I was awarded a top sales person in my industry at a national level, I got the itch to write a book again. I created an outline, list of potential chapters, page after page of notes, and completed the introduction. I wanted other treatment coordinators to be as successful as me while loving their special roll in each person’s transformation, and to see private practices exceed their financial goals while providing an exceptional client experience. Then I got divorced, becoming a professionally-driven single mother of three. There are challenges, judgements, and contradictions as a single working mom that were so eye-opening to me that my focus in writing changed. I set my business book aside and started writing about my life: the hurt, hardships, motivation, habits that helped me heal, work-life balance, mom guilt, and my beautiful transformation after loss and change. I was desperate to give others like me hope, and a light at the end of their tunnel.
Then I changed my career for the third time, and allowed my busy life to get in the way of this dream. I currently have three partial books, with a powerful and ever-present desire to inspire personal and professional growth in others, and positively impact people and businesses on a global scale.
I started this blog to practice writing, and to discover my style and voice. Since I don’t know how to write a book, I’m treating this journey like a personal study, and right now Brené Brown, Rachel Hollis, and Gretchen Rubin are my top influencers. My goal is to complete a rough draft by the end of this year…. wow, just sharing that made my stomach turn-over. It’s official. I’m no longer talking about this dream, I’m taking action. This is maybe the most intimidating goal I’ve ever set for myself!
Thank you for being here with me!
