the "Empower!" book project

This past weekend I drove 250 miles to Pittsburgh to attend the "Empower!" authors' luncheon in anticipation of the release of our book in April:

 

It was worth every mile of the drive. It was a privilege and a pleasure to meet some of my co-authors in this project. The women who shared their stories know the real meaning of the words "breakthrough, discovery and triumph."

In her chapter, "You Are Important", Melody Firmani http://transformyoureconomy.com/  writes:

"I’m not an athlete. I’m not a philosopher. I’m certainly not a genius. What I am is a woman with a song in my heart, a woman who lives life with passion. I’ve discovered how amazing life becomes when you embrace your God-given gifts and discover your life purpose. When you become driven to share with the world and serve others, you experience the true meaning of life."


And from Renee Farrow, in her chapter "From Coal Town to Uptown", comes:

"I have been blessed with kind and generous female mentors, and it is my continued wish to help mentor other young women and men. If I can make a difference in someone else’s life, if I can help another woman see that going from a small town to uptown is not only a possibility but their obligation as a 21st Century woman, then I am a true success."




Kelly Eckert http://www.kellyeckert.com writes:

"Our lives are filled with little moments of empowerment. The trick is to notice them, recognize them for what they are, and leverage them for full effect. Too often, women dismiss or diminish these moments. How many times have you said, “Oh, it’s nothing,” or “Anyone could have done it,” or “It sure took me long enough”? Every empowered step we take creates ripples—or full-blown waves—that we can ride to greater empowerment . . . or not."


Beth Caldwell, our project manager http://www.bethcaldwellpublicity.com/, in her chapter titled "No One Walks Down the Aisle Dreaming of Divorce", shares:

"With a baby in the house, it became harder to pretend that my marriage was “perfect.” Friends and family visited more often and I found myself making excuses for my husband’s erratic behavior, such as “He’s really tired” or “Work has been very stressful for him lately.” My bright smile and cheerful disposition were a good cover, but when our second child arrived 19 months later, it became very clear that I would not be able to take care of two babies, a home and a full-time job while shouldering the burden of the BIG LIE."


And, in my chapter, "Begin Again", I write:

"As women, we tend to devote ourselves freely and generously to the hopes, expectations and needs of the people around us, while we scoot our own needs away with a flick of the wrist. “Get lost,” we say. And they do. Perhaps, like me, you ache to change careers, or to try something new. Photography. Meditation. Tap dancing. But you put it off because something always gets in the way. Maybe you have an unpublished poem collecting dust in a drawer somewhere. Every so often, you pull it out and revise a couple of lines, but invariably you put it aside again when something more pressing comes up.   Perhaps there’s an unfinished canvas moldering in your closet because your paints have dried up. If snatches of dialogue come to you in the middle of the night, or you doodle just for the fun of it, or you like to dance when no one is watching, it may be time to surrender to your muse. Until you begin, you will never know what you can accomplish."

In this book you will find stories by women who have overcome illness, bigotry, poverty, disparagement, and self-doubt to find fulfillment and success in their lives. There is a story here for everyone.

In case you're still  a bit skeptical, here are a couple of endorsements that make the point better than I can:

"I can almost guarantee that you will see yourself in one of the stories shared by these remarkable women. That you will be touched by what they share of their own journey. And that you will be inspired to think more deeply about your life, why you are here, and what you are meant to do."--
Terri Zwierzynski, President of Solo-E http://www.solo-e.com/experts/experts/tzwierzynski.shtml

&

"EMPOWER is a powerful collection of stories compiled by extraordinary women who share their personal stories of living from greater purpose. This book will inspire brave and bold moves, allowing the reader to see behaviors and paradigms that have held them back. EMPOWER is filled with humor, honesty, insight and clarity. This book is bound to change your life."--
Mary Morrissey, Two Time Best Selling Author, International Speaker, President of LifeSOULutions http://www.lifesoulutions.com

We're looking forward to the release of the book in April.

*
"Until you begin, you will never know
what you can accomplish."
--me--
*

What would you begin if you had someone to encourage and support you?

jan