I just finished the book May I Have Your Attention, Please? Build A Better Business By Telling Your True Story, by Chris Hilicki. Let me just take a moment and say...WOW! This is just what we have been talking about ladies and I want to thank one of the members of my recent Podcasting For Coaches call who recommended it. I was so excited I contacted Chris before I even finished the book and asked if she would consider an interview. Guess what, she graciously said YES! How lucky are we?

Remember Organic Marketing and the concepts behind showing up and being our authentic selves? Chris confirms it, she states, "Whatever the product, service, or business opportunity, people's choice almost always comes down to how they feel about the one offering it. And this is the brand." So... BE YOURSELF! Don't be someone else. Here is another poignant quote from her book, "We sometimes end up being the person we think we should be and not the person we really are." Boy could I relate to that. It was incredibly reaffirming for me when reading her words.

For years I hid out behind the mask of who I thought I was "supposed" to be. Not many people in my small town had ever heard of an Expressive Arts Therapist or a Life Coach. So, I went along getting clients and referrals from doctors and clinicians by using my Licensed Clinical Social Worker moniker, fearful that if I claimed what I really wanted, I would have no clients. It was fine when starting out, claiming my LCSW gave me credibility and helped clients to feel safe. It allowed me to at least get them in the front door in a way I did not think Expressive Arts or creative strategizing would. Once they were in my office I would shyly invite my clients to try something out of the ordinary. Results speak volumes and by now we all understand the truth and power of using creativity as a solid strategy for life and business, it has actually become almost common place. But trust me, there was a time when it wasn't.

I would go to networking meetings and attempt to fit in, be who and what I thought was acceptable, but truthfully, I never felt like myself. I felt like a fraud. Have you ever experienced that feeling? It was not until I took my year long sabbatical which helped me question everything about myself and my beliefs, that I decided to step into who I knew I was deep in my soul and understand that I could no longer do this work if I wore the mask. During my deep soul searching, I could hear in my head..."Would the REAL Sheri Gaynor please stand up!" and so, I did.

I had been teaching creativity empowerment workshops to women supporting them in reaching for their dreams, to know what was possible, for about 3 years prior to my sabbatical. It was scary at first, you have to know how painfully shy I was in my early years, in fact I broke out in hives before the first group met, but very quickly I discovered that this was in fact my life's work, my true calling and deepest passion. How did I know? I loved going to work everyday, even though I was working harder then I ever had before. Now I had to find a way to bring this work to a larger audience and to make the claim that I would only work with women from that moment on! And so...Feisty Females was born...for better or worse.

I was advised against the brand as some women might not "see themselves as Feisty." I even dropped it after creating the first site I was so scared. I realized...the mask was back on. I had to come to believe that even though women might not feel feisty, I could help them know it was nothing to be scared of and we all had it in us! It is exactly the point. I didn't feel Feisty for most of my life. I was scared, shy and living vicariously through other women who were out there just DOING IT! And so after taking my own journey to stop "playing small,"-as someone once told me-it is now my life's work is to help other women find that Feisty voice inside them, even if it feels like a grain of sand, so they can step forward into whatever it is they TRULY want in their life. So they can DARE TO BE FEISTY! TM And as their coach I will hold their hands and shine the light to that tiny grain of sand if need be and show them it is within them until they can fly on their golden wings and know it for themselves.

I leave you with this beautiful quote by Marianne Williamson and quoted by Nelson Mandela during his inauguration speech. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

SO...Go ahead ladies...Dare to Be Feisty! ~Sheri

Chris Hilicki is founder and Vice Chair of Dalmation Press, one of the most successful children's book companies in the United States. Formerly a scientist and now a publishing leader, she regularly speaks before industry leaders, live television audiences, and large conventions. Chris has been interviewed for Forbes, Inc., the Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, and Publishers Weekly. She has appeared on television shows as a featured guest and as a regular reporter with expertise on building brands based on the truth and true stories. We are proud to have her as our guest this month on Feisty Females Radio.

We are pleased to announce our new class, The Dream, Create, Leap, Succeed Program! Formerly Envision the Life of Your Dreams. Now available locally in Colorado AND via teleclasses.

Do your New Years resolutions become disillusions by January 31? If so this class is for you! Who will benefit from this program?

• Solo-preneurs, business women, corporations
• Artists, writers, musicians, creative women of any kind
• Women seeking a change or facing a transition in their lives
• Mid-life moxies who are ready to try something new and feisty

Design your own plan geared directly to your personal intentions.

If you are looking to create your REAL brand check out the book!