I have a book coming out this summer! I can't even believe it because it feels so surreal. Before it gets here, I want to share with you my book's "origin story". How did I think of this book? Where did it come from? Why did I write it? I welcome you to come on this journey with me.
My favorite aunt recently passed away after a long fight with various health issues. As I reflected on my relationship with her over the years, I realized that she and my cousin had a lot to do with my love for reading. They introduced me to books that I would have never picked up if left to my own devices. We read aloud to each other during the summers, exchanged pen pal letters and talked about what we were reading. I love books!
But, I never thought that I would ever write a book.
To me, authors were heroic and talented in so many ways. I don't consider myself to be a champion or have much to say.
It all changed in the spring of 2020 when I began to find my voice. Apparently all it takes for someone to find her voice is the clashing of several major geopolitical events all at once. Suddenly, I found decades of pent up words that needed to be said! It started with leaving my comfortable corporate career and launching my own independent Registered Investment Advisor business. I wanted to help the marginalized and underrepresented members of our community do their own investing - without large fees or large minimums. It led unexpectedly to offering financial planning and analysis (FP&A) to small businesses who need a CFO but can't afford to pay $200,000 a year for such an employee.
From there the can of worms was opened, and it won't be closed any time soon.
What I found was astonishing! I knew that financial planning and investment services were needed for American small businesses, but I never expected the volume of requests that would come to me asking for help. Unfortunately I didn't know how to help everyone, until I met Suzanne, my publisher and book coach. She coaches professionals to put the words down on paper that will ultimately help other readers. It made sense to me - write my thoughts down and then share them with the people who were asking me for help. Still though, I needed an additional push.
That push came when my daughters told me last year that they wanted to be just like me - a business owner! I had always cringed when they were little and said that they wanted to be in finance like me. I thought about the toxic cultures, the horrible bosses, the long hours and the stress. I didn't want that for my babies. But if they want to be a business owner to create their own cultures and missions, I was all for it! That was the push that I needed to get over my own doubts and fears about writing a book.
I wrote a book for my daughters, first and foremost.
The book speaks to business owners they will become one day, who have a great idea but may not know how to use the finances to make good business decisions. I wrote a book for those women who are busting their butt every day and working hard in the business because it's their passion. I wrote a book for the other women and minorities out there who need to share their voice in this crazy world.
Writing a book was a wild experience. I wrote this book while grieving over the death of my father in 2022, taking care of my mom, celebrating my brother's new marriage, crunching numbers for clients, volunteering, and raising a family. It wasn't easy, and I believe that my own health suffered because I was doing too much all at once. (I’m now on Weight Watchers and going to therapy!) I want to share my vulnerability with you because it’s easy to get caught up in ideas of perfection - and I’m definitely not that. In the end, it was worth every drop of blood, sweat and tear.
If you're thinking, "wow she's amazing, how did she do all of that?" There's only one person that I can truly attribute my success. My husband was there with me every step of the way and embodied the vow he took almost 20 years ago to support me
"for better or for worse".
I firmly believe that my book is a labor of love, and I hope that it will help you and many other American business owners. If you are thinking about writing your own book, I'd love to chat and be that "push" for you. Book a call with me or with the amazing Suzanne Doyle-Ingram. Happy writing!
