Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Speak Up Stand Strong is my first official book! Here is my story…
I am a mission driven life, leadership & empowerment coach. That mission is to:
1. Help women speak up with more ease, power and resilience so they get more of what they need and want in life and so they have a bigger influence in shaping the future – for themselves, their communities, and the world.
2. Help women develop their own values-centered purpose and mission driven goals for a happy and fulfilling life.
3. Help women plan, focus and take courageous action so they move consistently forward in the direction of their goals and dreams.
I am from Sacramento, California, USA and was raised in a police family that spent weekends in the mountains of South Lake Tahoe. I have travelled extensively worldwide and have lived in Alaska, Texas, and China. I recently came back home to California with my husband and my two children (a tween and a teenager!).
I spent many years of my young adult life in California and Alaska where the mountains and rugged coastlines are gorgeous, wild and easy to get to. I love to ski, backpack, hike, camp, ice skate, run, bike, and climb mountains—nothing in the extreme, but I dabble in them all. I gain perspective, grounding and peace from being in the mountains.
I also love to learn. I love to read, study languages (I speak French and Mandarin) and study/practice drawing. I love to dance (I studied and performed seriously for years). I’ve taught myself to play guitar and I love to sing alone in my living room when no one is watching AND with friends whenever possible. I love to share these passions with my children and I hope to infect them with a love of learning for themselves (So far, so good! Both my kids are avid musicians and skiers!).
I have been a professional coach and personal and professional development trainer since 2012. I have over 25 years of experience in training, effective communications, cross cultural communications, community and multiple stakeholder relations, program management, and public speaking.
I have a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, USA and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California, Davis, USA. I am an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coach Federation, world traveler, outdoor adventure mom and a life-stuff-survivor like all of you. You can learn more about me at www.leannferry.com.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest (and first!) book is Speak Up Stand Strong. I was inspired to write it when I was exploring my own values and purpose within in my coaching business. When I first became a coach, I thought everyone could be my client, but this was wrong. As with everything it turns out, I needed to focus on what really mattered to me to be successful in my work. Through my own internal exploration of what drives me, where my personal genius zone lies and what mark I wanted to leave on the world, I realized I could help shape the future by focusing my coaching work on helping women increase their fitness for knowing themselves and what they truly want, speaking up and being courageous.
I believe that you don’t get much of what you truly want if you don’t speak up for it. It’s true for everything – life, work and relationships. The truth is, speaking up effectively and following through with that to get the outcome you really need (without folding) is truly hard for all people – not just women. And also, women face particular challenges when speaking up as a result of a negative bias many people have against women who speak up.
After having my own daughter and after surviving breast cancer (which changed my life and perspective on many things), all of these things came together for me and I understood for the first time what my purpose in life actually is.
I set out to write a 2 page lead magnet to describe my coaching program to help women and it “accidentally” became this 86 page book! It turns out I had a lot to say about women and how hard it is to speak up!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I call myself and accidental writer! I never meant to write a book. I tend to do things backwards of most people I know. I did not turn a lot of blog posts into this book. I set out to write a basic 2 page thing and once I got into it, I realized I had a lot more to say. It took a lot of coaxing from a couple of important people in my life to get me to actually write this book. They had more confidence in me and my writing than I had in myself! I think this is akin to what a lot of women go through in that we know a lot, we have experienced a lot, and we have a lot of important things to say – things that are valuable and need to be shared with the world. So often, we don’t realize it’s there and/or we don’t think it’s valuable. My own struggles are very related to what I help other women do and overcome in their own lives. I love my job!
Also, the fact that I wrote this book in my car, the coffee shop and many other places while toting around a heavy shoulder bag full of notes and a computer (all while fulfilling many other responsibilities) is something many busy women can probably relate to!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love reading nonfiction and fiction. The following nonfiction really stands out:
Brene Brown (all titles!), Eckhart Tolle (especially The Power of Now), Jack Canfield (The Success Principles), Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype – I’m currently re-reading after 20 years!), Thomas Gordon (Parent Effectiveness Training), Alfie Kohn (Punished by Rewards), William S. Pollack (Real Boys: Rescuing our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood), David Sedaris (Me Talk Pretty One Day), Katharine Graham Biography (Personal History).
Favorite fictions include:
John Irving (all titles especially The Cider House Rules!), Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins, Ahab’s Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund…
What are you working on now?
I am working on a self study program and small group coaching program based on this book Speak Up Stand Strong. It is my female focused signature coaching and training program to empower women to develop more courageous voices, get focused on the lives they deserve to have, speak up for themselves and to stand strong against the blatant and so often hidden oppressive forces they face everyday as women. In my program, women work on developing courage, healthy boundaries, personal power – and their voices – so they get more of what they want in their personal and professional lives.
I am also the founder and creator of The Courageous Mindset® – my coaching business and courage focused program for both male and female clients who are ready to bust through their comfort zones and into the lives they truly want to be living. So I am always working with clients through this courage focused program.
You can learn more about all this at www.leannferry.com
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I am just starting out with my first book, I have done quite a bit of research. I have learned a lot from www.kindlepreneur.com. That guy is great. I plan to follow his advice.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Since I am a coach I have to say: get focused on what you really want, plan it, and take baby steps to make it all happen. After that, you’ve got to keep up your courage, stay organized and don’t back down if things go wrong (they will!). Have grit and believe in yourself and stay connected to your purpose! Surround yourself with people who support what you are doing and protect yourself from those who don’t!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do or do not. There is no try. – Yoda
What are you reading now?
Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. It changed my life in the early 90s. I’m currently re-reading after more than 26 years! It’s even better the second time around!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am definitely going to take a break from book writing and focus on the other components of my Speak Up Stand Strong program. But I can feel the pull of wanting to write another book or two! In the future I’d like to write books about everyday courage and personal verbal defense!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Bossypants by Tina Fey (funny!), Our Dumb World by The Onion (funny!), Ahab’s Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund (beautiful writing!), The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle (deep!).
Author Websites and Profiles
Leann Ferry Website
Leann Ferry Amazon Profile
Leann Ferry’s Social Media Links
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