Opening of the Heart
October 27, 2009 by Kimberly
Becoming a best-selling author was actually not in my plans. I’m not saying that I’m unhappy it happened. On the contrary – I couldn’t be more elated! But, it was the gifts I received along the way that surprised me the most.
I’m going into my 4th year of business with my coaching practice and things are going well. Any entrepreneur will tell you that having your own business is the quickest route to self-discovery there is, and now I need to add that so is writing and publishing your story!
I’ve always been a very “just the facts ma’am” sort of business person. 15 years of corporate service will do that to a girl. This process-driven approach has brought me success and contributed to my leadership strengths.
Running my business has opened me and softened me as I threw off my corporate constraints and practiced the heart-centered work of coaching. The journey of writing my chapter in the best-selling Overcomers, Inc. anthology brought me a little deeper.
I can’t pin-point exactly what happened along the way; perhaps it was the candor and honesty of my fellow authors that permitted me the courage to express my feelings more deeply, or it was the realization that “Oh well, now my words are out there, for better or worse, so I’d better be prepared to stand behind them”. (Translation: There’s no turning back!), but a sort of courage came over me. A sense of confidence that only comes with accomplishing a challenging task started to move in. I believe it’s through this heightened courage and confidence that I felt an opening and strengthening of my heart.
Thank you my courageous, beautiful co-authors for lighting a path for me. Sometimes a book is more than just a book. (Even when it’s a best-seller!)
With deep gratitude and love,
Kimberly
Technorati Tags: achievement Adversity anthology Courage Entrepreneur Overcomers small business
Colleen Russell on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 2:19 pm
Kimberly,
Thank you for sharing so honestly once again. I loved reading your story Willy Loman I am Not! in the Overcomers, Inc book. As a solo-preneur I also understand how difficult it is when it comes to selling yourself and one’s own services.
Congratulations on your new success!
From one co-author to another.
Colleen Russell
Colleen Bain on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 2:38 pm
Kimberly,
What a great posting. It is great to see a co-author doing so well. I am an excorporate girl myself. I have over 18 plus years in corp. America. I can relate to your words. It is great that we all became best selling authors. Congrats on your coaching business doing so well.
Kimberly on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 2:56 pm
Thank you Colleen,
I really appreciate your comments and support
.
Big hug,
Kimberly
Kimberly on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 2:58 pm
Heart-felt thank you Colleen!
I once heard someone say that the greatest distance an executive (or any corporate worker these days:)) has to travel is the 12 inches from their head to their heart.
Great sharing this experience with you.
Big hug,
Kimberly
Tomar Levine on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 3:16 pm
Hi Kimberly -
I don’t have a corporate background, but everything you said about the confidence that comes from accomplishing a challenging task, the realization that “there’s no turning back now,” and the courage to be as revealing as those brave souls sharing the journey with us, that “strengthening of the heart” you mention – all of that has been my experience as well. This is a beautifully stated and felt post.
Charlon on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 3:21 pm
Thank you Kimberly for sharing your thoughts. Entrepreneurship has many rewards. I am continually astounded at what unfolds throughout the course of business ownership and management. There are so many opportunities to learn and grow both personally and professionally.
BTW, congrats on the book success! I’m sure there’s so much more to come.
Nelie Johnson on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 3:43 pm
Kimberly, I really appreciated your story. It spoke to me in many ways as I too am new solo-preneur on learning curve of setting up a business.
What a gift of a book has come together with all our stories! It’s wonderful to share its success with all the authors and the millions it will serve.
In addition for me it is magical making connections with coauthors.
blessings all,
Nelie
Kimberly on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 3:56 pm
Thank you so very much Tomar. This has been a spectacular journey, and made all the more wonderful with people like you to share it with
.
Big hug,
Kimberly
Kimberly on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 3:58 pm
Thank you Charlon
. It’s wonderful to share this success with you and our other special co-authors.
Big hug,
Kimberly
Kimberly on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 4:02 pm
Thank you Nelie,
I’m thinking that the course of self-discovery and development should include a mandatory 1 year of entrepreneurship!
The success of our book is so much more rewarding and wonderful as a shared experience.
Thank you for your thoughts and comments.
Big hug,
Kimberly
Lynne Klippel on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 4:13 pm
Kimberly-
I love this post! You are so right, the opening of the heart takes much more courage for us ex-corporate types than facing the budget review committee. However, finding that heart space brings such joy into life and business.
Really like the photo of you and your mug!
Kimberly on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 4:35 pm
Thank you Lynne. Thank you for your big audacious goal; your courage and drive, and for including us on the journey!
Life is just chalk full of surprises isn’t it?
Big hug,
Kimberly
Holly Eburne on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 10:33 pm
Kimberly,
Thank you for your words from the heart. You’re right about a book being more than a book. Overcomers Inc. has been stepping up and out of my comfort zone-big time. It has been about having the courage and persistence to stay on course with my goals and dreams. And, it has been about being part of something far greater than me. Thank you Kimberly and to all of my fabulous co-authors for the ride of my life!
Hugs to you and the rest of the team,
Holly
Kimberly on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 10:45 pm
You’re so welcome Holly! Thank you for sharing your comments and insights. Our “whole” was definately bigger than the sum of our “parts”
Big Hug,
Kimberly
Nancy Lyn Cotter on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 7:33 pm
Thank you Kimberly for stepping up and putting yourself out there. We can probably all relate to your post because when you write something personal at some point or another, it hits you that your story is out there “exposed” to the world.
Even beyond the wonderful content-rich experience that Lynne and Kathleen and their team gave us with the Overcomers, Inc. project, I believe we each have learned and gained valuable life lessons throughout the whole process. I totally feel as you do that it gave me confidence and showed me an inner strength I wasn’t sure I had. My voice is finally strong and clear, without the fear usually associated with speaking my truth.
My own book and product line is in the works at a much faster pace now. What we accomplished as a group allowed me to see first-hand what is possible when you just DO it. I know now that I CAN do it myself too! Your story and every one by this amazing group of authors have changed my life in such a great way.
The success of each author really speaks to me and to all who read these stories. I gave the book to good friends that just lost their biggest account and 1/3 of their annual business income. They said to me: “If these people can overcome what they did, then there is something waiting for us too! It is time for us to finally pursue the new direction we’ve been talking about for our business.”
I said that I absolutely had no doubt about it – when a door is closed, another is opened if you are able to see it. It is how we respond to a crisis that allows us to walk through that new opening and follow a new path on the way to our dreams. We are all living proof of that! THANKS AGAIN to all of you!
Love to all,
Nancy
Kimberly on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 8:19 pm
Hello Nancy,
Thank you so very much for taking the time to post your experiences and comments. Sometimes when you do a thing for the first time and you feel like such a newbie, you think that your experiences are so unique to you. It’s comforting and uplifting to hear everyone’s story about how this project has affected them and those around them. It’s so hear-warming to hear the positive affect this book has had on those who’ve read it too, so thank you for sharing that.
Wishing you all the very best!
Big hug,
Kimberly