Hi, Reader,

They say comparison is the thief of joy. I agree—mostly.

Lately, I’ve been looking around at the lives of my friends and colleagues and reflecting on my own journey. In many ways, our family is less settled than most. We’ve moved many, many times. We’ve lived in multiple countries. We’ve changed our minds and our homes and even our life plans.

Mostly, I’ve been glad for this. Our decisions are different, and our divergence from the status quo gives life a certain joie de vivre. But it also means we often feel like we are following an uncharted road, in the middle of the night, in the fog . . . while it’s hailing.

It would be easy for me to look around and compare. They’ve done this or achieved this, and I’ve done things completely differently. Am I doing something wrong?

I let myself ask those questions, but I always come around to the answer: you’ve chosen to live your one wild and precious life differently, and that means others’ measures aren’t made for you.

That doesn’t mean I don’t get inspired by others’ success. I do. When I feel that inner niggling, that spark that could become jealousy, I shift my perspective.

Instead of seeing what’s lacking in my life, I look to other people’s success as inspiration to drive myself toward my dreams. And I remind myself that I get to make my own choices and set my own timeline. I get to determine what success means in my life. Nobody else. Just me.

As we approach the end of 2024, you may be thinking about your goals for the new year. And as you set those goals, you might be looking to others’ success as a model for what you can achieve in 2025.

As you do so, here’s your friendly reminder to anchor inward. Check in with yourself. Measure against your own milestones. And remember that comparison can be the thief of joy—but with the right mindset, it can also be a source of inspiration.

And please, don’t forget to celebrate all you’ve accomplished in the past year! Hit reply and share one thing you’re especially proud of from 2024.

---

Get coached by me—LIVE—in the community!

What: Open coaching hour on any and everything related to your author journey

When: December 11, at 11:00 a.m. ET

How to join: Become a member of the Author Influence Circle.

Join us in the community just in time for the last coaching hour of 2024! If writing a book is a goal of yours for 2025, you need this community. Come for the education and coaching; stay for the accountability and relationships.

Become a member.​

---

​Listen now: Episode 167: New York Times book critic Dwight Garner on writing, reading, and eating​ As a child, my dream was to have a career in books—a desire most writers share. This week’s guest on Beyond Better, Dwight Garner, gets to live that dream every day as a book critic for The New York Times. ​ Listen now

In this delightful conversation, we talk about Garner’s latest book, The Upstairs Delicatessen. This smart, thoughtful book about reading and eating had me laughing out loud and reaching for a snack.

We also discuss his writing and research process, as well as his role as a book critic. And as you might expect, I ask about his writing process, including how he balances writing with a demanding job at The Times.

Alongside book-related talk, we explore the role of food in family connection—and he answers a special question from my eleven-year-old daughter.

If you love reading, writing, and eating—and listening to two book lovers talk about these topics—don’t miss this week’s episode.

​Listen now.​

---

In the Media 📣 Authority Magazine: “Author Stacy Ennis On How to Grow Your Business or Brand by Writing a Book”

Many thanks to Authority Magazine for this thoughtful QA-style feature full of incredibly valuable information for aspiring authors!

​Read the article.​

Here’s a snippet:

You are a successful author and thought leader. Which three character traits do you feel were most instrumental to your success when launching your book? Can you please share a story or example for each?

1. A focus on impact. The authors who write shelf-stable business sustainability books are the ones who thrive. As Ron and I wrote Growing Influence, our mindset stayed firmly anchored to the reader: What did they need and how could we serve them through this book? Ron and I spent many weeks sitting together, mulling over the story and concepts to bring this book to life. By focusing on impact, we were able to craft a story that has truly changed lives. We never worried about ourselves; we focused only on the reader’s transformation.

2. Audacious self-belief. Success as an author requires “a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.” Our bold risk was writing a nontraditional leadership book, centered on a story about sexism in the workplace. Success absolutely requires a steadfast commitment to your mission, and an audacious belief in your ability to impact the world. You must shut down that inner voice that whispers you’re not good enough and no one cares what you have to say. Quiet the inner critic and turn up the volume on your bold inner voice.

3. A willingness to be seen and heard. This is tough for aspiring authors, because they’re used to the quiet of the book-writing process and bristle at the idea of stepping out and being seen and heard. Media is a key part of success in launching a book, and being willing to put your face and voice to the book is instrumental to a successful launch.

​Read the full interview.​

​

---

Featured author: Dr. Amanda Hanson Sincere congratulations to client Dr. Amanda Hanson on the pre-release of her movement-sparking book, Muse: The Magnetism of Women Who Stop Abandoning Themselves, which hit no. 1 bestseller and no. 74 global releases on Amazon within 9 hours! ​Preorder your copy​ Dr. Amanda Hanson (The Midlife Muse) is a doctor of psychology, speaker, and author renowned for her transformative work in redefining the paradigm of womanhood. In over 25 years of her career, she has reached over 150 million women across the globe. In Muse, Dr. Amanda Hanson examines the history and current systems that put women in the position of living their lives based on their worth to men. She then guides readers through exquisite rituals and practices to reclaim their womanhood and build their most beautiful lives. Weaving together research, personal stories, and insights from Dr. Hanson’s decades of helping women through her unique method that combines clinical psychology and ancient holistic practices, Muse gives readers the power, built on matriarchal consciousness, to reconstruct their lives. Here’s what she had to say about our work together: “Stacy Ennis, you are a literary dream come true. Having your eyes, heart, and expertise on this book for the past year made the experience absolutely incredible. Thank you for teaching me how to take my philosophy from my heart to the pages.” —Dr. Amanda Hanson, psychologist, speaker, and author of Muse: The Magnetism of Women Who Stop Abandoning Themselves

---

Writing quick tip: Write without editing

The most persistent creativity killer? Editing.

While writing—whether an article, book, or other piece of content—do your best not to edit your work. Hone your inner Dori the fish: just keep writing!

Too often, writers take one step forward and two steps back, constantly revisiting writing rather than continuing to craft their draft. Remember: nothing else can happen until the first draft is done!

It’s always easier to cut than to add, and you’ll find writing to be more enjoyable when you aren’t nitpicking every last word.

Want to know what best support you need to write your book? Take this quick quiz! ​

---

That’s it for this week! Have suggestions? Want to say hey? Hit reply—I love hearing from you!

​

Did someone forward this email? Welcome! I’m glad you’re here. You can subscribe here.​

PO Box 4593, Boise, ID 83711
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​