July 4th was my mother’s birthday, and, yes, she was definitely a Firecracker. Shortly after her passing in 2011, we submitted her name to infamy by naming a new Pantone color, “Firecracker Red,” in her honor!
July has a lot of family birthdays, and July always gets me thinking about life lessons learned from those generations who have passed before me. Throughout the month of July, I will be writing about and sharing a short list of “lessons learned” from both my mother (Mimi) and grandmother (her mother, Nana).
Life Lessons I learned from Mimi and Nana:
- SHOW UP: “Get dressed up and go party.”
- CREATE OPPORTUNITIES: “Can’t find a party? Let’s have one ourselves!”
- BE AN ORIGINAL: “Never wear the same outfit as your best friend.”
- KNOW WHAT MATTERS: “Do NOT tell anyone what is in the shed.”
- BE AUTHENTIC: “Just ‘cuz you are invited to jump off a cliff doesn’t mean you do it.”
These are all lessons about showing up, taking ownership, creating opportunities, being memorable, and living boldly—which happens to be exactly what we help authors do.
My mother and grandmother were teaching me BRAVE long before we turned BRAVE into an acronym.
LESSON ONE: SHOW UP
Get Dressed Up and Go Party
NOTE: Throughout the month of July, I will be writing about and sharing a short list of five “lessons learned” from my mother (Mimi) and grandmother (her mother, Nana).
Life Lessons from Mimi & Nana:
Publishing Wisdom Before I Knew It Was Publishing Wisdom
July 4th was my mother’s birthday.
Every year when July rolls around, I find myself thinking about the women who shaped me—my mother and my grandmother—and the life lessons they passed down, often without realizing it.
Some of those lessons were practical, some were humorous, and some have turned out to be surprisingly useful in business, publishing, and life.
One of my favorites was, “Get dressed up and go party.”
My mother believed that life was meant to be lived, not watched from the sidelines. Whether it was a community event, a family gathering, or a celebration at the office, she would be first in line to get dressed up and go. Yes, she loved fancy clothes, and I ALSO believe she knew that opportunities rarely knock on the door of someone sitting at home waiting to be asked.
She knew she had to show up to make things happen.
I’ve realized this lesson applies to far more than parties. It also applies to life in general and to publishing. Every day, I meet people who dream about writing a book. They have a message. A story. A lifetime of experience. A lesson that could help someone else. Yet many never take the next step.
They’re waiting until they have more time, more confidence, more money, more credentials. A better title, a bigger audience, a clearer plan.
In other words, they’re waiting for the perfect invitation before they go to the party.
Here’s the truth: The party has already started. The people who need your message are already out there. The conversations are already happening. The opportunities are already circulating.
Your voice can’t make an impact if it never leaves the house.
Your words are not doing anyone a favor by sitting on your hard drive.
I’ve seen authors transform businesses, START new businesses, launch speaking careers, create new revenue streams, strengthen their credibility, and leave lasting legacies—not because everything was perfect, but because they decided to show up.
They chose courage over certainty; action over hesitation; progress over perfection.
In many ways, that’s what being BRAVE is all about.
Be Bold & Bodacious.
Not reckless, not fearless . . . just willing to take the next step before you feel completely ready. Because here’s another lesson my mother taught me:
You never know who you’re going to meet.
The person who needs your story. The client who needs your expertise. The reader who needs your encouragement. The family member whose wisdom needs preserving. The opportunity that changes everything. None of them can find you if your message stays hidden.
So, this month, as I celebrate my mother’s birthday, I’ll pass one of her favorite monikers on to you:
Get dressed up and go party.
Write the chapter, share the story, publish the book.
Start the conversation, raise your hand, take your seat at the table.
Because the world doesn’t need another perfect manuscript sitting in a drawer.
It needs your voice, and your voice deserves to be heard.
What’s one opportunity you’ve been waiting to feel “ready” for?
Maybe this is your sign to get dressed up and go party.