Who celebrates you?

Even though it’s not officially fall, today marks the day most of us say goodbye to summer.

And it’s also a special day here because it’s my husband Rob’s birthday. And I’m dying to show you his surprise!

He’s an amazing photographer and I thought he deserved a cake that was “picture perfect.”

The cake was so much fun and gave us so much joy (not to mention that it was delicious with gluten-free vanilla layers filled with chocolate ganache and vanilla mousse!)

The inspiring cake made me think of the many converations I’ve had with women who’ve discounted their tremendous creative gifts.

  • I just like to bake. There’s no money in that.
  • It’s what I do. Nothing special.
  • No one would be interested in what I have to offer; anyone can do that.

I don’t personally know the woman on Martha’s Vineyard — Cakes By Liz — who designed and made Rob’s unique cake. But I hope she knows that by sharing her gift with the world it created a ripple effect of joy and delight for us!

So the next time you choose to discount or ignore that thing that you love and do so well — please remember your gift, strength or talent means the world to the people waiting for it.

OK, today’s SPARK!  is about finding your “people” — or your tribe. What is the result for you when you answer these three simple questions?

 

Keep the quality of the people in your life high and notice the difference.

Last week I laughed at a post I saw on Facebook that illustrated the point of surrounding yourself with the best people.

It said: “I’d rather have four quarters than 100 pennies.”  To which, one very funny Woman on Fire wrote: “I’d rather have 100 quarters.” Agreed!

I wish you always to be surrounded by many great people who uplift you.  Have a fantastic week and keep me posted on you!

Love,

Debbie Signature

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How to turn your bad day around FAST!

The other day I woke up cranky.

(I know … hard for you to believe because I truly am patient and easy going …but then there are those days 😉

Even after I reviewed the shadowy fragments of my dreams for clues, I still had no understanding why I’d gotten up on the “wrong side of the bed.”  And, my day went downhill from there.

The cat bit me. I ran late to my first appointment. The dryer died.

And, life continued to slide off course until I pulled myself together (I am a coach with tips and strategies after all!) and took a few minutes to do these quick strategies in this brief (2:53) video:

Can you believe how simple?

In short order, my day turned around. It seemed almost magical that using these easy strategies could make such a difference, but it did.

If you ever find yourself a cranky, hot mess, I hope you’ll try them out. And let me know how it works out for you. I’m betting you’ll feel less stressed and miserable — and much more like yourself again.

Have a great week!

And stayed tuned: we have a BIG surprise coming soon for you! 🙂

Love,

Debbie Signature

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September’s Inner Circle Sneak Peek with Beth Nielsen Chapman

We have another sneak peek of what’s coming in your Women on Fire members’ care package for September.

Have you ever listened to a song that was so powerful you felt like the lyrics were written just for you?

We often turn to music in times of great joy, sorrow and uncertainty.

That’s because music has the power to heal, far beyond words.

There is no one who better understands the healing magic of music more than our featured guest.

A singer-songwriter.

A cancer survivor.

A Grammy-nominated artist.

A teacher.

A mother who was widowed at a young age.

A woman who has built a wildly successful career by channeling the healing power of creativity.

And today, Beth Nielsen Chapman is here to help you discover how creativity can give purpose to your pain and transform your setbacks into strengths.

I’m telling you, she’s beyond brilliant! 🙂

If you’re not yet part of our membership inner circle, please be our guest and listen in today for free to a clip of Debbie’s interview with Beth.

Press PLAY for a quick (2:30) audio clip of this deeply inspiring interview.

In the full recording you’ll discover:

  • The many ways creativity can help you heal
  • How to tap into a collective wisdom
  • Techniques to find inspiration when your creative well has run dry
  • What the “divining rod of inspiration” is and how you can find yours

All that, PLUS a little birdie told me that Beth might have recorded a very special serenade…

But who knows? You’ll have to listen to find out! 🙂

If you are already a member of our Women on Fire inner circle, enjoy this preview of what’s already coming to you early in September!

If you aren’t yet a member and want to receive this Women on Fire exclusive, make sure to join us today.

You have until Sunday, August 30. Less than 48 hours left!

Don’t miss out on one of the most authentic and uplifting interviews we have recorded ALL year!

xo

The Women on Fire team

P.S. Have your goals slowly slipped away over the summer? Want to get back on track this fall?

TUNE IN to Debbie’s live monthly Members’ Master Class and Chat on September 15 at 8:00 p.m. EST. She’ll be sharing her favorite tips and tools for ending your year strong!

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How to Get Back on Your Path When You Fall Off

If this is your first Women on Fire SPARK! since you registered, welcome!

And, if this is the first time you’ve heard from me in a while, I’ve missed you.

We’ve upgraded the way we provide you inspiration, strategies and support with a new video format to make communicating a little more personal.

Let me know if you like it!

My goal is that in three minutes or less you can learn something to lift you up in your life.

You know those times in your life when you wonder where you’re going? Those times when you feel you’ve fallen off your path — and you’re not sure which way to turn?

If you need to get back on the road to the life you want, here are two strategies that will help you:

Key Takeaways

1. Keep a journal for 6 weeks, without reviewing it until the end, keep track of the single thing that brought you joy at the end of each day. After 6 weeks review and observe patterns that appear. Those patterns are usually a great indication of what you need more of in your life.

2. Enlist the help of your family, friends and colleagues. Create a quick questionnaire for them to fill out. Ask them to reflect on what they as your greatest strength and gift.

Keep me posted on how these strategies work for you.

And let me know …

If you’ve ever fallen off your path, how did you get back on track?

Love,

Debbie Signature

P.S. For further support to take next steps in your life, check out “Finding Your Next” by Jan Allen in our book: Women on Fire: 21 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!)

P.P.S. Give yourself the gift of a Women on Fire journal here.

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July’s Inner Circle Sneak Peek with Christine Carter, Ph.D.

We’re back with a sneak peek of what’s to come in your Women on Fire members‘ care package for July.

Do you constantly feel exhausted and overwhelmed by your daily juggling act?
Are you struggling to get everything done and still have time for yourself?
Are you ready to add more ease to every aspect of your life and finally get your groove back for good?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, you MUST listen to our latest interview! Christine Carter, Ph.D. — a happiness expert, speaker, blogger and mom, as well as the author of the new book The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work — will help you break the bad habit of busyness and introduce you to a new way of life.

Each month, our founder, Debbie Phillips, interviews an inspiring trailblazer and expert for our members. If you’re not yet a member of our inner circle, please be our guest and listen in today for free to a clip of Debbie’s latest interview with Christine Carter.

Press PLAY on the image below to listen to a brief audio clip (3:02) of this inspiring interview to discover three of Christine’s go-to strategies for finding your “sweet spot.”

In the full interview package, you’ll discover:

  • What exactly is a “sweet spot
  • Five strategies for finding your sweet spot
  • How to use the power of mind over body
  • Quick two-minute tips to boost happiness and confidence
  • The No. 1 action you MUST take to survive difficult times

All that, plus you’ll discover how to get your sweet spot back when you lose it!

If you are already a member of our Women on Fire inner circle, enjoy this sneak preview. You’ll receive the full monthly care package in your mailbox in early July.

If you aren’t yet a member and would like to receive the full interview with Christine Carter, I invite you to join us today! You will also receive:

  • An invitation to our popular monthly live video master class and chat with Debbie Phillips, in which you can receive personalized coaching on whatever you are struggling with
  • Access to our private, members-only Facebook group, where you can connect and feel the active support of our amazing community
  • Personalized coaching materials each month to help you track your progress
  • Plus many more benefits and fun each month

Click here to register to receive July’s membership package. Registration to receive the interview with Christine ends on Wednesday, July 1. You have less than 24 hours left!

This interview is a MUST for any and every woman looking to add more joy and balance to her life.

 

P.S. Receive a FREE Women on Fire gift when you register by the end of the day (6/30)

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May’s Inner Circle Sneak Peek w/ Gregg Levoy

We are back with a sneak peek of what’s to come in your Women on Fire Inner Circle members package for May!

Do you feel like you are continually struggling to find, claim and nurture your passion?

Or do you feel like there are invisible forces preventing you from moving toward your soul’s deepest calling?

Are you ready to feel more engaged, enthusiastic and enthralled with your life?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, this upcoming interview is for you! Gregg Levoy — one of today’s most inspiring teachers and the best-selling author of the critically acclaimed Callings and, his latest book, Vital Signs — will help you to discover how to tap into, recover and pursue your passion.

Each month, our founder, Debbie Phillips, interviews an inspiring trailblazer and expert for our members. If you’re not yet a member of our inner circle, please be our guest and listen in today for free to a clip of Debbie’s latest interview with author, speaker and media expert Gregg Levoy.

Press PLAY on the image below to listen to a brief audio clip (2:48) of this inspiring and valuable interview.

In the full interview package, you’ll discover:

  • The No. 1 way to get unstuck
  • A fail-safe method to re-engage with a passion that feels lost
  • How to decide if you should monetize your passion
  • Why you hold yourself back and how to break the chains
  • The most powerful way to nurture your passions
  • How to eliminate the single greatest threat that can distinguish your true calling

All that plus you’ll discover how to create a community of support that provides unlimited fuel for your passions.

If you are already a member of our Women on Fire inner circle, enjoy this sneak preview. You’ll receive the full monthly care package in your mailbox in early May.

If you aren’t yet a member and would like to receive the full interview with Gregg Levoy, I invite you to join us today! You will also receive:

  • An invitation to our popular monthly live video master class and chat with Debbie Phillips, in which you can receive personalized coaching on whatever you are struggling with
  • Access to our private, members-only Facebook group, where you can connect and feel the active support of our amazing community
  • Personalized coaching materials each month to help you track your progress
  • Plus many more benefits and fun each month

Click here to register to receive May’s membership package. Registration to receive the interview with Gregg Levoy ends on Wednesday, April 29. You have less than 48 hours left!

Don’t miss out on this soul igniting interview, full of inspiration to help you fall in love with your life and discover your true passions.

 

P.S. Receive a free Women on Fire mug when you register today (4/28)!

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She’s a Woman on Fire! Meet Carmencita Whonder

Welcome back to our ongoing series to introduce you to each other.  She’s a Woman on Fire! member and we want you to know her.  Please say hello to…

Carmencita Whonder

Washington, D.C.

Member: #00090

Member since: February 21, 2012

Please tell us about YOU, your family, and your work. What you are “on fire” about? 

I am a first child, big sister to a sister and twin brothers who are 12 years and 17 years my junior, respectively. I am the granddaughter to the best 92-year-old lady on the planet, and she has deemed me the MIT (matriarch in training). I am spiritual, loyal, giving, and a friend to and of many. I am a proud graduate of Howard University. I love foreign affairs and am an avid international traveler.

I am a risk-loving entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO at OF WHONDER (www.ofwhonder.com). I am super on fire about empowering women who wear sizes 12-24 to feel beautiful and confident when they walk out into the world everyday—where many people say we don’t have the right.

How did you originally connect to Women on Fire?

I came to Women on Fire directly through Debbie Phillips. Several years back, Debbie and I met at a women’s retreat called “Getting to Next.” Our group wasn’t very big—20 women together for two days in a beautiful New York City apartment discussing our “Next.”

I noticed Debbie pretty quickly because she had a huge smile that seemed a bit unreal—seriously. I remember thinking to myself with a little annoyance, “What’s wrong with her, and why is she so darned happy?” It just didn’t seem real to me at all, and I am a glass-half-full kind of gal. I guess I wasn’t used to seeing people grinning literally from ear to ear—at least not in Washington, D.C., or New York City. I hadn’t spoken with Debbie yet, and so I knew nothing about her; this was just an observation from across the room.

During the retreat, we were assigned secret mentors to watch us and slip us notes to praise and encourage us during the weekend. Halfway into the retreat, we had a group dinner, and somehow Debbie and I got left behind and ended up walking over to the restaurant together. (Looking back now, I think she probably planned it.)  It was a perfect opportunity to take a lovely walk on a gorgeous evening and get to know each other.

Debbie was “whonderful,” and we became fast friends. You might have guessed already that Debbie was, in fact, my secret mentor, and I couldn’t have been happier about that. We developed an instant spiritual connection that has lasted for almost 10 years. Debbie understands that life isn’t just about her, which, in my opinion, is one of the best character traits a human being could possess.

At the end of the retreat, I told her what I was thinking of her earlier, and she gave me the best explanation of why she was so happy—definitely one of the best explanations of gratefulness that I have ever heard. I haven’t questioned anyone’s smile or glow of happiness since!

What’s your favorite component of the Women on Fire membership?

I appreciate the way Women on Fire celebrates its members for their big and small accomplishments. The organization is truly about uplifting others, which seems rare in this age of hyper-self-promotion and individualism.

What is your favorite part of the day?

Anytime other than morning. I’m a night owl.

What is the last book you read that you would recommend to other Women on Fire?

The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh.

What is the one thing you are most proud of?

My faith. It is also the greatest gift my grandmother has given to me.

If you had an unexpected free day, how would you spend it?

I would probably spend too much time thinking about what to do, and then the day would be over. I’ve got to work on this in 2014!

What is your favorite city in the world?  

I love so many cities, but New York City is my greatest love. I grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut, just 45 minutes outside of New York. Like every Jamaican, I have always had tons of family in all of the boroughs, so I spent lots of time there as a young person. Back then, I loved hanging out with family and seeing shows, but I never wanted to live there. I loved my idyllic New England life.

Today, it’s the total opposite! All I do is dream of living in the city that never sleeps, the fashion capital of the world, home to the N.Y. Giants and Knicks, and where you’ll find the best restaurants, theaters, and museums the world has to offer. The cherry on top is that New York is also home to many of my favorite people in the world.

Share a special Women on Fire moment or experience.

A couple of years ago, Debbie hosted a tea party in Washington, D.C. I invited a few of my really good friends and was surprised to learn about some of their deepest dreams and goals for the first time. The setting allowed them to speak life into what they were most on fire about, and it helped me to become a more supportive friend, pushing them to realize those dreams and goals. That’s what is so beautiful about this community of women.

What’s your big dream?

To be truly happy!

If you had the opportunity to teach a child one strategy that would help to guide her life, what would that be?

Recognize and embrace your gifts early so you can spend as much time as possible using them to fulfill your purpose on this earth.

What is something that we might be surprised to learn about you?

This super girly girl used to be a huge tomboy. As a kid, I loved snakes, my BMX bike, playing sports and the color blue. I hated pink! Today I have lots of pink in my house—but blue too.

Name three women who have influenced your life, and what you’ve learned from each.

My grandmother, Ethel Chambers: Faith will always sustain me and having a great work ethic will get me the rest of the way.

My mentor, Cynthia Bunton: Laughing with friends (instead of crying) over great champagne is sometimes the best cure for a broken heart.

My group of best friends (too many to list each name): Friends are the family members you are blessed enough to be able to choose.

Who cheers you on?

Definitely my mother! From the time I was quite young, she came up with the crazy idea that I could do and be anything. She was convincing, and I believed her.

What is your favorite “pig-out” food?

Definitely French fries and ice cream.

What are the top three songs on your iPod right now?

“Happy” by Pharrell Williams from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack is my top 1, 2, 3, and more right now. I listen to this great song more than 10 times a day because it makes me incredibly happy no matter what my mood is at the time. The video is pretty great too!

What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced and how did you overcome it?

Forgiving myself for not being perfect. Age and wisdom have helped me to realize that no one is perfect and my imperfections may actually be part of my charm.

What is your go-to self-care strategy?

Massages are one of God’s greatest creations for the working woman. I can’t live without them. I just tried a Thai Yoga massage that is part massage, yoga/stretching and acupuncture. I highly recommend it!

When you reflect on your life so far, what are the first words that come to mind?

Blessed and Whonderful!

More about Carmencita Whonder…

Educated at Howard University and Johns Hopkins, Carmencita has experience in such diverse areas as financial services, philanthropy and the U.S. Senate. Above all, she is a strategist, and she’s particularly skilled in developing plans for under served markets.

She is the CEO and founder of the contemporary, luxury, ready-to-wear clothing brand OF WHONDER, which embraces the physiques of the majority of women—those wearing sizes 12-24. OF WHONDER is more than just a fashion line; it represents a lifestyle that promotes positive self-image, balanced choices, and daring confidence each and every day.

You can connect with Carmencita and “like” OF WHONDER’s Facebook page here.

She’s A Woman on Fire! is compiled by senior writer Becky Adams.