Emily Grabatin

Hello Reader, This week I've been mulling over a statement that was buried in my inbox: "So many women are wanting to write a book, but are unsure how to get started in a holistic way that supports their lives, time, livelihood and unrestrictive creativity." I wonder if you relate to that in any way. Remember those days (for many) when the pandemic shut the world down, and we cancelled "busyness" from our lives? So many families appreciated the togetherness at home rather than driving around,...

Hello Reader, Did you choose a "word of the year" for 2024? (Usually, this is a grounding word that reflects your intention for growth and/or expectancy for breakthrough for the year.) If so, how does having a "word of the year" work for you? Do you have a regular practice of seeing this unfold throughout your year? Or do you choose it in January and forget about it until December? Got a goose-bumpy experience to share? In my experience, it's never been a "rah-rah" hyped up thing. Instead,...

Hey Reader, One book that truly stirred my dreams and gave me the courage to pursue them is Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story. How powerful storytelling can be in shaping our lives and defining who we become! This enchanting memoir took me on a journey of self-discovery and personal transformation. Inspired by this book, I pulled myself out of a funk and decided to live a better story. Not with grand, lofty goals, but with those small...

Reader This week is Dare to Decide is four years old! Would you celebrate with me? At the beginning of the pandemic, when many were at a crossroads, my debut book was released into the world. While navigating a book launch during COVID restrictions added stress and disappointment, I couldn't deny the significance of the timing of this book written for people who struggle in uncertainty. I continually marvel at the impact the book has had: Then there are the private messages and conversations...

Hello Reader, His webinar made me cry. I was in the early stages of growing my coaching business and the learning never seemed to end. Everything took longer than I expected. And often it was so hard to distinguish between busy work and the tasks that would actually make progress and impact. In his webinar, online course creation guru Danny Iny told a story of a moment in the early days of growing his business. His wife was working the business, too. Dedicated to personal growth and...

Hello Reader, Have you felt vulnerable in your leadership or calling path lately? (ie. not enough, unsure, imposter syndrome, launching something new) During the years I wrote and launched Dare to Decide, many times I found myself faced with a challenge familiar to any new coach, leader or influencer when it's time to step out with their message: vulnerability. Most of my 20s I spent feeling insecure and powerless. These were familiar feelings. I didn't realize until much later that I held a...

Hello Reader, Memoirs can be fascinating to read, because we can't help being curious about people's lives, but also because we like to find belonging and encouragement in someone else's story. Have you ever wanted to write a book, but struggle coming up with an idea? Or have you ever wanted to write a memoir that captures a certain period of your life and lessons you learned that could help others? Today let's spark your imagination! Memoirs can also be some of the easiest and trickiest...

Hey, Reader, One of the things I love about big-hearted entrepreneurs, authors and service providers is how you want the best for everyone. You don't want someone to feel left out. I see this in my ministry role when new group leaders need to write their group description and articulate who would be a good fit and who would not. In larger group settings, I see this occur when people are prompted to divide into groups of 3 for accountability mini-groups. This angst also happens in business...

Hey Reader, Only 2 weeks into January, and 2024 is still a year of possibilities! 🚀 Do any of your dreams involve writing or publishing your book? While writing a book can be a rewarding experience, it's not always the right time for everyone. Here's what might make your book adventure a wild ride: Juggling Act 🤹♂️: Got a gazillion things on your plate already? Adding a book might be like adding the last piece of Jenga on a wobbly tower. Creating a book needs focus and some form of...

Hello Reader, Welcome, 2024! What's in store for you this year, friend? One thing I know about heart-centred, purpose-driven people like yourself... there is a lot you could do. You are capable and multi-talented with plenty of ideas and dreams. You're also juggling priorities, so you can't do them all -- at least, right now. However, what you do focus your time and energy on, you want to make a difference in the people and initiatives that matter most to you. Setting goals is the classic New...