In this episode of Creating Confidence, Heather Monahan shares her personal experience of career transition, from losing her position as chief revenue officer to building a new path as an entrepreneur and author. She discusses how she navigated workplace challenges, including confronting difficult supervisors and managing the constraints of a non-compete agreement while supporting herself as a single mother.
The episode covers Monahan's journey of publishing two books, including her experience recording audiobooks and adding supplementary content inspired by other authors. She also explores how she handled workplace conflicts and legal battles, sharing specific strategies she used to maintain her confidence. Throughout the episode, Monahan emphasizes the role of audience feedback in shaping her work as an author, speaker, and podcast host.
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Heather Monahan shares her transformative journey from being fired as chief revenue officer to becoming a successful entrepreneur. After her dismissal, which left her bound by a non-compete agreement, Heather faced the challenge of reinventing herself while supporting her son as a single mother.
Despite initial challenges, including having to audition to narrate her own book "Confidence Creator" for Harper Collins, Heather successfully published and recorded two books. For her second book, "Overcome Your Villains," she worked with a trusted producer from her radio background and enriched the audiobook with additional commentary and insights, inspired by David Goggins' approach.
Heather details her experiences with workplace "villains," particularly focusing on an interim CEO who subjected her to passive-aggression and sexual harassment. She describes how wearing a red outfit for confidence and confronting her boss directly helped her regain her self-worth. During a subsequent legal battle with her ex-husband, Heather sought help from an energy healer, which she credits with improving her wellbeing and raising her energy levels.
Heather emphasizes the vital role of audience engagement in her success as an author, speaker, and podcast host. She actively seeks listener feedback to improve her content and appreciates when listeners share and recommend her work. Through direct messages and reviews, she gauges her impact and continuously adapts her approach to better serve her audience.
1-Page Summary
Heather Monahan's life took an unexpected turn when she was fired from her corporate job, leading to a journey of self-discovery and successful entrepreneurship.
Heather Monahan recalls the disbelief and humiliation she felt after being fired from her role as chief revenue officer—a position where she had excelled, significantly increased company revenue, and earned numerous accolades. The emotional impact was profound, echoing the anguish of a teenage heartbreak. The firing, executed by a general counsel who treated her poorly for 14 years, compounded the trauma. Bound by a non-compete agreement, Heather faced the paralyzing uncertainty of not being able to work with any competitors for a full year.
Instead of returning to the corporate world, Heather chose to reinvent herself as an entrepreneur. This decision marked a significant departure from the safety of regular paychecks but allowed her to tap into her full potential and seek happiness on her own terms. She became not just an author but a prolific one, writing two books and producing their audiobooks—achievements she never envisioned while in her corporate job.
Heather overcame the fear of her new unpredictable income and the solo responsibility of raising her young son, Dylan. The move towards entrepreneurship did not come without its trials; Heather candidly shares her concern for her child and the pressures of single motherhood during this tumultuous time. Despite these hardships, she successfully transitioned to a speaking business, steadily growing with virtual events and anti ...
Heather's Journey: Overcoming Adversity & Reinvention After Job Loss
Heather Monahan's journey to narrate her book "Confidence Creator" became a surprising challenge but turned into a resounding success, and her second book, "Overcome Your Villains," has extended her influence with its published and audiobook versions.
Heather faced an unexpected requirement from Harper Collins leadership to audition to narrate her own book, "Confidence Creator." In preparation for this challenge, Kendra Hall counseled her to be authentic and maintain a steady pace. Her genuine approach paid off, and she was ultimately chosen to narrate her own work.
For her second book, "Overcome Your Villains," Heather was able to collaborate with a producer she trusted from her background in radio. This allowed for smooth recording sessions and a product that matched her quality standards.
Heather prized the creative freedom given to her when crafting the audiobook for "Overcome Your Villains." Inspired by the approach taken by David Goggins in his audiobook, she enriched her recording with exclusive content. After completing the reading of a chapter, she provided personal commentary, sharing her though ...
Creating, Publishing, and Promoting Heather's Books, Including Audiobooks
Heather's experiences with "villain" figures in her professional and personal life taught her valuable lessons about self-assertion, maintaining self-worth, and the power of energy work in overcoming adversity.
Heather's encounters with a "villain" boss in the workplace were characterized by passive-aggression, sexual harassment, and outright hostility.
She narrates how her rise from top salesperson to brand manager at a prestigious winery was marred by her new boss's mistreatment. Heather describes the new interim CEO, the founder's daughter, as a tormentor who ignored her in meetings, made her feel invisible, and undermined her confidence in front of her colleagues. During her tenure, Heather's self-worth was challenged not only by the interim CEO but also by another woman on the executive team.
Heather faced sexual harassment and felt miserable, perceiving an intention by her boss to remove her from the company. However, her conscious decision to confront her boss—by wearing a red outfit for confidence and greeting her boss assertively in a meeting—allowed Heather to regain her sense of self-worth. After leaving the company and forgiving her boss, she was able to redirect her attention and energy to her own business, which began to grow as a result.
Heather has not seen the woman who harassed and fired her since the incident. A chance occurrence at a hotel in Naples, Florida, where her former company held a conference, was avoided without confrontation. Likewise, an encounter with an accomplice, the general counsel, on a pre-pandemic flight caused a physical reaction—but Heather was later able to let go of the negative feelings associated with this individual.
Heather ultimately emphasizes the importance of standing up for oneself and teaching others how to treat you. She mentions the significance of forgiveness to focus on buildin ...
Managing Villains or Adversaries in Heather's Life
Heather emphasizes the crucial role of audience engagement and feedback in gauging the impact of her work and guiding her continuous improvement.
Heather actively solicits feedback from her listeners to better understand what they think of her show and continuously strives to innovate. When she received a direct message on Instagram, a listener provided feedback on her Audible book "Overcome Your Villains" and "Conference Creator" and mentioned they also listen to her podcast and recommend it to others. Heather greatly appreciates this type of interaction; it signifies her impact and helps her shape improvements.
Acknowledging the competitive nature of the industry as an author, speaker, or podcast host, Heather stresses the importance of word-of-mouth. She knows how vital it is to have her work noticed and is thankful when her content is shared and recommended, emphasizing that we live in a world driven by reviews and recommendations. Heather also includes a promotional message urging her audience to take advantage of an offer by using a URL specific to her platform, highlighting the importance of audience engagement in attaining success.
Heather calls on her audience to share, review, and recommend her work, underscoring the essential nature of audience engagement to her success. She encourages listeners to share the episode if they enjoy it and commits to reposting when tagged, showing ...
Audience Engagement and Feedback's Importance For Heather's Podcast and Endeavors
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