Stephanie Thoma is a Forbes-featured leadership & life coach, certified hypnotherapist, and best-selling author of the transformational networking book, Confident Introvert. She has facilitated over 1,000 events and established a fulfilling career helping people generate meaningful connections with themselves and others that catapult them forward in their career and life.
To date, Stephanie has helped thousands of people celebrate their strengths, step into their authentic confidence, and make meaningful connections through speaking at places like Harvard University and 1:1 coaching.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up writing a book?
I started out not knowing what I wanted to do after college. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I was going to college growing up, eventually becoming a first-generation college student. I liked the idea of settling into corporate America, however, once I was there I felt like there was more that I had to offer than the roles that already existed and were assigned to me. I embarked upon an entrepreneurial journey that began with taking odd-jobs like nightlife market researcher and celebrity ghost-writer blogger, and over time the skills I gained primed me for entrepreneurship, which was also a primer for becoming an author.
I wrote Confident Introvert to encapsulate everything I learned through attending and then hosting over 1k networking events. This journey has played a big role in the professional opportunities that I’ve had over the years. My relationship with being visible, feeling deeply confident, and connected has transformed in my adult years so I took 6 weeks to write it out in the winter of 2019 and now in 2021 am launching a new platform expanding upon and deepening this vision, Own It.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
Readers will come away from the book with a greater understanding of who they are, how they fit into the world and the tools to make an impression that counts.
What are the top three tools you are currently using to write, publish, and promote your books?
I wrote my book in Google docs for easy collaboration (note my editors would have preferred I use Word!), I published my ebook exclusively on Amazon KDP, and have used BookBub for targeted ads to kindle readers.
What were the top mistakes you made writing/publishing your book?
I ended up going through a few cover artists before finding one I liked. This is one area, aside from a quality finished product, to prioritize getting right!
When will you consider your book a success?
There are certainly benchmarks in terms of sales and earning the #1 best seller title on Amazon in a couple of categories in the first month of release, but ultimately, it’s about impact. I consider my book successful because it helps people. Confident Introvert makes a topic that many dread, networking, an accessible facet of personal development.
On when I worked at a natural food startup but was curious about working in a totally different industry, tech:
“Fellow attendees were often excited to share their knowledge with a complete newbie to space. Within three months of attending a few UX-specific events per week, I was interviewing at a UX research firm and got the job! Impostor syndrome almost kept me from attending these events and accessing this amazing opportunity—but questioning my initial self-judgment and reframing the belief turned it around.”
Work with what you already have. Sometimes we don’t get started or delay because of this idea that the “one book” needs to be our ultimate legacy. If you’ve spent x amount of years in y industry, then go through your notes, best practices you’ve established, life experiences and get them on paper. Don’t be afraid to have a sh*tty first draft. The important thing is to get it all out, and to be diligent about doing so every day for a period of weeks or months.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before publishing your first book?
I wish I knew that it was important to get advance reviews ASAP. Testimonials from authors in the space read and reviewed my book the month it came out, but if I was able to share an advanced copy at least several months before, the first edition of my book would include that testimonials page. It is, however, reflected on the Confident Introvert book page on Amazon.
Getting my friends on board. Being visible with behind-the-scenes and asking for feedback so that ultimately this networking book was a product that reflects the value of community.
If you had the chance to start your career over again what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t start it over, because every seemingly out-of-place or “bad” thing led me here, however, I would have allowed myself to feel less anxiety and more trust through the process knowing what I know now. It’s all more than okay!
Permission To Leap by Bri Seely is amazing for those new to the entrepreneurial way of life.
Worth to Wealth is a wonderful program by Jess Geist to help with that abundance mindset we need to grow a business.
And I always enjoy listening to the holistic, spirituality and business podcast Big Conversations with Haley Hoffman Smith.
If you only had $1000 dollars to promote a new book, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I would spend most of it on developmental and copy editors. That will probably deplete your $1k, but if you have funds left, then also prioritize a typesetter and cover artist. The editors ensure that the book reads well and is quality. The cover artist helps your book pop amongst others to spur purchases. And typesetting is very precise, so while you can DIY it, I appreciated working with my typesetter.
What is your favorite quote?
“Everything is always working out for me.”
– Abraham Hicks
Who should we interview next and why?
Marisa Lavalette of the Women’s Community: Attune + Align – she’s a fierce leader with heart and depth, check her out!
How can we get in touch with you?
To have a 1:1 discovery session with me: stephaniethoma.com/coaching You can also join my email newsletter at Stephaniethoma.com and connect on social media Instagram & Facebook
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