Have you ever been asked a question by a friend and immediately felt inclined to pull up two chairs, pour two glasses of the good stuff, unapologetically reach for the cookies in the secret corner of your pantry, and turn on a movie for your kiddos so you two can roll up your sleeves and talk the deep stuff?
That’s essentially how each author approached our writing of Discovering Something Greater, which, to toot our horns loudly as women doing cool things should (I hope you do too), is a bestseller on Amazon in Women & Business.
Prior to any of us drafting an outline or writing a word, we collectively walked through a powerful exercise led by one of the co-authors, Kristin Gudenkauf (who appropriately writes about finding your vision in the book). We imagined who would be holding this book when we were done reading it:
The woman who was tired of living a boring life on everyone else’s terms and was eager for something new
The mom who felt like she’d lost a sense of who she was in her motherhood journey, despite loving being there for her children
The person who felt the spark of something greater in their belly, and didn’t want to leave this life without pursuing it
As we navigated what the reader’s world would look like while reading, we saw her order her favorite drink in a coffee shop, find a table by the window, and pull our book out of her giant, unsheveled purse (no shame) so she could have a deep conversation with us, the co-authors, about what it looks like to take those brave next steps toward something greater.
Because each of us has done just that, and we know how hard it can be to walk the journey alone. We need that friend who will pull their secret cookie stash out of the pantry for a good conversation on a moment’s notice and talk about the REAL stuff lying below the surface. The stuff you might even feel scared to admit to others. The stuff that’s festering and needs to come out, but feels scary to let float off your lips.
If you’re reading this thinking, I know someone who needs to hear this message or thinking it’s YOU who needs to hear this message as we round out the year, here are three things to do:
Grab a copy of Discovering Something Greater for yourself and that friend
Join our free online book club which we’ll be starting in January
Pull together the perfect bookish gift with our curated list of our favorite things, to make digging into the pages of this book feel just as good as munching on a guilty treat and sipping your favorite beverage with your new biz bestie
Next year is going to be full of some crazy inspiring stories. Can you feel it too?
Kristin Gudenkauf’s Favorite Things for Reading a Good Book
In Discovering Something Greater, Kristin, owner of Baby Rex Productions and Next Chapter Strategies, shares powerful exercises for how to figure out what something greater looks like. So often, the reason people don’t move forward is because they don’t know how to bring that vision into focus.
A few of Kristin’s other favorite things to gift alongside a book include:
A gratitude journal to jot down daily affirmations and reminders on this journey toward something greater
Christmas tea and a teapot to brew the tea, making the perfect drink to sip while cracking open those pages, and this Friends mug to sip it out of
Glowing Christmas snowglobe to add just the right ambiance and magic to the room
A devotional to stay grounded throughout the journey
Mary Reiss Farias’s Favorite Bookish Things
Mary Reiss Farias, owner of Magnet Mind Development, writes about self-image in the book, and shares ways to rethink how you navigate the world. If confidence has ever stopped you or your friend from taking those big steps forward into entrepreneurship, her exercises and words of beautiful wisdom will help.
Mary pulled together a few favorite things she’s planning to send to someone on her gift list this year along with a copy of this book.
This smells like a bookstore candle appropriately infused with paper and intrigue
This adorable book lover’s heart ornament for the tree
This book seat book holder and travel pillow perfect for a reader on the go
Casie Rendon’s Favorite Things While Reading a Good Book
Casie, a wellness instructor, offers an empathetic stance on finding balance when pursuing something greater. She knows how to achieve balance because she’s walked the path of imbalance before and has felt first-hand how hard it can be. If you’re looking for ways to put up new boundaries for yourself and make the journey feel really good, her section is for you.
And, if you’re looking for a few extra gifts to give along with the book, here are some of Casie’s favorite cozy bonus items to go with Discovering Something Greater.
This matcha latte mix, which just so happens to be her go-to drink while reading also, and is likely what she’d make for you during a juicy conversation about finding something greater
This soft heated blanket because it’s hard to get cozy if you’re constantly shivering
This beautiful box of cozy self-care Christmas items — just add the book and you’re set!
Kimberly Crossland’s Favorite Gifts for Readers
In the book, I share exercises for reconnecting with your voice and stories to help you find the courage to claim your big, lofty goals when sharing them with the world. Your voice matters. You matter. And here are some of my favorite gifts to give as reminders of that mission.
This notebook that honors the many iterations we go through when sharing our ideas and voice with the world (good to have on hand while reading our book in particular)
This rollerball pen — because I can never seem to have enough pens around and always keep one on my nightstand for jotting down notes as I read before bed
This travel tumbler because water is essential to good thinking, good feeling, and good reading, and a good sticker or two to go on it.
A good sweatshirt or hoodie to remind you of your journey. I just launched my Roadpreneur merch line yesterday and am partial to this cozy sweatshirt.
What’s your favorite bookish thing? Share in the comments so we can feel inspired by your ideas and good finds too!