Unveiling Stories of Impact: Exploring the 'Mission Accepted: 262 Women' Anthology Book with Catharine O'Leary

Catharine O'Leary: Hello, everyone, and welcome back to kickstart the conversation. I'm your host, Catharine O'Leary. And today, I wanted to take some time and just talk about a project that I have been involved with, for over a year now it's called Mission accepted to 62. Women is for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs, creatives and media, it started off as a book anthology. And the book is all about creating space for women to encourage and be encouraged to move one step forward in abilities, accessibility, you know, Freedom choices, education, respect, fairness, justice, love, peace, honor and joy. You know, it basically is all about celebrating the fact that we frankly, women kick ass. And we do a lot of great things for business. And sometimes, you know, history is, is written by oftentimes by men. And sometimes our contributions are a little less publicized as they could be. So this is just an incredible coffee table book that is, you know, just been released, it was released a week ago, and available on Amazon. And I'll put the the link into the show notes. But this is all of the out much more than just a book. So just wanted to talk through it, and talk through some of the people that are people that I look up to, and I respect and that are also in the book. And if you get the book, you can learn more about them as well. But this book is a, you know, it's a tabletop book that shares the journeys of 262 women who are courageously contributing their energy, their knowledge and skills to positively impact the lives of others and their communities. They passionately share their stories of personal experiences, provide in inspiration, and information for your well being, and success as you define it. This has been more than just a book though. So this, this started with the, you know, is lovingly produced by Deb Drummond, who is a close friend of mine. Now, and because of this book, she's a close friend of mine, she recognized that there was a need for a platform, actually several because she's she's created several platforms. And, you know, she wanted to foster community and solidarity among women from diverse backgrounds, she really wanted this to be a global, you know, project, bring people in, from media, from Creative from the, you know, the music industry, from the film industry, from entrepreneurs. And as she says Ultra printers, she she wanted a place where there was an opportunity for networking, collaboration and mutual support. And, you know, really created that space where, you know, women can connect and learn from each other and really amplify each other's voices. It all started back on in 2023 on International Women's Day, with a summit in 22 summits later, like literally 22 Live summits later, we are at the actual book launch. In the process. There has also been TV streaming, there have been multiple multiple podcast interviews by all the women in the book, and all the women attract are attracted by the book and spoke speaking on the summits and so on. And the, you know, there's a wine club, there's a press releases over 50 million people have heard about this book. And you know, it was launched or the official launches June 6, it is now available in Amazon. And there is a multi year book tour in the works for this book. This has become a movement. And what I I wanted to give you know, the organizers as well as some of the people that have contributed to the book and contributed to me and my business, a little bit of a spotlight on this because it has been a phenomenal experience. And if you've ever wondered, you know what an anthology book or what you know, being in a book with other authors can do for you. This is a honestly a playbook that you want to copy. And you know, you go from it's not just a book, it's the summits it's the press releases, it's the TV streaming, it's the you know, we are actually going to be at the the Emmys so you know we have a we have a table at the gift center where the Emmy winners come through and choose the gifts that they get to. They get to take home from the Emmys. The book is one of those gifts. It'll be at the world. The World Cup Hello, in Monaco, shortly. So this is something that, you know, Deb, Deb Drummond has really, again accepted the mission, literally, of creating this platform for all sorts of women from diverse backgrounds. You don't have to be an entrepreneur, you don't have to be in the media, you don't have to be in film or in radio, you just have to really want to help and inspire other women and build up, you know, people and women as they go through their lives. And they encourage each other, and they encourage everyone around them. So I'm just going to take a few minutes and just kind of go through a couple of the people. I mean, they're literally 262 People in this book, I'm gonna go through like 10. So it's definitely worth the read. But you know, starting with, you know, the producer, Deb Drummond, she's on page 364. She was actually in on kickstart the conversation earlier in Episode 11. So go back and listen to that. But she created and mission accepted media, basically, you know, for the mission of the 262 movement to give these platforms, the creative, hope based fun, all in those willing to help others determined and fabulous entrepreneurs, to have those platforms for, from the book, to the, to the summits to the, you know, the press releases and the book launch and the wine club. It's just been incredible. And I know that you know, if I could say anything to Deb, it's what she'd say to everyone else, which is just to stay grovy. She is very grounded. She's very determined. And she is a network Maven. So if you'd like to connect with Deb, definitely get the book and and all her contact information is there. But Deb Drummond from Mission accepted media, the next person that I kind of wanted to highlight and go through who is again a close friend, and mentor, mine is Angel Tuccy . She's on page 448. And she has been also been on kickstart the conversation. She was in Episode Five, one of the OGS kickstart the conversation. She's a medium matchmaker, so you know, the stories that you have the message that you have the sharing that you want to make sure to get out there, she helps you actually, you know, create a match, particularly for podcasts, but she's also done for radio, TV, YouTube articles, journalists, you know, basically being a matchmaker between media and your story. She is also a pivot master. And you know, she she is absolutely lives the life of when you follow your heart. You'll never make a mistake. Her you know, to word you know, saying for everyone is to sparkle on. And she does she sparkles if you if you know Angel, you know that that she lights up a room when she comes in and she absolutely has your best interests at heart. Honestly, everyone could use a little bit more Angel juice in your life. So if you could use some more Angel juice again, pick up the book and learn a little bit more about Angel. The next person I wanted to highlight was Jackie Cote. Jackie cote, is on page 276. And she was actually on Episode Six. She is one of the OG manifestation squad. So she is you've heard me talking about manifestation squad before she was in Mexico with us. When we managed to manifest the presidential suite with its own private pool. We were there for 10 days, we hung out. It was amazing. Jackie is the ultimate I got it girl, you know originally, she lost her mom when she was very young, five years old. So she became the you know, I got it, you know, I

can do it. I can make the dinner, I can do the laundry, I can watch the kids, I can fix the car I couldn't, you know, basically she became fiercely independent. But that had a little bit of a drawback in that she had a hard time letting people in because if she could do it, then she could control it. And that became a bit of an issue until she she really kind of let go of that control and let others into her life. It all changed when you know she decided to be free to be free of the expectations to be free of the you know, the constraints and restraints that we put on ourselves and really, you know, live into the moment and she's now traveling the US in a four The two foot I think RV with her husband and her puppies and she's really kind of she lives life every day free. And she has an incredible coaching practice where she helps entrepreneurs, especially women actually live free and be free. So, page 276 or episode six, Jackie cote is all about being free. The next amazing woman that I want to talk about is Amy Janece Amy is on page 236. And Amy, if you know Amy, Amy lives out loud, and lives loud, she's amazing. She is the epitome of if you just listen, life will happen. She has always been a behind the scenes of person. She's a ghost writer, she was behind the scenes for a large seven figure business where she was doing it and the tech. So she's always been that, you know, kind of that wizard behind the curtain. And, you know, right as recently as a couple of years ago, she put herself forward and she became seen and she stepped into a business that she didn't expect to step into because she listened to what what life was was telling her. And she is now an amazing image stylist and color analysis coach. She has a system in place to make sure that you are presenting yourself, you know, on the outside, what matches what you know, how you how you are and how you present on the inside. So it's making sure that your outside matches your inside and she's phenomenal at it. So again, she she really does Live Loud. She's all about being seen. And she's on page 236 She's one of my my favorite people. She was on episode 14 If you want to go and take a listen to episode 14. Next, ah man, Jan Jan Hoath, Jan Joy Hoath. Jan is a bright light in the darkness. She's on page 370. She's also been on episode 31. And she's all about a joy led world. So she really wants to, you know, have people drop this idea that you can only play when the work is done. She wants everyone to stop sacrificing joy for success and start really enjoying the full thrill ride that is life. She is all about joy filled leadership. And she talks about you know, Joy up she wants to she wants everybody to kind of joy up. And it's it's, you know, it's like Nikes just do it. Jan's is joy up. So she is she's just you know, she's got a smile that that would light up the world does light up the world and and she really wants us, you know, particularly women on very successful women entrepreneurs who have done all the things, checked all the boxes, and maybe not living the life that they want. She wants to help them to find that joy. So Jan Hoath or Jan joy, quote unquote, author, page 370. Amazing, amazing woman to get to know and if you buy the book, you can find her in the book. My next shout out is to a dear friend Carina Reeves. Carina is on page 286. She was also on episode 36 of kickstart the conversation. And Karina is all about magic. She is all about the magic. That is you. It's not that you have to find the magic. It's not that you have to, you know, like generate the magic or manifest the magic. You are the magic and she is able to connect to that through herself. And then she helps other people connect through that she's actually a cellist and has you know, globally performed. She connects very powerfully through music, and now connects actually through relationships. She connects that magic, if you will, through relationships and helps others do the same. So as you take care of yourself and as you are, you know, propping yourself up and finding the magic that is you your relationships around you will only you know get better they will only benefit so she has a she has a little bit of a note in the book that where she talks about sipping champagne in a lavender field after a concert in Siena, Italy. And I absolutely can see her doing that just head back eyes close champagne in hand. sitting amongst the lavender just soaking it all in and enjoying it. She is pure presence. And if you want to get to know Carina a little bit better, absolutely get the book.

The next lovely lady that I want to talk about is Dianne Jamieson. Dianne is on page 134 of the book. And she is that type A personality. She's an admitted perfectionist, she's highly competitive, she was an athlete. And you know, she did everything that socially we do get, you know, comments for and we get, you know, praise for, you know, being the best being the first being the hardest being, you know, the most successful being the whatever. And she has taking a little step back from that she now challenges this notion, and this, you know, this need to conform and really actually leans the other way and leans into being different and and helps others do the same. So it's, you know, no more conformity, no more restraints. It's all about just, you know, leaning forward and playing every day. So yeah, you can find Dianne on page 134 play every day is is her moniker. And Johann Johann Callaghan . Johann Callaghan is my good friend from Dublin. She's on page 84, she is a certified sleep, science and health coach with therapeutic healing. She has a really deep understanding of the relationship between sleep and rest, and your well being. And so you know, she really helps with that, you know, getting getting things off your mind, getting, you know, getting all the crap out of your head. So you ever go to sleep, are you ever going to try to go to sleep, you lie down and you're just your mind will not shot up, like the to do list or the things you didn't do or the regret or the you know, I wish I had or whatever is going on in your head, Johann is actually able to, you know, help you kind of release that so you can get a really good night's sleep. She is all about self care, and really listening to your body and resting and giving yourself the time to not only recover, but reflect she lost her daughter, Megan, and you know, went through a journey of you know, being able to forgive and to nurture and to heal from that. And she's really creating her own reality. And she helps others do the same. And sleep is just like so important. I mean, Johann's whole thing is about sleeping well. And I think that that is something that most creatives and entrepreneurs and so on, we tend not to do women in general tend not to sleep well. And you know, Johann can help you with that. So again, page 84 Sleep well. The next person that I wanted to give a shout out to I actually was able to meet in New York is Mindy Scheier Mindy is the organizer of the Runway of Dreams. And she's the founder actually, and the Runway of Dreams. Mindy is a fashion designer and she's been a fashion designer for 25 years. She's got three kids and her middle child is disabled. He has a disability around muscular dystrophy. So he has some fairly challenging things that he has to you know, he has to wear braces or you know, have canes to walk and, and what Mindy realized as a fashion designer is that there is very little stylish and functional apparel for those that are disabled. It's either like sweatpants or, you know, shorts, and that's kind of it. And that's disheartening, especially for kids as they're in, you know, high school or, you know, they're growing up and she shares the story of a gentleman who was a paraplegic, and it took four hours to get him dressed. By the time that you know, they they harnessed him about a bed and got him into his clothes. Got him you know, already four hours to get dressed, and then four hours to get undressed, based on you know, his physical limits and limitations and what you know what he could wear. That's like that's just bonkers. And Mindy took on the challenge of creating accessible, stylish and functional clothing for those that are Disabled, I actually was on the, the summit that Mindy was on. And I won a prize from her. And it was a ticket to New York Fashion Week, where she was hosting a runway and and they were, she was actually showing the clothes for her runway dreams. And they were, it was the world launch of the Victoria's Secrets law like line for accessible accessibility. And it was amazing, it was absolutely mind blowing that these, you know, men and women would come out in undergarments, uh, you know, in front of this whole room. They're not professional models or anything, but they are showing off the Victoria's Secrets new line of intimate apparel, and doing it like bosses, they were amazing. And, you know, it was, you know, Mindy has been able to get Tommy Hilfiger as well as Victoria's Secrets as well as you know, other fashion designers and brands to really look at this idea of apparel, and you know, accessibility. So kudos to Mindy, she's on page 264 of the mission accepted to 62 women. And she is, yeah, she's amazing. I'm so happy that I won that prize from her, and was able to go to New York and and hang out with my good friend Monique McDonald, who lives in New York, and we went to the fashion show together. So that was amazing. And then the final person that I'm going to announce that's in the book, which probably isn't surprising to you is me. So Catharine O'Leary is on page 240. And the episodes for kickstart the conversation is all of them on all of those. And I talked about finding joy in the journey, not just the destination, because what I have learned in the past is that, you know, focusing only on the destination, doesn't leave you any room for anything else other than living in the fact that you haven't hit the destination yet. So if you don't enjoy the journey, as you're going through through it, then, you know, when you get to the destination, a lot of the times it's kind of anticlimactic, and it's kind of like Okay, great. Yeah, I made that much money, or I, you know, got that job or whatever. And you look back and you realize that, you know, like over the how many ever years that it took to get to that destination, you actually didn't enjoy anything along the way. And that can be disheartening. And I've lived that, and I don't want anyone else to live that. So definitely finding joy in the journey is something that I would like to you know, make sure that people are being mindful of. And then, you know, I talked about the ideal client Academy, and the power of authentic connection through curiosity and business. You've all heard me talk about that before. And you know, my moniker in the book is ask questions. So everyone gets a two word little moniker that's in the bottom right hand corner of the right page of their write up. And, you know, mine is ask questions. So that's just when people of the 262 people that are highlighted in this book in this amazing mission accepted rock legacy and tell all, I encourage everyone to go out and get the book. Again, it's on Amazon, it's called Mission accepted to 62. For women, creatives, ultra printers and media, it has been a pleasure to be a part of the project part of the movement. If you want more information about how to be part of this movement, let me know and I will connect you to the right people. But the book is definitely a fantastic networking tool for those of you out there that want to connect globally with women that are in different industries. It's powerful. It's informative, it's inspiring. And I just want to take a minute to thank Deb Drummond, for putting it together for Angel tosee for making sure that I got into it, and encouraging me along the way. And for all of my former episode, guests, and, you know, future episode guests from the book, it's definitely a movement. It's going to be a couple of years through the book tour. It's getting a lot of press and it's you know, going to the Emmys and going to the world. polo match and it's it's just been a lot of fun. So, I hope you go get the book. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions, let me know. And you know, thanks for listening and for everyone out there. Just you know keep asking those questions and keep the conversation going