My special guest today is writer Joyce Shulman and we’re chatting about Walk Your Way to Better.
Bio:
Joyce Shulman, founder and CEO of 99 Walks and Macaroni Kid reaches millions of moms each month with hyper-local and national e-newsletters and websites, social media content, video and her Weekly Walk podcast. Having created a one-of-a-kind digital platform, she connects families to the wonders of their own communities and inspires women to chase their dreams and crush their goals.
Her most recent endeavor, 99 Walks, is on a mission to combat loneliness and improve fitness through the simple act of encouraging moms to walk together. Her mission? Nothing short of getting a million women walking.
Throughout her two decades as an entrepreneur, Joyce has guided SAHMs, teachers and even MBAs to success. Joyce shares how moms need to “take care of mama bear” and avoid the “martyr mom syndrome." Her experience in business and leading mompreneurs makes her a coveted speaker where she shares tactics for beating burnout, fueling creativity, goal crushing, how walking can fuel productivity and performance, and more.
Joyce received her Bachelor's in Business Management from the University of Maryland and her Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from St. John's University School of Law. After law school, she spent more than a dozen years as a New York City lawyer where her practice focused on complex commercial litigation.
A self-confessed idea junkie, in 1998, Joyce abandoned law firm life to liberate her entrepreneurial spirit and focus on the things that are most important to her: family, community and empowering women to chase their dreams.
Please tell us about your current release.
This is a book about walking your way to better. Everywhere we turn, people, podcasts and gurus promise a simple path to the life you want. But few of them work. Why? Because simply reading the words is rarely enough to call your heart and mind to action. This book is different. Each of its 99 sections provides a thought-starter, insight, or story. But I don’t want readers to just read it -- I want them to read a section and then lace up their sneakers and head out the door. Because while we walk, our brains process in a unique way, enabling us to recognize the things that are truly holding us back and the changes we actually need to make. And along the way, it is my hope that readers will begin to forge a powerful connection between their minds and their bodies.
What inspired you to write this book?
Walking has always been the way I process the most important things in my life and how I shake off my stress and untangle my thoughts. And for the past decade, I’ve been a student of what messages women need to hear and what thoughts I think are most powerful to share. I realized that, if I could marry those two things, I could really help people begin to effectuate change.
What exciting story are you working on next?
At the end of the day, I realized that, with every business I’ve created and every group I’ve been a part of, the most important element is community. That true sense of belonging and of being part of something bigger. I’ve identified what I believe are the 9 essential elements to forging a true community and that’s at the heart of the book I’m currently writing.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve written as a way to express myself and to process my thoughts for as long as I can remember. I’m one of those people who doesn’t know what she’s thinking until she writes about it. I wrote my first book 25 years ago -- I think it is still in the bottom of a drawer someplace in my office.
Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I have way too many jobs … I’m the co-founder and CEO of both 99 Walks and Macaroni Kid … and am a mom to two kids and one dog, so finding time to write is very challenging. Fortunately, I am a true early bird and my most creative and productive time is between 5:00 and 7:00 in the morning when most of the world is still sleeping.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I rarely know where I’m going when I start, so my writing is often a surprise … even to myself.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be an entrepreneur even though, as a child, I didn’t have the word for it. But I knew I wanted to create something that people wanted and that helped make their lives better.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
If you have a dream you simply can’t give up. There are no shortcuts. There are no easy solutions. The thing you want most is going to take a boatload of work so if you want it badly enough, get to it and don’t give up.
Links:
Feel free to visit her other tour stops to learn more about Joyce!
May 25th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Grab your coffee and join us in celebrating the launch of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better. You can read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book.
May 26th @ Karen Brown Tyson's Blog
Stop by Karen's blog today and you can read a guest post by author Joyce Shulman about how you become inspired to write a book.
May 28th @ One Sister's Journey
Visit Lisa's blog today and read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
May 30th @ One Sister's Journey
Stop by Lisa's blog again today where you can read a guest post by author Joyce Shulman where she talks about why do women need to take care of themselves. A timely post in this day and age!
May 31st @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit Anthony's blog today and read his review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 2nd @ Lady Unemployed
Visit Nicole's blog and read Joyce Shulman's guest post about beating brownout (the precursor to burnout).
June 5th @ Wellness Connection Utah
Visit The Wellness Connection today and read thoughtful insights into Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 6th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Stop by Anthony's blog again where you can read a guest post by Joyce Shulman on how walking can help with loneliness.
(Today) June 8th @ Reviews and Interviews
Visit Lisa's blog today and read her interview with Joyce Shulman, author of the book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 10th @ Bookish Tay
Stop by Taylor's blog today and you can read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 12th @ The New England Book Critic
Visit Victoria's blog today and read her insights into Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 13th @ Simply Nourished Wellness
Visit Stephani's blog today and you can read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 15th @ Jessica's Reading Room
Visit Jessica's blog today and make sure you read her review of author Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 17th @ Bookish Tay
Visit Taylor's blog again and you can read a guest post written by Joyce Shulman about how to keep fear from standing in your way.
June 19th @ Coffee with Lacey
Stop by Lacey's blog and read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 19th @ Second Wind Leisure
Stop by Terri's blog today and read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better. You can also read a guest post written by the author about the power of yet.
June 20th @ Cafeyre
Visit Karoline's blog today and read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 21st @ Simply Nourished Wellness
Visit Stephani's blog again and you can read a guest post by author Joyce Shulman about the value of walking. Don't miss it!
June 22nd @ And So She Thinks
Visit Francesca's blog today and read her interview with Joyce Shulman, author of Walk Your Way to Better.
June 23rd @ The Frugalista Mom
Stop by Rozelyn's blog today and read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 24th @ Cathy C. Hall Writes
Visit Cathy's blog and read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 25th @ D-Mom Blog
Don't miss Leighann's review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 26th @ Deborah Adam's Blog
Stop by Deborah's blog today and read her review of Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
June 27th @ Deborah Adam's Blog
Visit Deborah's blog again today and you can read a guest post by Joyce Shulman about the commitment to women walking their way to better.
June 28th @ Bev A Baird's Blog
Visit Bev's blog today where she reviews Joyce Shulman's book Walk Your Way to Better.
Lisa, thank you so much for sharing our conversation and the book! I'm honored to be featured on your blog.
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