Woman Rising

Preface

For the first twenty-one years of my life, I was the victim of a religious cult that had tried to mold me into slavery since birth – mute my voice, force me into silence and servitude. My father was the leader, and his house was my norm.

When I escaped his house in the middle of the night in 2012, in a car I’d bought with cash funded by a fledgling business empire I’d started while living in the cult, I believed I’d never amount to much.

I thought I was broken inside. Beyond repair.

Today, I’m living the life I always dreamed of. Despite the mountains that stood before me, I took life in my own hands, made risky choices, went against the mainstream, did things that scared me, and found real passion and purpose. I built a life I love out of less than nothing. I get to work hand-in-hand every day with the love of my life.

Healing and happiness can happen for every broken being on this earth. I can’t tell you how strongly I used to believe, deep down, that I was the most broken one. Yet today, I’ve worked my way up to industry influencer—if you want to call me that. I’m a business builder. A teacher. An author. I’ve written two books on content, hosted a podcast, and created a blog read by thousands of readers. My agency has over ninety people on staff. I’ve built and launched courses, created multiple brands.

I haven’t arrived at perfection by a long shot, but every single day, I’m grateful. Let me put this into perspective for you. At twenty-one, my birthday gift from my father was a letter saying I shouldn’t have been born. I was called “worthless,” a “disgrace” to the family.

Today, I live a life I love. Daily, my best work stems from my greatest passions. I met my husband through content writing, and he was the perfect (if accidental) partner for me. Our story is in this book. I’m the proud mom of a creative, attitude-filled little girl. I eat challenges for breakfast. I’m hungry for life, and the next big idea. I’m in constant pursuit of how I can rise higher.

I become alive in the search of getting better and better at what I do.

And in that journey, I’ve gone from utter despair and brokenness to feeling needed, loved, and knowing I’m leaving my mark in this world.

It’s time to share my story. It’s time for you to read it. Because even if you don’t have a support system, even if you feel pushed down and beaten up, even if you don’t believe in yourself right now as you read this, my story will show you—prove to you—that you have the power to accomplish great things. I’m living proof. My mind was able to restore, heal, and do a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree pivot after years of being told I was worth nothing.

It’s time to get out of the shadows, to shrug off the echoes of past hurts and shake off the pronouncements of those who seek to limit your power. The world needs you. All of you. Let’s rise together. Read my story and be inspired to spread your wings and fly.