Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lacey Pruett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lacey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In my second book, I discuss how success is personal and defined within a person’s heart, not society. What may be successful to one person, may not be what successful looks like to another. I wish someone would have explained this to me sooner, as I spent the first part of my working life chasing society’s version of success. To be your version of success, you have to start with self-awareness. What makes you who you are, and what authentically fulfills you? Starting with this self-awareness will give you an end feeling. When I have this ____, I will be successful. From here, we reverse connect the dots to the start and identify how to get what we truly want. For me, I wanted freedom, but spent the first part of my working life chasing the most money, no matter what it took. Sadly, that took my freedom, which is why within financial gain, I felt lost and wanting something more.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am the author of three books which give readers an entertaining and informative look into what a person really wants. My first book uses my past experience with on-stage roles, chasing society’s version of success, to discuss the importance of self-awareness in goal setting. Knowing what you want, and what you’re willing to sacrifice for what you want is a great journal prompt for everyone. My second book ELEVATE, takes a deeper dive into mindfulness. Sometimes knowing more about who you are and what you want, brings even more questions to the surface. Knowing why you are the way you are, how you are designed, brings insight into how to make life more fulfilling. My third book, Miles With Maximus, discusses mindfulness from a canine’s perspective. This book blended together my love of self-awareness and dogs. Spending time with my beloved canine family members, helped me unlock even more secrets about who I am and about my life’s purpose. Imagine expanding your mind beyond even what you can learn from other humans.

I’ve been a creative person my entire life! I loved writing as a child, and I wanted to write books for a living. Because of the society pressures and roles women are pressured into, my path took me into the broadcast journalism field. Alongside a full-time corporate career, I became a television show host and commercial actress to showcase my creative side. I kept a blog before social media was a thing, so I could build upon my creative writing goals. After reaching success in the pageant world as the title holder, I had the opportunity to serve as a public speaker and presenter for numerous companies and organizations.

Each of the opportunities I had and each role in which I served led me to who I am today. Managing my books, speaking engagements, and hosting wellness events is my Plan B. Once I finally stopped chasing society’s plans for me, I realize Plan B should have been the plan all along.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

With the comfort (and salary) of Corporate America, I started looking for creative roles where I could use my writing and speaking skills in a creative way. I signed with a couple of talent agencies which brought me on-camera gigs, voice work, and public speaking opportunities. I moved at the pace of opportunity, while keeping my full-time corporate job. I was overwhelmed most days, running off of caffeine and curiosity. I wish I would have put more healthy boundaries in before I did. It took a pain point (I passed out in an airport), for me to open my eyes and look inward to make changes. It would have been easy to back down from the work that fired me up, and go back to the socially acceptable and reliable work in corporate, but I worked with a business coach to develop a plan, with boundaries, to create my own version of success. Because of my decisions with this plan, some people around me were confused, concerned, and even poked fun of me. I had to turn a deaf ear to them, and build a thicker skin. I started focusing more on those around me who were lifting me up, and I focused less on the others. I’m proud of leaning into the direction that fired me up.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that I’m only relevant if I have news to share. When you walk into a social setting, a family event, or see co-workers after the weekend, everyone is looking for the latest news. I used to think I always had to have something cool to share, or I was worthless. After all, who likes being around the person who has nothing to share? For a season of my life, I wanted to be liked by everyone. I had to unlearn this unrealistic expectation. If I’m being true to myself, I’m probably not impressing everyone. That’s okay. I learned it is most important to be true to yourself first, and if others like you, that is cool. I learned that showing up for myself and whomever the day presented, is the gift. Engaging in life, community and communication, is the fun of life. Authentically sharing with others is so powerful, even if it appears boring or simply “normal,” it connects you to the person in front of you. Sharing our stories in an authentic way is where the magic happens, and now it’s what I crave. If I, or someone else, has big news to share, that’s great, but I’m now here for all the stories. I now know, that is enough. I am enough.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laceypruett.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceypruett/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacey.pruett
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypruett/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaceyPruett
• Other: My books and my Author Page are also on Amazon at:

  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lacey-Pruett/author/B07PJW32W1?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Image Credits

John Doty