Wednesday, March 25, 2009

What began as a tea party ...

... has quickly transformed into a national movement!

Women on Fire is a membership organization of women who share what they are "on fire" about in their lives. And, they support and inspire each other to reach for their dreams and goals.

Our latest project is a book filled with inspiring stories of Women on Fire who share their own success strategies after working through a particular struggle.

Interested in learning more? Go to: www.BeAWomanOnFire.com

The book is also available at www.DebbiePhillips.com

The 20 inspiring women who wrote the book's chapters are featured in this blog.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Meet the Women on Fire book authors...

Hi, I'm Debbie Phillips, the founder of Women on Fire~

I've always been inspired by the energy of brilliant, dynamic, caring women coming together to create something more vibrant than what they could on their own.

(I live near the ocean on Martha's Vineyard and call this my "rising tide lifts all boats" theory!)

And, it's one of the many reasons I started the Women on Fire organization in 2003.

For how strong and powerful and helpful we can be together and for each other.

It all started when I introduced many of the fabulous women I coached to each other. We met at tea parties (we still do!) and then they invited their wonderful women friends and then they included theirs and so on and so on until who knows where all these terrific women came from?!

As a coach, I also saw women struggling -- in isolation -- with challenges many of us face at one point or another moving through life. It seemed a shame to me that any woman should ever have to 'go it alone' when there is so much richness in sharing our inspiration, strategies and support with each other.

That's when the idea of a Women on Fire book emerged: real women telling their real-life stories and struggles and how they made it through their obstacles and challenges.

I selected a group of women, many of whom I knew well or personally coached, who had struggled mightily and crossed barriers and boundaries to find relief, discover success and achieve a level of peace of mind.

It is my pleasure to introduce these women to you -- the chapter authors of Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!)

I look forward to your comments and maybe even getting to meet you in person along the way!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

This Woman on Fire was once burned out!

When you meet Kelley Black in person she is the picture of vibrancy, health, peace and calm.

Not so a few years ago. It's hard to believe looking at her today she was once sick, exhausted and in emotional and physical pain from living a hard-charging, high-anxiety life as an advertising executive.

In her riveting chapter "The Courage To Be Who You Are," Kelley shares her journey and resurrection from haggard to healthy -- and what she is doing today to prevent other executives from falling into the traps that once burned her out!

For a sneak preview of her life and work today, you can visit her at www.balancingtheexecutivelife.com.

Kelley and her husband Andrew Zelmer, an architect, live in New York City.

Shopping Is Serious Business To Her

She grew up in a brown bathroom.

But that didn't stop Holly Getty from pursuing a life that was much more colorful and creative, eventually designing her dream-come-true work as a style consultant in New York City.

Holly writes about her experience growing up where her skills to dress others and to shop were not exactly appreciated...and in fact she received many messages that her 'gift to shop' was frivolous and a problem. Ouch.

Only when she started to value her amazing abilities -- and do the work she was destined for -- did she flourish! Read Holly's account of her journey in the chapter "Taking Shopping Seriously."

Holly is pictured here with Women on Fire Founder Debbie Phillips.

A native of Pennsylvania, she lives in New York City and you can learn more about her at: www.hollygetty.com

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

From frustrated wine drinker to wine educator!

Laurie Forster was a software sales executive who transformed her love and appreciation of wine into a career that now includes being an author, speaker and media personality.

How did this dynamic mom of one become The Wine Coach?

She shares her inspiring story in the Women on Fire book in her chapter "Something to Wine About."

Here she is pictured in the middle of filmmaker Meredith Paige and Women on Fire Founder Debbie Phillips during a recent Women on Fire tea party in New York.

She is the beautiful one on the right! We were in Naples, FL one evening celebrating her success as The Wine Coach®.

(You can imagine she's a lot of fun to go to dinner with!)

In Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!), Laurie tells how she created a brand-new career by combining two of her deepest passions -- her love and extensive knowledge of wine and her experience as a life coach.



Are you looking to find your passion and turn it into joyful, profitable work?

You'll love reading Laurie's chapter!
She also is the author of The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine. You can learn more at www.thewinecoach.com.

Laurie lives with her husband Mike who is a chef and their daughter Michaela in Easton, MD.


In Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!), Laurie tells how she created a brand-new career by combining two of her deepest passions -- her love and extensive knowledge of wine and her experi

Laurie lives with her husband Mike who is a chef and their daughter Michaela in Easton, MD.