You may already know Tess from her super popular blog, The Bold Life. She is on a mission to help you push past your fear!  She has a new ecourse, 30 Days of Bold, that starts on 2/18, and we sat down to talk about that and also her own journey of living boldly.

Be sure to read to the end to find out how you can receive over $100 in bonus gifts when you sign up for her wonderful ecourse! By the way, I was honored to contribute a video in it where I share two tools that have helped me work through my own fear! I can’t wait for you to see it! 🙂

You write almost solely about being bold and encouraging others to push through their fears. How did you become so bold?

I grew up on a produce farm with nine siblings. We were all very competitive for our parents’ love and attention. It was speak up or lose out. We also began working in the fields and at the Farmer’s Market as young children.  At the market, we learned how to sell and turn our customers into friends! We became experts in sales by age 13! That’s a childhood of bold action.

My biggest challenge, thus far, was getting married and pregnant when I was 17, a senior in high school. Our only plan was “love!” I was the mom to four little girls by age 22. My third pregnancy was twins. We really didn’t have a plan until we began seeing a counselor 10 years later. That was a turning point. We finally had the tools needed to move forward in a healthy and happy manner. There is nothing more difficult than raising children. Nothing! I was only 38 when the twins graduated from high school.

Can you share about a big fear that you’ve managed to overcome. 

My hubs and I both lived in Michigan all our lives. When we were young and stuck, we decided we would move to the Southwest someday, after the girls left for college. We wanted to go to a warm climate!

In 2007, we finally made the move. When the economy was just beginning to go south, we decided it was “now or never.” He sold his business and I transitioned from a therapist in private practice to a courage coach. We sold our house but, at the time, were unable to sell our cottage. Hubs was hired as an accountant in Arizona the night before we left. He actually got the call while we were packing the truck.

It’s never too late to act on your dreams. You have to be willing to do what it takes even if it appears that things aren’t working out. Whatever steps you take, the Universe will meet you half way. We moved away from two daughters and their families.  At the same time, another daughter transitioned from her teaching job to working as a flight attendant.

This meant, as her parents, we can fly anywhere Southwest flies! We continue to go back to Michigan several times a year. For us, our family and grandchildren trump new adventures.

Don’t wait until your stars line up or the economy gets better. Our cottage just sold in August 2012. I’m so thankful we didn’t wait.

Why did you create your ecourse?

I understand what it is like to be paralyzed by fear. In the past, I made mistakes, I spent my time freaked out, playing small, denying and hiding from fear.

I sunk into depression and I hated my life.  One day, when I couldn’t stand the pain, craziness or drama any longer… I reached out for help. I hired a therapist, attended a support group, found a mentor, hired a coach and put into practice what I learned.

Little by little, I turned my life around. I created a new story.  The payoff of my post-fear life…I raised my family; saved my marriage; and became a successful therapist, coach, author, professional speaker, blogger, writer…I achieved things I never would have thought possible.

This course provides the proven tools and techniques that I have used myself and with clients. It’s the culmination of everything I’ve learned. I’m still asked, “How do you do it?” 30 Days of Bold is my answer. You only need to apply it to your own situation. Not only does 30 Days of Bold offer the tools to move beyond fear, it offers a map to self-love, faith in oneself, and risk-taking, so you can positively anticipate your future and achieve a deeper appreciation of life and everything in it. We often look up to brave, bold and successful people. It’s time to become one of them!

I’ve been blessed with very loving and brilliant mentors and teachers throughout my lifetime. It’s my turn to give.

What do you hope that people will take away after completing the course?

I want them to see that they are not alone and that there is nothing wrong with them. We all fail; we all make mistakes; and we all have flaws. I want them to own their power and innate goodness. I want them to use their innate courage and have faith in themselves. I want to see them use their gifts and to offer them to others along the path. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed in making the world a better place to live! Dennis Waitley said, “There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.”

30 Days to Bold is an interactive and live course that begins on Monday, 2/18.

The course is designed to take you beyond excuses, procrastination, worries and doubts…from fear to freedom.  In it, you’ll gain the confidence to take bold action.

Here’s how it will work:

• Every Monday you will receive in your inbox a password that will give you access to the course on a private page at The Bold Life where you’ll find all the material, videos, ebooks and more.
• Access to a private Facebook page with Tess and other bold people in the 30 Days of Bold community.
• A series of personal and heartfelt videos (including one from me)! We each share our own stories and expertise on how we have overcome fear and how you can too.
• A Series of Video Interviews with Tess and other courageous experts.
• 4 LIVE group-coaching calls with Tess.
• Tess’s stories/guidance/wisdom gleaned from helping thousands of people through her work as a psychologist, life coach, and professional speaker.
• Weekly worksheets, lessons, activities, encouragement, and support.
• Over $100 in bonuses and other goodies.

Who is 30 Days to Bold for? 

• Anyone who is tired of false beliefs and wants to live authentically.
• Anyone needing practical tools and concrete tips on how to grab hold of their fears—with a sense of power, excitement, and boldness.
• Anyone who is interested in joining a community of people who are not waiting for “someday” to change their lives.
• Anyone who wants to overcome excuses, rejection, and failure and move from victim to creator.
• Anyone who wants to loosen the grip of doubt and tap into their inner resources.
• Anyone who is sick and tired of paralyzing fear and is ready for greater and deeper success, love, and happiness.

Some final, loving words from Tess:

You can’t think your way out of fear. You must act your way out of it. Once you commit to doing what it takes, you’ll become more confident and courageous in everything you do. You only need to take one small step at a time. All your little steps add up and take you where you need to be.

Once you change your life, there is no going back. You may fall back but you can’t stay back. It’s impossible.

When you learn how to walk through your fears you become unstoppable. 30 Days of Bold is an invaluable opportunity for you to increase your confidence, speak your truth and make the decisions that will improve your life and put you in harmony with your deepest desires.

The course will lead you out of the pitfalls of fear and insecurity and into the power of freedom and innate courage. Change your life and find freedom.