Bernadette Boas

An Interview with Bernadette Boas: Author

Sylvia: Welcome Bernadette. Please give our readers an introduction of yourself and a little about your book.

Bernadette:  Hello, I am Bernadette Boas.  I am a sister, aunt, daughter, friend, entrepreneur, chief ball of fire, personal/professional shifter, author, public speaker, radio show host, people connector, and an ex-corporate executive (where my bitch was born and died).  I am founder of Ball of Fire, Inc., and quite frankly, I am a reformed corporate bitch, who for the last 4 years have been experiencing a form of shedding that caused me to write my first book, Shedding the Corporate Bitch, Shifting from Bitch to Rich in Life and Business. After twenty five years living a life that I thought was everything I wanted, was my identity and future, I was handed a pink slip and my ticket to freedom. The book is a view into how the self beliefs we have of ourselves (good and bad), can turn a joyful individual into a painful one, and what it takes to find the way back.

 

Sylvia: Wow, nice to meet you!  I like what you said about being handed your ticket to freedom. I felt the same way when I was given my ticket to ‘freedom’ many years ago working for a mega telecommunications company. In fact, I’ve heard similar stories from other women who left Corporate Hell!  In addition, a recent article in Forbes, ‘Entrepreneurship is the New Women’s Movement,’ by my friend Natalie MacNeil, said “Women are leaving the workforce in droves in favor of being at home. Not to be a homemaker, but as job-making entrepreneurs.”  So, you are not alone… and I commend you for ‘Shedding the Corporate *itch.’  I look forward to reading your book.  What inspired you to write your first book?

Bernadette: Well, thank you Sylvia. On the day I was let go of my twenty five plus year career as a global executive, instead of being angry and bitter, I literally, right there in the middle of the parking lot, let go of the ego, attitude, fear, insecurity and feelings of low self worth, that had consumed me for years. For the first time in a long time I felt joy again, and was the 3-F woman (foxy, flaky, far-out) my siblings knew as a young girl.

At first I didn’t understand what it was that created such joy in every cell of my body. Then a year later, upon facing myself in the mirror, I was confronted by both the ‘bitch’ I had been; along with the pain I caused, and the joyful and rich woman I was becoming.

As a result, Shedding the Corporate Bitch, Shifting from Bitch to RICH in Life and Business, is my apology to the road kill I left in my life, and maybe, just maybe, a prevention tool for others to learn from my mistakes, as well from my lessons.

 

Sylvia: I love it!  Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Bernadette: I wanted to get across in my story that there is no amount of skill, talents, achievement, position or power that one can possess that guarantees happiness; more so than a strong, fearless, confident and empowered mindset of one’s self.

More importantly, I am trying to redefine the word ‘bitch’ in our culture to be something used internally about one’s self – which is what causes people to lash out, versus to be used to hurt, judge or ridicule someone else. Whether we are the one being cruel, or judging the one that is, what we need to be concerned about is what ‘one’ is doing to them self – as we cannot control what others do.

It took years but I eventually learned that all of the position, power and prosperity in the world, does not make for a full, rich life. It is all of the things internally within our heart and even our head that takes precedence over all things. So why spend one more day miserable, fearful, insecure, afraid, or downright hating ourselves. Life is over to fast to waste it on those ‘bitches’ in our heart and our heads, as opposed to the things, people and places that bring us joy.

 

Sylvia: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Bernadette:  We all have a story that can help someone; even ourselves with some part of life. It could be something technical, business oriented, make believe, or simply our own or another’s story. As Nike says, ‘just do it’…. and do it for you. If, and when it benefits someone else; even better.  

 

Sylvia: You are so right. Telling your story is like a work of art… unique and special.  

What marketing techniques have you used to sell your books and which ones have been most successful?

Bernadette: Wow, there are not many I have not tried, such as high visibility tactics like my radio show, radio show appearances, public speaking events, workshops and webinars, virtual book launch, public book launch and party, social media mania (all over Facebook, Twitter, Website, Blog, Articles), Amazon profile, and Author Profile portals. I have given copies away free in exchange for reviews, speaking engagements, fans and followers, etc.

The most successful have been the radio shows, webinars and public speaking. If someone can hear the story, they want to learn more.

 

Sylvia: Why should we buy your book?

Bernadette: If you need to understand what makes a nasty woman (or man, or boss, etc.) tick, what causes them to be so cruel to others, and even what demons they themselves possess, then it is a great read for that. It also is a story many people relate to, even if it has nothing to do with business, but maybe, how their divorce, raising kids, cancer, or other life issue caused them to lash out on others as well as on themselves.

Every one of us deal with internal demons that can wreak havoc on our mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and personal and professional lives. Many of the readers have said the book allows them to relate while providing tips for overcoming their own.

 

Sylvia: Is there a special place that you prefer when you write?

Bernadette: Not really. I typically write when the urge calls me, or when I have hit a major deadline so I have to get it done. Then it can be anywhere, as when I get going, very little distracts me.

 

Sylvia: What projects are you currently working on?

Bernadette: Readers of the book are looking for two things, which I am working on at the same time. First is an update to my shedding or transformation. The book was written and submitted for publishing while I was still working through my shift from bitch to rich – as I say now. Many readers want me to follow up with what has happened since.

That request in turn has also created a demand for an understanding of the ‘shift process’ I experienced. So I am writing a guide and workbook of the Shift to RICHes Formula or stages of my transformation, that they can leverage for themselves.

I am so determined to help others not go through what I put myself through, that I want to give them the tips, tools, resources and support needed to take massive action on shifting their own mindset now. Why waste another day.

 

Sylvia: That’s great! You’ve created a movement! What was the most challenging part of writing the book?

Bernadette:  There were actually two core challenges I experienced. One was going back into the ‘corporate bitch’ mindset and reliving the mean, curt, cruel situations that I created for others and myself. I was so devastated by the pain I created that I stopped writing for a couple of months. My editor caught on and gave me a swift kick in the reality butt. That got me motivated again.

Second – it was the constant rework of it to get it just right. After a while I was sick and tired of my own story…. But knew it had to be done. Once again, my editor helped to keep me focused and motivated. I highly recommend anyone to partner up with a good coach and motivator.

Sylvia: Can you share a little bit about your shift journey so we can get a sense of what you’ve had to go through to get where you are today in both your life and work!

Bernadette: The very day I lost my entire identity of twenty five plus years – corporate, high level, international traveler, highly paid executive, beautiful home and vacations, etc… and was dancing with joy, really caught me off guard. I couldn’t grasp why I was so happy losing it all. So, like divorce or a death, I forced myself to dig deep and deal with the pain, hurt, shame, embarrassment, and disgust I both caused and felt, while at the same time worked to discover the time, events and places that caused me to give up my sassy, precious, childhood identity. A great deal of what I learned about myself then brought up another round of fears, insecurities, and pain I had to confront. It was a vicious circle, but I simply kept pushing myself to deal with it all because I was determined not to be that person anymore. It is how the shift from bitch to rich concept came from. There were stages of my own shedding that became obvious to me so I used it then and even now to continually evaluate my personal strength and confidence, in order to shift it away from anything negative that could impact it. I call it the Shift to Riches Formula.

 

Sylvia: What does success or riches mean to you now?

Bernadette: Wow, it is opposite of everything it once was. It means self love, peace, contentment, happiness and joy. It means forgiveness, compassion and understanding. It means giving, not receiving (selfishly). It is all about putting joy into the world, not taking it out in any way. It means freedom from what anyone and everyone thinks of me – period. And while I still love financial security, beautiful objects, and nice toys, they are no longer the motivation for my actions, words and work. They are merely the rewards I may earn as a result of giving good to the world.

 

Sylvia: What is your POWER WORD? Why this word?

Bernadette: I would have to say Bitch. Not because it is provocative or in your face, but it really gets across to me the pain and harm that our own negative, ugly beliefs can have on our heart, our souls and our life (and business). It is the perfect word to describe self-hatred… and maybe it can be a word that provides someone a wake up call to create a shift away from the pain and toward the joy of life.

Sylvia: LOL (laugh out loud)!  Now that’s a POWER word!  Seriously, there is a powerful message in your book. Thank you so much for sharing your life experience with us.  Please share your social media and book contact information.   

Bernadette: You are welcome. I can be found basically anywhere that is ‘Shedding the Bitch”

• Website – http://sheddingthebitch.com
• Facebook – search Shedding the Bitch or http://www.facebook.com/shifttorich
• Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/shedthebitch
• Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/shedthebitch
• Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Shedding-Corporate-Bitch-Shifting-Business/dp/1600379400/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1