It’s Meet the Author Monday! Each week we meet a new author and get to know a little about them, their writing process, publishing experience, and tips for other writers. Today we’re talking to Michelle S. Thomas, author of The 8 Qualities of the EXCEPTIONAL Black Woman in Business and Entrepreneurship.
About Michelle S. Thomas:
Michelle S. Thomas, Your Relationship Surgeon is an 8X Internationally Best-Selling Author, Certified Life/ Relationship/Business Coach, Motivational speaker, and Multiple business owner. She serves individuals and businesses by precisely pinpointing what is “infecting” their ability to achieve PEACE, PROSPERITY and PROFITABILITY while placing them on a permanent path of success!
Michelle often refers to her life as an UNFRAMEABLE DEGREE, as she has leveraged her years of collective first-hand experiences to become the reputable author, motivational speaker, and coach she is today. Whether she is public speaking, performing as a conference Keynote speaker, conducting online courses, or offering personal or professional coaching services, Michelle approaches every situation with empathy and offers vetted, executable solutions that were formed from real life experiences rather than in textbooks. This mindful deviation is what has led to Michelle’s impressive track record since the beginning of her career.
She is the proud FOUNDER/ CEO of The Exceptional Woman Enterprise to further her passion for initiating REAL CHANGE for women across the GLOBE. The Exceptional Woman Enterprise umbrella consists of the World RENOWNED The EXCEPTIONAL Woman Tour, a global Bi-Annual conference designed to initiate LEGACY changes for all woman within 195 countries. A Global Business Platform, AECENDT, that connects students, businesses, and entrepreneurs with vetted tools and revenue drivers that is relevant to today’s latest business practices.
From her publications, speaking engagements to her coaching services, she has a genuine ardency for her career and demonstrates that by delivering powerful support and pinpointed guidance that enables her clients to build a life of peace, profitability, and ultimate happiness. This, in conjunction with her reputation for providing realistic solutions to real problems and dedication towards optimizing the human experience, has all positioned Michelle to become a respected expert who is committed to helping her clients conquer roadblocks and unlock their fullest potential so they can thrive across every aspect of their lives.
About The 8 Qualities of the EXCEPTIONAL Black Woman in Business and Entrepreneurship:
The 8 Qualities of the EXCEPTIONAL Black Woman in Business and Entrepreneurship is a reference book designed to give “voice” to women business owners, especially those women of color. There are many successful black women business owners that have cracked the code of surpassing racial, gender, financial and generational roadblocks, however we have been “conditioned” to keep those solutions “privately” amongst ourselves. There are numerous reasons why, however the biggest one tends to be FEAR! Fear of loss, threats, and exclusion. Throughout time people of color have watched our “culture” be profited by other ethnicities, we have experienced targeting and ostracism, and frequently are not afforded salaries equivalent to our levels of contributions and experience.
We have the opportunity to fill the gap of access and opportunities for women of color, it is time for us to take our place as the ANCESTORS of the next generations of women business leaders. We aim to feed their need to hear from women that look like them, speaks their language, understands them, and share similar experiences. Women that are willing to share their stories of trials and tribulations while understanding that “her PURPOSE was bigger than her PAIN.”- Michelle S. Thomas. Women that can increase the human connection within their business foundation!
This book is a SOLUTION-DRIVEN guide that can help to articulate our experiences, while providing a “blueprint” for success that will not only help current and future black women business leaders but provide the world with a NEW foundation of understanding the true qualities of black women in business. It will contain thought provoking, challenging, engaging content and materials designed to highlight the professionalism of black women in business, clarity of what it takes for us to have a sustainable revenue driven operation, and a revolutionary guide for future women leaders, not just black women but ALL women. While providing much needed business statistics and solutions, we believe that it is imperative that we also allow you to hear from women that are walking this journey daily. These amazing women will provide a peek into their real-life experiences as business leaders, traditional owners, and entrepreneurs. They will share the tips, tools, and resources they use to operate as an EXCEPTIONAL Black Woman in Business and Entrepreneurship!
Author Interview with Michelle S. Thomas:
This post contains affiliate links which means, at no cost to you,
I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase using those links.
- Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Energizes
- What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Trying to force the words instead of allowing the words to guide their vision.
- Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
Yes, I have two books that will be published under my pseudonym in the next few years
- How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
My first book was not planned to be a book ironically. We had lost one of our sons and I did not want to read all of the grief books that people were rapidly delivering to my home, I wanted to FEEL anything other than pain. So I grabbed my laptop and wrote about what I knew, blending a family. I wrote it in scenarios with real life situations that most blended families struggle with, but are too ashamed to discuss. As I typed (which was what it was in the beginning… just typing) the stories and characters begin to guide the storyline. I got caught up emotionally within my own writing. I learned from that experience what it really felt like to be a writer! After publishing and hearing the responses from people around the world about how my writing helped them so much, I understood the power of “real talk!” My books may not reach everyone, but they connect with those that need it.
- How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader?
I beta test my content a lot through my speaking platforms. I recognize through being a speaker that you can’t just “beat folks over the head” with information, you must make it palatable and digestible without offending.
- What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?
Truth and ethical portrayals
- How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have three that I am currently working on
- What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I combine literary research, statistics, and lots of “human” research. The time varies, depending on the weight of the topic
- Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
Absolutely, I learn from them all. I never want to be that writer that only craves praises and ego-boosting reviews because that does not help me grow and improve.
- What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Writing multiple books with different genres simultaneously
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
The President of the United States
To learn more about Michelle S. Thomas, here’s where you can find her:
Websites: www.michellesthomas.com, www.exceptionalwomantour.com, www.theexceptionalblackwoman.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/yourrelationshipsurgeon
Instagram: @yourrelationshipsurgeon
Want to be featured on Meet the Author Monday?
