The Confidence Factor for Women: It’s Our Anniversary

One year ago today, I published the first book in the Confidence Factor for Women movement, The Confidence Factor for Women in Business. Since it’s release, I have been approached by numerous publishers, selling thousands of copies, presented and collaborated with companies globally, numerous television and panel appearances and much more.

If I can only go back with you over a year ago when I did not think the first installment would ever happen. I was at a point of transition in my business. As a consultant, I grew frustrated with all of the low expectations for women and gradually began to close my practice and just focus on my real estate portfolio investments. I debated if women would even be interested in learning some of the root causes for our fears and inequities in the marketplace after confiding in some of my harshest critics who warned me that the book was a critical mistake that may lower my value.

So, I shelved the book several times and tried to ignore my desire to let the world know what I was working on and how the research was impacting my life personally and professionally. Ironically, in a twist of fate, I wrote an article about Confidence that was sited in a major publication and received a call from TEDx and was asked if I would discuss the article in detail. That book that I kept placing on a shelf right next to my desk in my office for the last 7 months was resurrected for an 8 minute opportunity of a lifetime. As I wrote my TED Talk, the draft copy sat right next to me as I pondered re-purposing it, or even deleting it.

I hit the stage in March 2015 at TEDx and gave the most powerful 8 minute talk of my life from a place of authenticity to a packed room of women in Rochester, NY. What most viewers cannot see in my talk is my eyes were connecting with women in the audience who were crying and shaking as I spoke. I held it together, but as I spoke, I realized that a book that was on the shelf next to my glass desk in my office needs to reach someone.

I went home on March 10th and I needed no validation to make a move. With an inbox of over 200 “thank you” notes from the students, their mothers, aunts, cousins, teachers and those who had a chance to view via Periscope, I knew that I had to stop letting the doubters have all of the fun. The book was sitting on a shelf for 7 months and no one knew it except my family and I.

The TED Talk was not going to be released for another 3 months, so I wanted to make it happen ASAP. However, the reach of the unreleased talk began to spread. Before I finished my photo-shoot to arrange the cover, video clips began to surface of the talk and I received an overwhelming push to end the hashtag and publish a movement.

One year ago today, I walked away from my former company, The Millionaire Mindset, and said YES to a movement that has reached across the globe. I already knew it was time to transition into a movement that would make an impact. Women in India, China, Australia, Mexico, UK and more connect with me either via social media or at private events and become quite transparent with me about their leadership struggles. My goal has always to get women to view the value within themselves and stop delaying the journey.

I want to thank every woman (and man) who has aligned with the movement and has been touched by the book. Thank you for making the Confidence Factor for Women in Business a bestseller and a global powerhouse. I do not take your comments, emails, and messages lightly as this assignment to impact the lives of women who have been vulnerable to the voices in their head that continues to hinder them from taking their seat at the table. I am in the fight to make inclusion a global mission, not just a hashtag.

Thank you to my trusted advisors, Dr. Juanita Richardson, Dr. M. Bose, my husband and others who played a key role during the process of challenging me to shift the market.

And imagine, it all started when I looked over to the shelf next to my glass desk and realized that my words and the research that I worked for 4-years to deliver, was valuable to others.

To learn more about joining the Confidence Factor for Women in Leadership movement for exceptional leaders, visit www.theconfidencefactorforwomen.com

Carol Sankar is a business advisor for high level executives, service based visionaries and a leadership expert who is committed to assisting passionate, high-achieving leaders simplify their lives while increasing revenue by becoming productive, not working harder.Carol has been featured in Madame Noire, LearnVest, The Steve Harvey TV Show, CNNMoney.com, TEDx, Daily Worth, Entrepreneur Magazine and Essence Magazine. For details, visit www.carolsankar.com