I confess. I am a self-help book junkie. So, when my friend, Victoria Knowles-Lacks, told me she was writing a self-help book, I knew I would want to read it. What makes this book even better, though, is the fact that I know Victoria and I know that what she has recorded and created is true, raw and shockingly, at times, revealing. I’ve put off this review for a while, of MAKE IT HAPPEN: Motivation and Mindset to help you go from burnout to balance, because frankly, it is raw and Victoria is a dear friend. Now, having read it over a few times, and watching Victoria handle the publicity and responses to her life story as found in her book, it’s time to tell you why I believe you would appreciate having this book and its wisdom at your fingertips.
Self-published in July 2019, the book immediately soared to success in the Entrepreneurship, Small Business & Entrepreneurship and Business, Finance and Law categories.
“Writing a book was, hands down, the scariest thing I have ever done,” said Victoria. “Putting yourself out there can be terrifying, so to have so much support has been incredible. I genuinely didn’t expect it. I wrote the book because I just wanted to help one person sidestep all of the struggles I had.”
The book is divided into 3 sections. In part 1, Victoria gives us her history and how she formed the largest, most successful women’s shotgun group in the world in the space of a few years. She also describes the emotional turmoil involved in this endeavor. I met Victoria because of the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club, during a trip to England in 2016 to participate in the wildly popular National Ladies Shooting Day. In this section, she introduces us to her dad, a man I had the honor of meeting before he passed away from cancer. (If you look at the definition of “prince of a man,” her dad’s photo should be by it. Karl Lacks embodied grace and kindness.)
Part 2 walks you through Victoria’s daily practice, including a winning morning routine that focuses on setting her up for success for the day. “A fair few people have got in touch to say they’ve started a morning routine and have put some of the tools into practice, which is really heartening. I’ve had so many lovely emails and messages from people thanking me, as the practices and tools have really helped them make shifts in their lives,” said Victoria.
She also offers a download to a workbook so that you can begin your own journey – from busy to balanced. Victoria has combined sage advice from many self-help gurus and made her own formula.
Part 3, aka “Seven Principles of Balance,” are how she moved from burnout (something I witnessed her going through in the early days) to balance. Victoria cracks the nut on how to live more and work less. If you follow her social media, you’ll get pearls of wisdom on how to cope with daily struggles, as well as inspirational tips.
Throughout the book, Victoria pens powerful truth bombs. Here are some of my favorites:
Victoria also has added a downloadable workbook and Facebook group for support. This book would make a perfect present for someone for Christmas, or for a little pick-me-up prezzie.
Victoria also began offering coaching sessions for small business owners. She explains its status: “I work with a number of small business owners, mainly in the countryside sector in the UK and USA. I’ve wound it down at the moment and I’m just doing ‘Power Hour’ sessions as I prepare to have my baby in a month’s time, but I can’t wait to pick it up again when the time is right.”
Purchase MAKE IT HAPPEN: Motivation and Mindset to help you go from burnout to balance here.
Visit Victoria’s website.
Check out the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
