This Was On My Vision Board

Hi friend,

I'm writing this tired in the best way, still a little starry-eyed, and fully in love with Austin.

I won Sans Bar Coach of the Year.

I'm still letting that land.

First things first—thank you to every single person who voted for me, especially my clients. You are incredible, beautiful women who inspire me every day, and you showed up for me in a way I will never forget.

This was my second nomination. Last year I was afraid to rally for myself, because if I didn't try, I could always say, "Well, I didn't even try." This year I got over it. I asked people to vote for me. It was hard. And it turned out to be a gift, because you showed up. You actually wanted to.

I had to ask for help to win this award. I could not do it on my own.

Isn't that just like sobriety? And isn't it just like business? Nobody does this alone and thrives. We need each other.

Here's what I said when I got up there.

Funny thing about second tries. Ditched the Drink is my second business—and my second DTD. The first was a journal called Dare to Dream, created in my closet when I was a latchkey kid in third grade, waiting for my mom to come home. That one had exactly one client. My cat, Big Paw. I was in the business of helping cats live their best nine lives.

Flash forward to 2019. I was one year sober, between jobs, and about to get offers for things I knew were out of alignment—the kind of work that kept me in the drinking loop. Sobriety taught me to listen to that. So I started Ditched the Drink from another closet, the bonus room off my bedroom. I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew I wanted to help women get free from alcohol in a holistic way, the way I had.

And I had help. A husband, Darin, willing to take a chance on me. Darling daughters who are my biggest cheerleaders. A mom who signed up as my first student. And my dog, Rocky, who I lost this year—the best boss I could have asked for.

I've now coached over three hundred women, many of them still with me today, and it is the privilege of my life. These days I coach coaches too, in a collective called—of course—Dare to Dream. Because here's what I had to learn: you are allowed to be heart-centered and business-minded. It's okay and necessary to be both.

Thank you, Chris, and the whole Sans Bar team, for recognizing us. Most of my work is one-on-one with a woman, behind closed doors—private, confidential, dare I say anonymous. So it is really something to get out and celebrate and be seen.

And I know what this award means because of the company I'm in. Lindsay—I'd choose as my coach in a heartbeat. Amanda is my friend. On retreat, one of her clients told me she's a really good coach. I thought, "Yeah." I know.

Harvard professor and happiness researcher Arthur Brooks says a satisfying career comes down to two things—earned success and service to others. And earned success isn't about money or prestige. It requires your meaningful contribution to be recognized. It fills a deep human need: to feel useful, to know your specific skills matter.

The work gives me the service. This night gave me the recognition. This award met a need I didn't know I had—the need to be seen. It is the highlight of my year.

So believe in yourself. Rally for yourself. Give yourself the first vote, whether you're getting sober or building a business. And when you can't do it alone, ask for help. If the first time doesn't work, do it twice.

Thank you so much. Now I can get back to work.

A few more things from that night.

Annie Grace was there—her first public appearance in two years—being inducted into the Sans Bar Non-Alcoholic Hall of Fame. A rarely known fact is that I interviewed with her for a job when I was first starting DTD and feeling very nervous about not having a salary. Ultimately, it wasn't the right fit (and I was of course meant to take the risk of DTD), but I always have admired and appreciated her work. Her book made a huge difference in my journey and many of yours too. 

The group was not a cast of thousands. It felt small enough to be intimate. Meaningful. Not small like sad. Small like first. A small group of committed citizens making a change. The people who blaze the trail are never a crowd at the beginning. It was powerful, and I felt proud to be in that room. The energy and collective passion felt huge even with few of us. It felt like we were at the start of something really great, about to go big. I loved it. 

I met so many wonderful people and reconnected with so many I already knew and loved. More to come on Austin; I'm still here taking it all in. 

One more thing: this was on my vision board.

Manifestation works. Not the magic kind. The kind where you write it down, look at it every day, and then do the hard thing—like asking everyone to vote for you. I am committed to helping each client make their vision board a reality, and it is happening.

This week

• Sunday 8/30 — Yoga Nidra for Before/After Eating (recorded)
• Sunday 8/30 — Masterclass on Eating Disorder Recovery (recorded)
• Monday 8/31—Book Club Call with host Deb, 7 PM CT (5 PT / 6 MT / 8 ET)
• Thursday 9/3—Connection Call, topic: ED Recovery, 2 PM CT (noon PT / 1 MT / 3 ET)

All of it lives inside Insider.

Come with us.

We are moving. It is happening. If you've been watching from the sidelines, this is the week to stop watching.

Two doors, both open:

Book a complimentary call with me. No pitch—you have to survive. Just a conversation about where you are and where you want to be. → link

Join Insider. Daily lessons, weekly masterclasses, live calls, book club, yoga nidra, a 24/7 app, and a room full of women doing this together. → link

Where do you want to be six months from now?

Give yourself the first vote and ask for help.

XO! 

Heather

p.s. Thanks again; I never could have done this without you. I am letting myself soak it all in.