Unscripted Pivots: Inspiring Stories from WTF [Women That Flourish]

Danielle Sprouls (00:01.889)
Hey WTF community, it's your host Danielle Sprouls, the WTF lady back with another episode of Unscripted Pivots. And today's topic just hits close to home. We're diving into something that we've all experienced at some point. Today we're talking about dreams and deadlines. I mean, how many of us have set those big ambitious goals

and then watched as life's curve balls pushed them further and further away. Let me ask you something. Have you ever had a dream so big it almost scared you? Maybe it was writing a book like I'm doing now, starting a business or even just taking that first leap toward a new career or a passion project. But instead of jumping in, you waited. Maybe because life got busy.

or you weren't sure you were ready. Does this sound familiar? Here's what I want you to think about today. What's stopping you from moving toward, starting again. Here's what I want you to think about today. What's stopping you from moving forward with those dreams? Let's talk about it. You know, we all have this idea that we'll get around to it when the time is right.

But let me be real for a second, guys. The perfect time doesn't exist. We convince ourselves that once we have more money, more time, or more confidence, then we'll make our move. But if you wait for that, you could be waiting forever. And trust me, I've been there. If you've been following my journey, you know I've had this dream of writing a book for a while now. The title is WTF Women That Flourish.

the playbook for flourishing through unscripted pivots. It started last year, had the whole table of contents mapped out, and I even wrote a few chapters. I had set a goal to finish this book before my 60th birthday, which was in August. But then, life did what life does. The book got pushed aside because, well, I don't know, my priorities shifted. And if I'm being honest, I was okay with it.

Danielle Sprouls (02:23.989)
I didn't see it as a failure like I might have in the past. And you know why? I placed it in the hands of the universe and trusted that it would happen when it was meant to. Anyway, my family and I, celebrated that milestone birthday last month with a magical trip to Yellowstone. It was amazing. But in the back of my mind, I still heard that voice saying, hey, you didn't finish your book. You know that feeling, right?

Have you ever had a dream that you sat down for a while and when you finally picked it back up, you realized the timing was just right? Well, that's what happened to me just about three weeks ago. And wouldn't you know, life started lining up things in ways that I just could not have predicted. Just a month after my birthday, I was invited to speak on a panel at a commercial real estate event and Christian White, a great entrepreneur and friend who constantly pushes me.

Casually said hey Danielle wouldn't it be great if you had that book of yours on the table at this event? And I thought what book that book. the one that I hadn't touched in months. By the way, check out Christians podcast discourse with Christian It's an amazing show where he dives deep into entrepreneurship real estate and personal growth and I was honored to be one of his first guests

and I know his insights will resonate with you. Okay, so suddenly I had like six weeks to finish this book, just six weeks and only 20 % of the book was done. But when the universe says, let's go, you go, it was one of those moments where you realize the only thing standing in your way is you. As Oprah Winfrey says, the big secret in life that there is no big secret.

whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work. I knew then that it was time to get to work. And here's where Lucy comes in. My dear friend Lucy had been inviting me to her vacation home in Colorado for years and I finally accepted. I booked the flight just days before the book came back into my life. And that's the funny thing. Sometimes the universe places you perfectly.

Danielle Sprouls (04:50.166)
Even when you think you don't have time for the things you want to do. It's in the letting go and following your intuitive pull that makes the difference. It all makes sense later. So Lucy's place was more than just a getaway. It was a sanctuary. Her home sits on 75 acres of mountains with wildlife everywhere and views, guys, that will just take your breath away.

I'd sit in my bed writing with the mountains changing colors outside my window. The universe truly lined up everything I needed for this book to come to life. Lucy's place gave me the solitude I needed, but more than that, Lucy herself kept me accountable. We were up late at night formatting chapters, getting things done. I'm laughing just thinking about it. And that's the power of having the right people around you.

people who believe in you and push you forward. That experience taught me something powerful about surrendering to the flow and trusting where the universe is leading you. And when we let go and follow that inner pull, the path becomes clearer, even if it feels like a detour at first. But let's talk about what stands in our way oftentimes when it comes to chasing our dreams.

because it's not always about finding the time, but about overcoming the mental roadblocks that keep us from starting or finishing. Let's take a moment to talk about why we sometimes struggle with achieving our goals. Did you know, according to a study by the University of Scranton, 92 % of people never actually achieved the goals they set, often because distractions, lack of focus.

or fear of failure. In fact, 47 % cite distractions as the major reason for failing short. Start again. In fact, 40 % cite distractions as the major reason for falling short. But here's the hopeful part. When we have accountability, our chances of success go up 95%. That's right.

Danielle Sprouls (07:13.054)
95%. That's why having people like Christian and Lucy who pushed me forward made all the difference in finishing my book.

Sorry, Kyle. It wasn't easy. There's nothing magical about finishing a book in six weeks. It took focus and discipline. And that's when I realized the power of showing up, not just for your dreams, but for yourself. You can have all the ideas in the world, but if you don't act on them, they remain just that, ideas. Now I want to ask you, what's the dream you've been putting on?

What would happen if you showed up for yourself today, even if the timing isn't perfect? All right, let's dive in to what tends to hold us back and more importantly, how we can move forward. These aren't just obstacles. We're going to talk about their opportunities to grow. Here's a biggie, perfectionism. Now, many people are afraid to start or finish something because they're worried it won't be perfect.

But here's the truth, it's progress that matters, not perfection. Take that imperfect action because there's no such thing as perfect timing. A lot of us experience imposter syndrome when we're going for these new goals. Feeling like you're not good enough to pursue a big goal or thinking others are more qualified is something we all face. But no one else can do your dream the way you can. You bring a unique

perspective that the world needs. If this all requires time management, that's what we're going to talk about next. We get caught up in the daily grind, right? And it feels like there's no time for personal goals. I get it. But if you don't make time for your dreams, who will? As Tony Robbins once said, it's not about having time. It's about making time. Let's talk about the fear of judgment.

Danielle Sprouls (09:21.92)
We worry about what others will think if we fail or even if we succeed. But the truth, guys, is that people will always have opinions. The only opinion that truly matters is your own. And when we're going for these dreams, another obstacle tends to be motivation slumps, right? Staying motivated after the initial excitement fades can be hard. I know this. That's where discipline and habit come into play.

Small daily actions build momentum even when motivation dips. And you have to have accountability because that's an obstacle that can be real. Having someone hold you accountable boosts your chance of success by 95%. Remember this, we can't do it alone. And lastly, but very importantly, comparing progress to others is something that you have to overcome. Yes,

It's easy to feel discouraged when you see others achieving goals faster than you. But everyone's journey is different. Comparison, as they say, is the thief of joy. Focus on your progress. One thing I've learned is that support really, really matters. I wasn't doing this book alone. I had friends, family, and colleagues pushing me to keep going, even when I thought it was too late to finish the book on time.

That commercial real estate event that I mentioned, it's happening next month in October and my book, WTF Women That Flourish will be there on the table ready to share with the world. Can you believe that? What started out as a forgotten project is now a reality because I stopped waiting for the perfect time and I just went for it. As the great Tony Robbins said, it is in your moments of decision.

that your destiny is shaped. So let me ask you, what decisions are you shaping today? Here's the thing, guys. Life is always going to throw distractions, detours, and unscripted pivots your way. That's inevitable. The key is learning how to navigate those pivots without losing sight of the bigger picture. That's what this book, WTF Women That Flourish, is all about, thriving through those unexpected turns

Danielle Sprouls (11:50.655)
trusting the process and showing up for yourself, even when it feels impossible. So WTF friends, what's stopping you? Maybe you've been putting off that business idea, that fitness goal, that personal project, or maybe it's just taking the first step towards something new. I want to encourage you today, trust the timing, trust the process, and most importantly,

Trust yourself. I am so excited to share more about my book, WTF Women That Flourish, as we get closer to the release. And if this episode sparked something in you, if it made you realize there's a dream you're ready to dust off and pursue, then let me know. Reach out to me on social or through my website. Let's talk about what's next for you. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey.

and for being part of this incredible community. Remember, life is full of unscripted pivots, but you've got everything you need to flourish right through them. Until next time, keep flourishing WTF friends. You've got this.