This is Part 1 of the career and life journey with Debbie Weiss

Guest: Debbie Weiss - Bestselling author, speaker, and creator of "The Sprinkle Effect"

What happens when you spend 50 years being the responsible one and suddenly realize you've lost yourself completely?

Debbie Weiss spent three decades running an insurance agency, caring for a father with special needs for 30 years, raising a son on the autism spectrum, and supporting a husband battling mental illness. She was the person everyone leaned on. The one who always did the right thing. The one who handled everything.

But inside? She was miserable and didn't even know it.

At 50, a weekend away with friends changed everything. Debbie realized she'd spent half a century living for everyone else and had no idea who she actually was or what she wanted. Watching her parents live with regret, she made a decision: this wasn't going to be her story.

Now, at 62, while her friends talk retirement, Debbie is just getting started. She's a bestselling author with viral TikTok videos (3.7 million views!), has appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and is building an entirely new career helping others step out of victim mode and into their authentic lives. Always afraid to speak in front of people she finally pushes through that fear and realizes - maybe that's what she came here in the end.

Key Takeaways:

• Why waiting for the "perfect time" to pursue your dreams means you'll wait forever
• The turning point moment that made Debbie realize she'd lost herself completely
• How she discovered she was creative after spending 50 years convinced she "didn't have a creative bone in her body"
• The game-changing mindset shift from "I'm not this" to "what if I could be?"
• Why authenticity on social media (messy hair and all) connects more than perfection
• How one vulnerable speech changed the entire trajectory of her life
• What it really means to stop being a victim of your circumstances

Quotes:

• "I don't want to be that person at the end of my life looking back saying, man, it flew by so quickly and I didn't do what I was here to do."
• "When you suppress yourself, you're suffering. You're trying to hide because what will people think of you?"
• "If you don't let your true self come through, just realize that you're not reaching and helping the people that you were meant to help."
• "I'm not creative while literally creating all these amazing things it's so typical for us women, isn't it?"

Connect with Debbie:

• Website: www.debbierweiss.com
• Instagram: @debbie.r.weiss
• TikTok: @debbierweiss
• Substack
• Books: "On Second Thought...Maybe I Can!" and "The Sprinkle Effect: A Guide to Creating a More Colorful and Fulfilling Life"

Resources Mentioned:

• The Kelly Clarkson Show appearance
• Debbie's viral TikTok video (3.7M views)

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This podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Any information shared here, or through linked materials, is meant to provide general guidance and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional, such as a physician, therapist, or coach, for personalized support, diagnoses, or treatment. Use this information at your own discretion and risk.