Don't you just love this time of the year when it cools off and the leaves turn brown and falls off the trees...October was a beautiful month for me. On the 6th –it was my birthday. It was also the “13th Year Anniversary” of my empowerment e-newsletter and I am preparing to re-release my story in not --one -- but two books.
Since I had so much to celebrate, I also took some time out to meditate and think about my life and the direction that I was headed in.
One of my new goals will be to build a new audience who will enjoy reading my line of empowerment books.
I named this blog “Team Cathy” and “Project Me”…because I clearly realize for the first time in my life…it’s time for me…
As I watched Oprah's interview on Facebook.com a few weeks ago, after ending her 25 year show on T.V., she said she was torn between "Relaxing" or "Starting Her Own Network -- Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)."
I guess you can say I felt the same way. After spending a majority of my time running an empowerment company (6 years) with a large weekly --then bi-weekly national and international e-newsletter for over 13 years, I opted to close it down –the e-newsletter not my business.
I am announcing that I am no longer in the news business but instead I will continue in the empowerment business...It’s been extremely hard not to pick up the articles or stories on worldwide events and send them throughout the internet. But that’s where “self-discipline” and “will power” comes in.
To help you live even a more purposeful life, I ask each of you who followed me for years in my e-newsletter to follow me on my new journey (Team Cathy) by continuing to sign up your family members, friends, neighbors and colleagues to my blog at http://CathyHudson-Harris.blogspot.com and my company’s mailing list at www.AngelsPress.com while you support all the new releases of my books and articles.
Like Oprah I was torn between "Relaxing" and "Continuing to Build My Business." Some people might say I just needed a vacation…or rest…maybe…but when you know things are not working in your life…it’s time to move into another direction.
I initially created the e-newsletter to expose the U.S. Customs Service which led to me becoming a nationally recognized federal whistleblower in Oct. 1999 (www.TheCathyHarrisStory.com). Other reasons I started the e-newsletter was to bring people together with like causes and passions. After starting my business 6 years ago the e-newsletter helped me market my business. Because I achieved those things, I felt it was just time to move on.
As I take some time away from my business, I realized the natural sync of things should be SELF, FAMILY, and COMMUNITY. But did I lose myself by trying to help others by publishing this free e-newsletter for so long…maybe…maybe not… But one thing I know for sure, I have lost too many friends to illnesses and diseases simply because they put the community before themselves and their families. I “won't” and “can't” make that same mistake!
If I had stayed in the workplace in 2005 and not retired at the age of 48 after winning my workplace lawsuit, I would have been retiring this year, 2011, which made it extremely important for me to sit back and reevaluate my life this year.
I will never forget the day after I retired. A year earlier I had started to read books on how to build my business and because of my passion for the community, I jumped knee deep into my empowerment business, Angels Press (www.AngelsPress.com).
I could have easily published my books “The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower’s Victorious Journey to Justice” (www.TheCathyHarrisStory.com) and “The Failure of Homeland In-Security: Dirty Little Secrets from An Insider” -- through my own company but since I had recently left the workplace, the books were still too painful to complete.
Because of my love for the community I presented to them "How To Take Control of Your Own Life” (www.AngelsPress.com) a 3-part empowerment book series to help everyone take control of their own lives. So no one should ever doubt my love for the community!
I grew up loving to read. Back then I read mostly magazines -- Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Shape, Prevention, Ebony, Jet, etc. Somehow I knew I also had what it took to write these content-rich articles that appeared in these magazines. I did not get started reading non-fiction books until about 15 years ago. Because non-fiction books have the power to save you time, money and improve your life, I knew I too wanted to write these types of books.
My first non-fiction book came out in 2001, “Flying While Black: A Whistleblower’s Story” through another publishing company. It was so therapeutic for me to write that book because of the issues I was facing in the workplace. My two upcoming books “The Cathy Harris Story” and “The Failure of Homeland In-Security” which tell my story are actually revised and updated versions of “Flying While Black.”
I will never forget how being able to articulate myself in writing literally helped me challenge my managers and supervisors in the workplace when I went through 10 years of workplace abuse. The fact that I was able to document my entire 10 EEO complaints including a Sexual Harassment and Whistleblower case is what made me successful.
Everyone has a book inside of them but for me…it was always about moving into the universe and helping others through my writings. When I get to the end of my life I want to be remembered for my writings…my books and articles which has the power to educate, inform and empower many on how to take control of their own lives --because after all “The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword!”
As I continue to run my company, Angels Press, (www.AngelsPress.com), you can still find me posting on my empowerment blogs -- “Health Blog” http://nongmohealthmovement.blogspot.com “Business Blog” http://theethicalblackbusinesscoach.blogspot.com and “Workplace Blog” at http://cathyharris-workplace.blogspot.com.
You can also find me on twitter.com, facebook.com, linkedin.com, yahoogroups.com, ning.com or email info@angelspress.com or info@cathyharrisspeaks.com.
Most of all don’t forget to look for and read my line of empowerment books at www.AngelsPress.com and seminars and workshops at www.CathyHarrisSpeaks.com.
As I have had time to think about the next journey of my life, I do want to thank everyone for wishing me well in my future endeavors...
As I watch Oprah’s new shows and plan the next phase of my life, I am so glad she decided to move forward with her network. It is absolutely awesome! Hopefully, my next endeavors will be just as empowering as hers. Stay tuned!
