153. Podcaster/Journalist Sets Her Sights on New Forms of Family

As a child Brandie knew she enjoyed writing, but making a living writing novels seemed like a long shot. Interviewing an assistant principal for her high school paper, “He said, ‘You’re good at this!’ That was a pivotal moment for me. I realized, this is something people do for a job.”

Enrolling in a top Canadian journalism school in Ottawa, Brandie asserted her independence, leaving her home on Vancouver Island. Crafting her journalistic skills, she also learned to speak up for herself and trust her instincts, which served her well as she created her own company as a single mom.

“It’s very easy for people, especially women, to stay where they are in a job if it’s comfortable. But I have advised every young woman I’ve mentored to be willing to move around. You need to do that sometimes to advance yourself. Fear and inertia hold many people back.”

The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin

Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits–to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life, by Gretchen Rubin

The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson and John David Mann 

Success for Teens: Real Teens Talk About Using the Slight Edge, by John Fleming