Get ready to meet Heather Ross, one of the unforgettable authors featured in Being Brave, arriving December 2024!
In Courage in Chaos: Finding the Hero Within, Heather shares how she overcame the collapse of her marriage and home while raising her son as a single mother. Through small steps, inner strength, and the support of unexpected kindness, she rebuilt her life, proving that courage is found in both resilience and self-discovery.
Heather Ross is the founder of Mindful Business Evolution, dedicated to empowering women through social media strategies, creativity, and mindset shifts. A mom, artist, and entrepreneur, Heather brings personal experience and professional expertise to help others thrive in business and life. When she's not working, she enjoys being crafty and spending time with her dog. Heather's creative spirit and passion for community building shine through her work, inspiring others to unlock their potential and pursue their goals with confidence and clarity.
Champion Sponsor Molly Klipp – Empowering Women to Succeed
From leading a top-ranked Aloette franchise for over 20 years to building a six-figure beauty business, Molly Klipp’s journey is a testament to reinvention and success. Now, through Beauty Business Mastery, she helps beauty business owners boost profits and reduce stress with proven strategies.
Describe the moment when you knew you had to tap into your inner courage and make changes in your life.
The day my husband left me was followed by the day we had to leave our home. My family went from a family of five to a family of two overnight. He may have left because of his mental health, but he left me to question my sanity. I felt alone, angry, hurt, and abandoned. I felt like there was no time for me to feel this way. My son needed me to step up for him — and me. And I had to find us a home.
Walk us through the pivotal moment when you decided to act courageously. What was going through your mind? How did you feel at that moment?
I was lying on the couch of my friend’s tiny two-bedroom apartment. She took us in for a few nights. I was just trying to have a minute to breathe. However, my friend’s company told me I shouldn’t burden my friends like this. I was already terrified and felt alone. With no time to process my feelings, I drifted off to sleep that night, determined to find a way to make a change in my life. This time wasn’t just for me but also for my son.
What inspired or motivated you to take the courageous step you did? What were a few of the first steps you took? What major actions did you have to take?
I did not know what steps to take, but I was working at Walmart, and they put me on greeting people. I put my smile on and pretended to be happy. This man came in. He saw something I didn’t see at the time. He said, “Will you meet me at Starbucks? My wife and I have been looking to share with someone like you.” I have no idea why I met him, but I did. I must have thought, What else do I have to lose? He handed me the book The Compound Effect. He said, “Read this and come meet with us to talk about it.”
Paint a picture of what your life was like before you encountered the challenge that called for you to summon your courage.
Life was lonely, hard, and unchanging. I was repeating the same loops my family had told me I would repeat. I never felt like I was enough, and I was certainly meant for more in life than the same sh*! on a different day, on repeat.
Were there any doubts or fears you had to overcome before taking action? How did you manage them?
Every day, I was faced with the struggles of being a single mom with a chronic illness. Every day, I had to ask myself: What is one thing I can do differently than yesterday? What can I compound to have a better experience in this life, today? I cried, and I read! I listened. I did extremely scary things. I drove to meetings with these people I had met. Their positivity and kindness were nothing like I had experienced. They never asked me for anything, but they kept sharing the books they were reading.
What were some of the challenges or obstacles you faced during your journey to overcome this particular challenge?
I was changing but still in a toxic cycle. I had so many challenges with my vehicles. When my husband left, our main source of transportation was repossessed, and then I got a horrible truck, but it ran. I must have gone through about five cars that didn’t do me any good! My son and I were still homeless, too. I was determined to get a place to live. I had a notebook and carried it with me. Every time I got a “no,” for where we could live during the next stage of our lives, I would ask, What do I do next? I would write it down so that I could process it. However, my biggest obstacle was how I was talking to myself. I was so scared. I felt so alone.
Tell us about a memorable anecdote or turning point in your courageous journey.
I was riding with my aunt, and we drove by an insurance place. I could feel a pull to be in that space. They had an opening. I interviewed for an insurance agent position and was welcomed into the community by a kind and honest soul. She became my mentor for a few years. I continued to read and devour books and was piecing my life together, trying to find the new dream. I learned to recognize my tenacity and resilience in life. I learned how to achieve my goals and to keep building my foundations until they are strong enough to support my goals.
What role models or sources of support helped you stay strong and resilient?
I needed a mentor who was willing to keep coaching me until I got it. I reached out to find my community. My tribe were women who knew their story wasn’t over yet and had the tenacity to keep going. I finally found them. They guided me to programs to help myself and my son learn to see our strengths and our worth in this world. I had to keep taking steps to become my hero! I had to keep stepping into myself to show up every day!
How did this experience impact your life and your perception of courage?
From the outside, it looked like I had a good family — a townhome, two kids, a great blended family. I woke up one day, and it was gone, but I was still here. Every day, I bravely faced my situations and worked to improve them. Every day, I stepped up as a mom and as a human to be the best and do the best I could. I proved to myself that I have courage, and I am brave!
What lessons or wisdom have you gained from this experience that you’d like to share with others?
Find gratitude in the noise of the hard things. When feeling alone, lean into a community that doesn’t want to keep you down but is uplifting and motivating. Listen to the queues and move toward a future where you choose the dream, and the dream isn’t chosen for you. We have to listen, and ask What is my inner knowing telling me? My inner voice was so soft. She was a whisper. I had to get very quiet to hear her. One day, I was getting dropped off after a long day of working, and the message was Women in Business. I had no idea what that could mean. It lead me to form the podcast: Women in Leadership: Body, Mind, Soul, and Business.
What unexpected or positive outcomes emerged from your courageous actions?
I have learned to not only truly love myself, but to also trust myself! My son and I have a place to live, and I was able to help him graduate from high school! I have recovered from my sixteen-year chronic illness! I have a belief in myself that is unwavering and an excitement about the future that I have never had before.
How do you define courage, and how has your definition evolved through your own experiences?
Courage is focusing on the next right step, without all the shoulds that are put on us by others. Courage is stepping into who I am, and who I choose to be in this life! I decide!
Is there a particular message or advice you’d like to convey to other women who may be facing similar challenges?
There is a silver lining in every dark cloud. If you keep looking and learn to listen to yourself, you will find your way out! Sometimes, we have to get real with ourselves to see that we already know the answers to our questions.
In retrospect, do you have any regrets or things you would have done differently?
I feel like everything we go through develops us as a human. I don’t think I could have done anything differently and still be who I am today. So, that said. Ouch! Hard times suck! But we don’t have to stay there; we can keep moving through it!
How has this experience shaped your identity or sense of self?
I was challenged to stay true to myself, to come from a place of love and compassion for the world, while struggling to make a place for myself. I needed to learn to have that same level of compassion and love for myself as I was giving to others!
What would you say to someone who is hesitant or afraid to take a courageous step in their life?
If you don’t stay courageous, what will change? We deserve better. When you realize and own that, you, too, will believe in yourself. In the meantime, come here and let me hug you! You deserve the moments you need to get your boots on!