From Stuck to Published: How a Shift in Mindset Turned a 20-Year Dream Into Reality

By Debbi DiMaggio

By using my 5 principles illustrated in The Mindset In Motion Method, you too can become unstuck.

During the quiet of COVID lockdown, I reconnected with a friend. It had been years since we last spoke, but we quickly picked up right where we left off—just like old times. As we talked, I asked her a simple question:

“Whatever happened to your book?”

I could still picture the pages taped to her white walls from when our kids were little. Back then, her passion project was alive, in progress, and visible in every room of her home. But life happened—as it does.

Twenty years passed. And the book still wasn’t finished.

That was the moment I said, “Let me coach you. We’re going to finish this.”

No More Excuses—Just Forward Motion

We began with weekly calls and small, focused assignments. Nothing dramatic. Just steady steps forward. Her life hadn’t magically opened up. Her responsibilities didn’t disappear. But what changed was her mindset—and that made all the difference.

Our first hurdle was accountability. I stayed consistent: weekly meetings, gentle nudges by text, and a structure that kept her moving. Each completed task gave her more confidence.

Then we tackled the emotional obstacles:

• She was hesitant to show the manuscript to her parents.
  
• She feared announcing it to friends after so many years of “almost.”
  
• She resisted building a support group on Facebook, feeling vulnerable and unsure.
  

But one by one, we worked through each block.

What Happened Next Was Magic

What followed wasn’t just a published book.

It was a transformation.

• A stronger, more connected family
  
• Reawakened friendships from college and cherished communities
  
• Multiple book signings
  
• New doors of opportunity—creative, personal, and professional
  

She became someone new—or maybe she finally became who she always was: confident, capable, and clear on her purpose.

Coaching Isn’t Just About Strategy. It’s About Belief.

What I saw in her, she began to see in herself. That’s the power of coaching.

Today, she’s thriving. Not because life got easier, but because she got stronger.

She traded hesitation for momentum.
Fear for action.
And a long-held dream for a powerful reality.

Final Thought

Mindset truly is everything. Once we shift it, we stop standing in our own way—and we start creating the life we want.

What dream have you put on the back burner?
Who do you need to become to finally bring it to life?

If this resonates, reach out. Let’s talk.

XOXO Debbi