SPEAKER_01 0:35

Welcome. I'm Marissa Shadrick, host of the Resilient Faith Online Show. I'm an online marketing coach and certified copywriter. And in this podcast, you'll find a different perspective on the external and internal challenges we face as online entrepreneurs. Join me for some inspiration and practical tips as we create positive change in the world. To continue the conversation, join me in my private resilient creator community. Go to MarissaShetter.com forward slash community. Hello everyone. Welcome back to another podcast episode, and I have a special treat for you. So if you need a little inspiration, you want to tune in and listen as I continue to kind of tee this up and tell you a little bit about Laura. Laura Broom embodies resilience and transformation. Her journey marked by breast cancer, the loss of her oldest son, her life-saving heart transplant, and a sudden divorce after twenty-seven years of marriage showcases the human ability to triumph over adversity. She created the I Cope to Hope three-step resilience framework to help others conquer their fear of change, overcome challenges, and rediscover joy. Her upcoming book, Flourishing After Adversity, a three-step action plan to transform pain into purpose and embrace joy again teaches the same resilient skills Laura used to experience positive growth while starting her life over at the age of 58. Welcome, Laura.

SPEAKER_00 2:22

Thank you, Marissa. It's a joy to be here.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

I'm so excited to have you on the podcast because you are someone that really embodies resilience. A lot of people use the word a lot, but you have gone through a lot. So first of all, I want the listeners to know where are you coming in from? Where do you where do you live?

SPEAKER_00 2:43

I am in San Antonio, Texas. And uh I've been a Texan all my life.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Oh wow. That's awesome. Do you have family there as well?

SPEAKER_00 2:53

I do. That's great. A native Houstonian. Yeah. So my family is uh still in the Houston area, and um I live with my twin sister.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

I know that's so exciting. I actually got to meet her twin sister, and they are twins, and they are hysterical together. They are just I like partners in crime, right? She's amazing. She's amazing. So she's a big supporter of you, I can tell, because you guys get along so well. I'm I'm kind of envious. They really get along well. The little don't you call yourselves the Giggle twins?

SPEAKER_00 3:29

The Giggle twins, yes. We're we're like each other's best friends. So it's it's wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

That's great. That's awesome. So to give people a little bit of context, why don't you uh share a little bit how we ended up working together? So it's been a little while now. Now that I think of it, it's been like a couple years that we've been working together. So why don't you give them a little bit of the backstory?

SPEAKER_00 3:53

Yes. Well, um, gosh, we met. Uh you were one of my um uh mentors and um and uh you started a new program and I was so excited because I was put into a change of life um when I um you at 58 when I had to start my life over again and I I had to learn a new um way of earning money. I had to um just really start everything over. And we uh we just met and you were such an encouragement to me and and gave me such insight, and I thought I can really learn a lot from you, and and you've been so encouraging and so uh helpful, and um because of your background and being a um a copywriter, and and I didn't even know what that was, and I've heard of it, but I was like, what does somebody like that do? And uh so it was such a a I learned so much because this was a completely different um, I guess like a way of uh learning a new business. I I had been an entrepreneur before. I was co-owner with in a business with my um husband at the time, but this was something completely different. Uh doing business online, I had a lot to learn. And and you were so helpful and and so knowledgeable and really encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.

SPEAKER_01 5:35

Oh, thank you so much. And and you're so right. It is different. There's some similarities between uh having a local business, you know, brick and mortar, some similarities, but so different how we prospect, how we interact online, because we don't have the advantage of face-to-face contact all the time. And so it is very different. And so I thought it was really smart of you to start with copy connection, which is one of my programs, and learn copy, even though you didn't know exactly what it was. And that's everybody is wondering that. I realize more and more I say copyright and they go, copy, what? What is that? What do they do? Is that copyright? And I go, no, it's not copyright. But uh the power of words, right? Because that's what we have, that's our tool online, whether it's in text or audio or a video. We have to leverage those words. We don't have a lot of time to do it, too. We've got to do it quickly. So you did so well in copy connection. I mean, you were just doing every lesson, you were learning your copy was transforming. And then you ended up joining me for Amplify Your Authority. So that was awesome. That was the beginning of uh, was that the beginning of this year? Of trying to think. Was it almost 12 months ago?

SPEAKER_00 6:52

Yes, I believe yeah. Uh yes, I think it was January. Or gosh, I don't I don't know. I just know whatever you offered, I wanted to stay in because I was learning so much. And uh it and yeah, uh I mean copy connection, that truly opened my eyes to I guess like the world of marketing, uh, because I I had no experience in that. And um and and your lessons were so uh so easy to understand and you you walked us through the lessons and and the the homework was great practice to put into action what we learned. And and I realized it's not as hard as I thought it was, but I you know when you don't deal with marketing, you just don't it's like um it's just like a general word, you know. And but I but learning and copy connection, I I learned so much, you you know, dissected all the the pieces, and and it really it really resonated with me in the different parts. And like I said, I I got to the point where I did not want to miss a live lesson because I knew I would if I if time was really tight for me, I'd have to really find time to listen to the replay. So it made me motivated to be at the lesson live so I could ask questions and take my notes and um be ready to to hit the the homework.

SPEAKER_01 8:35

Copywriting is such an essential part that when I offer amplify your authority, which is more of the components of building an online business, for those of you that don't know, it it's a six-month program, but the first 90 days is an intensive where you learn the system. It's about learning first the first month, getting the branding right, the messaging, all of that. The second month is traffic, trying to figure out you know how you're going to get clients and I have a system for that so they can begin to prospect in a smart way without burning out. And then the third month is really about the products and having those multiple streams of revenue. Copywriting is so important for all of that, and I didn't want to give them a piece or a slice. So now when people sign up for Amplify Your Authority, they get copy connection as well because I feel it they complement each other and it's an important part. So um, so yeah, you kind of came along when copy connection launched, and then as I was implementing Amplify Your Authority, you decided I'm gonna just stay in. And so it's been great. So, what kind of results have you seen from being in both programs? Because you've really dived into both of them.

SPEAKER_00 9:47

Yes, well, what was excited when we started Amplify your your uh message, it kind of put everything from copy connection, it it just melded everything together. And so within the the first three months, I had a speaking opportunity that I was so excited because I think I was probably one of the few people who actually had um a one-sheet uh my media page um to to give to the um to the event. And uh and that was so uh that took so much pressure off and uh learning how to um uh apply the the speaking template uh to my message was even um even so helpful and because I went in listening to some of the other speakers, it was hard to to s to understand what their messages or the because we we had like 15 to 30 minutes to speak, um, but I felt like mine was structured so well um because I learned how to do my opening and my three points and and and I had a lot of compliments and that was that was great because doing my first speech was very hard. It was online, thank goodness, but but uh still you know because you do tend to want to do that comparison thing, and it's like no, don't don't compare, just to concentrate on yourself and and it it went well.

SPEAKER_01 11:24

It was very I re I remember that and that is one of the things that we do in the second month is create your your press kit or your one sheet to position you. I didn't want to scare the audience and tell them I kind of push them into public speaking, but I do, you know, and there's different ways to do this. It could be, I know most people go, oh no, I don't want to do that, I don't want to join our program, but it it is, I mean, think about it. Speaking is part of what we do, whether it's online, on a video, on a reel, uh, whether it's a video maybe on your website, we're always speaking, and so why not leverage that and learn to do it correctly and create talks for being a podcast guest or even on a summit or an in-person event, which um really that first opportunity you had was the first of many. You started getting some public speaking opportunities, and you even spoke at my Tennessee event, and you did a fabulous job. So polished, it was wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 12:23

Oh, thank you. It was it that was a nice opportunity to to speak live. And uh I think it was one well, it was the the second time. I it uh I I really enjoyed the smaller events speaking live. But um, but it was so wonderful to be prepared. I think that's the thing. Yes, if if someone said, okay, you're gonna have to do a a presentation, of course, you know, that's one of the number one things people are scared of, but uh but when you come into it prepared, it it really is just if if you have a little bit of nervousness, that's good because that that means you're ready to to take on that that task. But um, but yeah, it was uh it was so nice being prepared and having a template. And and and then I could just reuse that depending on if my audience changes. Uh it's just I gotta tweak that a little bit, but it's it's really wonderful. I can use that um presentation for any type of talk.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

Yeah, absolutely, because it's a different audience. So the core remains the same. You just tweak the opening. That's awesome. I'm excited because you have, I sort of want to transition into your book because you've been working on this book, and I really appreciate all the kind words that you said, by the way, about copy connection and amplify your authority, but I really want to focus on you a little bit and talk about this book. What inspired this book?

SPEAKER_00 13:55

I had a lot to say. Sometimes you can't cover it in about 15 or 30 minutes. Uh yeah, the the book has been a labor of love, and I never thought I'd ever write a book. But because of what I've been through, and I've overcome um quite a bit in uh over a short period of time, um, you know, four life-changing events in a five-year period. And I I realized if I can do it, I want other people to know they can overcome hardship and and still experience joy in their life. And and so um, you know, I I've had I've gone through quite a bit of challenges, but nothing like what happened um from you know uh beginning 2015 um with my um breast cancer and losing my oldest son to suicide and uh then a couple of years later a heart transplant and the divorce. Um that was uh that that was a lot to to overcome and learning how to deal with my grief. And when I got to the acceptance stage, I had to decide what am I gonna do now. And so the the book kind of tells some of my um my stories. Um I didn't always handle them well. I've I've learned uh along the way uh how to strengthen my resilience and in tools and coping strategies that I now can apply to anything that I come across, big or small. It's the framework that uh three-step framework that I find that it it does help and it does work. And people always ask me, well, how did how did you get through that? That would devastate me. And I just want people to know, you know, adversity can make you bitter or better, and it's our choice. And I chose better. And so I'm I want to share what helped me with other people, and uh can't solve their problems, but it can give them the tools and the coping strategies to help them overcome their their challenges.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

That is amazing. I don't want to gloss over the fact that these were four life-changing events in a five-year period. Is that correct? Did I hear that right? Yes. That is major because just one event can derail people. And was the first uh event that happened was that the breast cancer? Was that the first?

SPEAKER_00 16:43

Yes, yes. Uh I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and and then when I stopped the chemo, um, which fortunately the chemo worked, but when I stopped it, it um at at the time I didn't know it, but it it I started having heart issues and heart problems, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and it turns out that I had a genetic marker that the chemo turned on the congestive heart failure, and my twin sister has it too. We didn't, I mean it was a it's a long story of how we discovered it was genetic. Um, but if I hadn't gone through that breast cancer and and re you know, started having the congestive heart failure sys symptoms, we wouldn't have known it was a genetic issue. And um so um uh our our brother has the marker too, and um each one of their children has it too. So it it's not doesn't guarantee you're gonna get congestive heart failure, but we just have to be proactive and you know just um get a baseline um you know test. But but yes, and then uh three months after uh my chemo stopped is is when my um and my oldest son, whom we had adopted from Russia 10 years prior, um he died by suicide. And uh so I I I was in the hospital um getting ready for some cancer surgery um when that happened. And um had a a lot of wonderful supportive people around me and um which helped me get through that. And and then a couple of years uh later is when I was diagnosed with the uh needing a heart transplant, and that was at the beginning of COVID. So, you know, uh right when COVID shut down, so it's actually when I went in the hospital.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Yeah, five five life-changing events, not four, five and five years. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 18:49

Well, yeah, I mean COVID was kind of in there anyway, you know.

SPEAKER_01 18:53

But yeah, because COVID really messed with a lot of people, you know, a lot of people had loss, a lot of people are seeing their point of view of things is a little different now. There's a lot of things that happen because of COVID, but all of these things that happen, I mean, just the cancer alone and finding out this news. I am so sorry for your loss, but finding out about your son when you're getting ready for surgery, I mean, that alone, and they can't postpone it, right? Because you need to have the surgery. I mean, that is heartbreaking to hear that, right? And so the fact that you were able to recover um is miraculous in itself. The heart transplant just even waiting, because I've heard stories that you have to wait, right? You have to wait for a match. How long did you have to wait?

SPEAKER_00 19:47

I I expected to wait four to six weeks, and and they told me um it could even be longer than that because of COVID shutting everything down. And um so because I since I have O positive blood, it's very common. And so for to give blood, it's great, but to receive an organ, I'm one of many trying to, you know, vie for uh, you know, an organ, uh heart transplant. And so I mean, so that was even going to be kind of, you know, so that was kind of a strike against me, COVID and just waiting for the right match, because there's so many things involved in um matching a heart, it's tissue and blood, and I mean it's it's it's it's mind-boggling um because you know, you you don't want the body to reject, it's gonna see that as a foreign object anyway, so you you don't want your body to reject it or get an infection. And so um again, you know, yes, my faith played so much into all of this. And so I when I went in the hospital in April, I brought my work with me because I was working from home anyway, um, running the day-to-day operations with the business. I'd already started delegating my work, but I I just brought everything into the office because it couldn't have visitors. I had to, you know, talk on the phone or you know, um Zoom. And so I thought, well, I'm gonna get bored. I might as well be productive. And six days later, they found a heart for me. Perfect match. So the doctor said, You found a good, strong heart for you. I'm going to the airport to make sure it's a good match and bring it back and we'll get you into surgery. And I I I did that evening. I I got my new heart, and two weeks later I went home. It was Mother's Day weekend. I was so excited and to I thought this is the best Mother's Day gift I could ever have. I I got a new heart. I get to spend it with my family, and and then uh a month later I I found out I was going through a divorce. Um, and my husband was in another relationship and and uh chose that after almost 30 years of marriage, and and um so I moved in with my sisters. So that was a real trying time. Trying to I mean it was glad I was recover I was having a good recovery from the heart transplant, but the the divorce um was very devastating at the time.

SPEAKER_01 22:31

So let me backtrack a little bit. Did you say you They found a match after six days. Yes. Was that correct? It was a miracle.

SPEAKER_00 22:41

And you it was a miracle.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

You were already expecting it to be four to six weeks, and sometimes I've heard it could take longer. But you in six days they found a mat that was a miracle in itself. That was fantastic. And then you're you're done with that hoping that okay, this is now behind the divorce. That was were you thinking that that was a possibility, or was that a surprise, or did you know anything was wrong?

SPEAKER_00 23:08

Or oh well, you know, in in every marriage you have ups and downs, and and we had been trying to work through stuff and the the business was stressful. We had gone to marriage counseling, and you know, you you you take the vows. I didn't I didn't think we would end up in a divorce, I honestly didn't, but you were committed to to work it out.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Yeah, you were committed to it and you were working in the business.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

You know, when I was going through the grieving stages, uh when I got to the anger stage, you know, yes, of course I was angry at him, but then it it made me realize he moved on, and that's what I had to struggle with. And then I got mad at myself because it's like, okay, you're pining for something that's not ever gonna happen. There's no reconciliation is not an option. So what are you gonna do now? Are you going to keep suffering and reliving that pain over and over again, or are you gonna pick yourself up and move on? That was the the changing point. That's when everything because I stopped focusing on the past and I started living the present and trying to build towards my future. That's a lot of what the book is about is um coming to making that decision. And and some people, you know, like I talk about in the book, you you can choose to be a victim or a victor. And it's it's their choice, you know. I can't make it for them. So I I think that's the first step in moving forward after hardship.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

And I'm hearing almost that my hearing almost a theme, a theme that each time you you faced a choice, you told yourself, okay, this is your option, which in one way you've empowered yourself to make a choice, but each time it's like you almost faced, okay, Laura, what am I gonna do here? You you got one to two things that you can do. So you made a choice, which I think the hope behind that is that we do have a choice, right? We have a choice of which way we're going to perceive this or go about this, right? Can you kind of speak into that in case somebody is going through something challenging right now?

SPEAKER_00 25:22

It is. You know, and because I can hear people going, Well, I don't like my choices. Well, I didn't like my choices either, going through the divorce. But it's like so you still have a choice. I mean, you can either choose to not make a choice or or choose to make a choice. Either way, it's going to be a choice. And one thing that I I truly believe, because I know I I've experienced this through my my life and everybody else has, is you have to acknowledge that change is going to happen. Change is constant. And and once you understand that things are going to change and you have to be flexible, then that's where it's going to be easier to make choices. And because I didn't like the choices I had at the time, but as I kept going forward, the situation would change for the better or just take a different path. And so if you learn to develop a growth mindset, which is what I talk about in the book, that's the first step, you concentrate on what's in your control to move forward. And and so understanding that change is going to happen, concentrate more on the journey rather than the outcome. You can set a goal, but you if you understand the goal may not be the same thing that you're looking for or that you achieve, you might get it, it might take you to a different goal. And but it's always going to be better. And that's something that I learned out of those experiences in that short period of time. I always found at least one good thing, good thing that came out of those tragic experiences. And and I got to the point where I could find more than one. And but it's it's changing your perspective and looking for the positive. It's not making things up, but it's actually finding the good in things, in the situation in people. Once you understand what you're in control of, which is you know, your your thoughts, your words, and your actions, then you can move forward. But as long as you understand what's out of your control is going to be other people, their thoughts, their words, their actions, you don't have any control over that.

SPEAKER_01 27:50

Absolutely. I think this message is so appropriate for today because there's so much going on in the world. And like I we said earlier, even COVID, there's still the effects of it. Um, and people's perspective has changed a lot about different things. Um you find people kind of online because we're online so much, we find them almost on edge, you know, on edge. And I think this message is so appropriate, especially for today, what's going on in the world. And there's a lot of people that have been displaced from corporate jobs. Divorce continues, unfortunately. There's a lot of people going through divorce, there's a lot of single moms, there's a lot of things going on. And that's one of the things I often share that an email is not just an email, it's a real person behind that email with goals and dreams, but also with problems and challenges. You know, even the good things in life can be stressful, you know, relocation or a marriage or having a baby, you know, those things can be stressful as well. So we're not even talking the bad things, the even the good things can create anxiety. And sometimes we need resilience to raise our four kids and take them to soccer and keep a schedule and maintain boundaries and all this other stuff. So life is full of it. And so I could see how this book, because I was gonna ask you who this book is for, and we never want to say it's for anyone, but I have a feeling this is one situation where we can say it is for people that want to be more resilient, right? And regardless of what's happening in their lives. Would you agree?

SPEAKER_00 29:27

It is, it's for people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired, and they they need something to change in their life. And and and they have that. They they have the power to change their life for the better. And um, regardless of whether anybody wants to come along with them or not, they have that choice. And uh and and I wrote the book too. Um, it's it's very easy, um, easy coping strategies. Uh it's it's easy to understand, it's broken down into baby steps. Because what I my goal with with this book and with my message is to let people know it's doable, it's achievable. You can do it, you can teach somebody else to do it. Um that's the best way how we learn is by telling somebody else these, you know, the strategies in the book, the the uh resilient skills and the coping strategies. And um and we can pass this down, leave a legacy of resilience to the next generation, our children, our grandchildren.

SPEAKER_01 30:35

I love what you said about learning these skills and then even teaching it to your children, that is or your grandchildren, that is so valuable because they're gonna need those kind of skills. They're gonna need those kind of skills. So I I love that that you said that. And I'll tell you, listeners, that if you knew Laura, she you would never know she has gone through so much because she said she went through four life-changing events. I added another COVID, and I I'm adding another one, a sixth one in a five-year period, and that's the fact that you lost your income because you were helping in your husband's business, you were working together in that, right? And I'm gonna even add another one too, because so you lost your business basically, and then you lost not a house, but you lost your home.

SPEAKER_00 31:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:21

So I just added seven. It's really good. So I keep piling it on because I want to explain to the audience, not to make you feel bad, I don't want to make it, but to explain to me how much she had to face. I mean, think of that, losing your home, right? And and end the business. So we're talking about financial, and that's a stressor right there. But if you had an opportunity to sit down with Laura, she is the most loving, kind, generous, compassionate person you would meet on the planet. Uh, she is just so caring. And I know that that as a resilience coach, because that's how you you call yourself a resilience coach, I know the people that you're gonna come alongside, they're gonna be able to just just from being with you, gain not only the the tools that they need, but you are such an example of grace and kindness that I think they're going to just absolutely want to be able to see things like you see things and use those tools because you uh help them realize that it is possible. And so I just had to say that because I respect you so much as a woman, a strong woman who is daring to do something that most people would say, that's too hard, you can't do that, and yet you're doing it. So I applaud you for that. And so, does the book allow people to connect with you if they because I'm sure you probably have some coaching programs or something for people that want more? Do you have something else that you offer people besides the book?

SPEAKER_00 32:59

Yes, I do. Um on my website, I have um some free resources. I have a uh a workbook, uh, just a simple workbook that is um three life-changing hacks to disrupt thinking traps and reduce stress. And uh that's on my my website, and I have a weekly blog that I put out that's accessible on my website and a weekly newsletter, and uh and I do have um uh ways that uh people can work with me. And uh just wanted to add something um because you you were so kind um with um the words you use to describe me. Um how I tell people now is when I was going through all that three years ago, it's like I stepped out, I got pushed out of my comfort zone and the door was locked and I couldn't go back in to my comfort zone. So I had to, you know, how you get locked out of the house or something and you go, oh no, what am I gonna do? That's um, you know, that's kind of how it happened. It's a just a quick way to tell people, you know, what happened. And and so, you know, I don't want people to be find themselves in that situation where they're forced out of their comfort zone. So, you know, I I have um some some skills and strategies to to help with that. But it is exciting once you start getting out of your comfort zone, you do see opportunities, you do find more joy in your life, and and uh and I want people to know, you know, if I can do it, they can too, because I'm an ordinary person who went through extraordinary things, and I know others can do it, and and probably even do it better than I have, but but I I don't want them to make the mistakes I did. So that's why I wrote the book. Let me help you do it faster.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

So we have a little offer, a surprise for people, because I'm sure people want to buy the book, but the book is not going to be available yet till what date? What's the launch date on that?

SPEAKER_00 35:11

It'll be available to purchase on December 5th and uh on Amazon and all the um you know major um um places to to buy the book. Um but yes, I do have an opportunity right now. Um I am um putting together a book launch team. People join that, they get an opportunity to get the free version of the book. Also, an opportunity to get a free signed paperback book. It's it's free to them, and they there'll be some other resources, fun challenges. Everything is on my website, it's easy to find. Okay, and uh it's and they can sign up there, and it's a private Facebook group, and um, so it'll it'll be a fun time.

SPEAKER_01 35:57

Yeah, I love it because they'll have a copy of the book and then they'll have an extra copy to give to someone too. So that's great, an autograph copy, and then you'll get the reviews. I think that's a great idea. It sounds like a win-win all the way around to read the book and and make sure you get them to take a picture of the the book with them so you can get pictures of people with them.

SPEAKER_00 36:17

Yes, yes, I know. I know. I'm still working on all the details. I'm kind of you know, the I I'm this is all kind of new to me too, but um I'm I'm you know, we'll all learn together.

SPEAKER_01 36:31

Well, no, it's exciting. Yeah, I've seen those pictures where everybody holds up a book, you know, and they get us a little clip of everybody holding up the book. Those are fun, those are fun. So that sounds exciting. So now just to repeat, so everybody knows, you can go to Laura's website and we'll give you all those details. It'll be in the show notes too, and you can join her book launch team, and with that, you'll get an immediate PDF copy of the book. And there's just a few things for you to do, but you'll be able to read a copy of the book and you'll be able to share it with some friends and family, and then you'll end up with an actual physical copy that you can give to someone, a loved one, a friend, a spouse, whoever needs it, and that it would be such a wonderful gift for them. Do you want to give them the website um so that they can go visit that and get on your book launch team? What is the uh website URL?

SPEAKER_00 37:31

Yes, it's iCope2Hope.com, and that's uh the I-C-O-P-E the number two at H O P E dot com.

SPEAKER_01 37:43

Laura, thank you so much for being on the podcast. I really enjoyed having you and hearing your story, and thank you so much for everything that you're doing. You're really an inspiration. I know there's so much more that you do. You volunteer. There's more that we didn't have time to cover, but thank you so much for everything you're doing and really creating change in the world. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 38:04

Thank you for having me, Marissa. I really enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_01 38:08

Alrighty, everyone. Take care and we'll talk to you soon. Bye bye.