Why A Podcast, Sherry? Sherry Swift, unplugged.

The darkest year of my life was 1994. In 1994 my Father (who was beloved, committed and an all around great man) toke the life of my Mother ( who was my everything and she and I were just getting good). I buried them a few dreadful days apart and simultaneously became a victim of tragedy.  I was young, early twenties just getting started. I can remember my Mom looking at me and declaring ” Sherry, you are grown up- huh?”…and I wasn’t at all. The drug of choice during that stage was affectionately described  as Valium and dispensed by anyone in my family who was working hard to relive my impossible pain, night terrors and misery.   An impossible time with an elevated  disinterest in life directly connected to it.  I never tried to take my own life, but not because I was smarter or more spiritually connected…nope! You would have to be erect and not in a ball, awake and aware to even make that a possibility.  I thank God for holding me during that time that I didn’t even know I was being held.  I was pretty angry with God at that time. Not only did I not acknowledge or appreciate my spiritual support, I was quite frankly pissed off at the dude ( or chick ) as a result of such a *ucked up outcome for such a family of committed followers! So, what did I do to get my ass back on track,  just 6 months after this calamity? Well, of course I got married!  I got married! You might ask ” Sherry, where were the people in your life to talk you out of that mess”?  I am the youngest in a family of 4 children.  My 3 siblings are all very close in age and relationship because they all grew up in our family home together.  By the time I came along and could remember being there, my oldest sister could have been my mother and was building a family of her own. Everyone else was off at college, etc.  I grew up as an only child. I was already bull headed, I was not going to listen to people that I felt I hardly knew ( although they tried), so to the alter I went!  3 beautiful children, 19 years and lots of dysfunction later,  I knew this was wrong wrong wrong.  Verbal and emotional abuse that makes a person sit down inside of themselves and hide from the light.  I had a light inside of me, a purpose and a design on my life that was not manifesting and what I didn’t realize as I was suffering is that I was actually writing my story and truly becoming ” Sherry Swift”. Nobody else can do “the work” of becoming you, but you. I did the work!  So many more highs and lows that I am happy to share ( and will as we continue forward)  but won’t take up time on this platform because I want to get around to the rebirth and decision.  I walked around with a fixed mind-set for years. Feeling sorry for myself, telling myself the story over and over that justified my understated life. Suddenly, I realized I had to go! I had to grow! That there was an assignment on my life and I need to step into the responsibility of me! That realization set forth a series of actions that changed my life and simultaneously I became a survivor of tragedy. Today, I live in Southeast Michigan with my beautiful wife and I am privileged  to spend my everyday working with people through their growth, challenges and transition from where they are to where they really want to be. I am the President and CEO of Swift Transitions, (a coaching and training company) and we partner with individuals and organizations to impact productivity, performance, profitability and culture.  I am so grateful to be walking and working in my purpose! This leads to the answer for the question ” why a podcast?”. One can only do so many keynotes, coaching sessions, webinars, etc. I want to impact an unlimited number of people and  connect good people to good people in order  to create great outcomes! It’s all about helping people find themselves through information.  I want to change your mind about things that you thought you were sure of!  I want to take the scary away by exposing the path and the possibility.  I believe that opportunity comes through transparency and that secretive silence is the place that our dreams go to die! Today, I live my life in a growth mind-set where I believe everything is possible, that failure is often a necessary detour on the path to success and that sometimes you have to piss some people off and say no to some things and some people to say yes to yourself and your happiness!  Life is a series of sunrises and shit piles and our mind-set is what determines how we navigate this journey.  Through unfiltered conversation with my guest,  I promise you non-judgmental conversation that will challenge your thinking and possibly make way for new understanding and a mind-set that makes the journey more enjoyable.  Let’s connect every where!  You can connect with the podcast on Instagram @ SwiftTalk and Swift Transitions . Find me on Facebook @ Swift Transitions and on Linked in at Sherry Swift .  I am giving away three copies of my book “Grow into Yourself” for this series,  in celebration of growth! Please write me @ swifttalk@sherryswift.com and we would love to get one out to you if are one of the first to write!  You can download and listen to Swift Talk w/ Sherry Swift on  iTunes, Spreaker, Stitcher , iHeart Radio, Blogtalk  and Business Innovators Radio . Finally, please comment and share this new podcast because my ability to share and be a resource to many is only possible through YOU!  Thank you for your curiosity, participation and support!  Life is delicious my friends, let’s enjoy a big ole slice of it together!

Till next time,

Sherry