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Shelly Rachanow comes from a long line of butt-kicking women.  She is a graduate of The George Washington University and Emory University School of Law.  Her first book, If Women Ran the World, Sh*t Would Get Done is now on a sixth printing and now available in Korean.  Her second book, What Would You Do If You Ran the World?, a guidebook for inspiration and action filled with everyday ideas for women who want to make the world a better place, was released in February 2009 and has received reviews from the Sierra Club, Body+Soul Magazine, Library Journal (starred review), and more.  Shelly has engaged audiences around the country with talk titles including “If Women Ran the World, Sh*t Would Get Done” and “Saying YES to the Life You Want!” and she is thrilled that her books and talks celebrate all the fabulous things women do.

Shelly, you originally worked as an attorney.  Tell us more about your journey to become an author.

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be an author (I’ve had a book in my hand ever since I could hold one).  But I sort of took this detour down People Pleasing Lane and ended up an attorney, and I was really miserable in that profession.  In 2003, a friend in his late twenties died instantly of a heart attack.  I realized I didn't want to spend the rest of my life doing what I didn’t want to do. That gave me the courage to take a chance and say yes to my dream. 

Your first book, If Women Ran the World, Sh*t Would Get Done, has a sassy title. What inspired you to write that book in particular?

My mom is one of the most amazing women I know.  She raised three kids (one with a disability who still requires daily care), worked outside the home, fought for better laws for the disabled, and still managed to cook dinner every night.  Day in and day out, she did so much!  One day it occurred to me…while my mom is extraordinary, she is not unique.  Like so many women, she gets amazing things done each and every day.  I wrote this book to honor and celebrate her and the millions of women like her.

Why do you think women don't fully realize how amazing they are?

My mom and I have an on-going discussion about this very point.  She says, “I don’t do anything amazing. I just do what needs to get done.”  I think the real truth – for her and for all women – is that our ability to get so much done each and every day (often without complaint), is what makes women amazing in the first place.  There’s a reason Margaret Thatcher once said, “If you want something done, ask a woman.” 

If you could require every woman to do one thing, right now, to jump-start their lives, what would it be?

Say YES to yourself…and feel good about it!  As women we are so good at doing for others, and yet it can be so hard for us to do for ourselves.  Get rid of that guilt and know that you are completely worthy and deserving of the life you want.  Whether you want five minutes to yourself when you first wake up or an equal chance at signing the biggest clients at work, write down every butt-kicking thing you are ready to demand from now on.  Let today be the day the world learns the new rules for dealing with you!

Your latest book is called What Would You Do If YOU Ran the World? What inspired you to write it?

What would you do if you ran the world is actually a question I posed in my first book.  Since that book’s release, so many women have shared with me ideas for making the world a better place, and I got more and more inspired as time went on.  Then I found this great quote by Helen Keller:  “I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”  I decided to compile the ideas women shared with me so people around the world would be inspired to find at least one thing they can do to make a difference.

Your book has four chapters:  What Would You Do for Yourself?  What Would You Do for Your Loved Ones?  What Would You Do for Your Community?  And What Would You Do for the World?  What are some highlights from the ‘What Would You Do for Yourself’ chapter?

One of my favorite points from the “What Would You Do for Yourself” chapter is that before we can ever make the world a better place, we have to be willing to make our world the best world possible.  Whether that means leaving a relationship where we are being undervalued or maybe even abused, having the courage to ask for a promotion or try something new, or learning to accept ourselves exactly as we are – like the women featured in the chapter have – we have to be willing to give ourselves permission to live our best life.  Doing so is the best way we can then help others, and help the world.

What are some ‘What Would You Do for Your Community’ ideas from your book?

There are so many wonderful stories of giving and helping in the community chapter.  A few of my favorites include the story of Judee who opened her home during the holidays so Marines at a nearby base wouldn’t have to spend the holidays alone.  There’s Leslie, who started a group for other women whose moms had passed away so they’d have each other to rely on for community and support.  There’s Shannon, whose first grade class in suburban Maryland adopted a class from Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina and sent them supplies and other great things during the year.  The great lesson from these stories and in this chapter is that each of us can make a beautiful difference in our own unique and beautiful way.  And no action is too small, especially to the person or people who will benefit. 

The last chapter is ‘What Would You Do for the World’.  That could probably be a book itself!  What are some highlights you would like to share?

The women in this chapter are amazing.  A couple of examples are Meagan, who’s helping build schools and helping AIDS orphans in Africa.  There’s Pat, who has helped local communities in the Andes become self sufficient.  There’s Mary, who has traveled to Zimbabwe to help the kids there give a voice to there experiences.  The most amazing thing is that when I interviewed these women for the book, each of them wanted to share the same main point, which is that we really are more alike than different.  We can be willing to share a meal or a laugh rather than build a wall or fire a gun.  We can choose to see every person on the planet as a person of significance.  And we can decide each day to act accordingly.

What do you hope your book does for the world?

You know, it’s so easy to get discouraged when we turn on the news. It’s so easy to think, “What can I really do?”  This book…and the women I met and researched while working on it…have shown me that each of us has the power to make a difference every single day.  I really believe that if each of us were ready, willing, and able to help in just one of the ways that we want to help…in the way that means the most to us…we would make the kind of beautiful difference and create the kind of beautiful future everyone deserves! I really hope this book inspires people to do just that.  

What’s next for you? 

I want to continue speaking to groups about how amazing women are and all the ways we can make a difference.  And my publisher and I have been talking about a third book, so I hope to be writing that very soon.

Where can people find your books?

People can find my books online and in stores wherever books are sold.  They can also visit my websites, www.IfWomenRanTheWorld.com and www.WhatWouldYouDoIfYouRanTheWorld.com.

What’s one final thought you want to leave us with?

Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  Whatever idea you have to make the world a better place – start today!

Thank you Shelly! Congratulations on your success with If Women Ran The World and What Would You Do If You Ran The World!