Sheila Mac - Author, Bootstraps & Bra Straps

Sheila Mac

Sheila Mac, the parent of 6 beautiful, now grown up children, is known as the Lifestyle REBOOT specialist with a passion for helping others succeed. For over 25 years Sheila has been a leader at helping people to BREAKTHROUGH using the Boots Formula© and take their lives to another level through solid lifestyle consulting, and accountability programs. 

Sheila Mac’s passion is helping people learn the skills they need to live their authentic lives. She is an expert on moving forward: Sheila has spent her entire life growing an impressive spiritual and fiscal living from nothing. Her unique story allows her to connect with any client regardless of background in order to help them reach their full potential both personally and professionally.

From experiencing all of life’s hardest challenge, including homelessness, abuse and losing everything in a house fire, Beverly Hills author, Sheila Mac has inspired others through her resilience and determination to gain back control of her own life. Today, Sheila consults individuals, teaches online courses and is a nationally recognized speaker who has made it her mission to guide others with similar life experiences back to empowerment.

Sheila has an innate ability to find a glimmer of light in even the darkest of situations and paved the way through her personal journey for others to follow. Her new book, Bootstraps & Bra Straps, “The Formula to go from Rock Bottom and Back into Action in any Situation!” is a resource for those who need the guidance and assistance to take their life back into their own hands.

I’m so excited for you to connect with Sheila, check out her new book, and follow along as she continues to show up for all the women who have shown up time and time again for others. From being homeless, surviving abuse and losing everything in a house fire, Sheila is now passionate about helping others after overcoming tragedy.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

I'm Sheila Mac. I have worn many hats over the years with my most important role being that of Mother to my now grown 6 children. Three mine and 3 were Foster to Adopt, all deeply rooted in my heart. I am a business and personal consultant, I lead online courses on topics ranging from how to invest in real estate properties to parenting and relationship courses. I also have a podcast that is just becoming a radio show: The Sheila Mac Show. My latest victory was to finally bring my new book to people. The book reached Amazon #1 Best Sellers list and was just launched this August 4th.  Here is a bit of information about the book: Since March, we have had to navigate unimaginably difficult economic, social, and emotional situations. Have you lost your job? Have you lost a loved one?  Are you exhausted caring for your parents? for your kids? Well you can find immediate relief when you read Sheila Mac's new #1 Bestseller Boot Straps & Bra Straps! It contains the BOOTS formula to help move from Rock Bottom back into Action, in any situation...especially right now!

How did you get started?

I started from a very humble upbringing going from relative-to-relative as a young girl, ending up homeless from the age of 10-13 then going into the foster care system age 13-15. I graduated college and emancipated early, supporting myself as an adult. At age 23 I opened my first business enterprise as a young entrepreneur and then ended up running 5 gift stores; I later purchased all the properties which helped me support my own children. The store, like my latest book, has a focus of giving back to the community. While I ran those gift stores I worked with JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act) a government created training program to help at risk youth get jobs and training.  Over my gift store years: I trained close to 100 at risk young adults, many who were preparing to leave foster care as adults and most who could not get hired because of their situation. I feel the fact that I was contributing back to the community and remembering my roots was the main reason that my stores were such a success. 

What inspired the work that you're doing?

One of my fondest memories was while visiting one of my Grandmother's homes. That Grandmother was an incredible business woman who never lost her femanine, you yet ran an incredible name brand swimsuit and bra manufacturing company. She would have her neighbors, ladies in her age group over for tea and they would talk. I was in the room listening and learning from these other strong and stoic beautiful souls. They would share stories of losing their entire family in a concentration camp, or another lady who escaped a dictatorship country with only the clothing on her back and made it here in the US; even though she did not know our language when she arrived, another lady had her husband pass away and was told she would have to close down his Famous Greek restaurants: she KNEW better and took over the business, to spite the times when it was very frowned on for a woman to run a company! I can recall thinking that one day, when I grow up; life would shower me with many blessings and also I would have my own stories and life adventures. I kept these women in my heart and carried their stories with me through my own journey and they have continued to inspire me. That was another reason why I also created an online free community for people to stay connected. Community is so important and seems to me to truly be the key to a prosperous life.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

I am not sure when it FIRST happened yet even at a young age I found myself able to help others with whatever I was guided to say at their moments of difficult times. I can recall that day my Mother told me to get out of the very abusive home I was living in. She told me to run and go stay with my friends, it was 5 in the morning and she had run into my room in the shed in the yard where that family made me sleep. She told me they were killing the pets and had gone crazy. I ran out the window, rolled down a hill and was still half in my night clothes with NO SHOES! I ran a good few miles to the bus stop and jumped on. When I got off that bus, I ran into a young boy a bit older than I who was VERY DEPRESSED. I somehow was able to help him that day and I realized that when you get out of your head and into your heart your own troubles disappear. My heart was so happy when that young boy who later became an incredible gift to our world; thank goodness he decided not to take his life. Anyway, I suppose that may have been the moment that I found my greatest purpose and passion. 

I have always found ways to live my passion and purpose. Thanks to social media I am still able to lead my online courses, host my new radio show and podcast and expand my ability to help others. Now I am even reaching people on the other side of the globe from home. 

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

I feel joy and happiness is part of my daily blueprint overall. It did not always come naturally for me, yet over the years I have learned to make sure to appreciate the gifts in each present moment, staying clear of past or future thoughts and getting into the flow of whatever I am doing.  I believe that happiness and joy are a choice and are not predicated on other people, places or outcomes.  I have found that keeping this in mind and living joyfully attracts even more happy joyful people and opportunities into my world. 

Some of the things that light me up most are; time with my family and friends, my daily bike ride and yoga, walking my puppy, a happy little goldendoodle, leading online courses and seeing that moment when a person decides to take their power back and reboot their lives on their terms. 

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

My family and I have always had a gratitude practice where we go around the table or now that most are grown on the phone, and we share the 3 top things we are grateful for each day. I do my very best to make my home and even my car environment peaceful and aligned to what makes me happy; not necessarily what a magazine or other people would describe as the perfect environment. So like my book, I have designed my home and life on my terms... I have a main residence in a beautiful community intentionally close to the community sports club, I also enjoy a home gym and although I have a television I rarely ever watch the news. I chose to play beautiful music videos, either to meditate to or to dance around my house while I'm cleaning up. Music is a big part of my life, so I do enjoy listening to happy upbeat music.  I also share some free resources such as my boots meditation and introduction to the boots formula. To help people get grounded and get started on their reboot and rebuilding process. 

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

I suppose my younger self would be very happy about how I turned out to spite humble and sometimes difficult beginnings. In fact she would just love seeing her clients faces as they get back on track, to spite their own difficult situations. 

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

One of my favorite sayings/mantras is, "In all I am doing it is who I am being, no matter if I am walking my puppy, cleaning my home, helping clients or having fun with family and friends it always is about how I choose to show up." 

What is your biggest dream?

I have been so blessed in my life; I have enjoyed achieving many of my past dreams. I feel that I am very guided and my biggest current dream is to model living a life of growth and contribution through helping others get back on track through the Boots(c) formula and free community I created. 

To learn more about Sheila and her new book visit her website https://www.sheilamac.com/ and you can learn more about her new book here

Joy Corner is an interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here