Meet Alice Sullivan

We were lucky to catch up with Alice Sullivan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alice, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Even after 24 years in the publishing industry, I still struggle with imposter syndrome. I wish there was a quick fix, but I haven’t found it yet. However, changing my perspective about what it means (and what it doesn’t) has helped me greatly.

I used to think that I would never write enough books, have enough credentials, or have enough happy clients to counterbalance the feeling of dread and anxiety about whether a client will love my work on their behalf. Then I realized that the anxiety I feel with every project is more about my desire to create excellent work than a worry that I’m not good enough to be working in this career in the first place.

So now when I feel the imposter syndrome creep up, I remind myself that I deeply care about the project and the client. And I remind myself that my desire to create excellent work is a driver that helps me stay on target.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m thankful to be a #1 bestselling Wall Street Journal ghostwriter, New York Times bestselling editor (11 times over), collaborator, and speaker. I have written 65 books and edited over 1,300 titles since 2001. Several have hit bestseller status or received awards, including the 2024 International Impact Book Award for Health.

My clients are speakers, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, CEOs, and creatives. I have written for both traditional and hybrid publishers, including Forbes, Hay House, Harper Collins (Thomas Nelson Publishers), Forefront Books, and more. And I specialize in memoir, business and thought leadership, and self-help/personal growth.

The most exciting thing about my career is meeting so many different people and hearing their incredible stories of growth, overcoming obstacles, and creating a life they enjoy.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The ability to be mentored: You can’t possibly know everything about a career, especially at the start. Being open to feedback and new ideas, as well as being able to admit mistakes, has helped me grow and become a better writer and a better business owner.

The gift of storytelling: Some say this is an innate talent; others believe it can be taught. I think it’s a mix of both. The ability to recognize an impactful story and be able to share it in a way that captures the client’s voice while keeping the reader’s attention is invaluable.

Being curious and playful: These qualities help me brainstorm compelling storylines, believable character development, intrigue, and great segues in writing.

The best advice I have on developing these skills is to consume other people’s stories, whether through reading or watching movies or TV series.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

My father died earlier this year so I’ve been thinking a lot about life and mortality. My answer to this question depends on an assumption of financial security. If I had a decade left but had to work the whole time, I’d prefer to only work on projects that I knew would be fun and enjoyable. If I never had to work again, I’d happily spend the decade traveling, having new experiences, trying new food, gardening, and spending quality time with family, friends, and my sweet cat.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alicesullivan.com/
• Instagram: @alicewrites
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicewrites/