We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Giana Gallardo Hesterberg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Giana below.
Hi Giana, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Growing up, my mother worked full-time, At one point in her career, she worked from 9:00-5:00 pm, and then attended evening classes a couple of times a week from 7:00-10:00 pm. She graduated from college when she was 35 years old. I didn’t realize how much that impacted me until much later. It showed me that it is never too late to accomplish any goals, and that hard work pays off. Her entire college degree was paid for through Pell Grants and maintaining a high GPA.
I get much of my work ethic from her, and the example she was. Among other lessons, I learned the importance of consistency and discipline.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I would describe myself as a modern-day renaissance woman. My interests and roles are varied. Currently, I work part-time as a preschool music guide at a local school. It’s a job that I love! As an aspiring counselor in my last year of graduate school, I know that our personalities are set by the time we are 5 years old. Knowing this makes me want to be the absolute best teacher I can be to the children I work with.
My children’s nonfiction book, Music, Music, You Can Too! is ideal for little readers and continually sells out at our local bookstore (it is also available on Amazon). This summer, I hope to have an in-person book signing there, fully equipped with musical activities for our youngest readers!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three important qualities that most impacted my journey were diligence, fun, and making connections. While some dismiss the self-publishing process compared to going through traditional publishing houses, I would argue that self-publishing is incredibly challenging. It is all up to you– writing, publishing, advertising, selling, etc.
For those who are in the early parts of establishing themselves as authors or other creatives, it’s important to have fun and celebrate wins–regardless of how small they may be! I remember when my first book, Stories by the Seashore, sold 100 copies after about 2-3 months–I couldn’t believe it! While that is a relatively small number in terms of book sales, I was humbled that so many people who knew me would support me in that way.
That’s where making connections comes in. If people trust you and have good experiences with you, they will let others know! It’s like free advertising.
Finally, working carefully and consistently (diligence) is of extreme importance. Much of what you do will be behind-the-scenes work few people see. But this is how you get to the glorious, albeit few, mountaintop moments!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
As a future therapist, I have learned helpful strategies when feeling overwhelmed. The first is “box breathing.” You inhale for 4 seconds, then exhale for 4 seconds, and repeat. You do this while envisioning a box and tracing each side of it with your index finger. I go over the box twice. That helps calm me if I am feeling anxious.
Going on walks outside is one of my favorite ways to release stress. If the sun is out, getting Vitamin D is a bonus (especially during winter months)! Treating myself in some way, at least once a week, has been extra fun! Sometimes that looks like purchasing my favorite drink (a Puro Protein smoothie from JuiceUs), or getting a pedicure or massage on occasion.
I also enjoy baking and sharing treats with those I love. If I have a ton of things to do, I will take a break to make something like apple muffins (this just happened today!).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.storiesbytheseashore.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/gghesterberg
Image Credits
Marty Infante, author photo
