I can’t even imagine having young children and being told I had less than a year to live. That’s what happened to an amazing woman I met by phone a few days ago.

She radiated positivity, energy and enthusiasm in our conversation. It totally inspired my day and I haven’t stopped thinking about her.

I love hearing the personal stories of my home staging students. I’m totally inspired by who they are, what brought them to a new career in home staging, and how the Staging Diva courses have affected their lives.

It was a distinct honor speaking with Mary Ellen Mottola in North Carolina. Her new home staging and redesign company is called Magnolia Interior Staging.

We touched on so many topics in our conversation from: overcoming tremendous hurdles, to how one positive change has a ripple effect in other areas of your life, to finding a purpose and how that changes as we get older, to being a role model for our kids.

Mary Ellen gave permission for her story to be used as an inspiration to others, and even submitted this writeup after our conversation so that I could share it with you. In her own words:

“Giving Thanks… Exactly 12 years ago, I was given only 11 months to live.

I was diagnosed with a type of cancer that has no cure. While the news was devastating, I decided right then and there that dying and leaving my high-school sweet heart husband and my two young daughters was not an option.

My resolve paid off and here I am still kicking 12 years later.

This is not to say that there weren’t many issues and struggles, and luck probably had a lot to do with it.

But so did positive thinking and being open to changing my life style through modern medicine, meditation, diet, prayer, acupuncture, and much more.

I sincerely believe that none of these components alone would have led to my fortunate outcome.

Throughout the past 12 years, I stayed at home to care for our daughters.

I spent almost every waking minute making sure their needs were met. I became engrossed in soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, lacrosse, taxi driving, and volunteering at the girls’ schools and church.

It gave me a purpose and showed the girls that education was important to me.

My daughters are in their 20s now and off on their own. So, I decided it was time for me to get back out into the world and do something that I enjoy – room transformations and home decorating. Hobbies that I’ve enjoyed doing for our various homes over the years, and for many friends and family members who must have seen that I have talent because they asked for my help.

I recently found the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program after a search of the Internet. What Debra shares on her website and blog really resonated with me.

I jumped into the home staging courses 30 days ago and I haven’t looked back. Just like swimming, you have got to take the plunge to realize you can do this.

But I not only realized that I could do this. I also realized that the excitement and self-confidence the Staging Diva Program gave me transferred to other aspects of my life.

Now I am working out regularly, eating better, and have reconnected with old friends. That aspect alone was worth the price of the program.

I also love one other side benefit.

My daughters see me as a professional who is confident. The see me willing to try new endeavors and learn new things, and that I’m eager to start my new home staging business!

I call this empowerment through action!  The Staging Diva Program has has given me the self confidence and passion needed to start and run a successful business. Thanks Debra!”

Please join me in celebrating Mary Ellen’s success and courage! Isn’t she awesome?! I can’t wait to see what her new company, Magnolia Interior Staging, becomes.

I’d love to write about you and your business. Please use the easy-peasey online form I’ve created to help you share your story.

Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®
President, Six Elements Home Staging and Voice of Possibility Group Inc.

Debra Gould believes life is too short to waste it doing things we don’t enjoy. She figured out how to make money as a home stager and developed the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program to teach others how to earn a living doing what they love. There are over 10,000 students in 23 countries learning her home staging business model.