Francine Ward

Francine Ward
Esteemable Acts

Interviewed by: Lauretta Pierce
July 1, 2003



Q. Who is Francine Ward?

A. A COURAGEOUS WOMAN WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CONSISTENTLY AND CONSCIOUSLY WALK THROUGH HER OWN FEAR AND SHOW OTHERS HOW TO DO THE SAME.


Q. What inspired you to write "Esteemable Acts"?

A. TWO THINGS OPERATING AT ONCE:
(1) A FORMER MENTOR, PAUL OHLIGER, WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO TELL ME I HAD A BOOK INSIDE ME. HE WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I SPOKE TO LARGE GROUPS AND PERCEIVED THAT THERE WAS A POWER IN MY MESSAGE AND DELIEVRY. HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE SHARED.
(2) MY OWN PERSONAL STRUGGLE WITH LOW SELF-ESTEEM. THE HARD WAY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ACQUISITION OF THINGS, REPEATING MANTRAS IN THE MIRROR, MEDICATION, NOR HAVING SOMEONE CONSISTENTLY SAY I'M WONDERFUL MADE ME FEEL GOOD INSIDE OVER THE LONG RUN. INSTEAD WHAT REALLY HELPED ME TO SHIFT MY CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT MYSELF WAS MY WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ACTION WHETHER I WANTED TO OR NOT. A CONSISTENT, CONSCIOUS DAILY PRACTICE OF ACTION IN THE FORM OF WALKING THROUGH FEAR, FACING CHALLENGES, AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHOICES I MADE IN MY LIFE.


Q. How did you come about the title?

A. ANOTHER FORMER MENTOR LOUISE ROBERTSON REPEATEDLY TOLD ME I WOULD ONLY GET SELF-ESTEEM IF I WAS WILLINGTO DO ESTEEMABLE ACTS. SHE WAS RIGHT-ON.




Q. How long did it take you to write "Esteemable Acts?"

A. 10 YEARS, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO PUT PEN TO PAPER. I SAID I WANTED TO BE A WRITER, BUT WAS UNWILLING TO DO THE FOOTWORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. WHEN I FINALLY DID, IT TOOK THREE YEARS.


Q. Did you do any research to write this book?

A. YES, MY OWN LIFE GAVE ME THE INITIAL PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO SPRING. ADDITIONALLY, BY WATCHING, PAYING ATTENTION TO, AND LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PLACED IN MY PATH, I'VE LEARNED MUCH.


Q. After writing "Esteemable Acts", did you find you learned more about yourself?

A. ABSOLUTELY. THE MORE I TRULY UNDERSTAND AND OWN WHO I AM, THE BETTER ABLE I AM TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS. WE ARE ALL SO MUCH ALIKE. FEAR IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR MOST OF US. ALSO, THE MORE AUTHENTIC I AM, THE MORE I GIVE OTHERS PERMISSION TO WALK THROUGH THEIR FEAR AND BE AUTHENTIC TOO.


Q. How many book have you written?

A. ESTEEMABLE ACTS IS MY FIRST, BUT NOT MY LAST.


Q. What type of atmosphere do you require to write?

A. I REQUIRE QUIET TO CONCENTRATE AND I WORK BEST IN THE MORNING. I AM AN EARLY RISER AND I GO TO BED EARLY, SO AS THE DAY PROGRESSES I PEETER OUT. I ALSO WRITE WELL AT HOME AND ON THE AIRPLANE.


Q. Are you currently writing another book?

A. YES. ADDITIONAL BOOKS IN THE ESTEEMABLE ACTS SERIES.


Q. What message would you like readers to receive from reading "Esteemable Acts?"

A. THAT (1) ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THE FOOTWORK (2) SELF-ESTEEM COMES FROM DOING ESTEEMABLE ACTS. (3) IT'S AN ESTEEMABLE ACT TO WALK THROUGH YOUR FEAR.