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Oprah Winfrey (0:01)

This episode of the Oprah Podcast is presented by our partner, Geico. So what was going on in your life?

Shonda Scott (0:07)

I was in a place of deep disappointment when I wrote the book.

Oprah Winfrey (0:11)

You want to tell us about it?

Shonda Scott (0:12)

And if you want to see change in your life and in your world, you have to change yourself.

Oprah Winfrey (0:16)

Right.

Shonda Scott (0:16)

But this easy to say, it's hard to do. Transformation doesn't matter if you do something big or do something small. It's just the openness that you need to have.

Oprah Winfrey (0:27)

Well, I'm so glad to be with you here on the Oprah Podcast. I'm in one of the greatest cities in the world, New York City, and you can feel the energy and the creative force here. Last summer, I read an article on medium.com because the title really caught my eye. It was called How to Create a Life You Love, No Magical Thinking Required. It's by a writer named Jason McBride. And I shared it with my team because I just really appreciated his simple and powerful message that we all have the power to design or build a life that we love, no matter the circumstances. And it's not as hard or complicated as you think it is. So I said, I think this is a good conversation to start having for the podcast. So I'm going to talk with Jason a little later on. But my first guest, I wanted you to know, has done some really bold, daring things. And she says, it is never too late. And you are never too stuck. You're never too old. You're never too much or too little. Because as long as you live, you can always find new things to learn and new ways to find joy.

Shonda Scott, an award-winning entrepreneur, CEO and thought leader who spent more than 20 years turning big ideas into action, working on major projects with companies like Uber, Comcast, VET and Kaiser Permanente. While also creating economic opportunities in underserved communities. Some of Shonda's most meaningful work began with a challenge she gave herself back in 2019

For one year, try one new thing every month. Aha, that's an idea. What started as a personal experiment became a lifestyle, inspiring her new book, Give Me a Year, 12 New Things to Embrace Change and Live Your Best Life.

Welcome, Shonda. Great to meet you and have you here.

Shonda Scott (2:17)

I wanted to have thank you be the first words out of my mouth to you. My mom wouldn't have any other way that I would sit here and not thank you for using your platform and how you're doing to elevate authors, especially debut authors that is so noble of you.

Oprah Winfrey (2:30)

Well, you debuted in a big way. I mean, Give Me a Year is such a bold idea. And lots of people would say, okay, give me a year and I'll, you know, go hike Mount Olympus or give me a year. But you had 12 new things to embrace and change. So what was going on in your life? How did you come up with this idea?

Shonda Scott (2:51)

I was in a place of deep disappointment when I wrote the book.

I had already started this 12 new things lifestyle based on doing something new each month so you can embrace change in fun, exciting ways to get you out of your comfort zone. But that was a fun social media experiment for me that I did with the premise of thinking if you want to see change in your life and in your world, you have to change yourself. But this easy to say, it's hard to do. So how do you make something hard to do fun and light? That's where the 12 new things came up from. But then when I was in this deep disappointment, I had an opportunity happen and the door closed immediately. God shut the door right away. And I had done everything. I had put everything in place. It was my dream opportunity. And I was excited about it. And when it got shut down, I became deeply disappointed. And writing is how I heal myself. So I thought, now it's time to write the book.

Oprah Winfrey (3:47)

I like the fact that you're using the word disappointed and not depressed, because a lot of people would say, I was depressed, I was depressed, I was depressed. But you recognize now that it really was your sincere pure disappointment.

Shonda Scott (3:59)

And it could have been depression if I didn't have the tools of writing. So writing is how I heal myself. I say deep disappointment because it was just, I was sad about an opportunity, but it wasn't something life threatening or earth shattering.