Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom’s Superpower for Maximum Impact

Fertile Imagination is the jet engine you need to go after what you really, really want.

You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There’s flexibility in how you pursue anything—your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The limitations on dreams you chase are waiting to be shattered. It’s time to see and seize what’s beyond your gaze. Let’s bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids across any path—you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There’s only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what’s been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It’s the perfect kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it’s alert!

In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book—featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes—we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!

Dive in if you’ve ever asked yourself:

• Why do I want more?
• What about my big ideas?
• When do I get to play?
• Where can I find the energy?
• Who else is going for it and getting it done?
• How can I stay relevant and keep growing?
• What if I don’t want to wait until my kids are grown?

Discover fresh ways to:

• Rewrite our “mom scripts”
• Overcome imposter syndrome
• Reduce decision fatigue
• Play with ideas
• Be present, feel more alive
• Duplicate yourself; ask for help
• Use your greatness at home and/or globally

Featured podcast guests include: Suzy Batiz, Beth Comstock former GE CMO, Diane Bell, Lisa Messenger Australia’s Entrepreneur’s Entrepreneur, James Altucher, Martha Hennessey, Phaidra Knight, Gary Vaynerchuk, David Meltzer, Marc Champagne, Breeja Larson, Theo Travers, David Roberts, Asha Curran and others.

Praise for Fertile Imagination

“Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you’re feeling stuck, peruse Melissa’s thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you’ll be creating magic in no time.” —Suzy Batiz, the chief executive and visionary officer of ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, and Alive OS®

“Melissa’s words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” —Martha Hennessey, a former New Hampshire State Senator/member of the House of Representatives

“This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too).” —Ken Honda, Japan’s best-selling Zen millionaire and the author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money

About the Author

Melissa Llarena is an author, imagination coach, consultant, speaker, and contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million + views. She is also the host of Unimaginable Wellness, the podcast for entrepreneurs, founders, and creators who are also moms. Featured guests include GaryVee and Beth Comstock. Melissa holds a psychology degree from New York University, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate. She is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons. Visit www.fertileideas.com.