Albion woman’s book, Unipreneur, has advice for chasing dreams, nurturing yourself
Photo by Tom Rivers: Laura Shortridge of Albion hold a copy of her book, Unipreneuer, which has advice for pursuing dreams while shaking off negative influences from skeptics.
Book is a finalist for 2018 Author Academy Award
ALBION – Laura Shortridge said people too often let skeptics, the fear of failure and a lack of confidence derail dreams.
Shortridge, an Albion resident, has written a nearly 200-page book – Unipreneur: How to Live Your Passion in a House Full of Dream-killers – that has steps for pursuing dreams. The book is about self-empowerment often in the face of naysayers, who may be the people closest to you.
Courtesy of Laura Shortridge: Barnes and Noble last month hosted 16 authors, including Shortridge, at the Mall at Greece Ridge.
Family and friends often are the ones who urge people not to risks, whether it be in a career, business venture or personal fulfillment, she said.
“I want people to realize if they give their gifts to the world, the world will be a better place,” she said. “If people do something positive, the whole country will turn around. Put your energy into positive things and instead of fighting negativity.”
Shortridge, in her book, identifies the “dream-killers.” Sometimes, those people can turn around and become staunch advocates. The dream-killers might not even realize they are having a stifling influence on their friends and family, Shortridge said.
The Texas native has lived in Western New York for nearly 30 years, including the past 24 in Albion. Her husband of 40 years, Randall, is a college professor at the University of Buffalo. The couple has six grown children. They moved to Albion because they got a good deal on a house with seven bedrooms.
Shortridge has always enjoyed writing, especially fiction. She thought she would take that route for her first book. But she felt compelled to write Unipreneuer.
“That was on my heart and it had to come first,” she said about the book.
The past 10 years she has been pursuing some of her own dreams and passions, through business ventures and her writing.
She also has become a public speaker, leading groups through the principles she identifies in Unipreneur.
Her book recently was chosen as a top ten finalist for a 2018 Author Academy Award, an honor bestowed for literary merit and publishing excellence in the writing and publishing industry.
Her book is up for an award in the Business & Investing category. Shortridge said the book shows how to build business and personal success while nurturing relationships with in-house naysayers that just don’t share the same vision.
Shortridge plans to attend the Author Academy Awards Red Carpet Session on Oct. 26 in Columbus, Ohio. Winners will be announced later that evening at the Author Academy Awards Ceremony where they will be invited to give an acceptance speech.
She was surprised to see the book be recognized in the Business & Investing category.
“It’s not really about building a business,” she said. “It’s about building yourself.”
Unipreneur is available at Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport, Barnes & Noble locations in Rochester and on Amazon (click here).
