Honest Lessons on Life, Love, and Leveling Up
Date Published: March 24, 2026
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
In You Got This!, personal and professional development coach Lisa Bartley shares candid advice and empowering mindset shifts—through sharp honesty, laugh-out-loud moments, and the kind of wisdom that only comes with experience. Bartley tackles what no one prepares you for—setting boundaries, navigating relationships, rebounding from failure, and finding the courage to go after what you really want.
This is not a guide to becoming perfect. It’s a guide to becoming powerful on your terms.
If you’ve ever felt stuck or like everyone but you got the memo on adulthood, this book is your reminder that growth is messy, clarity takes time, and no, you’re not behind . . . you’re just getting started.
You Got This! is a must-read for every woman standing at the threshold of the rest of her life. It’s the permission slip, pep talk, and playbook every woman needs while figuring it all out.
Interview with Lisa Bartley
Do you have a routine or something you do to get you in the mood to write?
It’s interesting that you use the phrase, “get in the mood.” Many writers wait for the mood to strike (I used to be one of them!) and when it doesn’t, they either don’t write—or they stare at a blank page until drops of blood appear on their forehead, a la Ernest Hemmingway.
At some point, I realized you can’t wait for the mood—you have to create it. For me, that starts with getting my butt in the chair.
That said, I do have a few “seat warmers” that help me build momentum. I’ll often start by reflecting on recent experiences—conversations, situations, or moments that sparked a reaction or insight. Then I take a very brisk walk and listen to music that energizes me. As ideas start to surface, I turn off the music and use voice notes to capture my thoughts in real time.
I don’t self-edit my speaking the way I do my writing, so this helps me get out of my head and into a rough draft much faster. By the time I’m back in the chair, I’m no longer starting from—or staring at—a blank page.
Do you have a special song, drink, or food you enjoy while you are writing?
On most days, I prefer staying hydrated with plenty of water.
How do you know what to write?
I pay attention to strong reactions I have—positive or negative—to a person, conversation, or situation. That typically means I have something—lots of “somethings”—to say about it. For example, I was having lunch with a friend when she started trash-talking a mutual friend of ours. It wasn’t the type of conversation born out of concern or even frustration. It was mean-spirited. I felt very uncomfortable, like it was an act of betrayal to be sitting there listening to it. My first thought was, Wow, that’s pretty vicious , immediately followed by, I wonder what she says about me when I’m not around . This “strong reaction” was the catalyst for Chapter 26, “Beware of Girlfriends Who Badmouth Girlfriends . . . and Please Don’t Become One of Them.”
What does a typical writing day look like for you?
In addition to being an author, I’m also a speaker, coach, and workshop facilitator, so my writing schedule depends on what else is on my plate. I’m sharpest in the morning, so I aim to write from 8:00-12:00, four mornings a week.
Do you do anything special to celebrate after writing “the end”?
Yes! Celebrating the wins is important, otherwise we feel like we’re always striving . . . but never arriving. After completing You Got This !, I bought myself a piece of jewelry and went out for dinner and cocktails with a group of close friends.
How long does it take you to write a book?
My debut book, You Got This! Honest Lessons on Life, Love, and Leveling Up was an on-again, off-again (mostly the latter) for 27 years. I’m confident my next book will take a fraction of the time!
What is the most difficult part of writing a book?
Starting.
Lisa Bartley is an author and award-winning speaker who helps women break free from their comfort zones and step into the strongest, truest versions of themselves.
You Got This! began as an attempt to record words of wisdom she wishes she’d heard in her early adult years. Now, in its completion, it stands as a legacy of lessons written for her daughter and for every young woman finding her way.
Lisa lives in Southern California where she prefers her hikes coastal, her wine bold, and her dinner parties unforgettable.
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