Monique's Book
The 7 Secrets to Creating a Life You Love
2025 Pencraft Award Winner - 1st Place for Literary Excellence
A Practical Guide for Women in Leadership
A Strategic Guide for Women Who Want More - Without Burning Everything Down
In The 7 Secrets to Creating a Life You Love, Monique de Maio draws on decades of leadership experience to help women move from exhaustion and self-doubt to clarity, confidence, and intentional action.
This isn’t a motivational pep talk. It’s a practical, grounded framework for women who are successful on paper—but quietly asking “Is this it?”
Through real stories (her own and those of other women leaders), Monique addresses the internal and external pressures women face and offers simple, actionable exercises to help readers identify their “not-enoughs,” make better choices, and build a life that actually fits.
Why This Book Resonates
Monique’s philosophy is simple but powerful:
Small, intentional changes create meaningful, lasting impact.
Throughout the book, she reminds readers:
- You don’t need to do everything.
- You don’t need to be everywhere.
- And you don’t need permission to choose yourself.
With warmth, humor, and honesty, Monique challenges the belief that success must come at the expense of fulfillment—and shows what’s possible when strategy meets self-trust.
Book in More Detail
In each of the book's seven parts, Monique shares stories from other women in leadership and insights from her own experiences, and she offers suggested exercises to help implement what you are reading:
Secret #1 Your Voice: Being Your Authentic Self Right Now
Secret #2 Your Time: Spending It Intentionally
Secret #3 Your Choices: Making Each One, One at a Time
Secret #4 Your Job: Not Letting it Take Over Your Life
Secret #5 Your Internal Narratives: Speak to Yourself Like a BFF
Secret #6 Your External Narratives: Creating the Story You Tell Others
Secret #7 Your Environment: Using Intention to Set Yourself Up for Success
Implementation Your Next Steps
More Than a Book - A Broader Conversation
The 7 Secrets to Creating a Life You Love is part of Monique’s larger body of work, including:
Possibilities podcast and The Secrets to Creating a Life You Love.
Keynote speeches and conversations that move people to action.
Strategic sessions and advisory work for women leaders and organizations.
This book is an entry point into clearer thinking, better decisions, and a life designed with intention.
As a woman in leadership, I'm always looking for new resources to help me succeed and thrive. Monique’s writing is engaging and easy to follow, and she provides practical advice and exercises that can be applied to all areas of your life. She covers a wide range of topics, including self-awareness, goal setting, time management, and work-life balance. She provides the tools and resources you need to get started on your journey, and she encourages you to be patient and persistent. I highly recommend The 7 Secrets to Creating a Life You Love! This book is packed with valuable insights and advice that will help you achieve your goals and live your best life.
Monique reminds me that as a woman entrepreneur, there are always a lot of 'moving parts to making my life happy, fulfilling and successful. Her pragmatic way of simplifying the areas of life where we can have the most impact was super helpful and affirmational. I highly recommend it to women looking to ''get more out of life'' without adding more to do.
As a woman who juggles multiple roles in both my personal and professional life, I've often felt the pressure to have it all together. Monique's book is a breath of fresh air, a roadmap for every woman out there who's ever felt the weight of expectations. What I love most is that it's full of actionable, practical advice that you can actually integrate into your everyday life. From self-empowerment and career guidance (from real women who've been there, done that!) to holistic wellness, this book covers it all. Monique understands the unique challenges that women face, and her insights are a game-changer. I've found myself implementing Monique's advice and witnessing genuine, positive changes in my life. It's not about striving for perfection but about embracing your uniqueness and working towards becoming the best version of yourself. Monique's writing is engaging, relatable, and it feels like you're having a heart-to-heart conversation with a trusted friend. Her wisdom and guidance have given me the confidence to navigate life's challenges with grace and authenticity. Grab a copy and embark on your journey today!
The subtitle says it all. Monique has created a practical guide for Women in Leadership and she's made it simple and easy to read in 7 valuable and easy to read chapters. Filled with personal stories and stories of other women whom she's impacted and have impacted her throughout her life, it's a fun and informational read. I love how her WHY operating system shows up throughout the book. Most evident in the chapter on authenticity. She talks about the Power of Three - Simplifiers love things in threes. Bullets, lists, texts. Simple, easy to read. And by the way, don't bully her or her friends, you might end up with a shiner. You'll have to read the book to find that fabulous elementary school story! I can't wait to share this with my wife!
FAQ
PODCAST & BOOK
Possibilities with Monique de Maio* is a podcast featuring real conversations with real women navigating leadership, career growth, wellness, money, reinvention, and life design. With 100+ episodes, the show blends candid conversation with actionable insights. You'll hear from women who pivoted careers with courage, leaders who set boundaries without guilt, entrepreneurs who built businesses while keeping their lives, and experts who reframed wellness, money, and success. There are no gurus, no hype, just honest stories and practical strategies from women who've been there. Whether you're navigating a career transition, struggling with overwhelm, or trying to figure out what you actually want, this podcast meets you where you are and helps you move forward.
You can listen to *Possibilities with Monique de Maio* on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube. Visit moniquedemaio.com/podcast to access links to all platforms and browse episode topics.
The 7 Secrets to Creating a Life You Love: A Practical Guide for Women in Leadership* is a book that distills decades of Monique's experience into actionable frameworks for intentional living. It's the book she wishes she'd had in her 30s and 40s when she was navigating the challenges of leadership, motherhood, career growth, and life design.
The seven secrets cover: being your authentic self, spending time intentionally, making choices one at a time, not letting your job take over your life, speaking to yourself like a best friend, creating the story you tell others, and using intention to set your environment up for success. This is not theory. It's a practical, no-nonsense book filled with tools that work.
The 7 Secrets to Creating a Life You Love* is available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle formats. You can also order bulk copies for your team or organization through Monique's website at moniquedemaio.com/book, which includes options for signed copies and custom packages for corporate events or book clubs.
Yes. Monique is available for book signings, author talks, and book-themed workshops for organizations, events, and book clubs. These sessions can be combined with keynote speaking, executive roundtables, or standalone author events. Book talks typically include a conversation about the 7 Secrets framework, Q&A with the audience, and signing time. Contact Monique's team through moniquedemaio.com/contact to discuss options and availability.