Terra Vanzant Stern, PhD., PMP, SPHR/GPHR. is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and the principal of SSD Global Solutions, Inc. She has held a number of ASQ and PMI chair and board positions including Chair of the ASQ Lean Enterprise Division. Dr. Stern is a USAF veteran and is the author of several books and articles on process improvement, project management and transformation.
Her latest works focus on how to make Lean Manufacturing easier to understand. She uses her proprietary approach LEANER as well as the development of the Lean Manufacturing Periodic Table.
Author Q&A
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Terra Vanzant Stern, and I am the CEO of Simple Smart Decision Making Inc. (also known as SSD Global Solutions). I have written several books and articles on process improvement, project management, and leadership. I also created the Leaner Six Sigma® series to make Lean Six Sigma, a widely recognized industry certification, easier to understand. Finishing What Matters: How to Relaunch Your Sidetracked Dreams is my first self-help book. In my workshops, I often tell students that the same tools used in business can also strengthen personal problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. That idea became the foundation for this book.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Brene Brown, (Gifts of Imperfection), James Clear (Atomic Habits), Marie Foreleo (Everything is Figureoutable), Dr. Wayne Dyer (Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life), Mel Robbins (Let Them).
What are you working on now?
Currently my company successfully facilitates workshops in problem-solving in the workplace. But using Finishing What Matters: How to Relaunch Your Sidetracked Dreams creates a solid blueprint for a different type of workshop. This workshop would be different from our typical certification ones, where you become an Agile Project Manager, Change Manager or Process Improvement Specialist in Lean Six Sigma and would be more directed towards discussions and feedback to help people achieve their dreams and get some support from others.
Do You Have Advice for New Authors?
Absolutely. Create a rough version of your book cover and print it out—you can refine it later. Put it somewhere visible, then draft your chapter titles, knowing they can change. Even if you are writing fiction and may not use chapter names, an outline still helps. Keep that outline nearby, create a separate file for each chapter, and add ideas as they come. Then focus on completing a full first draft.
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now? Do you have any pets?
I grew up in a military family and joined the United States Air Force after highschool. After leaving the service, I used the GI Bill to continue my education and was drawn first to teaching, then to human resources. Before starting my own company, I worked in corporate roles as a trainer and HR professional. People often told me that employees were broken, but I disagreed—I believed the real issue was broken processes. For the past two decades, I’ve focused on helping people navigate work more effectively by teaching problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. I have always seen a strong connection between business tools and personal life, and I’m excited to begin this new chapter.
How did you come up with the title?
I’ve read many self-help books on goal-setting, and they have been incredibly helpful in my personal life. They often focus on concepts like mission, vision, and intention, and I even reference some of them in my workshops. Over time, though, I realized that restarting is not the same as starting over. Those principles still matter, but relaunching a dream requires a different mindset. Some of the advice I encountered also felt a bit judgmental, with a strong emphasis on motivation and persistence. While those qualities matter, many people set their dreams aside for reasons beyond their control. I don’t believe pausing a dream means someone lacks inspiration or discipline.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I might have included more stories about people who successfully relaunched their dreams. Through my coaching and training work, I’ve met many inspiring people, including some who overcame significant challenges. Hearing how others moved forward in life can be incredibly inspiring.
Connect with Terra online at
https://terravanzantstern.com/
Finishing What Matters: How to Relaunch Your Sidetracked Dream is available for purchase on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Finishing-What-Matters-Relaunch-Sidetracked-ebook/dp/B0GJQQV39Z