Life and Work with Debbie Scheer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Scheer.

Debbie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Oh goodness, where to start with this story. Around nine years ago, I was a VP of Education and training for a reproductive rights organization when my ex-wife and I decided that I would stay home to raise our boys. I left a job that I loved, with people that were my family and I transitioned from full time working mom too, stay at home mom. We had already adopted our first son and we were in the process of adopting our second. After four years of staying at home with our son, my ex told me she wanted a divorce. I will spare you the details of what immediately followed but to say that I was paralyzed with fear was an understatement. I decided that in order to shake myself free from the fear I was experiencing I would try something even scarier (terrible advice, please don’t take it), and that is when I decided to try to stand up comedy. I fell in love with being a comedian and soon realized that I wanted to combine my love of education and comedy to create shows that would address the conversations that society wasn’t willing to have. I produced two comedy/education shows and a one-woman storytelling show.

As I was doing comedy, I was also emceeing for events and was also being asked to come to speak to groups on a variety of topics. People were desperate to engage in the difficult conversations but didn’t know how, and because I believe that infusing conversations with heart and humor is the best way to engage, I was being called upon to do just that. While I loved everything I was doing and my life felt full, I knew I wanted to work more with non-profits AND make a living doing so. In 2016, I went to auctioneering school and became a licensed benefit auctioneer. Auctioneering allows me to combine my love of the causes that I care about, speaking, and humor, into a career that is both emotionally rewarding and financially sustainable. So, six-plus years post divorce I find myself engaged in the work and career that I am absolutely meant to be doing. This journey isn’t over as I continue to be open to what might come my way, and it certainly hasn’t been easy or free from heartache, but to be able to wake up every day knowing that I get to do what truly fills my heart, is something that I will never take for granted. Ever.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t know if any road that involves a rebirth is ever smooth. This has truly been a second act type of experience and while it hasn’t been smooth it’s been worth every second of the turbulence I experienced along the way.

For me, the biggest struggle was overcoming the fear of the unknown, of the, what if I fail, of the, oh crap HOW am I going to create a job full of passion that will allow me to create the kind of family life that I desire? That is not to say it was all scary. There was also so much excitement along the way. Wonder about what will be and the joy that comes with achieving goals that continue to propel you forward. The advice I would give women who are starting on their journey, whether it’s their first, right out of the gate journey, or their second act as they transition into a new reality, is to stay curious as to what might be. Sometimes, we have a vision and we have the force of a python when we try to achieve that vision. That type of constriction is not sustainable and eventually, you realize that if you lighten up the grip, things begin to open up and new opportunities begin to show up. I believe with every fiber of my being that if we are doing what we are truly meant to be doing with our life, the universe will show up and take care of us. That doesn’t mean there won’t be heartache, frustration, and even despair along the way, but it means that if we are flexible and fluid and stay true to our inner compass while being open to the fact that the journey will take us the way we are supposed to go, then the outcome will be so much richer. At 51, I am still learning to live life as if I’m on a lazy river. This doesn’t mean that I jump on the inner tube and don’t do a thing. It means that I jump on the tube, while continuing to work my tush off, and allow the river to take me where I’m supposed to go. Every time I have tried to force the process, which is the equivalent of trying to paddle against the current of the lazy river, I have ALWAYS exhausted myself. But when I release the grip, things seem to flow.,

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a speaker, humorist, emcee, and auctioneer. My area of focus and what I am known for is using humor to talk about the things that most people do not want to talk about. The topics that might make us shrink and avoid talking, for fear of saying the wrong thing, so we don’t say anything, to the topics that fill us with deep shame. I help people access these critical conversations by presenting them through a humor-filled lens. The misconception that people have is, that if we use humor to talk about a serious topic, we dilute the seriousness of it, when in fact the exact opposite occurs. When we use humor as an entry point to engage in difficult conversations, we encourage people to access and embrace the entire experience which in turn elevates the experience.

Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally? I have my foot in many camps and so I get to experience the barriers from the lens of a humorist, an emcee/moderator, a speaker, and an auctioneer. Some of these industries are heavily male-dominated and so the biggest barrier I have faced is being to access opportunities to gain more exposure. I am also a single mom of two young boys and my family has always and will always come first. This limits my availability and while I’m ok with that, I don’t function in industries that have an in-depth understanding of what it is like to be a working mom.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.debbiescheerspeaks.com
• Phone: 7203058094
• Email: debbie@debbiescheerspeaks.com
• Instagram: @debbiescheerspeaks
• Facebook: debbiescheerspeaks

Image Credit:
Edina Sipos Clagett

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