For most of her life, Suanne Laqueur’s passion for storytelling was shown on the dance floor.

Although Laqueur began writing at a young age, dancing always took center stage. She majored in dance and theater at Alfred University and taught at her mother’s dance studio in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, for years. But when her mother was ready to retire and an opportunity opened for Laqueur to take over the studio, she realized she had no interest in taking on the business side of her art: “Owning a studio is a lot of work—financially, logistically. I love the teaching, the choreographing (编舞), the staging, but I didn’t want to own it.”

Yet Laqueur’s disinterest in running the studio changed when she became a self-published author. In the fall of 2013, she decided to pursue self-publishing as a way of sharing her first completed novel with friends and family. During the process, she realized that following her true passion—telling stories through writing—made the business of the art worthwhile, and owning that business meant she could direct her writing career however she chose.

Starting with her second self-published novel, she began investing more time in marketing and building her audience. Her investment paid off. Since 2014, Laqueur, now 49, has self-published six novels, which collectively have hundreds of ratings and reviews on Goodreads. Her 2016 novel An Exaltation of Larks stole the show at the 25th Annual Writer’s Digest's Self-Published Book Awards, topping more than 2,300 entries to win the grand prize.

“You have to write the most truthful story to you, and I think self-publishing allows that freedom,” she says. “If you work with traditional publishing, it’s more about what’s marketable. There are trade-offs, which everyone will tell you, but by self-publishing I have control of the book, I have control of the story, and I’m cool with that.”

Jenn Larson was just 14 years old when she took over the bookkeeping for her family’s dairy farm near Firth, Idaho. She soon saw firsthand how challenging it was for her parents, who lacked any college education, to properly manage the unpredictable earnings of farming. This started a lifelong passion for finance, and it led her down an unexpected path to becoming a role model she never had.

Yet, such ambitions ran in obvious contrast to everything familiar to her. “I didn’t have any advisors,” Larson says. “I didn’t have anyone to look up to for a professional example. All the women I associated with were stay-at-home moms.” Despite having parents who couldn’t fully understand her ambitions, Larson went to the BYU Marriott School, where she earned a business degree and focused much of her coursework on international finance.

Larson worked for seven years as a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual, advising clients on important financial decisions. Larson returned to BYU Marriott in 2008 to earn an MBA, and accepted a position in the school as an assistant professor following her graduation. For more than a decade, Larson has taught finance classes to undergraduate and MBA students. While she teaches finance, Larson tries to help her students see how mastering finance principles can also impact their personal lives.

Constantly balancing motherhood and work, Larson makes adjustments to the way she teaches. She gave birth to her first three children in three years while teaching at BYU Marriott, wondering at times if labor might start while in front of a class full of students. During the pandemic, Larson taught online classes from her dining room table while taking care of a newborn and other young children at home.

As a female instructor in the often male-dominated finance industry, Larson works to inspire other women who seek a similar path to hers. Larson became the role model that she never had — the example that a 14-year-old girl staring at a farming expense sheet couldn’t find. Now, Labor on’s children and students will always have that example.

We have met, but just not in person. I work in the bank and I usually do my work over the phone and computer. This lady is a borrower of my bank, one of the people I serve. We have had several conversations about her borrowings. She is neither a woman that is of my mother’s age, nor a grandmotherly type of client, because men or women of that age are always very loving and they remind me what I should do. This woman is of my age.

We have never met in person. She lives in New Jersey and I live in California. Her borrowings turned out great, and I didn’t worry even a little bit. To be honest, I think I just worked normally to finish my service. But every couple of months, she would email me a little note, telling me how I made a difference to her life, and how thankful she was for what I had done. I never expected that.

I have a busy and stressful job. Every day, I meet many people and I offer the same service to them. I also keep a working relationship, with many. No one has done that for me. I don’t think I have done something different or helped her much. She just used her time and the most shining part in her heart to send me emails. I saw the beauty inside her.

Everyone can be tired and lonely right now. The same is true of the woman. Take a moment in your day to do one little nice thing for somebody, even if it’s for someone you do not know. You can make a little difference to their life and also to yours. It feds good to say I feel a little love today and that I find myself showing it to somebody else.