Barbara Sher
Born 1935 · Age 90
American speaker, career/lifestyle coach and best-selling author known for inventing Success Teams and books such as Wishcraft and Refuse to Choose!. Lectured worldwide, produced public-television specials, and taught e-commerce to village weavers in Turkey.
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Life & Career Timeline
Started career as career counselor in New York City
Began working as a career counselor in New York City (listed as career counselor since 1968).
Invented Success Teams (per Barbara's site)
According to Barbara Sher's site, she invented Success Teams—small accountability/support groups—this date conflicts with other sources that list 1976 as launch year.
Launched Success Teams (publicly noted)
Wikipedia and press cite 1976 as the year she launched Success Teams (trained leaders run 8-week workshops, groups of about 5–6).
Defined Success Teams format (5–6 members, 8-week workshop)
Success Teams structure: trained leaders recruit groups of ~5–6 people who attend an 8‑week workshop to identify and pursue wishes with mutual support and accountability.
Published Wishcraft: How To Get What You Really Want (Viking)
First major book publication (Viking Press). Later Ballantine edition in 1984.
Wishcraft Ballantine edition released
A Ballantine edition of Wishcraft was published in 1984 (expanded distribution).
Published Teamworks: Building Support Groups That Guarantee Success!
Teamworks (Warner Books) published as a handbook for social workers, career counselors and teachers.
Public television pledge specials air (ongoing across 1990s)
She produced multiple public-television pledge specials — 'It's Only Too Late', 'Live the Life You Love/Map to Success', and 'Barbara Sher's Idea Party' — which set fundraising records in many markets.
Public television specials broke fundraising records
Her pledge specials for public television broke fundraising records for dozens of stations during pledge drives (aggregate across multiple specials and markets).
I Could Do Anything... became a New York Times bestseller
I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was was listed as a New York Times bestseller (publication year 1994).
Published I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was
Major book release (1994, Dell/Delacorte). Identified as a New York Times bestseller; text cites over 700,000 copies in print and translations into 8 languages.
Won Books For A Better Life award (Best Motivational Book)
Live the Life You Love won the top motivational-book award from the Books For A Better Life Commission.
Published Live the Life You Love
Ten-lesson course book published by Dell/Delacorte; won Best Motivational Book in the first session of the Books For A Better Life Commission (1996).
Published It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now (approx.)
Book on creating a 'second life' at any age; sources vary between 1998 and 1999 for publication year (Dell/Delacorte).
Book adapted into Emmy‑nominated public television pledge special
It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now was made into an Emmy-nominated public-TV pledge special (dates around book release; exact nomination year not specified).
Public and national television appearances (aggregate milestone)
Appeared on national shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, 60 Minutes, CNN and Good Morning America (dates vary across decades).
Books sold millions and translated internationally (lifetime milestone)
Over her career, Sher's books sold millions of copies and were translated into multiple languages; Wishcraft alone has sold over one million copies.
Described as 'godmother of life coaching' and major public figure
Media and peers often referred to Sher as the 'godmother of life coaching' for her pioneering coaching techniques and programs.
Ran workshops and consulted worldwide (ongoing)
Presented seminars and workshops around the world to universities, Fortune 100 companies, professional organizations and government agencies; maintained a New York consulting practice.
Regular media coverage and features in major outlets
Sher was featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and many national magazines and newspapers over her career.
Genius Press Unlimited associated with her publications
Genius Press Unlimited published some of Sher's materials; appears as her primary outlet for books and audio materials by this time.
Published Barbara Sher's Idea Book (Genius Press Unlimited)
Idea Book published in 2004 (Genius Press Unlimited), offering ways to do what you love without starving financially.
Continued international residencies and retreats
At various times she lived in Toulouse, France, and Saarbrücken, Germany, running retreats in Italy, southern France and Germany while maintaining ties to New York.
Published Refuse to Choose!: A Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything That You Love
Refuse to Choose! published by Rodale; introduced the concept of 'Scanners'—people with multiple interests who resist choosing one path.
Popularized the concept of the 'Scanner' in Refuse to Choose!
Refuse to Choose! introduced and popularized the term 'Scanner' for people with multiple interests who resist choosing just one life path.
Ran websites for books, programs and audio materials (ongoing)
Maintained multiple websites devoted to her books, programs and audio materials (exact launch dates vary).
Created/ran Kilim eCommerce School of Ortahisar (program involvement)
Associated with the Kilim eCommerce School of Ortahisar teaching local artisans online sales techniques (exact founding date unclear; program run in last years).
Lived part‑time in Central Turkey; taught e‑commerce to village weavers (later years)
Spent spring and fall in a small village in Central Turkey teaching e-commerce to village weavers and running local programs (occurred during the last years of her life).
Life Coach columnist for Real Simple Magazine (role)
Served as the 'Life Coach' columnist for Real Simple Magazine (column dates unspecified, part of her media presence).
Guest writer in O Magazine (November 2011)
Contributed to O, The Oprah Magazine, in the November 2011 issue with 'O’s 4-Step Guide to Discovering Who You’re Meant to Be' (contributed steps 2 and 4).
Maintained published presence via audio materials and programs
Offered books, audio programs and materials through her outlets (e.g., GeniusPress Unlimited), used in coaching and workshops.
Continued operation of Sher Success Teams worldwide
Sher Success Teams continued operating globally with trained leaders running the 8‑week program.
International lecturing and seminars (ongoing career milestone)
By this time Sher had lectured at universities, Fortune 100 corporations and professional conferences across the world (decades-long activity).
TEDx Prague talk: 'Isolation is the dream-killer, not your attitude.'
Presented a TEDxPrague talk in October 2015 on how isolation blocks people's ability to pursue dreams.
Ongoing teaching in Turkey in final years
During the spring and fall of the last years of her life she lived at her second home in Central Turkey, teaching e‑commerce to village weavers (reported as ongoing across late 2010s).
Career legacy: millions of books sold and global programs
At death, Sher was credited with millions of books sold (Wishcraft >1M, I Could Do Anything >700k) and a global network of Success Teams, plus TV specials and workshops worldwide.
Key Achievement Ages
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