Q&A With Tracey Gee

Jeffrey Yamaguchi was kind and gracious enough to connect me with leadership coach & author Tracey Gee who wrote the book The Magic Of Knowing What You Want which is available to read now! 

Q: Tracey, would you please give a brief description of The Magic Of Knowing What You Want?  How did the idea of the book come about? 

A: The idea for this book came from my work as a leadership coach, where I’ve had deep conversations with people about their strengths, aspirations, and the challenges they face. Over and over, I noticed that the real question wasn’t about finding one perfect answer, it was about figuring out what they truly wanted. And that turned out to be surprisingly difficult for a lot of people.

Many were so used to checking off the boxes of what was expected, downplaying their desires, or prioritizing what others wanted that they had lost touch with their own. One person even told me, “I can’t remember the last time I asked myself what I wanted, and I wouldn’t even know where to begin to look for the answer.”

That got me thinking: How do we learn to listen to our own desires? And how can that be a force for good—not just for us, but for the people and communities we care about most?

The Magic of Knowing What You Want explores the barriers that keep us from engaging honestly and authentically with our desires. It’s also a practical guide—not just for identifying what you want, but for actually bringing those desires to life. At its core, it’s a framework for defining what thriving looks like, uniquely for each of us, in a way that serves both our personal fulfillment and the greater good.

Q: How long did it take you to write The Magic Of Knowing What You Want? Would you say being a leadership coach helped with writing The Magic Of Knowing What You Want? 

A: I started writing this book about three years ago. I remember signing the contract and thinking that early 2025 felt like a lifetime away but now here we are! Being a leadership coach was absolutely integral to writing this book. In many ways, it’s the essence of what I offer as a coach—just in book form. But what I’m most proud of is that this isn’t just a collection of my own ideas on a topic I find interesting. It’s grounded in hundreds and thousands of hours of conversations with real people. I stand behind everything in this book because I’ve seen it work in real life.

Q: How did you juggle leadership coaching and writing The Magic Of Knowing What You Want?

A: Great question! Like most writers, balancing multiple responsibilities was definitely a challenge. For me, it came down to taking my own advice which meant paying attention to when and how I did my best writing. I realized that I worked best when I could step away from home, put everything else on pause, and dedicate a few uninterrupted days just to writing. Once I knew that, I made it a priority.

I also had to be more selective about what I said yes to in my coaching work at times. And I have to give a lot of credit to my husband. He’s incredibly supportive and took on some of our family responsibilities so I could focus. I truly couldn’t have done it without him.

Q: What important lessons & emotions do you hope readers learn & feel after reading The Magic Of Knowing What You Want?

A: One of the best compliments I’ve received from a reader is that the book felt kind. I love that so much because so often, when we ask ourselves big questions about who we are, what we want, and where we’re going, the tone we take with ourselves is harsh, self-judgmental, or rooted in fear. And that makes it hard to get anywhere.

I want readers to feel both challenged and deeply supported as they engage with their desires. I truly believe there is magic in our lives, if we can learn to see it in ourselves and call it out in one another. My hope is that this book becomes a catalyst for those kinds of conversations.

Q: Is the next book you are writing right now something similar to The Magic Of Knowing What You Want, a different topic, or will you try your hand at writing fiction this time around?

A: I am in absolute awe of fiction writers. I wish I had that talent, but I don’t think that’s me at least not right now. My next book will definitely be nonfiction, and I’ve started playing with some ideas, but I haven’t landed on a specific topic just yet. I’m letting myself stay in the exploration phase for a bit, seeing what pulls me in the strongest.

Q: What lessons have you learned as a leadership coach and author that you would want all of us to know and remember?

A: I truly believe that each of us is hard-wired to offer something unique and beautiful from our authentic selves. The challenge is that we don’t always see it. We’ve often received messages that tell us otherwise. But I’ve seen time and again that when people take a closer look, that uniqueness is always there.

I hope we can reclaim that goodness in ourselves and, just as importantly, learn how to do it together. Because while this kind of inner work is deeply personal, it’s also best done in community.