What's the price *others* pay when you don't follow your dreams?
That was the thought provoking question Debbie Sluys shared that motivated her to quit and start her own company.
✨ From “Raggedy Baby” to Global Visionary: Debbie Sluys on Reclaiming Her Worth and Building Dare to Declare
When Debbie Sluys joined me for this episode of UnLost Cause, I knew it would be a powerful conversation—but I didn’t expect to be so moved by her quiet courage and radical reinvention. Her journey from a 30-year career in childcare to becoming the founder of Dare to Declare, a global vision-board movement, is a blueprint for anyone wondering if it’s too late to start over.
👶 Her Story Starts Before She Even Knew It
Debbie was born in 1968 to a single mother and placed for adoption through the Canadian Children’s Aid Society. She spent her first months in foster care, where she was labeled as “not thriving.” When she finally joined her adoptive family, her father’s retelling of her arrival—“dirty, tired, and sickly”—imprinted a self-image she carried for decades: she was a raggedy baby.
That identity, though wrapped in a loving family and Christian values, planted a subconscious belief: I have to prove my worth. Ironically, that belief fueled her drive. She built a respected career in childcare, creating nurturing spaces for children to feel seen, safe, and valued—the very experience she craved.
It is also one of the reasons why I also ask questions about my guests’ childhood since that consciously and unconsciously shows up in our day-to-day and motivations.
🔥 A Spark Without a Flame (At First)
Debbie never imagined entrepreneurship. No one in her family modeled it. But she always dreamed boldly. As a child, she’d run backyard fairs, sell decorative stamps door-to-door, and even dress up in mascot costumes. The dream to “go big” was in her bones…it just needed a name.
That name came during a photo shoot, done without a business idea in place, where Debbie said aloud, “I know I’m going to do something big, I just don’t know what.” With help from a web designer and her own intuition, Dare to Declare was born. A few years later, a powerful question from a speaker changed her life: “What’s the price you and others are paying for you not following your dream?”
❤️ A Marriage That Made Room for Her Dreams
Debbie’s husband, a business owner himself, didn’t just support her emotionally, he knocked down literal walls to help build her first vision board studio. Later, when Debbie decided to retire from childcare leadership in early 2020, it was her daughter who urged her to quit and trust herself.
That trust was tested immediately when the pandemic hit, but Debbie pivoted online. She launched Dare to Declare Academy, training facilitators across five countries. Her workshops became more than collages—they became soul work, reconnecting adults to forgotten dreams and self-worth. Today, her husband travels with her, her daughter works beside her, and Debbie is living her vision—one that includes launching her own conference soon.
🌱 Top 5 Takeaways
We inherit stories early. Debbie’s “raggedy baby” image shaped her inner drive. What childhood experience(s) impact your conscious or subconscious motivations?
Dreams whisper, then nudge. Listen for the signs, even when they make no logical sense. Some would call this listening to your gut or your heart over the rational brain.
Support isn’t always loud. A spouse creating space can be more powerful than words. We all have wells of strength that we can draw from. Usually when it’s the darkest is when these wells show up the brightest.
Gratitude and vision go hand in hand. Debbie’s entire practice begins with appreciation. The power of gratitude is never ending. If you’re having a bad day, jot down 20 things you’re grateful for and really feel the emotion. It’ll change your emotional mindset.
We must become who we want to be…now. Her “be-do-have” philosophy challenges the default waiting game. It’s OK if you’ve waiting and pondering whether or not to lean into a dream or lost cause. But take the initiative today to think or write down what the first steps should be to get going. Don’t make them a leap, just a small step since every journey begins with that first step. You got this!
If you’ve been waiting for permission, consider this it.
➡️ I’d love to hear from you—what’s your version of a “Dare to Declare”? Hit reply or leave a comment. And if this story resonated, share it with someone who might need that nudge.