I love it beyond words. My passions have come together. My passion for business, my passion for women, and seeing a different future for women
Q. How long have you been a student for?
It's coming up to three years.
Q.Tell me a little bit about what you're doing with coaching?
I have two niches that I'm working with. One is women in small businesses, helping them grow and develop, as well as their businesses to grow and develop. And then I work with women in the corporate world, mid-career, helping them design their career trajectory, and enhance their performance in any way that they need.
Q.Do you love the work?
I love it beyond words. My passions have come together. My passion for business, my passion for women, and seeing a different future for women.
Q. What inspired you to start your coaching journey three years ago? Where were you? What was happening?
Three years ago, I had my own business that I was working myself into the ground for. I didn't love it, but I loved business. So, I had this business, I was in a terrible relationship, and I was living in a place I didn't love anymore. I just felt so stuck. I knew something had to shift, for me and I knew that my business that I was in couldn't be my forever. So, I needed to start to think about the next phase of my life. I wasn't prepared to live that life for the rest of my life.
So, I followed ICI for about six months, stalked you guys went to all of your free trainings, and then I was fortunate enough to get Bianca. She mentored me through saying yes to myself because I wouldn't, it was all about my business it was all about my family, it was all about everyone else. And I just couldn't say yes to myself. That was the beginning of the journey of having someone by my side.
Q.What was it about that moment where you were like, okay, I have to commit to me?
Having it mirrored back to me that I'm now in a position where I am constantly there for everyone else, and there is nothing left of me, and there is nothing left of me to give to anyone else. I need to pour into me and I need to start doing that for myself so that I can build a better future for everyone else around me.
It just took that introspection to look at my life and think, what am I doing for myself? And it was nothing. Nothing for myself.
Q.Was it scary to make the commitment?
Yeah, it was frightening. Even as I was saying yes to myself, knowing that I needed to do that. I wanted to do coaching as work as well, but I knew I needed to do work on myself first. So, I was jumping in and going to do work on myself, then I was always a little bit afraid of what if it doesn't work out and I don't do this, and I've always wanted to go out there and help people. So, there was that doubt that was still there for me, because I had spent so long doubting myself.
Q.Three years in, how has this journey impacted you personally?
Goodness gracious me, I don't even know where to start. My world is completely different, my group of people that I'm surrounded by is different. I've literally changed everything, moved home, sold my business, I’m around amazing people, both business and coaching-wise.
I've got coaches on hand any minute because they're all my friends now. And my relationships with my family members, and what they are now taking away from what they're seeing change in me is priceless. So that investment in me, when I say it's a ripple effect, it's a ripple effect.
Q. What was it like to have the opportunity to then become part of the crew here at ICI and to be a mentor and run webinars?
I'm now believing in what I can do even more. And I love supporting the students through what I was going through because, I've been there. I felt it. So being able to support others to now join the army, we need an army of coaches, guys. Like we need it. Businesses need it. The mental health industry needs us. So being able to now be a part of that journey, helping people come up and share that passion, it's brought a deeper level of meaning to my life, and I’ve found a new passion.
Q. What would you say to our brand-new students or anyone else who's thinking about starting the coaching journey today?
You know, I started three years ago, and I wish I had started five years ago, because of what I've been able to do in my life now. I know it's sometimes really scary to think about the investment and putting that in ourselves and we think it's really selfish. Not to be sexist or anything, but as women generally, we're a little bit more likely to think, oh no, no, you shouldn't be spending that much money on you. But do it because the ripple effects it has in your world is worth it, and it's priceless, and you're paying for other people to grow from you as well.
I’ve earned back my fees and more!