What do you do?
Health & Wellness Coach (in training), Consulting.
What's a piece of advice you give to other people?
If you have a desire, go make it a reality. If you can't think of a desire, dig deeper and find one. Passion and desire are there if you get curious and go looking for it! Passion is so important because it's protective. If you're doing what you love, inconveniences turn into growth and learning opportunities instead of setbacks.
What's something a mentor or important person has shared that made an impact on your business or career?
Discover what you love to do, then find a way to make that your job. It's worth the discomfort and challenge of making a transition if it will allow you to work more aligned with your core values and true passions.
What role does community play in your career or business?
Community is the cornerstone of my career. When I realized I was not in my ideal line of work, I turned to my Hula community for support and ideas. I got coffee or walked the bike path with anyone who was willing. I can tell you all about Chittenden County's best iced coffees! Listening to others' career stories gave me hope, comfort, and new ideas around where to take my next steps. Health and Wellness Coaching relies heavily on building tight-knit referral networks, both locally and across the nation. Joining local and virtual groups has really helped me carve my career path so far, and I'm sure it will continue to do so once I'm certified to officially launch my coaching career.
What's was a pivotal moment while you were building your business or during your career that made you realize you were on the right track? Are there signs people should look out for?
When I was finally on the right track, my work-related to-do list finally felt exciting. I found myself thinking, "I GET to do this" instead of "I HAVE to do this." I felt motivated and creative, even in the face of challenges. I describe this as feeling energized, which looks different for everybody. The first step to notice these signs is to discover what "energized" looks like for you. If you feel energized, curious, creative, and motivated, these are great signs that your work is beautifully aligned with your passions and you're on the right track!
How do you handle setbacks or failures without losing motivation?
I remind myself that setbacks and failures are universal experiences. It's up to us whether we decide to react to them as catastrophes or growth opportunities. When I face a bump in my road, I start by acknowledging my negative feelings (usually frustration and sadness), and letting myself feel disappointed for a moment. Then, I force myself to answer, "what can I learn from this?" My answers surprise even me! Sometimes I learn that I could have submitted a better-worded cover letter. Other times I learn what I don't like in a job, which is just as important as learning what I do like. Finally, I shift those learnings into growth opportunities that I take action on. Maybe I'll have more people proofread my resume, or I'll set aside time to apply to more jobs in a different niche. A learning is a win, and success builds on success, so reframing road bumps as wins sustains my motivation!
What's a personal habit or mindset shift that significantly improved your business or work life?
I'm a neuroscience nerd and am always growing my expertise in science-backed ways to improve my brain function. Having a positive, growth-oriented mindset recalibrates our brains, allowing us to improve our problem-solving and connection skills (with both ourselves and others), to name just two benefits. With this in mind, I practice daily mindfulness and cultivate gratitude. I don't always notice benefits in my exact moments of meditating and listing what I'm grateful for, but over time, I've noticed life-wide benefits of improved focus, communication, and awareness around my feelings. The more I notice how I feel, the more I've been able to act in accordance with my true desires and passions, which has made a major impact on my career path and work/life satisfaction.
Is there a transformative book, speech, or presentation that you'd recommend to other aspiring business professionals?
I've engaged with so many transformative resources, and this podcast episode is one of my favorites. I listened to this in the middle of some challenging and pivotal career decisions and found myself both comforted and motivated by the end. https://www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-264
Anything else you'd like to add?
No career decision is permanent! Change might be scary, and it's not always easy, but intentional, well-thought-out change is always worth it. Finally, no matter where you are in your career, asking questions and really listening to others builds meaningful connections. Human connections are our superpowers!
