"How did you get started in life and business coaching in Canberra?"
It's a long way from where I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada! There are three things that have tied my development together, across continents and the oceans of the world; these are:
"People, Passion, Adventure"
Nothing is more adventuresome than business, and businesses are powered by people! You need tremendous self-confidence to launch business initiatives, and you need solid leadership capacity to continue its growth and development. Life, business, and leadership coaching has formed the perfect platform for me to help people - my true passion - evolve and make a difference in the world.
I tell my story like this:
I'm an extremely independent individual. Mum had to tie a rope around my waist when I was 3 to keep me from running off to explore the world. Not much has changed! I am still always looking out for the next grand adventure.
I love learning and I have a passion for people - their growth, potential, and contribution to the planet. It's no surprise that I have been in the people development business since 1987.
My life of adventure took me through various lake and river systems in Canada - I led canoe trips (2,3, and 6 week trips) and ran a canoe tripping program for the YM-YWCA of Winnipeg. After a decade of summers on the lake and winters at University, gaining a Bachelor degree at McGill University, I figured out that I would rather live a full-time life of adventure than read about it in a book. So I left academia and jumped on a plane for Australia.
I walked straight into a job with Outward Bound, based here in Canberra, one of the world's best outdoor experiential education organisations. There I leaped up the 'corporate' ladder, was on the executive for most of the ten years I was there, and held positions that included Director of Staff and Training, and Director of Research and Development.
I've worked with hundreds of individuals and groups - including Boral, Aventis, and the Canberra Institute of Technology. Some of my other leadership roles include President of the Chamber of Women in Business, and Chair of the Outdoor Council of Australia. I am currently designing and delivering leadership development programs for the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.
In terms of my business acumen, I am a pioneer - I love developing projects from scratch. I have done so successfully at Outward Bound - building the Internship program to a nationally accredited and nationally awarded program. At the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation I have built the shorter leadership programs from a single project into several clients worth multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars and a third of the revenue for the entire organisation. In my own business, Inner Compass, I have delivered quality leadership, business and life coaching and workshops in Canberra for over ten years now. My business continues to grow.
I discovered coaching in 2000 when I hired my own coach and realised the magnitude and efficiency of one-to-one support in self-discovery. Thus Inner Compass was born in 2002 - helping leaders like you who feel there is more in them to achieve, to experience, to offer.
Smooth sailing?
Hardly! Though many would say I've got 'balls', 'guts', 'shutzpah', and any number of impressive body parts and attributes, the truth is there have been times when I have felt terrified, out of my depth, and wondered how the heck I was going to pull the whole show off.
Plus I've made some horrendous mistakes.
Like dating one of my staff members. Suffice to say it ended badly. My confidence as a manager was seriously challenged - for a long time.
Like working like a maniac, being a total stress bunny, and developing cancer for my troubles in 2005.
Cancer taught me to be kind to myself. I learned that life is too short for bulls**t and it's time to get on with living a life you love to live. Like now. Today.
But then there were moments when the clouds parted...
"You could do that!"
Those four words were whispered to me by various mentors and each time I latched on to a new vision of myself - as a leader.
It's funny how blind we can be to our own potential and brilliance.
I can do that for you.
Be your mirror, show you how brilliant you are, how much you can achieve. Because you can. If you let yourself. And I can show you how.
Other stuff that's pretty cool:
I have run 6 marathons (that's the full 42.2km or 26 miles). I actually trained for 7, but the second to last one got interrupted by cancer in 2005. That is where my awakening to conscious creation began - the amazing power of the mind and deliberate intentions.
I'm a bellydancer. Or used to be. I still have the sparkly costumes and can shake it with the best of them!
I've drunk too much red wine, climbed mountains, and have four chickens called Sophia, Leia, Blackie Green Leg, and Blackie Yellow Leg. They say, "Bok bok".
I have some paper to prove I love to learn: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) English Literature from McGill University, Diploma in Outdoor Recreation, Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training. I trained at Coachville and am forever learning heaps through workshops, seminars, books, CDs and other development programs.
I want to meet YOU!
Though we haven't met yet formally, I feel like I know you already: you are savvy, inspiring, authentic, crave adventure and discovery, know there is a mass of potential in you to achieve and contribute and it's itching to come out.
I invite you to stay connected - through the Magnetic Leadership Center, twitter, and facebook (links on the sidebar). Or email me and introduce yourself. I want to know how you are changing the world ('cuz you are.) Have you noticed yet?
With love and appreciation,
