Reflection and Celebration

October 13, 2022

It’s my 9 year anniversary in my business

It was October of 2013 when I started my coaching business after leaving my corporate job after 27 years.

Part of me says “Wow! Look how far I’ve come!”

Part of me says “Jeez, you’ve only gotten this far?”

The good news is that I recognize these two very distinct voices within me and I choose to feed the one that makes me feel good.

Therefore, I’m celebrating my growth and progress with a trip to Colorado – bringing my mom to visit with my sister. There will be a spa day on the itinerary. yay!

I’ve been thinking about many of the things that have changed in these 9 years. Here are some of the highlights, a sampling of my life with a mixture of work and family because these things are so blended now . . .

2013: Left my corporate career; daughter got pregnant and moved back home; major financial changes in the household; started life coaching business called Spirit Drops and created a course called L.E.A.P. (Life Empowerment Action Program) and took group of 16 women through it.
2014: Coached over 100 people, revised LEAP and ran 2 more group cohorts; 1st granddaughter was born: broke my wrist in a motorcycle incident in Nova Scotia Canada
2015: Rebranded my company to Emerge Leadership Academy LLC; 2nd granddaughter was born; Paul retired from work
2016: Trained over 50 classes (as a contractor); coached 16 individual clients; spoke at my first conference; Daughter got married to a wonderful person, Jam
2017: Continued to train, coach & speak; started writing my book; took 5 week cross country trip from CT to CA and back on the motorcycle (amazing adventure); 3rd granddaughter was born
2018: Continued to train, coach & speak; Published my book Emerge: 7 Steps to Transformation (No Matter What Life Throws at You!); took a 4 week cross country trip to Montana on the motorcycle
2019: Continued to train, coach & speak (over 70 events); lost my sister-in-law to cancer; mother-in-law died at 99 yrs old
2020: Covid Pandemic hit – all training and speaking canceled; created Recovery@Work online coaching program; started Emerge. Evolve. Lead. podcast for people in recovery; 4th grandchild was born (1st boy!); transitioned my mom into a new home after 30 years in the old one
2021: Started training classes again; continued coaching and speaking; played with the kids; 50 podcast episodes
2022: Repeat of 2021 so far (can’t believe it’s October already!)

That’s just a few of the big chunks of what’s happened in the past 9-10 years in my life. I did it all with my partner Paul by my side, my very close friends, many new entrepreneurial ones, and coaches to support me.

I write that for me, more than to inform you, because that inner critic continues to plague me with “it’s not enough.” And I get tired of that voice so I really do have to remind myself (and I encourage you to do the same) to celebrate the successes, morn the losses and live life to the fullest.

Some of you have been with me from the start of this newsletter in 2013 and some of you may be brand new to the list but I want you to know I appreciate you so much. Thanks for reading and listening!

Let me know if I can help you in any way.

All my best,

Maureen

On the Emerge. Evolve. Lead. podcast this week . . .

My guest this week is Hale Pulsifer and he’s been sober since January of 2021. Hale works for Fidelity Investments and is the co-leader for the Office of Customer Accessibility (CIT) so he’s a disability advocate. In this role, Hale works to optimize customer interactions for people with disabilities by ensuring that accessibility is a design principle in everything they do at Fidelity.

The CIT advocates for inclusive design in all Fidelity interactions for the benefit of under-represented customers based on disability, race, and sexual/gender identity.

Hale is passionate about helping to Smash the Stigmas of substance abuse disorder and mental illness. Click below to listen to this awesome conversation and help us smash the stigma.