Stand up for your work

You know how sometimes you hear someone else state the obvious and a pineapple hits you on the head (or a lightbulb goes off... whatever!)? That happened to me yesterday when I interviewed Neeraja Ganesh and again this morning when I listened to Christina Demetriades talk about embracing who you are.

I'm proud of my company. I believe in what I'm doing. Why don't I shout from the rooftops about that aspect of my life? I'm pretty vocal on social media otherwise, and if you've met me, you know that "blunt" is the nicer way of describing my honesty.

I need to sit on this a bit more, but I think it all goes back to that ugly little demon many women have - impostor syndrome. Even though I'm aware of how it affects me, it's still there. I always find a way to feel like I'm not good enough, to diminish any achievements. Well, Christina, today is the start of change. And Neeraja, the time is now - what's the worst that can happen?

I'm not gonna lie - writing this makes me super uncomfortable. I'm already thinking that people will roll their eyes or judge me as narcissistic. I'm worried that compared to what others are doing, my work is not significant enough. So while I'm not quite over my limiting beliefs yet, I gotta start somewhere and this is it. I pride myself for standing up for what is right, and I'm pretty good for standing up for myself as a person. Now I will also do my best to stand up for my work. Here we go!

Coacharya

I joined Coacharya as CEO three years ago, which seems crazy given how fast time flew by. Coacharya is in the business of coach training, leadership development, corporate programs, coaching and all the supporting activities that go with those. Our vision, however, is to enable everyone, regardless of age, location and socioeconomic status, to be their best self.

I didn't start Coacharya, which is a big part of why I frequently don't feel right about taking ownership of what we've accomplished so far. The reality is that Coacharya is very much a part of me now, and I a part of it. I'm so proud of the global community we've built, the thousands of lives we've touched, and the countless others that do and will benefit from the work our coaches and leaders do in their families, companies and communities.

Coacharya is where I learned countless new skills and concepts, which have helped me get through some tough times. I'm a walking example of how increasing self-awareness and finding your purpose can lead to an extremely fulfilling life. We're doing our best to democratize coaching and coaching skills training so that as many people as possible can reap the same benefits as I have.

Wonder Women Wednesdays

This is my first intentional foray into the media world and it's in the shape of interviews. Technically, I only started this initiative in March, but it's really been boiling up inside me for years, decades even. See, I've often been told that I "have a chip on my shoulder about women." The thing is, as a woman, I've been through some s**t. That's an article for another time. Point is, I am what I am because of (or in spite of, perhaps) what I've been through. Women have been marginalized long enough and I simply have not and will not stand for it. So yeah, I've been raging inside a bit for a while.

On the positive side, I've met some really incredible women through my work at Coacharya. They've challenged and inspired me over the past three years and I wanted to find a way to celebrate them, and to some of the quieter ones, to give them a voice. Wonder Women Wednesdays was born out of this drive to support the women in our world and finally admit that the chip on my shoulder is something I'm damn proud of.

Every Wednesday I publish an interview with a wonderful woman whom I think deserves a bit more spotlight. I ask about her journey in life and what she's learned along the way, and through it, we all see how she makes the world a better place. After every interview, I beat myself up about not asking the right questions and I feel somewhat ashamed at the relatively small impact that I feel I'm making on the world. But I also know that I'm improving with each chat and frankly, these aren't about me so I need to just get over it. They're about the wonderful woman who's telling her story and I'm honored to be doing them.

Today, my interviews live forever on YouTube (I do some of them live on LinkedIn with a glass of wine, too), but as of next week they will be available as a podcast, which is a big deal considering how much I used to hate hearing myself. I'm over it now because I had no other choice - if I'm gonna put myself out there, I gotta accept myself.

Saylor's Tale

Did you know I'm an author? Did you know that every time someone refers to me as such, it doesn't register with me? Talk about self-limiting beliefs! I literally have a book that you can buy, but I don't give myself credit for it. Anyhoo, moving on...

Saylor's Tale is a children's book about a pupper who goes from a shelter to a forever home. It's inspired by the love of my life, Saylor, who has helped me through the worst moments of the past decade. I wrote the book so kids could learn about the responsibilities of having a dog. It breaks my heart to see all the abandoned animals in shelters, the millions that end up put down each year, and the countless others neglected and homeless. If we start early and educate kids that animals are part of the family, I think we can affect change long term.

I know I'm biased, but I think the book is pretty cute (I mean, it's Saylor as a cartoon!) and carries a healthy message. And if you love Saylor (who doesn't?!?) you can see more of him on Instagram and you can download stickers for your iPhone messenger too (it's free).

Thank you Christina and Neeraja for the pineapple to the head. You can see my interview with Neeraja here and Christina's webinar here.

And to everyone who's had (or has) self-limiting beliefs like I do (did?), I believe in you! Stand up for yourself and stand up for your work. Maybe hire a coach if you need some support. If I can do it, I promise that you can do it too. Here's a Saylor dog for inspiration :).