The power of FEAR. Use it to push you, not hold you back from your greatness!

I went to a women's retreat last weekend.

I journaled about FEAR and SUFFERING:

One of the biggest takeaways from this weekend was this... I AM NOT into playing small in any part of my life or in my business.   

Before I started my business, I felt paralyzing FEAR of many things.

• What if we can't pay our mortgage?
• What if my husband gets sick?
• What if I die, what will happen to the kids future, will they remember me?
• What if I get so tired from not sleeping, I forget a child in the car, or have a car accident?
• What if my depression never ends, and this sadness I carry that no one sees is forever?
• What if I never get to feel free again?
• What if I get pregnant with a 3rd, will we be able to afford it?
• What if I never see a white sand beach again, and all I ever see is the armpit of this awful mountain?
• What if the car breaks down?
• What if I never have time to see my friends, and lose touch with them?
• What if my parents get sick and I need to take care of one or ALL of them?
• What if I am never respected again in any career I choose to do?
• What if I never feel valued again?
• What if I go back to work, will my kids know me?
• What if ... this is it?  :-( 

Now, 14 years later.  My life and outlook is in a whole new place.  Personal growth has brought me to a place of gratitude.  Fourteen years ago, right when I was at my very lowest...I was offered the gift of possibility, a way to focus my mind, an opportunity for personal growth, all attached to a business that I could HYPER focus on, all from the convenience of home and around MY priorities.

Now.... 

• We built our dream home and don't stress about the mortgage.
• We have life insurance and a family plan.
• We've managed to keep the kids healthy and mostly happy to 15 and 17... and counting.  
• Found ways to manage my depression with meditation, a self-care plan, my tribe and consistent personal growth.
• I plan multi-week summer freedom road trips to soul singing places with the kids.
• Two kids were perfect for us, plans were put in place to keep at 2!
• Travel is something we schedule in as a couple, as a family, plus I am gifted with lots of travel adventures thru my business..
• Friendships are always a high priority, coffee dates, travel adventures, any excuse for a visit! 
• I've been able to spend so much time with all my parents, I'm grateful for daily morning coffee's.
• I am so respected in my career and am surrounded by the very best mentors and a dream team.
• I feel very valued in my community and am able to extensively volunteer at the kid's schools.
• I'm totally unemployable at this time... my kids not only know me as a mom, but as an entrepreneurial leader who creates a life for herself, and for her family by working smart.
• I know this... more than anything else... I've got more to grow thru and I'm JUST GETTING STARTED!  :-) 

I'm not in the convincing business!  I'm in the helping those who are REALLY ready to never ever let FEAR steer their life decisions for them EVER AGAIN business.  

If any of this resonates with you, direct message me. 

cheers~di  

xo di

Suffering is that attachment to anything that draws you away from your authentic self; the vibration, the frequency, and the sense of connection to the whole of the universe, and everything in it is disrupted- ~Wedlidi Speck

Engagement, & What it Means to Different Generations

Times are changing rapidly, and I'm blessed to be in a career that is ahead of the curve when it comes to maximizing the freedom that comes with an E-commerce business. People are wanting the freedom to work where they want, when the want and how they want... but what does that mean?
Home office is set up, coffee in hand... now where are the clients going to come from?!?
One of the things that always surprises me is when people jump into an E-commerce, online, Social Marketing business they almost always do so because they are wanting a massive change in their work/life balance. However, they often bring along old limiting thoughts and habits that weren't working for them in the first place. It's not unusual for those individuals to expect people to flock to them on their platform/website of choice. This expectation immediately limits their reach, and stalls growth. Often, even worse, they try to use the same reach-out methods on all the different platforms and often alienate themselves from making those engaging connections that could really make a difference for both them and their possible clients.
I am grateful to have a diverse team of leaders in all age brackets in my organization. I've learned that limiting thoughts on engagement and making connections (talking to strangers) can afflict us all. No one age group is better/worse at it... just different. Millennial's prefer Instagram, Snapchat and of course my Gen X crew is all about the Facebook and LinkedIn (so far, but Instagram is sneaking up list as well), and Baby Boomers are more comfortable on the phone and Facebook. It doesn't matter where you start as long as you commit to stretching yourself out of your comfort zone, and opening up and sharing is the one common denominator in today's world. A closed, locked down profile also sees no engagement.
Momentum in todays online world lies in ones ability to foster CROSS-GENERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT skills. The ability to identify how a particular individual feels most at home communication wise, and meeting them in that place. Learning the tools of the trade in todays E-Commerce market is all about understanding the "dance" of each platform and making those authentic connections.
Engagement can look like many different things... it can be as simple as reaching out to spark a conversation in the lineup at the grocery store, thanking a new follower on Instagram, mailing a sample to a prospect in another city who requested one thru a Facebook Story Poll, meeting strangers for coffee when you get a referral, driving outside of your town for a networking event or attending a Wellness retreat. I have done and do all of these things, but you know what i don't do... i don't not try new things. You never know how that next connection could be the missing piece in a project, team or your next dynamic leader.
I do not have all the answers. I do know that every day in every way I work to get better at making authentic connections with dynamic people. Then I do all I can to help them grow their network, career or business. We all benefit when we lift each other up.

xo di

Only 18 summers...

18 summers with our kids. That's it.

Every single...
✔️Coffee meeting,
✔️Launch event,
✔️team road trip,
✔️Personal ask,
✔️Client strategy,
✔️Team training,
✔️Conference,
✔️Mile on my car...

Allows me these moments of...
✅ Saying yes to adventure,
✅ Time with my family,
✅ Growth as a leader,
✅ Become a better person/partner/parent,
✅ Financial Peace
✅ Getting back to my Equestrian roots
✅ Being able to truly own my time.

When our son was only 6 months old (his sister was 3) I started my business. I had a clear vision of how present I wanted to be in my kids lives. How I would volunteer in their school, show up to all their assembly's, be able to travel, do road trips, support their passions, be so present in their world's they would wish I had a "normal" Job.🤣

Flashforward nearly 13 years. All of these things have manifested and so very much more. I don't share this to impress you, but to impress upon you what is possible.

If you are thinking of starting a business, and you are focusing AT ALL on what people will think and not the incredible impact it could have on your future... You are normal. That's where most people fall down, and find reasons not to embrace the "what if".

But please, hold on to your vision... And as your dreams go from your dream board to your calendar you'll be so proud of yourself for the journey you've embarked.

Is it easy, no.

Is it simple, sometimes...

But when you help enough people find their own solutions everything falls into place.

Message me any questions that you have about what it takes to start your own business. What kind of business you think would be a fit for you... and I would love to hear your dreams and visions that you have for your life.

Chronic Pain steals moments #30dayswithdi

Today i went to the Chiropractor.  I typically make it in to the office about once every 6 months. I seem to only go when the pain in my lower back gets to be so bad that i can't sleep, sit properly or even sometimes think straight.  My achiness is from an old back injury I received while riding about 12 years ago.  During my fall off my horse I damaged 3 vertebrae,  9 ribs, and did some pretty amazing soft tissue damage to muscles and tendons primarily on my right side.  Old news... but is it?

Chronic pain is sneaky... it starts slow, and builds.  As it builds you "make do" by stretching, hot pads and Tylenol to get some sleep.  When that doesn't work any longer you add in massage and more pain pills and then finally.... you make an appointment for the chiropractor.  You walk in gimpy and walk out feeling 95% percent better.  WHY DO WE WAIT SO LONG???

Why do we tolerate pain in our lives?  Who are we trying to prove something too?  Do what you need to do, to get to the bottom of it.  For some of the pain in this life (emotional, spiritual, mental) there is no "easy fix". However, often what is going on physically in our bodies can be worked towards a bit more balance and hopefully find some relief and sometimes a solution.

Meme by Karen S. (notsalmon.com)

Chronic pain is something that steals.  It steals slowly, you don't realize what it's done until you look back and take a good hard look at it.  Subconsciously it makes decisions for you, and you don't even realize what's happened.

It steals moments...

• when my little boy jumps on my back playfully, instead of pinning him down and tickling him, I wince and give him shit for being full of energy. 
• not having the energy to fill my own cup with the things that I love to do.
• avoidance of situations where I know I will run out of energy before everyone else (I don't want to be the kill-joy on the ski hill, park, hike, ride).
• saying No to my daughter when she asks me to bake with her, because standing on the tile in the kitchen in the afternoon after sitting in the office for too long is going to hurt.
• not taking the dog for a walk in the sun because he's going to want to go further than I want to go.  If  I'm going to disappoint him, I may as well not even leave the house.
• snapping at my partner without thinking because he asked me a question that made me use a different part of my brain that pulled me from the mindless numbing task I was on and now I hurt.

I am now and have been for several years very active with my self care.  I exercise, eat healthy, meditate, regularly schedule massages and I do the best that I can to stay on top of health issues as they arise.  I know I am so very blessed.  My issues on the scale of life challenges are minuscule compared to so many of my dear friends, colleagues and what others struggle with on a daily basis. I am also very grateful that my career has allowed me the freedom of choice and flexibility. 

My point is only this, please be aware of what your quiet chronic pain is quietly stealing from you.

xodi

Vacation after a Vacation - Day 2

I had a full plate of things to do yesterday, and then had the chance to stop it all and go visit a dear friend in Town for a couple of hours. Catching up, and entertaining each other as only we can, we had a great time. She fills my cup and I am grateful to her for that.  We don't always take the time we need to stop and go play as adults... but we need to.  Even after a holiday, and especially after the Christmas holidays, we need a vacay after our vacay.

Today was a blissfully full day, I dropped kids off at school, coffee with my parents, went to my Personal Trainer to get my butt whipped into shape, Business calls, paperwork, booking calls, and now I'm avoiding the kitchen hiding in the office while hoping my daughter starts dinner. ;-)

Exercising in a way that works for you is key.  I know me, and I know I need to have someone hold me accountable every single time or it just doesn't happen.  Most people find their "sport" or passion in exercise... I loved riding, but after an accident 12 years ago, i'm pretty selective on when, what horse and where i go riding. So going to Chilliwack 2 or 3 times a week works for me, especially now that both kids are in school, and i can schedule my work appointments around my gym schedule.

How do you incorporate exercise into your life??? 

Life without Coffee

I have just in the last month and a half let go of not only coffee but essentially all caffeine.  It's interesting to see the difference in my energy, my eating habits, my work habits, and mostly my clarity.  I'll share with you a few of my findings...

My Energy: Has been great, mostly because as a rule, i've been going to bed closer to 10 than 1am.  Also, I've not found that I've been crashing like I was in the early afternoon.

My Eating Habits: I'm an emotional eater, so when i'm vibrating on the caffeine, it's often snack time, and then when I come down it's the same.  So I've cut out a significant amount of "blind eating" out of my day.  And I've also found myself making better food choices when I do eat. 

My Work Habits: Mornings are starting a little later (partially because kids are home for the summer), but everything seems to be getting done. 

My Clarity:  The days seem longer and sweeter.  There seems to be time for everything, and if there isn't.. there is always tomorrow.  Significantly more ZEN in my world for sure.  Now my next focus is improving the quality of the nutrition in our household.  Stay tuned. :-)   xo di