Fireside Chat - a personal
note from Teresia & Sonia
Hello, Sassy & Savvy Woman!
It has been awhile since we connected.
The last few months have been a time of
reflection and revaluation. You will see
some changes at Sassyandsavyywomen.com
and with our community. I will keep you
posted.
In a moment of great gratitude I was inspired
to share the following message with you.
When we think of our environment,
most of us reflect on the physical space
around us. But 12 years ago, when I first
started my coaching practice, I learned
that the word "environment" can
mean so much more.
One of our most important environments
in life is made of the relationships
we surround ourselves with - our
inner circle of people. This includes family,
friends, colleagues, coworkers, staff, mentors,
neighbours, and anyone else you interact
with on a regular basis. These people are
constantly influencing our experience of
life.
As a new coach, I was deeply touched by
the profound impact that a supportive relationship
had on my clients. In many cases, coaching
was the first time they had ever experienced
the magic of full support, where the only
agenda was their success. Time and time
again, I saw the powerful effects that unconditional
support can have on people, and I realized
that most of us have never had the kind
of strategic and emotional support that
helps us to soar and step into our greatness.
What would your
life be like if you had a sharp, committed
person - or group - standing behind you
every step of the way?
I wondered that myself. The idea of being
surrounded and supported by people who believe
in me was incredibly compelling, so I set
out to create that kind of environment in
my life. I hired my own coach (yes, it's
true, the coach has a coach!), and soon
thereafter I assembled two more support
systems: a mastermind group of other coaches
and an authors' circle of aspiring writers.
These relationships,
and the unconditional support they provided
over the past 7 years, have changed my life.
They grew into the most empowering environment
any self-employed professional woman could
ask for, and they continue to be an incredible
source of growth, comfort, security, brainpower,
friendship, fun and so much more.
Now, I'm going to let you in on a little
secret of mine… I believe all women
need a strong social support structure –
even more than men do! (Shh… don't
tell them I said that.)
We just seem to be wired for community
and collaboration. We’re all about
relationships! And we’re so naturally
compassionate with everyone around us that
we really need to feel some compassion coming
back on a regular basis, or the well can
run dry. But when we’re giving and
receiving on all three levels (community,
collaboration and compassion), we get energized
and there's just no stopping us!
In my experience,
people (especially women) thrive when they
get a consistent dose of three kinds of
support:
1) Strategic (planning, brainstorming, etc.),
2) Emotional (morale boosting, perspective,
etc.), and
3) Task (offloading the things you don’t
want to/can’t handle).
When you’re self employed or building
a business, these things are especially
important. In fact, they aren’t even
optional – they’re critical!
– Because each one builds up your
ability to create what you want in your
life.
I cannot emphasize enough how powerful
a supportive environment can be. Whenever
I feel stuck on a business project, I just
pick up the phone and reach out to one of
my mastermind teammates, and more often
than not, I get the answers I need in five
minutes or less.
But it's the emotional support that really
saves the day. At least, it has been for
me.
As many of you know, I recently lost one
of my dearest friends, Debrah
Rafel Osborn - a 47-year old mother of twin
baby girls . Debrah was part of my
authors' circle, and in 6 years of supporting
each other, we carefully crafted a warm,
safe, nurturing environment in our group.
We all grew so close. When the pain and
shock of her sudden death came crashing
down, I can't tell you how grateful I was
to have other women in my life to cry with
and lean on. And as I reached out for support
beyond our group, I knew Sonia and others
would be there for me. It meant the world
to me.
As painful and poignant as this experience
has been, it was also an incredibly powerful
reminder of why I love my work. Strong support
changes lives!
I want
every woman to experience and enjoy the
power of supportive relationships - and
especially the self-employed women.
As my business continues to grow and evolve,
this is becoming a central piece.
If you are self employed, living a full
life and up to big stuff, doing it alone
is not an option.
If this is your year to increase your bottom
line and let go of the lone ranger mentality
I invite you to check out The
Passion Into Profit program. (You will
be brought to the Passion Into Profit page
so please scroll half way down the page
to sign up for the Informational calls.)
The passion into profit program was created
from my desire to have other entrepreneurs
experience the benefits of building a business
surrounded by other like minded individuals
who were just as committed to their success.
The P.I.P program helps self-employed women
create a solid framework of support in their
lives: strategic, emotional and task support
to help them create a profitable business
that serves a great life.
We’ve been offering this program
for 2 years now, and it really touches my
heart to see the incredible courage and
wisdom that comes forth in our P.I.P. groups.
Participants are raving about the difference
it makes in their lives and businesses.
“What's
especially effective and powerful about
the Passion Into Profit program is that
you're not adding another thing to your
"to-do" list by enrolling. The
program components are your "to-do"
list - the necessary steps you have to take
anyway to design and build your business.
But instead of flailing around, taking missteps,
or having to make things up as you go, you
get the proven steps, techniques, tools
and processes, along with expert guides
and incredible support of all the members.
Without a doubt, the Passion Into Profit
program creates results!
~ Michèle Pankratz Business coach
and consultant
In fact, even after the program ends, women
are staying connected with their mastermind
groups because they consistently get so
much value from the discussions. I know
exactly how they feel… the times
I've spent with my own mastermind group
have given me some of my favourite memories
and best insights of my life.
