BECOME Empowered

He grew up in East New York, surrounded by violence, and believed he wouldn't live to see 25. Today he's sailed every inhabited continent, coached leaders around the world, and built a media company helping others find their own way. This is Josh Valentine — and this episode will stay with you.Connect with Josh:https://javalentin.com/https://www.youtube.com/@UCK-1WRXSdXRTnZKqUAzAP2g Connect with Sabine:https://sabinekvenberg.com/resourcesFollow her on:IG: https://www.instagram.com/sabinekvenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-kvenberg/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabine.kvenberg.2025/ Timestamped Show Notes00:00Introduction — meet Josh Valentine00:42Three words that define him: courageous, resourceful, in service02:26Growing up in East New York — violence, survival, and the fear of not reaching 2504:33Travel as transformation and open-mindedness05:40"Turn your mess into a message" — and why the past doesn't dictate the future07:22The pivotal moment at Ground Zero — the decision that changed everything10:27The barbed wire metaphor: climbing from darkness into possibility13:19Arriving at college with everything he owned in two bags14:32How resourcefulness paid for college — running a barber shop from his dorm16:25Resources vs. resourcefulness — Tony Robbins, priorities, and paying forward18:14The Journey Podcast and Dream Nation Media — filming on farms, gyms, and golf courses20:46Sabine's journey — and GUMPTION coming in 3 months22:10Josh's coaching programs — holistic life, work-life harmony, certified coaches24:35AI as a human amplifier — the visibility triangle and standing out in the noise29:10Final message: your story is your greatest asset — and take care of the planet

Feeling stuck, uncertain, or afraid to make your next move?This episode is your permission slip to rise.Discover what gumption really means — and why it’s the missing link between where you are and where you want to be. Learn how to tell the difference between fear that protects you and fear that’s holding you back, why failing forward is a success strategy, and how to stay focused on your boldest goals.Plus, get an exclusive sneak peek into Sabine’s upcoming memoir GUMPTION.It’s time to trust yourself, take the leap, and step into your next level.📖 Pre-order GUMPTION (releasing August 2026) and receive a FREE Advanced Reader’s Copy.👉 Email sabine@sabinekvenberg.com with your receipt to claim yours.

What does it truly mean to leave a legacy — and how do you start building one right now? In this episode, Sabine takes you behind the scenes of her memoir-writing journey and asks the one question that changes everything: What are you here to contribute? Whether you're a parent, an entrepreneur, a coach, or a speaker waiting in the wings — your unique combination of experiences, skills, and stories cannot be duplicated. And that makes your voice more powerful than you may realize. Sabine shares personal stories of the mentors who shaped her path — from meeting Zig Ziglar in person to the books and events that guided her from a 27-year performing arts school to a thriving speaking and coaching brand. She gets refreshingly real about investment, patience, and what it actually takes to go from talented-and-silent to seen-and-booked. You'll also hear about her new book GUMPTION, the One Day Studio Experience she created for aspiring speakers, and why getting your message out into the world isn't just a business move — it's your legacy in action. Resources mentioned: GUMPTION by Sabine Kvenberg https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gumption-sabine-kvenberg/1148750776?ean=9781636989150 The Confident Speaker Accelerator — https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/ConfidentSpeaker The One Day Studio Experience — https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/signature-studio-day The Vibrant Voices Network — https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/Vibrant-Voices 🕐 TIMESTAMPS Time Topic 0:00 Intro 1:35 Welcome + What is the Saturday Live? 2:25 How can we leave a legacy? The many ways to do it 4:10 Why YOU are unique — and why that combination can't be duplicated 5:55 The ripple effect: how mentors shaped Sabine's journey 7:25 Zig Ziglar: "Help enough people get what they want…" — and what it really means 9:55 The Confident Speaker Accelerator — how expertise becomes impact AND income 11:45 Sabine meets Zig Ziglar in person — a personal story 12:55 Napoleon Hill, Stephen Covey, Dr. Wayne Dyer — the mentors who changed everything 14:55 Staying relevant: AI, the internet, and why we can't close our eyes 16:10 The Vibrant Voices Network — how community accelerates your rise as an authority 17:35 The GUMPTION book: writing a memoir, chasing the bestseller lists, and why it matters 19:55 What it really takes — no overnight success, but mentorship speeds everything up 21:35 The missing link for speakers: your professional recording, reel, and one sheet 23:55 The One Day Studio Experience — what it is and why Sabine created it 26:25 What's included + the investment breakdown 28:55 Sabine's personal investment story — $17,000 and the lessons learned 30:55 The acknowledgments: Sam Beckford, Darren Hardy, Jack Canfield, Brendan Bouchard 32:25 Pre-order GUMPTION + advanced reader copy offer 33:55 Closing: "Serve from the heart, follow your passion, and live the life you imagine."

Andrew Darlow, The Memory Preservation Guy. In this engaging conversation, Andrew shares his extensive experience as a photographer, author, and digital management consultant. He discusses the benefits of the OWL app for networking and personal growth, his journey in photography, and the importance of managing digital files effectively. Andrew provides valuable insights into cloud storage, data management, and the significance of gratitude in both personal and professional life. https://sites.google.com/view/sabinekvenberg/home Learn more about Andrew and his services: https://backup.fm/become/ Chapters 00:00Introduction to Andrew Darlow 02:47The OWL Experience and Networking Benefits 05:49Andrew's Journey as a Photographer 11:08The Evolution of Photography and Digital Management 16:32Cloud Storage and Data Management Tips 22:19Organizing Videos and Content Creation 27:56Gratitude and Life Lessons Connect with Sabine: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SabineKvenberg IG: https://www.instagram.com/sabinekvenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-kvenberg/

In this engaging conversation, Orly Amor shares her inspiring journey from a troubled past to becoming a successful business coach and public speaker. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, decision-making, and the power of sharing one's story to impact others. Orly discusses her unique approach to coaching public speakers, her philanthropic efforts through the "You Are My Light" Foundation, and the significance of problem-solving in public speaking. The conversation highlights the need for connection and support in both personal and professional realms, encouraging listeners to take action and make a difference. Learn more about Orl's Masterclass: Orly's Amplfy Retreat Orly's Foundation: https://youaremylight.org/ Takeaways Orly guarantees her clients will make 150K in their first year of public speaking. Sharing personal stories can change lives and inspire others. Mindset mastery is crucial for overcoming personal challenges. Decision-making is the first step to personal transformation. Coaching can help individuals navigate their paths to success. Public speaking is a viable way to reach a larger audience. Problem-solving is more important than just motivation in speaking. The public speaking industry is growing, with a high demand for speakers. Building connections is essential for personal and professional growth. Philanthropy and helping others can lead to profound fulfillment. Sabine's Contact information: Resources: https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/resources SOCIAL MEDIA: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SabineKvenberg IG: https://www.instagram.com/sabinekvenberg/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinekvenberg/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactCommunicationCoaching/ Twitter X https://twitter.com/sabinekvenberg TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sabinekvenberg

Strong By Design - How we can take charge of our lives. We all can become strong and healthy by designing our lives accordingly. Chris Wilson, host of the podcast Strong By Design, shares his insights and experiences on achieving both physical and mental strength. He offered practical life improvement tips and discussed his journey as a strength coach. Chris emphasized the importance of staying strong and healthy into our golden years and explored the concept of failing your way to success. He highlighted how exercise benefits not only our muscles but also our minds, illustrating the deep connection between physical workouts and mental resilience. This episode is a valuable listen for anyone looking to feel independent and strong and maintain their health. He also shares his failures in life and how he dealt with them. Support this podcast Strong by Design Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@strongbydesignpodcast4492 StrongByDesignPodcast.com strongbydesignpodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/strongbydesignpodcast Sabine's guest episode on Chris's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAI0CSNUHb8&t=1073s Stay in touch: Connect with Sabine https://talktosabine.com Sabine Kvenberg Resources Sabine Kvenberg on Instagram Sabine Kvenberg on Linkedin Watch the episode on YouTube

In this special episode, Sabine delves into the origins and impact of her podcast, which ultimately led to the creation of her best-selling book, "Become Empowered: Echoes of Grace and Strength." Sabine shares a personal story about how the recurring word "become" awakened her at 3 AM, serving as a catalyst for both the podcast and her book. The episode offers a deep dive into Sabine's journey of self-discovery, the power of storytelling, and the transformative experiences of various women who contributed to her book. Sabine explains how a meeting with a colleague sparked the idea of using her podcast as a platform to share powerful stories of personal growth and resilience. Highlighting key events, such as speaking at the PodFest Expo and the subsequent creation of her podcast, Sabine emphasizes the importance of communication and connections in achieving one's creative and personal goals. Get in touch: Get your copy of Become Empowered: https://amzn.to/3U1Iv3d Free Resources: https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/resources Empowered Women on Purpose Call: https://calendly.com/coachsabine/ewopcall Follow Sabine on Social Media: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SabineKvenberg IG: https://www.instagram.com/sabinekvenberg/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinekvenberg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SabineKvenberg Twitter X https://twitter.com/sabinekvenberg Transcript: [00:00:00] Podcasts, books, and you. This episode will be quite different than all the previous ones. First of all, we will talk about those three things. Now you might wonder, what do I have to do with this? Well, let's wait and see. Well, let's begin with, So in today's episode, I will share with you how this podcast came about and how through this podcast the book Become empowered echoes of grace and strength real life stories Of women's transformation and triumph. And that book was released last week and became a bestseller. So let's stay tuned, and let's hear [00:01:00] the whole story. It all began when I was waking up in the middle of the night. Well, actually it was in the morning. It was three o'clock in the morning. And then this one word came through my mind again and again, become, become, become. I had to get up and write it down. I didn't know at that point that this will become a podcast and that this will turn into a book and that this also impacted you. So let's step back a little bit. I had a visit from a colleague and we kind of brainstormed together how we want to move forward with our online business. And it was such a great, great meeting but throughout that meeting, I [00:02:00] was sharing part of my story and I was singing a song to her Her eyes were getting this big. And she said, Sabine, you must share this. And then she asked me, what is it that I was teaching? What is it? What is the message that I wanted to share? And I said very clearly, we have to become the person we are meant to be to live the life we are destined to live. And that eventually became my tagline for this podcast, because I truly believe that there is greatness within each one of us. And I even wrote a book about it, or not about that, but rather, about the fact that we can [00:03:00] unlock that full potential that is within. So that's how it all began. And then now I found myself getting up early in the morning, become, become. And that's when I knew I have to start a podcast. You see, during that meeting with my friend, she also shared her story and It was a very empowering story of overcoming adversity, of overcoming divide. And I thought to myself, wow, a lot of people go through challenging times and they need to know that they are not alone, that other people went through the same or similar things and that there is always a way. a way out. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. And so I wanted to share [00:04:00] that. Five years earlier, I met Chris Kremitsos, who is the CEO and founder of the PodFest Expo. Back then he invited me to attend the PodFest and I did. And I started a podcast right there and then, however, it was out of excitement and I'm this type of personality that, Ooh, I love challenges. I love new things. I love to create. So I created a podcast right there on PodFest or during PodFest, but of course I didn't have The why behind it, I wasn't quite sure why I started it and what the results I want to achieve with this podcast. And so when life stepped in, I abandoned that podcast. Nevertheless, Chris [00:05:00] stayed in touch with me and eventually he invited me to speak at the virtual podfest that now was only virtual because of the pandemic that happened. And then eventually I was invited to speak at the first in person event again. And that was actually exactly at the same time when I had this meeting with my friend and I had that epiphany of become and I knew then I needed to start that podcast. A few weeks after I attended the in person Podfest Expo where I spoke, I launched the first episode of Become. And that was almost two years ago, and that was in June of 2022 to [00:06:00] be precise. And ever since I had weekly episodes that I released, I interviewed individuals from all walks of lives who shared their experiences, their stories of overcoming adversities. And I mean, All kinds of adversities. And very soon this podcast became very popular and people wanted to share their stories, but I possibly couldn't get everybody on the podcast. So I thought, what else can I do? What is another outlet where can share stories? And that's when the idea was Bo born of creating a book. And I wanted to create a book in which I share my story, but also other people's stories. [00:07:00] And so I just put out the word. And what happened was very remarkable. People were excited to share their stories. And I started interviewing different individuals, and it turned out to be women that were drawn to this book project. And I curated 12 amazing women with 12 amazing stories that are so different from each other. And that turned into a book with the title, Um, Um, Become Empowered, Echoes of Grace and Strength, Real Life Stories of Women's Transformation and Triumph. And that book was released last week and became [00:08:00] an Amazon bestseller. Wow, I mean, this was an amazing journey, not only because I was able to share these stories, but also what happened through the journey of working together with these amazing women. You see, through the process of writing their stories, awful things started to happen in their lives. For some, it was a healing process. going through that story, sharing their story. Others, it started a new business. It started a new opportunity. I mean, I couldn't even have imagined what all happened through that process when I [00:09:00] began with it. And it was such a heartwarming and amazing, amazing experience for me as well. So now you may ask, Where do I come in? Well, you already have been sprinkled throughout what I have been sharing this far with you. Let me recap. First of all, you are here listening. That means you are a subscriber. You are a subscriber to this podcast. Perhaps this is the first episode that you listened to, and you listened to it because you bought the book. So you perhaps are a reader, or you are one of the podcast guests that I had in the [00:10:00] past, or you are one of the co authors. Or you are a fellow podcaster who was just drawn to this episode, or perhaps you have been following me on my social media, or you are in my universe one way or another. And perhaps, listen, perhaps you are being featured on my podcast in the future, or you are being featured in my next book. You see, there are so many connections and so many intertwines of things and situations and meetings. That is really fascinating to me. And that's why I entitled this episode, podcasts, books, and you, because on one level or another, [00:11:00] we all are connected. And once we realize that, we know that connections are the heart of everything. Connections and the communication is powerful. And when you combine those You can create anything. You can create podcast episodes. You can create a book. You can create blog posts. You can create whatever you want to create in your life. With the right communication and with the right connections. And I hope that you stay tuned, that you continue listening to this podcast and give some feedback. And I also hope that you get inspired to start something new [00:12:00] or to create something new, or just simply expand on what you already have. And if you feel you need more clarity on that. By all means. Get in touch with me. We can set up a complimentary session and I can perhaps help you get that clarity. Just go to talktosabine. com and schedule a time on my calendar. I am committed to help entrepreneurs to communicate better, to get their message out. And one way to do it is to know exactly who you are. where you are right now and have a clear vision to where you want to go because only with a clear vision [00:13:00] can we get the results that we want. The good book said without vision people will perish and if you translate that to your life, if I translate that to my life, I know I have to have a continuous vision for my life in order to experience my life to the fullest because if not, I might not perish from the earth tomorrow. I may, because we never know when it's our time, but by that it's, It was meant to perish from making a difference, perish from connecting with other people, perish from sharing your gifts and talents. And for those of you who know me, you know how passionate I am sharing [00:14:00] your gifts given to you by your creator, using the talent that you have to make a difference. I have done that all my life at the beginning, not consciously at the beginning. It was purely because I wanted to do what I love, not thinking about the impact that I made. So you see, I wanted to become an actress. I love to sing and perform and dance, but little did I know back then that it turned into a much greater vision. And you don't have to start with that bigger vision. Just a small one for you that you want to pursue right now. And once I was done with my career as a stage and TV actress, then it turned to becoming a director. And then it turned into becoming [00:15:00] a business owner, an entrepreneur, and a coach and a mentor. And I made a difference in so many young people's and adults lives. But the most important part, I always listened to that inner voice that we all have. What is next? What is mine to do? What am I here for? What is the next thing that I am called to do? And throughout my career as a performing arts studio owner, I was also developing something else. I started writing music. to the local church. And by the way, that is the story that I share in my book. become empowered, echoes of grace and strength, how I stepped into that next [00:16:00] calling. And when I finally did, it turned into creating more music, producing a CD, actually a couple, and sharing my musical message with the world. And then later on combining it with my message and with my teachings and my coaching that I do today. So this is what I wanted to share with you today, the story behind how everything started, how the podcast came about, how the book came about, but it just didn't start with just one thing. It's a chain of things. It's a chain of experiences. It's a chain of choices that we made. [00:17:00] And if I hadn't made the choice when I was a young adult to change careers from a desk job to becoming an actress. I don't know if I would be here today and recording this very episode. It's because all experiences and all choices are leading to the next. So my friend, I wish for you that You get the clarity, and if not, seek clarity, however it looks like for you. Find a mentor, or give me a call, or schedule a call on my calendar, and then start the process. No matter where you are, you don't have to figure it out. It doesn't have to be perfect. It wasn't perfect for me when I first [00:18:00] started out and figured it out. That is where you have to start because there is greatness within you. You have a gift, you have talent, use it. to make a difference. And if you enjoyed this episode today, I truly appreciate if you would take the time to go wherever you listen to the podcast, give us a five star. rating, and leave a short review. This helps to get the podcast out to more people. And of course, please share it with your friends or share it on social media. I appreciate it. I appreciate your support. Thank you. And last but not least in the show notes is the link to get your copy of Become [00:19:00] Empowered Echoes of Grace and Strength. And I hope you get inspired and be entertained reading these stories and perhaps it makes a difference to you. in your life, and you might want to even give it as a gift to a loved one. And if you listen to this episode right now, Mother's Day is just around the corner. So it turned out to be a great Mother's Day gift for sure. Thank you again. And until we see each other again, or you hear me again, always remember, Serve from the heart, follow your passion and live the life you imagine.

Uncover the unexpected connection between storytelling and empowerment and how it could transform your life and business. This surprising twist will challenge your perspective and leave you eager to dive into the power of your own story. Ready to unlock the key to fulfillment and purpose? Stay tuned for an eye-opening revelation that could change everything. In this episode of the BECOME podcast, host Sabine Kvenberg engages in a powerful conversation with guest Alison Bladh, delving into the transformative influence of storytelling and the pursuit of passion in both personal and professional spheres. Alison, a contributing author to Sabine's new book, Become Empowered, shares her personal journey, emphasizing the profound impact of aligning one's work with their passions. Through heartfelt anecdotes and meaningful insights, the episode highlights the cathartic and empowering nature of storytelling, inspiring listeners to embrace their own narratives as a catalyst for growth. The engaging dialogue between Sabine and Alison underscores the significance of resilience, purpose, and the positive impact of sharing and learning from personal experiences. With a focus on empowerment and fulfillment, this episode offers a valuable perspective on embracing storytelling as a tool for personal growth and living a purpose-driven life, making it a must-listen for creative individuals seeking empowerment through storytelling and a desire to make a positive impact.,In this episode of the BECOME podcast, host Sabine Kvenberg engages in a captivating conversation with guest Alison Bladh, a contributing author to Sabine's new book, Become Empowered. The episode delves into the transformative influence of storytelling and the pursuit of passion in both personal and professional spheres. Alison shares her personal journey, emphasizing the profound impact of aligning one's work with their passions. Through heartfelt anecdotes and meaningful insights, the episode highlights the cathartic and empowering nature of storytelling, inspiring listeners to embrace their own narratives as a catalyst for growth. The engaging dialogue between Sabine and Alison underscores the significance of resilience, purpose, and the positive impact of sharing and learning from personal experiences. With a focus on empowerment and fulfillment, this episode offers a valuable perspective on embracing storytelling as a tool for personal growth and living a purpose-driven life, making it a must-listen for creative individuals seeking empowerment through storytelling and a desire to make a positive impact. Challenges can indeed morph into opportunities, and in the face of hardship, there lies the potential for immense growth and evolution. In this episode, you will be able to: Unleash your personal power through the art of storytelling. Master the art of transforming your experiences into compelling stories. Discover effective strategies for conquering life's challenges and thriving. Cultivate personal and professional empowerment for a fulfilling life. Learn the secrets to successfully launching a book with multiple contributing authors. My special guest is Alison Bladh Alison Bladh, an accomplished author featured in Sabine Kvenberg's upcoming book "Become Empowered," brings a moving and empowering story to the podcast. In her contribution titled "Through Tears and Triumph: A Journey of Healing and Empowerment," Alison shares her inspiring journey of resilience and self-discovery. Through her writing, Alison delves into the depths of adversity, portraying a tale of strength and purpose. Her unique international background and compelling storytelling make her an invaluable guest for today's discussion on the impact of storytelling on personal growth and empowerment. Alison's narrative resonates with diverse audiences, offering a perspective that fosters inspiration and strength in the face of life's challenges. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:01 - Introduction to the Become podcast 00:00:55 - New Book Release 00:04:03 - The Power of Storytelling 00:08:32 - Book Launch and VIP Guest List 00:21:50 - Serving from the Heart 00:23:15 - Pursuing Your Passion 00:25:40 - Living the Imagined Life 00:27:10 - Embracing Authenticity 00:28:45 - Final Thoughts Join the VIP guest list for the book launch on April 24 by clicking the link below. This will give you the opportunity to be part of a special launch party, receive signed autographs, and have the chance to win prizes. https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/become-book-launch Learn more about Empowered Women on Purpose, a transformative program designed for women ready to unleash their full potential and make a difference in the world. Click the link in the show notes to take the first step towards creating a life and business you love. TalktoSabine.com Join the Facebook group Become Empowered to stay updated and connected. https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeempowered Connect with Alison Bladh on social media by searching for her name or visiting her website, alisonbladh.com, for more information about the book launch and other updates. https://www.instagram.com/alisonbladh Transcription 00:00:01 Welcome to the Become podcast. My name is Sabine Kvenberg, founder of Impact Communication Coaching. In this podcast, we talk about how to become empowered in our personal and business lives. I feature interviews with successful individuals from various industries who discuss their professional and personal journeys, how they overcame adversities and the strategies they used to achieve their goals. We must become the person we are meant to be, to live the life we are destined to live. 00:00:38 The content will inspire you to reach your aspirations and become the best version of yourself. Thanks for tuning in and supporting this. Podcast and dont forget to follow our. Show so you wont miss when we. Release a new episode. 00:00:55 And as always, we appreciate if you can give us a five star rating and leave a review without any further ado. Now let's dive into the show. Hello and welcome. Today is April 4, 2024 and spring is in the air. And you know what happened in spring. 00:01:18 It's something new, something fresh, things are developing, flowers are sprouting, and there is a new beginning. In many, many instances, we look forward to new, exciting things to come into our lives. And one of the exciting things I want to share with you today, my new book become empowered, that will be released this month. On April 24, to be precise. That book came out of a long development and working together with twelve amazing contributing authors who shared their real life story. 00:02:09 In this book, including the one that I am sharing, we have 13 empowering stories that will not only entertain, but it will also help you understand. Oh wow. I'm not alone here. It's not just me that experiencing hardship and hard times, no, many others have gone before me and have experienced that and they share how they overcame it, their share their transformations and triumphs. And we hope that by sharing those stories you will inspired. 00:02:55 So today I actually want to talk about the power of stories and I have a surprise guest today who will share her experience by writing down her story and sharing the story publicly in this book. And when I work with my clients, I cannot emphasize enough how important stories are. We as human beings are hardwired to tell stories, to listen to stories, and to learn from stories. And if you are an entrepreneur, you know when you can share your message through a powerful story, you are able to transform more lives by teaching through stories. And you will also realize that you can connect with your ideal audience in a more powerful way. 00:04:03 And you also will realize that when you can share your story more effectively, you can turn prospects into clients. And when you have more clients, when you are able to help more people, you can make a bigger impact so stories have something profound. They share an experience. And we all love a good story, either reading it in a book, listening to it on a podcast, or in an audiobook, or watch a story unfold on tv or in a movie. You see, when you understand the power of stories and when you implement that into your life, either as an entrepreneur or even in your personal life, if you have to communicate with your loved ones, with your children, with your spouse, with your friends, with your neighbors, when you know how to communicate better. 00:05:08 And sometimes incorporating a little story will help people understand you better. And that's what this podcast is about. We have to become empowered. We have to become better communicators. We have to become a better version of ourselves. 00:05:28 And the more we learn, the better we can do that. So I wanted to share the labor of love of this particular book. When I started this project, I had. An idea, I had a vision. That was it. 00:05:51 I didn't realize how much bigger this project became. First of all, the twelve other women who share together with me the stories in this book became good friends. Actually, we collaborated together through email, through zooms, and I learned their stories. And of course, me being the first one who read it was very humbling. It was a humbling experience. 00:06:31 And I realized that these women opened their heart through their stories. And especially sharing those publicly with you in this book is very powerful. And I saw that there was so much more we can learn from each other than just staying in our own circle of friends and family and circle of influence when we open up and read more, listen more, share more, we have more influence in this world. And all of us, we hope that we are able to make a difference in other people's lives, perhaps in your life, when you listen to those stories. And I personally want to invite you to of course, buy this book. 00:07:39 But first of all, become part of this experience and you can by joining our vip guest list. So you are going to be invited to a very special launch party that we have on April 24. I will have a link in the show notes that you can become part of that journey and being part of that vip guest list, you have the opportunity to get signed autographs and you will also have the opportunity to win prizes. Because of course, there are always some. Perks that will help get more people excited for this book launch. 00:08:32 Here we go. We are launching there too. But it's the book launch. Yes. English is not my first language and sometimes words are being so similar or written so similar. 00:08:44 So how is it not being pronounced? And just for your information, German in that respect is much easier. It might be harder grammatically, but reading you just read as it is written. It is pronounced as it is written. I shall say English is a different story, but that was a little side note. 00:09:11 Now I am excited to introduce my special surprise guest and let me get her on stage. Are you ready to open the doors of possibilities and step into your calling? Introducing empowering empowered women on purpose a transformative program designed for women who are ready to unleash their full potential and make a difference in the world. In this program, you will not only learn to speak up, follow your passion and live on purpose, but you'll also gain invaluable tools and strategies to build and grow your online course business with confidence. Empowered women on purpose will guide you through getting clarity about your offer and ideal clients so you can effectively communicate your value and attract your tribe. 00:10:12 We help you overcome the fear and overwhelm of tech stuff, empowering you to. Navigate the digital landscape with ease. You will learn how to create winning presentations, master the art of storytelling, engaging your audience with impact, and turn prospects into paying clients. You will establish yourself as an authority in your niche and position yourself as a leader in your field. Imagine creating a tribe that loves and supports you, fostering a community of like minded individuals who resonate with your message. 00:10:53 Picture a day when you are on stage speaking to your ideal audience and are in the zone. Picture a day when someone comes up to you after hearing you speak and says, it's like you are talking to me, I need to work with you. How do I sign up? And picture a day when you have the confidence to speak about your business everywhere you go, have all the clients and supporters you dreamed of and have the financial freedom to help more people and live the life you imagine. Join me on this journey of empowerment and discovery, creating the lifestyle you love and deserve. 00:11:39 Click the link in the show notes to learn more about empowered women on purpose and take the first step towards creating a life and business you love. Alison, I am so glad that you joined me today because you are one of the twelve contributing authors to my book. Become empowered. Echoes of grace and strength and when I see you, Alison, you are such an example of that grace and of that strength. Well, first of all, welcome. 00:12:20 How are you today? Oh, thank you. It's lovely to be here. Yes, I'm really well and it's just all so exciting around this book. It's wonderful. 00:12:30 So thank you for having me on here today. Yes, and what I love about this book too, and about the authors is that it's really international. And for those who are listening, you could see or you could hear already an accent. Alison is originally from England, and of course, you know my accent. I'm originally from Germany. 00:12:55 And now, Alison, you live in Sweden, right? Yes, I was brought in, brought up in London, but I live just outside Stockholm now. So my, my husband is swedish. That's what took me to Sweden. So, yeah. 00:13:10 Fantastic. Fantastic. I love it. And we do have another author. She is originally from. 00:13:19 She is dutch and lives now in Spain. And we have canadian and we have authors that are originally from Colombia and I think another south american country. It's. I love it. And not only because it's so international, but also you bring your own nationality and your upbringing into your stories. 00:13:48 So those stories are just amazing. And if you all want to read them, the big book launch is on April 24. Make sure you put it into your calendar, and I will have a link below here where you can actually get. Become part of our vip guest list. So. 00:14:09 But now I want to get into asking you a couple questions. Of course, we don't want to reveal your story, but what I will do is I'm going to read the topic and also one of the highlights from your story or one of the takeaways that we highlighted here. So the topic or your title is through tears and triumph, a journey of healing and empowerment. And first of all, I want to ask you, we all have stories, but writing them down and even more, publishing it for the world to read and hear is a different story. So how was your experience in writing down the story? 00:15:07 Yeah, that's such a wonderful question because it actually surprised me how this made me felt. It really made me feel very emotional because of what my story contains. It was very emotional for me, but it was also very healing. I think it's. The details of my story are something that I don't necessarily think about because it's too painful. 00:15:37 You know, it's kind of head in the sand scenario. And, you know, if I'm being really honest, when I started writing this, you know, it brought me to tears. I really. It felt like a release in a way of, I finally, you know, putting it. There's something about putting something on paper, isn't there? 00:15:58 Rather than. Than just having thoughts or talking about it. So I found the whole experience very emotional, but also very positive because it really, it just enabled me to kind of release those emotions and all that pain and hurt that I had throughout, you know, this. This time in my life. And it is so beautiful what you said, because you are not the only one who shared this with me. 00:16:33 There was another author, Monica, writing down her story. She, she shared with me, my gosh, tears were running down my cheeks, and it was so healing. And we hope that the readers will also experience something in that respect, that they realize they're not alone. We all have painful stories, painful experiences in life, but what we do with it, that makes a big difference. How we deal with it, how we respond. 00:17:13 And many of you actually discovered your purpose in that whole story. Wasn't that for you as well, Alison? Yes, absolutely. My whole story really revolves around, you know, what happened and how that enabled me, through the pain and the hurt and the upset, to really find my purpose. If that hadn't happened in my life, then, you know, I wouldn't maybe have been drawn into what I'm doing now. 00:17:48 So. Absolutely. It's very interesting, isn't it, in life, how things that aren't necessarily, like, positive or enjoyable can lead us into something that we find our purpose in? Yes. Yes. 00:18:03 And I want to read something that you put into the story, and I basically summarize what you just said. Challenges can indeed morph into opportunities, and in the face of hardship, there lies the potential for immense growth and evolution. I love it. And that's what this is all about. So if you want to get your hand on the book, I encourage you to join us on April 24 for our official book launch. 00:18:42 And I'm going to give you a sneak peek of the book. It's not for sale yet, but that's how it's going to look like right now. It just says not for resale because this is my proofread version. And on the backside, you see all the beautiful authors, including Alison, who is there with us today. So thank you, Alison, for being here and sharing your experience of writing your story and publishing it in this book. 00:19:18 Oh, thank you so much. It's a real pleasure. And I'm so excited about this book launch. Really, really excited. If people that are in your universe, they're in Europe, want to hear more about it, where can they find you? 00:19:33 Like on social media or maybe in any other means? The best? Well, I'm on all social media. If you search for Alison Bladh, that's Bladh a l I s o n b l a D h, or you can find me on my website, which is the same Alisonblard.com. And there's lots of information, and I will be posting lots of things about the book launch as well. 00:20:01 So perfect. Yes, I'll make sure to put that information in the show notes as well. So if people directly want to talk to you, because, you know, sometimes you want to have that direct conversation with the authors. But of course, on the 24th, we are going to have a lot of presence online and we also have a Facebook group that you can join and that Facebook group called Become Empowered. And again, the link will be in the show notes. 00:20:41 So thank you, Alison. Oh, thank you so much. Thank you. I hope you enjoyed that little inside view from one of our authors. And over the next few weeks, I will get more authors onto our stream. 00:21:00 I will have live streams and I have a Facebook group that you can join right now. You stay in touch, you can be part of the launch, you can be part of winning prizes. Just go to Facebook, become empowered and join the group to stay updated and to get the insights. And of course, if you want to be part of our vip guest list, then I invite you to join by clicking the link below. Thanks for being here and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, we appreciate if you can give us thumbs up, leave a review and share it with your friends until I see you again. 00:21:50 Always remember, serve from the heart, follow your passion and live the life you imagine.

Chandler's journey of overcoming entrepreneurial burnout became a catalyst for expanding his businesses. With newfound clarity and a refreshed mindset, he made deliberate choices to streamline his operations and concentrate on what truly mattered. He understood that quality outweighed quantity and that true success lay in creating meaningful impact. Chandler Walker is a creator at heart, a dad to a beautiful 4-year-old daughter, a Jiu-jitsu purple belt, and a lover of all things water. Growing up with a bipolar mother, Chandler wanted to do something to help people with mental health issues. However, after starting his education in the medical field, he deviated from it because he wanted to focus on prevention rather than just treating the symptoms. He built a brick-and-mortar health business that is focused on six key pillars of wellness. After 4000 sales conversations for his health business, Chandler created a psychotherapeutic system for selling high ticket services without manipulation, aggressive tactics, or feeling salesy. He also turned $250 into $50,000 from investing in the crypto markets and has learned how to safely and efficiently create cash flow in what can otherwise be a volatile market using his three-pillar system, combining crypto, Defi, and Web 3: So buckle up for a very interesting conversation digging into a diverse field of topics. Chandler's contact info: Website 9-Step Heart-Centered Sales System Instagram Lifeline Screening can save lives. Schedule your screening today: Lifeline Screening Connect with Sabine Kvenberg: Sabine Kvenberg Resources Sabine Kvenberg on Facebook Sabine Kvenberg on Instagram Sabine Kvenberg on YouTube BECOME Podpage

After being abused by her drug-addicted mother, she was adopted at the age of 4. Victoria has been driven to show the world that no matter your circumstances, you can create a successful and happy life. Today she is a wife, mom, and Corporate Executive who received many awards. Victoria’s message is that we CAN have it all as long as we live a life of NoExcuses. Shownotes: Victoria Pelletier was a determined 11-year-old who wanted to be better than what she had. Even though she had to deal with a lot of trouble and trauma as a child, she was determined to do well and worked her way to the top, becoming COO at 24, President at 35, and CEO at 41. She learned to pick herself up and keep going, and her drive helped her achieve many things. Victoria now serves on many boards, coaches and mentors female entrepreneurs, and speaks on leadership, culture, diversity, and inclusion, all to make the world a safer, more welcoming place. In her book, "Unstoppable," she talks about her motto and life philosophy, which she hopes will inspire other people to be brave and take charge of their lives. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. How Victoria Pelletier achieved success in business despite extreme adversity and trauma in her childhood. 2. How she developed resilience and overcame challenges to become an unstoppable force. 3. How she encourages others to take control of their career and build a strong personal brand. Connect with Victoria Pelletier: Victoria Pelletier Website Victoria Pelletier on Linkedin Victoria Pelletier on Instagram Want to hear more of Victoria Pelletier’s story? Grab your copy of the Unstoppable book here. Connect with Sabine Kvenberg: Free Resources: https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/resources Sabine Kvenberg on Facebook Sabine Kvenberg on Instagram Sabine Kvenberg on Linkedin Sabine Kvenberg on YouTube BECOME Podpage ➤Are you looking for the finest online course platform to build and sell courses swiftly? Why not try Kajabi? All the tools of Kajabi make it easier for you to create online courses, podcasts, coaching, memberships, and more! Try the 30-day free trial and make the most out of it. And if you're just getting started and want to put your offer up for sale in three days or less, click this link https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/making_it_happen to apply to "MAKING IT HAPPEN." TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Sabine: Hello, my name is Sabine Kvenberg, founder and host of BECOME. The content will inspire you to reach your aspirations and become the best version of yourself. I feature interviews with successful individuals from various industries, delving into their personal and professional journeys and their strategies to achieve their goals. We have to become the person we are meant to be first, so we can live the life we are destined to live. That means we must overcome challenges and to work through difficult times to learn, grow, and become the new, more fabulous version of ourselves. I'm so glad that you're here. Let's get on this journey together. 00:00:54 Sabine: My guest today, Victoria Pelletier, has an unstoppable spirit. She is a prolific speaker, whose personal story carries so much strength. After being abused by her drug addicted mother, she was adopted at the age of four. Victoria has been driven to show the world that no matter your circumstances, you can create a successful and happy life. Today, she is a wife, mom, and corporate executive who received many awards. Victoria's message is that “We CAN have it all, as long as we live a life of NoExcuses.” Welcome, Victoria, I'm so happy to have you as my guest today. 00:01:42 Victoria: Thanks, Sabine. I'm happy to be here. 00:01:44 Sabine: And I must say, reading your bio, it seems like you must be already ready for retirement. But I see you're here in front of me and you're this beautiful young woman, have accomplished so many things. But I'm sure that you also had to go through some of challenging situations. But before we go into your unstoppable mentality and vigorous character, why don't you give us just a quick background of who you are? What you have done? 00:02:25 Victoria: Sure, happy to. So I am, as you said, a long time in business, which is why you expected to see more gray hair here. I do cover them, mind you. I had been working since I was 11. And by 14, I was already in my first leadership role and promoted up through the ranks. What's really interesting is I expected to be a lawyer. That's what I was studying and was about to transfer to law school when I had the opportunity to take a promotion from the bank that I was working at, at the time. And when I decided I was never after that work for a number of years, I was like, “I guess I'm not going back to law school or going to law school, nor moving back to my hometown.” And continue the progression from there and became a COO at just age 24, president by 35, CEO at 41. 00:03:16 Victoria: And where it comes from quite honestly, use the phrase and title of my book, Unstoppable. It is my mantra and my life's philosophy. And I often talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, and understanding people's why. And that's their lived experience, what gets them to where they are today. And your listeners are probably wondering, and as do many of the people that I speak to, where did the drive? Where did this all come from? How did it come into being? And it's because I overcame extreme adversity in my youth, abused by the teenage drug addicted mother, who gave birth to me, for a number of years. I was fortunate to be adopted. And a series of other unfortunate events that occurred from there through my childhood. And I believe that you have a choice in terms of how you react and respond to things and pick up and how do you move forward. So it is those early years that really pushed me to be better than either the biology that I was born into or the circumstances, which I had otherwise experienced too, to get to where I am today. 00:04:17 Sabine: So at what age were you adopted? 00:04:21 Victoria: At four. 00:04:22 Sabine: Okay, okay. So, obviously, the first few years are very, very pregnant for us as human beings, but we get there and a lot of the stuff lives in our unconscious mind even up into adulthood. So when you said you had some of abuse and challenges in your childhood, can you remember what that was? 00:04:49 Victoria: I can and it's unusual because a lot of children don't remember things before the age of six or seven perhaps. And for me, I can very much remember being two and three years old, and abused by my biological mother, whether that was pushed up and down stairs. I had teeth that had been impacted as a result of that, even my baby teeth. Even to this day, one of my eye droops a little bit lower than the other because I had a cigarette in my eye and I wore a patch for months. 00:05:20 Sabine: Oh, my goodness. 00:05:21 Victoria: So I remembered a lot of it. Those were, ended up being quite formative, even though we would say it's a little bit later in children's lives just because of the trauma that I dealt with. 00:05:31 Sabine: Wow, wow. That is something. I've never heard of this, that you remember. But obviously, it was very traumatic. During your years of being adopted, how was that for you as a child? Did you really see them as your parents? Or were they just basically taking care of you? What was that bond that you had with your adopted parents? 00:06:03 Victoria: I very much saw them as my parents. And that's grown into how I view it today. You parents are those that raise you, quite frankly. And so they are my parents. And so I viewed them that way. But what I will say is the trauma and feeling, like I internalized a lot of the abuse I received at the hands of my biological mother as something I did wrong, and then ultimately to be removed. And/or she agreed to give me to my adoptive parents so that they knew one another. But still, I felt a sense of rejection and insecurity always. So even though I believed my parents were my parents, and my mum, especially I had a much closer bond to her than I did to my dad. I was still pushing away. I remember my mom saying to me many times, like “Tori, you need to stop. We are not giving you away.” Because I would push and I would challenge out of fear, quite honestly. Like if I can push you away before you do me, maybe it's a less hurt, is what I viewed it. So it took a lot of years to get comfortable in that setting. 00:07:09 Sabine: Yeah, I mean, this is one of those coping mechanism that we have as human beings. And I know what you're talking about. And fortunately, I was not abused, but I lost my birth father when I was just three years old. And I didn't remember much. But in my adulthood, way later in my adulthood, I had really fear of rejections, fear of being left alone, and I didn't know where this come from. I had separation anxieties, when I was in my adulthood, until I really worked through it. And it came about, that it was from those childhood experiences. And I totally get it, we have to work through it. Now, obviously, what was it in your upbringing? Was your foster parents or was your adopted parents that led you to who you are today, that unstoppable personality that you have, really wanting to succeed? Where are they going? Were they acting as role models for you? Did they give you some push? Was this something evolved other than yourself? 00:08:31 Victoria: I think, I wouldn't say it was, role models for my parents. My mum, at one point said, “You have to do better than us.” She actually meant socioeconomically and vocationally because my dad was a school janitor. And my mom was a secretary. She had wishes of being an artist or whatnot. And her own father pushed her down a very different path. And so they encouraged me to do more and better in their eyes. Sabine, I think hearing that from my parents, it was nice and helpful. But the reality is, I became so driven. The early years for me were outside of my control. And so for me, my schoolwork and then my paid work were all things that I could control, my work ethic, how hard I worked, how much learnings and credentials I received to be better and better from a work perspective. And so it was that drive that I think really propelled me, not because I had role models. I just was determined I was going to be better than biology or circumstance. 00:09:34 Victoria: And then the other thing is, I had a number of things happen to me throughout childhood. So the height I am now, we can't tell through this, for the subtle screen. I mean, I was five foot eight by the time I was 11. Maybe I remember being taller than my teachers. I was gifted academically in a time where the kids made fun of it whereas I feel like in today's society, in generation, they admire that. So there were just lots of challenges to a teenage rape for me as well. So it was all of these things that just came in to me. And I think at some point, you have a choice to pick up and move on or wallow in that. And I worry about what that would look like. So long way of saying, I think my mum helped and pushed me, but I was running towards something, always. 00:10:25 Sabine: It is definitely something that, if you get this recognition, if you are the best that you can be, then you feel good about yourself and knowing that you're worth something versus how you grew up and how you were treated like you were worth nothing. I think that could have been a coping mechanism. So you mentioned you had to go through a teenage rape. 00:10:57 Victoria: Yeah, it was hard, me raped when I was 14 by, I'll say a man because technically, he was an adult. He was 18. I skipped a couple of grades in school, so I was younger in high school. And this was a high school senior that I had just started dating, had been introduced me from another friend. And sadly, that didn't end very well for me. And I always look back at that. And I'm a big believer in now around developing a healthy level of resilience. And I very much didn't have that, as I said, picking yourself up and moving forward. But a lot of times, I think I just compartmentalize the feelings, emotions, and really didn't process whatever has happened. And so for me, now I can look back on that, and no rape victim should ever be blamed. 00:11:46 Victoria: So I'm going to say that as I make this next statement. I think I often put myself in a bad situation, when I was younger, to be liked, to be loved, to be accepted. And so some of the ways in which I did that could be considered some riskier behavior and has put myself not in the best situation. And so this was one of those. Again, there's no victim shaming or blaming for this. But at the same time, it's part of what caused me to remember with my mum, who was aware, and we talked through it, like how did this come to be. And I'd, just a couple years before, been hanging out with much older boys. And I think all of that was, again, as I said, just an attempt to feel good and liked and loved and accepted. 00:12:30 Sabine: I'll thank you so much for sharing this because there was so much wisdom with what you just said, that we do things in our lives, risky things in our lives, that led us to an undesirable experience. But at the same time, we were just trying to do our best, to trying to fit in, trying to be loved because that's our human nature. We want to be loved. We want to fit in. And sometimes, it ends up in a not so good situation. But the most important part, what you also shared is that, “Hey, we have to work through it. And we should not be feeling shamed or blamed, any of the situation.” So I really appreciated that you share that part of it because sometimes, it's being overlooked. It's just like, “Oh, my God, how sad it was.” But we also have to see the whole of a picture. And I believe every situation will make us stronger and leads us to our life's path, where we are now. So bringing us to where you are now, tell us what engages you? What are you passionate about? What drives you today? 00:14:01 Victoria: So there are a number of things. And what's funny is I put in my email signature line that I made multipotentialite. And that being that I had a ton of different interests and passions that get me motivated and bring me joy. I will say I do enjoy working. My husband jokes that I'm never going to retire. I enjoy the challenge of leading large scale businesses and the complexity of those. After I left the bank and got recruited at 24 to be a COO, my journey from there has been almost exclusively in the business to business, professional services space. And that in itself is complex because you're dealing with corporate clients who pay a bill and either their customers or employees to provide some kind of a service. And so that's, still excites me, the work that I do. 00:14:48 Victoria: But it shifted to getting joy from many, many other things. And so for me, I sit on a multitude of boards or I have over the last many years, a number of which were not the profits, but they align very much with the things that matter to me. One was a national vocational services organization. So you know, new immigrants to the country, that's when I was living in Canada. So new immigrants to Canada or those that were underemployed and helping them find employment. The other one was being a part of Canada's largest child welfare agency. They're fundraising arm, the Children's Aid Foundation. Being the children from the system, I wanted a way to give back. And then I also do that on for profit boards on things that I care about or I think are great opportunities. And I coach and mentor female entrepreneurs. And I have been staunchly committed to a much more diverse and inclusive world, not just the workplaces that I work in, but the communities I live in and in creating safe spaces for people to belong. And so I do a lot of talks. I'm a public speaker, as well. And I talk on a number of those things, leadership, culture, diversity, inclusion, being just some of them. 00:15:57 Sabine: I love it. That's what makes a difference. Each individual person can make a difference by the way they show up. And you show up in so many different ways. If you had a magic wand and you could wish anything to change in this world or in your own life, what would that be? 00:16:21 Victoria: Hmm. I've always said that when I talk about my children. So I have two children, who are both technically adults now, because my younger one is 18, that my job was to raise two really good humans. And so first and foremost, I work hard. I spent 220 days traveling on the road one year when my children were quite young. And as much as I love that, I love being a mother. What I would change however, is my younger one. If I could bring some of that fairy dust over, my younger one is bipolar and has lots of mental health challenges. And I wish a better life for Jordan, my youngest, and then I could just flick a switch. One of my nicknames in businesses, the turnaround queen, because I fix things. And this is one of those things that I can't fix. So I wish that genie in a bottle to come in and sprinkle some of that dust on my youngest. 00:17:24 Sabine: Oh, that is beautiful. That really shows how much you care. And sometimes dealing with family members, knowing they could be better if ABC would happen, right? But at the end, I believe we all are dealing our own fate. And sometimes, as an outside person or somebody very close, like you as a mother, we might see this as an unfortunate circumstance. But then you never know what comes out of it and why this happens. Maybe this is exactly what she needs to go through right now to later on maybe talk about it, maybe help some other person go through it because she went through it. So I always try to see if I can find the silver lining to everything. And sometimes, it also means we have to let go of the attachment of that person, right? 00:18:37 Victoria: Yeah. 00:18:37 Sabine: Yeah, yeah. 00:18:39 Victoria: Yeah, it's tough. 00:18:44 Sabine: Just sprinkle some light, to send some light in this direction because everything is energy. And so for whatever it's worth, I hope that she is getting through there with ease and fast. So, right now, you are also a contributor to a book that was called Unstoppable. What was your contribution to that book? 00:19:12 Victoria: Yeah, so there were a number of authors who each wrote a chapter for the book. And the funny thing is it was a friend of mine, who had worked with his publisher before, and she got me connected. And when I found out the subject of the book was Unstoppable, about changemakers, who dare to make a difference, that's the full title of the book. I was like, “That is me through and through.” So I was really excited to become part of it. And actually, the publishers decided to make me the first chapter in the book, which felt great. And it was nice to be alongside other Unstoppable individuals, those who have moved and/or made great changes in their or other's lives. 00:19:54 Sabine: Yeah, that is fantastic. Congratulations. What was the topic that you were talking about? 00:20:00 Victoria: I shared my story. The chapter is called ‘Courage To Live.’ And so I shared some of what I share with you here today in the listening audience and some of the things and advice I would give others around their own courage to live or to be unstoppable. 00:20:15 Sabine: Oh, wow. I encourage everybody to get that book. And where can they get that book? Can you share your site with our listeners? 00:20:28 Victoria: For sure, and thanks for asking. I have a personal website, which is victoria-pelletier.com. And there, you'll find that, not only the book, but for those who are interested in a public speaker, you'll find samples of me speaking there. And otherwise, I publish regular articles and content, both on my blog and for other news outlets. 00:20:50 Sabine: Wonderful. And I'll make sure that I put this information into the show notes. If there is one piece of advice you would like to leave our listeners with, what would that be? 00:21:07 Victoria: I'm a big believer in this notion of control. And therefore, I talk and coach a lot of people about, “You're the CEO, a brand you.” And so taking complete charge of that, whether it's around building a strong personal brand, which I think is critically important for. Even if you're straight out of post secondary, I think it's important to start building a brand there and that tells people who you are, what's your unique value proposition to the world and into business specifically. So you need to control the narrative around that and how you show up. But it also means, when I say CEO of you, that you don't put your career in someone else's hands. You take charge in terms of maintaining your skills and making sure you're relevant for where the market and the world is moving, and not just assuming that your good performance is going to move you to the next level. So really being in charge. And I have the saying, “You don't ask, you don't get.” My children know that well now, but I think that's important. And I'd encourage your listeners to do that for themselves. 00:22:11 Sabine: I love it. You don't ask, you don't get. Yes, I always say, “Ask and you shall receive.” And that's the truth. I always, always have done that in my life. And I can second that, that this does work. Thank you so much, Victoria, for being here with my listeners sharing your story and your wisdom. So thank you so much. 00:22:38 Victoria: Thank you. 00:22:41 Sabine: That was my interview. And if you enjoyed it, give us a five star review. Leave a comment and share it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Until I see you again. Always remember, so from the heart, follow your passion and live the life you imagine.

After 24 years of service, Melissa was given 1 hour to clear her desk with no word of thanks! However, this allowed her to rethink her life. She was open to being guided as to what was next. She shares her story of how a seemingly devastating circumstance led her to step into her true passion & purpose! Show notes: Melissa embarks on an unexpected path of self-discovery and empowerment after being suddenly let go from her corporate position, eventually leading her to become a health coach and create a foundation to help girls in undeveloped nations access school and break the poverty cycle. Melissa Deally is a health coach, podcast host, and founder of Your Guided Health Journey. She is passionate about helping people optimize their health and guiding them through their health journey. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. How to optimize health to avoid getting sick and not needing to wait for a "wake-up call". 2. The power of investing in one's own health journey to achieve better results. 3. How a series of unforeseen circumstances led to her becoming a successful health coach. Connect with Melissa Deally: Your Guided Health Journey Melissa Deally on Linkedin Connect with Sabine Skvenberg: https://www.sabinekvenberg.com/resources Sabine Skvenberg on Facebook Sabine Skvenberg on Linkedin Sabine Skvenberg on YouTube BECOME Podpage ➤Are you looking for the finest online platform to build and sell courses swiftly? Why not try Kajabi? All the tools of Kajabi make it easier for you to create online courses, podcasts, coaching, memberships, and more! Try the 30-day free trial and make the most out of it. And if you're just getting started and want to put your offer up for sale in three days or less, follow this link and apply to "MAKING IT HAPPEN." TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Melissa: So I had a really good mindset around understanding that I just have to get started. I may not feel ready, and that's okay. If I wait to feel ready, I will never start. 00:00:15 Sabine: That's right. And to quote the great Zig Ziglar, "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." 00:00:24 Sabine: Welcome to my podcast, BECOME. The content will inspire you to take steps towards reaching your aspirations and becoming the best version of yourself. I feature interviews with successful individuals from various industries, delving into their personal and professional journeys and their strategies to achieve their goals. We have to become the person we are meant to be so we can live the life we are destined to live. That means we must overcome challenges and work through difficult times to learn, grow, and become the more incredible version of ourselves. I am so glad that you're here. Let's get on this journey together. 00:01:10 Sabine: My guest today is health coach Melissa Deally. She is the host of the podcast “Don't Wait for Your Wake Up Call!” and founder of Your Guided Health Journey. 00:01:23 Sabine: Welcome, Melissa. How are you today? 00:01:26 Melissa: I'm doing wonderfully, thank you. How are you, Sabine? 00:01:29 Sabine: Oh, I'm fantastic. So where are you calling in from? 00:01:34 Melissa: I'm actually coming in from Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. So the ski hill is right out my window. 00:01:40 Sabine: Boohoo! Another international guest. I love it. Yeah, we recently met during Podapalooza, which is an event where we both were featured as podcasters, and we didn't have the chance to meet then, so we thought we'll catch up here. 00:01:59 Melissa: Exactly. 00:02:00 Sabine: Yeah. Your podcast is called ‘Don't Wait for Your Wake Up Call!.’ Can you tell us more about your podcast? 00:02:07 Melissa: Sure, I would love to. Thank you. I named it back because what I am doing with that podcast is bringing health information to people so that they can be able to make better choices in their health journey. And our health is always a journey from the moment we come onto this planet to the moment we leave. However, we often don't get taught how we can truly optimize our health through our education system or even through our medical system. Our medical system is often helping you once you get sick, but why do we have to wait till we get sick? And so that's what I'm trying to give people, is that education on how to optimize our health so we don't have to wait to get sick, and hence, don't wait for your wake up call. 00:02:56 Sabine: So, Melissa, we had a prior conversation, and before you started your health journey or health education journey, you were in a totally different field, and you were actually in the corporate world, and you worked there for 24 years. And then you got this devastating quote, unquote in that moment, I'm sure it was devastating news that you were laid off. So tell us first, what did you do for 24 years? 00:03:38 Melissa: I worked in a hotel company in Canada, and it was a brand that had over 40 hotels across the country. And it was my responsibility to bring all of the Asian guests to the hotels across Canada because I had the good fortune to be raised in Asia. I speak Japanese, I understand the Asian cultures. So it was a really good fit. And I absolutely loved this job. It allowed me to travel back to Asia on business. I could also then see my friends. So I absolutely loved this work. 00:04:10 Sabine: Can you still speak Japanese? Can you give us a sentence of Japanese? 00:04:17 Melissa: Sure. I do still speak Japanese. And yes, "Ohayou gozaimasu. Genki desu ka? Ikaga desu ka?" is, you know, "Good morning. How are you?" As simple as that. 00:04:29 Sabine: I love it. I love it . So you are in Canada and then you lost the job, but then a big fish bought the little fish, and then you were basically given 1 hour to clear out your desk without even a thank you. 00:04:51 Melissa: Yes. 00:04:52 Sabine: How was that experience? What did you feel and were you angry? What was that experience for you? 00:04:59 Melissa: I was a, first of all, shocked because we had been told as salespeople that we were not going to be the first ones let go because we would need to have time to transition our client base to other people, et cetera, et cetera. And so that's a, first of all, what we had been told when we heard the sale was happening, and then to find out that I was really one of the first to be let go and the hour to clear out my desk, that was shocking. But it just hurt that there was no words of thank you through that entire process. And it was probably about five days later when HR contacted me. And I wasn't the only one being let go. Hundreds of us were being let go. So HR was very busy and it took them probably about five days until we were able to connect. 00:05:53 Melissa: And I said to them, they were checking in, how are you doing? And I said, "You know what, I get it. This is business. This is what happens. But I just want to say that I'm just the most hurt. It's simply that there wasn't even any kind of thank you for my years of service." And then the HR person said, "Well, that was actually going to be the next thing I said, which sounds really inauthentic now that you've told me that. I'm sorry that you didn't get that in that moment when you got the phone call that you were being let go." 00:06:24 Sabine: Wow. So what did you do after finding yourself without a job? 00:06:29 Melissa: Well, I was grateful for the fact that because I had been there 24 years, I did receive a payout. And so I didn't feel like I had to rush into another job tomorrow in order to make the mortgage payments, et cetera. So I did give myself that gift of space to figure out what it truly was that I wanted to do next. I didn't want to stay in the same industry, I did look at this as one door closes, another door opens. This is an opportunity for me to do something completely different with the second half of my career, and that's what I consider it. So I needed time to figure out what that was, and I was open to being guided. 00:07:16 Melissa: And over the course of the next four or five months, I was actually introduced to a supplement company. And I thought, "I don't want to do supplements. Everybody does supplements." Until I found out that it was supplements specifically for the brain. And I found that interesting because I knew there was near epidemic levels of Alzheimer's and dementia. And if I could share this with the world and start to reduce the rates of Alzheimer's and dementia by educating people about looking after their brain, well, that would be one of those touchstones that I said I wanted to help humanity more, and that would help. So I looked at it and I went, "This is interesting." 00:07:59 Melissa: And it got me thinking, because my grandmother was 99 at the time, and she lived at home all by herself, cared for herself, and fully cognitively functioning. And so I knew that I had good genes, but I wondered is that enough? If I want to be on her path versus the Alzheimer's and dementia path, are my good genes enough or do I have to do more? And then I started comparing her life to my life. And she was born in little old Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1916, you know, bottom corner of the Earth, before all the toxins we have in the world today. Growing all their own food on the property. And then I was raised in Tokyo, Japan. Amazing life. However, it was in the 1970s with manufacturing plants, spewing out toxins, and I realized I'm way more toxic than my grandmother was. I need to do more. 00:08:54 Sabine: Absolutely. 00:08:56 Melissa: So I started learning about the brain because I was intrigued. You use your brain 24/7, right? So I was like, "If I can do more for my brain, I probably should." So I started learning about the brain, learning about toxicity and how it impacts the brain and the body . And about four months later, my oldest daughter got a concussion in her first grade. 12 soccer games of the season. 00:09:19 Sabine: Yes, we are living in a different world, and I totally understand where you're coming from. The matter of the fact is, my mother-in-law just passed away last year from Alzheimer's, and I know how difficult it is for many, many people. So talking about being guided, you took the time and just let the universe direct something to you. And now, your daughter had a concussion. So how did this all work together ? 00:10:08 Melissa: So she had that concussion and she had literally just started using this supplementation for the brain, and I realized as I looked at what the supplementation for the brain was doing, that it would be very beneficial in her recovery. So I continued having her use it, while also ensuring that she was getting treatment with local physiotherapists that specialize in concussion therapy. And my piece was kind of bringing the nutritional piece to it. She also didn't have the cognitive ability to go to the appointment and come home and tell me what they said she needed to do before her next appointment because of the concussion. So I wasn't working full time, right? Everything happens for a reason. Now, I'm able to go to the appointments with her, so I can capture that information and then also remind her to do those things each day because the healing isn't at the appointment. The healing happens between the appointments, right ? So that's what we were doing. And it's a very difficult injury because she didn't ask for the concussion. 00:11:16 Melissa: And now she's in grade 12, she can't go to school, she can't do any of the fun things that all the other grade twelve kids are doing. She's very isolated, has low energy, can't be around lots of noises, and so it's very hard and a lot of people will go into a depression. So I was trying to manage that along with the good nutrition. Two months into her recovery, I got a phone call when I was driving to Vancouver from the high school to please go and pick up my younger daughter who had a suspected concussion from grade 8 gym class. And in that moment, I looked out my windshield, across the water, up at the heavens and said, really? This is how you show me my path? Please stop taking out my children. So now I have two daughters with two very different concussions, both using very good brain supplementation, both going to therapy, et cetera, and guiding their journeys. And I realized people need more support in their health journey. 00:12:23 Melissa: The body only heals in a relaxed state. And when you're trying to figure out your health journey on your own, you're still in a stress state and the body can't heal because you're wondering am I doing it right? Is this the right information? You can go on Google and get ten different things that you should do, or diagnose yourself as imminently passing away tomorrow, which is very stressful. So people need more support and a little bit more hand holding. 00:12:51 Melissa: And soon after I was invited to work at a holistic clinic, and I wasn't able to get insurance to work there because I didn't have a certification. I only had my own research that I had done in order to guide my daughter's healing. So that led me to go back to school, and I contacted a friend who was a life coach, because life coach had kind of been ruminating in the back of my head. Is that something I want to do? But it hadn't landed. And I called this friend and said, "Look, I need to go back to school. I need to get a certification under my belt. Where did you do your life coaching training?" And he said you don't need to be a life coach. You need to be a health coach. And I went, "What? What's that?" I've never even heard the term. That landed. And I considered that another gift from the universe through my friend. 00:13:40 Melissa: And I researched health coaching schools, found one that I absolutely aligned with because of its focus on the brain as well, and jumped right in. And within 10 days, I was in this new cohort of students. And from that moment, I have never looked back. I couldn't get enough of this information. And I was like, "I'm in my 40s, why am I only learning this about my body now?" And then I realized, well, if I don't know this because I've been busy with my corporate career and being a mom and being a wife and having a life, I bet there's all these other people out there that don't know this either. And what if I learn this and then I teach it to them in ways that they can easily work it? 00:14:24 Sabine: Let me hop in here really quick to share something with you. Have you ever tried to build your own website, start a newsletter or build a course and charge for it? Have you ever wanted to make money online, but are totally confused by all the different systems you need to have? That's why I use Kajabi. Kajabi is the most popular system for online marketers, coaches, thought leaders and influencers. Kajabi helps online entrepreneurs take off. Over hundred thousands of us use Kajabi and have made over $4 billion. Why not be part of it? The best thing is you don't have to figure out tons of systems or crazy technology to start your online business. Kajabi helps you do all of that and it's all on one platform. That's why I use it. It makes my life so much easier and I can even earn money while I'm sleeping. You can build your web pages, blogs and membership sites. You can create offers, check out pages and collect money. You can host your videos. You can start your newsletter list, capture emails, start your marketing funnels all in one place. It makes it fun and easy with awesome tutorials and support. Since I've joined Kajabi from the beginning, I have a special affiliate link that I would like to share with you. A 30-day free trial. So nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Just go to my link that's in the show notes, sabineskvenberg.com/resources and we will redirect you to the free trial page. And if you are just starting out and want to get your offer out for sale in just three days, let me help you do that, visit my web page, by the way, that I build on Kajabi and apply to “MAKING IT HAPPEN.” So now let's get back to the show. 00:16:34 Sabine: I love it because this and just seeing you when we have this interview, it's also on video. So just seeing you, when you explained how you kind of found your calling, you were lit up. That means you really pursued your passion, what you are passionate about, and you found something within, but you also took the action, the right action to get the right education to start something on your own. And when I work with my clients, this is the first thing that I go through to guide them, to really find, to let go of the old things that don't serve them any longer and then really being open to receiving the news. Because you see, if you are preoccupied, like with your job or whatever else in your life, you're not open to receiving something new. 00:17:40 Melissa: True. 00:17:40 Sabine: And sometimes something devastating has to happen to become our next greater self. And I totally can see this with you. So you did the health education and then what? How did you then start your own business? 00:17:59 Melissa: So what I did is I completed one level of my health education and learned so much there. And one of the things that I learned is that your learning never ends either. The program was excellent, though. And this was another aspect that I enjoyed, is that they have included in my training, business coaching to help you get started in your business. And that was phenomenal because I'd been in the corporate world, there was people that did the marketing, people that did the accounting, people that did all the aspects. And now as a solopreneur, you're wearing all those hats and you need to learn how to do all of these things. 00:18:43 Melissa: So my program included that training at a very basic level, but it was enough for me to get started. What I also loved about the training was the focus on our mindset and how our beliefs impact our behaviors, which impact our results. And I had also read the book, ‘The Growth Mindset' by Carol Dweck. So I had a really good mindset around understanding that I just have to get started. I may not feel ready and that's okay. If I wait to feel ready, I will never start. 00:19:22 Sabine: That's right. And to quote the great Zig Ziggler, "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." So you just got started. And when was that? When did you start your business? 00:19:36 Melissa: That was in 2017. And another step that really helped me get started was part of our training required that we do some case studies with clients and that we actually take clients through the entire program. And that was required for completion of the program. And it was up to us as to whether we charged the clients or whether we did it for free. And we also had to do six enrollment calls as practice. So that's the phone call where you're talking to the person, and then you're enrolling them into your program, and they give you scripts and everything. So it's all very helpful. So I did six of those calls, and five people wanted to work with me. That was wonderful. And what I did is I charged them a fee. I didn't do it for free. I didn't charge them full price. I wasn't ready to charge full price, but I offered them to work with me at a discounted price because I was just getting started. And they loved that idea. 00:20:44 Melissa: And what I loved about it and why I decided to do that is because I knew myself if I didn't invest anything in it and it was free, I wouldn't take it seriously. And if I had five people go through the program not taking it seriously, at the end of that, I might feel like I'm not a good coach. But if I had five people that had invested something in it, then I knew that they would put more effort in and they would see the results, and then I would feel confident to move out into the world and charge people full price because now I'm certified. 00:21:19 Sabine: I love it. I really applaud you for that because we all are just human beings, right? And on top of that, if somebody gets something for free, they don't value the program or you, in that case, as, "Oh, yeah," I mean, "She's just doing it for free." I totally are on the same page. So basically that whole what we think, bad situation really being let go of a job that you had for 24 years. And in that moment, it might seem horrible, but actually it was a blessing in disguise. 00:22:07 Melissa: Oh, I agree. You've just given me full body truth bumps because... yes, I agree. And it didn't take me long to be able to look back upon it and see that. And in that process, I learned that everything happened for us, et cetera, et cetera. So this whole entire process happened for me so that I could really land in my purpose and my passion and everything that came beforehand just better prepared me to be the coach that I am today. 00:22:39 Sabine: I saw on your website that you support a nonprofit organization called Girls Matter. Tell us more about that. 00:22:48 Melissa: I do. That's my passion project. So I saw a documentary with my Girl Guides, or in the US, they're called Girl Scouts. Probably in around 2013, 2014, called Girls Rising. And it was a wonderful documentary about the plight of girls in 3rd World nations not being allowed to go to school. And I watched that documentary with tears coming down my face as these girls were begging to go to school and simply being denied because they were female. And I'm in a room of females knowing that each and every one of them at different times has begged not to go to school. And I did that myself as a child. We take school for granted in our first world countries. And I just thought, at some point in my life, I need to change this and do something about it. And I didn't know how to get started. 00:23:41 Melissa: However, one day, again, in 2017, I was at a conference where somebody said we are all put on this Earth to never stop learning, to find our passion and be of service, and you don't have to know the how. You just have to know the why, and the how will happen. And all of that really resonated with me. And I realized I just have to get started with Girls Matter as well. And I contacted some friends who had a nonprofit and said, "How did you start this nonprofit?" And they said, "What are you doing?" And I told them, and they said, "We'll do it with you." So the whole premise of this is to keep girls in school and give girls access to school. And by doing that, we are stopping teenage marriages, and we are breaking the poverty cycle one girl, one family, one village at a time. There is a statistic that I saw in that first documentary that if India educated just 1% more girls, they would grow their GDP by $5 billion. 00:23:48 Sabine: Wow. 00:23:48 Melissa: So there's the answer. 00:24:50 Sabine: Yeah. 00:24:50 Melissa: Where is the answer? So simple. It's not necessarily easy because there's cultural things as well. But if we just educate the girls, we can bring entire countries out of poverty. 00:25:03 Sabine: That shows me again, that we don't have to wait for something big to happen or some big money stay behind a cause. No. We can start if we have that passion in our heart. And as you mentioned, people will come to you and say, "Hey, what can we do? We want to help." And what I love about your organization is that 100% of the proceeds go to this nonprofit. So everybody is donating their time and resources even to that cause. 00:25:48 Melissa: I had just literally last week launched a Go Fund Me campaign for Girls Matter, for a very specific project, and that is to raise enough funds to provide the girls with menstrual pads so they can go to school every day because right now they don't have menstrual supplies. So they have to stay home for one week of every month and not attend school. 00:26:10 Sabine: Wow. 00:26:11 Melissa: And again, the universe gives back. So I was at a rotary meeting just a few weeks ago, talking about the girls, how we were supporting them, and this project for menstrual pads that I wanted to start. And lo and behold, the rotary organization in my local town is connected to one in Uganda, in the same country where the girls are that we're supporting, and they've just built a manufacturing plant to make these menstrual supplies. So now we just have to fundraise the funds in order to be able to support the girls. And for just $20, you can provide a girl with these reusable washable pads, enough of them for her four years of high school. 00:26:53 Sabine: Wow. That's amazing. Yeah. I will be giving those $20 to support one girl for four years, so sign me up. Melissa, thank you so much for being on this podcast. If people want to get in touch with you, how can they do that? 00:27:14 Melissa: Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. And the easiest way is simply Melissa at yourguidedhealthjourney.com. 00:27:23 Sabine: And I will make sure to put it in the show notes. Once again, thank you so much, and I look forward to another conversation sometime in the future. 00:27:32 Melissa: Thank you very much for having me and for helping me share the work that I do in the world. I appreciate it. 00:27:40 Sabine: That was my interview, and if you enjoyed it, give us a five star review, leave a comment and share it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Until I see you again. Always remember, serve from the heart, follow your path, and live the life you imagine.

Want to live a life with fewer conflicts? Listen to Episode 14 with Amy Armstrong. She shares simple yet powerful tips on how we can set boundaries for ourselves and others. We must be clear about who we are and what we are willing and able to do. Amy and I are talking about how to set boundaries that make both parties feel understood and more in control. Amy Armstrong is an innovative coach and specialist in conflict resolution. She has helped thousands of parents take responsibility for positive outcomes in their parenting and co-parenting.

I wrote this song as a reminder that we are in control of our lives. We can choose the thoughts we want to entertain and the actions we want to take. Enjoy the music. Remember to take that leap of faith and jump the gap from Knowing to Doing! If you want to see the video that I created for that song you can watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YMgAGWsOY6g You can learn more about me and get in touch at: https://linktr.ee/SabineKvenberg