My Story

I was raised by two loving, self-proclaimed workaholics. My parents ran their own business when I was young and they worked absolutely crazy hours. I was an only child, so I was alone. A lot.

This frame of reference growing up was unique. Witnessing my parents build and run a successful business provided me a driven, focused and hard-working foundation. It also inspired and instilled in me an entrepreneurial spirit. Watching my mother walk around in powerful business suits (50% equal owner), showed me I could do anything. The concept of a glass ceiling never even entered my young mind.

When I was in my twenties, I jumped into the workforce with enthusiasm and grit – that combo led me to win sales awards, gain entrance into “high-achiever clubs”, and be fiscally rewarded for my efforts in the tech industry. Yet, I also suffered from chronic back pain, high levels of stress, and a relentless inner voice – which told me every*single*moment of every*single*day, that something was off. I was not aligned with my work. My physical pain seemed to be a constant reminder and manifestation of that truth.

I started seeking answers and dove into yoga to support my back pain. Eventually this led me to mindfulness and meditation practices, as well as prompted me to attend a host of courses, workshops and events that would ultimately teach me how to support myself differently at work.

Along my path, I also quit my lucrative and ladder-climbing job. At the time, I saw a very distinct “Y” in the road. Two paths. One was clear and easy: the fast paced job, complete with a fancy house on the hill, nice boat and all the trimmings, as well as all the stress and eventual burnout that I could sense just over the horizon. The second path was yet unknown. It was frightening. I was scared. But it was calling.

So I quit. Without a safety net.

At the time, I was asked by my boss and colleagues, and also called by the global CEO to please just take a sabbatical instead of quitting. But I knew that wouldn’t serve me. I needed to jump without a net. I needed to fully let go, so that I could confirm to myself that if I came back, I would come back because I truly wanted to come back. Not because I needed to, or was required to come back as the result of some safety net.

After 6 months of soul searching, I did return to tech and the corporate world.

As a consultant I started working on projects under my own terms. It was the first time I started to really implement strong boundaries in my work life. However, at the same time and for the longest time, I seemed to live in two-worlds.

In one world, my life was filled with “Slow Time”. It offered me space, connection, and introduced me to my meandering creative muse. The other world offered me fiscal stability, challenge, and continuous growth. It was busy, ongoing, relentless and very caffeinated.

Both worlds seemed drastically different. I knew how to operate in both of these spaces effectively – but it never made sense to me that I could be such a completely different person, based on my external environment, some external condition. I was at the core of both worlds. I was at the root. Why could I not carry-over the aspects of my life that I wanted to, into each setting?

In time, this question evolved, and it shifted towards new questions. How can I stay connected to myself in a busy and fast paced setting? Is it possible to tend to my own needs, while tending to the needs of everyone around me? Is it feasible to work in both a sustainable and highly successful manner? How can I be professionally successful, and still feel strong, centered and unhurried in a fast-paced, high-demand work environment? These were the questions I had in my 30s.

The exploration of these questions eventually led to me starting my own business. Initially, I built my business as a side hustle. I worked full time, and grew my business full time (along with parenting and “life-ing” full time). This effort and focus forced me to “walk my walk” as I navigated my time as a full-time consultant to Fortune 500 companies, all while growing my business with employees and new clients. In time, I eventually transitioned to work as a full time Coach and Workshop Facilitator in my early 40s.

“I’ve learned so much, and still have so much left to learn…” This is the phrase that my grey-haired Great Aunt Connie used to say (she was a rock and stalwart in my life; fun fact – she’s also mentioned in my TEDx talk). It’s only been recently, that I finally feel I’m getting a glimpse of the real magic behind her comment.

Life is such a journey. To be enjoyed. Savored. Witnessed. Held. In the good and in the grief. My intent is that my life’s work does all of this.

May you be well and may you “Burn Bright”.

All the best,
Woodrie

Ps. My professional bio is here and includes additional details