Who are you and what is your business?*
Sheila Anne Coaching + Wellness
Why do you love what you do?
I love what I do as a business because I get to experience how my business grows and evolves as I grow and evolve. I set out on a mission to build a business where I could intimately impact and inspire humans. The nitty gritty methods that I do that through continue to grow! I started off with a virtual 1:1 coaching business and now I have Coaching, Yoga, Experiences & Retreats, and more! When people enter my world, it is usually because the voice within them is telling them “there must be something more.” We work together to reignite their inner light that has been dimmed by anxiety, burnout, and their inner critic. I help them reconnect with and nourish their bodies, minds, and souls, so they can live aligned and purposefully.
What is one moment you think was pivotal in making you who you are today?
Oh gosh, so many. I believe that everything can have meaning if we give it meaning and that pain can be transmuted into purpose and passion if we allow it to. My moments of deep pain area also the moments of purposeful pivot. Two specific scenarios come to mind… 1. I was misdiagnosed when I was 14 and ended up living for nearly 2 weeks with a burst appendix. By the time I went in for surgery I was septic and nearly died. I spent by 15th birthday in the hospital and lived there for a couple of weeks. Things dramatically changed for me during this traumatic period of my life. I gained life perspective for who I wanted to be, what I wanted to let go of, and how I wanted to show up in the world. Of course I was also only 15, so the potency of that may have lessened over time. 10 years later my mother (my light) was diagnosed with cancer. She died just after my 25th birthday. This was pivotal in that it guided me to once again reshuffle my priorities. I quit my corporate job, got yoga teacher certified, backpacked Europe without a plan, and started a business that was aligned with my life’s mission.
How did you get started doing what you are doing?
I guess I kind of gave that away in the last one. Along my career pathway, there was always something missing - impact. When I was in sales, I worked outside of my job scope to design personal/professional development initiatives for people in my office. I wanted to help those around me grow and succeed. I didn’t see the opportunities available, so I created them. I didn’t know that “Coaching” was even a thing until a friend from LA visited who told me about her life coaching friend. When I realized there was a field for people like me to bring together various modalities and help other humans grow… I knew I had discovered my dream job!
What do you like to do when you are not working on your business?
Swim, run far, hike, plan doggie dates, travel to see friends, make sourdough bread, design family newsletters, make vision boards, practice neural manifestation, ponder my life purpose, sit in the sun, read fiction and non-fiction, drink yummy coffee, dance to groovy beats.
Name a time in your life or business when you felt really proud of yourself. What did you overcome to get there and what made you so proud in that moment?
I was really proud of myself the first time I ever launched my group coaching program, Nourish. The idea for this program dropped into my head one day when I was on a walk with my dog, and 4 months later I was inviting people to sign up. It was INCREDIBLY scary putting myself out there and sharing a program I felt so connected to. I didn’t know if it would be met with any interest at all. What I learned is that the response is not actually what matters - My hard work and willingness to favor mission over fear was the ultimate win!
What do you do when you start to feel overwhelmed? How do you notice it and what do you do to support yourself through it?
Oh I have a whole toolbox for this :) If I notice I am in fight/flight time anxious and overwhelmed feels I typically 1. Pause 2. Name the feeling + Name / Notice the physical sensations 3. Ask myself what I need 4. Explore options to meet that need 5. Take action. For example 1. Pause, breathe 2. I’m overwhelmed. My chest is tight, my head is spinning 3. I need to know everything will be okay 4. I could make a list of what actually needs to get done, I could change my environment, I could do a meditation 5. I will go outside and listen to the birds
What is one of your favorite childhood memories and why?
My memories of being a child at my grandparents’ (now Uncle’s) lakehouse are my favorite memories. I would spend hours under the sun, in and out of the water like a fish, coming up with all sorts of games to entertain myself and my sister and cousins. There was no internet or television, so we used our creativity and imagination to have fun. I felt like I could be my most authentic self at that time. This is the inner child I often connect to when I am imagining my most magnetic, deprogrammed self.
What is one of your favorite movies?
A knights tale! It’s the best movie.
Are you reading or listening to anything right now? If so, what?
Always a few things at once… Reading : Regenerative Business, A Year in Provence, Burnout Listening to : The Expanded Podcast, Armchair Expert, Finding Mastery
Learn more about Sheila Anne at Sheilaanne.com
