Why do I care so much about this?
I am a fighter. I have fought for myself and my family. I have seen the FREEDOM that comes from winning the fight and ascending. I love empowering others to fight for themselves too.
This doesn’t mean that I haven’t gotten lost along the way.
Yes, I built my own businesses. As I’m writing this, there’s 3 separate businesses.
Yes, I help other people PIVOT and rebuild their lives into something that’s more representative of them.
So, I’m going to get all super vulnerable for a minute and hopefully you’re here with me at the end.
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The chances of me ending up the way that I have is a slim percentage.
Childhood was rough. I lived with a severely alcoholic parent for more than a decade.
My mother had to work a lot to compensate for the severe alcoholic partner so she wasn’t around.
And when she finally cut the cord, he disappeared out of our lives pretty quickly as addicts do when their source is cut off.
And she continued to work her ass off to support her children.
This is where I pause. Because I have developed a thinking around these circumstances as beneficial to me, not burdening.
I shed the victim mindset. Reframed into a learning experience. Shifted into an opportunity; what can I do differently in my life to be better and ensure my kids don’t have to go through what I went through.
Although I suffered, my family suffered, my childhood developmentally suffered, I realized there were two options. Sink or Swim. I choose to swim. I swam hard enough that I created the Ascension Mentality to teach to other and inspire others with my story.
The way I see it is that there are two choices that people make on a daily basis. Sink or swim.
You either stay stuck or you rise. Victim or Learning Experience.
I am NOT inferring that people can’t go through PERIODS of time where they’re in the sinking side of life- Please take the time to sink. Please take the days to grieve and cry. But what matters is that fighting resiliency to RISE.
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At 15 I chose to get an official job besides babysitting. Work permit in hand, I started working in the hospitality industry. Restaurants, Bars, a Movie theatre.
I am a hustler. Even from such a young time of my life. Friends going out to hang while I decided I wanted a better life and no one was going to do it for me. So, I went to work.
In college I always worked close to full time hours- Bar close and then cleanup after- so about 3am and then somehow got up, went to class at 8am and FOCUSED on my grades. I got straight A’s in college.
I wouldn’t say I’m naturally gifted at anything. I’m just an extremely hard worker.
I wouldn’t say that I’m exceptionally intelligent. I just have very high standards for myself and my life.
Fast forward to typical child-of-abusive-household stuff- I wanted to play house.
SAME YEAR – I got married, had my first baby, AND somehow cranked through Graduate School (wrote my thesis on Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavior Therapy blended with Art Therapy Methods.)
My first daughter was born in July 2009. I graduated from Grad School in 2009 in August.
I somehow decided that the medical system sucks, did some research, had an unmedicated and natural birth.
And then finished my thesis when she was a tiny newborn. It’s all a blur.
BUT in a nutshell that’s kinda how I roll.
Problem, fix it.
Need to change something? Do it.
Want to have a better life? Work for it.
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I started my first business in 2016 Balance Wellness Collective www.balancewellnesscollective.com when my last daughter was about 3 years old (I have 3 bio daughters).
This was in a similar fashion (haha).
When I’m motivated to do something I kind of jump off a bridge and then (I’d like to say used-to like in past tense but that’s not true) figure it out on the way down.
That’s just my style, I guess.
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How I do things and how my brain works has given me life experience which is invaluable.
I got a business education without getting any business degrees, you could say.
And when my business was pretty new, I hired a guy that I thought would handle bookkeeping-type work and ended up being more than I could have asked for.
He became my right-hand person. A business consultant. A cheerleader. A Confidant. A Dreamer. Another Go-Getter Hustler.
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My ambition has never been lacking. But my execution has been more ad-hoc.
It’s strength, grit, self-determination, optimism, staying humble, and that fighter mentality.
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Fast forward a couple of more years and I went through a divorce.
In a nutshell 2 things happened:
- Being young and playing house was a bad idea. I didn’t love myself or really know myself enough.
- Being an entrepreneur is a unique path that’s hard to understand if you have a “normal job”.
Long hours, Late nights, a passion that makes no money in the beginning. – The struggle bus for relationships
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I get SO EXCITED to talk to people who are TRULY MOTIVATED TO CHANGE. TO DO SOMETHING HUGE. And people that have a growth mindset. Life is too damn short, and full of wonder and adventure to stay stuck.
Hate your job? Pivot.
In a crappy relationship? Pivot.
No one in your circle is supportive? Time for new friends.
Health & Fitness Plan isn’t working? Try something new.
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Not everyone is as risk-tolerant as I am. I’m aware.
I’d say I’m on the High end of that spectrum.
But I can TEACH you How to develop the Mindset of someone who:
- Believes in their own innate power and abilities
- Loves themselves enough to think that they’re worth any level of success they desire
- Feels strong enough to JUMP
- Has a stable mind on the way down through the trials and tribulations- because BOY there will be, buckle up!
- Has a support system/ cheerleader/ someone who sees their light
- Has the tools and resources at their disposal to be successful at their endeavours.
This didn’t happen to me overnight. I didn’t B-line from A to Z. From Hot mess to having my shit together.
I just got married again recently to the love of my life and in my vows I said “I’m very convinced that where I am in this life is from a long-winding road of self-discovery, and self acceptance that’s been facilitated by a loving and patient partner, family and friends”.
Here’s the thing: Rags to Riches story plot twist- Yeah, I know cheese-o-meter
But this is a challenge to Your Mindset.
You either think “that’s great Amy good for you”
OR
You trust me to include you in that bubble in a client/ coach relationship.
Believe me, TRUST doesn’t come easy. Especially when you’ve been hurt.
I believe that the clients I’ve worked with feel truly cared for.
And that’s the magic Juju of life.
Learning how to love yourself and put yourself first- I like to say “Put on your own mask on the plane before you help others”
And then spreading that energy.
And that’s it.
DO NOT TRAVEL THE ROAD ALONE.
If you’re stuck, hold my hand and we’ve got this.
Amy