 Hi, everyone. I'm George cow and I'm here with one of my clients Michelle Olson So happy to have her here to share with us some of the things that she's learned in our work together I hope this video will encourage you and inspire you on to Create and grow your own authentic business as well. Hi, Michelle. Good to have you here. Hi George Good to be here. Thanks for doing this So I'm gonna start with your your short bio and then we'll get into some of the lessons you've learned And then we can also share with The those who are watching this how you work with clients set up. So Michelle Olson is the founder and principal coach at Greenlight coaching Michelle is a purpose-based executive coach Who helps successful mid-career women who are feeling tired from where they are at in their career right now and Help them find clarity and activate their purpose during career transitions and Before we started recording this video. I was talking with Michelle a little bit about what she means by Successful mid-career men who are who are also tired. So can you say a bit more about that Michelle? So great. Thanks George So what I mean by it is most of my ideal clients have Followed an external authority found success based on the organization's definition of success and They're like, okay I've hit the milestones, but I feel really tired and I don't feel satisfied And so they start to question what more could there be and that more is Mostly within the meaning purpose area less so about more Titles or more money. So So, yeah, they hit fatigue Most I say most of my clients come to me and they're pretty tired So and I think it's because they've given up on some part of their own internal wisdom or their own connection with their higher self You know, I didn't expect that I would ask you this question But I think I think it makes sense usually we talk about the lessons you've learned in our work together But I also want to ask you I mean give it since we're talking about the these the women that you serve And I think that there are people in watching this video who can relate Maybe you can talk a bit about that so when somebody is feeling Lack of purpose in their career I know you have so much work around this, but What what where do they start I mean how how do they get back to to the heart of what they really want to be doing That's a good question. Um You know my first my first Intention with clients when they first start to work with me is to really slow down and And to create what I call a radical self-care plan So I have I encourage my clients to go internal first before external because I think there's so much wisdom inside ourselves With our connection to a higher power the universe whatever you want to call it and so really deepening that connection So getting quiet slowing down Creating daily self practice self-care practices. That's where I say go first Because usually they have already followed So much external information goals. I mean we're kind of set up that way if we think of it societally, right? We have 12 years of school. That's mandatory We're based in a system that you know if you choose the public system or even the private system You're having to follow the direction of The state and federal government rules around education and then you're also having to follow the direction of your teacher So there's a lot and especially for women there's a lot around following the rules following the goals to get ahead and And so when you hit when my clients hit that point, it's so it's you know, it's like instead of looking outside You know go within So that would be my that would be my direction to start with anybody feeling that right now Just slow down and take some time to reconnect with yourself first and foremost Wonderful, that's great So Let's start talking about what are some of the things that you've learned and how you've grown in our work together I'll let you start however you want. Yeah Well If anybody watching doesn't already know this George is quite extraordinary I'll start by saying that You know, I've worked with a lot of different coaches and everyone brings their strengths and the strength I find in working with you George is that You bring a simplicity to business like you have you actually have it's like you have the site You can like hold a lot of complex ideas around business, but you simplify it at least That's my experience as you're trying to simplify things and you help when we do our one-to-one coaching you help meet me where I am Which I so appreciate But one of the one of the largest or the biggest lessons I've learned from you is to listen to my audience and you you teach this to me both directly and indirectly You're always asking for feedback. So after a session, it's an automated reminder But you say, you know how the session go after workshops. I've done with you how to go. What can I do better? What went well? What can I continue with? So that's something I'm I've been practicing more just on I'm doing it on the phone with my clients ending each session Like what are you walking away with what went well? And I've just created a survey that you and I worked on and I'm about to send it out to help me think about offerings for this next year Because what I was doing prior to that and I've been doing this for quite a long time is just guessing Which sometimes it was right. I too went through a very Radical career transition had my own experience in that so I could it's in the early years I could really zoom in on that because I was I was fresh out of that experience But now being on the other side for many years now I'm realizing I really do need to hear from my ideal audience what they need and that you have been Just a really great guide and mentor for me. And if I'm feeling stuck or what should I do next? You know, usually you ask well, what what is your audience or what is your client saying or what is your audience need? And that's been super helpful and it's super simple Yeah, and it's something that I think a lot of entrepreneurs especially Maybe purpose-based or heart-based entrepreneurs we we forget because we're so excited about the idea that we have that we Sometimes don't take into account the perspective that our ideal audience might have and one of the things that We've been you and I were talking about is okay. What are some of the content? Yeah, that your audience has found most helpful or most interesting yes, and Do you want to say a bit more about that because I think that is a kind of a teaching moment that I think others watching this will be We'll find useful too. Yeah. Yeah, so this has been great. So one of the Benefits of working with you as I have finally gotten consistent with my marketing and through and your your Teachings are around content authentic authentic content marketing and so I've been consistent in that and what you and I were we've been tracking recently is what's what's landing and what's not and How I'm tracking that is through because I'm posting it on Facebook and LinkedIn and then What are people you know are people liking it like that's where I'm at right now still my audience is You know are people liking it? Are they commenting on it? And then it was great because recently you had me go through I think we brainstorm several different topics that I tend to write on and I'm you know currently saying I think these are the top five these are the these are the ones I get the most response from But the survey I'm about to send out We created 12 and so it'll be really interesting to see what people are saying In regards to that I think it's well that we chose work was everything I mostly write about and we'll see if it lands into the same top five that I've been tracking on social media and Is your survey something that is public is that something that I should include a link to or is that just for your list? I haven't I haven't I haven't even outed it to my my list yet. I hope to do that. I Hope to do that actually Tomorrow Friday, so yeah, yeah, so folks join her list And then so and and one of the interesting observations That we saw when we were looking through your Facebook stats was that the content that Got the most interest With that you hadn't yet advertised you hadn't yet boosted you just posted it Right was the content where you were sharing some kind of more personal story Yes, so tell tell us about that versus the stuff where you were just showing up as an expert, you know, right? So talk about that. Yeah. Yeah, that was just a recent aha in our session. So I I There are two two recent pieces of content that I wrote one which which was a very personal story about sexism in the workplace that I Didn't boost and actually got a lot more engagement than any even some of the ones I had boosted or yeah What that means if you don't know Facebook advertising is it just means you take the post and you Boosted to a particular audience that you choose in Facebook and Then the other one was Who's the other personal story? Was it about the Can't remember. Oh Yeah, I was thinking of that that first one you talked about. Yeah, it was it was also something that it was some kind Was this some kind of oh? I remember it was okay, so it was about I'm Expecting obstacles. I was having this was a this was actually a content piece from about a year ago that I just reposted I had shared just something personal in my life about how I was being in Resistance to the obstacles that were showing up right and something helped me shift that and when I actually leaned into it So both in both instances it was it was me sharing how Some of the practices I share in my own coaching. I'm using yes, and so it was it's eye-opening to To just remember that that for for people that Probably are interested in working with me. They want to know my human side and that might be true for most people But that was something we definitely were tracking. Yeah, I think that's definitely true for a lot of the folks watching this video Who are creating you know what I call authentic businesses or? Businesses that come out of a deep place of meaning and service for for the people they're trying to reach So yeah, that's really great. Maybe what if you're open to it? We can include the links to those two posts Yeah, in the nose of the video so that You know those watching this can see the difference Well in in fact, I mean I'll put the link to your Facebook page so that they could look at your Facebook page and see what some of Because you have a lot of posts now of course and yes And a lot of them are where you are sharing useful, you know kind of career reinvention advice or yeah some of the more Maybe emotional or spiritual sides of career reinvention and leadership and So it's like those are still important. I think I mean those are still helpful and it's still good to Show up as you know, hey, this is this is what I'm good at This is what I've talked to my clients about, you know, yeah Here's a tip that you might use and at the same time not forgetting to put in the the vulnerable The stories where you're willing to share vulnerability and I always tell people like it's not just about When we share vulnerability, it's not just a woe is me, you know, it's not just oh my god I'm so negative. I'm so negative. I'm so down. No, but it's it's maybe okay. Woe is me But here's what I did Yeah to Lift myself back up or here's the perspective. I got as a result of that so-called negative experience or You know that difficulty So anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing to all of you please go and look at the links in the notes of this and check out Michelle's page and kind of What you know, the expert type post is good is helpful and at the same time some of the more personal stories that people really engage with so and One of the things I'd love for you to talk about actually One of the five things that we identified is the content that your audience seems to like and your clients to Like the most is about the inner critic Yeah, and I'm wanting you to share something about that because I know a lot of us Watching this Deal with that. Yeah, especially maybe you can talk about it from the point of view of You know building a business and how does the inner critic show up? Yeah, yeah, yeah Oh, that's so good. Um Yeah, I have it so I'll say this I haven't yet coached anyone who doesn't have an inner critic I haven't yet met a colleague An inner critic so it is it's it's we all have it so Yeah, I think that and I think the reason too it's important in It comes up in anything, you know any kind of change you're going after so the focus I'm working on with people's career Transition is that when you're when you're going towards something new And you're making a change the inner critic gets really really loud and so I always tell clients that's a good sign That means you are Definitely in your at your edge or beyond, right? So when when the chatter gets loud, it's a good sign it you're you're moving forward Um, I also encourage my clients to create a relationship with the inner critic You know, I take some people take the view like kick your inner critic to the curb or I like more of the gentle approach and thinking of the how can we be friend the inner critic? How can we Go oh this this part of myself is trying to protect me or keep me safe and how can I acknowledge that lovingly and Still stay in the driver's seat, you know jack cornfield talks about that a lot like The buddhist teacher he says, you know, when the when the chatter is going on We say thanks for your opinion And so there's an acknowledgement of it But there isn't a collusion with it, right? And so So here's my you know for me my inner critic how so this coaching industry is Changed a lot at george and I were just recently talking about like when I started You know in the coaching industry about 10 years ago Most people had a sense of life coaches, but it still wasn't as new now today You know coaching has become like most people have heard of coaching and Um, how do I say this? It's become this, um I'm going to say all the things I don't like about the coaching industry is that I Think I think my audience would be your audience because I talk about that Yeah, that's why we're alive. So I just think there's a way that the industry. Okay so Right now tell me if I'm going off on too much of a tangent right now politically Part of what's happening is there's everything's you know, there's the top One to two percent right and that and and right now politically a lot of the focus is going on to the one to two percent and and In that causes a lot of Disharmony it causes a lot of upset and my opinion Is that the coaching industry is mimicking? Capitalism in in not its best self in not its best setting and so um So what I have to always remind myself is someone who's uh a mom first and a coach second And uh loves the work I do loves my clients That I'm at my pacing right and every so often my inner critic will come in And compare me to some other coach out there who's doing something that looks grander than myself And so one of the things I've appreciated about working with you is you're constantly on the forefront of naming authentic growth authentic marketing like you're a sound Thinker in this area and um, so I think it's important to remember like whatever your endeavor is if you're building a business You know keep your blinders on keep the focus on what you're doing and not in comparison to what is out there um, so that's been a big Inner critic piece that I have had to work with and to just not let myself get lost in it and just keep focusing on um, what I'm doing That's beautiful. I so appreciate that you said that because I think coming from you it'll uh, well It'll land differently than just coming from me. Yeah, so appreciate you you'd say that So let's wrap up this conversation I'd love for people to to hear more about what you do with clients Um, and maybe something you can mention is and something we just you and I talked about recently is how You do your best work when you are able to commit to a client For for for longer than just one session You're not one of those coaches that does like a one-off session and then yeah because you're really in it for The transformation that happens then that usually doesn't happen in one session Yeah, and I think those who are you who our coaches can relate to what I just said So Anyway, go and go and share anything you want about how what kind of client you most love to work with and what do you love doing with them Yeah, I love uh, so I work with women Um, and I love working with women mid-career And I love working with women who really are up for something Greater and when I say greater it doesn't have to look big and grand like What I mean is greater for themselves self-defined. Um Making some contribution that makes them feel good creating some kind of work that feels like it has a meaning so I I like working with women who really are up for um Creating a better relationship with themselves and work, you know having I had a client years ago use this term and I've stolen it from her but no separation between Who I am and the work I do so like showing up as you know, authentically In their personal life and then showing up authentically in their work life. And so You know and and that can look or an array of things like it could actually mean someone changes their actual work in the world It also has meant sometimes that people stay within an organization and then just move around in that organization um and You know, I in it's and there's been a couple of blue people who have stayed in their job They've just created some other things outside of their life and that helped ease their relationship to their work life. So Um, I just I really like meeting clients where they are and exploring with them I don't come with an agenda necessarily. I mean, I come with a an approach and a coaching approach But I don't come with an agenda Towards them around this is what I think you should do um So and I have lots of tools that I use to help individuals explore and create more self-awareness And a couple of the tools I'm those probably have Watching this have heard of is your an expert. I think your an expert in Myers-Briggs personality typing as well as any Graham Yep, um, both are actually those two are my favorite kind of personality typing systems that the ones that I'm most familiar with And I think you're extraordinary at those and so Those who are interested, you know, in fact, you're teaching an enneagram Workshop coming up, right? I am online workshop. Yes. Yes. Next uh, Thursday At 9 30 a.m pacific time. Yeah, and those who are watching this later They'll hopefully be able to get by that workshop. Yeah, because you're going to record it and it'll be available Yep. Yeah, awesome. Yeah Um, so I will be sure to put the link and we've got a couple of links I guess we're going to put into the notes of the video your facebook page, of course your website, of course A couple of this posts that we're going to highlight and maybe the link to this workshop as well great anything else you want to Complete this conversation with anything other? No, I just want to honor you george. I've been, you know, I've been working with you um I'm going to cry I've been working with you for almost a year and um What I really appreciate is our like, you know How much business knowledge you've provided me and the support that you provide your clients and I you know I've also been part of your master heart group and george really gives a lot so anybody watching You're in good hands if you choose to work with them. Yeah, thank you so much. Yeah, what a joy to work with you Yeah So I encourage everyone to you know, go check out michelle's page learn from how she's doing her content and if you are a successful yet tired mid career mid career woman who wants to Kind of really bring purpose and meaning into your career into your work Contact michelle. We know somebody all of us probably know somebody like that. So think about somebody you can Uh, you can really help out by recommending them to talk to michelle And you offer michelle for the for the kind of client that you can really serve you offer a complementary Consultation Yeah, for the right for the right kind of client. So, uh, anyway, thank you so much for the work you do Yeah, thanks for doing this conversation and um, I look forward to seeing what folks say So to be watching this, please comment below and let us know something you learned or uh, if any questions you have from michelle Thanks, everyone Bye for now. Bye