Telling My Story: From Stress to Success Alignment

I'm sharing a slice of my journey with you – a tale of stress, success, and the compass of values guiding me through it all.

For two decades, I was deep in a job I was acing, yet feeling like my brain was in a washing machine. (For those just stepping into my world, I was at the helm of not one but two giant, fast-paced seasonal stores in Skagway, Alaska, for a whopping 21 seasons.) 

There were plenty of reasons I stayed:

• A paycheck that kept my bank account cozy and health insurance.

• An exceptional business partner who had my back, then and now. Seriously, he is gold.

• Ah, the winter months! They gifted me the power to work while globe-trotting to over 25 countries! (Oh, Spain, how I miss you!)

• The thrill of being a business bigwig – the title screamed success in my head, even though there's some major irony in that.

However, beneath that shiny surface, the job wasn't my jam. As much as I enjoyed parts of it, some parts left me anxious, overwhelmed, and binging on hot fudge sundaes for dinner while sitting on the kitchen floor exhausted. (I mean, it happens, right?)

Balancing those businesses in a way that didn't suck my time and drain my energy was like solving a Rubik's Cube in the dark. No matter how I tried to align it with my truest values, every season felt like Groundhog Day. Rinse and Repeat.

Cue the trapped-in-a-hamster-wheel soundtrack, and sprinkle in a dash of endless responsibility.

Being the poster child for Achiever & Discipline (two of my top five strengths) – turning off the work switch was like a weirdly heroic battle. For a solid decade, having plain old fun felt incredibly vulnerable, especially around colleagues. It was like play had to take the back burner because work is what I did - not (super gasp) play!

Obviously, that took a toll! A symphony of depression, anxiety, and an encore of non-stop heartburn – a cruel hint of a disease I currently manage called Eosinophilic Esophagitis started calling the shots.

I knew I needed to change, but I felt paralyzed in indecision and fear, "What else am I good at? How will I pay bills?! Where will I live?!" A little catastrophizing is natural for me, but this felt nutso.

My job title and paycheck no longer fueled my fire. My definition of success decided to flip the script.

Success was now a job woven with my core values: connection, freedom, balance, growth, and making a difference, all with a safety net of solid income.

So, what did I do?

Before Covid ruffled its feathers, I cooked up a plan. I sent out the word that the stores were up for grabs, had a gig lined up in Seattle, and threw myself headfirst into learning a new skill - coaching.

And then Covid. (Dun, dun, DUUUUN!)

The plot twist no one saw coming. Stores took a detour on the road to sale-town, and the Seattle gig? Poof, gone.

After navigating how to survive a year without cruise ships, I could pause, reflect, and rediscover myself without my mind burning to a crisp, all while learning a new skill with the most amazing coaches!

And y'all, shout out to the coaches in my life. You are all fu*king awesome! They've coached me into the confidence and reassurance that I needed to start a new business that doesn't bite back.

And now, here I am, building a coaching business that is aligned with my values & doesn't demand from me more than I can give.

In fact, I never feel ill about my business. I never get annoyed with it, leave work exhausted, cry at night, or ask, "Is it October yet?" - all things I would say or do while running the stores.

Honestly, life has done a complete 180.

So, let me ask you:

How do you paint success?

How does that masterpiece sync with your core values?

Values tell us why we do the things we want to do in our day.

If you don't understand or know your values or are stuck in the land of catastrophe, paralysis, and doom (I've been there, zero judgment), YouMap® can help.

Until the end of August, Options 1 & 2 are 50%* off with code wink.

If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this email or book a discovery call to chat in person. I genuinely enjoy connecting with people and assisting in any way I can. And please know there's no pressure to book a service after our call. Both "Yes" and "No" are perfectly acceptable answers.

Here to help,