By Jill Vater with Jianna Studio Designs

It started back in 2003 when I had my Laryngectomee. I would not go out in public unless I had to, and I would not talk in public because of the way people stared at me or reacted to the sound of my new voice. I pretty much just hung out with my family and a few very close friends. This was the beginning of a whole new way of living for me.

Then, one night at a family gathering, my cousin Rosalee gifted me a lovely silver netted necklace. She said she wanted me to feel pretty and confident about myself again.

I would typically wear “crutched covers” to cover my stoma when I did go out, but they weren’t very attractive. I kept thinking about what my cousin had said to me about feeling confident and pretty again, and I kept looking at the necklace. I thought to myself, I can make these myself for other women’s laryngectomees. 

And that is when I started Jillian Waters Designs, I would make beaded bib necklaces and post them online, through a support group for other Laryngectomees. And since no one is one size fits all, I started making custom-order necklaces when women asked me to make them in specific colors. Some wanted them wider or longer than others. One lady had me make one specifically to match her dress for her daughter’s wedding with a bracelet to match.

I would have orders come in, and I’d make them to their specifications, then mail them out. I even had customers in the UK.

Someone had heard about me making custom necklaces, and I was approached by a local newspaper. They wrote an article about me overcoming adversity. 

One gentleman called me because he saw the article in the paper and asked me if the necklaces were just for Laryngectomees, or if I would consider making his girlfriend a necklace with a matching bracelet and earrings.

Even though my jewelry-making business had shifted, I still take orders from women with Laryngectomees as long as the need is there.

I still look at that article from time to time to remind myself how far I have come and how I made an impact on other women with Laryngectomees.

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By Jamie Allen Bishop with Jamie Allen Bishop Coaching

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“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” #RalphWaldoEmersonQuote

This quote beautifully sums up the experience of a transformation journey.

What do you say when someone you adore comes to you for help? You say, “Yes.”

When you realize this help involves an intensive trip to the emotional core of your being, you might question why you’ve willingly agreed. Because when you start to examine your life with the intention of wanting a deep and permanent change, you do not often grasp the idea that to change your life, you must first change yourself. And personal change can be messy, scary, and brutal to face. As such, it is not advisable to change alone.

When asked to provide “intensive transformation coaching” to an actor friend, there was a sense of excitement and wonder for us both.

What could we accomplish in one week of intensive transformation? I thought to myself.

This actor’s life was in hellish chaos – extreme depression, overwhelming anxiety, and relationship turmoil. After a few personal conversations over a couple of months, she reached out to me in an official capacity.

“I am hiring you to help me stop losing sleep, get out of my own damn way, and get back to work… NOW!”

But I didn’t feel ready.

Listener? My pleasure.

Opinion provider? Definitely.

Action suggester? Certainly.

But being someone’s life coach? I didn’t know if I could do that.

And that’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks: my purpose in this coach-client relationship wasn’t about me.

She felt trapped and was wise enough to know she needed to hire a helper, a guide, a coach. Having a client with intelligence enough to get out of her own way is rare and absolutely necessary to get through to the other side of transformation.

As my first official, paying client, her willingness to allow me to be her guide, to honor my coaching, to bear witness to her vulnerable and extraordinarily fast transformation, it was awe-inspiring and truly magnificent.

Since our work together (in 2020), she has received a starring role in major motion picture; she has done several TV specials (one of which she is currently starring in); she has led a life of gratitude and happiness; and, she has rekindled a romance with her twin flame.

Being the observer, the holder of space, the cheerleader, the guide, and the accountability mistress of such a dramatic life change ended up feeling natural, beautiful, and honorable. I knew this coaching thing was my calling. It was her faith in me that led to receiving my Master Life Coach certification.

Working with her felt (and still feels) amazing.

A quote made by my own transformation coach comes to mind when I think of my role in someone else’s transformation, “I am perfect for your pleasure or perfect for your pain. Either way, I am perfect.” #MichelleLeeQuotes

She has transformed her life, and I am honored to have been part of the journey.

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready, the teacher will disappear.” #BuddhaQuotes

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Contact Jamie Allen Bishop at info@jamieallenbishop.com or 1-280-203-8911

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By Cathy Bogan with StikFriends

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StikFriends had the honor and privilege of working together with Raise Your Hands, Inc., a private nonprofit 501(c)3 foundation supporting autism. We participated in a pet adoption event by providing a variety of StikFriends merchandise tailored to the foundation’s needs. A connection was created, and we became contributors supporting awareness for this important cause: autism!

Bobby Joe Bell started this foundation for his daughter who suffers from autism to create more awareness of this condition. This was a new insight for us on the spectrum of autism and how folks with this condition learn to cope with the difficulties that they have in connections and communication. A learning curve for all involved from the ones who suffer to their families and/or caretakers. It was really eye opening to learn about this condition and how many people suffer through everyday life events that those of us without autism often take for granted.

Raise Your Hands Inc. asked us to create special “Hug Me” dolls in the puzzle pattern fabric and child friendly puzzles using the same pattern. The puzzle pattern typically used to represent the cause reflects the complexity of the autism spectrum. The assorted colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition. We also created pocket journals for those who like to write their thoughts and dreams down. Our contributions were a success, and to hear the oo’s and aah’s for the products we brought meant so much to us.

This was one of our best experiences, not only as creators of the StikFriends products, but also as an integral part of a community promoting awareness for autism. We met wonderful people and have since have become great friends. The responses to the products we brought were ones of sincere appreciation. The best response was from the recipient of a gift basket that contained one of each of the items. She came to us personally and thanked us not only for the Items, but also because she intended to gift the items to her autistic niece (I believe) whom she knew would love and cherish the basket of goodies. What a Great feeling! (The catering and food were awesome, too!)

Now, let’s talk about the super fun part of this event. Bobby Joe Bell is heading up this cause for his daughter, and he is also a country music star. Everyone had so much fun learning to line dance to his songs. We also found out the foundation has created events centered around breaking the state and world records for line dancing. Naturally, any proceeds from reaching this goal will go to support the foundation and further the awareness of autism. Brilliant!

StikFriends would like to invite you to join us as we move break the line dancing state and world records. The dates for these events are listed on their website https://www.raiseyourhandsinc.com/.

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Contact Cathy Bogan at cathy@stikfriends.com or 1-480-253-9545

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By Cheryl Clark with Clark Strategies

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Thankfully I feel like I live in a world filled with gratitude and more importantly, I EXPRESSED gratitude.

I hear ‘thank you’ often enough that the words are not foreign to me.  I hope I express it often enough that others feel the same – that it is common for them to hear it.

The Challenge for this month was to share a moment where your business met the need of a client.

My mind went to two different places immediately, so much so, that I knew these were what I needed to share in this blog. 

Both instances that came to my mind have one thing in common, and that one thing is something I want to make sure to give some serious attention to!  Both occurrences involve a ‘need of the client’ that was an UNEXPRESSED need.  I was not asked or approached on whether I could do what I did.  They did not even remotely know they ‘needed’ what was coming. 

No, I am not a mind reader; and yes, they would have survived very well without the small things I was able to provide, but my point is often we don’t know what we need, so we don’t know to ask for it.  Talk about another serious attribute we as business owners can develop!  Seeing what we can do with what we have and seeing if there is someone we can impact with it… wow!

Here are the two stories that came to my mind:

#1 – Our weekly networking meeting is three years running and going strong.  It’s what I have spent my time doing every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. till 10:15 a.m. for all three years.  We managed to pivot during the pandemic and stay consistent using zoom. 

I can recall at one meeting a ‘regular’ in the networking world logged in, camera on and attentive.  But when I called on her for a commercial, she waved me off with a look filled with emotion.  I bypassed her respectfully – not understanding what was going on but respecting her wishes.  Later, in private, she shared that she needed to attend the networking meeting because it felt like a positive space to be seen, to be allowed to sit and process her emotions of the day.  I was thanked for the safe space my business provided.  #powerful

#2 – In putting together a calendar full of various businesses advertisements, I found I had space to fill.  I could have pushed for more ad sales, or I could have called outside the network to many businesses who would gladly pay for the ad space.  I could have filled it with an ad for my own endeavors, but I chose to create something for a small home-based crafter, instead.  Please know I am no hero and not wording this to fill my ego up – but merely showing we all have choices and sometimes there are alternatives to what may be considered traditional thoughts.  I sent her an email with her ad and explained that I had an extra space, how I would love for her to be part of it, how this ad was “on me,” and here was the ad.  Her response was an instant text message saying: “SHUT UP!”  Yes, she was “in” for the ad made for her, and while she was grateful, it filled my heart with joy.  Never has “SHUT UP!” meant so much to me! 

I love what I do.

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Contact Cheryl Clark at team@clarkstrategies.ca

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By Katja Chen Independent Consultant with Isagenix International

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One of my more recent customers ordered our super smoothie and a supplement because his goal is to release some weight and gain his natural energy back.  He’s a busy business owner and on most days does not have time to stop for lunch, so he used to grab something on the go which of course was not supporting his wellness goals.  After just a short time, he noticed his pants fitting better, he lost cravings for unhealthy foods, and he started feeling better overall.  Little did I know at the time we met that he was scheduled to undergo oral surgery in the summer.  He had some dental work done last year around this time and shared with me how challenging it was afterwards to eat anything at all, that it took a long time to bounce back from the procedure.  Sure, he had lost weight because he couldn’t eat… but he was also weak.  Not the way he wanted to drop the pounds.  

Once I found out that part two of the procedure was happening in the summer of 2022, I encouraged him to drink his shakes whenever he felt hungry, and it didn’t matter how many a day he needed or wanted.  This was not about caloric intake; this was about getting him the nutrition to allow his body to heal properly.

I am happy to report that he can consume the shakes without pain, they fill him up, and he feels good… energized.  He remembers how challenging the recovery was from the first procedure and feels a great deal of improvement recovering the second time around. I know I have gained a loyal customer for life!

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Contact Katja Chen at katja@joythroughchoices.com or 1-702-234-1853

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By Marion Knaus with Raise the Bar Fitness & Nutrition and Granolala

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A few years back I had an older woman contact me to help her improve her upper body strength using weight training. Why only upper body? As a runner she felt that she had enough lower body strength due to her regular running routine.

After a few sessions working together where we built a trusting and a good relationship, she allowed me to add lower body exercises to her routine. You know, just to see where she was at.

She wasn’t as strong as she thought. From that day onward we included lots of lower body exercises to her regular workout routine.

As the training sessions went on, she started reporting back that her run times and stamina continued to improve. Her improvements were so significant she decided it was time to sign up for a half marathon. For the first time. In her sixties. Not a 5K or 10 K, but a half marathon – 21 kilometers or 13.1 miles. Huge goal.

The day of the half marathon, I was there to cheer her on at the end. It was so exciting to hear her name announced as she crossed the finish line. The look of elation on her face was beautiful.

When she saw me there, it was hugs and tears all around.

And it was the beginning of many more runs over the years. 5K runs, 10K runs, the Santa Run, and many others.

The strength, stamina, and confidence that she built working out in the gym with me grew her athleticism leaps and bounds.

One funny story she told me was being in a pet store buying a large bag of kitty litter. The clerk asked if she needed help putting it in the cart.

“Nope,” was her reply as she easily hefted it into her shopping cart. She reveled in the shocked look on the clerk’s face.

Proof that it’s never too late to start an exercise program with a fitness professional.

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