My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

Awarify Coaching is LIVE on Social Media

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Hello everyone! Since the last time we talked, I officially launched my coaching business, Awarify Coaching, on social media! Woo hoo!

What this means is that all of my social media channels are now live, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I don’t have my website set up just yet (I did buy the domain though!) but am planning to launch that by the end of the year.

I am just so stinking excited. If you’re interested in learning more and/or joining me on this new journey, I ask that you follow me on Instagram and/or Facebook (for now). I’ll definitely let y’all know when the website is up, but for that, I’ll need some time.

I’m also planning on launching a newsletter in November (ish!), so be sure to sign up for my email list. Lots of goodness coming your way!

The one story I haven’t shared on social media is where the name Awarify came from. So, as you can tell, it’s not a real word. But if you take ‘ify’ and apply it to the word aware, it means to bring awareness to make more aware.

All of the credit for the name goes to Vishnu. We literally sat on our couch and brainstormed so many names, most of which were already taken. After the first night, I was ready to name my business ‘PK Coaching.’ So original right!? Vishnu told me not to give up, and on the second night, he asked me what I thought of Awarify. I asked him what it meant, and when he told me what it could mean (given it’s not a real word), I literally fell in love. He said I should sleep on it, and I said, “Nope, that’s it. That’s the name.” The rest is history!

I’m so glad I married a creative thinker!

The reason I love Awarify is because I truly believe awareness is the first step in any process, and I see my role as a coach being to help people become more aware of what’s holding them back/blocking them so they can move forward and achieve their goals.

It just fits!

I promise I’ll share more about Awarify as journey evolves!

And finally, if you’re reading this and you’ve been around for a while or you’re a new reader who plans to stick around, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! MIS and the community its attracted has been such a source of joy for me over the last almost 10 years, and your constant support fills my cup more than you know. Love y’all!

An interview with a life coach

An Interview with a Life Coach

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Last Monday I did something I never really thought I would in a personal setting, and it was honestly an eye-opening experience.

I sat down and had a 90 minute coaching conversation with a professional coach.

The coach was my good friend Shannon from Miami.  She is one of my favorite girl bosses and the CEO of her own company, Ishiki Insights. More on Shannon in a minute!

In early January, Shannon shared that she was offering free 90 minute coaching sessions to anyone who was interested and willing to open her mind to the possibilities.  I decided to sign-up for a few reasons.  One, when I lived in Miami, Shannon was (and still is) one of my favorite people to have “deep conversations” with.  She has a knack for asking really good questions and listening.  And two, I know how passionate she is about helping other people live authentic lives.  I had a few questions I wanted to dig deeper on and figured a 90 minute session with Shannon would get me answers.

Well, the session went differently than I imagined it to but in the best way possible!  I went in with a specific work related goal, shared it with Shannon, and told her that I would like to uncover ways for me to achieve said goal.  Shannon listened, asked me a few questions, and we were off. We started with the work stuff, but as Shannon asked questions and I talked, the conversation went much deeper than I thought it would.  Not only that, but Shannon helped me think through ways to use the new insights in a positive and helpful way that is 100% authentic to me.

Coaching is very powerful if you go in with an open mind!  Very powerful.

I was so impressed with our coaching session that I asked Shannon if she would like to do a Q&A on MIS.  While I could go on and on about my experience, I figured it would be more helpful to hear more from Shannon herself!

An interview with a life coach

Shannon’s background
Shannon is a Certified Professional Coach and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner.  She received her coaching certification after a seven month intensive coach training program from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).  Additionally, Shannon graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and Japanese.  For the first seven years of her career, Shannon worked in two Fortune 500 companies in finance and analytical roles.  Shannon is now a passionate entrepreneur as CEO of Isihki Insights, her own coaching business based out of Miami, FL.

Why did you decide to become a certified coach?
In 2014 I was at my career rock bottom after relocating from Washington DC to Miami and taking a job that was unfulfilling and underpaid.  I decided to hire a coach and the entire experience completely changed my life.  I became empowered to take action towards creating the life I had always wanted but never felt like I deserved.  Once I learned about the power of coaching through that firsthand experience, I knew I wanted to become a coach so that I could help other women live up to their full potential!

What is coaching and what is it not?
The best way to sum up coaching is: inner work + outer action = sustainable results.  So many times when we want to make a change in our lives, we look to taking new action or adopting new habits.  These techniques may give us short-lived results but soon enough we find ourselves hitting the same road blocks and can’t seem to actually make the big changes we were hoping for.  Coaching combines both the inner and outer work so that you can first address who you are at your core and then integrate that new version of yourself into your life to get the sustainable results you’ve been looking for.

What are the 3-5 most common misconceptions about coaching in your opinion?
The one I hear most often is about coaching and therapy.  Both are great depending on where you are in life.  Therapy is focused on your past and processing your feelings around traumas from your past.  In coaching, there is no ‘fixing.’  We focus on how to get your from where you are today to where you want to be in the future.  The second most common misconception is that a coach gives you advice.  While I have many hours of coaching experience and training, I don’t have all the answers and I certainly don’t have your answers (sorry to disappoint!).  The truth is, you have your answers.  But you aren’t able to see them yet because you’re living with a system of beliefs and rules about how the world works that may not be serving you.  Coaching shines the light on what’s really keeping you stuck and gives you the space to re-write your story so that you can see all the possible answers that are available to you. 

What is your coaching style?
My style is all about helping you become the best version of yourself.  To do that, I challenge you and inspire you to think differently and see things in a new light.  I give my clients the space to think aloud about their challenges and share their thoughts in a nonjudgmental dialogue.  There are no right/wrong answers in coaching.  The process is all about identifying what you really want and what you believe stands in your way of getting it.  I’ll be your accountability partner throughout that journey to help you put your new mindset into action so that you can start seeing the results you’ve been looking for!

Who is your ideal client?
My ideal client is women who feel like they have it all from the outside but are lacking a sense of motivation and engagement in some area of their life.  We would be a great fit to work together if you’re someone who is ready to do the deep inner work that coaching helps you with.  Our mindset is a very powerful tool that we can choose to use for our benefit or let it keep us stuck.  I love working with women who are open-minded and committed to learning more about themselves so that they can harness their power and retrain their mind to create their ideal lives!

What does Ishiki Insights represent?
Ishiki means ‘consciousness’ in Japanese.  I chose to incorporate Japanese into my business name because I’ve been speaking the language since I was a little kid and Japan has a very special place in my heart.  To me, Ishiki Insights explains exactly what I do with my clients: I help them do the deep inner work of becoming more conscious and aware of who they are and how they believe the world works!

What is your coaching process?
Coaching sessions take place over the phone for an hour once a week.  You’ll bring a situation, challenge, or story to the table and we’ll navigate through a series of open-ended questions to clarify your thoughts and determine what you want to do about the topic at hand.  By the end of the session you’ll have an action plan in place for the week ahead that feels doable (but also stretches you).  At the beginning of the next session we’ll talk through how the week went and what happened when you implemented your action plan.

What changes can one expect after going through the coaching process?
After working with me, you’ll feel empowered and in control of your life!  You’ll finally be able to approach life with a confident mindset and an expanded self-awareness that allows you to step beyond your comfort zone and manifest your dreams.  Many of my clients have told me that coaching helped them become a better version of themselves that has them feeling more grounded, less reactionary, and more energized!

What are some of your favorite personal development resources – books, podcasts, websites, etc?
Some of my favorites are Gretchen Rubin, Liz Gilbert and Brené Brown.  I recently finished reading Jen Sincero’s book You Are a Badass.  Great read for busting through your excuses and recognizing your inherent greatness!  Two of my other favorites are Happy is the New Healthy by Dave Romanelli and The Crossroads of Should & Must by Elle Luna.

How can people get in touch with you to learn more about your coaching services?
Email me to learn more about what coaching can do for you and to see whether coaching might be a good fit!  For a limited time, I’m offering a limited number of complimentary, 90-minute sessions.  These sessions are for women who are ready to commit to making some big changes in their life so that they can get unstuck and move forward.  If that sounds like you, grab a session on Calendly (and be sure to mention MIS as your referral source!).  All sessions are 100% confidential and take place over the phone.
If I were you, I’d sign up for a session with Shannon ASAP.  I’m so glad I did!  In fact, one of my coworkers said that she sensed a difference in my [virtual] presence late last week.

Leave your questions and comments for Shannon below!

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