Sharp Women Magazine | June 2020

Issue 1, June 2020

Creating

Opportunities in Chaos Jo Phillips:

Living Out Loud 20 Minute No Yeast Flatbread Making the Leap to Entrepreneurship Mindful Eating:

The Pros and Cons of this Slower Pace Young Entrepreneur Feature:

Done is Better than Perfect

WELCOME

Letter from the Editor

Welcome We are so excited to share our inaugural issue with you. In these pages, you will find stories from amazing Sharp Women, right here in Central Alberta. You’ll learn about some wonderful local businesses and read some thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects, all focused on supporting you to live your life on point.

What does it mean to live your life on point, really? Isn’t it kind of exhausting to always be told that you are not enough, that you need to be different, or better, or sharper? Why isn’t it okay to just be YOU and not always have to push and strive and be more?

Well, you don’t. That’s kind of the point of this whole thing. Women seem to always be chasing something or feeling like they have to be something else, something thinner, stronger, prettier, smarter, more fashionable, more capable… just, more. But the truth is that we don’t. We are enough. The Sharp Woman that each of us is can only be defined and expressed by us, ourselves.

We just need to discover who we really are, come to love and accept ourselves, and give ourselves (and each other!) permission to live out our individual truth wholeheartedly.

The fact is that we know this. Somewhere in our hearts, we know that what we’re really tired of is fakeness and invalidation. But – we want to be loved and accepted by others, and this can lead us into thinking that we have to be some perfect, plastic version of a woman who has it all together.

Sharp Women Magazine is all about smashing down perfectionism, proving, pleasing and performing. We want to let go of our unrealistic expectations of ourselves and our judgments of others. We want to stop competing and instead create authentic community.

My cofounder Ranchelle Van Bryce and I believe with all our hearts that now is the time professionals in the corporate world, businesswomen or entrepreneurs, and every woman in our community, to band together for strength, joy, growth and celebration of ourselves and each other. This space has been created for these purposes, and we hope you find in every page reflection, revelation, and revolution.

From our hearts to yours, enjoy!

THANKS TO

OUR CONTRIBUTORS Our Team

Guest Contributors Cathy Forner, C4ner Project Consulting Business Column Kalina White, Kalina White Coaching Health and Wellness Column Rachelle Scrase, Infinity Brand Photography

Danielle Klooster Editor-in-Chief Staff Writer 2|

Ranchelle Van Bryce Chief Executive Officer | Account Manager

Kerstin Heuer Director of Design

Professional Growth Column Meg Tucker, Meg Tucker Talks Food Column

In This Issue

Table of

Contents 04 Being vs Doing Ranchelle in the raw

06 Introducing Shaprp women Livin’ the dream

10 Opportunity in chaos

How to live and work while riding the waves of change

12 Killer Comparisons Personal growth

14 Making the leap Professional growth

16 Living out loud

Sharp woman feature: Jo Phillips

18 Protecting your relationships

Relationship: Six things to know about doing business with friends and family

20 The pros and cons of the slower pace Health and Wellness

24 How one word changed my life Spirituality

28 Done is better than perfect Young entrepreneur feature

32 Making it work

Food feature: No yeast flatbread

36 Printable worksheets

The next 30 days | Perfectionism Self Inventory

Notices and Terms of USE Sharp Women Magazine is an E-zine created by Sharp Women. The magazine is free for end users, and contains articles, features, advertorials, advertisements and interactive activities. It is published monthly.

The Editor reserves the right to proof and edit content, without changing the intent. The Editor reserves the right to challenge statements and assertions of fact where citations or proof of fact is not offered.

Sharp Women Magazine reserves the right to reject material that promotes, in the view of the publishers, unsafe or unhealthy practices, hate speech or other inflammatory content. Online comments are subject to review and deletion if deemed inappropriate.

The material and content on this site are for information purposes only. Sharp Women Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete information, nor for any action taken as a result. Content has been contributed by individuals, events and/or organizations, and, as such, may not have been verified by the publishers.

The opinions expressed in articles, features, ads and editorials are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the publishers.

Any reproduction of the content and material in Sharp Women Magazine, without the express written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited, though sharing links to the magazine and/or its articles on social media, with credit, is permitted.

|3

From the CEO

RANCHELLE IN THE RAW

BEING VS DOING

by Ranchelle Van Bryce

I’ve always been a doer. I was raised with the belief that success came to those who worked hard and sacrificed.

I watched my parents, who own a hotel, do just that. My Mom often worked 12 hour days and my Dad, who also owned the hotel, had a full-time job selling advertising.

I started working at their hotel at 14 years old. At a time when my friends had sleepovers and played sports on the weekends, I was working. It was important to my parents that I developed “a strong work ethic”.

Although I was a doer, and I eventually owned eight “successful” franchises, success always felt like an illusion to me; something I would chase that was inches away from my fingertips. Like when I was a kid who played tag, I felt like I was running as fast as I could, doing the best that I could, but not quite good enough to catch someone. Success also felt bittersweet. I sacrificed a lot to achieve it (my health and relationships being two things). And again, I never felt successful. I now know why success felt elusive: because I was constantly comparing myself to others. And the sacrifice of my health and relationships was because I had a core belief that I wasn’t enough. As a 4|

result, I was constantly trying to please others by doing more, overextending myself, and more often than not taking on more tasks and responsibilities than I could possibly do. This led to missed deadlines, disappointed business partners and a feeling of constant exhaustion.

name it, I had the ‘I am not enough’ belief.

Part of what we coached was The Universal In 2018, when I started to work Laws, based on Raymond Holwith an international coaching liwell’s book, so I was immersed company, my beliefs about not in how the Laws worked, even if I being good enough quickly started didn’t know what they were. Some to surface. Thank goodness that, of these laws areThe Law of Thinkas part of my job, I had access ing, Law of Non-Resistance, the to amazing coaches each and Law of Increase, and the Law of Atevery day. I would find myself betraction. What really stood out for ing coached through my limiting me was how my beliefs affected beliefs. Not being good enough, my ability to understand the Laws smart enough, thin enough…. You and that, with my lack of under-

standing of how important my beliefs are to these laws, my thoughts affected the direction of those Laws. One of those beliefs that was being challenged was my tendency to go into overdrive and work hard. These tendencies would show up when I was feeling a lack of self-confidence.

Often, I was challenged to stop asking myself “What more can I do, or how can I do this?” to: “Who do I need to be?”

Both BEING and DOING are important.

However, if I just focus on doing, I start to feel disconnected from my higher self. I start to move into overdrive, and into thinking that if I just do more, then I must be important. If I do more, I will get more. If I do more, I will achieve more. But what I’ve learned is this state of doing puts me into a lack mindset.

When I asked myself who I need to be, I shift my focus into an abundance mindset. When I’m in an abundance mindset, I attract more into my life. More resources, more This was so difficult for me at first because I would people, more ideas. When I become a doer, I slide into immediately go into ‘task’ mode. comparison. I slide into taking on more than what’s physiThis shift in question changed my life. Let me cally possible. And I start to feel less. share with you my example: When it became apparent in 2019 that it was time If you are struggling in any area of your life, I encourage to really focus on my very own coaching business, you to stop what you’re doing. It’s not working, by the my first thought of course was “How do I do this?” way, or you wouldn’t be struggling. So now it’s time to ask This was a hard question because even though I yourself: Who do I need to be in order for this to happen? had built many businesses in my past - eight fran- And also ask yourself: What else is possible? If you’ll ask chises, a sales and marketing agency, a wellness these questions, you’ll be guided as to what action steps company, and consulted in many more - I lacked you should take. Doing comes from being. confidence that I could ‘do’ it. Part of that was because each time I would make a list of the tasks Confused or overwhelmed about that I needed to do in order to create a successful business. Each time I started something, I would some of the new government start ‘doing’ those tasks, but success remained programs? The deadlines or how elusive. Not just the feeling of success, but actual success. I would start and then stop. It was like your business could qualify?

I knew ‘what to do’ but I would self-sabotage. But this time, I knew it had to be different, because Call Jennifer: 403.877.0962 or obviously what I did in my past was not serving email Jennifer@sehnbookkeeping.com me, not allowing me to be where I want to be in my life. So this time, rather than asking “What do I need to do? What strategy do I need?” I asked myself something different. I asked myself, “What is possible with my coaching business?”. And more importantly, “Who do I need to be in order to have a successful coaching business?”. This shift in focus changed my life. Here’s why: my being-state is connected to my divine self. My doing-state is connected to the physical me, the ego me, my conscious / thinking mind. Because I asked myself “Who do I need to be”, I was faced with the beliefs that were serving me and the beliefs that were not. So the ‘doing’ part that I had to first take on was to change the beliefs that were self-sabotaging. Then I could focus on the tasks that would aid me to get me to sehnbookkeeping.com | facebook LacombeBookkeeping who I needed to be. |5

Livin' the Dream

LIVIN' THE DREAM

Introducing

SHarp Women When Ranchelle Van Bryce and Danielle Klooster first met just four years ago, it was clear to both of them that they were very different from each other. Ranchelle, a serial entrepreneur and sales and marketing aficionado, was just closing a marketing company and moving into a coaching practice. Danielle was managing a business incubator and running her consulting practice. Each of them thought about the other, “Wow, I could never do the things she does so well.” Each thought that the other would be a fantastic resource to call upon when such skill sets were needed on projects. They never dreamed they’d be building a business together just a few short years later.

Sharp Women Cofounders Danielle Klooster and Ranchelle Van Bryce 6|

Ranchelle Ranchelle has started, owned and managed many businesses, including eight Curves franchises. When she came to Red Deer five years ago, she was in a transition time in her life. The kickings of life had thumped her hard, and she found herself in a place of reacting and hiding. As much as she tried to put on a brave face and forge a new path, her pain kept driving her back into hiding. “I call it ‘the closet’”, she says.

“I would pop out of the closet from time to time and scurry around doing this or that professionally or personally. But I kept running back to hide in the closet. I was afraid I wouldn’t be good enough and I was afraid of being hurt. I knew what I had to offer, but I somehow believed the world wouldn’t see it or receive it.”

“I would always take on too much, promise everyone the moon, and then not be able to meet my commitments.”

“I would always take on too much, promise everyone the moon, and then not be able to meet my commitments,” she adds. “I was bluffing my way through life, trying to be all things to all people, and I kept letting people down. I couldn’t admit when I was wrong or needed help. Things would fall apart around me, and instead of taking responsibility, I just ran off to the next thing.”

When the Curves partnership ended in 2007, Ranchelle was in chronic adrenal fatigue with major health challenges. She could barely get out of bed.

But she pushed herself forward anyway, and it was a full twelve years before she came face to face with her self-neglect and limiting core beliefs.

In early 2019 Ranchelle had just made a commitment to being part of an international coaching circle, when, the very next day, the plug was pulled on the project.

She thought, “What the hell?! I finally make a commitment, and then this happens?!” It felt like nothing was ever going to come together for her.

“It’s time for you to make a commitment to yourself.”

That’s when she had he revelation that started her revolution. She heard a clear message from the God

Danielle and Ranchelle work through things together

of her understanding: “It’s time for you to make a commitment to yourself.”

“I had always made commitments to others and hen let them down,” she explains. “I started to think that the problem was commitment and that I just shouldn’t make any. To hear that the real problem was that I had never committed to myself was stunning.”

“To hear that the real problem was that I had never committed to myself was stunning.”

Committing to herself meant, first and foremost, changing her core beliefs. She began to do the personal work of: • • • • •

Believing that she is enough.

Understanding that failure is okay and an opportunity to grow.

Giving herself permission to say no, ask for help and admit when she is overwhelmed.

Being honest with herself and others.

Accepting that self-love is not selfish.

As she began to do this work, creativity began to flow.

Peace came. Her physical health improved. In other words, healing. Ranchelle began developing new business initiatives and building relationships in a new way. |7

Danielle Though Danielle had a different path, she was navigating through her own share of pain. Having always been a writer, singer and leader, she, too, let negative messages and judgments become her guide. Though she had enjoyed great professional growth since coming to Red Deer with virtually nothing in 1997, getting involved in community development, politics, economic development and also business, and had been operating a successful consulting practice since 2012, she somehow always felt she was ‘not enough.’ Not doing enough, not educated enough, not accomplished enough, not ‘doing it right’. This core belief, though it expressed itself differently than for Ranchelle, also led her to constantly over-extending herself.

“Not matter what job or project I took on, I always had to overdo it... everything had to be perfect.”

“Not matter what job or project I took on, I always had to overdo it,” she shares. “And everything had to be perfect. My home, my cooking, my work, my relationships. Everything had to look like I had it all together, or I would be in a panic.

I screeched at my family a lot. I broke down crying at work – even in meetings! - when I felt overwhelmed or criticized. I was sick almost all the time.”

Danielle had really begun doing her personal work when she came to Red Deer but says it’s a journey

8|

that never ends. “I keep uncovering more layers of proving, perfectionism, pleasing and performanceorientation. The roots go deep, and the work is hard, but I am learning that I am worth it.”

Danielle has had more than one pivotal moment in her life where she came face-to-face with her self-loathing and began making healing changes in her core beliefs.

But, in 2017, she ignored a nasty case of pneumonia until it almost took her life.

“It was a major smack upside the head,” she says. “I was so afraid of not keeping my com-

mitments and not being able to meet expectations that I kept working, even while I was in the

“I kept working, even while I was in the hospital.”

hospital. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stay awake, but I kept working. Insane!” Slowly, she realized that she was, in fact, dishonouring her commitments and relationships by dishonouring herself. As a leader, what was she modelling?

She is learning that: • Self-care is a form of leadership.

• Self-care is just as much about putting breathing space into one’s schedule as it is about bubble baths.

• No one expects from her the things she expects from herself.

• The earth will continue to rotate on its axis if everything doesn’t get done.

COMING TOGETHER After Ranchelle’s seminal moment in early 2019, she began to have several creative business ideas. In the spring, she approached Danielle with an idea for an event for women. Danielle could see the value of such an event and thought she might even like to attend. She also understood why Ranchelle was asking for her help, given their distinct skill sets and styles. But she couldn’t see how it would be on-brand for her and couldn’t see herself “in it”. They kept talking over the course of a few months, until the vision for The Sharp Event emerged as something they could both be excited about.

With the success of the first event, the friendship and mutual respect have blossomed, along with more new ideas. In early 2020, the two made the decision to form a new company together called Sharp Women.

Sharp Women’s mandate is to elevate Central Alberta women to live their lives on point.

This means: • Training for entrepreneurs and professionals • Opportunities to build connections • Mechanisms for brand exposure and businessbuilding • Personal and professional growth through discovery, revelation and support • Relentlessly smashing through walls of perfectionism, competition, comparison and proving • Letting go of judgments and embracing vulnerability • Creating an individualized definition of what it means to be ‘sharp’.

Though they have lofty business goals, Ranchelle and Danielle hope that what shines through most brightly is their hearts for women. They’re not seeking a pedestal on which to be put; their intent is to link arms with other women and work together to understand and live in a way that says, “I am sharp when I accept that I am enough.”

That’s livin’ the dream.

|9

Business

How to Live and Work While Riding the Waves of Change

OPPORTUNITY IN CHAOS

by Cathy Forner

For over 30 years, in my professional life, I have been responding to disasters and emergencies, building solutions and managing through change. Through this, I have learned the value of planning, finding the best in difficult situations. This pandemic is a crisis that is a “disaster� and many of the disaster-management principles and best practices are relevant.

10 |

eration. Write everything down and then sort out what needs attention now and what might be “parked” for later. Create a digital location where you can capture every idea and thought (if you do not capture them immediately, it’s likely you will not remember them). Revisit as time allows.

Here are some things you can do to gain control of your business and innovate your way through this time: 1. Focus on the top priorities and key principle of your business.

Have honest conversations and take a deep look within your business. Get input from trusted advisors.

2. Do some scenario planning to help you gain clarity.

Your focus at this time cannot be on everything – that will be very overwhelming - so ask yourself: what are the priorities that will make the biggest difference for you, your staff and your business?

3. Start an idea bank.

In a crisis, the key considerations must be the key priorities, but there maybe other ideas that pop up for future consid-

4. Face the emotions and problems head-on.

It’s okay to talk about the difficult situations and the emotions that go with them.

During the planning process, root issues and core problems often come to light. These can be emotional. Allow time to discuss what is scaring or concerning people. The ability to express those concerns in a safe environment helps people feel supported, and often they can then let those things go, freeing themselves up to focus on the job at hand. Be clear that you might not be able to address issues right away, but that you have heard and take it seriously.

5. Communication is critical.

Once your planning becomes decisions and directions, be sure to share this with your team, your stakeholders, and your audiences. Side note: you will need to make your decisions and set your direction based on credible information, ensuring that what you decide, and what you say, is verifiable and reliable. During disasters, because of fear and uncertainty, there are plenty of rumours and inaccurate information.

Make evidence-based decisions and communicate that to those who count.

6. Human Resources are your biggest asset - and this includes you! Ensuring you have proper practises and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in place is critical, but so is the mental and emotional health and safety of everyone. Selfcare, the ability to share and release the fear and emotion we are all feeling is essential.

As a leader, it is okay to struggle. Daring leadership is being prepared to step in and care for yourself and your people.

7. Go with your strengths. This is a time to apply our best skills.

During crisis and disasters, we must be mindful that situations will intensify everyone’s strengths and weaknesses.

What are the skills your team members have that you might not ordinarily use? Pull those hidden treasures out of yourself and your people and consider how you will shore up or support the weakness’.

Help is Available The good news is you don’t have to do this alone! Coaches and project consultants can help you navigate all of this and come up with an exciting and workable plan.

Note: through an initiative with Innoweave, if you are a non-profit or charitable organization, you can get free mentorship from me or leaders with 25+ years’ experience in non-profit disaster management.

Cathy Forner, owner of C4ner Project Consulting, specializes in tackling unique, complex organizational challenges with clear, actionable steps. With more than 25 years of experience in virtual and in-person projects, as well as her business management expertise, Cathy has effectively led changes across a diverse range of organizations and industries. Cathy lives in Sylvan Lake.

| 11

Personal Growth

APPLES TO ORANGES

KILLER COMPARISONS

by Danielle Klooster

Growing up, I always felt a little lost, like everyone else had more of how to do this thing called life figured out than me. I assumed everyone else knew what was going on and how to do things and I was the only dummy in the dark. I believed I was not smart enough, and I came to believe that by comparing myself to those around me.

The truth was that most other people didn’t have anything figured out any better than I did.

And I eventually figured out that I am plenty smart, but, by that time, the habit of comparing myself to others was deeply ingrained.

I found that there were plenty of other things I could use as a measuring stick to see how far short I fell: grades, athleticism, money, attractiveness, height, size, clothes, cars, titles, houses… I even compared how clean I kept my house, my cooking and baking skills, my 12 |

etiquette, popularity and parenting skills. Everywhere I turned, there were shiny, tasty apples, and I was an orange.

I think that marketing and the appeal to consumerism is only effective because it appeals to something within us – two core desires:

Sound familiar?

1. To fit in: No one wants to be an outcast.

We are hard-wired for connection, for community.

I even find this with silly little things, like a new smartphone. I will no sooner get the latest and greatest device than bam! A new, jazzier one is released. It makes me wonder if consumerism is to blame, or if I am just a pawn in the global marketing game. But I don’t think so, really.

2. To matter: Each one of us wants to know we count, that we have significance.

Why Comparison is a Killer: It kills your spirit. It makes you play small and hides the real you.

It kills your unique potential. You are not the same as anyone else.

You have your own special personality, talent, and skill. You can’t be the best you when you’re trying to be somebody else.

It kills your relationships. Comparison makes us want to hide and withdraw from those around us. We need friendships and connections, and comparison is a barrier.

It kills your joy. Let’s say you just finished your first painting and then Picasso turns up with his; total buzzkill, right? It doesn’t have to be. Take joy in your work and your accomplishments. Let them stand for what they are: a joyful experience. Don’t let comparison rob you of your joy.

Comparison is the Thief of Joy.

Shame Runs Deep I was raised in a very religious home, the daughter of a minister.

As such, in addition to comparing myself on all those fronts I’ve already mentioned, I compared myself to my peers in terms of my standing as a Christian. Was I a godly wife, mother, woman?

Was I “doing it right”? I made so many decisions in my life on the basis of trying to prove that I was a good person, but I always had this uneasy feeling that, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t measure up.

I also remember being a young mom with kids in school. The pressure to be a rock-star mom was enormous! And it seems to have only gotten more pronounced, as I now watch young moms try to work, be at the school every other day, make sure that the snacks and costumes are homemade, the science project is NASA-level, the kids are in designer brands and they look like they did all that in between photoshoots for a glamour magazine.

Whyyyy do we do this to ourselves?

Oh, right – I already said why.

How do you like them apples?

Well, okay, then, so what’s the solution? How do we break free from The trouble is, that when we look the crippling, killer comparisons? to external trappings to meet these Here are some thoughts on how two core desires, it’s a black hole we can stop hopping into the apple that is never filled. There is always crate of comparison: someone smarter, prettier, stronger, Only compare yourself with yourricher, more influential… whatever. I’ll self. Just look at how far you’ve always feel that I am at a deficit and come, how much you’ve grown as in a position of lack, as long as a person, and all that you’ve acI look at what everyone else is or complished! Not as it compares has as a measure of my worthiness to anyone else, but just you. Your or community standing.

-Theodore Roosevelt

journey. Your path. Find the things you have done and become that are good. Focus on that. Celebrate that.

Take control of what is yours to own and let go of everything else.

Let’s say you are allergic to apples.

You can spend your time bemoaning that fact and enviously watch while others eat them, or you can just let it go, and grab an orange.

Celebrate others. Sometimes, comparison leads us into envy, and instead of being happy for others and what they accomplish or have, we stay silent, as if shining light on them casts shade on us. It’s not true! You are not diminished by lifting up others. There’s enough sunshine for all of us and we’re all better when we praise each other.

Practice gratitude. The benefits of having a grateful spirit are many, but this, of all these points, will result in the most meaningful change in your mindset. Gratitude brings with it a lightness and freedom to which little else can – er – compare.

I happen to know that you’re amazing. Your body is a wonder, your mind is a marvel, and your life – despite whatever challenges and obstacles - is good. We need you, your gifts and voice and talents and skills and ideas. We’re better for having you in our lives.

So you be an apple and I’ll be an orange and together, we’ll make an awesome fruit salad (okay, that was super corny, but you get the point).

| 13

Professional Growth

MAKING THE LEAP

by Rachelle Scrase

I recently made the leap from a 25-year career in dental hygiene to owner of my own brand photography business. Quite the shift, but one that has yielded great rewards. This transition did not happen overnight, nor did it occur without a lot of deep inner work.

My initial career choice was made out of security. It provided me a great income, job availability, work life balance – all of the things one considers when making major life decisions.

But I denied myself the most important of considerations – what lights my soul on

14 |

fire? For me, there was a defining moment. Approaching mid-life and realizing I was not living my purpose, the internal turmoil erupted, and I cracked wide open. It was after a complete and utter internal meltdown I realized that I NEEDED to create and that it was missing from my life. I tuned into my soul’s desire and haven’t looked back.

Laying the Groundwork The journey to today has taken time, effort, and patience. Once the decision was made to pursue my passion for photography, I spent years learning the skills that have brought me to this moment.

I built my business during nights and on weekends, taking online education, learning new technologies, and familiarizing myself with business systems. Finding a mentor was invaluable. Their experience and leadership provided insights that saved me frustration, time, and overwhelm. Being intentional and laying down the necessary foundation before ever launching were key to my business success.

Being in business is scary. Not only have I experienced the highest of highs, but also the lowest of lows. As an individual adverse to risk and fearful of the unknown, being an entrepreneur has tested me. I began asking myself questions. Am I capable? What if I fail?

4 Things to Consider When Starting a Business 1. Do the deep work; ask yourself ‘What am I passionate about?”, “What is my vision for my life?”

2. Start taking the necessary steps to move you towards your goal 3. Know that it will take time 4. Find support, teachers, guides, mentors My normally iron self-confidence was turned to dark self-doubt. The realization from this turmoil was that I could not do this alone. To this point I was barely treading water, and the fear was real. A life raft appeared in the form of a business coach. My mentor explained to me that I cannot achieve my goals when I live in fear. I realized in that moment that I had always lived in fear. This epiphany caused a seismic shift. I would no longer live in fear but in faith.

New Outlook means a Life with Purpose This new outlook has generated abundance in so many ways, and I use this new outlook to live my life with purpose and leverage my passion for photography to magnify the dreams of others. My mission is to help women in business feel confident, tell their story, thrive, and to do the work they were born to do. This ripple effect spreads out

Rachelle is a Central Alberta based brand photographer. She loves working with passionate entrepreneurial women to create custom imagery for their social media and marketing content so they tell their story and stand out.

When she’s not behind the camera, she enjoys personal development, travel and spending time with her husband and two adult children. See more at infinitybrandphotography.com

BUSINESS INSURANCE 6 STEPS TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT POLICY 1

2

3

WHERE TO START

ARE YOU GETTING A FAIR COMPARISON?

COST VS. QUALITY?

Many people avoid allowing the competitor to review their current policy when shopping around.

However, to get a fair comparison, it is a good idea to allow the competing insurance company to review your current policy, even if you black out the numbers, to ensure they are quoting apples to apples and are able to offer advice on coverage’s you may be missing or may NOT need.

Like any product of service, cheapest isn’t always best and there may be additional hidden charges along the way. A good insurance company will do much more than a commercial call centre, so think of cost as an investment in quality. Is your insurance company reviewing your policy annually, do they have easy to use websites and apps, can you get a hold of your agent without long hold times or waiting for days for them to call you back?

If you google insurance, you will find numerous insurance companies. But how do you know what you need; and if what is quoted properly covers you and your business pursuits? A good insurance provider will ask lots of questions, gathering information unique to your business to provide an insurance solution. Not only that, they will explain why you need the coverage and how it protects you.

Insurance is not one size fits all.

4

5

EXCLUSIONS & WARRANTIES | EXPLANATIONS & REVIEWS

CLAIMS PROCEDURES

TALK TO THE PROFESSIONALS

Ask what happens if you have a claim.

Will you be directed to a call centre or a dedicated claim administrator? If the claim does not proceed to a conclusion that you are satisfied with, how will you get independent advice?

It’s a good idea to do your research on your company's claims service. You can learn a lot about how the company handles payouts when you need them the most, at claim time.

At Swift Insurance & Financial Solutions, our qualified in-house team provides personal advice. We explain the conditions and warranties in plain English ensuring real value for our clients and help you through the claims process to make sure you get a fair resolution.

Seek clarity on exclusions and warranties. A good insurance company will ask many questions when writing your policy to ensure they understand your business and any risks that may pertain to it. They will also touch base at least once a year to review your policy, update any changes during the year and review the coverages with you again.

6

“Like any product or service, cheapest isn’t always best”

Christine Swift QAFP | Financial Advisor Phone: 403-340-4495 Cell: 403-307-5000 christine_swift@cooperators.ca

| 15

Sharp Woman FEATURE

JO PHILLIPS:

LIVING OUT LOUD

by Sharp Women Staff

Jo Phillips has been a businesswoman and entrepreneur for many years, for the last several as a partner and business manager for Jo(e) Social Media Inc. She and Joe Whitbread train and speak on social media in schools and at conferences, as well as delivering social media management services to businesses and organizations. It’s been a growing, thriving business that has kept her busy, and largely fulfilled, since 2012.

But Jo has had another dream, another passion, brewing in her heart and spirit for at least 5 years: Jo Out Loud.

What is Jo Out Loud?

Jo says it’s about inspiring people toward a personal revolution, helping people to understand

16 |

the power that they have, and to challenge the stories people tell themselves that keeps them from becoming their authentic, powerful

“Almost everyone is a dreamer.” selves. Specifically, she says, she will focus her attention on women, girls and the LGBTQ2+ community.

“I think almost everyone is a dreamer,” she says, “and I also think that almost everyone has a piece of courage in them. What I want to do is help them get to that actionable step to put the two together.”

It's resounding in my soul Jo says that what she wants for her business, what resounds in her

soul, is what she wants for herself: to live authentically.

“Any time I wasn’t pursing my authentic self, but instead was trying to please others or protect their egos rather than letting myself rise, that’s where I felt that jarring sense that comes with ‘bumping up against’ your authentic self,” she says.

In her own words, Jo tells the story of how Jo Out Loud came to be: “Twelve years ago, I was a Stayat-Home-Mom in an abusive marriage, trying to get out. In that relationship, I knew he was trying to break me down. My constant thought was, ‘You’re not going to break me’. In a sense, that was a good thought, because it kept me going and gave me the courage to get out. But, on the other hand, it was a bad thought, because it became a wall in every relationship.

It’s difficult to make friends when you don’t allow people in.

“Once I managed to get free, I became a personal trainer and opened a gym. Clients were always telling me what they saw in me: they loved my genuineness and outspoken nature.

But I didn’t believe it; I didn’t trust myself. I screwed up a lot. I wasn’t

authentic. In that, I caused a lot of hurt and harm and I said and did things that just don’t align with who I really am.

I came to realize that people saw the real me even if I didn’t.

I realized I was not my gym, the

“I screwed up a lot. I wasn’t authentic.”

building, the business. I’m not my relationships or even my kids. People saw me. They wanted the real me. I started to invest in accepting that and letting the walls down. I stopped taking responsibility for everyone else’s feelings. I started

giving myself permission to speak my truth. That’s when Jo Out Loud was born.”

Now is the Time Though Jo Out Loud has been a passion for several years, it was always back-burnered for Jo, with other things, like her current business and raising her kids, taking priority. But, in 2020, she has decided it’s time. It’s time to unapologetically fully embrace living authentically and speaking her truth and she wants to give permission to others to do the same.

She’s beginning with storytelling,

sharing with vulnerability about her life, her feelings, her struggles. She will also give voice to others, sharing their stories and advocating for queer kids and for mental health.

Though she’s still in the start-up phase, she will be offering mindset coaching and mentoring that helps people pair up their dreams with their courage and find meaningful ways to live authentically – out loud.

Jo Phillips is a partner in Jo(e) Social Media Inc., located in Lacombe, Alberta. She has a degree in psychology, and numerous certifications.

Jo has three kids.

Stand up!

Speak out!

Connect. Create. Cultivate.

Welcome to Inspiring Virtues a place where every individual is appreciated and celebrated for who they are.

Check out our classes that focus on building confidence and positive self image for girls 9-16.  CLICK HERE Connect with Melody for more info: Melody@InspiringVirtues.ca or leave message at 403.304.8433  inspiringvirtues.ca  @groupswithgrace

| 17

Relationships

PROTECTING YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Six Things to Know about Doing Business with Friends and Family

by Danielle Klooster

With all that’s going on in the world and economy, more people than ever are considering entrepreneurship and small business as the new path forward to financial wellbeing.

In so doing, it may seem completely natural to look at those around us who have complementary skills and experience and consider forging a business relationship with friends or family members.

And, since business relationships require a high degree of trust, it makes a lot of sense.

Working with someone you know well has many benefits, including: •

18 |

You already have credibility with this person. They can easily grasp your vision (or you can grasp theirs) and get on board

•

•

•

with the opportunity.

Communication, decisionmaking, and division of duties can be easier. They know you, they get you, and often you’re on the same page without even having to talk about things in depth.

You can build faster, because of the high trust atmosphere and easy rhythm of working together.

You may have common goals and values, especially if you are family members.

It's More about Fit than Skill Personally, I have enjoyed doing collaborative business projects with many friends. I found it most often deepened our friendship and added to the enjoyment of the project. I’ve also been in business partnership with my spouse, which was way less easy and enjoyable, although that’s likely another story for another day! I find it works really well, when I’m developing a new initiative or business dream, to look inside my network and see who might be a good fit for the opportunity. In other instances, friends

and I might find it fun to talk about doing business together sometime, even if we don’t necessarily have a grand plan right then and there; we just know we’d like to do something together and that, at some point, the right thing will emerge. I realize that, while skill sets are important, it’s infinitely more critical to have a partner with whom I have a great fit. I can always outsource skills or learn them myself, but, if the values don’t align and the personalities don’t jive, everything is going to be very, very hard. This is why a partnership with a friend or family member can be so great.

Relationship First While it’s awesome to be able to make a living and forge a path to prosperity with someone I care about, the fact is that businesses come and go. In fact, in my life so far, I’ve started and run seven businesses, several of them with friends and family. I can always replace a business, but I’d really like to hang onto relationships. People matter more than anything else. As a business coach and consultant, I’ve seen a heartbreaking number or strained and destroyed relationships come about as a result of a business partnership. It doesn’t have to happen.

The good news is that you can have a great business partnership with a friend or relative, if you take care to do some important things at the start and all along the way.

Protecting the Relationship Here are six things you should consider:

1. Over-communicate about everything.

Leave no communication stone unturned. Just because you believe you’re understood and on the same page doesn’t make it true (we know what assume does, right?). Talk in depth about the ideas. Talk about the process. Talk about the roles and responsibilities. Talk about your fears and insecurities.

Talk about money. Talk about conflict, and what you’ll do to make sure you’re both/all okay when there are hard conversations and decisions.

2. Don’t take short cuts.

What are all the things you would do if you were starting a business with a stranger? Do those things. Don’t circumvent proper planning, foundationsetting and process development just because you’re in business with someone who loves you. Stewarding your relationship means you want to take extra care, not less.

3. Write a comprehensive business plan. I mean, you were gonna do this anyway, right? Haha, who am I kidding?

90% of businesses have never written a business plan. But

this goes back to point number one. The process of writing a business plan will force you to talk everything through, and then, there it will be, all down on paper in black and white. This is the time you’ll really learn about what assumptions the partners have made and set clear e xpectations for the way forward.

4. Have a formal partnership agreement. This is

HUGE. I cannot overstate this. I have seen so many ruined relationships come about from misunderstandings and mistakes in a business built on ‘hand-shake’ agreements. And it’s not just the friendship of the partners themselves at stake; often times the families of the business partners end up being mortal enemies, even though they weren’t directly involved. It can make family reunions a real drag! If you really care about this relationship and want to honour it well, a partnership agreement will go a long way toward avoiding confusion and needless conflict.

5. Make the relationship, not the money, the number one priority. Yes, of

course, one of the main drivers for being in business is profit.

Who doesn’t want to make money? But, as the old saying goes, money does funny things to people. Or, rather, it can, if you decide it’s what matters most.

You are going to have plenty of opportunities to stop and

ask yourself what is most important to you. Good and bad decisions will be made, money will be won or lost, mistakes will be made, and there will be oh-so-many feelings. Each and every time you are tempted to get angry or bitter about something involving money, it is crucial for you to bring yourself up short and remind yourself that you want the relationship to be first.

6. Sometimes, things end. As I said, businesses

may end, and they may end for a multitude of reasons.

Don’t keep defibrillating a thing because you are afraid to hurt your partner (dragging something out well past the end of its season or lifespan is actually more harmful, in the grand scheme of things).

When it’s time to end, then end well. Have a laugh about all the good memories, have a cry about the pain, and have a meaningful talk about how your relationship will change, but stay strong, after the business relationship ends.

If you decide to a personal relationship will make a great business partnership, have at ‘er. Just make sure you take care of each other, always.

Danielle Klooster is the Editor in Chief of Sharp Women Magazine and a partner in Sharp Women. She also owns and operates Danikloo Consulting and Munikloo. She lives in Penhold, Alberta.

| 19

HEALTH & WELLNESS

THE PROS AND CONS OF THE

SLOWER PACE

by Kalina White

Are you enjoying this slower pace of life but notice that you often feel sluggish and less than physically sharp?

The time of “self-quarantine” and staying home with your family definitely has its pluses and minuses.

You might be enjoying the slower pace of life and more time with your family, but also notice that you feel bloated, sluggish and lethargic.

Maybe you’ve been stress-eating as a way to cope with all the uncertainty and boredom.

Are you finding yourself frustrated that as time is going on, you feel less and less healthy and fit?

Wonder how, as we navigate forward in this new world you can continue to enjoy this slower pace and enjoy sharp health?

I have good news: you can enjoy the slower pace and practice mindfulness to keep on top of your eating plan, enjoy your food and improve your overall feeling of health!

But first, why am I talking about mindfulness?

Good question!

Before the world changed many of us found it easier and quicker

20 |

to grab something at the drive through or as we ran out the door because we didn’t have the time or the energy.

We ate for convenience rather than for nutrition. We ate for instant gratification rather than for long term health benefits.

And now perhaps more than ever...

We are eating to sooth our emotions, fears, stress, and boredom!

The fridge and pantry is always open! Right!?!

Imagine embracing this slower pace and learning a new way of eating in which you actually get to experience the tastes and textures of your food rather than feeling like meals are an inconvenience or scarfing food down like you haven’t eaten in days!

You can embrace this slower pace in every aspect of your life! You can begin to see the food you eat as medicine... nourishing your whole system and tasting delicious!

So what is mindful eating?

Mindful eating means taking the time to honor your food by choosing high quality food, preparing it with care and eating it slowly and mindfully using your five senses to really enjoy it.

It means allocating time to prepare and enjoy eating your meal without rushing or multitasking. Mindful eating is a way of saying to yourself: “I respect myself and my body enough to be mindful of what I put into it and of the way I eat.”

be present with your food and the way you eat it.

My clients find that eating mindfully helps to: • Sense intuitively when you are full • Gain more satisfaction from eating • Develop a healthy relationship with food • See food as medicine • Discover new tastes and textures • Improve digestion (less gas and bloating) • Regulate bowel movement • Discover food sensitivities • Create healthy habits that enliven you

How will I know if it's time for me to learn to eat mindfully?

Glad you asked! It’s time for you to practice mindful eating if you answer “YES” to any of these questions: • You get bloated after eating • You scarf down your food like it’s your last meal or you’ve haven’t eaten for days • You eat just to feel full not to enjoy the tastes • You eat to numb out • You want to learn to enjoy healthy food

• • • • •

You crave sugar or starchy foods You have difficulty focusing or foggy brain You feel lethargic after eating You have allergies or hay fever You feel addicted to eating foods that aren’t healthy for you but you can’t stop

• What

do I do now?

Believe it or not chewing and breathing are two of the most important aids to our digestion.

Taking the time to chew your food properly will help you extract the maximum nutrients from your food and oxygen is actually the key nutrient to speeding up your metabolism and is essential for more energy. Even if you only have 5 minutes for a meal, breath and let the fresh oxygen and chewing relax you, engaging all your senses. That way you’ll enjoy the whole spectrum of tastes, aromas and textures that make up your meal. Putting your utensils down after each bite, breathing while you chew and fully experience the secret pleasures of mindful eating.

As we continue to navigate these times of slower pace and more time at home, I hope you find that mindful eating elevates your body and spirit. Bon Appetit!

You deserve nourishing food and the time to eat it!

Think of this type of eating as a meditation. It means choosing to | 21

Advertorial

EVENT Design pushes BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL One of the biggest questions we hear is “what is the difference between an event planner and an event designer?” Event planning entails various aspects of an event.

Event design can mean many things. So what is the difference?

Event Planners Help from Beginning to End Event planning sounds glamorous, doesn’t it? Attending fun, themed events ranging from weddings to corporate events. Event planners is that they are not just party planners; they are goal oriented, extremely organized, and a lot of their work is done behind the scenes in pre-production. Event planners love logistics. The event planner keeps track of the budget and assists you with anything that pertains to your event.

Event planners are your main advocate in anything logistically based, from vendor referrals and contract negotiations to the overall execution. During your process of planning an event, your event planner will be there every step of the way and will know all the steps to make it all happen.

Event Designers get Creative Event design encompasses the more creative side of event management. Like the name suggests, event designers thrive on design. Both professions all have a host of things in common, but event designers have the very unique ability to completely transform a space and design an experience. Space design for an event or celebration is more than decorating, it accounts for everything in a

22 |

room including floorplans, décor, lighting, furniture, color schemes, and tablescapes. On the other hand, experience design (also known as UX or XD) is not a checklist, a recipe, or a series of manoeuvres - it is a way of thinking. It considers how products, services, and solutions play a role in delivering value over time. It considers all stages of the customer journey as opportunities to provide value and further engage customers.

A Great Product is not Enough Experience design provides a way for the business and the designer to invite design to the table earlier. It focuses on the desired outcomes and targets of an event or campaign, and then reverse engineers the details of the experience that will get attendees there.

Experience design doesn’t replace brand strategy or marketing, but pushes beyond the traditional approach of defining brands, products or services. As the world is trying to adjust to the new normal after COVID-19, every brand is trying to get noticed. Today’s marketing space is very saturated. Having a great product is not enough. Being local is not enough. Consumers are choosing more wisely where they spend their money, and not necessarily based

on if a service or products solves a problem, but on how that brand makes them feel.

Experience design taps into all the human senses and how attendees feel during an event. Experience design explores material textures, scents, flavours, sounds, music and even choice of attire if needed to create the right ambiance for an event. That event can be an in person gathering, a virtual meeting or the process at home when your customer opens the packaging of your product.

Your Local Event Design Experts Founded in 2017, The Maby Studio is Central Alberta’s first and only Event Design Studio. Since opening its doors in Sylvan Lake, they have helped tailor the experience of hundreds of weddings, photoshoot styling, product launches, grandopenings, conferences and corporate events.

The Maby Studio can help you create an experience your staff, customers and loved ones will never forget.

Book your Complimentary Event Design Consultation today.

Ruby Cole-Ellis hello@themabystudio.com themabystudio.com

Advertorial

18 Dogs that mastered ‘The Workout Excuse’ It truly is a wonder anyone works out..

These pups have their excuses nailed, can you relate?

ed. r i t o o t y 1. I’m wa

2. I’m too old for tha t.

3. Beyonce said I c an do ‘whatever I wan t’!

Check out 15 more Dogs with even better excuses here here::!

Janessa & Shawn Marshall are co-founders of The Forum Inc. here in Central Alberta. Starting in 2012 Janessa took a plunge and decided to choose joy over Corporate Life and quit her job to begin this journey to better movement and health. Currently with two children 5 and 2 years old, Janessa and Shawn run The Forum Online focusing on a providing a better understanding of our bodies to create healthy movement and re-introduce play into our daily lives!

 The Forum Online is your way to show up confidently in your life. Get moving your body and create more energy that fuels YOU.  You can find workouts, routines and health tips anywhere – but let us condense that information for you and make it easy for you to access.  Our goal is that you can spend more of your time with friends, family and on yourself – less time trying to piece it all together.

I want to check out the Sharp Women Offer >> CLICK HERE!

 We feel you, we’ve been in these excuses and we see you. We are ready to put in the work for you so that you can continue to be the Sharp Woman you deserve to be! | 23

Spirituality

HOW ONE WORD

CHANGED MY LIfE

I developed my current spiritual practice last year, after moving through a particularly dark phase of my life.

by Ranchelle Van Bryce

I realized that somewhere between the age of 17 and that point in time, I had moved away from a relationship to my higher power back to bargaining with God, something I did as a child of an alcoholic parent.

When I was 14, as my father sobered up and attended a 12-step program. I attended “our team”, a support program for children of alcoholics.

It was there that I learned slogans like Let Go and Let God. It was also there that I stopped bargaining with God and developed a tenuous relationship with my higher power. The word, “God”, at that time, had a lot of drama attached to it for me.

However, when I was 17, I left my hometown, and along with that, our team, and along with that, my relationship with my higher power.

I went back to the old way of being, which was only to talk to the God of my understanding when it was convenient, or when I was in pain.

24 |

Flash forward: 35 years later, sitting in my living room, crying in defeat, looking at the sky (because of course where else would you look when you’re looking for God?) and begging for help.

As I took five deep breaths to calm myself, I started to review my faith.

I realized that I had gone back to a one-sided relationship, only asking for help when I was hurt and depressed. I also realized that, because I had lost faith in myself, I had also lost faith in my higher power.

The other AHA was that I realized that I was wound up so tightly, trying to control everything around me, that I completely forgot about letting go and letting God. After about five minutes, and many deep breaths, and after letting go and letting God... I heard my next step, which was surrender.

I must confess, there was a lot of resistance to that word. Every time I said it, I imagined myself waving a

white flag you know, giving up to the enemy.

-

And it felt like I was being requested to give up to someone.

I know how important words are, so I decided to look up the word surrender.

And there was also another definition!

Surrender ... To surrender in spirituality and religion means that a believer completely gives up his own will and subjects his thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of a higher power.

To give oneself.

It was there and then that I surrendered.

1. I surrendered to my higher power, who I might now often refer to as my divine essence. I surrendered to love. First to my divine self. And then to others.

2. I surrendered the illusion of control.

BRANDING TIP FOR SHARP WOMEN!

3. I really surrendered to my faith.

4. I surrendered to the need to always know how I surrendered into vulnerability.

5. And I surrendered my past.

And this is when I developed my spiritual practice.

Having a spiritual practice allows me the time and opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship with my divine essence. Like any relationship, it’s important to nurture and pay attention to it on a daily basis.

So here is what I do daily, seven days a week. 365 days a year.

For me, it works best in my life if I do this part of my morning routine.

“Brand up” your online presence and attract more of the right people!

START WITH YOUR BRAND BIO.  It’s your 150 character brand story that lets people know they in the right place and keep their attention.  Use it on Instagram, Pintest, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

Download FREE Brand Bio Blueprint Here

Here’s my daily practice: •

I start with my daily affirmations.

•

I write down, or say out loud, my gratitude statements: “I am so happy and grateful now that…”

And I speak as if it’s in real-time, as if it’s in my present. Even the things that I desire for my future, I speak as if they’re happening now.

•

I speak the truth based on the Universal Laws: For example: what I desire is already here, regardless of appearance.

•

I read my visualization statement

•

I ask my divine self what I should do today to move me towards my purpose, and goals.

•

I Listen, because there’s always an answer.

•

I take action. Even when I don’t understand why, or I’m afraid.

•

I have (and express) gratitude for the direction.

•

I read something spiritual recently to assist me in my spiritual practice.

•

I periodically check in with my divine self, because at first, it was easy for me to get distracted.

This is my practice. Learning to surrender has revolutionized my life; the results become more evident every day. My hope for you is that you will discover a spiritual path and practice that works for you, and that you will find the joy and strength of surrendering.

youthentic.ca instagram

Paradise

IS CALLING YOUR NAME

Call 403.341.0177

Follow us

Locally owned and operated.

  twitter | 25

YOUR HOME PURCHASE MADE EASY

HOME BUYING PROCESS From your pre-approval to choosing which insurance best fits your needs, learn how with these 3 steps you can make your home buying process easy.

(403)506-3106 PRE-APPROVAL

(403)318-9363 THE RIGHT AGENT

TANYA ROGALCZYK

LINDSEY FORGET

W hy Be Pre-Approved?

In the market for a new home? That’s great! Have you got your pre-approval in place?

A pre-approval will show exactly what you can qualify for based on how much money you will be able to borrow based on your current financial situation. It also puts you in a positive negotiating position against other home buyers who aren’t pre-approved.

Though, not all pre-approvals are the same.

There are essentially three different kinds.

The first occurs when you meet with a mortgage professional and tell them how much you make.

They’ll say something along the lines of “Great, you’re pre-approved.” The mortgage professional has not confirmed your income without documentation. There is no real pre-approval.

The second kind is when a mortgage professional asks you how much you make and then pulls your credit bureau. This allows a mortgage professional to lock in your mortgage rate for up to four months. This pre-approval still isn’t a sure thing.

The third kind of pre-approval – and the one that I do – is a lot more encompassing. Together we get all of your papers prepared right off the bat, which allows us to eliminate any unforeseen issues with your approval. Sure, it’s more work up front – but I do this because it’s the right thing to do.

H ow to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent?

Buying a home is personal and emotional. The relationship you have with your real estate agent has to be built on expertise, trust and mutual respect. After all, they will be acting as your eyes, ears and voice throughout the process.

26 |

Here are some tips on what to look for in your Real Estate Agent: Educate you about the current market conditions Discuss your wants and needs against your budget Present you homes that fit your criteria Help guide you to other professionals you’ll need during the buying process Negotiate with the seller on your behalf Make sure all the required paperwork is fully completed, accurate and that deadlines are met Work with you to resolve any challenges that may arise While experience and skills are valuable, more importantly you need to feel comfortable with your agent and they need to understand your expectations.

"Don't wait to buy real estate, buy real estate and wait"

(403)872-4396 LIFE INSURANCE VS. MORTGAGE

SERENA ROHRER M ortgage Life Insurance vs Life Insurance Whether you are buying a new home or renewing your current mortgage, you may be offered insurance by your lender or broker. You invest a lot of money into your home, so it’s worth taking a few steps now to protect that investment. But how do you know if you should choose Mortgage Life Insurance or Personal Life Insurance? Let’s look at the differences.

Mortgage Life Insurance is typically marketed towards new homeowners who may be concerned that an unexpected death or illness could leave their loved ones with a large mortgage. The benefit is linked to your mortgage balance.

Personal Life Insurance can perform a similar function for you but isn’t tied to just covering your mortgage. It is designed to provide your beneficiaries with money in the event of your death. Its flexibility allows your beneficiaries to use the money for whatever purpose they wish. It is an individual insurance product and is usually less expensive than Mortgage Life Insurance in the long run.

Mortgage Life Insurance covers the balance of your mortgage, which decreases as the mortgage is paid down, with coverage ending when your home is paid off. Personal Life Insurance coverage typically stays the same and is not linked to your mortgage, therefore is unaffected by your mortgage ending. It will continue to keep providing protection to you and your family in the years that follow your mortgage term.

| 27

YOUNG Entrepreneur Feature

DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT Stephanie Schwartz always knew she was a creative, and always knew she wanted to run her own business.

In 2015, after the birth of her second child, who has high medical needs, she found herself “glued to the couch for twelve hours a day” (pumping breast milk).

Although being a great mom is her highest priority, Stephanie always knew she wasn’t hard-wired to be a stay-at-home mom. As a creative with an entrepreneurial spirit, she wanted an outlet that would allow her to have freedom in her schedule and her finances. She had always loved photography, so she took that time to invest in her learning and getting good training.

But start she did. In 2015, she launched Stephanie Mae Photography, catering exclusively to wedding portraits. Now, she and her husband Steven work together in Steven & Steph Photography, where they do engagement and wedding photography, personal branding photography and marketing support, and even graphic and web design.

28 |

Getting Going Steph says the hardest part about starting a business was, well, knowing where to start!

“It felt, to me, super overwhelming to start,” Stephanie says. “I didn’t know what to do first or second or third, and all of the information out there [about starting a business] felt really ‘big’”.

Of course, she reflects, it seems kind of silly now, because it turned out it wasn’t all that daunting after all, but it was rather paralyzing at the time.

Spending hours researching and planning, Steph found it hard to “pull the trigger” and actually make a start. But, little by little, she put herself out there, built a clientele, and now has a thriving enterprise.

The Paralysis of Perfectionism Stephanie quickly realized that it was a pesky perfectionism habit that many times kept her immobile. She admits that the battle against perfectionism is still one of her biggest struggles: “In the quest for perfection, I can lose a whole afternoon just ‘zhuzhing’ one little piece of copy, even though my audience or client is never going to care.”

When asked what stories are attached to her perfectionism and how it impacts her life and business, Steph says her thoughts roll around things like, “I’m not the right person for a certain level of success” or “I have small children” or “I live in small town Alberta” or “I’m not organized enough”. She shares: “It’s easier to not do anything than fail. I know this is not true, and all these thoughts are just excuses so that I can feel I’ve been set up to fail and I don’t have to put in the work, don’t have to risk putting

myself out there.”

It’s a work in progress for Steph, who believes that making herself accountable to other female creative entrepreneurs has made all the difference. “They challenge me and confront me and encourage me and hold me accountable. Sometimes, all I need to do is say what I’m thinking out loud to see how silly and wrong and limiting it is.”

Steph has learned that her worth is not attached to her outcomes. Her self-talk includes the statement I am not my results. Disconnecting from over-identifying with her business and her results enables her to have the courage to try new things and take risks.

“As a creative entrepreneur, it can be particularly hard to separate yourself from your business,” she explains, “because you are offering to the world a piece of your heart.

It’s a personal expression of who you are, and so, when a client, or even some random person on the internet, is critical, it is hard not to take it personally. But I know now that I can’t hear my intuition or make good decisions when I’m too afraid to move because I might fail. I’m learning that you can be the juiciest peach on the shelf, but there’ll always be someone who just doesn’t like peaches.”

“I’m learning that you can be the juiciest peach on the shelf, but there’ll always be someone who just doesn’t like peaches.”

Time and experience have gone a long way to helping Steph free herself from perfecting and having a short list ‘real people’ in her life she trusts to speak candidly into her life has been most impactful. Now, Steven and Steph want to dedicate time in their lives to supporting other creative entrepreneurs, both in skill development and mindset development. They lead the local chapter of the Rising Tide Society, a group for creative entrepreneurs who believe in #communityovercompetition. Giving others the tools to get going, and helping them overcome the paralysis of perfectionism, is rewarding, and reminds Stephanie to keep going, climbing new mountains and reaching new heights. And being her own version of peachy.

Stephanie Schwartz owns and operates Steven and Steph Photography with her husband. She has two girls and a new baby on the way. Learn more at stevenandsteph.co

| 29

Advertorial

The Scotiabank Women Initiative:

Making an Impact with Women Entrepreneurs Women face many challenges when starting and growing a business, not only in Canada, but around the world. Here’s how one program is assisting women in business to make change happen for the better.

In December of 2019, The Scotiabank Women Initiative™ celebrated its one-year anniversary.

Designed to support Canadian women-owned, womenled businesses, The Scotiabank Women Initiative™ committed to deploy $3 billion in capital in its first three years. In addition to access to funding, members gain support in two other key areas – Mentorship and Education – and the response has been commendable: since its inception, more than 1,500 women have participated in “Un-Mentorship Boot Camps,” regional “mini-boot camps,” and group mentorship sessions across the country, including Central Alberta.

“I am very proud of what we’ve been able to do to support women entrepreneurs over the past year and a half,” says Renée Vetra, Scotiabank District Vice President, Central Alberta. “When the program launched, we knew it had to be about more than access to capital, so introducing the three pillars was a purposeful strategy.

Adding mentorship and education alongside funding helps to propel women through the process of starting, building, and growing their business.”

Women owned businesses remain critical to the Canadian economy Businesses owned by women represent over $117billion in economic activity in Canada1 and employ over 1.5 million Canadians2, but only 16 per cent of small and medium enterprises are majority-owned by women3.

They also receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital dollars.

A recent survey by Scotiabank found that women entrepreneurs lag men entrepreneurs in applying for business loans – even though they are more likely to have their loan application approved. Only seven per cent of the 499 women respondents had applied for a business loan in the 12 months leading up to the survey, compared to 11 per cent of men respondents. Yet, women were more likely to have their loan application approved compared to men (88 per cent vs. 77 per cent, respectively). Luckily, that’s starting to change.

4

“As a result of some of the work that’s been done, we’re beginning to see an improvement in this trend, as

30 |

women across the province access more tools, resources, networking opportunities – and of course, capital,” says Vetra.

Fostering collaboration and support between women business leaders is a major part of that effort. It takes time and energy to nurture a professional network, so it’s important to be connected to people who believe in what you’re doing.

In addition to the boot camps, which provide access to valuable insights and advice from successful, like-minded women, further educational tools are available via The Scotiabank Women Initiative online Knowledge Centre, a repository of targeted research, podcasts, learning aids and other helpful business related materials.

Focused support for women-owned and women-led businesses from dedicated programs like The Scotiabank Women Initiative are essential to Canada’s economic growth, and also have significant social impact.

Which is why the Canadian government created the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, and – due to the disproportionate effect COVID-19 has had on women entrepreneurs – assigned an additional $15 million in May to support the program. The value of these initiatives is undeniable.

Vetra summarizes it best when she says: “The opportunity for the country and economy as a whole is enormous.”

To learn about how you can take your business to the next level, visit scotiabankwomeninitiative.com.

1.

2.

3.

4.

The Canadian Taskforce for Women’s Business Growth, 2011 Startup Canada Small Business and Tourism Branch, Industry Canada, 2010 Scotiabank Research: Financial Knowledge & Financial Confidence, 2020

Advertorial

Getting to the Root of Your Health I know what it’s like to experience age-related hormonal changes. I can relate to having “too much going on” for a seven-minute physician visit to be able to get to the root of my issues, and then being handed a prescription for a contraceptive pill or antidepressant.

over-taxed. Half-well is not enough!

We know we must take charge, but maybe don’t know where start.

Sleep, Too When I did not feel fully well, sleep was also an issue. A sleepless life quickly escalated to a joyless life, half lived in the confines of two-dimensionality, and a slow but sure progression toward ultimate immune system failure.

Pharmaceutical prescriptions can work on a temporary basis, or partway, and a follow-up visit to the prescriber might leave me feeling like I ought to feel grateful for feeling This is my experience as a woman half-okay. I leave with a refill, with seeking health. Sound Familiar? more words describing additional symptoms still caught in my throat. Help is on the Way My name is Jenn and I am your Half-Okay unconventional pharmacist. A local Half-okay. Hm. Do you feel like small business owner dedicated to although that “pill” is calming a level serving the health needs of others, I of turmoil, there’s a slow burn still have also been there. You have queshappening? And although you’ve ac- tions. You are complex! You need a cepted the fact, for examtrusted provider in a confidential setple, that you may not be ting. This is why I offer what I do, and having orgasms while on I do so passionately. your mood-enhancing I am fully licensed, with additional medication, at least training in functional medicine, you can get dressed nutritional and orthomolecular apin the morning and proaches and bioidentical hormone greet your spouse restoration. Over the last eleven years, with a smile. it has been my honor and privilege to Milk-toast. Halfaffect positive change through radical way there. Just health transformation in the central beyond my reach.

Alberta community.

Unheard, stuck. I My practice is much more than “you can then become need to eat healthier and move more.” prone to emotional I’m not the person who says, “sounds outbursts and a like you need to just drink more quickness to anger, water.” The punishing, “it must just be and, of course, guilt. your genetics. Nothing we can do,” is In choosing to carry decidedly not in my vocabulary. these things, I can see Your health is complex. You deserve the folly in expecting more than a short visit and a premy health to improve. scription. You need a partner in your Experiences like health, who can help you find natuthese are all too com- ral, individualized solutions that can mon and have shown optimize your health and lifestyle. me that health My particular approach to women’s providers are often health is “guts, glory!” Let’s get your

gut and your hormones working for you, so you can live a glorious life.

Let’s Get Started Call me at Mortar and Pesto, the unconventional, natural pharmacy, to start taking charge of your health.

I want a world where we all have the hunger and stamina for deep learning, access to resources and a supportive tribe, and the resiliency to fiercely integrate our female wisdom and truth-seeking into the daily practice of living our most nourished, vivacious lives.

For my mother, for my grandmother and for my daughter. And, for you.

We get to the root of things.

Yours in health, Jennifer Fookes RPh., BSc. Pharm

Compounding Pharmacist/Owner

#200 – 3947 50A Ave Red Deer Phone: 403-986-1700 www.mortarandpesto.com E: jenn@mortarandpesto.com

Jennifer is a University of Alberta Alumni, graduating from the Faculty of Pharmacy in 2009.

She is a proactive practitioner that empowers women and men to take charge of their health through a medical science and natural health combined approach. In her day to day consultations and clinical work, Jenn challenges the current delivery of health care with joy and common sense. She is committed to easing suffering, building strength and revitalizing her clients. Whether doctor’s visits are becoming increasingly frequent, or the world of natural medicine is becoming overwhelming to balance, Jenn is your person. She has dedicated her career to digging deeper into health issues and developing care plans that address the whole person. So whether you are ready to pick up the pace and RUN toward better health, or are just looking for supportive tools to help guide health decisions, Jenn is a welcome addition to your health care team as your family’s integrative pharmacist.

| 31

food feature

MAKING IT WORK It’s ok to cry. It’s ok not to be perfect.

It’s also ok to laugh and find the joy.

The phrase “make it work” has never held more meaning than in these last three months. As an entrepreneur and woman in business, we all know how important it is to connect and foster relationships. In order to grow our businesses, we need face time.

We need coffee dates, we need to attend meetings and pitch sessions. But what happens when a global pandemic hits and the whole world closes?

You begin to just “make it work”.

From a very young age I felt a strong connection to the kitchen. All of my grandmothers were amazing cooks. My mom’s Baked Alaska and manicotti could change lives.

When my parents divorced, my sister and I lived with my father. My dad was a guidance counsellor, which meant he had a pretty healthy amount of patience. He also is an amazing cook, self-taught, aside from the Chinese food cooking class he took, which led to us eating wontons for six straight weeks.

Knowing full well I was making a huge mess every time I announced I wanted to “create”, he would let me hang in the kitchen almost daily coming up with some pretty wild “concoctions”. He would taste and critique them, offering kind, parental suggestions of how I could improve. Was this foreshadowing to becoming a top 25 finalist on MasterChef Canada in 2013? Perhaps.

I Fell in Love with the Kitchen 32 |

Through the years, my love of cooking grew, but let’s make something very clear.

I didn’t go to culinary school until this year. I went to university to get a Psychology degree, then I worked for 10 years as a Project Manager for a top Toronto marketing firm, then I became a morning show radio host for the next 14 years. I always knew however, that no matter where I lived or where I worked, as long as I was in the kitchen, I was “home”.

When you think about it, cooking is actually a lot like business. You have to figure out what you want, then determine how you’re going to get there. Do you use a recipe? Do you wing it? Do you use tried and true methods that have worked for centuries, or do you put your own twist on a favourite and with a little skill and sometimes luck, see where you end up?

Learning to Bend and Relax the Rules The world is absolutely on its head right now but through these moments of uncertainty, sadness and anxiety, we’ve somehow managed to lean in and truly find a little peace. Here we are, around the globe, living in our own little bubbles. We are seeing

families who didn’t cook that are now learning. Families are taking time to sit at the dinner table and share stories of their day. Lives have slowed down and while this is not to say there hasn’t been stress, I like to believe there have been times where we have found small pockets of joy.

In the first week of “lockdown” everyone panicked and bought toilet paper. In the coming weeks it would be hand sanitizer, flour, and then yeast. We were over buying and underprepared for what was happening.

Thankfully, it seems we have all levelled out a bit and are starting to find our “new normal”, at least for now. Maybe your “new normal” is a never-ending loaf of sourdough.

Perhaps it’s been the joys of working from home in pjs. It could be just getting your kid through their daily math homework without consuming an entire bottle of wine.

We are making it work There is another word we’re hearing a lot these days. Pivot. While our “pre-Covid” image of that word is Ross from Friends yelling PIVOT when the couch was stuck in the stairwell, we now are using it as a means of being bound and determined to make life work. Businesses are moving from brick and mortar to online. Coffee shops meetings have been replaced by Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and more. My business pivot has been in the form of teaching online cooking classes across Canada and into the states called COOK WITH MEG. It truly has been one of the best gifts to watch families come together, where for 45 minutes, we are able to put our worries aside and truly connect with a common goal. We are not worried about the bills, we are not worried about the deadlines, it’s just kids and teens and families having fun, while breaking bread.

While no one can be certain what the future holds, I know that my approach to how I run my business will take some of the lessons that I have learned in the last few months.

Life is truly about balance and while working is what pays the bills and feeds our kids, it’s so important to find those little moments every single day. Things can change on a dime. It’s ok to lean in. It’s ok to bend and relax the rules. It’s ok to let your kids get bored and figure out how to entertain themselves. It’s ok to cry. It’s ok not to be perfect. It’s also ok to laugh and find the joy.

“Put our worries aside and truly connect with your kids, teens and families while breaking bread!”

The recipe that I am sharing with you today is: 20 Minute No Yeast Flatbread.

In my opinion this recipe truly defines life these days. It takes 20 minutes to make which we all have, yeast is still tough to find and whether your flatbread ends up flat, puffy, oval, or square, no one expects perfection. We are MAKING IT WORK. As you make your 20 Minute No Yeast Flatbread, I also invite you to think about this. We know that life has most certainly NOT been normal, but eventually, the world will re-open and the grind will resume. My hope is that we can each carry a few of these “isolation habits” forward into the future of our lives and businesses.

Let’s not lose those little pockets of joy.

See recipe on following page.

Meg Tucker earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology then launched her career with 10 years in Toronto marketing, managing national promo campaigns. Meg then made the leap to the world of radio broadcasting, first as an entertainment correspondent in Toronto then as a morning show host in Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta.

During Meg’s 14 years in radio, she also cooked her way into the Top 25 of MasterChef Canada and created and hosted her own kids cooking show “Just One Bite” with Shaw TV. Meg now runs Meg Tucker Talks and also teaches online COOK WITH MEG classes.

Register for one of Meg’s many online classes and sign your kids and teens up for Culinary Summer Camp today! cookwithmeg.com

| 33

No Yeast Flatbread

by Meg Tucker

Ingredients : • • • • • • • •

2 c flour ½ tsp salt ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp garlic powder optional 1 c milk whole or 2% works best 2 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp butter (butter adds flavour) ANY AND ALL seasonings: dill, thyme, rosemary, seasoning salt, everything bagel seasoning, curry powder. These are ALL optional!

Instructions : •

34 |

In a large mixing bowl, combine all your dry ingredients. Your flour, baking powder, soda, salt and garlic powder.

• • •

• •

Next: Add milk, 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tbsp of butter to a small saucepan.

Warm the milk, oil and butter on medium heat for about 3-5 minutes. Take off the heat.

Pour your milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until you see small lumps throughout.

If you’re adding herbs, you can add at this point.

Once your lumps form, turn the mixture out onto a floured clean surface and start to form it all together into a dough. You want to knead this for a few minutes until it totally comes together. It should change from ragged to smooth and soft.

• • •

•

• •

Let dough hang out for about 5 minutes.

Divide dough into 6 pieces.

You can roll with a rolling pin, or just flatten each disc with your hands, making each about 1/4 inch thick. “Just make it work”!

Add 1tbsp of oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Cook flatbread until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Add additional oil to skillet as needed as you’ll be cooking these in batches (depending on the size of the flatbreads).

Sprinkle finished flatbread with garlic salt, or extra optional seasonings.

Amazing with curry, soups, stews, eggs, and MORE!

Grab Your FREE Social Media Audit Here

Candice Smiley

Graham Oswald



Website & Content Creation



Copywriting & Marketing Funnels



LinkedIn



Sales Calls



YouTube



SEO

We make your online life easier.

What makes us so different?

About us

We are the unique combination of a former IT tech (for all you non-tech peoples out there) and former event planner/social marketer/sales and networking pro.

We started from a desire to learn how to maximize our own marketing efforts online, and continued from a desire to make a difference… we actually give a %&*# that your marketing gives you tangible results.

What does that mean for you?

We understand how to make existing technology and social media work for you and your business to put you in front of the niched and targeted audience you want. We combine the magic of automation with targeted copy.

We offer you a unique duel-preneur effort to both copy writing that sells with tools and applications that help you be effective online – saving you time, effort and money; while we help you grow, progress and expand.

Connect with Us

Candice Smiley  LinkedIn

Graham Oswald  LinkedIn

 jarasolutions.com | 35

Printable

The Next 30 Days Whenever we gain nuggets of revelation, we typically think: “Ooooh! I am going to start doing those things!”. Usually, though, within a few days, we’ve forgotten what we heard, read or watched, and life goes on.

This worksheet is a printable resource for you to use each month, to collect out the treasures of insight and wisdom you find each month in Sharp Women Magazine (or anywhere else!) and create action steps.

Written goals are eight times more likely to be achieved, so this is a great practice! You can make small (or big!) changes by writing things down and holding yourself accountable.

Insights I have gained:

New ways I will think:

New things I will do:

New RESULTS I see:

36 |

Printable

Perfectionism Self-Inventory You want to be sharp. You want to show up as your best self and live your best life, happy, fulfilled and at peace. The truth is, though, that habits and mindsets like perfectionism, instead of helping you get there, actually sand in your way.

Perfectionism is a killer.

It can crush your spirit, deter you from reaching your goals, defeat your sense of joy and accomplishment, and also, literally kill you. Here is a self-inventory audit so that you can see for yourself how deeply ingrained perfectionism habits and mindsets are for you. Download this page, print it off and take the quiz. Score yourself with a one if the statement doesn’t represent your thinking or habits, and 5 if it strongly represents you.

Habits 1. I tend to be “all or nothing”. If I can’t do it perfectly, I don’t do it at all. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 2. I frequently clean my house with the thought that someone might come over and see my mess. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 3. After a business meeting or social gathering, I go back over everything I said or did and cringe. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 4. I find myself trying to control the words and behaviour of those around me so that things will go well and I won’t be embarrassed. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 5. I get frustrated doing group projects when others don’t pull their weight. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 6. I often refrain from speaking up or saying what I feel in case it’s wrong or will upset someone. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 7. I often point out other’s mistakes (to their face or behind their back). __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 8. I have trouble saying no, even when I know I can’t meet the obligation. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 9. I want chores at home to be done my way. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 10. I avoid going to events if I don’t have the appropriate attire or if I am intimidated in some way. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 11. I spend well above my budget on clothes and other items so that others will think I am successful and attractive. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 12. If I don’t feel confident about a task or project, I procrastinate. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 13. When I look at my work, all I see are my mistakes. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 14. When I look at my appearance, all I see are the flaws and things I want to change. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 15. I spend a lot of time thinking about things others say that could be taken negatively. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 16. I frequently wake up in the night with fears about failing. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 17. I often have dreams about being humiliated or ashamed. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5

Thinking And Feeling 1. I often make decisions or do things based on what someone else will think of me. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 2. I often feel I am not _________ enough or too ________. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 3. I worry that my kids’ or husband’s behaviour will embarrass me in front of others. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 4. Failing at something makes me feel like I am a failure. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 5. I regularly think that my neighbours or coworkers are judging me. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 6. I notice that I get very defensive when I feel someone is critical. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 7. I’m only proud of my work if someone praises me for it. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 8. I constantly feel like nothing I do is good enough for others. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 9. I feel that if I talk about my failures and shortcomings, others will look down on me. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 10. I am often so afraid to make the wrong decision that I don’t make any decision at all. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 11. I don’t know why, but I always end up in the same patterns, doing the things I dislike about myself, or repeating the same outcomes. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 12. I believe that most other women have it more together than me. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 13. I spend a lot of time mentally going over my failures. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 14. I almost never feel completely accepted and at ease. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 15. I don’t feel like I have accomplished as much as I should have by this age. __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 Score for this Section: __________

Score for this section: _________ | 37

Printable Scoring Add up the totals for the two sections and check your total score: 0 – 30: You are one cool cucumber. You don’t worry about what others think or meeting their expectations. You take life as it comes and believe that you are good enough without having anything to prove.

Congratulations!

31 – 90: You’ve got some smidges of perfectionism, but it’s in pretty good balance. You can catch yourself engaging in unhealthy thought patterns or behaviours and quickly adjust to a better mindset. Keep going!

91 – 150: Though perfectionism can be an issue for you, you’re able to shake it off at least some of the time and remind yourself that you are doing your best, you’re accountable only to yourself, and you are enough! You could definitely use some support along the way.

Consider asking trusted friends to be a sounding board for you and hold you accountable. Check in with them regularly.

150+: Welcome to the winner’s circle.

Just kidding! This is like golf; you don’t really want a high score! But, here you are, top of the perfection-

ism class of 2020. So now what?

You probably already know how crippling the scourge of perfectionism is, and how much stress and unhappiness it brings you. The first thing you need to do is refuse to beat yourself up over it (or, actually, anything). The second thing you need to do is reach out. Sometimes we are mired so deep in our patterns of thinking that we just don’t know what other perspective is possible. And change can be scary! We all need others in our lives who can help us see things differently and figure out a new way forward. Consider a coach, an online course, some podcasts and/ or books to help you develop techniques that can move your mindset out of perfectionism and into your desired state. Focus on where you want to go, not where you’ve been, and believe that you already are all that you need to be.

Your Assignment, Should you Choose to Accept it If you are a perfectionist, you’re probably now stressed out about how wrong you are for being a perfectionist!

Making you feel even worse about yourself is not the point of this exercise. The point is that we can’t change what we don’t own. Once we have a starting point, we can do the work of making change.

This quiz was purposely divided up into two sections: habits and

thinking/feeling. This was done because it’s often easier to identify our behaviours than it is to assess our perceptions and perspectives.

Notice, Name, Unpack, Reframe Change needs to come in our habits, but that will flow out of a change in mindset.

If you can begin to notice when you are thinking or acting in unhealthy ways that spring out of a need to be perfect, and you then can name it – “Oh! I’m engaging in perfectionism here!” – then you can unpack the stories you are telling yourself, which is essentially identifying the thoughts you are thinking when you are engaging in the behaviour.

After that, the work to be done is to figure out how to change the story. How can you reframe those thoughts, from thoughts that limit and/or punish you, into thoughts that serve you and move you forward?

Over this next month, make a commitment to yourself, that you will actively begin the work of freeing yourself from perfectionism. Save this worksheet and retake the quiz in thirty days. Then celebrate your lower score!

Need a coach but don’t know who to call or where to start?

The Central Alberta Coaches Coalition is composed of quality, local coaches in a variety of disciplines.

Click here to contact them individually or call 403.391.8443 to be referred.

Follow on facebook

38 |

Save the Date!

Second annual Sharp Event!

February 5th, 2021 Holiday Inn & Suites, Red Deer, AB Join us for a day of: Connections Personal and professional growth Laughter and fun Shopping and prizes To become a sponsor or get involved, contact Ranchelle at 780.679.7275 or email ranchelle@sharpwomen.ca

| 39