MartaSpirk WITH

2 You are truly a Powerhouse, how did you come up with your organization’s name and concept? Please take us through how you started What inspired you and made you want to be a Speaker? And take us through your business journey

In June 2018, after deciding to start my own coaching company, I launched a podcast and named it Mom Does It All - that is also the name of my LLC At first, my business focused on helping moms take time to get to know themselves post-partum and follow their gifts and dreams, like I did With time, I understood this message is not only for moms; it's for all women, so I rebranded to The Empowered Woman and all my programs, even my book carries that name now

3 What gap does (your organization) fill for Women Business entrepreneurs, How has (your organization) impacted the lives of others? Do you remember any particular successful case that stands out

My company started with a focus on personal growth and that led me to support women with entrepreneurship As I encouraged women to pursue their dreams, it was only natural to give them the tools and guidance to make them a reality by starting their own business Through the years, as I learned how to market myself and gain visibility, clients started asking me HOW I did it and now I see my company filling a gap in the sense that I don't just support women in finding the confidence needed to follow their hearts, I also provide them specific steps to take practical action and make themselves known in their industry While many mentors may focus solely on either mindset or visibility, I help women with both, because I understand you can "lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink " I support women with the foundational personal development principles to have the courage to carry through with their plans and projects to make an impact in the world I have so many examples of women who have been empowered through my work and programs, like Gina Fontaine who published her book You Are A Supermom, Rubecca Martinez Dalton who left her 9-5 job to grow her then "side business" into full-time income producing or Camille Schetman, an artist who landed a TV segment after weeks of starting to work together

3 What story do you find elicits the best response and what technique do you use to engage a live audience? How do you ensure your information is remembered by your audience? Do you note the things that makes your audience react positively

I believe my two greatest stories are both my immigration from Brazil and my having triplets Those two examples usually touch people's hearts because people can appreciate the idea of leaving everything behind for love or the challenge of carrying and caring for triplets - and yet choosing to follow my purpose and dreams What I do to make myself memorable - and what I teach my clients - is to be myself Vulnerability, authenticity and genuineness are magnetic I also like to incorporate humor and lightheartedness in my talks and conversations I am energetic and bubbly, it's part of my personality

3 Tell us about your book

I remember reading one of my first personal development books ever, Brendon Burchard's High Performance Habits and being fascinated by his work I instantly had a glimpse of doing something similar, but with my own principles and framework I realize there are so many self-help and personal growth books and this was part of my resistance to publishing my own book Ultimately, I decided to believe that I can choose to think there are too many books in this genre or that the very reason there are many books like this means I can add one more, with MY voice, MY story and MY lens So, this is what makes The Empowered Woman: The Ultimate Roadmap to Business Success different: it's mine and I'm unique You may find a similar message elsewhere, but you will never find the same In it, I share my story by weaving it in the 5 steps of my framework called The Empowered Woman Path: Notice, Listen Empower, Forgive and Transform Yourself

3 What is it like being able to influence so many people, What factors do you consider every day, and which people or books have had the most influence on your growth?

I definitely acknowledge there's a lot of responsibility with the work that I do and that's why I continue on in my own personal growth journey I'm also a "work in progress" in the sense that even though I encourage others, I struggle too I'm not perfect and that's not what equips me to mentor others, quite the opposite Owning my imperfections is what helps me be real and put myself out there authentically My biggest influencers have definitely been my Christian faith, my parents and thought leaders like Napoleon Hill

4 What kind of relationships and connections have you built through (your organization)?

After 6 years in business, I recognize the power of building relationships I wouldn't have achieved so much without my mentors, clients and friends Taking the time to get to know people with no hidden agenda is the best practice to grow as a person and further your endeavors

5 What is the mission and vision of your company?

My hope is to inspire a movement of individual empowerment that leads to collective empowerment I want to further my message that if each of us realize how powerful we are as an individual, as a group and society we become unstoppable to create more good for future generations

3 What would you say to people who want to become Speakers? Include the pros and the cons

My #1 piece of advice is: Have persistence

It will probably take you a few tries to get noticed or selected Don’t let it wear you down Continue believing in the power of your message and leverage your connections to expand your reach The doors will open and you will reach heights that once were only a dream I am proof of that: a girl from Brazil with no connections in the US, who was able to start her business from the ground up and become an in-demand speaker As for cons, I don't see disadvantages in speaking, unless you are unaware of boundaries - it is important to be clear with organizers about your fees or requirements and be mindful of your time

3 What would you say is the #1 key to success in your business? What motivates you?

Talk about the biggest failure you've had What did you learn from it?

If I were to summarize the key to success to only ONE, I'd say is learning to reframe perceived mistakes and failures as lessons As a matter of fact, what has motivated me is seeing difficult situations and challenges as fuel for me to keep going If it looks like I hit a dead end, then I know where not to go and to keep exploring elsewhere In simple terms: failure doesn’t exist Everything is a stepping stone toward the next level of success

4 What does a typical day in your week look like? What keeps you going when things get tough in your business?

I have quite a busy schedule and it's by design I love meeting with clients and making new connections virtually or in person Every month I take some time to attend a networking meeting and also do something fun, like trying a new dance class or going out to eat with a friend Whenever I'm having a hard season, I make it a point to unplug more - spend more time out of the office and social media to enjoy time away and it helps so much Usually I take the weekend off work and especially off social media at least once a week

3 What do you do for fun, and your social life?

I love singing and playing the piano Music is a huge part of my life I'm also learning to play the guitar now That's my favorite pastime or break from work I also enjoy taking my dog for a walk, watching reality TV with my husband and playing with my now 7-year-old kids It has been so fun as they grow to play board games and get competitive!