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Once upon a time there was a little girl called Sonaya who grew up in New Jersey, in the USA. She dreamt of getting good grades at school, her best friend was called Gaye and she dreamed about becoming a Teacher. Her Mom, who was a single parent, worked two jobs to provide for her, making sure she had everything she needed. Sometimes Sonaya would sit up at night, watching the lights of cars driving into her complex, waiting for her Mom to come home from work. She understood that her Mom put her personal needs last because she had to put her family first…
We ALL have a story. A life filled with moments of pride and success as well times of loss and struggle. My life, just like yours – is an accumulation of experiences that have shaped me and made me the woman I am today.
A Mother. A Wife. A Daughter. A CEO. An Entrepreneur. An International Citizen.
Even as a child, I knew there was something wrong with my Mom’s story. Later as a young adult, I promised myself that I would have the right to freedom of choice. I wouldn’t accept that trade-off. I believed that I could (and would) have it all.
A happy life + A successful business.
Every day, I work to make that belief a reality. #worksmarterwomen is where I share it with you.
Life with my Mom instilled many values within me, like independence, commitment and determination. But her fierce hard work came at a price. She wasn’t allowed to follow her hearts desire and train to be chef. She put her family first and she came last. She never really had the freedom to enjoy life on her terms. We didn’t get to spend as much time together as we should have.
Along with those values, it taught me a huge lesson. I don’t have to trade a happy family life for career fulfillment like my Mom felt she had to. I set out to create a different reality for me, my business and my family.
Today I know that when women like you and me create systems + gather support, we can build incredible, successful businesses + happy lives. And this creates a ripple effect that reaches out, touching the people we love, the teams we work with, the causes we support.
But you must be willing to put in the work. That’s what HONEST freedom of choice is really about. People say things like “Jump and the net will appear” and oftentimes, it does. But the net won’t hold you for long unless you do the work!
By the time I left corporate America, I had been headhunted to the position of Senior Financial Analyst and I was travelling all over the world. There were however, significant elements of that world that just didn’t align with my values, how I wanted to live and work.
When I handed in my notice, giving up my car and my condo to begin my business, my best friend was worried for me. She thought I was crazy because I was leaving a job that had security. Yes, I was being brave and following my heart. I had a dream and no-one was going to tell me I couldn’t follow it. But I also knew that if I wanted to create the future I imagined, I had to work hard, every day. I had to show-up and be diligent so that I could create my own security.
Because #TruthTalk – There is no such thing as a work-life balance!
It’s just not possible! If you are working in a traditional job, you work 5 days a week with 2 days off at the weekend. That’s not balance! Added to that, as CEO’s & entrepreneurs, those two days off don’t really count because you are always thinking about your business.
So, for me, it has never been about finding this elusive balance that doesn’t exist. The trick is to do work that you enjoy so it doesn’t feel like work.
Remember – We Have The Freedom to Choose.
Where do I go from here? I will continue to stand up for what I believe in, and take responsibility for my dreams.
My company exists to help women stand for their rates, speak up for themselves and land clients who absolutely adore them. So I will continue to grow my business, providing resources, tools, and strategies on how to effectively build a profitable service based business.
And, I want to enjoy this time of raising my daughters and being a Mother. That experience also leads me to want to offer my skills and experience at a deeper level. The next few years will see me help more women have clarity and confidence about their potential so that they can really stand in their power. This means new audiences, events, experiences and retreats.
The best is yet to come!
We all bring a special story to the table, those things that make us unique and that connect us. Who we are, where we came from and what we want to achieve. My life experiences have allowed me to create #WorkSmarterWomen
Now I open it up to you, as a resource to help you navigate the world of work, family and business.
Sonaya
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