New directions…
Thriving Through Connection… for visionary leaders who see that life can be done differently
In 2016, I established a FB page for myself - which I called, Yoga Makes Life Better... I shared my voice... my thoughts, my wisdom (like this post below).
I launched my business YogaMate (which later became Yoga for Better Health) - which developed from the SAAS idea of helping teachers share their knowledge with their students and supporting home practice - into a global platform that supported Yoga Therapy & Yoga Therapists.
But what I found, is my own voice got smaller and smaller.
It was imposter syndrome.
I wasn't a 'certified' yoga therapist - and I allowed that to make me feel like I could only share the 'qualifications' that I had - in marketing and business.
So I championed others... and supported people the best I knew how - through creating community, and running programs & webinars and events that shared entrepreneurial business skills and marketing advice.
YogaMate was a global SAAS; I went on to establish and lead the Global Yoga Therapy Day which turned into an international online conference supporting some 108 presenters in 2021. I developed 2 native apps that shared safe yoga practices, ran international research studies and delivered marketing program that supported yoga therapists to build their businesses. I ran some 50+ webinars and events; built a community of supporters around the world and I was ambitiously aiming for a wellbeing program & research study with the VA Hospital that looked at how a live yoga therapy program vs a recorded evergreen program could support and prevent burnout in healthcare workers, when I reached my own burnout with the business - post COVID's 265 days of lockdown here in Melbourne.
The nail in the coffin? Someone hacked my FB Ads account and charged some $1800 in child porn and FB Stripped me of my my Yoga for Better Health business FB Account, personal account, What'sApp etc. (a salient reminder to turn on 2-factor verification and remember that ultimately, FB owns your biz on this platform and at any moment you can lose it)
And I did almost all of that on my own. I did have great support from Hesham Soliman and later Danny Ritterman came on as a tech partner; and I certainly worked with some brilliant folks Steffany Moonaz Ann Swanson Wellness, Melissa Russell Wendy Landry, Kelly Couturier Marlysa Sullivan, Gabrielle Boswell Yoga, Robert Schware and I also had some brilliant advisors Robin Rothenberg Leigh Blashki, William Dong - but the day to day ins and outs - that was 100% me.
I was an ideas and strategy queen.
But where I failed myself? I tried to do it all on my own.
I somehow convinced myself that having employees meant the end of my freedom (one of my key values)... and while I asked the universe to bring me a business partner that was committed to the day to day runnings of the business, I reached my own burnout before that happened.
And why do I share all of this now?
It feels like it's all coming full circle.
I have reclaimed my voice. I know that not only do I have intimately deep knowledge of the entrepreneurial path and all that is required to get an idea from seed to launch and beyond... but I also know an awful lot about health, wellbeing, nervous system regulation, creating balance and creating a new reality for yourself.
So - with all of this said, I'm super excited to share that I'm heading down an exciting new business path - and I'm calling it Thriving Through Connection.
You can be a part of my journey over at Thriving Through Connection with Ann Marie Grace (FB page) and Thriving Through Connection FB Group. New website on its way
Because for me - this is what it’s all about.
Thriving through:
Connection to Self,
Connection to a Higher Wisdom (call it God, Universe, Source, Greater Consciousness, The energy that is in us all); and thriving through
Connection to others
So Yes, there will be community (online and local)
And yes, there will be programs to support you connecting into your own wisdom... so that you can have self-mastery in a whole new dimension.
And yes... there will be some opportunities to collaborate with me on your own business. Or for you to come into mine. If you have global visions, DM me and I'll share more.
And no, I'm not going to build it in a day. And I'm not going to build it on my own.
I'll also soon share some exciting things that I'm brewing up with two extraordinary people - Lisa Britcliffe and Sjeanne Cawdry... and I've already hired support from the fabulous Cat Dunn.
So this is a very soft and (a truly unexpected early announcement) of what I'm brewing up.
If you want to be amongst the first to hear about all of the exciting ways to Thrive better, make sure you are following the Thriving Through Connection with Ann Marie Grace FB Page (and join my newsletter here).
And ... if you were a fan of Yoga for Better Health and you know what I'm all about - if this sparks your interest .... or if I've sparked your interest around the wellbeing programs for healthcare workers... as synchronicity has it - there may be an opportunity to resurrect one or both of those ideas. If the idea of a collab with me sparks any interest for you at all, let's have a chat...