You  know  you  have  met  someone  special  when  that  person  leaves  you  feeling uplifted, motivated, and really heard within 30 minutes of conversation.

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That is how I felt when I first met Danielle Marchant two years ago. Read my interview with the ever-insightful and courageously unconventional Danielle. Find out about her journey and how that shaped her philosophy of coaching and life. Learn the two questions which all entrepreneurs – or anyone in transition – should be asking themselves, and feel inspired by the dose of humility Danielle still exudes even after many years of coaching experience.

Tell Us About Yourself And Your Company

I started off spending 10 years in he corporate world – in Human Resource, and Learning and Development. After  that, I moved to a boutique coaching company. About four years ago, I started my own business, which was quite unexpected. I was never really entrepreneurial as a child so I considered myself a “reluctant” entrepreneur. I now have a coaching and retreats company to help people manage and balance their pace of life.

What Were The Key Milestones Which Shaped You In Your Life? 

I was really inspired by Steve Jobs’  2005 Standford address, in which he talks about looking back and connecting  the dots retrospectively. So for me, looking back there are several dots I can connect for myself.

The first milestone for me was experiencing the feeling of being very lost. I spent my 20s not knowing what I  wanted to do and was rather shy and quiet. I was invited to be an internal coach in my organization which I did for three years. That’s when I realised that I was good at it, and understood that I wanted to do this work. Up until then I had  not had a sense of direction. So that was an awakening for me.

The second milestone was when I did not get the job I had applied for. That left me at a crossroads as I didn’t get  what I wanted, but then I started to question what I wanted. So I sold my flat and car, and went travelling. I really  began accepting my life – and taking risks. You know you can’t beat long bus journeys in Brazil for journaling! I asked myself lots of questions, paused, and contemplated.

Third was getting a job in a coaching company. I didn’t really know the power of coaching at that time – 10 years  ago. I began to coach, and felt the power.

Fourth was going to Singapore and becoming the MD for a consultancy company. I began learning to run a business and “unlearning” to coach. I had been coaching for a number of years by then and I knew that I was good.  But when I got to Singapore, the level of diversity I met in terms of culture, political views, and assumptions were far  greater than I had experienced. I realized that I couldn’t assume that I knew how to coach in this diverse landscape.  I think we can be quite fixed in what we think we know – but for me, the more I do my work, the less I assume I know. I was at a meeting recently, and was always asking these questions: “What if it were different?”, ”what if I let go of  my assumptions?”, ”what if we don’t know?” There is a power in knowing, and also in not knowing. This requires  some humility and vulnerability from us.

My fifth milestone was burning out. That led to a massive turnaround for me to re-evaluate my life: How I wanted  my life to be, and how do I want to spend my time. It felt like a tectonic plate shifted in my life – and my business was born.

What Advice Would You Give To Someone Who Is Considering Changing Jobs Or Starting A Business?

I would say take your time, and not use what you don’t know as a barrier. In the entrepreneurial circle, people will  say “fail fast”, but I’m interested in people being able to test and get data back. I like to learn, get feedback from life, and make decisions. The Key Person of Influence (KPI) programme is a great programme for entrepreneurs too.

I learnt that my mind was operating three months ahead of reality and making these moves based on assumed  information – and I had no idea I was doing that. I was missing being able to read the signs because I was living in  the future. So I teach people to be in the “here and now.” I was able to come into my own natural flow –  mostly I’m  slower and like to think a lot and reflect. I was more energetically powerful and able to do more in the world once I discovered my natural flow. Not everybody needs to slow down, but it is important to find your own natural rhythm.

How Do You Balance Running A Business With Finding The Time To Coach Others? 

For me,  my coaching informs my business. As I slowed down, I realized that I needed to coach and write on a weekly basis. It helps me feel happy in my life to have this balance. I set the days and time during which I coach, and so I have a rhythm.

Running a business is constant. Especially when it is something you believe in and are passionate about. The truth is that some days are really long because the energy is there to complete a piece of work. I feel privileged that I get to choose what I put my energy on. But with this choice comes responsibility. I find that liberating, but some people may find it daunting. What about things you don’t like doing? How do you motivate yourself? Entrepreneurs need to  break through these questions.

Two questions entrepreneurs should ask themselves are: (1)  What do  you really  want  to do?  There is a wonderful lecture by the philosopher Alan Watts, and he asks this: “If money were not an object, what would you desire?” Once you know what you want, be creative in where you want to go and how you get there. (2) What is the problem you want to solve for people? For example, the Pause retreats are a place for people to slow down in a world that is constantly speeding up.

What Is One Thing You Wish You Could Change About The Coaching Profession?

We should remember that 20 years ago, coaching was not a profession. Therefore, coaching is a young profession.  I saw that there were a lot of training for coaches and credentialing, which I don’t disagree with. But I would encourage coaches to let go of tools and processes, and to really connect with clients and unblock their transformation.

To help coaches do this, I have developed the Unconventional Coaching For Coaches course. This is a course with  no tools, and we overcome the lack of tools by positioning it as an enquiry or a “twin journey” for the coach with their clients. It is really about using themselves as a tool.

What Is Your Biggest Life Lesson?

That you can’t fight the flow. I help people to find stillness, rather than fight the flow. I still try to fight it sometimes – but don’t get far. Another question I keep asking is “How do you not be superior in a coaching or facilitation session?” We must remember that we are equally capable of doing what other people are doing – both the brilliant and dark aspects of it.

A Quote You Live By?

I love quotes and I love this one by Anita Roddick of the Body Shop: “When your back is against the wall  financially, creative juices flow.” Many entrepreneurs stop when the money is not flowing, and the successful ones take calculated risks. We need to allow the creative juices to flow, and then to come back and ask: “Now what?”, and “What can we bring to fruition?” But we have to move through the fear and not let the fear grip you. For me, the  innovation and creativity flowed when we were up against the wall. Have courage, and know that your product will  help to solve problems.

What Are Your Next Steps?

I am working on the Corporate Pause by taking the programme into organisations. We are trying to help senior leaders to thrive in systems that can be overwhelming. I also have a coaching programme for coaches, and a business programme for coaches.

I will continue with my retreats around the world, and am working on an e-workbook, which will be launched shortly.

Anu does helps by working in person with clients and by sharing valuable information on her blog.

 Visit Anuradha Shroff’s page to find out more about his work.

_{Edited by Michelle Sarthou 
Image Credit: Danielle Marchant}

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