Interview with:Debra Woog McGinty [debrawoog]
COACH
 | What types of coaching do you do? Who are your clients? I coach women entrepreneurs who have their businesses up and running, and who want to take their profits, their purpose and their passion to the next level. |
| Can you provide a link to a site where we can get to know more about you, the type of work you do and/or the place where you do it? www.connecttwo.com |
| How did you get into coaching? I was raised to be a doer. And do I did. Got nearly straight As throughout elementary, middle and high school. First became president of a club (“Club 56,” for fifth and sixth graders at the JCC) at age nine. Chose the “b’chavod” (with honors) track of the Bat Mitzvah program my synagogue offered. Captained the speech team, performed in theater and music productions, earned a spot in the math honors club, managed $28k as Business Editor for my senior yearbook, on and on and on. Graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA (no rounding up). Applied to and graduated from top colleges and business schools. Had interesting internships and extra-curricular activities. Had a busy social life, with many new and long-time friends to keep up with. (My family moved to nine different states during my growing-up years.) Volunteered. Saw the world as a place that needed to be healed, and my role as doing everything possible to make a positive impact.
I did it all. Not because my family directly pressured me to, but perhaps in part because I had so many doers as genetic predecessors and role models. All the men in my family have been successful in business, and all the women as teachers. (With the exception of me – while I am just realizing that in some ways I am a teacher too, I have been the lone woman in business. Otherwise, this pattern holds true until today; we have yet to see what career paths the next generation – my five-year old daughter, seven-year-old son, and two-year-old niece – will choose). And these people – my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc. – didn’t “just” work. They were proactive parents too. They took great care of their homes. They actively participated as leaders in their local Jewish and civic communities. They were busy. Busy, busy, busy. I was, and still am, proud of them. So I was busy too.
Throughout my childhood, twenties and thirties, by many objective and subjective indicators, I seemed happy and successful. By my late thirties I owned a home, was married, and had 2 children. I was a trustee on my Temple board. I’d had a thriving coaching and consulting practice since my early thirties. I had been a “good girl” the whole time. Or so I thought.
I felt overwhelmed for the first time before I was even a teenager. I felt depressed for the first time when I was 17. I was busy round the clock. Even when I “rested” I multi-tasked; I listened to music, NPR, or talked on the phone. I interacted constantly, never wanting to hear the sound of silence. Whenever there was more to do than I had time available, I slept less that night. I generated ideas feverishly, prioritized constantly and got it almost all done. I powered through until, usually around Christmastime, I would get sick for two weeks every year. And besides the illness I mostly liked it. I felt passionate about many of my classes, most of my work, and my relationships. I knew about healthy food, I exercised when I believed I had enough time, I went to therapy regularly and had good mentors. I grew emotionally and… physically. The one area of my life where I felt thoroughly unsuccessful was my weight. According to my first journal, the latest I began feeling ashamed of how I looked was the mere age of 10.
New Year’s Day 2008, at 40 years old, was a breakthrough moment for me. A close relative called, purportedly to wish me a happy new year, and lashed out at me, as she did regularly. And I suddenly knew, like I’d never known before, that I’d absolutely had enough.
All my life I had been striving to be a good enough sister, daughter, student, friend, professional and community member. In recent years I'd added mom and wife to my list. And now, at age 40, I was done getting myself there and ready to be there. Wherever I was. It was good enough. Physically and metaphorically, I was more than enough. The constant “trying” was over. I was ready to stop doing so damn much so that I could finally start being. It was time to accept myself as I was. In that one moment, the culmination of one million earlier moments, I let go.
Since then I have let go of more than I ever dreamed possible or beneficial. And I put taking care of myself back on my to do list. I let go of non-stop people-pleasing. I let go of my husband. I let go of a constant struggle to feel “a part of” and a deep fear of being alone. I let go of the nagging suspicion and the deep-seated fear that I had to do it all myself. I let go of relationships, personal and professional, that no longer served my highest good. I let go of my fear of silence. I let go of looking out for the other shoe to drop. I let go of my hyper-competent/hyper-busy/obligated persona. I let go of putting work above my family because I was afraid I would not be able to provide for them otherwise. I let go of sky-high expectations, of myself and others. I let go of volunteering. I let go of 60 pounds from my body. I felt lighter – illuminated from within and palpably less heavy. I had stopped stuffing my head, my body, and the daily agenda of my life.
Today I feel stronger than I ever have, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I am not perfect but I am good enough. I still have doubts but I don’t believe them all. I am deeply grateful for all that I have had, including the challenges. Best-case scenario, I am in the middle of my lifetime, and I want to enjoy as many of the remaining minutes as possible.
Now I am ready to consider what of all this I want to keep. I am at the beginning of the third evolution of connect2 Corporation and I feel good about my commitment to growth. I am ready to re-imagine what I want to include in my precious life - what behaviors, people, capabilities, environments, practices, pursuits, values, fun, technologies, travels, areas of expertise, and impact I want to have going forward. I finally understand that an abundant, gentle Spirit is with me always. That the Flow is mine to tap into. That to tap in, I need quiet. And quality sleep. And unconditional love.
I started the visioning process by gathering, synthesizing, and synopsizing my self-assessments and business plans. I realized I always valued going first on a path. And that all my history has been staging for me to be a pioneer in my own right. While I am still articulating, I know I am here to celebrate abundance by courageously exemplifying present motherhood alongside financial wealth. By simply being my full self, I will make a positive impact.
For months I’ve been having a recurring dream that, at the end of a week-long cruise, I realized I forgot to go down the big waterslide on the ship. In my waking life, I aim to tap into my own Water Slide Experience: having a blast going simultaneously forward and deeper, all the while knowing my landing will be safe.
No more busy, busy, busy. Now I will be, be, be. |
| Can you describe briefly the technique or methodology you use? The unique connect2 REAP! system for successful women entrepreneurs has emerged through my years coaching individuals to reveal, express, apply, and propel their personal and professional voice, brilliance and power. My vision is for millions of women around the globe to cultivate spiritual and economic wealth by leading purposeful, passionate, connected lives and enterprises. It would be my honor to help you become one of them.
Phase I: Reveal Your Core Personal Assets
In this very important, foundational phase of REAP! we partner to identify your Core Personal Assets (CPA). This is about determining your value and owning your brilliance. As you step into this sense of ownership you will then be very clear about what you are here to do: your purpose. Next we will identify your core sources of leverage: your power.
With these two elements you have your CPA, enabling you to know how to make the best choices with your time. Perhaps as importantly, you will know where not to spend your time. Your CPA becomes the foundation of your business. And with this foundation you will be able to differentiate and price your services so you confidently earn what you are truly worth.
Phase II: Express Your Unique Definition of Success
Now that you have your Core Personal Assets identified, you are ready to determine what “success” means for you. This is an important step that is often missed by so many high-achieving entrepreneurs. Once you cross something off the list, you are right onto the next “to do” and the celebration moment has been missed. This mistake drains the joy and ease from being an entrepreneur. Instead, we will specify what success means for you personally. Through the use of very powerful connect2 techniques and tools, you will understand your personalized Unique Definition of Success at a deep and meaningful level. With this created at the outset you’ll always know when it’s time to celebrate and you will do it!
Let’s understand that it’s natural for you to have needs and values but it’s also a reality that you, like each of us, must make tradeoffs daily (those moments when you must choose do you take your daughter to the library or leave her at daycare spend that half an hour finish a project?) What’s an absolute must-have? What’s a nice-to-have? What will you do first?
Putting your own needs and values at the end of your priority list leads to suffering for your loved ones, your body, and your bottom line. With your newfound clarity, you will no longer constantly chase what feels urgent. Rather, you will spend your precious time on what is important to YOU.
Phase III: Apply Your Release, Acceptance & Action Plan
In Phase III we translate your Core Personal Assets and your Unique Definition of Success into a solid, strategic plan for action. This plan is your personal approach for leading your life authentically. Working side-by-side, we will address areas where your priorities are out of alignment and adjust accordingly, develop systems to get your needs met automatically, design your ideal work schedule, and release or delegate all activity that does not fit your purpose, passions AND priorities.
Your Release, Acceptance & Action Plan (RAAP) will be your personal roadmap to joy and ease.
Phase IV: Propel Enterprise Growth
Early in our process, we determined the sources of your value, including your purpose and your power. The purpose of your business is to make a profit while you apply your brilliance to serve your clients. Now that your RAAP is in place for your personal life and work schedule, we apply this same strategic process to your business systems so that you lead your business authentically and with ease.
The first step is to match your pricing to your value, generating additional revenue that frees up your time to re-focus your business, using tools and formulas I have personally tested. We will then work together with your team (don’t have a support team? We’ll build one for you!) to create and enhance your support systems. Upgrading your operations and technology systems up-levels the power of your business.
Armed with clarity about your purpose and power, systems that enable these to shine in your personal life, and operations and technology systems, your are ready to reap limitless profit as you lead and live, passionately and according to your priorities.
As you continue the journey of entrepreneurship, I mentor you and serve as your consistent, neutral sounding board and thought partner. Together we identify and address your most pressing growth needs, consistently evaluating what to add, what to release, what to accept and what to delegate. Key areas we may give attention to include
Building your community of raving fans
Identifying your annual business theme
Defining and creating desired business culture
Enabling you to negotiate with ease
Developing and directly coaching your team
Naming and dissolving limiting beliefs
Editing and reviewing language in various documentation
Connecting you with potential partners, resources and/or client
As an entrepreneur for the past eleven years and a single mom for almost two years now, I know first-hand how hard it can be to grow a business quickly and at the same time be a healthy, present family member and friend. I am passionate about supporting you to speed your business to the next level as you experience more joy and ease in your life than you may have thought possible for an entrepreneur.
There are various ways we can connect REAP! to your life and business. Here are three of the options for how we may partner one-on-one. |
| When the coach is confused or lost, where does he/she find a guide? I have my own personal coach who helps me define my goals, delegate the busywork, and profit while I enjoy my life. |
| How do you define the concept commitment? What importance does it have in the development of a person? When we are committed to living purposeful, happy lives, it isn't enough to just say we are committed. A plan of action is a must, or else goals just remain dreams. A commitment itself does not build character or wealth--fulfilling it does. I help my clients stick to their commitments, and I don't let them get away with the usual excuses! |
| Is it necessary at times to reorient a person’s desires and expectations? Many entrepreneurs trick themselves into believing that they're happy just because they've fulfilled a lifelong goal. Many secretly feel the disappointment of reaching the goal of having and running a business, but not enjoying it. That's where I come in. We decide what actually brings you joy and profit, and we delegate the rest. |
| Discipline and creativity: are they two forces in opposition, or are they complementary? Discipline and creativity enhance each other beautifully. Usually entrepreneurs fall into one of two categories: disciplined or creative. I help my clients balance these two traits and apply them to what they do, with the balanced result of using creativity to push things forward. |
| What is usually the main obstacle your clients face? My clients tend to have their ducks in a row in terms of seeing profit for their companies. What they seek is a better, more joyful use of their time. They want to enjoy their lives and not just act as the mechanized steering wheel at the head of the ship. I help them see where they can bring the happiness back into their lives, without losing profits. |
| Can an excess of self-esteem be the worst obstacle? Most of my clients come to me proud of what they've accomplished, but inside there is an aching unhappiness with how they spend their time. The majority of the entrepreneurs I work with are mothers, and often they feel disappointed with the long hours that they work and the little time they have for their families. On the outside the picture is perfect, and it's one that many are hesitant to crack. But for the sake of happiness, most people are willing to admit that balance can be a tough thing to strike. I help them create a more balanced lifestyle that includes family, friends, health, work, and leisure. |
| How do you recommend selecting a coach? Should it be someone who has followed the path that he/she wants to? Should it be someone they admire? I generally recommend a gut reaction--your intuition knows best. Often just an outside point of view of someone who's been there before can be eye-opening. I invite you to a special, one-on-one conversation about the changes you'd like to see and feel in your business, and how I can support you throughout.
I can be reached through my website: www.connecttwo.com |
| If someone wants to initiate a self-transformation, what general advice would you give him/her? I generally recommend getting outside help. A coach, or anyone familiar with your life and work, can see things that you can't, and can provide a sounding board off of which to bounce thoughts about your true dreams, your favorite use of time, and your priorities. |
| 
610 visits Whohub
Debra Woog McGinty
Arlington, Massachusettes, USA
|
99700 interviews created
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS