We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rhodie Lorenz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rhodie below.
Rhodie, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
The short answer is by doing hard things and things that scared me. But, this has taken me time and a lot of trial and error. As a young girl, I was shy. I had an older sister who was extremely outgoing and often spoke on my behalf. I didn’t think people were as interested in what I had to say. I admired people who could confidently walk into a room and engage, assert, and bring energy. As I grew older and gravitated towards activities that inspired me, dance, writing, art, and music. I began to receive positive recognition for being skilled and interested in these fields. Being acknowledged by others fueled my desire to go further toward the things that lit me up.
My self-esteem comes from my family. I think of self-esteem as our belief in our character and the things we can control. It’s not our beauty or our status, but our qualities, like generosity, kindness, and integrity. I am grateful that I always felt loved and safe at home. My father believed that his daughters had limitless possibilities. Female entrepreneurs, inspiring speakers, best-selling authors, he would say, “That could be you!” He saw himself this way too. Those he admired, thought leaders and CEOs, he believed he was equally capable of creating conditions for success. I learned to view those I admired as people farther along the path, but also attainable for me if I was willing to work hard enough. While my self-esteem waxed and waned at various times, I trusted that being a good friend, staying curious, and working hard were qualities that would keep my self-esteem afloat enough to manage the inevitable negativity and doubts that creep in when we struggle.
My confidence has had many more extreme ebbs and flows! As a younger professional adult, I was deeply sensitive to the praise or criticism of others, and my confidence was dependent on that external feedback. A rave review on a paper? I”‘ll write a book! “That was the best class I have ever taken!” Well, I’ll open a studio! To, “Do you think you can do that?” or “You’re really not qualified enough,” or “Your class was ok, but you should take so-and-sos, class, they are the best!” My default spiraled into negative self-talk and I had a moment of believing the criticism and losing confidence completely. But, in a way, this also challenged me to prove them wrong and inspired me to grow. I don’t know that there is a fast track, but I have learned through experience that true confidence is trusting ourselves above other’s opinions. I used to think that if I had more confidence, I would be able to do that thing that scared me, but in fact, it is taking action and doing the thing that scares me that has fueled my confidence.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My core mission is to empower people. My career started in education and evolved into coaching. I co-founded a fitness studio called JoyRide in 2011 in Westport, CT. We had immediate success and opened 7 locations in under 10 years. JoyRide was an incredible ride! It stretched and challenged me professionally and was deeply rewarding. We created a unique community that extended beyond the purview of fitness. Our mission was to inspire people to live more bold and joyful lives beyond the studio. As a business owner and instructor, I loved witnessing people’s lives grow through being a part of our community. When we tap into our strengths in one area of our lives, it has a ripple effect that taps into strengths in other aspects of our lives as well.
Sadly, our studio closed due to Covid-19 and I was forced to reflect and redirect where to put my energy next. I completed my Executive Leadership Coaching Certification through Georgetown’s Institute of Transformational Leadership and am now a leadership coach. I support leaders, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and executives with their leadership development. It’s a privilege to get a window into people’s struggles and work alongside them to not only create solutions but align their values and work. We all need someone in our corner to hold up a mirror and help us tap into our greater potential. Coaching is the best tool I know to get there.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Curiosity, hard work, adaptability.
I think that staying curious keeps us open. Each professional role, business, and customer is unique. I’ve read 100s of books on business, leadership, and management and they have been insightful and offered skills. But, life is nuanced, and professional challenges are often complex. Being curious, listening, and learning are opportunities for continuous growth. There is rarely one right way. Read, listen, learn, ask, and challenge. It’s better to seek to understand than be understood.
All the dreams and all the million-dollar ideas ain’t happening without the hard work to achieve them. You have to want it more than it’s uncomfortable. You have to be willing to say no to other things to achieve the goal you have set. There’s no short cut and anyone who has achieved success has put in endless hours behind the scenes to realize their achievements.
Now more than ever, the way we work and live is changing rapidly. How teams operated a decade ago seems obsolete today. The way we will be communicating in a few years will be different than it is today. As we adapt, however, we need to stay true to our values. Being adaptable, while authentic to our brand, mission, and ourselves is important. Know what you stand for and then adapt to make that value have even greater relevant impact.
Remaining curious, while working hard, and adapting to new ways of operating in the world have been key factors in my journey and success.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Go all in your strengths. We each have unique gifts and cultivating them is the best way to grow into our potential. While it is important to recognize areas of struggle or “weaknesses,” it is more important to lean into what comes naturally and further develop ourselves in matching where our talents lie and what lights us up. One of my favorite quotes is by theologian Howard Thurman who says, ” Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive.”
Contact Info:
- Website: rhodielorenz.com
- Instagram: @Rhodielorenz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhodie-lorenz-b5900623/
Image Credits
Photo credit: Jerri Graham
