Meet Margaret (mo) Smith

We recently connected with Margaret (mo) Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Margaret (Mo), thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

I was sitting in this meeting and began to feel my anger grow about the lack of progress and how it was affecting me. I felt this anger rolling around in my stomach, chest and throat- and I didn’t know how to express it. As I felt this feeling bubble up- all of a sudden my hearing started to fade and my vision began to go black. I didn’t realize it at the time- but I think I was starting to experience my first panic attack.
I have been the tall, quiet, shy and observant girl for most of my life- up until my early 30’s. As the first born child of four kids- I was responsible, compassionate and I wanted everyone around me to be happy. I took very few risks and did whatever I could to play it safe and stay under the radar. I didn’t want to be the focus of anyone’s attention- I was afraid of being bullied, made fun of and ostracized any further than I felt I was.
It was after that meeting that I described above where I realized it was time to make a decision and leave that job. Once I made that decision- I also determined that I would never again let myself go that long with that level of pain in a job, relationship or place that wasn’t giving me life. I took a risk and threw myself into a completely different job in the Real Estate Industry. Over the 8 years I was in Real Estate I began to track when I would take risks and what the outcome would give me… and I began to notice a trend. Every time I took a risk- I felt this surge of adrenaline and joy! It may not have always worked out in the way I wanted it to- but the risk in and of itself would shift my energy and create forward momentum.
I was no longer waiting until I was in pain to make decisions and take risks- I was making the move earlier and earlier! Each time I take a risk- I build up my confidence and ability to step into the unknown. The unknown used to be a very scary place for me- and it’s now more comfortable for me than the known. I find the unknown, the space in-between, to be filled with possibility, synchronicity, joy and excitement!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am on a mission to help humans step into the authentic leaders that they are with confidence. To create the business and life of your dreams where you FEEL good and money flows with less effort. You can engage with me through coaching, energy healings, speaking gigs, workshops, retreats and more.
Part of the magic is the energy and presence I bring to the room- my intention is to help you take that next step… or leap, with confidence!
I love to work with people to help them find clarity in direction, connect to their intuition and speak their truth. People often say that I’m as much of a Life Coach as I am a Business Coach. I believe in looking at the whole picture- as oftentimes the root of miscommunication or any obstacle in the work/personal environment is connected to an area of personal growth.
One of the best ways to learn about me and get a feel for my energy is through my podcast: I love it when. You can watch and listen through my YouTube channel @Iloveitwhenllc or through any major podcast platform. Join my newsletter list to hear about upcoming retreats and classes: www.iloveitwhen.org

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?

The three qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that impacted me the most in my journey: an ability to deeply listen and ask excellent questions, meditation and how to have hard conversations.
Without a doubt- these three things played a HUGE part in creating who I am today. I am grateful for each step and it was at times very challenging and painful.
1. To become a deep listener and ask excellent questions: listen more than you speak. Take note of how often you have the urge to speak when you’re talking with someone. When someone is speaking with you- are you truly listening? Or are you trying to figure out/form what you want to respond with? Most people get stuck on wanting to respond with something dynamic and intelligent. As a society I believe we need to develop a better habit of listening and being ok with the space or the silence between and within our conversations. It takes a lot of intention and energy to shift this habit- this alone will change your life. I believe this habit has brought me opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. When you’re listening to someone and they truly FEEL seen- they remember you.
2. Meditation: the ability to sit with yourself and cultivate an inner peace that is unshakeable. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod is the book that prompted my journey with meditation- and I will be forever grateful. In the book he has you meditate for 40 days for a minimum of 5 mins/day. After day 20 I noticed a clear difference in my body- it felt like I had just been to the beach and laid in the sun for 30 minutes! Through meditation I have been able to reconnect with my soul and make better decisions for my journey. Meditation is now like water to me- I can’t live without it.
3. Hard conversations…. I read Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott in 2013 and it gave me my voice. In the book she provides you with a structure you can follow when you need to have a hard conversation with someone at work or at home. I needed this outline to help me give words to my feelings/thoughts. For a long time I would just sit there and cry when I needed to share something hard with someone. There are still times when this happens- but I’ve now done it enough times that I can find the words and say what needs to be said. This was an incredibly important part of my journey. I have a lot of things I want to share and say to the world- and its important for me to speak up, set boundaries and push back when working or collaborating with stronger personalities. Read any book you can on this topic and practice, practice, practice…

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is a human who is ready to up-level, step outside their comfort zone, do the work and they’re open to new and different ways of doing things. I LOVE working with people who are curious- I believe curiosity is a sign of the divine. I want to work with people who are looking to expand their consciousness, re-write their belief system if needed and create a life they’re excited about!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Agostina DiMartino
Samantha Witt
Faltisek & Gloria

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