Meet Dawn Smith

We were lucky to catch up with Dawn Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dawn, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
As the daughter of immigrants, and daughter and granddaughter of trail-blazing, rebel academics, inheritant of anxiety, saddled and gifted with over-the-top ADD and sensitivity, a quest to make creative positive impact in the world is at the core of my being.

I was a bullied kid who never quite felt she belonged anywhere– and soon relished connecting with any and all on the ‘fringes’. I, among other things, ran Vermont’s first internet cafe and community center, directed and edited a documentary on the New York City hot dog vendors, and launched a successful hip-hop focused violence prevention youth center in Los Angeles. But all the changes left me exhausted, and needing to face the ADD, anxiety, and lack of confidence that had held me from stability and growth. I delved into research on how humans can successfully navigate decision-making and change, and learned the importance of embracing risk and boundary-pushing in a strategic way to get out of the sometimes paralyzing captivity of the status quo. Thus emerged Whole Life Solutions, dedicated to being a disrupter to the traditional model of business and career coaching. Rather than starting with your current situation as it appears on paper (resume, business model, current metrics and ROIs) we don’t start from the place of the problem. We start from exploring a client’s core values and unique gifts, and her or his priorities at this stage of life. Then we get creative about how to approach transitioning into a more fulfilling and impactful new normal.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Whole Life Solutions works exclusively with overwhelmed professionals, generally in high-stress industries, navigating major change. Our Caliber: High-Impact Plan fuels Executives, Entrepreneurs, and Leaders in purpose-driven work – those who prioritize sustainability, equity, and impact. The plan is a unique system for high-level transformative change in quick, clear, manageable steps designed to work with those already navigating high intensity, busy days and multiple roles. We detail the vision for legacy and impact, then develop concrete benchmarks of personal success—that are all achievable in just a few minutes a day. A personalized book outlining the road map is printed for each client, with concrete, manageable steps towards success and impact. Through our Signature Pivot Plan, we first craft together a range of potential directions to go and choices to make to create lasting change, then build a 90-day road map together, allowing clients to transition into a new career path that is more sustainable and fulfilling. I’m also a keynote and conference speaker- especially in the fields of Healthcare, Technology, the Nonprofit Sector, Academia, and Special Events, on effectively navigating major chaos and change in minutes a day.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Learning the neuroscience of habits helped immensely in the cultivation of a program that builds in the concrete steps, motivation, and accountability necessary for lasting change.

2. Learning in depth about ADD, ADHD, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, helped in using creative problem solving and effective goal-setting and scheduling to combat imposter syndrome, controlling things that aren’t ours to control, and mitigate second-guessing, and develop plans that work.

3. Connecting with other service providers and receiving coaching of my own for ideas, resources, inspiration, and practical support (the recommendation to use systems like Calendly and DocuSign have completely changed our scope and efficiency) has been invaluable.

So my recommendation– lean into a community of support, learn if you are able to use your challenges as assets, and work with a coach who can help you see with clarity the answers within you and help you develop a strategic plan that works.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely. At this stage of growth, Whole Life Solutions is looking to connect with:

– Established leaders in services that could contribute to the holistic support of our clients– therapists, trainers, wellness professionals, attorneys, etc., to join our referral network.

– Other established coaches with similar expertise (decision-making, habits, ADD, career transition, advocacy, diversity/equity/impact, and sustainability) curious about exploring the possibilities of being a part of our team.

Please schedule a consult with us to discuss: https://calendly.com/wholelifesolutions/time-for-change

Contact Info:

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