Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Debi O’Brien. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Debi, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Embracing Resilience: A Bold Journey
Resilience I believe is not just the ability to endure and survive, but to thrive despite adversity. Facing challenges head-on, embracing the chaos, and emerging stronger on the other side. For me, resilience isn’t just a trait; it’s part of my being, nurtured by my upbringing and the environment I’ve been immersed in. Nature and Nurture.
My father was a great mentor – he taught me “There’s no such word as can’t.” Arriving in South Africa from England in his late 20s he started a 50-year career, starting as an engineer to CEO and executive chairman of the company. His core philosophy instilled in my two sisters and me the belief that anything is achievable, with dedication and perseverance.
Complementing this foundation was the presence of my mother, a dynamic force in her own right, showing us the power of passion and hard work. As a top golf club manager in South Africa, she transformed struggling businesses into successful growing concerns. Their pursuit of excellence and love of business inspired my mantra “May every connection with me empower others to leave feeling greater about themselves.”
Now for nature. There are two aspects here. Growing up in the chaos of the South African landscape I learned invaluable lessons about consistency and action-driven outcomes. But it wasn’t just the hustle and bustle of city life that shaped my resilience; it was the embrace of nature itself.
Nature is the greatest teacher of resilience. From the dense bushlands and wildlife of Africa to the lush forests of the UK, I find solace and strength in the untamed beauty of the natural world. Like the sturdy oak weathering storms, the resilient acacia bending but never breaking down to the micro-environment of fungi/underworld connectivity, nature taught me to adapt, endure, and thrive with ease and a future vision. Watching and learning from animals in the wild has shown me more about allowance, awareness, vulnerability and choice. Taking full accountability for each step I take.
Yet, resilience isn’t just about weathering the storm alone; it’s about lifting others when the winds of life grow turbulent. In my moments of uncertainty, I’ve discovered that shifting focus to helping others not only uplifts others but elevates our spirits, creating a ripple effect of positivity and empowerment.
All my life, failure has never been relevant – rather a lesson learned. Every stumble is an opportunity for growth and change.
Through the complexities of life and business, I embrace the principles instilled by my parents: the unwavering belief in possibility, the courage to pursue passion, and the resilience to rise no matter what challenges appear. I am guided by my conviction that greatness lies not in the absence of obstacles, but in my choice to choose and change.
So, here are some tools:
1/ Believe in the power of possibility: There’s no such word as can’t. With determination and perseverance, anything is achievable.
2/ Embrace the chaos: Amid the uncertainty, find strength in adversity and opportunity in challenge.
3/ Learn from nature: Like the resilient trees and wildlife, adapt, endure, and thrive amidst life’s storms.
4/ Lift others: In supporting others, you elevate yourself, creating a ripple of positivity and empowerment.
5/ Learn from failure: Every setback is a lesson learned, and every obstacle is a chance to recalibrate and redefine your path. Take the next step.
As you follow your path know always that YOU are in control of the future you are creating, you are stronger than you know, more resilient than you realise, and capable of achieving greatness in whatever you love doing. Nothing is Impossible. Action creates Possibilities. Stand tall, weather the storms, and let your resilience be what guides you.
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?
Hi I’m Debi, a seeker of possibilities, change, choice, and awareness (my husband calls me a corporate Hippie). Beyond the labels of career woman, mother, wife, and small business owner, I’ve discovered a space of business creation beyond stress.
With over 25 years of experience in formal advertising and marketing, I’ve chosen a business direction where I focus on Energetics of Business, exploring mindfulness and creation in marketing. In 2023, I opened the Business Energetics Academy and BCB Marketing Agency in January ’24 aimed at coaching professionals and small business owners to amplify their impact by implementing strategic marketing. We work in a DONE WITH YOU or DONE FOR YOU scenario. We help you GET IT and GET IT DONE.
Creating marketing solutions, for brands or individuals, and creating visibility based on our philosophy that people buy people makes every customer project – personal.
Business is creativity, Marketing is presence. What drives me is seeing transformation through trackable results, and business success – authentic business and ‘marketing with heart’. Supporting all aspects of marketing infused with energetics, mindset and relevant technology is what makes us enjoy working in BCB each day.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Positivity is my greatest quality to be able to always see future possibilities.
I am a glass-all-full ( not half-empty or half-full) person. The energy changes when you focus on this and as per eh law of attraction you will attract great things.
2. No problem too big to conquer. All problems bring choices and possibilities – they are a gift showing what isn’t working and if you channel ways to find a different way – learn and apply something different – things will change,
3. Vulnerability. Willingness to know what I don’t know. I am an active learner and always learning new. I am always willing to ask for help and find answers if I don’t have them. I love uncovering things I don’t know and can source and find solutions and answers.
Be yourself – find what is your ‘rare’ quality that sets you apart. Listen to your own ‘knowing’ and follow what you love to do and you will do what you love everyday.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to collaborate with other small business marketing service providers or coaches that work to support coaches looking to add marketing support to their offerings. I see so many coaches with their accreditation who don’t know where to start creating their business.
Any marketing service provider that can complement my offering ie PPC SEO back-end website producers could be perfect collaborators to help me when I can’t support my clients in these areas in my communications agency. I know how critical this is and it is something I enjoy doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beconsciousbusiness.com
- Instagram: be_conscious_business
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeConsciousBusiness
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debi-obrien/
- Other: Free BCB Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/beconsciousbusiness
Image Credits
All photos taken by my husband
