We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zoe Roberts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Zoe, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
What is purpose?
To me, purpose is passion. I have always had a passion for people. The addiction business fell into my lap when I realized my best friend had a serious problem.
Growing up even as a young girl I always had a desire and interest in getting to meet people. My parents would say I never met a stranger.
I would tell most people that purpose is passion. The work I do is a passion I have to help others. I would also say I did not choose this line of work but the line of work chose me.
My purpose I feel is to work with families. To have them understand the nature of the disease of addiction, breaking the cycle of addiction and co-dependency. Understanding what co-dependency is and learning to never negotiate with the disease.
I consider it a gift to work with family’s and a gift I do not take lightly. People open their homes to me and my trusted colleagues in their most desperate of times. Being a calming influence and leading with a compassionate heart feels like second nature to me.
I am grateful everyday for my purpose (passion) to be working in this industry.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an addiction coach and interventionist. I have been in the industry a little over eight years. After, working in the recruiting industry for 16 years I had an incredible mentor who pushed me to want more and to follow my dream of helping people. I decided to take an intense Life Coaching course and parallel to that my best friend was suffering from addiction. I was also blessed with an extremely supportive family.
I realized I had a draw into the addiction industry. I don’t know how to explain it. A whisper that I feel blessed to have heard. The people I have helped and individuals I have met have been incredible. I have conducted over 300+ interventions in my career with my business partner. We are called in at the family’s most desperate and terrified stage of their life. We need to be the anchor on the storm. We finish every pre-intervention with family members constantly saying the same thing “we feel so much stronger and know we are doing the right thing. We finally feel supported”.
Family’s do not know where to turn or what help is out there. They feel lost and afraid and our goal is to be that lighthouse and educate them and get their loved one and them both help. I often share my definition of the word addiction with couples and families. To me, the addiction is like all of the villains from every comic book wrapped into one tornado of destruction. So how do you compete with that? Getting outside help and guidance can be key. It’s okay and brave to ask for help and need reinforcement. Often, although not always, an intervention may be necessary.
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 main skill for sure is intuition hands down. Professionalism
Self confidence and an ability to stay calm in very intense situations.
Dependable
Dedicated
Patient
There are so many qualities really….
You can imagine when dealing with individuals in active addiction and you are conducting an intervention – people can get very heated. You need to be able to stay very calm and part of the solution. You need to be a strong listener and yet be assertive as in many cases you are telling people things somethings, they don’t want to hear. Even though it is the true.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents gave me the freedom to be who I wanted to be. They allowed me to following my dreams and supported all my professional endeavors. My dad owned his own business and was an incredible business man. He gave me the entrepreneurial bug. He taught me to not be afraid and believe in myself/ Both my parents always told me that famous saying “love what you do everyday and it will never feel like work”. My dad would be so proud to currently see how well the business is going and the relationships with colleagues I am building. I am always looking on ways to grow the business. My father 2 years ago was diagnosed with dementia so it breaks my heart that he isn’t currently able to share in my wins. Even this article would be exciting for him.
My parents always taught me to work hard, be honest, your integrity is everything and treat others they way you want to be treated.
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was 100% have my back and believe in me. I am blessed t have the amazing humans as my parents – my greatest friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coasttocoastlifecoaching.com
- Instagram: @coasttocoastlifecoaching
- Linkedin: Zoe Roberts
