Story & Lesson Highlights with Lisa Braithwaite of Ojai

Lisa Braithwaite shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
As an anti-hustle entrepreneur who prioritizes my sleep and mental health, my morning doesn’t look like most people’s mornings!

I get up between 8:30 and 9:30. No alarm unless I have an early meeting.

I give my kitties their morning treat, then make a pot of tea.

While the tea is steeping, I do 4-5 minutes of body weight exercises. Yes, four minutes. 🤣

I’m trying out habit-stacking, where I add something onto a routine that I already do! So during that time, I fit in a plank, a stretch, a bridge, some squats and some push-ups. Now I need to find more spots in my day to stack in some more exercise!

I check my calendar to see what project I’m working on that day. My entire life is in my Google calendar or Alexa.

I spend some time on LinkedIn, checking in on friends’ and colleagues’ posts, and either writing a new one or publishing one that’s pre-written.

Then I check my email, texts and other messaging in case anyone needs me, and get to work on a project!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! I’m on a mission to help business and nonprofit leaders build visibility, credibility and awareness for their work through engaging presentations, a mindset of service, and authentic connection.

And I’m celebrating the 20th anniversary this month of my presentation coaching and training business!

My background as an advocate and trainer in the nonprofit sector and my degrees in theater and education influenced my upbeat and accessible approach to presentation skills training.

It’s important to me to support my clients’ unique forms of personal expression so they can develop an intimate and trusting relationship with their audience and move them to take inspired action.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I had a fifth grade teacher who predicted I would become a lawyer. I guess I was always opinionated, wanted to be right, and always argued my points!

She also said something about me being the first girl to attend Eton (an elite all-boys boarding school in England), which I didn’t even understand at the time. Interestingly, I was one of the first girls to attend Cate School (an all-boys boarding school) when it went co-ed after 70 years.

I think Mrs. Lopez knew that I would be a lifelong learner, that I was obsessed with knowing everything about everything, and that I would stand up for my beliefs.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
When my mental health difficulties were at their worst, I suddenly realized that people walk around looking “fine,” when in reality, they could be suffering and struggling as much as I was. I had never really considered that other people were as good at hiding their pain as I was. It helped me have more compassion for people who seemed rude or unkind, realizing they might be hurting.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that everyone has the capacity to change for the better. People who’ve done terrible things can change. People whose beliefs cause them to hurt others can change. I can’t prove it, but I’ve seen enough of it to keep believing it.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I was never told to do anything. I guess I’m fortunate in that way! I always followed my own interests. My parents supported my love of theater and performing and that’s where I put my energy through childhood into college.

But it was a college professor who declined to write a recommendation for me when I was applying to grad school (in theater) who changed my direction. She didn’t feel that my heart was really in theater, and it turned out she was right!

Instead, I shifted my grad school focus to confluent education and started working in the nonprofit sector, where I honed my training, facilitation, advocacy and speaking skills, all of which I still use in my work today!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coachlisab.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachlisab/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachlisab/