For me, finding my niche was not a lightbulb moment, but rather an explorative process.

So, what initial steps did I take to define my niche?

○ At the start, I simply did not know the answer to this question. I soon realised I needed a ‘sounding board’ – someone who could stimulate the ideation process, who has walked this path herself and who also accompanies others on similar journeys.
○ What was also key, was to discover my authentic flavour and passion. That is when I found a ‘neutral’ thinking partner’s feedback to be so valuable. Liesl Cronje, an employability and identity coach, spotted which topics created bursts of energy and which stories sparked deep emotion and compassion.
○ True to the nature of my top strength “ideation”, I came up with many seemingly disparate ideas. Thus, the challenge was to find the ‘golden thread’ tying those ideas together.

I recognised that on the one hand, I love to brainstorm especially when the context implies a new beginning. On the other hand, I am an expert at creating order out of chaos and breaking down complexity into bitesize actions and structures.

Thus, in a nutshell: ‘SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR NEW ENDEAVOURS’.

I can relate these ‘new beginnings’ to my own life story:

○ I had to reinvent myself as I transitioned from high school to university as I knew that I sorely lacked the balance between an academic life and a healthy social life.
○ Then, as I entered the workspace for the first time, I experienced a major health setback. All my carefully laid out plans were derailed and my self-confidence took an epic tumble. It took me a few years to re-assemble myself.
○ My career unfolded as follows: In my first life I was an Accountant, in my second I became a CEO, and in my third life, I am now a Coach and Mentor. The first transition transpired mostly because of the design of others, whereas the last transition was crafted by myself.
○ Lastly, even though it did not rationally seem like the best time to disrupt my comfort zone, my heart and gut told me that the onset of COVID-19 was the perfect time to take the leap of faith to start my own business.

I am now in the position ‘to pay forward’ the life lessons I have learnt. And that is what truly excites me!

But upon further reflection, I realised that ‘finding my niche’ is probably a journey rather than a destination. I am curious, apprehensive and excited to discover what opportunities will cross my path and I am open-minded as to where that will lead me.

To quote Seneca: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”.

I believe we all have something unique to offer and that we deserve the chance to do something that we are truly passionate about. To get a sense of how I in turn can help you, please visit my website for more details or reach out to me by completing the contact form.

What new chapter do you want to embark upon this year?

#niche #newbeginnings #purposeandmeaning #coaching #m3perspectives