We recently connected with Mary Gardner and have shared our conversation below.
Greetings, Mary. Thank you for graciously sharing your remarkable journey and insights with us today. Crafting a name, whether for a business or brand, is undoubtedly a challenging endeavor, wouldn’t you agree? Could you enlighten us on the inspiration behind the name of your brand?
Embarking on the journey to establish a thriving brand often demands relentless pursuit of dreams. Yet, not all dreams are lifelong endeavors; some serve as stepping stones toward greater aspirations or guide us to different chapters in our lives.
Throughout my career, I’ve steadfastly adhered to the harmonious blend of intuition and intellect in decision-making. In the late 90s, having retired as a celebrity lecture agent, I found myself continually sought after by authors and experts seeking guidance on becoming speakers. Seizing this opportunity, I incorporated speaker coaching into my burgeoning PR company, thus igniting a new facet of my professional journey.
Upon discovering Coach U, a company dedicated to coaching individuals, I recognized its alignment with my existing endeavors, albeit under the moniker of “Personal Consulting.” Eager to formalize my skills, I promptly enrolled in their courses. Subsequently, I pioneered workshops on communication, sales, and even ventured into the brand new realm of online dating, foreseeing its future impact.
Within a short span, I initiated coaching programs and established the first east coast-based Coach Training School. Despite early success, the tragic events of 9/11 dealt a severe blow, temporarily stalling the coaching industry. Despite invitations to discuss the future of coaching on television, my focus shifted as I relocated to North Carolina, entrusting my business to dedicated employees.
Though relinquishing ownership proved a costly decision, my subsequent years were dedicated to nurturing my son, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Undeterred, I continued coaching individuals in various domains, including charisma, communication, and public speaking, whilst pursuing diverse roles in television, sales, and marketing. (And personally, I wrote a book on how we healed my son off the spectrum to become a dynamic young adult. That book is on Amazon and called: Blessed Chaos. )
Still driven to succeed in coaching I found an article in 2013, on a pivotal leadership study which underscored the significance of inspirational leadership, affirming the essence of effective communication, coaching prowess, and visionary leadership. This revelation prompted the inception of the INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER’S ACADEMY, dedicated to nurturing leaders capable of galvanizing audiences with their compelling narratives and visionary insights.
Our academy serves as a crucible for speakers, authors, CEOs, athletes, and thought leaders, empowering them to share authentic, inspiring messages that resonate deeply with their audiences. Through transformative workshops, we facilitate the excavation of personal narratives, fostering authenticity and compassion in leadership and public speaking.
Our conviction stems from the profound impact of charismatic leadership, capable of catalyzing cultural shifts and fostering organizational vitality. We envision our training reverberating worldwide, instilling hope and fortitude in leaders navigating turbulent times. Hence, our mantra remains: “We Inspire the Inspiring.”
We extend a warm invitation to aspiring leaders eager to refine their storytelling prowess and illuminate the stage with their presence. Remember, the choice of a name holds profound implications for the journey ahead. Choose wisely!
Thank you for graciously sharing your insights, Mary. Before delving further into your expertise, would you kindly introduce yourself and illuminate the path that led you to your current vantage point?
Greetings, esteemed audience!
It’s an absolute delight to connect with you and offer a glimpse into my journey. First and foremost, I firmly believe that each of us is divinely guided with a unique purpose, guiding our vocational pursuits and propelling us towards fulfillment. Reflecting on my own trajectory, I trace back my aspiration of influence to a formative moment in 7th grade, where a peer’s captivating presence left an indelible impression. It was then I resolved to cultivate a similar magnetism, a determination that has shaped my multifaceted career spanning various industries and roles.
From Capitol Hill to Wall Street, from the corridors of celebrity to the realms of coaching and public speaking, my journey has been a tapestry woven with diverse experiences and encounters. My clientele, comprising luminaries from diverse backgrounds, exemplifies the intersection of success and the relentless pursuit of service. Whether navigating the nuances of sportsmanship, advocating for legal prowess, or orchestrating corporate ascendancy, my passion lies in empowering individuals to embody charisma, authenticity, and resilience in their pursuits all while sharing their stories to inspire audiences world wide.
At the core of our mission lies the transformation of aspiring leaders into beacons of inspiration, equipped to weave narratives that resonate deeply with their audiences. Through bespoke coaching and immersive workshops, we nurture the art of storytelling, empowering leaders to wield their influence with purpose and conviction.
What distinguishes us is our unwavering commitment to authenticity, our dedication to crafting narratives that transcend the mundane and resonate with the human spirit. I take immense pride in guiding individuals to discover the heart of a lion within themselves, empowering them to soar to unprecedented heights while fostering authentic connections with their audiences.
In a world brimming with possibilities, I implore you to embrace your unique gifts and seize every opportunity to serve humanity with unwavering passion. Should you seek to illuminate your path to greatness, my team and I stand ready to chart the course alongside you. Your journey to greatness awaits—let us embark on it together!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Hands down – LinkedIn has been the best place for our clients.
LinkedIn is a great place for all businesspeople. But many don’t know how to really use it.
For me, it’s a combo of posting content a lot – like every day, using hashtags, commenting on others posts, and having a Virtual Assistant to reach out to my ideal clients to meet one on one.
Once I have one on one meetings, almost inevitably we keep in touch until the time comes where they need me, and by then we’ve already developed a relationship. I make a lot of friends on LinkedIn – and often they become clients.
We also use a service that helps us with making our posts creative and pretty, so, using a marketing company has helped!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
First – I look back over my journey completely shocked that I’m still here doing what I love.
There were many times where I faced the fact that I needed to get a job – and I did a few times, but they didn’t last for too long as I always found my way back into entrepreneurship. The good thing about entrepreneurship is that you can pivot quickly. The hard part is if you don’t have residual income, it can be challenging. So, I’ve learned to have a few ways of bringing in revenue and continue building always.
A few things that have happened along the way:
9/11 in NYC was a terrifying time. The entire city stopped working and many industries including coaching completely crashed. I went to work for a start up in the motivational space – but the dot com crash swallowed up that business. I ended up taking authors on tour instead of booking speakers. Since I was in NYC – I connected with publishing companies and helping them get their authors out there on the college market.
I had a decided to try out for a TV gig at QVC. I wasn’t really camera ready, but I had the gift of gab! They had me audition with a bread machine – and gave me the boring stats. But when the lights came on, I said this… “Do you remember when you were a kid and came home from school and your mom had delicious homemade bread coming out of the oven, with a glass of milk and you talked about your day”?
“WELL WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT in TODAY”S WORLD!? I sure don’t, but you can STILL CREATE THOSE SAME MEMORIES for your kids with this 2 lb bread machine!” Then I gave a few stats with the story and nailed the audition!
The producers’ mouth dropped open! “That was the best audition that I have seen in 7 years” he told me. I was so happy I got the job!
After my life coaching biz crashed, and we moved out of the city, I moved to Charlotte and started a PR company. I had no idea what I was doing. I printed up cards and told everyone I was a publicist. At a luncheon I sat next to the editor of the newspaper who became fascinated with my story and did an article about me in the newspaper. That clipping was sent all over the us and I heard from authors and speakers all over the country! It was a lucky break , but it launched my business in a big way!
I had to pivot quickly during covid when no one was hiring coaches or speakers. The whole industry crashed. But people needed jobs so I pivoted to becoming a career coach and helping people with interviews. I’ve also offered and have gotten hired to do business development for companies.
When you don’t have a safety net, the biggest tip I have is to stay positive, plan, work hard and pray a lot. God always provides even when you have no idea how it will happen. I’m so grateful to know that He always has my back and that I’ll always be fine!!
I leave you with this, a favorite quote by Nelson Mandella.
Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marygardner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryk.gardner/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marykgardner
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygardnercommunications/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/marygardner
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachmarygardner
Image Credits
Rinat Halon Neal – photographer