We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alyson MacLeod, CHC. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alyson below.
Alyson, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
It was a long start for me this time. I was back in University completing my degree in my 50’s in Community Economics and Social Development when I came across a lady in Costa Rica doing a course in Branding. I was excited that a friend of mine had taken it so I called her for her opinion. We had tea that afternoon and within 12 minutes she told me I already knew what the course was about by just talking to me. My biggest hurdle was that I was educated, certified and lettered but I was not applying what I was learning. It was a mindset thing and I dove into my soul looking for the why behind what I wanted to do. It was in that process that I found my Soul Expression, my Why! I then found that there were many women suffering and not achieving their goals for the same reason I was – lack of direction, purpose and the self-worth to take it on at our age! That is when I did my research and the women I spoke to loved the idea that as our bodies were shifting physically, our minds needed to also. That is when the Soul Expression Sessions idea came to light. It wasn’t just about our Why but about how our Why could be explored and flourish in all areas of our lives from our Business & Finances, Health & Wellness, Spirituality, Contribution, and Relationships. It was about taking care of the whole person by healing their Souls which in turn healed their businesses, relationships and they felt healthier and happier then they had in years. I was doing this for me and women were seeing the changes and watching what I was doing. It was funny when one of my friends told me, “I want what you am drinking”. I told her she could have whatever she wanted if she was honest with herself, believed she was worth it and took some inspired action. She jumped in with both feet into my coaching program called the Soulful Living Blueprint (c) and the changes were small at first but she is so full of life now it is incredible to see! .
My Team and I now help women from all over the world flourish and become the best they can be by claiming, crafting and gaining clarity on who they want to evolve into. One of the greatest tools I have found, is to have them write and share their stores of struggles and triumph. It is very cathartic to keep a journal and in doing so they can release what is resonating in their bodies and minds. It is quite freeing and illuminating also. When we share stories, we know we are not alone. That is when I started Soulful Living Publishing. It was a dream of mine to write and when I partnered with Heart Centered Women Publishing for my first book (now 6 in total!), it was a great fit to help us launch our publishing company for our clients.
I don’t think that I could be in business and not have several ideas turn into launch pads for helping people succeed. I love seeing the look in someone’s eyes when they pick up their book in their hands for the first time and get so excited that they accomplished something spectacular. It warms my heart! It is the best thank you I could ever have.
Alyson, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Alyson MacLeod, CHC is an International Best selling Author, speaker, publisher, podcast host, TV show Host and Human Potential Specialist. She mentors and coaches women who have lost their drive to succeed find their True Soul’s Expression to live the life they desire by using her Soulful Living Blueprint (c). By day Alyson is the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works (& Sweet Change, A Chocolate Company) who provide children with a free recreation program for ages 6 to 13, leadership roles for students 14 to 18 and an Entrepreneurship program called ActionSSM for Adults. She started hr first business at 22 years old and has had 8 businesses to date. Her most recent ventures include the world of publishing, finance, tv producing and course creating.
My clients have been women 40+ who have finally decided that living for everyone else was going to sustain them and by being better for themselves, they could be even better for those around them. They realized that by living their true destiny they could also be more fulfilled, joyous, healthy and wealthy too.
I am most proud of stepping up and being honest with myself on what my limitations were, my hesitation to succeed and where I really and truly wanted to go. It wasn’t until I was totally honest with myself, and knew what I wanted, that opportunities started flooding in. I was actually hired by the Board of Directors by the chapter I wrote in my first book. That is the power of the written word and allowing my story to be heard. It was how I crafted my Miracle Morning to set my day up for success that caught their attention.
My team and I are here to help women (and heart centered men) succeed. They have so much potential and genius within them that is untapped and unchartered. By allowing your true self to shine you will have the best life imaginable. Your mindset is this most crucial part of life’s masterpiece. Once you understand how to harness your thoughts, emotions and actions, you can take on anything that comes your way in life and in business. We are here to help you find clarity so you can grow stronger, happier, healthier and wealthier then you can ever imagine!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience was that word that I thought described everyone else. It could not have been me but looking back over the last 20 years, I smiled at the ups and downs that build resilience. It started in 2006 when my husband walked out on myself and my two children. I was terrified and never thought of myself as a single mom. I had to leave the house we were in with my boys, he through me into bankruptcy, had me close the gyms, got no child support and had to go on welfare to feed my children. I remember sitting in the welfare office (which my ex’s cousin took me to) and when they called my name I burst into tears. I was a 6 figure income earner that was torn to shreds and reduced to rubble. They wonderful lady at the desk got on the phone and found us an apartment in a great neighborhood, helped us get furniture and on our feet. I was so lost losing everything but was so blessed to have my kids. That next year was a blur. I finally got everything taken care of for the bankruptcy, businesses and the lawyers and we were given permission to leave the city we were in and move back to my hometown. I was that good little girl who did what I was told and followed the rules so when they said I could go home I jumped at it.
I was determined not to relive the past year and moved into the basement of my parents house, got smart serve certified and found a job within days. Things were looking up! I went to a sorority meeting and found another job by networking with the ladies and became the Marketing Coordinator on a mall. Six months later my kids and I were in a townhouse and back on solid ground.
One year later I was the manager of a ladies clothing store when the mall sold and feeling pretty good until one Sunday when I was coming down from a ladder and could barely make it to the back of the store when my bac started spasming and I couldn’t move. I remember hearing some ladies come into the store and say that they thought someone was on the floor at the back and they left. I thought they were going for help but they never came back. Needless to say, I eventually got off the floor, had the fight of my life for 5 years for benefits that I never received and kept fighting to find my way back yet again. This time was going to be different, it had to be. So I took on part time jobs, created several side hustle businesses and then decided to go back to school to finish my degree while nursing 2 hip replacements (which is why I fell 8 years prior!). It was the catalyst that gave me self-confidence and self-esteem. I finished cum laude with the highest marks in my class. That was a surprise to me but I was elated because I worked hard and it meant the world to me.
I think resilience means never giving up and always knowing there is a way. I had complete Faith that it would all turn out even if it did not look like it would at the time. I believe that most people do not think they are resilient because they are busy living through it instead of looking at life’s bumps and edges. People are stronger then they know, smarter then they think and wiser then they feel. It is in this moment that we need to say, Good job! and celebrate our wins, our lives and our joys. no matter how small!!
I know that I had to go through all of these ups and downs to be the person I am today to be of service to others the way they need me to. If I did not go through all the tough times I would not understand those who do. My resilience has built my foundation so strong that nothing can shake it today. I am still here back making a 6 figure income again, helping people around the world with the Best Team (& Partners) a girl could ask for!! I crafted this life and I am loving every second of it!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the lessons I had to unlearn is that I do not have to me so masculine that everything had to be hustle and grind. I was a software sales person for a decade and that industry was very competitive with very few successful females in it. I was one of three in our company in Business Intelligence. I learned a lot, made a ton of money and was wined and dined by company CEO’s and Presidents all over north America but I never learned how to not work like a man.
Fast forward to 2001 when I was pregnant for my second child, 911 happened and changed the world, including my industry forever. 80% of us lost our jobs and the VP’s were vying for the same jobs I was. Needless to say, they got the jobs and not me. It was the best time in my life to stop and reevaluate what I was doing and how I was doing it. I had the idea to get back into business and my cousin owned Curves ladies only Gym. I took that idea and created Canadian Woman’s Fitness your :Half Hour for Health” and off I went to find equipment. Within a year I opened 2 gyms 5 months apart and had over 600 women coming to my gyms. I did not have to be competitive or worry about commissions, I just had to tell the story of how my gym was different. Crafting that story was so much fun. We were all about community, fun and health. I taught ball classes and yoga. The ladies loved it! I won the Fastest Growing Business in 2004 and everyone thought I was a franchise because it was running so smoothly. Every day I would set my intention to have an awesome day, bring in new clients and support my staff as they needed. It was a big switch from running through airports in high heals to dancing on a rebounder with the ladies working out all in the name of work.
I learned to slow down to speed up and take it one day at a time. I believed I could, and I kept the Faith that I was doing what I needed to do to get better every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soulexpresionsessions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyson_macleod/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyson.macleod1/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyson-m-macleod-25111a9/
- Other: Podcast and Tv shows: www.wealthywomenentrepreneursnetwork.com
Image Credits
Wealthy Women Success Principles: How to live a fully Charged Life Publisher: Heart Centered Women Publishing (Charlotte Howard Collins)