We were lucky to catch up with Dawn Fischer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dawn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
This story of “taking risks” actually starts as just the opposite. As a child I didn’t take risks. I followed the rules to a “T” I had guilt when I didn’t and I worried a LOT. I tried to make sure I did EVERYTHING perfectly. Why? I guess so that nothing bad would happen.
As a little girl I remember having a distinct knowing that I was here to do something valuable. I was fascinated with helping in any way I could & healing whatever needed healing. My hero’s besides Wonder Woman was Mother Theresa, Florence Nightingale and that show about Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. I went from helping my stuffed animals and dragging in every stray kitten, turtle, bird and even to my grandparents horror several snakes and a baby bat, to channeling that drive into action going into a pre med program in college.
My world shifted the day my grandmother, who raised me, who was the most bad ass business woman and community advocate I knew in my life – was killed in a car accident. It was 1998, I was half way through my Freshman year in the Pre Med Program at Carroll College and the bad thing I was trying desperately to not have happen, happened. She was who I had been striving to be more like since I could remember. She really helped people. She was selfless and kind and most of all courageous. In the weeks after she passed my world view shifted. I realized that worrying and trying to be perfect wouldn’t mean that nothing bad would ever happen. In fact the control of life in that way was an exhausting illusion. I looked at my life, my dream of being a doctor and I reasoned with myself that I had more important responsibilities. I needed to be able to help my family and to be there for my grandfather. So I switched my major to Nursing. I’ll be done in 4 years instead of 8 plus a residency. I’ll be able to help sooner and be more available for those I love.
Like I would imagine has happened to many of us… I put a dream in a box on a shelf and stepped into what I felt at the time was my responsibility. That might seem sad at first glance. A girl giving up her dream… but it was actually exactly the twist my life was supposed to take. 20 years later after leaping off the cliff of risk more times that I can count and on the cusp of what feels like the biggest cliff of all, my perspective of “risk” is changing.
It might seem like we are swimming in a sea of risks daily ~ 100’s of them. With the free will to accept and choose to say “yes” or resist and say “no”. From what we choose to eat and the inherent risks to our overall health, to how we show up in our relationships closed down in protection or risking bing open and vulnerable, to a myriad of other big and small things daily. Risks of every size greet us daily. Though there are lots of opportunities to take risks, I would say it’s the BIG ones feel like they move the dial forward.
1st…
Changing Career paths in college.
2nd …
Starting a Health & Wellness Coaching practice was easy, it was in line with who I was. I found a program that helped me and I wanted to share that with others so they could feel as good as I did. However making the choice to actually resign from a 15 year carrier as an RN where I was on a leadership track to get my PhD to become my own boss and RELY on that coaching practice felt HUGE! I was being pulled away from what had always seemed safe ~ the benefits, retirement and guaranteed pay. I was being pulled towards something that inspired me, lit me up from the inside out made me feel alive again and was fully aligned with the dreams of that little girl. Saying YES to the “risk” just felt RIGHT.
3rd Choosing Divorce – There is too much in this story to cover here but in essence I chose my health, happiness and the safety of my nervous system over staying in a perpetual cycle of heightened alertness, protection and stress.
These BIG risks – though scary as HELL before the leap each time ended up being exactly where I was meant to go. Taking the detour, the sharp right turn and seeing the magic in how lifes GPS recalculated.
Is it Risk? or is It a door of opportunity appearing? Is it a redirection that is ultimately for our protection and guiding us to our HIGHEST potential?
Each time I’ve come up to the cliff of risk I knew I had a choice to make. In the beginning the risks were terrifying and often paralyzed me for days or even years. Now they don’t seem as scary… I’ve learned that the body’s response to fear and exhilaration are the exact same and so I choose to feel the excitement over the fear and after tuning in to make sure I’m listening to my heart and soul and not just my head I usually – just JUMP!
And every time – Magic happens. A new level of success, fulfillment, joy and peace has been on the other side.
if there’s anything I’ve learned how handle the cliffs of risks… it’s “Get out of my head and into my heart and – just jump”
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
A little about me. I grew up in a VERY small town in rural Wyoming and when I say small I mean reallllly small, 700 people, no stop lights, my side of town wasn’t paved. My parents divorced when I was 3 and I moved in with my grandparents (who became my guardians and guardian angels) and raised me with as much love and stability as any kid could hope for and while my parents bounced in and out of my life leaving lots of loose ends and fun things to talk to therapists about later in life – I know they loved me to the greatest extent they were each capable and their BIGGEST gift was to leave me in the capable hands of my grandparents.
Growing up with just a LITTLE abandonment wound I vowed to never abandon anyone who needed me. Which lead me to be a bit of a perfectionist, a “good girl” with straight A’s, who volunteered for everything, never broke any rules and went to college to become the doctor that everyone wanted her to be…. until LIFE threw some curve balls and opportunities disguised as set backs showed up on my door step.
Half way through my freshman year of pre med, my grandmother who raised me was killed in a car accident. The world as I knew it shattered and I was faced re evaluating what mattered to me. My grandmother was the breadwinner and the glue that held our family and our small community in Wyoming together. I knew my family needed me now more than ever and I stepped into that white my whole being. I adjusted my sights from going into medicine to going into nursing to be done with school quicker and able to help support my family. It ended up being exactly the plot twist my life was meant to take.
I fell in love with nursing. I was fascinated with learning about health and in particular the wholistic approach focused on the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the whole human that our nursing school provided. I added a double major in Psychology. I loved learning about human behavior, different cultures and how health and success are intertwined. These areas of study created the foundation for what has become my passion and I fully believe is my life’s purpose.
After 10 years working long hours as an RN and nurse educator at a trauma center I realized I wanted to help people in a different capacity. Something more tangible and long lasting. Something that could not just help them when they are sick but actually put them in the drivers seat of their own health, empower them to make lifestyle choices and have the support they need to actually become WELL and not need the doctor, hospital and “sick care” system as much.
in 2009 I started a wellness coaching practice that has now spanned nearly 16 years of learning, serving individuals, families and communities. The ripple of that has helped thousands and the stories continue to bring me to tears over what is actually possible when someone sees what is possible for their lives and then takes small daily steps to move their health forward. This is not about just weightless, this is about wholistic health that impacts your life not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually and financially as well. They finally start experiencing the health their minds and bodies are capable of. One empowered decision and choice at a time. Surrounded by support, and others on their health journeys with guidance to do the inner work as well – health finally becomes simpler and more achievable.
I believe Healed humans can heal humanity.
As I embrace my journey, walk alongside others and together we empower more people to heal the ripple will spread.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
People always ask “where do your clients come from?” With a business centered around health and wellness where I work from home and especially through the pandemic it was ALL about showing up on social media. Not just showing up blasting products (which I never do) but showing up authentically. The more we can let down the pretense and filters the more we can let others IN.
When people come to your profile, they want to get to know who you are, what you value and what Your solution is that you’re offering.
So starting with what you already have versus jumping to the trendy platform and trying to make something new. Create your brand story that’s grounded, authentically, and who you are in the place that you feel most comfortable and the place that you have your friends and family watching.
Aak yourself this ~ Is it easy to see what I value and believe in from ky profile? Would someone know what I offer the world?
Not sure?
Go through your last 10 days of content if someone who didn’t know you came across your profile what would they come away with? Would they know what you offer the world and how to get in touch with you?
Start there and make a list of what you want people to feel and know and take action about when they interact with your content. Do you want them to feel inspired? Hopeful? Empowered? Do you want them to connect with a problem that you have overcome and to find value in the solutions education or products that you provide? Do you make it easy for them to get in touch with the solutions that you have to offer?
One of the most helpful things that I have done is a social platform audit at a minimum once a quarter over the last several years and asking myself these questions and adjusting as needed. There have been many times when my own pages have been convoluted and confusing or I haven’t shown up as much or consistently as I would like to to create the impact I want. I simply reevaluate who my audience is by asking myself, what problems have I overcome, what solutions do I offer the world and how do I make it fun and inspiring to visit my profiles and is it simple for people to get in touch with me?
People want to see your face, hear your voice and no… it doesn’t have to be perfect in fact it’s better if it’s not. The more you can be YOU and feel the value that you add the more people will feel connected and comfortable reaching out or referring a friend.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I think being a business owner is an ever evolving process of becoming more and more resilient and learning on deeper levels what that means to truly embody! I used to think it just meant grit and hours and now I’m realizing it is more about being creative, flexible and not being attached to outcomes. Growing a business through a divorce showed me I am strong and capable if I just don’t give up. When things seemed overwhelming I would sit down and ask myself what is 1 thing I can do today that will move the dial forward in my business and I would just do that ONE thing. Right away, not in an hour or after the laundry. I would put everything aside and get it done. After a year of doing 1 or 2 things a day It was AMAZING to look back and see all that I had accomplished. I learned to celebrate the millimeters I could cover in a day that added up to MILES in a year! My impact and my Income grew during one of the most stressful and crazy times in my life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Dawn Nikole Fischer @dawn_nikole
- Facebook: Dawn Nikole Fischer- https://www.facebook.com/@dawnfischer924
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