Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Malaquias. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

Interview

Sometimes you think you have put yourself on the perfect path for success- all the signs look like it should workout amazingly and yet somehow it doesn’t quite turn out the way you thought it would. This is my story. I walked away from a very successful job in the city to start a new path towards entrepreneurship. I was asked to help open and manage a new gym that was opening up in my hometown. The timing seemed destined- I was pregnant and looking to find a job that had more flexibility and no commute into the city- the fact that the facility was opening up where I grew up up just seemed like a good omen! Well this was in 2020. The pandemic didn’t end in a few weeks or even a few months. Gyms were constantly under scrutiny let alone struggling to keep their doors open and we were trying to sell memberships to people who didn’t want to leave their house. I left for my maternity leave determined when I got back to work everything would work out. I then fell madly in love with motherhood and knew I wasn’t going to be the same “worker” I had been before having a baby. I did go back to work but after a few days I knew that though I once thought this would be a next level career launching pad it was more of a personal sinking ship. My creativity was taking over and I was feeling called to concentrate on my experience of becoming a new mom. I began to formulate the idea for my book Said The New Mom. A beautifully illustrated story with cheerful and cute animals pictures for baby and thoughtful and encouraging messages for a new mom. While the day job of my dreams began to fade my motherhood experience started to shine. As I had suspected the gym’s trajectory was not that of a thriving new club and after just a few months of returning to work I was laid off from the hurting business. Though in a bit of a panic about the prospect of less income coming in I was delighted to be able to return to caring for my daughter full time. At this point my husband told me to go all in on bringing my book to life and I fully embraced the creative process and motherhood alike. Within a few months Said The New mom was published and it opened up a new world of connections for me within Motherhood care provider services. One such connection led me to an amazing opportunity to return to my love of Health and Wellness Coaching in person at the Adirondack Club in Franklin where I am still currently working while I also pursue finding a literary agent.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Emily is a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, whom after having her first daughter in February 2021, realized she wanted to bring to life the advice her mum gave her “Always be Sweet Kind and Wonderful.” Through thoughtful action, words and effort Emily wants to show the world how powerful being Sweet, Kind and Wonderful can be and use to to change what FITNESS and WELLBEING means for her clients and the community

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Learning to listen and learn. The health and wellness industry is always changing and growing and there’s always something new to learn about something that your clients want to discuss whether it’s a online trend or something personal going on in their life. People want the professional they’re working with to have answers yes but they more importantly want to be heard and often times I find myself asking my clients. Tell me more about why you’re asking me that and that helps me to better understand their motivation and desire, which helps me to problem self with them more effectively without the skill of listening and learning, I would not be as able to answer the real question

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Who moved my cheese was a book a read during lockdown in 2020. It’s a very simple book but speaks pretty directly to how many of us can react when things change. It was very easy to digest the message for me- get comfortable with change and keep growing. It spoke to me at a time when I really needed to hear that message

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sweetkindandwonderful.com/about/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweet.kind.and.wonderful?igsh=MWRyd3M3em9tY215aA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14pq5nhijm/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-malaquias-b390b617?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app