We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Frannie Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Frannie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
I think about it often. What if I took a different route? Would it be easier? Would I be able to do or have more? I think about milestones that I have yet to reach, because I am literally playing the long game. I see people around me getting to financial milestones sooner and I get discouraged. I wonder at times did I make it more difficult for myself? What pulls me out of it is remembering that we all have our own timelines. I meet people who can’t wait to travel and experience more freedom in their schedule, but have done well in their “corporate” careers and have more financial comfort. They also have plans to retire and have a second wind and they are financially preparing themselves to do so. They still plan to travel and have more freedom just in a different way. I still plan to own a home and have more financial freedoms also in different way. I am using this time to build something that will carry me one day. I have built many things from scratch and one day, you will truly be grateful for not giving up and reaping the benefit of consistency over time. Most of all, I bring myself back by reminding myself that I am happy. I feel fulfilled in my life as it is! I knew that a traditional career path would not provide me that. And not because I am “above it.” I am just built differently and as a result needed something different to fulfill me. I found that and do not regret my choice. I think wandering about other paths is normal.
Frannie , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Guided Surrender is a home for your healing for women who are eager to meet themselves again in this lifetime. An approach to wellness that encompasses the mind, body, and soul. I started off creating my own virtual yoga studio during the pandemic. Then it grew into life coaching, reiki healing, and intuitive readings. In the beginning I taught group experiences only virtually. Now I offer in person and virtual private and group offerings.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I think back to all the times I have sat on the toilet and just cried. Ironic spot, I know. But my body was purging. Purging doubt, fear, imposter syndrome, the fear of being perceived, inadequacy, and so much more. Through the journey I been forced to meet myself in places I would never had ventured otherwise. It unearthed me in ways I could never imagine. I always say, “If I knew it would’ve been this hard, I would’ve never started.” I jumped in head first with high hopes and big dreams. Everything I do is heart centered and deeply rooted in my faith that everything is away working out for me. However, that doesn’t exempt you from your faith being tested. My faith in myself and my ability to do this has been tested more times than I can name. And yet, still I rise. It is ok to cry on the toilet. It is not ok to stay there. We cry. We acknowledge our pain and frustration. We ask for guidance. Then we find the strength to get back out there. Whether that means to pivot, create a new idea, start a new program… whatever! Just get back out there. Get back on the horse. Don’t quit on yourself. You deserve more that that.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I was advised not to start a business, not to follow my dreams. I was told none of what I desired was possible or even sustainable. I had to use these words as fuel. I had to be able to see when other people were projecting their fear on to me. I had to learn to walk alone. To not need anyone to understand, support it, or agree with it for me to do it. I learned to move in silence. I learned to discern that my dreams were not too big, I was just talking to people who could only conceptualize something that felt small. I had to unlearn my teachings about how to survive in this world and embed new knowledge of how to thrive in my world. I had to learn how to do it my way and unlearn the way I was conditioned to follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.guidedsurrender.com
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