We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Donahue. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.
Lauren, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
I am a small-town gal from Valley Center, Kansas! I grew up playing sports, mainly because let’s face it, there isn’t much else to do in Kansas! I was blessed to live with and be raised by my grandparents (and mom) and I attribute most, if not all my success to the guidance and love from my grandfather, Raleigh. He was my mentor, coach, teacher, friend, father-figure and hero! Anything that comes out of my mouth that resembles wisdom is something he taught me. He was the most impactful man I was ever blessed to know. He loved to pour into people. He offered value everywhere he went. From Cowtown to Colleges to Churches to Classrooms to Basketball Courts & beyond – he was always sharing the latest tips and tricks to help people improve different areas of their lives and become the best versions of themselves. Most of the time his wisdom nuggets came in the form of a quote or clipping from the local newspaper. If Raleigh was alive today – he would undoubtedly be sharing his favorite podcast episodes and Instagram posts! I am the woman I am today because of Raleigh! In fact, I recently started a coffee company named Laleigh (Lauren + Raleigh) Coffee in honor of him. Our first roast was named after him, The Raleigh Roast and we donate a portion of the proceeds to Parkinson’s Foundation. Raleigh passed away October 15th, 2021.
Raleigh helped me see that the level of success I would achieve would be directly related to the obstacles and challenges I would face along my journey. I know a lot of people see obstacles as roadblocks and end up turning around and going back the other way. For me, I see obstacles as opportunities to grow and expand into my next level. In fact, I now get excited when challenges are present because I know it means I am about to level up! Now, that doesn’t change the fact it is still painful in the moment, but I have always believed it is in the pain, not the pleasure, that we grow the most.
As a business owner, I’ve faced many financial setbacks and business partnerships gone ‘wrong’ but I never let that stop me from moving forward. Whenever I faced a struggle, my grandfather would say, “Remember, the cream will always RISE to the top.” What he meant was, when you keep your integrity, tell the truth, show up for people, do what you say you would do, stay positive and patient…you will eventually get to the top and it will be worth all the blood, sweat and tears. During those tough times with different business partners, I remember saying, “I picked the perfect partners to teach me the lessons I needed to grow and evolve into a stronger and more confident leader.” My grandfather always taught me to see the silver lining in the situation and to find the joy in the journey. Entrepreneurship has been quite the journey and I am learning and growing every day but looking back, I wouldn’t change one thing. It all has shaped me into a more calm, courageous and committed leader!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My WHY is to facilitate relationships so we can live in a more connected world. For me, this means creating safe spaces for people to come together and connect + transform their lives. A place where they know they belong.
This is why I founded Rise Wellness. At Rise Wellness we host wellness retreats, events and share the most up-to-date information on how to live a happy and healthy life! At Rise Wellness, we believe we must feel good to do good.
Our heart to help as many people as possible to live happier, healthier lives! We will be featuring our retreat leaders and their upcoming retreats so people can truly find an experience that best fits their current needs and desires personally and professionally. Rise also has some incredible retreats coming up in the next few months. One is a luxury Hawaii retreat + soul and strategy mastermind where we will do life together for three months after the retreat. The next retreat will be a retreat specifically for current and future retreat leaders to come together and learn how to plan, price, promote and sell out their upcoming retreats. Then to kick off the new year, we will be hosting a Rise Wellness Retreat in Palm Springs, CA! This will be a transformative 4-day experience!
At Rise, we believe in times like these, hitting the reset button is imperative for personal and professional growth and to not just survive, but thrive in times of uncertainty, it’s vital to do the counter-intuitive thing and intentionally disconnect from the world and the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnect to you. Throughout our weekend retreats, you’ll be spending time with like-minded leaders, entrepreneurs and high performers and reconnecting with your true purpose. We believe it is TIME to fully live in alignment with WHO YOU TRULY ARE and what matters most and the best way to navigate uncertain times is to consistently show up as your best self, from your best state of being so you can consistently show up as the leader you really are. We believe tapping into abundance and creating the success so many people crave right now means connecting to your truth, living your core values and leading from a place of clarity and integrity. We work hard toward facilitating those life goals at the Rise Wellness Retreats!
At Rise Wellness we also offer retreat coaching. The Retreat Launch Formula program is a 60-day retreat launch program for retreat leaders where we help you with:
– A proven formula to plan, price, promote and launch your first transformational retreat
– Secrets to scaling your retreat business to make 30K or more
– How to attract ideal retreat participants without spending any money on ads
– Support via LIVE interactions 1 x per week, as well as unlimited email support
– Templates for reaching out to sponsors + my personal contact list
– How to develop your interpersonal skills & mindset to overcome your mental blocks
– Support you from idea to launch
Lastly, Rise Wellness launched a clean coffee brand called Laleigh Coffee.
Laleigh Coffee provides fresh, organic, fair-trade clean coffee! You can count on Laleigh Coffee to be healthy and free of mold, toxins, pesticides and anything that could make you feel jittery or anxious!
Laleigh Coffee helps you get your morning started right to set you up for a successful day! Laleigh wants you to feel good so you can do good!
Laleigh truly believes you are only one cup of coffee and a good conversation away from a completely different life!
Laleigh believes you deserve the very best. This is why we roast to order. We roast every Thursday, which means every order will be roasted and shipped each Thursday. This ensures your coffee is fresh and ready to brew when it arrives at your door!
Our Mission: Help people start their day with a smile!
We Value: People!
Giving Back: In honor of my grandpa Raleigh – a portion of each bag of Raleigh Roast purchased will be donated to Parkinson’s Foundation!
Connect with us: @laurenldonahue @laleighcoffee @risewellnessretreats
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
The book “The One Thing” by Gary Keller has had a profound positive impact on my business by instilling in me the power of focus and prioritization. It taught me the importance of identifying and honing in on the one thing that truly matters in my business, rather than getting caught up in numerous tasks and distractions. By choosing that one thing and relentlessly pursuing it, I have been able to streamline my efforts, maximize productivity, and achieve significant results. This newfound clarity has allowed me to allocate my time and resources more efficiently, resulting in improved decision-making and overall business success. “The One Thing” has been a game-changer, revolutionizing my approach to business and propelling me towards my goals with unwavering determination.
There is a quote is the very beginning of the book that says “Be like a postage stamp. Stick to ONE THING until you get there.” This is the best advice I could give anyone who is just starting out in their entrepreneurial journey. It is very hard to be successful when you have you hand in many baskets or on many projects at once. To build a successful business you need to have singular focus for a period of time. A question I like to ask early entrepreneurs, “what would your life and business look like one year from now if you decided to go all in on this ONE THING?”
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of managing many teams. There have been times where I have managed 100+ team members at once so I had to learn the most effective ways to do this while maintaining high morale.
Managing a team and maintaining high morale is crucial for productivity and a positive work environment. Here are some key pieces of advice:
1. Effective Communication: Regularly communicate with your team members, providing clear expectations, goals, and feedback. Be open and transparent, fostering an environment where everyone feels heard and valued.
2. Lead by Example: Set a positive example by demonstrating professionalism, dedication, and a strong work ethic. Your actions will inspire and motivate your team members to do the same.
3. Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge and appreciate your team’s hard work and achievements. Celebrate milestones, provide recognition for individual and team successes, and consider implementing rewards or incentives to boost morale.
4. Foster a Collaborative Culture: Encourage teamwork and collaboration among team members. Create opportunities for them to share ideas, contribute to decision-making, and work together on projects. This sense of camaraderie will foster a positive and supportive work environment.
5. Personal and Professional Growth: Support your team’s development by providing training, mentorship, and opportunities for growth. Show genuine interest in their career aspirations and help them acquire new skills or take on challenging tasks. Invest in their personal and professional growth, and they will feel valued and motivated.
6. Work-Life Balance: Promote a healthy work-life balance by respecting boundaries, encouraging breaks, and supporting flexible working arrangements whenever possible. This demonstrates your consideration for their well-being and helps prevent burnout.
7. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular one-on-one meetings to discuss individual progress, address concerns, and provide support. These check-ins allow you to build a stronger relationship with your team members, understand their needs, and offer guidance when required.
Remember, maintaining high morale is an ongoing process. Continuously evaluate and adapt your management style to meet the evolving needs of your team. By prioritizing communication, recognition, collaboration, growth, and work-life balance, you can create a positive team culture that fosters high morale and drives success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laleighcoffee.com/
- Instagram: @laurenldonahue @laleighcoffee @risewellnessretreats
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenschwab
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenldonahue
- Twitter: @LaurenLDonahue
Image Credits
Theo Yang Greg Fulks