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

Alright, Lyne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

It is important you understand where my perspective is rooted, and as such, I must recognize the culture I was raised in and my experiences. I am a white, straight, able-bodied, married, mother of two, born in Canada to an Italian Immigrant father and a French Canadian mother. I am bilingual, speaking French and English fluently and I am well-educated. And still to thrive I had to take risks at different stages in my life.

Entering my twenties with a Bachelor of Arts degree, I found myself grappling with the weight of societal expectations. The pressure to secure a job and conform to a traditional career path felt suffocating, so I took a risk and left my comfort zone to backpack Europe solo! From the cobblestone streets of Paris to the sun-kissed shores of Santorini, I immersed myself in diverse cultures, languages, and experiences. Working in Greece, I honed my Italian skills with tourists and penned the beginnings of my book, “What’s the Rush?” Each country I visited taught me invaluable lessons about social expectations, cultural nuances, and the universal power of taking risks.

Love found me unexpectedly, and as my relationship blossomed, I found the courage to pursue my career by earning my Master’s Degree in Education while traveling to Australia, Fiji, Thailand and Brunei with my financé, Ross. Risk seemed to follow me as I returned home, got married, bought our first home, a nicer car, and, of course, started my teaching career.

Entering my thirties, we welcomed our sweet, healthy son and, 18 months later, our strong, healthy daughter. I loved my babies, and at the risk of being shamed for my honest thoughts on the early days of motherhood I can tell you it kicked my ass; my body wasn’t mine, my time wasn’t mine, my career was on hold, and being a housewife was killing me. And just like that, a decade was gone.

On my fortieth birthday and right on schedule the universe jolted me out of my social trance. I found myself grappling with the challenges of career stagnation and personal dissatisfaction. I was stuck and I knew taking a risk would ignite the change I needed.

My distressing Is this it? Inner chatter and chronic burnout led me on a quest to fill the void. I refer to the period that unfolded next as the most magical ‘midlife awakening.’

Starting my journey of self-discovery and empowerment would prove to be difficult. So, I started with 10 minutes of quiet ME TIME in my room. Lost and confused, I turned to the wisdom found in self-help books, blogs, and websites, determined to unlock the key to true happiness and fulfillment. I wanted to know how I got caught and, more importantly, how to break free. In these quiet moments amidst the chaos of life, I unearthed my soul goal: empower others. With this newfound clarity, I delved into non-violent communication, women’s counselling, and self-love practices.

Fuelled by a passion to make a difference and confident enough to take another risk I continued my education. I am now a women’s circle facilitator and certified life coach.

This year I took a leap of faith, a risk many wouldn’t think about, I took an unpaid sabbatical leaving my salary, pension and benefits -insert pause here;) to build my business Lyne Frank Coaching. I am currently travelling across Ontario, Canada facilitating my empowering workplace wellness workshops and keynotes. Redefine wellness and reach new goals.

My whole life has been preparing me for this experience. I believe in the power of risk. I believe in you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Are you stressed? How about exhausted? Are you frustrated? I was, too, and after years of self-exploration and knowledge-building, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the antidote is to unlearn your social conditioning.

In my forties, I learned that most of what I held on to as truth and what made up my values were ideas I was taught at a young age. As a child, I accepted what my parents, teachers, and friends told me. I later learned that these “truths” were based on my gender, socio-economic status, religion, and other systemic beliefs that surrounded me daily. I soon realized that I had to unlearn my conditioning to reconnect with my authentic self. Sound impossible? It’s not.

Change happens outside your comfort zone. Taking this risk is when the wisdom in self-help books, blogs, and websites becomes insufficient. I needed coaching. I needed to talk it out. I also joined Kara Loewentheil’s group, where I learned a lot about thought work. Thought Work is a cognitive skill that helps us recognize habitual thought patterns. You know the thoughts you have without really thinking about the thoughts you’re having. Clear as mud?

Thought Work is useful for breaking negative or limiting behaviours. It is also an effective practice to change our thoughts and intentionally make decisions that align with what we intuitively believe to be true. I use this framework in my coaching because we can only heal and expand as a collective or as an organization if we first have radical acceptance of ourselves. Through Thought Work, my clients unlearn their conditioning, like people-pleasing, and they let go of unrealistic social expectations. As a result, their lives are more calm; they have more time and energy for all the things and people they deem important.

My name is Lyne Frank, and here is what I’ve accomplished because I am a risk taker:

I am a seasoned teacher who holds a Master’s of Education and I am an active member of the Ontario College of Teachers. My deep understanding of the challenges faced in the workplace, combined with my passion for personal empowerment, has established me as a workplace wellness expert and professional speaker. As a certified life coach and women’s circle facilitator, I run my private practice, Lyne Frank Coaching. I founded Ignite in Community, a private group where over 1300 women gather to share, grow, and learn in sisterhood. Additionally, I designed and facilitate Ignite in Circle, a group coaching program for women. I also tour Ontario to deliver my three impactful keynotes and workplace wellness workshops: Get Unstuck, curated for educators; Lost & Found, rooted in women empowerment; and Balancing Act, for most organizations.

My superpower: I believe in you.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

We are only human. The advice I have for managing a team and maintaining high morale comes from the following two principles:

1) Show Appreciation: Create space and time for your employees to be seen and heard. For instance, at the beginning of a meeting, thank team members for their efforts (be specific) and ask questions that allow employees to express themselves without fear of judgment.

2) Practice Inclusion: Lead with your teams, not over your teams. Humans want to be part of something greater than themselves, and this happens when we invite team members to participate in the creative process, problem-solving, and decision-making. As a result, employees feel invested in their work, productivity increases, and morale stays high.

Creating a healthy and thriving workplace culture starts with remembering humans’ intrinsic needs to feel appreciated and included. These two principles will help you manage your teams and maintain high morale.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As an entrepreneur whose mission is to empower others, I have had to pivot my approach several times. At the beginning of my journey, I often got frustrated when something did not go as planned, like when I launched a workshop called Midlife Magic and had to cancel it because not enough participants registered. I was crushed. My business coach taught me that the content I had created for the workshop would be repurposed. She was right. Sometimes, you have to pivot your approach or give something a new title and look to resonate with your audience. Two years ago, I decided to believe that everything that happened in my life was for my greater good. I will live by this mantra today and it allows me to live in flow and to see the good in what is happening in around me. It has led me to where I am today. I would have laughed at you five years ago if you had told me I would be reaching my target audience by facilitating workplace wellness workshops. Yet, here I am, empowering others one workshop at a time. Trust the process, and keep going!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lynefrank.com
• Instagram: @iamlynefrank
• Facebook: Lyne Frank and Ignite in Community -private group
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamlynefrank
• Youtube: Ignite in Community