We were lucky to catch up with Mark Chabus recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mark , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
It all started with a book. I wrote a memoir titled ‘Remembering Your Spirit,’ which chronicled my journey of overcoming anxiety and depression after losing my girlfriend in the 9/11 attacks. My goal in writing the book was to share my personal experiences and hopefully help others who were struggling.
Little did I know that this book would also spark a new career path. One day, I received a message on LinkedIn from someone who had read my book and wanted to work with me as a coach. They were interested in exploring their own spiritual journey, and I was excited to help. So, I embarked on a journey of coaching certification training with Tony Robbins, and before I knew it, I had secured my first client. I was both nervous and exhilarated to begin this new chapter in my life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I offer one-on-one coaching sessions to help clients work through specific issues and achieve their personal goals. I also offer group coaching services for those who prefer the support and camaraderie of a community. In addition to coaching, I facilitate classes, workshops and retreats that focus on mindfulness, personal growth and development. These events provide a space for my clients to learn new skills, connect with others, and experience transformative change in a supportive environment.
My goal as a coach is to provide my clients with the tools and support they need to become their best selves, whether that means overcoming obstacles, achieving their goals, or simply learning to live more authentically.
My personal experience of overcoming pain and suffering served as the driving force that motivated me to write my story and inspire others. When I saw what was possible after my own transformation, I felt compelled to share my account with others in the hope that they could also find healing and empowerment. Even though it wasn’t part of my original plan to become a coach, I suppose it was all destined in some mystical way. I can see now how a story such as mine, coupled with the compassion born out of my hardship, could create a natural ripple effect.
As I embarked on my career as a coach, I realized that many of my clients were lacking a clear path to personal growth and transformation. They needed tried and true strategies as well as a mindset philosophy that could support them in living whole, healed, and empowered lives. I am not someone to just regurgitate what I have read from others without trying it myself. I wanted to specifically offer the proven principles that worked in my own life.
As a coach, I’m also able to provide an outside perspective that helps my clients identify the obstacles they may not be aware of. I offer support, a listening ear, and the trustworthiness that comes from someone who has faced similar challenges and emerged stronger on the other side.
What sets me apart from other coaches is my unique combination of personal experience and expertise. Having overcome personal tragedy and discovering the power of personal development and spirituality in my own life, I bring a deep understanding of the transformational process to my work. In addition, I use food and cooking as a medium for teaching and practicing mindfulness, bringing together the physical act of nourishment with the spiritual and emotional aspects of personal growth. By combining these elements, I am able to offer my clients a holistic approach to transformation that addresses not just the mind, but also the body and spirit. My goal is to help clients find a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them, and to inspire them to live more fully and authentically.
One of my proudest moments was when a client, who was the Vice President of a large HR company in NYC, hired me to work with her entire staff. Not only did I get to work with a group of talented individuals, but several of them became my long-term clients. Another proud moment was seeing clients who found success through our work together, and who then referred me to their loved ones, such as their children, siblings, or friends. These referrals were a testament to the trust they had in me as a coach and the impact of my work.
These moments not only showed the effectiveness of my coaching methods, but also demonstrated the power of word-of-mouth and the trust that my clients placed in me.
The most important thing for people to know about me is that transformation is possible. My story is one of overcoming personal tragedy, discovering the power of personal development and spirituality, and using my passion for cooking as a vehicle for mindful living. I want people to feel inspired and empowered to do the work necessary for a better, more satisfying, and fulfilled life. I’m not just a coach, but also a friend, a fellow human being who’s been through similar struggles and come out the other side. Above all, I want to be approachable and accessible. My ultimate goal is to help people see that they too can overcome their challenges and find joy and fulfillment in their lives.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The journey to overcoming my anxiety and depression began with a quest for understanding. Initially, I thought my physical symptoms were a medical issue, but after exhausting my resources, I discovered that the source of my pain was emotional. It was then that I realized the power of our thoughts to create our emotions, and the potential for emotional healing.
To heal my painful emotions and overcome my anxiety and depression, I took a multi-faceted approach. I read books, sought out mentors, attended classes and workshops, and learned about breath work, healthy living, spirituality, mindfulness, and meditation. I set realistic goals that brought me joy and excitement, and worked on noticing my internal dialogue, practicing self-compassion, and shifting my mindset.
Through this process, I developed a deeper understanding of my story and its influence on my world view, learning how to navigate my thoughts and emotions in a more constructive way. This journey was not easy, but it was incredibly transformative, and it ultimately led me to a place of strength, self-awareness, and resilience.
My hope is that my story will inspire others to embark on their own journey of healing and personal growth, and to discover their own capacity for resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that I had to unlearn was the belief that I was defined by my past experiences and the circumstances of my life. I carried this belief with me for a long time, and it often left me feeling stuck and hopeless.
The backstory behind this lesson goes back to my experience of personal tragedy. Initially, I believed that this experience defined me and that I was destined to live a life of pain and suffering. Sadness and suffering became part of my identity and I couldn’t see past it. This belief held me back from truly healing and growing, because it kept me focused on the past and prevented me from seeing the possibilities for my future.
It wasn’t until I began a journey of self-discovery and personal growth that I started to question this belief and realize its limitations. I had to unlearn the idea that my past defined me, and instead embrace the possibility of a different future, one where I could create the life I wanted and thrive despite my limitations and the challenges I had faced.
Contact Info:
- Website: markchabus.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consciousnessinthekitchen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markchabus
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markchabus/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/heavenlychef
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkChabus
- Other: Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/markchabus/p/consciousness-in-the-kitchen?r=26ha2p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true