We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marla Albertie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is a mindset. For example, if you set a goal to go to the gym twice a week and you did, then you are successful. I know you may ask, well Marla, what about if the person only went once? In my eyes they are still a success, because even the slightest movement is still progress and that is a success. I think too often, people compare success to having a lot of money or even celebrities and that is not always the case. The first step a person has to take to be successful is to first define success for themselves, and not by society’s standards. Next, the person has to believe they can achieve their own definition of success. Notice how everything I mentioned is reliant on the person. Again, success is a mindset. I tell myself I am successful everyday, therefore I am.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a happy, cruising coach! My coaching business will be 10 years old in April 2023 (which is good for a coaching company) and I am super proud of that. I run a multi-media coaching and training company that creates strategies and solutions for work-life harmony and integration (WLH/I). I started my business doing resumes for free, yes free. From there I decided to get certified in life, career, and business coaching and the rest is history. I have ran a blog, my own You-Tube talkshow, wrote for Medium.com, ran an annual women’s conference, authored two books, just started a publishing company (more to come on that) all while working a full-time job, in school and dealing with life along the way. It is the dealing with life part that makes me so passionate and why I teach and coach work-life harmony and integration principles to the working woman. I want her to believe she can harmonize her life too regardless what stage she is in, which is the problem many women have as they think they cannot do things for themselves and they must be all things to all people…wrong!!. I have been through two divorces, escaped organized religion, had to start over, credit shot, dealt with death of two brothers and mother, and much more. If I can do it I know any woman I help can too. I offer a 6-month coaching package, along with freebies to help them get through this.

I am proud of many things (my son, career, life etc). The latest thing I am proud of is my new nonprofit I/O for Teens Inc. We are a skill, confidence, and career building organization teaching teenagers how to achieve their dreams based on the science of human behavior. I/O Psychology is the study of human behavior in the workplace and I am earning my PhD in the field. It is a beautiful field.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn what the church and society told me who I was. Let me explain, I was raised in the church, therefore that was all I knew growing up. So naturally, I had to follow suit and get married and have children, this is what society expects. Although I have an awesome 25 year old son and I am grateful God gave him to me, I still noticed there was something missing, I did not know myself. My identity was wrapped up in my husband and the church. Every Sunday in church I was told I had to work on something in my marriage, I wasn’t good enough, and I had to go on being the happy wife again that is what society expects. I WAS EXHAUSTED! I left organized religion and my 2nd husband in 2016 and never looked back. Sure I have had to start over and face challenges, but my life has been GREAT! and my relationship with God and the Universe are even better! I would not change my life for a second. I did the self-work and still do it. I went to therapy, journaled, spent time alone, and with friends. I learned to LOVE me! I love the new Marla and the future Marla is one awesome chick too!

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

In my 9-5 job I am an HR Director of an amazing team. The best advice I will give about maintaining a team of high moral is, your team will feed off what you give them. You are the leader. Never forget that. Leadership is not rocket science ( the book is in the works). To lead a great team, you have to first like people, and understand that people are people. My team has a great morale because I ALWAYS know the fact that I am dealing with humans who have emotions first. When you treat people like humans, and not machines, they will love you. Next, is to be honest with them. They are not children. Don’t keep secrets. If you can’t share, then say that, but don’t be passive aggressive, that serves no one. Lastly, explain the vision and the why and how you feel about it. Be open about it and ask for their feedback. Everyone wants to be seen and heard. My team knows I hear and see them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ioforteens.org/ and https://www.truthspeakscoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tspeaksgroup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Truthspeakscoaching/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085950013648
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlajalbertie/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TSpeaksCoaching
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC7fGDaK8PbYXWh9706HZ6A
• Other: Truth Speaks Academy https://marla-s-school-a6c9.thinkific.com/