Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Norel Austin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Norel, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
In 2019 my life changed forever as I lost my best friend, biggest supporter, and Mother. At that time I was also leading the hospitality committee for a large chapter of an organization I’m a member of. I was working full time and still attempting to show up for others the best way I could as I have always been the person that friends and family members could turn to for advice or a listening ear. When my mother transitioned, as you can imagine I was completely lost and no longer knew who I was, what I enjoyed, or what I wanted to do with my life. I was grieving, suffering from anxiety and depression and completely burned out.
It got to the point that at the beginning of 2020 my New Years Resolution was to take one Saturday a month for myself. ONE.
At the end of 2020, as my tenure was ending as the hospitality committee chairman, I was relieved as I felt this could be time for me to truly focus on myself and my healing, but I didn’t realize how exhausted I was, how much trauma I was holding, and how much I was saying yes to things that were not fulfilling me as a person. Not to mention that my mother had always been my sounding board and voice of reason who always reminded me to care for myself first.
I believe the best thing that could have happened to me was the pandemic because during that time I had the opportunity—like many of us to take a step back from all the activities, responsibilities, and distractions of life and really take time for myself.
I became very protective of my energy and attention because I didn’t have much left and I needed it all for myself. I literally could not say yes to anyone or anything else. I had no other choice but to use what I had left to Say Yes To Myself. I began to live my life with intention.
This meant paying attention when something brought out the joy I knew was inside of me, and taking quiet time to check in with myself, and taking time to celebrate my wins, progress and myself for showing up for myself.
I was looking for activities and communities that would help me to constantly remind myself of who I am, try new things that would stretch me outside my comfort zone, and celebrated me prioritizing myself for my overall wellbeing. I didn’t see what I needed so I created The Yes Crowd, a community of thriving members who say yes to themselves and encourage others to do the same.
I created The Yes Crowd because I did not want anyone else to be unprepared through life transitions or need to start completely from scratch when their life is turned upside down due to death of a loved one, divorce, becoming a parent, an empty nester, losing a job, etc.
Norel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
The Yes Crowd is more than just a women’s empowerment organization; it’s a movement. We believe every woman deserves to answer the question, “How will you say yes to yourself today?”
With a focus on cultivating personal growth, overall well-being, and confidence, we create welcoming spaces for women to discover themselves, recharge, and embrace their authentic selves.
Our unique strength lies in our comprehensive approach to well-being. We understand that true transformation goes beyond physical health. It encompasses the mind, body, and spirit. This is why we offer a curated selection of workshops, activities, and expert-led sessions that address all areas of personal development.
Through our diverse programs, we empower women with a holistic set of tools for their personal journey:
Support and Community: Build meaningful connections with like-minded women in a safe and nurturing environment.
Self-Discovery: Explore your passions, strengths, and values through interactive workshops and activities.
Confidence Building: Develop a positive self-image and inner strength to tackle challenges and embrace opportunities.
Lifelong Learning: Gain valuable skills and knowledge from experts in various fields of personal development.
What I take the most pride in is witnessing a shift in mindset among members. They have transitioned from prioritizing others over themselves to focusing on their own needs as a primary concern, which has a positive impact on their lives AND in the lives of those they love.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I have had to unlearn the hard lesson of not asking for help. As I mentioned before I have always been the friend/family member that others could go to for help and advice. My mother called me “The Strong One” and I misinterpreted this most of my life and thought asking for help—or needing help made me appear weak or incapable—and I’m neither of those things. I know now that asking for help is one of the most powerful things anyone can do because it takes courage, humility, and vulnerability.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
The circumstances that brought me to start my business speaks to my resilience. The experience of grief, loss, anxiety, burnout and depression led me to create a space to support others on their life journeys.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theyescrowd.com
- Instagram: @theyescrowd
Image Credits
Red Photography