We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Pam Dunn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Pam, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
Most dreams are built on the shoulders of the people before, that built a dream. Such is the case for Your Infinite Life Training & Coaching Company and me, Pam Dunn.
Bill Riedler founded Global Relationship Centers in 1975. In 1995, he became my mentor, teacher and guide through the challenging times I was experiencing all the way through to the fruition of MY dream. Bill taught thousands of us to rise up to the best version of ourselves, he taught us to push through fears, he taught us to uphold our intentions, he taught us to keep our word, he taught us much more; these are the highlights.
In 2005, he decided to have a succession plan and asked that I learn the company from the inside out, so that I could run the company when he retired with his wife, Beth. By that time, I was running my own Center, teaching courses and training Center Owners. I thought I had learned a lot from him before! My learning and training from the inside out seemed to grow exponentially. On May 4, 2006, Bill Riedler passed away from complications from cancer.
I remember asking him before he died to not die until I was ready. Well, I was mad for awhile during my sadness because I did not feel ready to step into the role of running the company along with Beth. Thank goodness for his teachings and my learning because we held on magnificently while upholding the legacy.
On January 1, 2008, I became the sole owner. For the next year, I failed and succeeded in so many different ways. One of the main things I learned from Bill, was to take something and make it my own. He would teach us how to do that with Global’s mission. So, for the first year, that was my goal. On January 1, 2009, I changed the name to Your Infinite Life Training & Coaching Company as the fruition of what Bill’s legacy was and to honor the message he taught me and so many – to follow your dreams, to chase your passion, to never give up and to own (be responsible for) its expression.
So now, Your Infinite Life Training & Coaching Company is the journey of many people, all connected, longing to experience the infinite within the confines of the finite self. We serve to move people to become and manifest a life beyond their wildest dreams. We encourage leadership qualities as well as the collaboration of following and teamwork. Our leaders challenge the status quo. We consistently guide people to connect or reconnect to the depth and complexity of their humanness. We dare to assess the sacredness of each individual soulful life with the depth, value and reverence necessary to lend the ordinary extraordinary meaning. We assist people to discover, honor and express their magnificence.
What is magnificence? Magnificence is much more than that moment of experiencing your greatness, although that is magnificent. Magnificence is that moment you feel angry and rather than hurting someone, instead treat them with firm kindness. Magnificence is when you feel hurt and allow yourself to feel the feelings from your tender heart, rather than just telling someone how they hurt you. Magnificence is when you are afraid, and allow your body to feel the fear with an open heart, and then access your wisdom on what to do. Magnificence is feeling sad, while knowing that you deeply care. Magnificence is committing to a life of learning and a willingness to look inside to find answers that may have been hidden. Magnificence is learning to be at ease with yourself when making mistakes, and learning to love and be loved unconditionally.
Pam, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I believe that “Behind every mistake you make is a glimpse of your magnificence.”
I, Pam Dunn, been a catalyst for transformative learning and leadership development for more than 22 years. My experience is certainly helpful,however, I know that my years in the personal and professional development arena has provided so much learning from each person I have encountered along the way.
I have a compassionate approach to personal and team development that stems from my innate conviction that each and every person is magnificent and has unique character traits and talents to contribute to their world. It is also my belief that everyone can discover, honor and express their magnificence. Once someone discovers and unlocks their unique expression of their true self in a productive, self reliant, interdependent manner thus not only will they benefit, but their family, workplace and community as well.
Due to my years of practice, I have the ability to get to the root of a situation or life’s challenge with grace and reverence for those I work with which provides an environment for growth and change. My background in the area of executive development with extensive experience in start ups, service, retail, sports teams, executive level, and coaches has provided me with a solid understanding of existing environments and an uncanny ability to gain agreement and buy-in from those I works with to dive deeper into their own work. I have learned most from doing this deep work myself.
In 2007, I authored Journey to Your Soul’s Magnificence – What a Difference a Year Makes, published by Nightingale-Conant, now, also, an online offering.
In 2014, my second book, It’s Time to Look Inside – to see yourself and everyone through the lens of magnificence was published by Balboa Press, a division of Hay House. Both books provide the reader with tangible tools and effective practices for positive, sustainable change.
I created Your Infinite Life Training & Coaching Company and developed multiple coaching and training platforms. The company has helped thousands of people and countless companies/organizations/teams change their lives and ways of working for sustainable improvement. My Coach Certification Program offers a unique emotional intelligence approach that provides client guided coaching practices.
In 2004, I founded The Peaceful Project, a non-profit 501(C)3 Corporation. Through the Peaceful Project, our team primarily works with youth and schools to change any destructive and ineffective behaviors, become more responsible for all of their behavior and self esteem and unleash the power of inner peace in their lives, no matter their age.
I am a native of St. Louis, MO, although I have lived in Chicago and Alaska. I raised three sons. My three sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren are living their magnificent lives in Missouri, Colorado and California.
My time is spent on creating shared leadership systems for coaches and course leaders. Your Infinite Life Training & Coaching Company is the journey of many people, all connected, longing to experience the infinite within the confines of the finite self. We serve to move people to become and manifest a life beyond their wildest dreams. We encourage leadership qualities as well as the collaboration of following and teamwork. Our leaders challenge the status quo. We consistently guide people to connect or reconnect to the depth and complexity of their humanness. We dare to assess the sacredness of each individual soulful life with the depth, value and reverence necessary to give the ordinary, extraordinary meaning. We assist people to discover, honor and express their magnificence.
What is magnificence? Magnificence is much more than that moment of experiencing your greatness, although that is magnificent. Magnificence is that moment you feel angry and rather than hurting someone, instead treat them with firm kindness. Magnificence is when you feel hurt and allow yourself to feel the feelings from your tender heart, rather than just telling someone how they hurt you. Magnificence is when you are afraid, and allow your body to feel the fear with an open heart, and then honor your innate wisdom about what to do. Magnificence is feeling sad, while knowing that you deeply care. Magnificence is committing to a life of learning and a willingness to look inside to find answers that may have been hidden. Magnificence is learning to be at ease with making mistakes, and learning to love and be loved unconditionally. These lofty goals require commitment, dedication and a lot of practice!
I am very proud of the work we do at Your Infinite Life and for a collective leadership team of diverse people devoted to equity and inclusion.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Prior to March, 2020, my business was primarily in person for personal development courses and coach certification training. Within a few days of the Covid Pandemic lockdown, I knew I had to do something and do it fast or the business would perish.
I was also in my own process because I was instantly shut off from my elderly mother, my son, daughter in law, and new granddaughter. I really wanted to sink into a bit of depression and do absolutely nothing but eat and binge watch shows. A couple of my colleagues checked up on me and it was enough to get motivated to move.
The first thing I did was breakdown the Coach Certification program into a 20 week online program. I was able to recruit 10 students and it was amazing! The feedback was great and I loved the consistency of meeting every week rather than every other month for a weekend.
I then took some of our methods and developed an online Skilled Communication class, started working on reconstructing Freedom to Be and the Couples Course online. This took many months and lots of help from the leadership team. I discovered much more collaboration amongst the team doing this.
The team got creative with ideas and I am currently running a monthly membership program called Learning Journey and it consists of 2 live sessions during the month. We have moved through lots of different topics in the last 18 months.
As we begin to start in person courses again, I am definitely keeping all the online formats too. It was a challenging time and also a time to recognize resilience, determination, and the passion to spread the message of magnificence.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I am always immersed in a book, podcast, article, or video on how to be a more effective leader. My favorite way of leading is shared leadership and it requires a significant letting go of needing to have all the power. In shared leadership you share power and still maintain ultimate responsibility.
The first I read about this was Brene Brown’s, Dare to Lead. I do also learn a lot from Patrick Lencioni and his books and podcast. The major thing I have adopted is I do not call myself President or CEO. I call myself and am known as Chief Responsibility Officer (CFO). This is an accurate depiction of my role. While all the leaders that take on projects, etc., have responsibility, they know I have their back and I support them, and I have the responsibility of the company.
From my perspective, it has meant I had to expand and develop my faith in people, trust the leaders on the team, see the best in others, be willing to hold them accountable to their magnificence, and be kind. In turn, I receive the same from all the them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourinfinitelifeonline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourinfinitelife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourinfinitelife
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-dunn-43a6646/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCreWvG0A341a6VtBmWVCUsw
Image Credits
Erin King