I had the pleasure of meeting Victoria (digitally!) and she has been a calming voice through the turbulent nature of entrepreneurship.
A recovering stress-aholic, Victoria had shingles twice before the age of 30. Sadly this is becoming the new normal for our stressed-out society, but it fuelled Victoria to figure out a way to live a less stressful life. Once she was on the other side of her own journey, Victoria trained as a health and life coach, and is now on a mission to help women stress less so that they can actually enjoy their daily lives.
What's one piece of advice you would offer to someone thinking of starting their own business (or to other entrepreneurs)?
Make self-care an integral part of your business plan. If YOU are not operating on a high level, your business won't operate on a high level. Self-care is good for business.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Stop giving a flying you know what about what people think about you or your body. You'll find your way even if you don't know the answer right now (this is still advice I need and use today!).
What's your definition of success?
Doing work that fulfills me without feeling like I'm overwhelmed. Being in the moment with my family. Giving myself the credit I deserve.
If you could magically solve one problem in the world, what would that be? Empathy. I think if we were all able to empathize with others better we'd have clearer perspectives on a number of issues.
If you could invite three people, living or dead, for a fantasy dinner party, who would those people be?
Michelle Obama, my aunt Jean and Nellie McClung.
How did you find your purpose?
Through a lot of trial and error. I thought I wanted to be a psychologist and go back to school to be a counsellor. Counselling has been a game changer in my life, but I realized early on I didn't want to deal with people's deep darks. Ironically, through coaching, though it is forward motion and action-oriented, the deep darks always come up, but we're able to move forward in a productive way. After my first practice coaching session I finished on a high, and to this day every 1-1 coaching session is a high. It feels too right. Public speaking is the same. I'm always nervous, but by the end I feel like I'm on top of the world.
When did you “fail” and what did you learn from it?
All the freaking time, lol. I frequently feel like I fail at parenting (most parents do), but what I continually learn is that my kids still want me. When they fall, they want me. When something scares them in the night, they call for me. When one of them wallops the other in the face, the one in tears wants me. So even from those moments I've learned that my perception of myself versus the reality are vastly different. I can think I'm failing, but their actions and their desire for me in their hardest moments show me that I'm NOT a failure.
What is the most memorable meal you've ever had?
My husband and I went to a blind experience restaurant in Berlin! Coolest, weirdest experience ever. We had no idea what we were eating until afterwards. Senses on high alert and we didn't speak the language either!
What are three items in your fridge you can’t live without?
Spinach. Natural peanut butter. White cheddar popcorn (okay... not in the fridge...).
When it comes to your meat and seafood, what matters most to you?
Honestly the taste. We've all had that watery meat that just doesn't deliver, so solid taste means that I can be a sucky cook and it still delivers!
What is your favourite dish to cook for your loved ones?
I make a decent bolognese in which I've learned to hide all kinds of veggies for my kids. I'm also the baker in the family, so a batch of cookies is the easiest thing to whip up.
What is your must-try local restaurant?
I have two small children under the age of four so I barely go out these days, BUT we recently tried a new restaurant called Goose in our neighbourhood and it was delicious! Canadian cuisine. Delightful.