Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Goldau.
Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello San Diego! My name’s Alex Goldau and I’m truly grateful to have the opportunity to introduce myself to everyone who reads this interview. Almost 20 years ago, I packed up my truck and drove west from Texas because I wanted to learn how to surf. After traveling the world for five years, as a cruise line event coordinator, I fell in love with this beautiful city and never left.
I transitioned from the cruise ships to trade shows and organized massive events while spending every spare moment in the water. I did the corporate thing for fifteen years, met my beautiful wife, and loved every minute of it. But I began to develop a desire for something more. I had a great career yet was lacking fulfillment. I wanted to do something that made a difference. I followed that desire down the rabbit hole and went on a journey of self-discovery. Then I quit my job at the beginning of 2020 to build my own business and haven’t looked back.
Today, I have the best job in the world, my wife by my side, a beautiful baby boy, another nugget on the way, and I still spend my spare time in the water. My stoke levels are at an all-time high, and the fulfillment is flowing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The catalyst for my career change was a panic attack I had in the middle of an event. Shortly after, I had an emotional breakdown on vacation in Portugal. If you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you I’m a laid-back dude. During that time, I was a total mess. When I finally “figured it out” and was ready to step away from my full-time gig, we found out my wife was pregnant, and I had to decide if I truly believed in myself.
At first, one of the hardest things about striking out on my own path was the regular emotional rollercoaster of doubt and uncertainty. Over time, I learned to relax and enjoy the ride. So I took the plunge and a month later, the world was introduced to COVID-19. Life always brings obstacles and challenges, but I’ve learned those are the experiences that teach me the most about myself. I’ve learned to stay calm and follow my gut. If I can do that, I feel like I can handle whatever life throws at me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a coach. I help entrepreneurs and executives create that sense of fulfillment we’re all looking for. I help turn that fleeting sense of happiness we’ve experienced through “achievement” into a permanent daily experience.
My client’s goals are the project, and I’m the project manager who helps them reach the finish line. When I started on my journey, I was on my own. Then I started to learn about coaching and hired my own. Having someone there who was helping me along the way was a game-changer and inspired me to do the same for others.
My clients and I begin by breaking out of the mold they’ve been stuck in for so long. Whatever that pattern or routine looks like. Then we work together to reconnect with their joy, passion, and purpose. We minimize the things that drain them of energy, and we add in the stuff that fills them with energy and those feelings of fulfillment.
I’m a firm believer that there’s no separation between a person’s business life and their personal life, and often the recipe for fulfillment lies in discovering their personal balance between the two. It’s been an incredible experience to build a business around helping others find their happiness, and even though it’s been a few successful years, I feel like I’m just getting started. It really gets me stoked, and I use that stoke to help my clients find theirs!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The main thing I’ve learned from this crisis is that I’m ultimately in control of my experience. When we first went into lockdown, I experienced the fear and uncertainty that came along with it. I felt the need to work harder, especially since I had just left a stable job to create my own business. I felt an intense sense of responsibility and pressure because my son had just been born. Luckily, I had learned the skills I needed to manage the stress and discomfort.
I slowed down and focused on what I could control. I tightened up my finances and defined the amount of time I had bought myself through savings. Then I did my best every day to work from a place of creativity and possibility instead of fear and survival. I made a point of focusing my attention on the things that were most important. For me, it was my family. Instead of having tunnel vision on my work, I made sure to be present for my son and enjoy the amazing experience of watching our baby grow. In that sense, quarantine ended up being a blessing.
But something funny happened along the way. The more I focused on what was important, the easier it became to work creatively. It’s counterintuitive, but the more I slowed down, the more business picked up. This past year I’ve had a lot of firsts. My first kid, my first virtual keynote speech, my first business workshops, and my first team coaching sessions. The results have been a successful year in business as well as a successful first year of my new family life.
Every day I keep my focus on the gratitude I feel for my life. I know I’m privileged. I know there are people out there who have much more dire situations than my own, and I don’t forget that. But by loving the life I have, I’m filled with energy that I can use to help other people improve their lives, and that feels really good.
Contact Info:
- Email: coachalexgoldau@gmail.com
- Website: www.alexgoldau.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulcoachag/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.goldau
