Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Csaky.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Sure, I’d love to! I’m a certified professional coach who’s super passionate about helping women reignite their spark and live their life’s purpose.
Ever since I was a teenager, I had this profound feeling that there was something out there that I was meant to do—something more meaningful than just working a job in exchange for a paycheck.
I was hungry to figure out what that was, so I read lots of books, attended many seminars and worked with a few specialists who asked me the usual litany of questions like ‘what do you enjoy doing?’ and ‘what marketable skills do you have?’ Yet, I was still pretty stuck.
So I just went about my life doing all the things I thought I “should” do, assuming that one day I’d get to a place where I felt deeply content and fulfilled by my work. I didn’t love what I was doing at the time, but I couldn’t figure out what my other options were so I just stayed the course.
Externally, it looked like I had a pretty good life and for the most part, I did! But on the inside, I was barely hanging on by a thread.
After doing corporate marketing in NYC for nearly 10 years, then co-owning two spa businesses in the Philadelphia suburbs for the next 10, I was burnt out, stressed out, didn’t have much of a work-life balance and didn’t like (or even recognize) the person I had become.
Then one day, I reached a breaking point.
I suddenly understood with complete clarity that the path that I was on was NOT going to give me the peace, happiness and sense-of-purpose that I so craved. There HAD to be another way, and I became determined to find it.
Pretty quickly, I gave up my stake in the businesses and sold my house. I had always dreamed of living somewhere warm and by the ocean, so I moved to San Diego and declared to myself that it was finally time to live MY life.
Several months in, I was searching through my hard drive, when I noticed a Word document from 2003 called “Career Options for Me.”
I had zero recollection of writing this, so I opened it out of curiosity, thinking that it must belong to someone else.
Right at the top of this bulleted list, I read the words: “Coaching. Writing. Creating events to support women.”
Completely surprised, three things became obvious to me. Number one was that I had I written this list. Number two was that it mentioned the very things that I was STILL thinking about doing, to that very day.
And most importantly, I realized that I was never going to STOP wanting to do these things.
It was my Firefly Moment.
I then completed my professional coach certification and I now help women reconnect to themselves and live life on their terms…and I love it!
Has it been a smooth road?
I think that there are always challenges on the road to making a change, especially when it comes to making an upgrade.
As I mentioned before, I moved to San Diego from Philadelphia, where I owned my home, and also two businesses with my family.
When I first gave all of this up and moved across the country, a lot of people thought I was either crazy, stupid or ridiculous. But I did it anyway because I could FEEL without a doubt that this is what I needed to do for myself.
But talk about making big changes—this one was HUGE for me! And I did it all on my own, except for the encouragement of a few friends who believed in me.
Did every person I know support my decision? No!
But early on, I got a feeling for who was cheering me on and who thought I just was being foolish, and I got VERY intentional about who I could share what details with.
I once heard that when setting an appropriate boundary, the RIGHT one allows you to feel safe enough to let your guard down, and comfortable enough to be yourself.
So, to keep myself moving forward and prevent any negative external opinions from pulling me off track, I decided to create strong boundaries with all the people who didn’t support my decision, and protect my dream as if it was a baby.
After all, my dream WAS new and fragile and it DEFINITELY wasn’t strong enough to handle a lot of criticism. So, like any good mother, I cared for my dream the best way I could, so that it could grow, be healthy and eventually stand on its own. And it worked.
For anyone trying to go for a dream when they’re feeling like their family and friends don’t support them, I’d remind you of the familiar the saying, “Mother knows best.” and ask you: How can you become the mother of your dream and do what you know is best to feed, love and protect it as it starts to develop and mature?
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a certified professional coach, founder of The Firefly Moment, and creator of Ignite Your Life Purpose, a digital course that helps women get clarity on what they want, break free from what’s been holding them back, and create a solid plan for confidently beginning to live their dream life.
Specifically, I specialize in life purpose coaching and help women reignite their spark and make unapologetically authentic choices to create lives they LOVE.
I first discovered the power of coaching through Debbie Ford’s coach training program in 2003. Then, after a successful career in corporate marketing, followed by a decade as a small business owner, I decided to “ignite my life purpose.”
At age 40, I moved from Philadelphia to sunny San Diego and got back on the path to being a professional coach. And I’ve been doing that ever since!
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think the first step to finding a mentor is getting clear on what it is that you’re hoping to accomplish–even if it’s just to get some more clarity on what you want to do.
Once you know what that is, use that intention as your guide in selecting someone to guide you.
I’m also a big believer in following your gut. When you meet someone, have a conversation with them. Are they now where you’d like to be? Is it easy to talk to them, or is it awkward? Do they seem warm and open to helping you? Do you feel comfortable sharing personal details with this person? Listen to your intuition and you’ll know when it’s a right fit. Additionally, if it doesn’t feel like a good connection, please give yourself the gift of continuing to look! You’ll find the right person and learn about communication and connection along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thefireflymoment.com/
- Email: support@thefireflymoment.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefireflymoment/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFireflyMoment/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FireflyMoment
Image Credit:
Wendy K. Yalom
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