Change Starts with You

Episode summary:

• [00:02:32] Danielle’s Burnout Story
  Mental health struggles while starting her first company in circular economy for children’s fashion and teaching English online.
• [00:06:35] Coming out of the darkness by transitioning careers to become a mentor and professional coach.
• [00:08:36] How her experience shapes her work today
  

• [00:09:57] Danielle’s Spark
  the importance of emotional awareness especially as a logical thinker
• [00:10:25] resource: Emotional Agility by Susan David
• [00:11:32] Collaboration with corporations to enhance existing learning and development programs, bCoached

• [00:13:07] Exploring Meditation
  Exploring the transformative nature and significance of meditation.
• [00:16:48] Using tone and pace to bring calmness and creativity

• [00:18:22] Final Five Questions
• [00:18:40] Definition of Wellness
• [00:20:29] Recharge Method
• [00:21:07] Masterful Skill
• [00:22:08] Geeking Out
• [00:23:31] Ideal Day

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Listen to the full episode

Meet our guest, Danielle Francis

Danielle is an entrepreneur who is passionate about helping individuals learn and grow. She has over 15 years of experience working as an engineer in operations, but now serves others as a university lecturer and corporate trainer. As the co-founder of bCOACHED, a corporate training and coaching firm, she helps professionals and organizations align their actions to their goals.

As an American settled in Spain, she enjoys being socially and physically active. You can often find her hiking, hosting dinners, and occasionally doing woodworking.

Learn more about Danielle’ work at bCoached and connect with Danielle on Linkedin

Resources

• Danielle’s TEDx Talk: Dare to Live your Dream
• Emotional Agility by Susan David

transcript

transcript created by Castmagic AI, may include errors

Danielle Francis [00:00:00]:

Sometimes it seems like you have to just crawl just on your belly, just flat crawling through the mud just to get to the top of the hill. And I honestly believe I had to experience that in order to become a coach.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:00:19]:

Are you ready to reclaim your life from exhaustion and expand the possibilities of what life can be? If so, I’m your guide, Emma Pacitti, work life geek and engineer turned resiliency coach on a mission to redefine how we work, live, and utilize our energy. Each episode, I dig deep with my guests as they share their story spark strategies for developing our own unique core of lifeblood. This is Engineering Serenity. Episode 6, change starts with you top. With Danielle Francis.

Danielle Francis [00:00:52]:

I’m excited to be here. My name is Danielle Francis.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:00:57]:

What industry do you work in?

Danielle Francis [00:01:00]:

Top. I work as a professional coach, so professional training and services.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:01:06]:

Top. Primarily with individuals or also corporations?

Danielle Francis [00:01:09]:

Corporations. I also do some individuals, but now mainly focusing on corporations.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:01:14]:

Do you like your career choice?

Danielle Francis [00:01:16]:

Top. I love it. Absolutely love it. I’m very thankful and fortunate.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:01:23]:

Where do you live?

Danielle Francis [00:01:24]:

Top. Barcelona, Spain.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:01:28]:

What culture were you raised in?

Danielle Francis [00:01:30]:

United States, New Jersey, African American slash Caribbean culture in the US. Do you have any hobbies? Yes. Top. So one of the things I’m actively into now is, like, a little bit of woodworking and making furniture. Top. So I signed up for a class and I made, like, my 1st table not too long ago. Also, the desk that I’m, like, working on. I bought the tabletop more than a year ago and I sanded it and stained it.

Danielle Francis [00:02:01]:

So that’s something I really enjoy.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:02:04]:

It’s amazing. Like, top. I don’t know. You can’t see my face, but my face is just in awe. You’re working 50 hours a week in the center of Barcelona, cha cha top. Building your own tables. I’m imagining some magical workshop somewhere in the city.

Danielle Francis [00:02:18]:

Well, not quite a magical workshop, but, top. Yeah. There’s this workshop that I go to and it’s quite dusty.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:02:27]:

Okay. You ready for the hard question?

Danielle Francis [00:02:30]:

I guess. Top.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:02:31]:

Do you have any history of burnout?

Danielle Francis [00:02:35]:

Yes. Unfortunately, I do. I do have a history of burnout.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:02:40]:

Top. Are you willing to share that story with

Danielle Francis [00:02:43]:

us? Yes. Now at this stage of where I am, I am. Absolutely. Top. So I burned out probably about 3 years ago. At least the top three and a half years ago when it began. And it’s when I had started my 1st company top and was not doing so well. And just trying to figure out, like, how in the world can I make this work? On top of the company not doing so well.

Danielle Francis [00:03:16]:

I had the financial strain that accompanies with being an entrepreneur, top self funding, trying to sign funding resources. And it was just a really, really tough time. Top. On top of trying to build my business, I was a hustler, basically. I was supposed to here in Barcelona trying to make it work. And top. A lot of the things that I was doing, outside of my business, which was a circular economy for children’s fashion. Top.

Danielle Francis [00:03:49]:

So essentially like we were working with sustainable children’s brands and looking to build a circular economy by selling those brands and then having, our clients and customers send it back so that we 10, resell again. So we had this idea, my business partner and I, and we were trying to make it work as well as trying to get fundings for it. Top. And in the process of, getting that, it just wasn’t working. Top. It just wasn’t working.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:04:25]:

So how did you know you were burning out? What symptoms did you have?

Danielle Francis [00:04:34]:

There were a lot. So one of the things that happened is I was trying to make top ends meet. So I started teaching English online. I was getting up at, like, 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, teaching children top through a company that taught English to children in China. So I was getting up, teaching, finishing at 3, then starting my business, top, working to, like, 9, 10, and doing that, like, Monday through Friday. And even on Saturdays Sundays, I was, like, teaching English as well. Top. I also was trying to, do some Airbnb experiences here in Barcelona.

Danielle Francis [00:05:13]:

I was also making, business plans and pitch decks that I could do on, like, Fiverr. I was just doing everything. And I was just constantly I was exhausted. I wasn’t I just wasn’t, there for myself or my friends, for the partner that I had at the time. And I also was going through a depression at the moment and had no ways to actually get help in terms of, like, financial help at the moment. Top. And so how did I know? Looking back at the moment, it was not something that I was familiar with at the time, but I just, my body was just giving out. There was days where I would just If I didn’t have to be present, I would just crawl in bed and just, like, cry and, like, sit in the dark or for days at a time, top, trying to figure out what was the next way to get out.

Danielle Francis [00:06:19]:

And, yeah, it was just foggy. I was sick, like physically catching colds all the time and like my body was just in pain. Like aches and pains it seems. But, yeah, it was a really, really, low point top part.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:06:35]:

What is that? You do about that? You were in this darkness. You’re sitting there crying. You’re showing up and pushing yourself to just make ends meet. Top. What did you do to get out of that spiral?

Danielle Francis [00:06:46]:

Yeah. Well, I think just with my top personality. One thing I was just like, Danielle, you cannot stay here forever. Like, you cannot sit here. I’ve always been a person top of who, like, if I see something. It’s like, okay, I want it. I’m gonna go for it. And a friend of mine said to me, top.

Danielle Francis [00:07:07]:

Why don’t you start, like, mentoring? There’s a mentoring program at our school that you can mentor other entrepreneurs. So top. I started mentoring. I also changed my friend circle. So I had a lot of friends that I was time hanging around with that, just like teaching English. And I was like, this isn’t what I wanna do. I started connecting again with some older friends, through my MBA program. Because you know they say like you’re the average of the 4 or 5 people that you’re most closest to.

Danielle Francis [00:07:41]:

Top. And in

Evelyn Pacitti [00:07:41]:

a way, I kinda feel like

Danielle Francis [00:07:43]:

it’s true because it also helps spark my ambition again. So I started mentoring, number 1 to help entrepreneurs avoid what I was doing. So I quite had a number of mentors that I was just, like, volunteering and doing. Top, and I saw that teaching English wasn’t in my future. It wasn’t giving me the skills that I needed besides being in front of the camera for the whole day. But then I also signed up for a course to top. Learn to become a professional coach. So that also I had to scrape some coins to get that together.

Danielle Francis [00:08:22]:

Top. But I just just realized I couldn’t just stay there. And, unfortunately, I didn’t have the financial means to get help because I probably could have crawled out faster, top, but it did take me some time to to get to a better place.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:08:36]:

So how has this experience. Becoming the mentor, doing the coaching certification shaped what you do now.

Danielle Francis [00:08:45]:

Yes. So top. Sometimes it seems like you have to just crawl just, like, on your belly just flat crawling through the mud, just to get to the top of the hill. And I honestly believe I had to experience that in order to time to become a coach. It allowed me to. Tap more into like my personal resources. Top. It, brought me more into like meditation, which are tools that I use now.

Danielle Francis [00:09:18]:

Not always with my clients because I work a lot with engineers. Top. But it’s helped me become less logical, which is what I bring towards the clients that I work with on an individual basis, but now also with companies because I understand, like, they have a bottom line that they need to hit. Top. So not only can I address them from the logical standpoint, but also address them from the needs and the challenges time that their employees are facing because I actually went through it, especially from a burnout perspective? So, yeah, I can relate. Top.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:09:56]:

So, so tell me more about what you do now. What is your spark? What is the thing that’s really getting you excited right now?

Danielle Francis [00:10:03]:

So there’s top two things. So working individually with clients, I just really love working, especially with technological thinkers, the structured thinkers as I like to put it. Because usually by the end of our time together, top. They’re more aware of their emotions, why their emotions are important. One book that I content, like, referring back to with my client is emotional agility, I think by Susan David. And she talks about like emotions being like the signpost. Top. And working with my clients, one of them, he was saying he actually, like, now uses the things we’ve discuss not only at work, but also with children.

Danielle Francis [00:10:47]:

And the purpose of connecting with people and becoming more aware of their current situation and it leads to, like, more conversation, setting limitations and boundaries, top, being more vocal about this is what I’m going to do to prevent burnout, as well as communicating like, hey, this is too much on my plate and checking in with your team to see, are you okay? Yeah. So I love seeing that from individual stand point. And then also with companies, helping them change the company culture. That’s even a larger impact. So that’s something that I enjoy top as well. It gets me excited.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:11:28]:

How are you actively working to change company culture?

Danielle Francis [00:11:32]:

So when we work with a company, top. We don’t just come in with a coaching program. What we try to do is partner with them with top of their existing learning and development. So if there’s a program that they’re already looking to do for, like, women development, top giving people more of a voice. So typically they’ll have already some type of like trainings. Also we’ll suggest to bring in their leadership, to help facilitate that, to allow their employees to feel more comfortable in being more vocal. And the things that they’re learning in these L and D programs, they usually come back and reflect on in the coaching sessions.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:12:12]:

L and D.

Danielle Francis [00:12:14]:

So oh, sorry. Top. Thank you. Learning and development.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:12:17]:

Okay.

Danielle Francis [00:12:18]:

Nice. But yes, we partner to help support and create the culture because coaching alone can support clients on an individual level, but to really create the culture, we need the company to top actively engaged as well.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:12:36]:

Something I couldn’t agree more with. We can only do so much to help the individuals, but if the environment’s not there to properly support, top. You’re dealing more with the symptom than with the actual root cause.

Danielle Francis [00:12:49]:

A 100%. 100%. Yes.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:12:52]:

Top. It’s so good to have other people in the conversation about it. That always gets me excited.

Danielle Francis [00:12:58]:

Same here. Yeah. Top. So those are some of the things that we do here at b coach.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:13:07]:

Amazing. So you mentioned a little bit that meditation has become really important for you. Top. Can you tell me a bit more of like, what does meditation mean for you? Because I feel like meditation is this really interesting idea that if you’re not very much into it, top. Seems very, like you sit down, you try it, you do the app. But once you start practicing, it takes on its own very different nature. So I love to get people’s, top. Especially people who find it very helpful, especially in their recovery journey to learn more about what is your take on meditation? What does it mean to you? How does it show up for you?

Danielle Francis [00:13:42]:

Yes. For me personally, meditation is the time for me not to think. Top. It’s that moment in the day where I can just be, like, fully present, fully aware with myself, my body. Sometimes even just, like, my emotions that I am feeling. And it’s not something that I used to do. Even now when I work with clients, time when they bring up meditation. I even say it’s not necessarily for everyone, because people say, oh, yes, I wanna start meditating.

Danielle Francis [00:14:14]:

Top. Well, what are you looking to gain out of meditation? Like like what is the purpose? And then also, top. People think meditation is just like sitting here and there’s even dynamic meditation. You can walk. Top, and actually, we meditate quite a bit and we don’t realize it.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:14:35]:

Okay. Explain this more.

Danielle Francis [00:14:38]:

Top. So you know the moments when you are, let’s say, driving to work and you just get there, you even know how you got there or you’re just, like, chopping vegetables mindlessly or just in the shower. That is a form of meditation when we’re just kind of on autopilot top mode. In those moments, when you have those, the creativity sparks, that’s our line like clamping itself down. Top. And that’s also one of the things I learned through my training just a little bit into neuro linguistic programming. Top. Those are the moments when we can tap into our creativity, Boris.

Danielle Francis [00:15:16]:

So when we’re coaching, we actually sometimes bring our clients down top from, like, this high energy level just to these, like, lower calmer levels of energy to help them tap into their creativity. Top. So meditation isn’t always just these moments of silence. It can be moments where we’re just at a lower energy level top. And that happens like when we’re just on autopilot mode.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:15:43]:

Interesting. So do you actively work to get in that low energy mode yourself?

Danielle Francis [00:15:50]:

Yeah. Personally, I do. Usually, it’s a morning walk for me top. So just relax. Sometimes also in the evenings, I’ll just take a moment and just sit. Top. So there’s various types of meditation. There’s like a focused meditation where you can specifically focus on one thing, whether it’s the touch or sight or sounds.

Danielle Francis [00:16:14]:

There’s meditation where you can clear your mind and just be present. So there’s all types of meditation and then I do have a client says they’re interested in it. Based on what I know, perhaps I’ll suggest top of the, try this route and send them some like readings and links. Yeah.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:16:33]:

It’s interesting. And it’s fun to see how you’re also blending that into the work that you do. Because it’s such a critical part of what you do and what you’ve learned about yourself. I’d love to see how who we are as people top. Blends into how we actively work as coaches.

Danielle Francis [00:16:48]:

Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Cause sometimes, you know, people, they’re so excited about a situation and they can’t really think street. And you’re just by me lowering my tone, slowing down, getting them to slow down and take a pause also helps bring their energy down top so they can perhaps zoom out and see a whole another perspective. So those are just ways that I bring that in. Not necessarily meditation, but top, bringing the energy level down so that they can access the creativity part of their brain.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:17:21]:

Top. Oh, I can feel that from you. Just the way that you’re speaking now, I can feel how you just could bring a whole room to this top. Very chill, creative vibe. I could see that very much as a superpower for you.

Danielle Francis [00:17:37]:

Top. Yes. I’ve heard that with some clients just helping to bring them more calm, reflective moments versus this excitable time and and such.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:17:48]:

Amazing. If this conversation has intrigued them about who you are and what you do, and they wanna learn more about you and what’s the best way to find out more?

Danielle Francis [00:17:55]:

So they can find out more about me top at my website, which is bcoached.com. So that’s letterbcoach.com or just reach out to me on LinkedIn. Top. Danielle Francis on LinkedIn, Francis spelled with an I s. So, yeah, that’s me and I’m always open to connecting thing and just getting to know people. It’s the best.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:18:22]:

So I want to wrap up today’s conversation by asking you the top. Final 5 questions that I ask every guest. Are you ready?

Danielle Francis [00:18:31]:

I think so.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:18:33]:

Don’t be so terrified. I promise there’s no math.

Danielle Francis [00:18:37]:

Top. Thank you.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:18:40]:

So what is your definition of wellness?

Danielle Francis [00:18:45]:

My definition of wellness is top. Being in sync and being okay from a mental standpoint, emotional standpoint and physical standpoint. So top, being able to check-in with yourselves and be well on all of those fronts. And top. It may fluctuate up and down. So wellness to me on those 3 fronts may vary from wellness from you. Top. But it’s important that whatever we do like aligns with us as well as our friends and family around us because we don’t live in a bubble.

Danielle Francis [00:19:27]:

Top.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:19:28]:

So you mentioned that when you feel well. So how would you know that you feel well? Do you have certain signals or symptoms or way that you can recognize well for you?

Danielle Francis [00:19:40]:

Yes. For me, I feel more connected to my family and friends when I am well, when I’m out of sync and not feeling connected.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:19:52]:

Top of the

Danielle Francis [00:19:54]:

mountain. Yeah, mentally, I’m just not fully present. Like I’m not doing the things that I need to do outside for, like, even, like, work. Emotionally, I just feel a little drained when I’m not connected and physically, I feel lethargic. So for me, when I’m connected to my family and friends, time. That’s when I’m at my best.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:20:21]:

Thanks for that clarification. That bra that brings a lot of insight into the to a way to look at it. So thank you.

Danielle Francis [00:20:27]:

Top. Yeah. Thank you for asking the question.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:20:29]:

What is your favorite method to recharge during the workday?

Danielle Francis [00:20:34]:

Top. I have a hula hoop and amazing. In between sessions, because I move on the 4th floor and sometimes I get a little lazy to walk down for the 4th floor and walk. Top. Yeah. So I have a hula hoop and I’ll just, like, stand and hula hoop, and that’s my way of recharging.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:20:56]:

Top. I now need a hula hoop, I feel like.

Danielle Francis [00:20:59]:

Yeah. It’s good. You just let any little space and you just just go. Just go.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:21:07]:

Top. If you can master 1 skill instantly, what would it be?

Danielle Francis [00:21:11]:

Learning Spanish. I struggle with Spanish. And I don’t know if it’s because of the way my brain is wired, but I top and read. I could understand, but when it comes to actually speaking, it it’s a whole another animal and I’m struggling with that.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:21:32]:

Top. Yeah. As someone who also lives in a country where I’m a non native speaker, I recognize that struggle and the wish to top. Instantly be able to simulate that.

Danielle Francis [00:21:44]:

Yes. Yeah. Like so certain conversations I could do it with no problem. But if I had to do this conversation in Spanish, I’d be stuttering.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:21:53]:

It’d be a little more of an interesting interview for me. I’d be like, mhmm, mhmm. It’d be a lot more smiling and nodding.

Danielle Francis [00:22:00]:

Top. Probably on my end too. I’ll be smiling, but you would not get the personality at all.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:22:07]:

Top. Which would be a pity. What are you geeking out about right now?

Danielle Francis [00:22:11]:

I guess I’ve been geeking out on this probably, like, for a year, Star Trek. Top. I’ve been watching old episodes. It’s, like, starting back from the beginning. Well, not the late sixties, seventies Star Trek, but pretty much the eighties nineties, Star Trek. I’ve been watching that for a year now, and I just love start it. Because a lot of the challenges that we’re facing in the world today, they’ve highlighted in the eighties nineties on Star Trek.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:22:40]:

Top. Oh, that’s an interesting parallel that you’re seeing there.

Danielle Francis [00:22:45]:

Yes. Yes. We can talk later because it’s very, top. Very polemic.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:22:50]:

We started a Star Trek night in my house a while ago. So every Monday night, we watch Star Trek, and we’re watching it in sequential order of top. The Star Trek series. So we started with the eighties nineties on Enterprise. And now we’re in the sixties with top. Captain Kirk. Oh, no. We had to watch the new one on Netflix in the middle because that’s actually in the middle of the series.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:23:11]:

So we’re moving right along, but top. I can appreciate the geekiness. Oh, it’s fun to see the world parallels already in the

Danielle Francis [00:23:18]:

eighties and the nineties. Yes. Yeah. It it is really interesting. Top. Yeah. If we just would’ve listened to Star Trek, we will probably be a lot better.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:23:28]:

I think that’s going to be your show opening quote by the way.

Danielle Francis [00:23:32]:

Yeah.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:23:35]:

So imagine a world where you have achieved the optimal work life blend. Top. Describe your typical day. Well,

Danielle Francis [00:23:46]:

my typical day, I would top, wake up and either go for a walk or go to yoga class, which is something that I already do most days. Top. And then following that I would have a call top possibly either with clients, like coaching clients or other work related. Then I’d be able to take a break during the middle of the day and go for a nice Toowoombok in a flat that has an elevator. So I won’t be so demotivated. Top. Then I’d pick back up and with work possibly with some like writing related to work. Top.

Danielle Francis [00:24:32]:

And also, sometime during the day, I’d have some time for some personal development, whether it’s, learning something new for me personally or for work related. And in the evening, top. I can just kick back, relax, go to like woodworking workshop or just meet my friends. Top and my total hours a week probably, yeah, would maybe be closer to like 30 to 40 than 50 hours of what that is now.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:25:07]:

Amazing. Thank you for that example.

Danielle Francis [00:25:10]:

Top. Yeah. Yeah. And thank

Evelyn Pacitti [00:25:11]:

you for the conversation. I’ve had a wonderful chat today, and I’ve learned all sorts of interesting bits and bobs and loved learning more about what you do and how you are supporting the conversation and changing corporate culture with Be Coached. Top. And as we wrap up, what is the one thing you want the audience to take away from this discussion?

Danielle Francis [00:25:33]:

Top. The one thing. Let’s see. I guess the one thing is that change starts with you. Top. So even when I was going through that struggle of burnout, I knew nothing was going to change if time I didn’t do something. So I didn’t have the resources, but I knew that I had to do something to change my situation. And time.

Danielle Francis [00:26:01]:

Whether it’s at a company or your personal life or your work life, it starts with you and it takes time. It’s been years for me to get to this point where I’m thriving instead of just surviving. And it has to start with you changing first.

Evelyn Pacitti [00:26:22]:

Intrigued or inspired by today’s episode, but forgot the details? Don’t worry. Top. I’ve got you covered. Visit engineering serenity.com for a complete summary of today’s episode, including time stamps links and other resources for your adventure. Top. Wishing you strength and serenity. Evelyn