12-31-2019

I have finally decided to take the plunge and add a blog to my site. I always wanted an easy way to share information with visitors and super excited to start this journey. Keep coming back to my site and check for updates right here on the blog.

So, I was thinking of writing a blog for a while, where I could share my thoughts, observations, and maybe inspire someone and give hope.

Every now and then, I would write something in my Google Keep, and just keep it in there….

“What if what I write does not interest anyone?”
“What if I run out of ideas?”
“What if I’m not consistent with a clear marketing message?”
“What if I have grammar mistakes?”

So many “What-ifs” that stopped me from just starting…

And so, as I close another decade, I think it’s a good time to just start.
Allow myself to be vulnerable and brave, and just be myself. Not sure when will be my next blog post, but hopefully, I’ll be braver in time.

So, today, on Dec. 31, 2019, as we reach the end of the decade, I dedicate my first blog post to reflect back on where I was 10 years ago.

Apparently, the end of 2009 has marked a turning point for me.

At the end of 2009:

· I have just finished working for 10 years at an international French high-tech company, Dassault Systemes (DS), as a marketing manager. They reorganized the company and decided to close the Research & Development center in Israel, and the supporting functions along with it. It was an end of an era for me. So many memories; my personal development; travelling abroad as part of my role (managing product marketing, industry analyst relations, competitive intelligence, marketing programs); and working with people that I loved working with, are now part of the past.

· A couple of months before the final layoff, I was contacted by Microsoft for a position of a Product Marketing Manager. I had no connections in Microsoft and was flattered that they contacted me (through LinkedIn 😊). Another bonus was that they were located only 5-minute drive away from my home (Yay!). After an intense 7-step recruitment process, I reached the final step of meeting the CEO/Managing Director. I was a good candidate, having a good work experience and an MBA, but one of the very few questions he had asked me was: “I see that you have a B.A. in Linguistics,” (with honors) “Why aren’t you an English teacher?” and concluded that he believes I’m not technical enough, not having a technical degree. And that was the end of it.

· A few months before the layoffs from DS, I was blessed to find out that I am pregnant with my third child and thought that it’s a good timing after all. But two days before Microsoft declined the job offer, and following me asking the Doctor, during the ultrasound of the early second trimester if he could already tell if it’s a boy or a girl, he responded with: “Can’t you see it’s dead? There’s no pulse.”

You see, based on the experiences I've gained in the decade prior to 2009, I developed the belief that I can get whatever I set my mind and intention to. I got a degree that I wanted (with hard work), got the jobs that I wanted (after proving myself), even gave birth to my previous children during the weekend, as I wished for. All of the sudden, I realized, that there are some things that I have no control of, and I can’t always get what I hope for.

I was devastated. Now I don’t have a child, and don’t have a job.

A religious lady that worked out at the gym with me, told me, after I shared my pregnancy loss with her:
“You know, God loves you. This child was not meant to be, and nature just did its best for you to have a healthy child and miscarry this one.” Not sure how much I believed in it at the time, but it was comforting in a way.

I then reminded myself that:

“ When you get to the bottom you go back to the top ” (Helter Skelter, The Beatles)
and that gave me some perspective of time.

I decided to take some time for myself and enjoy the unemployment rights that I’ve earned. I took the time to rest, heal, and enjoy French movies 😊. I even declined a job interview for a marketing director position that I was called to by a friend. He told me he would offer this job to another colleague of mine, and I said: “Go ahead. I’m resting now”.

Four months later, well into my resting period, in 2010, I called him, and asked if the position is still open. “Yes, it is”, he replied, and after being interviewed by the company owner and 3 managing directors, I got the job 😊

But despite the nice title, and some interesting projects that I led, the work environment, turned to be a toxic one for me to be around. The owner/CEO used to shout at his top executives, and I didn’t want to witness that. (On my first day of work, he shouted in my presence, and as I was shaken from his behavior, I communicated that since he’s my direct boss, I ask him to speak to me without the need to shout. He actually respected that, and never shouted at me again.

3 months into the job, I was pregnant. Having miscarried the previous pregnancy, I now appreciated it even more.

As I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy child, I decided to listen to my inner self, quit my job, raise my newborn, and be a stay-home mom for a while.

It was a scary decision for me, because I did not know where the future will lead me this time. I had a good job, secured income, and a job closed to home. I used to be afraid of the unknown, but I hoped that things will turn out well at the end. And I really enjoyed my motherhood. I quit the job.

Half a year into raising my newborn, I am wondering what the next thing would be for me.
A spiritual friend I had, said: “Send the question to the universe, and the answer will come.”

“What?” I asked. “What do you mean?”

For a month, as I strolled my baby carriage, I would look to the sky and whisper: “What would be the next thing that I’d do?” as I was waiting for something external to reveal it to me.

It was in a moment of sheer gratitude, as I was bonding with my baby during breast-feeding, that I felt so blessed for this moment, that I had a sense of knowing within me: “NLP and Guided Imagery”.

I didn’t know what it was about. The only experience that I’ve had around it was that a year and a half earlier, I was in a marketing conference, where one of the presentations was about NLP and business. I didn’t remember what it was about, only that it was interesting and that the “L” in “NLP” stands for “Linguistics”, and having an B.A degree in linguistics, I was fascinated by it.)

All of the sudden, I felt that THIS IS MY CALLING.

I ran to check the Internet (not even sure if it was Google or not…), and saw that there is an introductory evening of NLP and Guided Imagery coming up in two days!!
I was so excited and energized, and felt that it was just in time for me.

As I was driving my car to the introductory evening, realizing that the studies stretch along 15 weeks of full days, I called my mother and mother-on-law, and asked: “Mom”, would you please be with my child in the mornings?”…”Mother-in-law, would you please be with him in the afternoon till night”?
I was so blessed, as they both agreed to help me.

And while I’m sitting fascinated in the introductory evening, another realization comes to mind. The studies are much more expensive than I anticipated. Remembering that we only have one salary to live by now, this may have been too much to ask for.

But it felt so right… Up until that point, I perceived myself as someone that has difficulty in decision-making, but I noticed this is not quite true. When things feel so right to me, I just know they are right for me, and don't have a problem to make a decision.

And so, I texted my husband the cost, and asked how he wants to pay for it.
My husband didn’t really know where I was heading that evening. He asked of the payment plan….and there I was: Signing up for my first NLP and Guided Imagery training.
Again, I felt so blessed that I could do that. Then continued to more advanced training, and opened my own practice.

With the tools I’ve experienced first-hand, I am a much better version of myself now.
My relationships with myself, my husband, parents, children, sisters and everyone that I meet have been improved and enriched with love and compassion.

I’ve been coping and responding to life events (that I have no control of) in an empowered way.

I am leading the parts that I am responsible for with more confidence.

And so much more, that I will probably share with some future blog posts.

It’s been a decade ever since my first training of NLP.

I have relocated with my family to California 5.5 years ago, and I am still in love with it.

I studied it all over again in English and am helping my English-speaking clients, as well as my Hebrew-Speaking clients to become an empowered version of themselves. I also teach and educate about the various applications of it with inspiring lectures and seminars.

So, if you stayed until now, and read my first blog post, I thank you.

I would like to share some learnings from my last decade.

1. Let go of trying to control everything. Trust the universe that things will turn out well at the end, even if it doesn’t look so in one moment in time.

2. Nature has its cycles. We are part of nature. Sometimes we bloom, sometimes we hibernate. Just as a tree loses its leaves and looks naked, eventually, flowers will bloom, and fruits will ripe.

3. Everything reaches an end, including the bad moments.

4. Listen to your inner self. Take the time to listen carefully. Sometimes it may be a whisper.

5. Remember to self-care. Rest. Drink. Eat well. Sleep. Exercise

6. Our mind, body and spirit are deeply inter-connected. Give some love and attention to each part.

7. In every moment in time, you have a choice.

8. You are stronger than you think you are.

9. When you truly want something, and are willing to put your effort in, help will come in various ways.

10. Take control of your part of life.

There are so many more, but it’ll keep some for future posts 😉

For 2020, I am excited to welcome the new year, and decade, with an open mind and heart to new possibilities, opportunities, experiences, friendships, business collaborations, and bringing good to the world.

I hope this post has brought some hope to anyone out there that needs it.

May you have a year of love, joy, health, inner-peace, happiness, and learnings.

With Love and gratitude,

Michal (Michelle)