Question: It’s ithrive31® Lucky 7 Anniversary, how does it feel?

Dorene: Yay, Seven Years! You know, that's an interesting word, “luck.”…. because I feel when you've been in business for seven years, it's not as much about luck as it is hard work, creativity, and resilience. I have always loved working. I feel blessed to be working at something that I feel is a calling for me and something I truly love to do.

Question: What do you love about the work?

Dorene: I've thought a lot about that. And for me, there are two dimensions to this. There's the work of building a business and the work of coaching. I absolutely love building a business because it challenges me all the time. There's always something more to do, more choices to consider, more learning to be had, more obstacles to overcome and more wins to celebrate. It's a roller coaster in the theme park of possibilities!

The work of coaching just comes naturally to me. It aligns with my values, my skills, and my heart's desire to help people see their own greatness within. So much of life can hold us down, distract us, and make us feel less than who we really are. It is an honor to help others navigate challenges and see the best in themselves.

Question: What have you been most proud of?

Dorene: hmmmm I think I am most proud of my evolving perspective on success. Through the ebbs and flows and ups and downs, I'm still here having fun and making an impact. My identity is not tied to what I do but who I am. I also feel that if it all went away tomorrow, I would be OK and onto something new. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to change course, I love what we are creating, but I'm OK with whatever path lies ahead for my life... and that's something I'm pretty proud of.

Question: Has there been a pivotal moment where you realized that?

Dorene: I'm not sure there was one moment, but I do know that 2020 was a bit of reflection year for me, like so many others. I have always been very driven by work and through that year of personal loss and business uncertainty, it offered a lot of time for reflection on what was important.

Question: What excites you about the future?

Dorene: Everything! I love our Coaching Collective because I enjoy working as a team, I love the possibilities we create together, and I see great potential. It is a business, but it's more than that. It is a chance to help other Coaches be successful, and has multiplying energy. I can’t wait to see where it will go.

Question: What is next for you, personally?

Dorene: Consistent with ithrive31 philosophy, it’s about the next 31 days. I have lived intentionally, setting personal and professional goals, 31 days at a time, since 2014. In addition to celebrating ithrive31’s 7 years, I will celebrate 10 years of investing in myself by setting actions that create momentum for my life.

Anything else you’d like to celebrate?

Dorene: Actually yes. The biggest gift I have been given is the people I have met through this entrepreneur journey -- the clients I have worked with, associations I have been a part of and experiences I’ve had. All have created opportunities, expanded my thinking and made me a more open-minded person. I am so humbly grateful for the people who have been put in my path.