Following a life-altering car crash in 2010, Debbie emerged with a profound realisation: the importance of prioritising mental well-being and self-care. From this pivotal moment, she founded Wishfish, a sanctuary for holistic wellness coaching, and co-hosted the acclaimed “Secrets from A Coach” podcast with Laura Thomson-Staveley. Debbie’s unwavering commitment to personal growth and her dedication to empowering others shine through in her daily routine and her collaborative efforts. In this exclusive interview, Debbie shares insights into her journey, her philosophy on wellness, and her vision for the future, offering inspiration to all who seek to thrive amidst life’s challenges.
Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that inspired you to start your journey in the health and wellbeing industry?
There have been a couple, but the main one was when I was in a car crash in 2010, which was a total shock. It was that moment when I realised life is so short, and we need to look after ourselves well. If I haven’t been in a good place mentally, I think I would have struggled to recover from the aftermath of that experience.
Due to the accident, I have no short-term memory and I can’t recall details now. I could have avoided doing anything with that, but I chose to work with it and find ways around it. The car crash happened in April, and I went back to work the following July not knowing if I could cope.
As it turns out, it doesn’t matter what life throws at you, you can overcome it with the right mindset, strategies and support. After that experience, I completed my wellness coaching qualification, and I haven’t looked back.
Can you tell us a little bit about your business?
I created Wishfish to deliver wellness coaching to support an extraordinary life. We enable you to explore your individual potential and connect with others to unlock a more compassionate existence.
We offer personal coaching to develop your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness. Delivered through training and development workshops, and 1-2-1 or team coaching sessions bespoke to you and your needs. Key topics we can support you on include anxiety, confidence, communication skills, imposter syndrome, stress, career change, leadership, resilience, motivation plus much more.
More recently, in partnership with my co-host Laura Thomson-Staveley at Phenomenal Training, in 2020 we launched the Secrets from a Coach is a podcast which now has over 38,000 downloads and 4.9/5 star rating on Spotify. A brand-new episode is published every Friday lunchtime, to help listeners thrive and maximise their potential in the evolving workplace.
Leaving you feeling motivated, supported and armed with practical tools and skills, Secrets from a Coach looks to help you maximise your confidence and success as we continue to experience the biggest work and career shift seen in our lifetime. It lifts the lid on the real foundations for success in this new world of work.
With over 180 episodes available to revisit anytime the podcast library archive includes discussions on resilience, change, leadership, careers, motivation, mental health, time management, hybrid working and confidence.
How do you prioritise your own wellbeing while running a business?
I have a daily morning ritual routine which always sets me up for the day. I’m normally up by about quarter past five, when I sit quietly in the front room, have the window open so I can hear the birds, and it’s so peaceful. I meditate, write in my journal and reflect on what’s gone on the day before, or what’s happened so far that week.
I then draft my ‘thoughts for day’ which I post every day on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. I drink hot water and lemon first thing in the morning. I love having those three hours between 5am and 8am that are just mine. After that I often go out for a walk around the block before I start work. I also prioritise going to bed early, usually at 9:30am. I’ve made it a conscious decision to build that into my daily routine too.
Building a business can be challenging. What role has your personal wellness played in overcoming obstacles?
My car crash in 2010 really brought home to me the importance of wellness and getting back on your feet after being knocked down. After that experience, maintaining my resilience in a job I love doing has been easy.
Of course, we all have tough days and life often gets in the way too, but I’ve been through burn out, redundancy and other setbacks and I’m now thriving in my life. Supporting the wellbeing of others through my coaching, workshops or the Secrets from a Coach podcast is incredibly rewarding and makes the hard work worthwhile.
How has your own health and wellbeing philosophy influenced your business?
Making sure that we take really good care of our own and each other’s wellbeing is my number one priority. Whether it’s looking out for people in a workshop, coaching session, through my social media posts or the Secrets from a Coach podcast, everything I do is underpinned by looking to support wellness and help people thrive in their life. It’s a conscious thread through all my work.
Can you share a specific self-care practice that has had a significant impact on your overall wellbeing?
It’s important to prepare for the day or week ahead. I always look at my calendar every Friday and plan for the week ahead. I rely on my calendar to remind me of what we are doing.
In addition to having a good morning routine, it’s important to take regular breaks. If I’m working from home, I go out and get some fresh air. We have a big communal garden which I love and I often just sit there quietly, just for 20 minutes with a cup of tea in the sunshine. I find setting a good example is the first step to success.
How do you stay updated on the latest trends?
I regularly read articles from medical journals to magazines to stay on top of the latest updates and trends. Mental Health Foundation reports are very useful to gauge development in wellbeing at work, and updated government guidelines too. I love Psychologies magazine and was pleased to be featured in April. I’m always keeping up to date.
Have there been moments where you had to make choices that challenged your personal values for the sake of business growth?
No, because, if it doesn’t feel right, I won’t do it. I won’t compromise on the business, what we offer, what we stand for, or what our values are as a business. If somebody is against our values as an organisation we wouldn’t work with them.
Looking back at your journey, is there a particular mistake or setback that taught you valuable lessons about the importance of wellbeing?
It’s fine to experience setbacks, but it’s what you do next that makes all the difference. Setting up Wishfish was the best decision I could have made for my career – and that was born off the back of a few setbacks.
Being faced with a car crash definitely made me reevaluate my life at work. Before I set up Wishfish, I was made redundant 11 times, and I thought, I can’t do this again. So, I didn’t. I took the final redundancy money and set up Wishfish.
After having burnout when I worked for somebody else, I thought, I’m never going to put myself back in that position again. I now recognise the triggers and have the knowhow to do something about it before it becomes a setback.
Do you have any projects you are currently working on?
The Secrets from a Coach podcast is going from strength to strength. We even hosted our first ever event last year – already planning for the next one due to take place in November.
We also launched Secrets from a Coach Kindness Cards earlier this year. Designed to encourage kindness and inspiration for both individuals and teams, the cards give users an opportunity to pause, reflect and redirect their actions every day.
Each pack contains 30 cards (plus 2 additional bonus cards), one for each day of the month, with thoughtful quotes and practical tips to help handle life’s stresses and challenges. They’re a great tool to use as part of workshops or just at home as part of your morning routine.
I mentor other coaches and I’m now a governor at my local school. So, there’s always lots going on – and I have more big plans in the pipeline…!
What legacy do you hope to leave through your business?
That we empowered people to go after their dreams and recognise that wishing is just the beginning. I want, Wishfish and Secrets from a Coach, to help them bring those wishes into a reality.
Website:
Social Media Accounts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debsgreen
Instagram @wishfishcoach
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wishfish-coaching-and-development-ltd
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For more information visit: www.secretsfromacoach.com
