Looking for some expert love advice from a professional? We’ve got you covered in this month’s Beyond the Brand interview. We’re sitting down with coach Anna Reidenbach to discuss all things love and business. How can we learn to love our work more? And, how can we love ourselves within that work? We asked these questions (among many others) and Anna gave us some exceptional answers. 

So, without further delay, let’s give her the floor–grab that box of chocolates and enjoy.

1. We’re so excited to chat with you, for those who don’t know you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do.

I’m Anna Reidenbach, MA, and I help women enjoy their lives, make more money, and change the world. I do this through both Transformational and Somatic Women’s Coaching. Somatic means in the body, which is where a lot of our power and intuition are stored, especially as women. While Transformational Coaching supports us to utilize our unique gifts, break through our inner glass ceilings, and truly become the women who can live our destinies. So, I support clients to shine brightly and confidently in the world, all by using the body as a guide.

2. Can you share a bit about the origins of your business, when you got started, and what led you to dive into this line of work?

I started my coaching business in 2018 as a way to support sensitive and empathic women to discover their joy and magic so that they could use their unique superpowers to create lives they love, while also making a real impact in our world. 

A big part of my motivation comes from growing up with a transgender parent back in the 80s’. This was quite unusual at the time, and it was a privilege to be raised with such a unique perspective. Yet, although I have a great relationship with both my parents now, there was also a lot of conflict and confusion in my family, and I ended up with very severe depression for a few decades. 

”Watching everyone in my family discover how to be themselves and heal, including myself, is what motivated me to want to support others to step into their potential.”

On my own journey, I couldn’t quite figure out how to be myself until I moved to Spain in my early 30’s and this really changed everything for me. Every country has its issues of course, but I adored being surrounded by so much joy, life, and presence. And, in my five years there, I found my ability to sparkle and feel genuinely alive. 

I took that passion back to the United States and completed a Master’s Degree in Clinical and Somatic Psychology and Latino Mental Health. But I quickly discovered that being a therapist wasn’t allowing me to use my life-energy in the most impactful way. Fortunately, I found the magic of Feminine Power Transformational Coaching, which is a methodology that supports women to use their unique gifts and life energy to make an impact, and it was absolutely perfect for me.

I’ve also held so many different career roles and had such a variety of life adventures, so I love empowering women to use all their experiences to become the best version of themselves. The coolest part of being a coach is that I get to use all the different qualities of myself – the therapist who holds deep emotions, the teacher who helps people learn new skills, the retailer who helps women feel confident in their own skin, the artist who creates beautiful displays, the woman who overcame depression and found her inner sparkle – to help other women rise.

3. In honor of February / Valentine’s Day, and all things heartfelt, we wanted to focus on the theme of *love* for this month; self-love (in and outside one’s business) being at the top of the list. How have you found work/life balance or other ways to love yourself within your work?

“I notice when I do things from the heart with pure intentions it is easier to love my business and the impact I make on the women I work with.”

However, to be super honest, work/life balance is definitely challenging as an entrepreneur. I feel like there are cycles of expending a lot of energy and then cycles of rest. So, one way I love myself within my business is by simply acknowledging and appreciating the cycle I’m in. Just like in any other relationship, I receive so much from the moments of joy and pleasure me and my business share together. But I also get so much when we go through challenges together (even if it’s so hard at the time!) because it shows me how resilient I can be, which makes me feel sexy!

I also think it can be helpful to understand our own definition of self-love, which for me is a state of appreciation for myself that comes from actions that support my physical, psychological, and spiritual growth. So, when I’m coaching a woman to become who she was destined to become, I’m really embodying that state of self-love. Because, when I’m Coach Anna, I bring out the best in people, and therefore bring out the best in me. And a fun added bonus is that, when I’m truly being a badass and loving my work in that way, my partner is always super attracted to me too.

4. For a lot of us entrepreneurs, the businesses we create are like our babies, we put so much of ourselves into them. Showing our work love feels important, too–here at the studio, we’ve been remembering how vital testimonials can be for our company’s heart and soul. In what ways do you like to tend to your business and show it love?

I love the idea that reaction and creation share the same letters, but that the energy between these two extremes is so different. So, I find that the best way to tend to my business is to find ways to shift into a state of creation, wonder, and possibility. I’m definitely not always successful! But I find that one of the most effective ways to nourish this energetic state is to appreciate the woman I’ve become over the last couple of years, and all the growth I’ve experienced.

What this looks like on a practical level is, instead of only focusing on the specific outcome (such as the ‘right’ clients or financial numbers), I also honor and celebrate my effort, what I learned, and how this supports the amazing woman I’m becoming. This allows me to stay in a state of creation and be more receptive to the next opportunity or adventure that comes along, which I think is such a beautiful way to show my business love.

5. We’ve been pondering a lot about “the art of asking” over here at the studio (hence the testimonials!). And, we were curious if you believe there to be a real art or skill involved when asking for what we want/need, both in personal life and in business?

Yes, I believe that “asking” is definitely an art and that the foundation comes from the relationship we have with our own needs and desires.

My coaching mentor, Dr. Claire Zammit, shares that, as women, so many of us are disconnected from the support we actually need. Like, if I ask my partner “hey boo, would you be able to help me with this article I’m writing?” it’s not clear (to me or to him) what I need. Sometimes I need emotional support, thought partnership, editing, or something else! 

“The first step is always clarity. Once that foundation is in place, it’s so much easier to express our requests in both an empowered and inviting way.”

6. So…there is showing love to self and there is showing love to our businesses– but what else? Are there some areas in life or work that you notice can get forgotten easily but have a big effect when we begin to give these areas our love and attention?

I think most of us know about getting enough sleep, exercise, and nourishment (even if we don’t always do it perfectly!). But the biggest impact that I see in both my clients and myself is when we pay attention to our ‘why” and our energetic cycles in our day-to-day lives.

Our ‘why’ and our values can help us prioritize tasks and remember the bigger picture. 

For example, if I get frustrated updating a webpage, but I’m able to step back and remember my business value of ‘inspiration’, it allows me to enjoy the task and feel more energized. Or, if I remember that my ‘why’ is to change the world, then agonizing over one sentence suddenly becomes less important, and I can make a choice to direct my energy somewhere that will create more impact.

Another part of this is paying attention to our energetic cycles and seasons. This is always a work in progress for me because being an entrepreneur does require consistency. But, at our core, we are animals, and we are affected by the earth we live on and the cycles of the cosmos. So I find that tending to my energy in a more intentional way makes a huge difference, and greatly nourishes the lives of my clients as well.

7. Here at the studio, we all chose one word to hold as an intention for 2023, to encapsulate our goals. Since it’s still early in the year, we wanted to ask you this question, too. What would be your word for the new year?

My 2023 word is TRUST. To me, this means joy, ease, sparkles, and magic. It means staying present because I’m not worrying so much about the future or the past. And it means really honoring the confidence I’m growing in myself.

8. What is the best advice you received as an entrepreneur and what advice would YOU give to someone now who is looking to make the leap, knowing what you know today?

One of the things that have been most helpful as an entrepreneur came from my amazing partner Hector. His first love is soccer, but he loves all sports, and he once told me that, with a few exceptions, the best players usually make terrible coaches. Because, to truly support someone else, it helps to have learned that exact same thing ourselves. And the truth is when I look back at my business journey – all the tears and joy, all the ‘wasted’ money, and all the amazing investments – Hector is totally right. I use every single one of those learnings with my clients to support them to rise.

The advice I would give to anyone looking to dive into entrepreneurship comes from my coaching mentor, Dr. Claire Zammit. She said, “no one ever got a gold medal at the Olympics because they just decided it would be a nice thing to have one day.”  So, my advice is that, if you want to get a gold medal in your business, you also need commitment and SUPPORT. Because burning out or not fully stepping into your destiny will cost so much more in the long run.

“I’ve learned over the years that when I have someone in my corner who can give me practical business tips, but even more importantly who can help me remember what a badass I am, it truly changes everything. “

However, sometimes professional support isn’t in alignment, so you might find an empowering podcast and listen to it every day, or set up a friends and family support network. Whatever works for your unique journey, I truly encourage you to go for the gold. 

9. We’d love to know how you stay inspired and creative in your business. And, If you have any book, podcast, or music recommendations, we’re all ears!

My absolute favorite way to stay creative is by watching reality TV in Spanish. It’s my second language, so I have to really pay attention to what’s being said, which allows all my other thoughts to leave for a while. And, because it’s a pretty joyful culture in general, I tend to come back to my own reality in such a good mood.The best book I’ve read recently was Atomic Habits (I absolutely loved the idea of goal-setting at the level of identity). I’m also a big fan of Ghost of a Podcast, which talks about astrology in a social-justice kind of way.

10. What do you have coming down the pipeline in your business? What should we be keeping an eye out for?

I just launched Sparkle Saturdays, which is a free monthly workshop to support women rising into leadership. I find that women are such natural leaders and community builders, yet we all need personal resources to keep us lit up inside and inspired. So, whether you’re a manager, coach, mom, teacher, content creator, or you simply love gathering your friends for cocktails and dancing, I welcome you to join. This is my way of contributing to a more joyful world.I’ve also started working with more coaches, leaders, and content creators on how to use their unique gifts to create high-value offers that align with their life-energy and zone of magic. If you’re interested in stepping into your highest potential, I offer a free 45-minute Spark Session and would absolutely love to connect with you.

11. Anything else you’d like to add?

In honor of Valentine’s day and loving our businesses, it’s my pleasure to offer a few thoughts on how to achieve your most glittering dreams.

The first step I recommend is to practice listening to the beautiful language of your body. Many business coaches really just coach from the mind. Yet, we receive such powerful messages in our bellies and our hearts as well, and they can often lead us to an even brighter destiny. 

The next step is gaining clarity about what’s most in-season to grow in your life right now, or for your unique stage of business. Because, like all living things, our dreams and our businesses grow best when they have the support of the sunlight, magic, and nutrients they need to thrive.

Finally, I recommend a practice of letting more joy into your day-to-day life. Prosperity and joy share similar energy. So, as we learn to appreciate and enjoy the small moments of pleasure in our businesses and our lives, it helps us with our more tangible business goals as well.

12. Lastly, let us know where we can find you, and stay connected!

I’d love to stay connected. I’ll be creating some guided audio meditations and support soon. But for now, the best way to connect is by visiting my website and registering for a free workshop or coaching session.

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Anyone else’s heart feeling full and inspired? We know ours are. Thank you so much, Anna, for reminding us of all the ways love shows up in our lives, and all the many ways we can tend to it. Enjoy those rose-tinted glasses today, lovers. We’ll see you next time. 

Know someone who would be a good fit for this series? Please email us at hello@laerstudio.com. 

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