Maggie Currie is a transformational survivor, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a lover of life, and a source of inspiration.
What do you do?
I am a coach, mentor, consultant, speaker, author and survivor. I help people unlock their future and coach using the 3 principles.
Give us the big “why” you do what you do?
My “Why”
I am passionate about impacting people’s lives by giving them the confidence to make positive changes. Why? Because seeing people take control of their lives through my expertise is so rewarding.
My first “Why”
I was adopted when very young, loved but often held up as a trophy. My parents were strict and feared that I might turn out like my birth mother, who had me aged just 16, however I left school at 16 with extensive secretarial qualifications which led to a successful office administrative career.
My second “Why”
Married at 19 and told to ‘make it work’ when plainly it was not, years in an abusive relationship left me with neither self esteem nor self confidence. I woke up to the fact that this kind of life was not normal and filed for divorce, which really took its toll.
My third “Why”
At the age of 29 I found myself alone, living in a tiny flat with three young children, struggling as a single mum on benefits. I hit rock bottom. That’s when I made the decision to change my thinking and take control. In a week I had a job, money and prospects. In two years I moved from an unskilled job to skilled PA role, reconnected with a wonderful man and remarried. As I rebuilt my self-esteem my life changed and I retrained as a coach to help people rediscover their passions with confidence.
My fourth “Why”
This took me on a journey, literally, as I stepped out of my comfort zone. In 2014 I travelled to Australia to meet a friend from an online coaching course who had months to live. We spent precious time together, her health improved for a spell, but she died five weeks after I returned home. I know I impacted Heather’s life and we learned from one another.
Give us a daily routine of your normal day.
I start my day with a shower followed by a cup of coffee. My husband and I enjoy our breakfast together most days. There is no ‘normal’ day as each day is different. Some days I plan out and write a workshop, and others I coach my clients from morning until evening. When driving I frequently listen to cds by Sydney Banks and just allow his words to wash over me. I always make sure I have lunch and I enjoy cooking our evening meal which we eat together most days. I love to read a few chapters of a good book (I have three on the go at present: Clarity by Jamie Smart, The inside out revolution by Michael Neill, Enchantress by James Maxwell. In the evening I like to watch a good tv series and have several sets of dvd to choose from, currently I am watching The Blacklist, Person of Interest and Modern Family.
How do you feel about women’s “lot” these days?
I believe a woman’s lot is what she makes of it. I am a very organized and practical person so the juggling works without problems. Fortunately my husband is very supportive and we work as a team very well, so everything gets done. If by life admin you mean the shopping, cleaning etc., it is taken care of, but not necessarily by me.
How does femininity and Soft Power feature in your business/ career? What does it look like?
I am not sure what that question means to be honest. I am feminine, my female clients are feminine, my male clients are masculine. If by soft power you mean my expertise, then it features in all my work with clients. I have 100% success rate with my clients, who have changed their lives for the better after working with me. If you mean do I have the power to control and live my life, then the answer is yes, although I am always learning more and developing my expertise – I am working with Jamie Smart for the next year to broaden my knowledge of the 3 principles and to become a certified Clarity Coach.
What is the most common emotion you feel as a woman on a day-to day basis?
Happiness, I love my life.
What’s the most common emotion you think the man that is closest to you feels each day?
My husband is the man closest to me and he is not one to express emotions very well, but he is happy with his life and doing what he wants and not doing what he doesn’t want and is happy with the decisions he is making.
Do you think you people around you understand who your authentically are?
Some people know who the authentic me is, some people have no idea. People on social media who have not met me in person or had any contact with me probably have their own ideas of who I am and that is fine with me, those people who I meet face to face know who I am authentically and know I am loyal, honest and great to work with. I find social media to be quite impersonal and there is nothing new I can do to change people’s views about me other than keep on being honest and giving good advice. I steer clear of politics, religion etc., on social media for obvious reasons.
How important do you think vulnerability is in life and career?
Vulnerability is quite important in life and career. I have been vulnerable on many occasions, especially when I was much younger. I didn’t have the knowledge that I have now, or the connections and I was on my own following divorce. I had been told for many years that I was useless and stupid and so I believed it. And it wasn’t until I hit rock bottom and there was a danger that my children and I would have no food that I changed one of my thoughts – I changed I can’t get a job into I can get a job. And I went out and got one.
What do you do for SoftPlay? How do you look after yourself?
I always have a shower first thing in the morning. I have a face cleansing and moisturising routine daily, I have my hair cut every 6 weeks, sometimes I treat myself to a manicure and a pedicure. I am treated by a chiropractor every 2 months, I get enough sleep. I enjoy meeting up with my friends for coffee and a chat. I love going to the theatre to see comedians, some musicals, plays etc. Every summer my husband and I go to a couple of music festivals where we work – we do Indian head massage and help people who have stiff necks after sleeping in their tents all night. We meet different people, enjoy being part of a festival and have fun.
How do you juggle your relationship and business?
There is no juggling as far as I can see. The business works, our relationship works – we have been married 31 years.
Do you exercise your #righttobesoft in your workplace? If so, how?
Yes indeed, I will take an hour out every so often just for me and go to meet a friend or read a chapter of a book or do nothing.
What’s one “breakthrough” you have had in your life, that shifted the way you saw things – how did it impact those around you?
The biggest breakthrough was discovering that I wasn’t stupid or useless as I had been told by my first husband for 10 years. It changed my life and the lives of my children as I stopped sitting around all day thinking I couldn’t get a job and take care of us all and changed the way I thought and went out and got a job cooking dinners in the local primary school. Having achieved that the world was my oyster and I went on to be a medical secretary for a professor in London and retrained as a life coach very successfully I have to say.
Who do you look up to as a woman?
There are many people to look up to in this world, one of them is Mother Teresa who did so much humanitarian work so selflessly. Another is Katie Piper who has gone through so many operations after having acid thrown over her – I had the privilege of performing head massage on her and her then boyfriend at a festival a couple of years ago. She is lovely and so is he and I believe they are now engaged or married and have a little daughter.
Where do you look for hope?
There are sources of inspiration everywhere, they could be watching a small child walk for the very first time, watching a mother duck with her brood of ducklings, the unconditional love of a dog, girls who have had their marriages annulled in Malawi by their Chief as they were too young, chivalry, politeness, people who care for one another – the list goes on and on.
What do you tell yourself when times are tough?
I tell myself that I am strong, I am capable and I can do it. I do remember some years ago I booked to go on an evening class and then didn’t go because I was scared to meet new people and thought they would think I was stupid since I had been conditioned to think that for years. But now I know I can do so much more and there is still more to come I am sure.
What’s the soundtrack of inspiration for you?
The song that I have to play at full volume and that lifts me up is Queen – Don’t stop me now.
Who have you listened to lately that motivated you to take action on something, anything? And why?
Interestingly I recently attended a one-day event by Joanna Martin in London. She is so motivational and I learned a lot from her. I met her a year ago when I went on a retreat run by Shaa Wasmund and Jo was there as a participant. She is so genuine, friendly and lovable. I am motivated by Jo to be a better speaker.
Who’s voice do you think we need to hear in the One of Many Community?
Mahima Shresthra – she is from Nepal and was there during the recent earthquake. I have spent some time with her as she is working with Jamie Smart too and she has a an inspiring story to relay regarding her experience during the earthquake.
You can get in touch with Maggie here:
Twitter handle: @maggiecurrie
Facebook page: Maggie Currie
Website: www.maggiecurrie.co.uk
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