February 24, 2025 • 23 mins
In 2025, Transition Enterprises LLC marks its 20th anniversary! Over the past two decades, I have had the honor of working with some of the most talented and inspirational leaders around the world. It has been a privilege to be in service to something greater than myself, helping others tap into their inner wisdom and make bold choices.
To commemorate this milestone, my dear friend Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide, an acclaimed filmmaker and creative executive, turns the lens on me. Together, we explore my journey—where it all started as well as the stumbles along the way.
Whether you've been part of this ride from the beginning or are just joining now, this series is a reflection on pain, joy, transformation, and the power of trusting your inner wisdom. I’m excited to share the triumphs, challenges, and defining moments from the past 20 years.
Join us as we celebrate, share and look ahead to the future!
(3:38) Balancing her professional and spiritual side in business?
(7:20) What are some of the common misconceptions you have encountered about the work you do? (9:54) Jeanie shares with the community who she sees as a mentor.
(12:22) What has Jeanie discovered about herself after doing this work for 20 years?
(14:57) What does it mean to Jeanie integrate all aspects of herself?
(16:50) How would Jeanie distill her message into one word and how does she see the next chapter unfolding?
(19:14) If she could give her younger self some advice, what would it be?
(20:00) Is there one thing she would like her community to take away from this conversation?
Connect with Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide
https://www.fizolajide.com/
Subscribe: Warriors At Work Podcasts
Website: https://jeaniecoomber.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/986666321719033/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanie_coomber/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeanie_coomber
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-coomber-90973b4/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMZ2HyNNyPoeCSqKClBC_w
To commemorate this milestone, my dear friend Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide, an acclaimed filmmaker and creative executive, turns the lens on me. Together, we explore my journey—where it all started as well as the stumbles along the way.
Whether you've been part of this ride from the beginning or are just joining now, this series is a reflection on pain, joy, transformation, and the power of trusting your inner wisdom. I’m excited to share the triumphs, challenges, and defining moments from the past 20 years.
Join us as we celebrate, share and look ahead to the future!
(3:38) Balancing her professional and spiritual side in business?
(7:20) What are some of the common misconceptions you have encountered about the work you do? (9:54) Jeanie shares with the community who she sees as a mentor.
(12:22) What has Jeanie discovered about herself after doing this work for 20 years?
(14:57) What does it mean to Jeanie integrate all aspects of herself?
(16:50) How would Jeanie distill her message into one word and how does she see the next chapter unfolding?
(19:14) If she could give her younger self some advice, what would it be?
(20:00) Is there one thing she would like her community to take away from this conversation?
Connect with Fisayo “Fiz” Olajide
https://www.fizolajide.com/
Subscribe: Warriors At Work Podcasts
Website: https://jeaniecoomber.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/986666321719033/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanie_coomber/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeanie_coomber
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-coomber-90973b4/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMZ2HyNNyPoeCSqKClBC_w
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We have to reveal ourselves if we want to heal,
and revealing is not reckless. I'm not saying go out
and tell everybody all your deepest, darkest secrets, but start
somewhere where you're willing to reveal. And that was really
the genesis of this. It's like, if I'm asking you
(00:21):
to do it, you got to do it too. And
there is an interesting story. There's an arc of a
person that's evolved, and if this evolutionary story can help
someone else, I'm all for it because that's what I'm
here to offer. Welcome to the Warriors at Work Show.
(00:42):
This is Genie Coomber, your guide and host. This is
a show for men and women in the workplace who
want to move from the predictable to the potent. This
is your weekly dose of inspiration with an edge. I
talk with CEOs and shamans, sports marketing executives, and therapists.
All of us are like minded thinkers and doers who
(01:06):
tell stories, share wisdom, and challenge each other to have
the best life possible inside and outside the office. Welcome
to your Warrior conversation. Hey everybody, it's Gidi. Welcome to
Warriors at Work. I am your guidance host, and today
I bring to you a very special episode. In February
(01:28):
of twenty twenty five, I am celebrating twenty wild years
as the owner of an executive coaching business called Transition Enterprises,
and me being front and center of that business as
an executive coach. And over the past two decades, I've
had the honor and privilege of working with some of
the most talented and inspirational leaders around the globe. And
(01:51):
I've seen a lot, I've experienced a lot, and I
was really trying to figure out what was the best
way to celebrate this twenty years and my beautiful friend
and confidante and colleague, fizz elajah Day, said, well, how
about we turn the tables and we make this look
and feel like a coaching session and I'll interview you.
(02:13):
And so I said yes. And Fizz is not only
a dear friend, she is also the director brand designed
for X. She is a wildly talented filmmaker, creative executive.
She has created documentaries that have earned acclaim at prestigious
festivals like SXSW, doc NYC, and the New York Film Festival.
(02:39):
She's actually currently directing Underground Railroad Ride, a feature length
documentary exploring the themes of racial justice, endurance, and personal transformation,
set to come out in the fall of this year.
And I did not know what she was going to
ask me in this coaching session, but I trusted her.
She knows enough about me and knows that I'm in
(03:01):
service to something bigger than myself. So together we reflect
on the lessons learned, painful and triumphant moments, and I
also share some of my favorite stories and key takeaways
from twenty years of helping leaders like you move from
the predictable to the potent. I really put this episode
out for everyone who has shared this ride with me,
(03:24):
and for those of you who I don't know yet.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for
letting me into your lives and for creating a space
like this where I can share my story enjoy.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Jeanie, I want to start with a bit of self discovery,
your practice and the way that you approach balancing being
deeply spiritual with the very real practical challenges of running
a business and operating in this corporate world, Like how
do you.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Balance them both?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
You didn't start off being deeply spiritual or at least
showing that side of yourself to your clients.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
So how did that evolution happen to where you are today?
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Well, COVID gave me permission to play with the edges there, right,
So when I started the Words at Work and it
was on the new branded website which came out in
February twenty twenty, I started to do more with the
Words at Work brand by March sixteenth, which next month,
everybody's going to see that original video that I decided
(04:26):
to go out on Facebook Live and just help as
many people as I could and share everything I knew
that I'd learned in a coaching capacity, so that leaders
had tools and techniques and things to manage it, and
never expecting the love and the gratitude that I received
in return. But it was basically a pivotal place for
(04:51):
me to talk about meditation, share stuff about myself because
I was going through it like everybody else. I was
just scared, like what are we doing? Why are we
wiping down our groceries? Like it was crazy, and so
I thought, well, screw it, I'm out here anyway. Why
don't I just talk from the heart and offer up
(05:13):
anything I can find, anything that I know, and those
early days phase, I'll tell you nobody was out there.
I looked anybody for a couple of weeks that was
giving any huge insights except for Gabby Byrnstain. She was
doing daily meditations. I have a ton of time and
respect for her because she was really helping people move
(05:36):
through the pain and the discovery, and you could see
she was having her own relationship with it. But that
gave me the opportunity to just say, well, I'm going
to swing for the fences and see how this lands.
And thank god it went well. Not everybody loved it.
Lots of people got annoyed at me. I got lots
of mean messages.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Pretty good, So people people got annoyed. What were they
annoyed about?
Speaker 1 (06:00):
They didn't like me in that seat, so I'm used,
you know, in their mind. As an executive coach, my
job is to guide and motivate and expand another person.
Right while I was doing that in the words at work,
Facebook Lives and what ended up becoming like a streaming piece,
but I was also revealing stuff about myself and things
(06:20):
that I was worried about and things that I've been
thinking about. And I was doing live meditations, and I
was doing all these things and people are like, that's
too weird. Just focus on you know, pick your lane.
Your strength is, you know, helping with leadership practices and
helping about I was like, yep, but it doesn't work
like that. We're all terrible, grow and secure. And then
on social media, I was getting lots of messages people
(06:41):
just being mean straight up me because I would just
show up how I was, like, I had a baseball
hat on it, or if I had just come from
a run. I didn't care. This is this is where
I'm at, this is this is real life. And that
was tough me. People didn't know me saying mean things.
And I had a great team of media people around
(07:01):
me and they were kind enough to hide some of
the comments from me. But the beginning I was, God,
these people are harsh. But then I realized it's easy
to be like a text and laptop titan when you're not.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Do and to be yeah, I mean, that's that's wild. Actually,
that's really wild. What are some of the common misconceptions
about what you do? So is this something that people
as SeeMe about your work that maybe surprises them.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I can't tell you how many times people introduce me
as a motivational speaker or a life coach, and I
respect the heck out of both of those things, but
that's not what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What I am doing is helping other people maximize their
talents and their genius in the world, and motivation is
part of it. Life is part of it. But I
do it within the context of a company, so I'm
contracted by companies to work with an executive.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
That's what I do.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
And it always surprises people when I say I'm not
a motivational speaker. They're like, well, and people will try
to introduce me that way. I'll get emails, oh, you
have to speak to so and so, or if they
need their resume updated I believe, or I get a
lot of that because they.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Ask you to update their resume I know, or I
get oh, I should send you my resume, and I say,
because you want me to see the skills and attributes
that make you extraordinary in the world.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Like what is it going to do with your resume?
But you know, it's a part of it. But I
and sometimes I have to see their resume or their
bio is part of again, whatever their expansion is whatever
their goals, whatever their But it's funny how people will
just they go to the lowscome denominator and I've kind
(08:58):
of just I take it I was a compliment. I'm like, oh,
they think of a motivational speaker, how have I motivated you?
Or they think I only work with women. I don't
know what that's about either. It just makes me laugh.
And here's the thing. If you think of me to
help somebody else, I'm going to do my best to
(09:19):
help them.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
It may not be me.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I may refer them out, but I'm going to do
my best to help them. And I talk to people
all the time that are in different phases of life.
I'm not getting paid for that. That's just something that
I'm doing to help people. So many people were generous
to me, and I believe in the law of reciprocity
if that quick conversation or something kind or something helpful
(09:42):
that I said turns into something positive for them, like
home run. I also love mentoring. I have some mentees
that are in college, love it so much fun.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Who are your mentors?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So I have to say one in particular because she's
since passed. I'm smiling because she would be so mad
if I didn't give her kudos. And she was a mentor.
Her name was Gene Also. She was the founder of
this executive development company that I was introduced to, and
she was the first person in my whole professional career
(10:21):
who really saw my talents, really pushed me to lean
into it. Her tactics were not always awesome. She was
not a warm and fuzzy type. She would hit you
up with feedback whether you liked it or not. But
she was loyal, she was smart, she was a risk taker,
(10:46):
and she just saw me for who I was, and
it was always pushing me better, more go get it.
She also was a very very intuitive person, so we
could always speak in that way. And the other mentors
in my life have been bad peers that I've had
to work with, bad employees. I look at them as
(11:08):
like they're they've been. I call them catalyst souls, like
people that have been in your life for a reason.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Catalyst souls.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Catalyst soul I characterize and people in the spiritual ram
might say it a little differently, but the way that
I characterize it, these are people that come into your
life and they're meant to teach you something. Sometimes they
were in the form of a horrible team member or
crazy boss, somebody who is a friend that's there for
(11:39):
a period of time. I have a lot of those.
I have a lot of souls that have come and gone,
and I thank them. I thank the pain and the
difficulties that have come from it. I didn't see it
at the time, but when I've come out of it
and I look back on it, I was like, that
was really good. I learned a ton from that. I mean,
I don't want to ever go through that again, but
(11:59):
really really helpful. And then there's really positive catalyst souls.
It could be someone you see on the street. It
could be someone who held the door for you. It
could be like those little moments that just again reminds
me of all that's unseen that if we're conscious of it,
it can fuel how we do what we do on
(12:20):
a daily basis.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
After twenty years of doing this work, what would you
say that you've really discovered about yourself? Hmmm, I know,
I'm getting to the section where it's like deep questions,
big questions.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean, we've seen this expression a lot. It's like
being so focused on the destination. Because this went quickly.
This was a hard twenty years with lots and lots
of beautiful moments and real pain and challenge. But I
rush through a lot of it and I don't know why.
(13:03):
Like I wish I was much more conscious of being
slow and deliberate and conscious, and here I wish I
had done that more.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
But don't you think that that's just you know, life
like twenty years goes quickly, like you can't control the time.
Time just goes quickly, and then you're like, damn, like
here we are twenty twenty five?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Is it year or is it just time?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
I think of it as you know, when when I
first left my corporate job, I had a newborn, right
when you when you have little kids, you're always on
a schedule. When are they going to sleep?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
When are they nat?
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And then I used to think about, well, how quickly
can I get home? How much time is it going
to take for me to get there. I was very
time conscious, but it was always like motivated by speed.
How much can I get done by a certain time.
I used to joke with myself like how much I
was like an army commercial? How much could you do
by ten o'clock? And I did more. I get a
(14:02):
real kick.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I still have that chip.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
I get a real kick out of doing more than
you could ever imagine before noon, Like that's why is
that exciting? So now as I think about where I
am in my life right now, I'm less inclined for
speed and I'm more inclined for substance. I spend more
(14:24):
time looking for the important moments and the people that
I want to be around. I have such little tolerance
for people who I don't share any interests or who
are on a different frequency. I don't spend more than
I have to, and I try to avoid those situations
(14:47):
wherever possible. Like I really am looking for the substance
and the beauty and less speed more time.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
What does it mean to you to integrate or aspects
of yourself? Coach, business owner, spiritual guide, the person?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Jeanie Kamber? What does it mean?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
I want to be sure that when I leave this planet,
I have helped as many people as I could, and
I've helped people to yeah, live a more or have
a more productive professional life and career and feel fulfilled. Yes,
(15:38):
but I also want people to know who the hell
they are, own their power, own their genius, and be
aligned with their best and highest and to have a
connection to that unseen that intuition and to feel that
(16:02):
and teach it and guide it or offer it to
other people. Like That's how I'll know we've gone full
circle is when Fizz is now thinking about her team
or a business decision or some where. What's your intention?
How are you listening, how are you atuning, what are
you feeling? How are you imparting your wisdom to the
(16:26):
other person or to that client or to that team
that's running a product or service. That to me is
like we got to get to the pull through. That's
what I'm hyper focused on now this maybe last quarter
of my life. That's what I'm focused on. How do
I get the pull through? So let's Genie's put it
out there now. How do I help Fizz bring it
(16:47):
now to the next person or the next experience.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
If you had to distill the essence of your journey
into just like one key lesson or message.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
What would that be?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Listen self and others listen first.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
I love that, And so.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Coming out to my kind of to conclude this wonderful discussion,
how do you see the next chapter unfolding? You've really
talked about what you want to leave behind is your legacy.
But you know you've kind of got the rest what
just the rest of twenty twenty five and sort of
narrowing it in what does that look like for you?
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So I mentioned I started this idea of doing what
I'm calling Warrior dinners. I started them in twenty eighteen
and had some really successful small intimate dinners with a
community of like minded people, which goes back to the
essence of why I decided to do coaching in the
first place. And these dinners are not about what you
(17:59):
do and who you work for. It's about who you
are in the world and what you're looking to create
for yourself. And so I want to add more fuel
to these dinners, and I want to create days where
we can spend more time talking about who we are
as human beings. How can we bring a greater sense
(18:22):
of awareness, greater sense of consciousness to how we're leading,
how we're driving business, how we're building teams, how we're
running product launches and customer engagements, like how we are
having an impact in the workplace. I want a day now.
So now I'm focused on how do I take the
dinner idea and build out a day. And that is
(18:45):
what's going to come in twenty twenty five, going to
start in New York City, which is the closest location
for me, and it's taking some of the early ideas
of why am I doing this in the first place,
and how can I create that pull through start with
smaller communities of people, get into service to something higher
(19:10):
than yourself. Right, Look what we can create together.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
If you could go back and give Genie of twenty
years ago some advice, what would you say to her?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Slow the hell down, Stop going so quickly moving from
thing to thing, Go slower, go deeper. I did a
lot of surface stuff for the sake of scale, But
what was I really building, because now the beauty is
(19:42):
in the pace of things is again slow, more deliberate,
more substance. I wish I was less inclined for speed.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And my final question, if there's anything that you want,
you know, if there's one thing that you want your
your listeners to take away from this, you know, exclusive
session with Genie and kind of like behind the curtain,
what's the thing that you would want someone to take away?
Speaker 1 (20:23):
I want you know, this was a weird thing to
contemplate being even in this space where like and I
remember I said to him, like, who's gonna care?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Looks like everyone that there's no new there's work with you.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
I think it's we need more storytelling, We need more
I say this this expression, this is maybe the best
way to leave. It is like, we have to reveal
ourselves if we want to heal. And revealing is not reckless.
I'm not saying go out and tell everybody all your deepest,
(21:02):
darkest secrets, but start somewhere where you're willing to reveal.
And that was really the genesis of this. It's like,
if I'm asking you to do it, you got to
do it too. And there is an interesting story, there's
an arc of a person that's evolved, and if this
evolutionary story can help someone else, I'm all for it
(21:27):
because that's what I'm here to offer. And so that's
revealed to heal.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Love that reveal to heal amazing. Well, thank you. It's
my absolute honor and pleasure getting a chance to interview Genie.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I really really know, I know, I know that this
is going to be so meaningful for so many different people,
and I hope a lot of people share this content
and just really subscribe to the work that you're doing
because I feel it. My intuition is telling me that
twenty twenty five is going to be incredible for you
in ways that you haven't even planned.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
So I'm really excited to kind of follow your journey
this year.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Thank you, Fiz, and thank you for really seeing me
and offering me an opportunity to go deep. Thank you
for joining me for another episode of the Warriors at
Work Show. If you are interested in learning more about
what we do at the Warriors at Work Show and platform,
be sure to go over to my website, Genie Komber
(22:27):
and subscribe to my monthly Warrior Playbook newsletter. I share
everything that I'm up to month by month, as well
as some lessons and insights that I've learned. I'm also
interested in hearing any feedback you have about this conversation
or future topics, so reach out to me directly on
JC at Geniecomber dot com or on LinkedIn. Be sure
(22:51):
to tell your friends and your colleagues about this Warriors
at Work conversation, Subscribe, review, and rate us. It's the
best way to get this message out into the world.
Be well,
We have to reveal ourselves if we want to heal,
and revealing is not reckless. I'm not saying go out
and tell everybody all your deepest, darkest secrets, but start
somewhere where you're willing to reveal. And that was really
the genesis of this. It's like, if I'm asking you
(00:21):
to do it, you got to do it too. And
there is an interesting story. There's an arc of a
person that's evolved, and if this evolutionary story can help
someone else, I'm all for it because that's what I'm
here to offer. Welcome to the Warriors at Work Show.
(00:42):
This is Genie Coomber, your guide and host. This is
a show for men and women in the workplace who
want to move from the predictable to the potent. This
is your weekly dose of inspiration with an edge. I
talk with CEOs and shamans, sports marketing executives, and therapists.
All of us are like minded thinkers and doers who
(01:06):
tell stories, share wisdom, and challenge each other to have
the best life possible inside and outside the office. Welcome
to your Warrior conversation. Hey everybody, it's Gidi. Welcome to
Warriors at Work. I am your guidance host, and today
I bring to you a very special episode. In February
(01:28):
of twenty twenty five, I am celebrating twenty wild years
as the owner of an executive coaching business called Transition Enterprises,
and me being front and center of that business as
an executive coach. And over the past two decades, I've
had the honor and privilege of working with some of
the most talented and inspirational leaders around the globe. And
(01:51):
I've seen a lot, I've experienced a lot, and I
was really trying to figure out what was the best
way to celebrate this twenty years and my beautiful friend
and confidante and colleague, fizz elajah Day, said, well, how
about we turn the tables and we make this look
and feel like a coaching session and I'll interview you.
(02:13):
And so I said yes. And Fizz is not only
a dear friend, she is also the director brand designed
for X. She is a wildly talented filmmaker, creative executive.
She has created documentaries that have earned acclaim at prestigious
festivals like SXSW, doc NYC, and the New York Film Festival.
(02:39):
She's actually currently directing Underground Railroad Ride, a feature length
documentary exploring the themes of racial justice, endurance, and personal transformation,
set to come out in the fall of this year.
And I did not know what she was going to
ask me in this coaching session, but I trusted her.
She knows enough about me and knows that I'm in
(03:01):
service to something bigger than myself. So together we reflect
on the lessons learned, painful and triumphant moments, and I
also share some of my favorite stories and key takeaways
from twenty years of helping leaders like you move from
the predictable to the potent. I really put this episode
out for everyone who has shared this ride with me,
(03:24):
and for those of you who I don't know yet.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for
letting me into your lives and for creating a space
like this where I can share my story enjoy.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Jeanie, I want to start with a bit of self discovery,
your practice and the way that you approach balancing being
deeply spiritual with the very real practical challenges of running
a business and operating in this corporate world, Like how
do you.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Balance them both?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
You didn't start off being deeply spiritual or at least
showing that side of yourself to your clients.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
So how did that evolution happen to where you are today?
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Well, COVID gave me permission to play with the edges there, right,
So when I started the Words at Work and it
was on the new branded website which came out in
February twenty twenty, I started to do more with the
Words at Work brand by March sixteenth, which next month,
everybody's going to see that original video that I decided
(04:26):
to go out on Facebook Live and just help as
many people as I could and share everything I knew
that I'd learned in a coaching capacity, so that leaders
had tools and techniques and things to manage it, and
never expecting the love and the gratitude that I received
in return. But it was basically a pivotal place for
(04:51):
me to talk about meditation, share stuff about myself because
I was going through it like everybody else. I was
just scared, like what are we doing? Why are we
wiping down our groceries? Like it was crazy, and so
I thought, well, screw it, I'm out here anyway. Why
don't I just talk from the heart and offer up
(05:13):
anything I can find, anything that I know, and those
early days phase, I'll tell you nobody was out there.
I looked anybody for a couple of weeks that was
giving any huge insights except for Gabby Byrnstain. She was
doing daily meditations. I have a ton of time and
respect for her because she was really helping people move
(05:36):
through the pain and the discovery, and you could see
she was having her own relationship with it. But that
gave me the opportunity to just say, well, I'm going
to swing for the fences and see how this lands.
And thank god it went well. Not everybody loved it.
Lots of people got annoyed at me. I got lots
of mean messages.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Pretty good, So people people got annoyed. What were they
annoyed about?
Speaker 1 (06:00):
They didn't like me in that seat, so I'm used,
you know, in their mind. As an executive coach, my
job is to guide and motivate and expand another person.
Right while I was doing that in the words at work,
Facebook Lives and what ended up becoming like a streaming piece,
but I was also revealing stuff about myself and things
(06:20):
that I was worried about and things that I've been
thinking about. And I was doing live meditations, and I
was doing all these things and people are like, that's
too weird. Just focus on you know, pick your lane.
Your strength is, you know, helping with leadership practices and
helping about I was like, yep, but it doesn't work
like that. We're all terrible, grow and secure. And then
on social media, I was getting lots of messages people
(06:41):
just being mean straight up me because I would just
show up how I was, like, I had a baseball
hat on it, or if I had just come from
a run. I didn't care. This is this is where
I'm at, this is this is real life. And that
was tough me. People didn't know me saying mean things.
And I had a great team of media people around
(07:01):
me and they were kind enough to hide some of
the comments from me. But the beginning I was, God,
these people are harsh. But then I realized it's easy
to be like a text and laptop titan when you're not.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Do and to be yeah, I mean, that's that's wild. Actually,
that's really wild. What are some of the common misconceptions
about what you do? So is this something that people
as SeeMe about your work that maybe surprises them.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I can't tell you how many times people introduce me
as a motivational speaker or a life coach, and I
respect the heck out of both of those things, but
that's not what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What I am doing is helping other people maximize their
talents and their genius in the world, and motivation is
part of it. Life is part of it. But I
do it within the context of a company, so I'm
contracted by companies to work with an executive.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
That's what I do.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
And it always surprises people when I say I'm not
a motivational speaker. They're like, well, and people will try
to introduce me that way. I'll get emails, oh, you
have to speak to so and so, or if they
need their resume updated I believe, or I get a
lot of that because they.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Ask you to update their resume I know, or I
get oh, I should send you my resume, and I say,
because you want me to see the skills and attributes
that make you extraordinary in the world.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Like what is it going to do with your resume?
But you know, it's a part of it. But I
and sometimes I have to see their resume or their
bio is part of again, whatever their expansion is whatever
their goals, whatever their But it's funny how people will
just they go to the lowscome denominator and I've kind
(08:58):
of just I take it I was a compliment. I'm like, oh,
they think of a motivational speaker, how have I motivated you?
Or they think I only work with women. I don't
know what that's about either. It just makes me laugh.
And here's the thing. If you think of me to
help somebody else, I'm going to do my best to
(09:19):
help them.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
It may not be me.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I may refer them out, but I'm going to do
my best to help them. And I talk to people
all the time that are in different phases of life.
I'm not getting paid for that. That's just something that
I'm doing to help people. So many people were generous
to me, and I believe in the law of reciprocity
if that quick conversation or something kind or something helpful
(09:42):
that I said turns into something positive for them, like
home run. I also love mentoring. I have some mentees
that are in college, love it so much fun.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Who are your mentors?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So I have to say one in particular because she's
since passed. I'm smiling because she would be so mad
if I didn't give her kudos. And she was a mentor.
Her name was Gene Also. She was the founder of
this executive development company that I was introduced to, and
she was the first person in my whole professional career
(10:21):
who really saw my talents, really pushed me to lean
into it. Her tactics were not always awesome. She was
not a warm and fuzzy type. She would hit you
up with feedback whether you liked it or not. But
she was loyal, she was smart, she was a risk taker,
(10:46):
and she just saw me for who I was, and
it was always pushing me better, more go get it.
She also was a very very intuitive person, so we
could always speak in that way. And the other mentors
in my life have been bad peers that I've had
to work with, bad employees. I look at them as
(11:08):
like they're they've been. I call them catalyst souls, like
people that have been in your life for a reason.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Catalyst souls.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Catalyst soul I characterize and people in the spiritual ram
might say it a little differently, but the way that
I characterize it, these are people that come into your
life and they're meant to teach you something. Sometimes they
were in the form of a horrible team member or
crazy boss, somebody who is a friend that's there for
(11:39):
a period of time. I have a lot of those.
I have a lot of souls that have come and gone,
and I thank them. I thank the pain and the
difficulties that have come from it. I didn't see it
at the time, but when I've come out of it
and I look back on it, I was like, that
was really good. I learned a ton from that. I mean,
I don't want to ever go through that again, but
(11:59):
really really helpful. And then there's really positive catalyst souls.
It could be someone you see on the street. It
could be someone who held the door for you. It
could be like those little moments that just again reminds
me of all that's unseen that if we're conscious of it,
it can fuel how we do what we do on
(12:20):
a daily basis.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
After twenty years of doing this work, what would you
say that you've really discovered about yourself? Hmmm, I know,
I'm getting to the section where it's like deep questions,
big questions.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean, we've seen this expression a lot. It's like
being so focused on the destination. Because this went quickly.
This was a hard twenty years with lots and lots
of beautiful moments and real pain and challenge. But I
rush through a lot of it and I don't know why.
(13:03):
Like I wish I was much more conscious of being
slow and deliberate and conscious, and here I wish I
had done that more.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
But don't you think that that's just you know, life
like twenty years goes quickly, like you can't control the time.
Time just goes quickly, and then you're like, damn, like
here we are twenty twenty five?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Is it year or is it just time?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
I think of it as you know, when when I
first left my corporate job, I had a newborn, right
when you when you have little kids, you're always on
a schedule. When are they going to sleep?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
When are they nat?
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And then I used to think about, well, how quickly
can I get home? How much time is it going
to take for me to get there. I was very
time conscious, but it was always like motivated by speed.
How much can I get done by a certain time.
I used to joke with myself like how much I
was like an army commercial? How much could you do
by ten o'clock? And I did more. I get a
(14:02):
real kick.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I still have that chip.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
I get a real kick out of doing more than
you could ever imagine before noon, Like that's why is
that exciting? So now as I think about where I
am in my life right now, I'm less inclined for
speed and I'm more inclined for substance. I spend more
(14:24):
time looking for the important moments and the people that
I want to be around. I have such little tolerance
for people who I don't share any interests or who
are on a different frequency. I don't spend more than
I have to, and I try to avoid those situations
(14:47):
wherever possible. Like I really am looking for the substance
and the beauty and less speed more time.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
What does it mean to you to integrate or aspects
of yourself? Coach, business owner, spiritual guide, the person?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Jeanie Kamber? What does it mean?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
I want to be sure that when I leave this planet,
I have helped as many people as I could, and
I've helped people to yeah, live a more or have
a more productive professional life and career and feel fulfilled. Yes,
(15:38):
but I also want people to know who the hell
they are, own their power, own their genius, and be
aligned with their best and highest and to have a
connection to that unseen that intuition and to feel that
(16:02):
and teach it and guide it or offer it to
other people. Like That's how I'll know we've gone full
circle is when Fizz is now thinking about her team
or a business decision or some where. What's your intention?
How are you listening, how are you atuning, what are
you feeling? How are you imparting your wisdom to the
(16:26):
other person or to that client or to that team
that's running a product or service. That to me is
like we got to get to the pull through. That's
what I'm hyper focused on now this maybe last quarter
of my life. That's what I'm focused on. How do
I get the pull through? So let's Genie's put it
out there now. How do I help Fizz bring it
(16:47):
now to the next person or the next experience.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
If you had to distill the essence of your journey
into just like one key lesson or message.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
What would that be?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Listen self and others listen first.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
I love that, And so.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Coming out to my kind of to conclude this wonderful discussion,
how do you see the next chapter unfolding? You've really
talked about what you want to leave behind is your legacy.
But you know you've kind of got the rest what
just the rest of twenty twenty five and sort of
narrowing it in what does that look like for you?
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So I mentioned I started this idea of doing what
I'm calling Warrior dinners. I started them in twenty eighteen
and had some really successful small intimate dinners with a
community of like minded people, which goes back to the
essence of why I decided to do coaching in the
first place. And these dinners are not about what you
(17:59):
do and who you work for. It's about who you
are in the world and what you're looking to create
for yourself. And so I want to add more fuel
to these dinners, and I want to create days where
we can spend more time talking about who we are
as human beings. How can we bring a greater sense
(18:22):
of awareness, greater sense of consciousness to how we're leading,
how we're driving business, how we're building teams, how we're
running product launches and customer engagements, like how we are
having an impact in the workplace. I want a day now.
So now I'm focused on how do I take the
dinner idea and build out a day. And that is
(18:45):
what's going to come in twenty twenty five, going to
start in New York City, which is the closest location
for me, and it's taking some of the early ideas
of why am I doing this in the first place,
and how can I create that pull through start with
smaller communities of people, get into service to something higher
(19:10):
than yourself. Right, Look what we can create together.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
If you could go back and give Genie of twenty
years ago some advice, what would you say to her?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Slow the hell down, Stop going so quickly moving from
thing to thing, Go slower, go deeper. I did a
lot of surface stuff for the sake of scale, But
what was I really building, because now the beauty is
(19:42):
in the pace of things is again slow, more deliberate,
more substance. I wish I was less inclined for speed.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And my final question, if there's anything that you want,
you know, if there's one thing that you want your
your listeners to take away from this, you know, exclusive
session with Genie and kind of like behind the curtain,
what's the thing that you would want someone to take away?
Speaker 1 (20:23):
I want you know, this was a weird thing to
contemplate being even in this space where like and I
remember I said to him, like, who's gonna care?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Looks like everyone that there's no new there's work with you.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
I think it's we need more storytelling, We need more
I say this this expression, this is maybe the best
way to leave. It is like, we have to reveal
ourselves if we want to heal. And revealing is not reckless.
I'm not saying go out and tell everybody all your deepest,
(21:02):
darkest secrets, but start somewhere where you're willing to reveal.
And that was really the genesis of this. It's like,
if I'm asking you to do it, you got to
do it too. And there is an interesting story, there's
an arc of a person that's evolved, and if this
evolutionary story can help someone else, I'm all for it
(21:27):
because that's what I'm here to offer. And so that's
revealed to heal.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Love that reveal to heal amazing. Well, thank you. It's
my absolute honor and pleasure getting a chance to interview Genie.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I really really know, I know, I know that this
is going to be so meaningful for so many different people,
and I hope a lot of people share this content
and just really subscribe to the work that you're doing
because I feel it. My intuition is telling me that
twenty twenty five is going to be incredible for you
in ways that you haven't even planned.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
So I'm really excited to kind of follow your journey
this year.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Thank you, Fiz, and thank you for really seeing me
and offering me an opportunity to go deep. Thank you
for joining me for another episode of the Warriors at
Work Show. If you are interested in learning more about
what we do at the Warriors at Work Show and platform,
be sure to go over to my website, Genie Komber
(22:27):
and subscribe to my monthly Warrior Playbook newsletter. I share
everything that I'm up to month by month, as well
as some lessons and insights that I've learned. I'm also
interested in hearing any feedback you have about this conversation
or future topics, so reach out to me directly on
JC at Geniecomber dot com or on LinkedIn. Be sure
(22:51):
to tell your friends and your colleagues about this Warriors
at Work conversation, Subscribe, review, and rate us. It's the
best way to get this message out into the world.
Be well,
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