This is part 1 of our conversation with Geordee Mae Corpuz, a Bay Area-based coach and entrepreneur.

In this episode, Geordee shares her journey from community organizing and education to becoming a transformational coach. She delves into her experiences growing up in the Bay Area as a child of Filipino immigrants, the challenges she faced as an organizer during the Bush era, and the pivotal moments that led her to start her coaching practice.

Geordee discusses the importance of self-compassion, the need for iterations in business, and how coaching has helped her achieve a balanced and purpose-driven life. We dive into the significance of internal healing, building community, and maintaining sustainability in business practices.

Follow to learn more about Geordee @geordeemaecorpuz or geordeemaecorpuz.com

Stay tuned for part 2! ✌🏽

You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Podbean.

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TRANSCRIPT:

Geordee Part I

Donaji: Okay. Today we have a very special guest. She is Geordee. She's a client of mine. She's here in the Bay Area and she is a coach and she can expand on that in a little bit, but we're so thankful that you're here and excited to kind of dive into your story and all of the things that you have to share about your journey as an entrepreneur and business owner and what led you there and any lessons that you have from for either other coaches or other business owners.

So thanks for being here and making the time to chat with us.

Jo: Yay. Welcome.

Geordee: Thanks for having me y'all.

Jo: Yes. It's so lovely to meet you and I'm excited to learn more about your work and also your perspectives. Um, we've got some really exciting topics to talk about as well. So yeah, I'm, I'm fascinated about your approach to coaching and business. So really excited to dive into the conversation with you, Geordee.

Donaji: Yeah. Geordee said, do you want to, how do you introduce yourself to people?

Geordee: So my name is Geordee. Um, she, her, my pronouns are she, her. I'm based out of Oakland, uh, but I'm a SF native. I'm like also a quintessential Bay Area native, as somebody who knows. Um, I feel like I identify with that the most because I just feel like when people meet me, it's like everything about me kind of exudes.

The area in a way. Um, yeah, especially I'm like, you know, I'm a child of two Filipino immigrants. So like, Filipino women, like, It's just all the things about me kind of resonate with that. I'm a big, um, basketball head. Like I love the Warriors. Um, and I currently live in Oakland with, um, my partner, Dawn and my baby, Izzy.

She's two years old. Um,

Donaji: She’s also a dog mom. We're all dog moms here.

Jo: Aww

Geordee: She’s like the love of my life. So I feel like that is like my, my world. Like she is like my world.

Donaji: Totally. We all, we, we both really understand.

Jo: We understand. We get it.

Geordee: I guess on the work side, so I used to be an organizer I think, I think for me I'm definitely a part of, I guess like in the movement we call it the movement, but like the fight for social justice racial justice. In the U.S. and then also here I started my work in working in schools and in education and that led me to community organizing and doing education policy and youth organizing, which then actually led me to being a coach, which I'll talk about. Um, and so along with being a coach and, um, and, and consultant, which I do like organizational culture and like development, um, organizations, I also work at an organization called Center for Empowered Politics, where, um, before I used to like, be an organizer and like, also like be a leader and lead an organization.

And now what I do is I support other folks who lead organizations and help them build their organizations up.

Donaji: How cool is that? Like.

Geordee: yeah, it's,

Donaji: Yeah.

Geordee: Yeah. So just like putting my alert, like really just putting out my practice and learnings of what it takes to, um, build a community organization, do organizing and like, just what's. I'm just being asked of leaders in this moment in this political moment, especially like across the board folks who run our movement or women of color and that comes with a lot of, like, stuff to unpack.

And I think also why, like, I feel coaching is so needed in the movement. So, yeah.

Donaji: And there’s a lot of coaches here. Uh, I know a lot of coaches that do similar work. But I wanted to ask you first. How does one become an organizer? And how did you, so like, okay, you go to school, you're in high school, what kind of experiences did you have or who were you around or what kind of environment did you grow up in that led you to even have that awareness of like this exists?

This is something to be interested in or like, cause I grew up in Miami, I had zero experience. I didn't know anything about organizing. None of that. This does not exist in my, in my life growing up. So I'm always curious like how people become aware of it or interested in it and leading up to I want to do this and being involved.

Geordee: Yeah, I, oh my gosh. So even growing up in, in like San Francisco and like the Bay Area, I was not exposed to organizing or I wasn't exposed to like, just even as a lexicon, like, you know, movement, organizing world. I think like,

Donaji: Mm

Geordee: um, in my family, it was, I think what I was exposed to was like reading about the civil rights movement.

Um, and then you know you learn about the organizing of the civil rights movement, but they don't really call it. I think back, I think like back then books didn't really call it organizing either. Yeah, they were just like Martin Luther King. That's it right? Rosa Parks. That’s it. They were leaders right? But they didn't actually talk about the mechanisms, they did to like win, like huge, like the huge civil rights wins that we had back then.

And so I had no idea and then also like my parents. Um, you know, for many reasons, folks immigrate to like the U.S. for a better life, but they also immigrated in a time, um, it was called the People's Power Movement in the Philippines. So like, and like, so what, what my family knew and when I knew about like revolution or like, you know, movements was like very violent.

Donaji: Right.

Geordee: So like, so like the imagery of like protesting in the streets, which like now in hindsight, and protesting is just like. Kind of like one form, right? And stuff like that. It's not an actual, sometimes it's not really all into what organizing is. So that was kind of my understanding was like, Oh, if you want to fight for change, you got to be like amazing, like Martin Luther King, or, or you have to expect that it's going to be like, a real violent, you know, battle, whatever, um, with the government or whatever powers that be.

So I had no idea. Um, and so I, how I got into organizing was, I think it was when I was exposed, but I think like the trajectory that led me into organizing was my parents decided to move To Las Vegas, um, in like 2004. So like the Bush era. And that was the first time I experienced And this was like a height it folks, like some folks might remember.

Well, I think like. Gen Z doesn't really know, but it was the height of like anti immigration sentiment in the country, right? Like,

Jo: Mm.

Geordee: which isn't new, right? And folks like, anyways, I don't know too much of history, but like things like SB 1070, right? The show your papers law that went into effect in Arizona.

Like there was so much, like all of that was happening. And so I was living in, in like Las Vegas when it was red, when actually Nevada was completely red. And, and so I, for the first time I was like experiencing, like, like discrimination like literally like, I guess you, I, you hate crimes, honestly, like I was experiencing that on like a daily basis and I saw my, my parents, like, Um, face like workforce discrimination and like, I was just like, what is going on?

I was like, why is this a reality? And, you know, um, my dad served in the military, right? My, like, grandfather served in the military. My family has a really like, they're like, hello American. And they were like, they were like Republicans. So they're like, you know, they're like super American.

Donaji: So wild. And also, like, coming from San Francisco.

Geordee: Exactly, exactly, exactly.

And I was just like, it's so like, what was instilled in me was like, we're American, right? My parents were like, you are only speaking English because you are American. And I just remember being like a teenager and not understanding like, if my parents have worked so hard, why are we experiencing this?

Like, why are we experiencing this? Like, we don't belong here. And so that kind of got me to, um, To actually want to major in Asian American studies and like, and so, um, I decided to go to UC Davis for the Asian American studies program. Um, and, and when I was at, at UC Davis, I decided to, um, I think a lot of colleges have it but it's like a student recruitment and retention center like program where you actually go out.

Um, and it was like a, it was, I think, a part of like affirmative action, right, especially when affirmative action was abolished in California. Sorry, I'm giving a long history lesson, but like,

Donaji: It's so interesting though.

Geordee: Yes, but when it was abolished, right, communities of color were like, we have to go out and recruit. Our people into the universities because affirmative action is no longer available.

And so what what came about where these student recruitment centers and so I would go out. Um, and my family is also from Vallejo so I would like go to Vallejo schools, I would go South Sacramento schools and I would talk to young people. Um, and then, and in that time when I would go out, it was actually during the recession.

And my cousins were teachers at the time and it was during the pink slip era. So like there was a year where Arnold Schwarzenegger, he was our, our governor.

Donaji: I totally forgot about that.

Geordee: yeah, dollars. It's wild. Okay. Like people are like, you know, California, I'm like, y'all don't understand. There's some wild shit that's happening in our state that we've had to like, like to live through.

So he cut billions of dollars in education. And I saw my, like, I saw like. My, my cousin who was working at high school, and like all of her colleagues were pink slip like this, it was, it's like a very traumatic. It was a very traumatic time we're like, all of a sudden, all these teachers were no longer working in

Donaji: Pink slip means like, you're fired?

Geordee: fired. Yeah, like you are no guarantee you are not guaranteed to work at the school you don't have a contract right with the district and all of that stuff. And so, um, and I'm supposed to take her did this because he was like, Oh, we're not we don't have enough money so we're just gonna. Fire all the teachers in California.

Um, and that and like just seeing the kind of conditions of schools and then also it was a really high time of military recruitment for young people because we're it's the recession. So military recruitment was high for young people of color. And I remember like I was trying I was sitting with these young people and they're like we really want to go to college, and, and then they were like, and they're like we want to go, but we're going to the military because that's the only way we're going to have.

Secure, like we'll have money and

Donaji: That's the reason I joined. It was literally that reason.

Geordee: Yes, yes. And so that got me working in schools, um, and, and working in schools, like I was, I had this like idea of like, okay, if I work in the system, I could, you know, I could, I could do something like I could work, I could support all these young people.

Right. And I think it's like what a lot of people, we probably, you know, um, Like a lot of folks we know that work in schools. It's not enough, right? We can't like change the system with our own individual efforts. Um, so I was just like, I need to do something like this is not working like I want to change this.

We have to change the system. Um, you know, and I felt like education was the was for me like a place that I could contribute and shift and I also care about young people. And then I heard this thing about organizing. Right. And, um, At the time, uh, my, um, my brother in law was working for a community organization in Vallejo, and they were doing, he was, they were going to launch their community organizing program, um, and their program was to change the budget.

In Vallejo, like the city of Vallejo, like there was like a, to redistribute the budget in the city of Vallejo. And I was like, okay. I know, like I read about movements and like, you know, I read about all these things like civil rights movement, right? The liberation front studies. Well, what is this organizing thing?

Because, you know, I, I was like the. We, I keep hearing like these social justice, like happenings that are important, but what's this thing they did. And so he gave me this book. Um, what is it? The, the Western States, something it's like a old, they're like an old school, like, I think like, uh, organizing school in the Midwest and like, that's what you, you looked at.

And so like, I started to be like, Oh, I was like, Oh, build a base. Like we'll do it. I was like, Oh, this is interesting.

Donaji: like literally how to.

Geordee: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And, and there's all, and I didn't know, I was just like, oh wait, like, there's schools out there that talk 

Jo: Yeah. I didn't even know that was the, that they existed either. Yeah.

Geordee: Yes, yes, I know I was like what the heck.

And so like, I was, I was studying this and then all of a sudden I get this call, or I get hit up by my friend and she's like, hey, an organizing position just opened up at my friends, my, my, my college organization. She's going to leave. She's looking for an organizer. I was like, it's like, Do I want to do this?

Like, I've never organized. I don't know what this, you know, what this entails. Um, but I know that I need to change systems. And she's like, just apply for it. And so, like, I applied to the job. It was at my old organization, Californians for Justice. Um, my good friend, Sa'an, who's also a past client of Don, he, like, was the person who was the lead organizer at the time, looking to fill an organizer position.

And she hired me. And literally, that's how I fell into organizing. And I think that's, that's, that's what happens a lot. In, I think, in the, in, like, well, it was in the California or just like, just anywhere, right? Like, I didn't realize that my cousins were actually doing organizing in Vallejo in the 90s. But what they, yeah, but what they were doing was drug prevention work.

Donaji: Oh

Geordee: There was like drug prevention. So it's like there's all these things where it's like there was a lot of there's like sometimes. Because organizing is, you know, suppressed or given a bad rap. It's like it, it, it's shown up in different forms.

I mean, now, because like, It's just so different. We're in a different political climate, right? But back then it was like community outreach, you know, like services and things like that, but actually like people are doing organizing work. So that's how I fell into organizing literally. So,

Jo: I was going to ask, um, just in terms of the previous experiences that you had through what you studied at uni, um, and then also like the experience that you had through education, how did it prepare you to go into, you know, This new role of like organization, like, was there certain skills that you were like, all right, that came really naturally.

Or was there something that made you feel like, Oh, this is a whole new skill set. And it's a whole new area that you had to kind of learn from.

Geordee: yeah, I, okay, so I think what prepared me for Like to be an organizer was that I did work where I had to like talk to strangers, like that's, you know, yeah, and I had to like capture them so like when I was in university like I did a lot of facilitating. I did a lot of outreach like I like, um, and I, and my job was to talk to high school students and like kind of captivate them.

Right. I also did a stint in AmeriCorps. Which was like AmeriCorps taught me like how to grind and like and also like gave me a very realistic view of my community or or what it takes to work in a community, how you have to be really humble. Right. Whenever you're working with me, because I wasn't working when I started as an organizer, I actually started working in Oakland, which where I am now.

And that's the reason why I'm still here. And I was like, Oh, I don't know anything really about Oakland. I'm not from this community. This is not where I grew up. And so you kind of have to come at it with that, being humble, being open, being curious, right? Uh, and that's kind of how you survive. And I think listening, I think that's a big thing, listening.

But exactly. And I think, um, because I did a lot of facilitation work when I was starting when I was like in college, right, and speaking, I was able to be able to, um, like take something really complex and break it down for folks. And that's usually the biggest thing that's sometimes like the hardest thing is how do you translate.

Um, kind of this vision we want for schools or for the world and like what we're trying to do, um, to folks who just, they don't know they don't come across it right and so that's, that's definitely what prepared me I think that also prepared me was like, oh my gosh so much. Um, how to stay organized and like Like, um, and being under intense, like pressure and dealing with multiple folks with personalities and stuff like that, because something like organizing is people, it's just people work.

Right. And I like, we've all been in places where we have to work with people, we have to align people to a goal and like. Maybe you don't agree, right? Or you're just like, it's not what you set out, but you know, you're, you also have to be patient with folks on their journey to like, come along with you, right?

Because organizing isn't necessarily like, I tell them, like, this is what people think.

Donaji: Yeah, I was going to say, like, if you can explain, because I think we might have different ideas of what this looks like, depending on what we've seen. But also, from somebody that has been in it, like, what does it actually look like, or what does an organizer actually do? Like, you're dealing with people, but what is that, yeah, what do you do?

What's the process? So,

Geordee: right and so in organizing. I'm not telling like I have my own beliefs right and my own political leanings, but it's like it is not.

Thank you. It's disingenuous and it's not principled if I'm just imposing this upon an individual and tricking them to think, you know, like this is for them. I have to like, you know, organizing what it takes to build for folks to build to bring them into your organization and what you're working on, whether it's education justice reproductive justice, right, what it takes is to sit down, understand where an individual like.

Like how, what, what an individual's life story is, what they care about. Right. And then you kind of translating like, well, this is kind of the vision we have as an organization, right? What do you think about that? And kind of offering them a place to be and to be with others to achieve something greater.

So for instance, when I was trying to recruit, we had like a, One of the first campaigns I worked on was to, to win more funding for California schools, wouldn't be my like last this like, like, I had, um, So like I would actually I would talk to a young person right tell them who I am and just be straight up like organization and then talk to them about like, hey, if you had more like, what are your conditions at school, what would you wish you had more money, like, if we had more money in school, what would you, what would you spend it on right and then just be like hey this is what we're trying to do are you with it or come to this event, see what we're about, see if it aligns with you right.

Um, and I think, and, and after that, once you bring someone into the organization, and it takes, it's, it's not just like one thing, right? It actually takes a long time. I think in the age of social media, people are like, we're like, you know, especially Bernie, we're, I think when Bernie was running, like folks, I think folks would think like, Oh, yeah, I signed on to this.

I'm a member. I like align, you know, I'm good to go. Right. But it's like, after you bring someone in, then you have to do the deep work of like, Creating a community amongst all the different members, right, building a collective meaning of, of what like why they're here, what we're trying to what we're trying to win, and then, and then decide strategy with them.

Right. So, like that was it and what I mean is like, you know, I would have to like, So I would have to do a meetings and alignment like, do we agree we want more funding in schools everyone right who okay, so these are the people in power that hold the key to that or these are, these are the laws that we have to like push for right we'll do.

You know,

Donaji: lot of education

Geordee: it's a lot.

Donaji: to be done so that you can achieve that goal.

Geordee: It's basically me breaking down like it's like breaking down the system. So folks understand the system. Right. And then, and then us choosing and being smart of like well then how do we, how do we effectively like what do we do so that we can get the material conditions that we want. And in the midst of that you have to build community, you have to build relationship.

It has to be fun, like. Because it's hard work, you know, it's hard. It's yes. Yeah.

Donaji: gonna go there because I know that through this journey of you being an organizer, you know, that led you to start your coaching business. Um, I know that there was some burnout there and I know that there were some tough, uh, times of, of you trying to figure this out. How did you transition into coaching and what was it that you either learned from your experience as an organizer that led you to think of, you know, wanting to do something different and why was coaching like the right thing for you?

Geordee: yeah, yeah. So I tell like, I feel like this is the case for most people like when you organize or when you work with community and you do this type of work, like, Your stuff, your unhealed stuff, right? Your, your baggage of, yes, shows up, right? Like, and it like, you can't like, like, for instance,

Donaji: because you're dealing with a lot of people, like, there's a lot of emotions, like, what is it that brings that out?

Geordee: I think you're oftentimes like, yes, it's like people stuff. And then you're, you experience a certain type of pressure, or a certain type of stress. That then like impacts you being able to show up freely and fully, you know, um, like for instance, I think this happens to a lot of people, but the stakes are for me how I feel about, you know, organizing is I feel like the stakes are so high.

And so when the stakes are so high, you're not going to show up as your best self. Right, especially like when the stakes are so high and you're just like, and, and it's like you're not able to. Be present with yourself, have compassion with yourself. You're not going to show up as your best self. And that's kind of what happened to me where like, again, you know, I.

Never organized before. And then I started organizing. And then the first thing I was thinking like, what the hell am I doing here? I was, I was like, I've never done like, and, and it was like me landing, like, wow, I finally feel like I've found my calling or I found my purpose or I found like where I fit in this world.

After so many times like trying to figure out it's like organizing clicked and made sense to me and for me it was it was kind of like if I don't make it if I don't make it in doing this, then I'm a failure. And, and so what showed up for me was like my relationship with failure. And, and, and so like, and I think that happens to a lot of people, right?

It's like, you do

Donaji: it's like you're putting, you're putting your entire value as a human being into this one thing.

Geordee: Yes, exactly. When it shouldn't, like when it shouldn't be, you know what I mean? It's like, it's like, it comes from a very, like, it comes from a place that I think it's like, you know, there's so much to it. Like there's so much context to that. Right. And it's like, we also live in a world where like. You can't really fail.

Right. You don't you don't show the like the world or society I think in the US doesn't really teach you or show you very good lessons of like when you fail at your job. Right. Like, you can get back up again, or actually it's not, it's not the end of the world. So I was putting all that pressure on myself.

And it really messed up with me because I did start to make mistakes at work. Um, I, I didn't do everything perfectly. I actually, and then I, I was like, I remember I would be in meetings with other, other organizers, and I just would be so afraid to speak because I was the only one for my organization and I would be like if I said something wrong, like, mate, like, I'm going to ruin everything.

Right. And so there was this sense of perfectionism which is unrealistic, and it didn't allow me to grow, it actually didn't allow me, it didn't give me any room it was just kind of like I was. Just this tense ball all the time. Um, and being so hard on yourself and being so down yourself, I started to have like an emotional breakdown a lot.

And I started to have like a depression where I was just, all I kept thinking about was like, I'm not made for this role. Like I'm not good enough. Um, and I remember I was about to quit and then a friend of mine was like, Okay, before you stop being an organizer, like I want you to try this coaching thing.

And so I was introduced to coaching and in that process, right? Um, I remember, um, the person, one of my mentors, Stacy Kono, she like, uh, she asked me this question of like, you know, what if, what if there's nothing wrong with you? And I just remember like, It was all of a sudden like glass, you know, like in movies where like glass breaks, you know, and like, you and then there's like an image of you and it's like, Oh, it's broken, you know, it's like, and then all of a sudden you're in like this, I don't know, things are, then you're in this empty space, right?

And like things become clear. It was kind of those moments for me, where I was like, Wow, what if I just put down this belief that like, or what if I just had this belief? That nothing is wrong with me. Like, how much freedom in my body do I feel? How much more clear am I with myself? And so, um, it's really coaching is what kept me in organizing.

And then it made me think like, hey, I'm not the only one that feels this way. Like, like so many. Of the folks who are like, they're literally trying to win, like, real, like, you know, like, like things that will change people's lives, right? Like there are folks who are on the front lines and trying to do all this work to win, um, different types of rights for different type of folks.

And everyone is like, I'm undeserving or like, you know, there's, they're, they're dealing with some battle of like, Right. You know, with their own like with their ability to love themselves. And I was just like, how are we people as fighting for liberation, like, like, like how are we doing this and we don't love ourselves like this is ridiculous.

I think we need to do like It just clicked in my brain. I was just like, we need like our healing matters, right? Our journey for self love matters because like, what if I stepped away from organizing, right? And, and that meant like all the 10 years I did organizing would have disappeared then. Right. And so for me,

Donaji: And that, and that happens too because some of these issues are just generations of like just continuous fights and continuous organizing and people come in and out, you know, and there's people that stay there for like decades and decades fighting on the same sort of issues. So the burnout, like, uh, You know, what do you call it like just the the burnout like possibilities are very high

Geordee: yes, exactly. And, and also like these, this, these things of, of like, I don't deserve. You know, I'm not deserving. I'm not good enough. Like, I think what I realized in coaching was some of that stuff doesn't come from us. Like we are not inherently like bad or, you know, not good enough people like it comes from, you know, society comes from our own familial like relationships comes from even, you know, You know, generational trauma and like things that happened in the past or what society tells us.

And so it's like that is also our own. I mean, it's the same. It's the same thing you see externally right like You know, the government says, like, for instance, what's happening in Gaza right now that Palestinians lives don't matter right that are that those are all those are internalized and those are own like own battles that like, you know, folks have also experienced for generations like seeing things, you know, it's like you see the manifestation of those beliefs in the violence that people have experienced for generations right and throughout history. Yes. Yes, exactly. And it is not like, you know, when you live in the U S it's not like a, you know, it's not out there, it's not really a message to like, love yourself. Right. It's like our systems in the U S are constantly like. You need to succeed as an individual. And if you don't, you suck. Pull yourself by your bootstraps or else you suck.

You fail. You know, you don't deserve anything right as a human being. So it's, it's like there's all these reinforcements. And so for me, I'm like, Okay, like we have to do like as we as much we are fighting, you know, for justice in the physical world, we have to fight for our own emotional and spiritual well being as well.

Like that is a part of that and it's all interconnected and it allows us to, you know, allows us to be better with each other allows us to be. Um, to be better, uh, to win these fights we need to win. And so that's kind of how I came into coaching. Uh, I mean, it is, and then my mentor, I did a program and my mentor was like, you're being a coach.

So I was also like, I was also told to like, like you are meant to be a coach. So I was also like, someone saw, also saw something in me and told me to be a coach. Um,

Donaji: That's beautiful

Geordee: yeah. And I was, I was also thought it was a beautiful cycle of like, The, the, um, the healing, um, methodology that, that, that helps has continued to help me on my journey.

Now I'm able to like, do that for someone else, right? That for me was just like, beautiful. And so I was like, this makes sense. This makes so much sense. And so that's what led me into coaching because I'm like, I have a commitment, um, to my people, right? To, to a world of justice. And I've like, One, I know the, the value of this healing modality and like, I can also do that for others.

And I just felt so much purpose in that. And so that's what kind of led me into

Jo: How do you merge the two together? I'm curious around, like, when you have your own business as a coach, how do you bring that into the organization and sort of infuse that into the conversation with the people that you're wanting to connect with and also in the community, like, how do they take that on board and.

Like, how does it change the way that the community operates or the organization?

Geordee: Well, when I started coaching, uh, or I, when I started taking clients, I was like, Hey, I put on like my Facebook and I was like, Hey, I'm starting to coach. And like, people were like, you're coaching, like. Oh, yeah. And I like got all these responses back and I was like, what? I was like, I was like, okay, like, you know, and, and I, and all I did was tell my story, like, it's like my, my program, they were like, okay, this is what you're going to do.

You're going to tell people because you need you, we need you to have practice to get clients. You're going to tell people like. That you're coaching now and like what your story with coaching is. And so that's what I did. I just said like what I was going through. And when I did this thing, this is what happened to me.

And there was just so much deep resonance because I think a lot.

Donaji: obviously like Like what you were saying earlier like this people need this because you experienced it so they're experiencing it, too

Geordee: Yes, I feel if I did like a, if I did like a survey, like all the clients I've had, and I tell them the same story, right, of how I got into coaching, like all of them say like, that deeply resonates with me. Actually, I feel like that right now, like that is just inherent. And, and, and also people see that on an organizational level too.

Like, like how it shows up on an organizational level, right? Um, where it's like, they're seeing the impacts of folks there, like where the organization ends. And it's like, we're like only so much the organization can do. And then there's work that the individual has to do as well. So like, when I've talked to organizations, they're like, okay, like, we've, uh, you know, like, We're noticing these patterns with our folks like they're having a hard time kind of, you know, stepping up we know them to be leaders like, but we know that that's, there's only so much we can do, and there's stuff that they need to do and but we want to like, like, extend, you know, get you on as a coach, right, extend the support by bringing someone in to support them to do that work.

And I think that's, That's right. Like, I don't I don't think just in the in like in the social justice movement, but I think in in everywhere in all places, like people have to be working on themselves. So the whole can be better. Right. It's just like, like, so it's just, that's what we've seen it's been it's been reinforced time and time again.

Yeah. And so,

Donaji: anywhere, right? Like, from, from a place of work to a family unit, a household, like, anywhere.

Jo: Hmm. I always, yeah, I always feel like the external is a reflection in, in, in some ways of what's happening internally, because there's So consciously you end up doing so many things or like just, you know, the attitude or the energy that you have towards certain things. It impacts everything that, you know, comes out of you as a, as a result.

So, um, yeah, I think that it's just being aware of. Uh, be more aware of what's going on internally so that where we know that we've got our shit covered internally and that we're working on that so that the external is a, a true reflection of that as well.

Geordee: Yeah. I oftentimes work with like, um, folks who are like, they, they're the leadership of an organization. Right. And so of course they dictate a lot of like what the culture looks like. And so when I like, so in, so it's like the individual piece. And then when I say it was like, okay, so like, what are the things that you've all done collectively?

Right, especially as it is like the decision making and leadership body and like how does that translate into your culture, how does that translate into the beliefs, the practices and the mindsets of the organization, like, what's the story that's, you know, that's being told right in the organization and it's like because you know, then your individual like individuals create like a collective shaping and then it creates, you know, and so it all has to do how we show up.

Right. How we choose to show up. Right. Um,

Donaji: Well, and like, how you, how you, like, foster that environment. Yeah. So you're, you're coaching, you've got your business, sorry, you've got your clients and you're in your business. Um, and so you come from this place where you're around community and, um, now you're on your own, you have your business and everything.

I know that we've talked about in the past of how, you know, there's, there's, once you went through your coaching certification program, there were things. As you transition into business ownership that you weren't really aware of some things that, um, that you're not taught as a, as a coach. Um, what are some like insights or lessons that you've learned, you know, through that process of becoming a coach and then building your business that, um, that you didn't really get.

Through that program or programs that you went through that are Really significantly important for Maybe specific to coaches or just business owners um That you wish you would have learned or that you feel like it needs to be put in place

Geordee: Yeah. I think the biggest thing that I've been learning and, and I think it shows up in my code and like my coaching business is allow yourself, like, to like happy iterations. Yeah. Right? Like allow iterations, um,

Donaji: yourself you

Geordee: of yourself, yeah, of yourself and, and what you're doing, right? I feel like, and this happens all the time, like my friends who have a business are like, I gotta have the whole thing, like, I gotta have the Instagram, I gotta have the website, I gotta have like, you know, the product perfect and stuff like that.

And, um, or I have to, you know, once I come out there, I am in the, I am the perfect coach, I am it. And, um, I think what I've been learning is like, okay, like who I, like, I have to allow myself to just be in practice, do my business now, and then allow myself to just build on, on top of that. Right. Or to shift depending upon like.

What the conditions are in my life or like how I feel about my practice. Um, like, uh, when I first started, I was, I was very quiet and I was like, okay, I'm just going to do, I'm going to do a, I do, you know, do a few folks here and there. Right. Um, and then like, and then I think you, I was telling you last year, don't want to hate, like I had so many clients.

It was kind of ridiculous.

Donaji: This is great. Well, like we have to say this cause this is awesome. We launched the brand, we finished everything. And then the first year Geordee was like booked for months and

Jo: amazing.

Donaji: was amazing.

Jo: That is so good. Mm,

Donaji: hit, you went, you went over your goal

Geordee: I did. It was kind of wild. It was so wild. It was like kind of, it was kind of wild and, and like, now I'm at a point where I'm like, I have to slow down, but actually, you know, I, I, Again, it's like, you know, when we think of business, especially in the U S I feel like we talked about this, don't he like, it's like bigger, better large, you know, it's like, it's like, it has to keep growing.

Yeah. It has to keep growing. It has to keep getting massive. Right. And I'm just like at a point where I'm like, I actually have to not do as much as I did last year.

Donaji: Yeah, like when is enough enough? Like what, when are you comfortable enough? Because once you hit, I think we've talked about this Joe, like once you hit like a big goal that you've set, like it just never stops. You keep wanting more and more. So like, when do you feel like enough is enough enough for you to actually, like you said, slow down a little bit.

Yeah. Yeah.

Jo: And it's sort of like, kind of erases in my mind, like the original reason why I got into business for myself, which is around like, it sort of takes it away from like the bigger, Vision that I wanted to move towards, which was not about growing a business that was like bigger, better, like more ginormous, like this huge conglomerate that I couldn't control.

That wasn't like my intention, but for some reason, I think it's so easy to get caught into that world of like, Business, even in our own business, we still get into that mindset of what success looks like. on the, to everybody else. So there's a lot of pressure around like, having all the pieces, being perfect, showing up in exactly the right way, or like having everything done before we launch an offer, before we start talking to our audience.

And I love this process around all this. Um, perspective out around iteration, but doing it in a way where there's like softness and space and grace and slowness in there as well. So you can kind of do things really in your, on your own terms, which feels much more aligned.

Geordee: Yeah,

Donaji: Yeah.

Geordee: I'm a Capricorn. So like, it's, it's easy for me to just like, put my head down and work and like grind and like, and like, and I am a checklist girly like I, you know, it's like, get things done. Right. And I remember last year, I was Doing all this stuff and then something I just remember, like, I was not feeling satisfied.

I was like, what is this? Like, I'm doing, I'm doing, it's not that I'm not doing anything. Right. So it's like, why am I not finding satisfaction in what I've done? And it actually, it actually brought me back to like, a feeling I had when I was organizing where it was like, it was like, you know, it's like, yeah, you win something, but you got to keep pushing.

Right. Like, it's like, you have to keep going. And I remember like, I was talking to Asana. I was like, do you remember this year when we were at California for justice? And she was like, I don't remember, you know, I don't remember it because we were doing so much. But we were doing so much and it was like, I'm not even being pressed.

And so like, for me, like, all of a sudden, that's not me back. And I was like, I made this commitment to myself that I was going to be present in my life. Right. And I was not going to just like, you know, Like kind of like move like just keep just be in motion and keep moving right that what mattered to me was that I could actually feel the impact and like what I'm what I'm doing.

And so I think for, for, for me what I started to think about is like, like, or I what I'm what I'm trying to create in terms of my iterations now in my coaching business is like, like, what am I keeping myself accountable to. Thank you. Like what really matters to me? Like what kind of life do I really want to live?

Um, and so I've been thinking about, like, I think for me, and also one of the reasons why I slowed down. It's because one of the things that I asked myself is like, how do I feel? How do I feel like coaching is right now? Like, do I feel like I'm a great, like, am I, is the expectations of myself in coaching, like what I want them to be?

Right.

Donaji: Yeah, like the work that you're putting

Geordee: yes, the work that I'm putting out or how I am with folks. Right. And, um, I remember my mentor was like, you can only do two coaching calls a day. Trust me. Right. I know people who like, they kind of slam it, like they'll like sometimes they'll slam it in there. Um, And I just remember like, oh man, I would have, you know, I would be doing stuff and then I just would feel so tired.

And I'm someone who like wants to be with people fully when I'm with them. And so I was just, I was like, and I'm like, if, like, this is not even though like I'm reaching all this and me and like, yeah, I know people are getting stuff out of my, like, out of my coaching sessions right. But is this like, for me, is this who I like?

Am I in the condition that I want to show up in 

Jo: Yeah. 

Geordee: really right for for folks that like they're trusting me essentially.

Jo: It's almost like energetic sustainability. Like you want to make sure that it's sustainable and you can foresee yourself running the business for a long term, not just like burning out, even though, cause sometimes I feel like that, um, in business, it's like we strive so hard to reach these goals or we put these goals on a pedestal and we try so hard.

To move towards it. And at the end, we just like a collapse at the, the end of the line, you know? And I'm like, I've got nothing like left for the next goals. Like I've spent, and it takes me like months to recover. And I'm like, I don't want to be doing business like that. That doesn't make sense. That's not the business that I decide to create.

And also like, you know, yeah, for our clients, it's like, they don't want to see us burn out either. Because that's not a good representation of like someone that they want to put money towards or like invest time and energy working with either. So yeah,

Donaji: I love, I love that idea, too, of checking in to see the quality of work that you're putting or how you're performing for your client. Not only for them, but obviously for yourself and seeing, you know, what is it that you need, whether it is time like to rest, or if it's, you know, I don't know, learning something new or improving your process or, or maybe it's simplifying, whatever that may be.

Like, I really love that idea of like checking in and almost auditing yourself. Um. As a, as a person, less like system, systematic, like operations, but more on like how you're feeling about, you know, the work, like, are you still passionate and proud? And does it bring you joy? Like all of these emotions that are involved in, you know, why you started doing the work that you started doing in the first place.

Like, I really love that from the emotional side of it.

Geordee: I didn't want to start feeling resentful. And that that was the that was the biggest thing and I was like, I love this practice. I like, I like have named and landed like, this is where I feel purpose and this is what I feel purpose in. I can't in like with all of me like start to not like it like this or just be resentful for it.

And not because the practice isn't is not amazing or anything but because of, I'm not giving myself enough space enough time, like it's because I'm just like kind of not thinking about the pace that I need in order to keep doing this. And so that's also what I that's and so like iterations to so then the things that I've been learning in the last two years is like what's a pace that works for me.

And so this is why like now I'm trying something again this year like what is the pace that I want to be at. And so things that I'm learning is like, when I was younger, I was like. Oh, yeah, I could do, I can do it all. You know, I can, I can. Oh, that's nothing right again. I'm Capricorn. I was like, yeah, and what I'm learning now is like that image of myself, then does not work for me now.

And so I actually am having this kind of identity breakthrough of actually, you, you're like, you are desiring a much slower pace to life. Right. And you need to, you need to break down, um, what you think your pace should be like we actually need to investigate all these things that tell you what your pace is, um, because it's, it's just not it like, like right now, even though I've, I've cut a lot of the clients I work with or the work that I've done.

I, it's like my body's still like, not it, like it's not it. And, and I think before I would have been like, I would have felt bad. I would have felt guilty. I would have been shameful. But again, in my process of iteration, I was like, okay, this year we learned. Still not it. So then we'll try, you know, like it's better, you know, like it's a better case,

Donaji: Yeah.

Geordee: but it's not, it's just not it.

Um, and it's, it's not only like just the practice itself. It's like, there's things in my personal life, right, that I have to think about how do I set boundaries? And what do I say no to so it can facilitate Business, which I feel is my purpose. Right? And so yeah, it's, it's, it's again, iterations and it, yeah.

Jo: Mmm. I love that because I feel, yeah, I feel so strongly about this as well because I feel like every client or every project I'm doing, every season of my business, I learned so much about what I need more of and what feels good. better in my body. And nowadays I feel like there's all these little tweaks that I'm just constantly making and whether, and it's sometimes so small, like, and sometimes it is more of like a systematic, like boring change, like, you know, updating my terms and conditions so that, you know, it tweaks it and it's like, it doesn't, you know, the same situation doesn't happen again, or it's around like, you know, spacing client sessions out longer, or it's around having those boundaries and knowing what those, redefining those boundaries so that your process and like how you work with people and how you show up is just like refined over time.

And I really love the fact that nowadays I get to sort of throw out that. Playbook around having to be perfect, that it's just an iteration. It's a practice around what's going to work, you know, in the foreseeable future, and it can always shift and change. There's no, there's nothing that means that I have to commit to this for the rest of like, you know, the next five years that there's always this like.

Evolution in like a gentle evolution in, in how our business grows.

Geordee: Yeah. I was the only, I feel, not the only reason, but I think the reason why I have this approach to my business is because of coaching. Like coaching teaches us. That there are more like when we are curious with ourselves when we when we see ourselves as whole human beings, and we're curious about what's going on with us like there actually are more options than we can ever think of.

And so it's just like, like, I'm like, all right, like, Because it's obvious there's my stuff is showing up. I'm also doing healing work as I'm like running my business. And so this is just a, this is a part of it, right? It's yeah,

Jo: It's a bit of a spiritual energetic process of, yeah, yeah, I love that. Mmm.

Donaji: that I want to dive into and if you would love to do a part two, I would love to do a part two.

Jo: Part two would be great. We'd

Donaji: Yeah, because like we, we, we answered a couple of things and there's still things that I think it would be really interesting to talk, to talk about. Um, Are there any last thoughts that you'd like to leave behind about what we talked about?

Geordee: Yeah, I think for folks who are starting their own business or they're, you know, they are business owners, um, The thing that like, always helps me in anything is giving myself space to remember my why. I, I think, and that's also like stuff I do with organizations as well. It's like that actually. It does something to us when we are reminded and sometimes we're reminded of our why like, you know, it's not me looking at, you know, my goal sheet every day.

It's sometimes you find it in different things maybe you'll find it in poetry maybe you'll find it in connection with people, but do that for yourself as a practice as a ritual, because I feel like there's so much noise. And it's not that it's bad noise, but there's all this stuff that comes up for us.

Right. And sometimes we want clarity and we just want to hear ourselves. Right. And so I think the best way to do that and to hear yourself and to be reminded of your purpose is to actually allow that to be a ritual for yourself. And yeah, and just believe in yourself. You know, essentially, I think that's also a, that's also a very, um, new, and I feel like it's radical for me, a radical practice and ritual for myself is that like, again, I'm a Capricorn, so I'm a planner and I always plan for the worst.

And I think this year I've just been like, I'm just gonna believe right in my own potential and that I can do these things right that I am capable, and I don't need to. And just like what that allows me to do and it kind of sets down the anxiety of, oh my gosh I'm not going to make it or have to do all these things to make sure that I do make it so I think that's also another ritual that I'm learning and having this business.

Yeah.

Donaji: Beautiful. Thank you, Geordee. Oh my gosh, there's so much. Even just there, I'm like, we can talk for another like 30 40 minutes on just that. Thank you so much for all the gems you dropped, for sharing your story with us. I would, yeah, definitely would love to have you back and do a part two. Um, where can people find you?

Like, what would you like to share?

Geordee: yeah. So my, my beautiful website designed by Donahue is, is jordymacorpus. com. Um, so

Donaji: that again.

Geordee: jordymacorpus. com. It's my whole, it's my whole name. Um, so yeah, that's where you can find me. And then I also have, um, an Instagram as well. Uh, I think it's jordymacorpus as well. Yeah. And so I don't, don't post so much on it, but yeah, folks want to connect with me or even just talk to me about coaching.

Like if you're interested in it, whether it be a coach, whether to get coaching or what is it like, I'm always down to talk to people.

Donaji: Oh, that's so nice. Thank you for offering that. Yeah, we'll put that, your contacts on the show notes and, um, on our transcripts. Joe, any last words? Yeah.

Jo: yeah, I'm so inspired by everything that you speak about and yeah, you've really helped me see like a different side of applying coaching and also using coaching or looking at it from that lens when it comes to business. So thank you.

Geordee: Thanks, y'all.

Donaji: Thanks, Geordee.