"Setbacks can be the birthplace of remarkable innovations."
Allison Liss Tweet
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Allison Liss, a remarkable individual whose journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, authenticity, and innovation. In this candid conversation, we delve into the life and experiences of a woman who has faced challenges head-on and emerged stronger, wiser, and more determined.
Allison’s unique story takes us from the fast-paced world of Retail Fashion, where she excelled as a National Sales Manager and later as the owner of a flagship store, to a profound personal transformation during a 10-day Silent Retreat.
It was during this retreat that she had an awakening, experiencing her true nature free from thought – a revelation that redirected the course of her life. As a Meditation teacher based in Hamilton, Ontario, Allison has made it her mission to share the transformative power of meditation with others.
Her journey is a testament to the idea that adversity and setbacks can be the catalysts for some of our most profound and innovative ideas, and her insights on leadership, resilience, and authenticity are invaluable for anyone seeking to overcome challenges and thrive in both personal and professional spheres.
Join us as we explore the remarkable insights and lessons from Allison Liss Liss’s extraordinary journey.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Allison Liss: I am a Meditation teacher in Hamilton, Ontario. I began my career in the Retail Fashion business, first as a National Sales Manager for a 300 store chain and later in my own company, one flagship store in Toronto Canada and several satellite locations within Canadian department stores in Ontario and Quebec.
In 2010 I went to a 10 day Silent Retreat and while in a deep meditative state I had a direct experience with my true nature. For the first time in my life I experienced myself as a beautiful, intelligent and incredible energy, free from thought. This experience changed me at a deep and profound level and since then I have had the ability to see myself, and others with more clarity, understanding and compassion.
I decided that I would make it my mission to figure out a Meditative technique that could assist others to have this same experience and have been teaching Meditation ever since.
I developed a simple, easy to follow set of audio instructions teaching my technique, which I sell on my website.
I also started a podcast Allison Liss Meditation where I delve into the topic of meditation and how effective it is at improving ones life.
Can you share a time when your business faced a significant challenge? How did you navigate through it?
Allison Liss: I had a bookkeeper who siphoned out thousands of dollars from my company right under my nose. My first reaction was one of shock, then a loss of confidence in myself, because I had let it happen because I did not pay enough attention to the money side of my business.
I temporarily lost faith in my own judgement and my ability to trust others. It was a dark time. I decided this would not defeat me and I spent one year reading every book I could get my hands on, including ones about business and biographies of successful people.
I read every self help book out there and attended speeches given by motivating people. In no time, I was back, better than ever, more prepared than I had ever been.
How has a failure or apparent failure set you up for later success?
Allison Liss: Real growth came from my set backs and not my successes. When I experienced success and had money pouring in, I was not inclined to dig deep and really make necessary changes.
The times I have been faced with adversity I dug deep, learned a lot about myself and put myself in a position to really come up with creative solutions.
I truly believe that without the setbacks I would never have come up with some of the best ideas I have ever had.
How do you build a resilient team? What qualities do you look for in your team members?
Allison Liss: I look for people that are authentic and dont think they have all the answers. I am no longer impressed in what a person has done in their past but what they hope to achieve in their future. I like someone who has something to prove to themselves.
I like people who have made mistakes and learned from them. I dont believe people are born with true confidence if they have not built it, one misstep at a time.
How do you maintain your personal resilience during tough times?
Allison Liss: I look at myself from every angle and admit to myself where I need work. I never blame the circumstances or other people and I look for grand solutions to problems.
I have an expression, “dont just stand there, do nothing.” I wait an appropriate amount of time before I take action. I like to respond instead of react to problems.
What strategies do you use to manage stress and maintain focus during a crisis?
Allison Liss: Meditation is the best strategy for managing stress and improving my focus. One an achieve great clarity and understanding if they have a solid mediation practice.
As someone who has boundless amounts of energy, I used to pummel problems into submission. I have since learned that silence is more powerful and enables one to cultivate necessary space between you and the stress. Since becoming a meditator I am sharper and more precise. I can see a problem without allowing it to stress me out.
How do you communicate with your team during a crisis?
Allison Liss: I have found that listening to others and finding out how they feel, what they are going through and what they think, is extremely valuable.
By listening to others I am able to assess what’s really going on and accurately decide what strengths they have.
What advice would you give to other CEOs on building resilience in their organizations?
Allison Liss: Listen as much as you can to the hopes and dreams of your team. Listen to what they want to get out of the experience of working for you and try to deliver just that.
It’s different for everyone and quite surprising sometimes how simple and easy it is for a CEO to help them get where they want to go.
How do you prepare your business for potential future crises?
Allison Liss: I believe in constantly and consistently evaluating all the members of the team. It is not about criticizing them, it’s about giving them a chance to be heard. People love to be evaluated and get honest heart felt feedback about where they stand.
It actually motivates them to do more when they know the company really cares enough to set aside valuable time to give them. They feel appreciated when I listen and tell them the truth about where they need to improve and where they are shining bright.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about leadership in times of crisis?
Allison Liss: As a leader you want to project strength by not being afraid to show vulnerability. Be authentic. Admitting where you have made mistakes and taking the steps to improve yourself allows your team to do the same.
Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty by doing the jobs that you might think are “beneath” you. Your team feels supported when they see that the leader is not afraid to do what needs to be done and lead by example.
Jerome Knyszewski, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Allison Liss for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
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