"The real challenge right now as I see it is that people are stuck."
Janet Cronstedt Tweet
Not long ago, Janet Cronstedt reached a turning point in her life where she realized that what she was most passionate about was something she needed to devote her future work to: helping women realize their potential to build successful businesses and bring more security and fulfillment into their lives.
She designed her entire Awakening Worth curriculum around this goal. It was a goal inspired by her own personal 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.
Janet Cronstedt: Awakening-worth is my company and it was born in the year 2000. I’d spent many years speaking, training, and coaching – mostly women- in the area of leadership and personal growth. Admittedly, I’d struggled with self-worth for much of my adult life; which led me to create a path that allows my clients to have “my mess become their asset”.
My teaching background, TWA international flight attendant and management experience, followed by a career in direct sales in both the field and Executive C Suite, was the perfect blend to launch my business of awakening self-worth; mine and others..
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Janet Cronstedt: Bonnie Wise, well said, ” If you want to grow the business, grow the people”. For me, P&L translates to people and love. I am passionately committed to equipping people to know who they are, where they are, Why they are where they are, where they want to go, and the skills they must develop to get there. Those developed skills can never be taken away. When people and companies are focused on personal growth, everybody wins!
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Janet Cronstedt: I refuse to buy into this thinking. How you see it is the way it is. There are seasons attached to the pandemic. From fear, to coping; isolation and boredom. Smart companies recognize this. It’s time to get to work; stop making excuses, look forward, and equip people to be successful. Life is business and business is life. Isn’t it interesting that when we commit to doing better in life, it rolls over to business?
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Janet Cronstedt: I love this question. My business has always been about equipping people to thrive. After all, it’s just our lives that we are creating, isn’t it? Thriving, in part, is about slowing down so you can go fast. It starts with the leader.
I’ve adapted and am more passionate than ever to live my business model:
- LEARN IT
- TEACH IT
- TEACH OTHERS to teach it.
That has meant recognizing and adapting to new ways to connect; Zoom, Google-chats, other technology for face to face meetings so people can stay connected. We need each other:)
We have learned through it all, who and what matters. It’s led to more kindness, more goodness, and experiencing the ROI associated with thinking about more than just ourselves.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Janet Cronstedt: I wish I’d not bought into fear. The combination of fear, boredom, and isolation is devastating. Fortunately my Enneagram Type 7 personality, does not allow me to stay in that state too long. I needed to develop more technology skills as I’ve spent my entire career “live” as a speaker, trainer, facilitator of learning, and coach.
I needed to look for new ways to “connect”. The funny thing about that is that I’ve actually learned to enjoy it.I will always prefer live, as I am all about relationships, but I am surprised and pleased that I can feel quite connected through technology.
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Janet Cronstedt: We’ve only just begun! Stories of people doing good are all around us. I expect more of that in 2022 and beyond. I also expect my business to grow as I equip more and more people to discover their purpose, launch their own businesses around their strengths and passions and develop their skills which are entirely transferrable- no matter what comes their way! The possibilities are endless!
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Janet Cronstedt: Two.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Janet Cronstedt: Your story is your life and your life is your story.
I implement story telling in my business every day by the way I show up. My non- verbal communication is as important as my verbal communication. Body language, eye contact, listening, tone of voice, the way I say it, is what matters most.
People, particularly women, need help telling their story. So many believe that their story is not meaningful, not important enough to share. It’s a self-worth issue.
I find that listening so well that people feel it is critical. As Mary Kay Ash once said; “Picture every person you meet with a sign stamped on their forehead that says; “Please help me feel special”
I try to live that and as a result the stories abound.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Janet Cronstedt: The real challenge right now as I see it is that people are stuck. Many have lost hope. They’ve stopped dreaming. They need help to discover, and/or rediscover their purpose, vision for their life, plan to get there, processes to assist them, so that they can truly power up their self- worth and performance!
If you build the people, they will build the company.
I have surveyed over 1,000 women over the past few years and when I ask them what their biggest obstacle moving forward is the number one response is; Me- Myself- and I.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Janet Cronstedt: Great question. Thanks for asking.
Probably what I’m most interested in learning is how to better promote myself. As an independent contractor, no longer on contract with any one company, I need to learn how to best reach my target audience; which is me.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Janet Cronstedt: Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. Humility is being in a space where you can continually be honest about who you are, where you are, and what needs to get better.
Perhaps more of us need to ask ” Where do you need to be honest this week ?” We need to get more curious about following. looking at, hanging around, and reverse engineering what great leaders do.
Be humble!
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Janet Cronstedt: If I had the ability to pick a business superpower it would be more discernment with regard to others without seeking to control them.
I’d put it into practice by teaching the masses but investing my time in the leadership of training of a few; to spend time with, go deep with, fulfill the task with, and delegate accordingly.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Janet Cronstedt: Thank you for asking that. I took the month of August to do just that. Rewrite me vision statement.
I asked me, “What does 2022-June of 2023 look like if it’s successful? Specifically, I want my book to become a leverage magnet. I am now in the process of revising it.
I hope to do book tours, speaking engagements, and several online courses that people can’t wait to register and pay for,
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Janet Cronstedt for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Janet Cronstedt or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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