We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Kaufman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Say it with me: WE LOVE RISKS!! Taking risks is such a key factor in your future success, whether you own a business or are paving your way in corporate. It’s funny how the one thing you aren’t necessarily taught in school has the power to completely TRANSFORM your life! The way I like to think about risks is: your entire life is one big experiment, so if you aren’t exploring, leading with curiosity or TAKING RISKS, then what EXACTLY are you doing?! While our society may try to paint a certain “pathway” to achieve stability and success, there’s actually no “right” or “wrong” way to do things, only YOUR way. Think of taking risks as allowing yourself to sit with uncomfortable emotions & get to the root of what you REALLY want in life. The reason why risks feel so scary is because you are forced to step BEYOND what you currently believe is possible for yourself. Think of risk-taking as taking a chance on YOURSELF. The best part about risks is that they can be intentional! You can learn how to intentionally take risks in your career, how to invest your money or make the decision to like YOURSELF first instead of pleasing everyone else around you. These types of RISKS give you the right momentum to get you to where you want to go. Nobody great ever got anywhere by deciding to hide, play it safe or avoid going after what they really wanted! One of my favorite questions I like to ask clients when they are at a crossroads or faced with a big decision is: what do you want your 80 year old self to say: “wow, I’m so glad I played it safe”? OR “wow, I’m so glad I took the chance and DID IT!” When you start to shift your focus to the present moment & think about what you ACTUALLY want, you start to invite expansion into your life. A piece of advice I like to live by is to do the thing that scares you FIRST! In my own life and career, taking risks has catapulted me to where I am today. Leaving a stable corporate job was a RISK. Moving to Atlanta without knowing a soul was a RISK. Starting my own business was a RISK. Putting myself out there on a daily basis is a RISK!


What should our readers know about your business?
I hold space to IGNITE your SPARKLE. Your sparkle is your essence. It’s what makes you, YOU! What would your life look like if you gave yourself a permission slip to be your authentic self, fully trusted your inner guidance and leaned into your unique value? What if life didn’t have to be so HARD?! In our work together, you will gain clarity around what you want and the confidence on how to make it happen to invite expansion and ease into your life! Imagine a life where you get to create your OWN rules to live by, your boundaries are respected and you fully trust your own path without having to know exactly what comes next. Throughout my life, I’ve always been the listener, the keep of secrets, the crisis situation-solver and the ride or die. People I barely know feel safe to tell me their life’s story or their deepest thoughts. This work is an HONOR to do and something I am grateful for on a daily basis. The ROOT of what I do is HOLDING SPACE for others. Sometimes what you NEED most in your healing and growth journey is to be seen, heard and validated in your own unique experience. The beauty of this work is that the “outcome” will look different for every client! Some clients are embarking on major career pivots or life transitions, others are learning to shift their mindset to attract more abundance & some are reconnecting with parts of themselves and learning to listen to their intuition. YOU get to decide what YOU want out of life and I show you how to break the “rules” to make it happen! There’s a method to my magic, which lies in clarifying your chaos, connecting the dots and guiding you to step into your own, unqiue strengths. It’s a beautiful thing watching someone recognize their own power & fully step into their authentic selves in this lifetime. I use a mix of energy modalities and practical knowledge to hold space for your highest evolution. In addition to my training in Intuition Medicine & Human Design, I am also going back to school to pursue a Master of Science in Applied Psychology! The human brain fascinates me, so I’m excited to deepen my knowledge of human behavior as I continue to support clients. From a corporate perspective, I’ve worked in a wide variety of industries & environments (start-ups, fortune 500s & consulting). I’ve managed teams, created mentoring programs & pivoted “professional” paths more times than I can count! I think what is unique about me is that I’m straddling two worlds, which allows me to better serve my clients from a place of personal experience. I currently work in management consulting and am in the process of transitioning into full time corporate career coaching. While I LOVE supporting my 1:1 coaching clients, I’m still drawn to support others within the corporate space as our workplaces evolve. When I started my business, I didn’t see a lot of people doing “both”, so I decided to do it myself! I’ve learned SO MANY lessons along the way in becoming an entrepreneur. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to KEEP SHOWING UP! The entrepreneurial journey is one big roller coaster. Sometimes you’re euphoric, on top of the world & other times you are curled up in a ball crying on the floor. It’s not easy, but it’s rewarding. It’s a very personal, introspective growth journey for anyone who’s doing their own thing. Having the right support is KEY, because nobody can do it all on their own! Something else that I don’t see many people talking about is how EXPENSIVE it is to start your own business! Aside from the taxes and fees you’ll pay from initially becoming a legal business entity, there’s a lot of “hidden” costs you never would have thought of, because no one is talking about them! You’re seeing all of these people on social media talk about “being your own boss” but you aren’t seeing how the secret sauce is made. Part of what I try to do is pull back the curtain, because this journey DOES take time and there is NO shame in working a full time job as you moonlight or figure out what you really want to do. WHATEVER you want to do, I want you to know that I am HERE to support you. The life that you really want is a true possibility for you if you’re willing to show up and do the work!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
OOOH I am the planning QUEEN! Here’s our itinerary: FRIDAY: You arrive at your Airbnb (the Alpaca tree house) & I’m there waiting for you! Our first night is all about exploring Decatur. We’re having tapas at Iberian Pig and stop to grab a fun drink at S.O.S. Tiki Bar beforehand. After dinner, we are getting LIT at Butter & Cream–the best ice cream EVER. You can’t leave Atlanta without trying OG Goodness! SATURDAY: In the morning, we’ll head to Krog Street and walk the beltline to Ponce City Market. We’ll food hop to all the incredible places at both markets. I am a huge fan of sharing food and meals with people! Later in the day, we’ll swing by the Varsity (a true staple) for a mid-afternoon snack. Evening activities include drinks on the Hotel Clermont rooftop! SUNDAY: For your last day, we are getting dim sum and bubble tea on Buford highway! Next, we’ll take a walk along the Chattahoochee river with Luna and Teddy, my german shepherd & border collie puppies! They will make you feel right at home. Then, we’ll get foot massages at Treat Your Feet to relax. Before you leave, we’ll take a stroll through the botanical gardens & end our trip at Evergreen Butcher & Baker to send you home with some fresh loaves of bread.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my goodness, I could list a MILLION PEOPLE that have supported and guided me in my journey!! I firmly believe that behind every successful person is an entire TEAM of people who have been there for them along the way. If I had to narrow it down to ONE person at this moment, it would be my fiance, Alec. Without Alec, I wouldn’t be where I am today. He’s one of the most supportive people I’ve ever met and has my back no matter WHAT. We are both caretakers, which makes for a loving and considerate relationship. Every time I’ve wanted to try something new or “crazy”, he’s there to encourage me at every step of the way. HE is the one who encouraged me to quit my toxic corporate job years ago. HE is the one who cheered me on when I first started my business. HE is the one who makes sure I’m fed, grounded and sane each day. In the next few years, our plan is for him to transition to working for my business full-time! I could NOT be where I am today without the supportive partner that I have! THANK YOU to the moon in back, my sweet Alec.

Website: https://emmaevolving.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmaevolving/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/emmackaufman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Personal-Coach/Evolving-with-Emma-103147044518716/

Image Credits
All photos are taken by Katie Parker & Nae Yao Photography!

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