While expanding her leadership coaching practice, including health and wellness, and teaching whole-food, plant based culinary classes, Martine is currently sharing healthy recipes and lifestyle tips on her blog, Petit World Citizen, and pursuing her goals and dreams.
What is your morning routine?
Up around 5:30am, drink a cup of warm water and lemon or tea, catch up on world and national news. When time allows, I love doing a few minutes of yoga with my three-year-old son and then we each set our intention for the day.
What is your evening routine?
Online time, testing new recipes and having friends over to try them, quality time with family and/or winding down from the day with music, yoga, or a good book.
What is your idea of success?
Being true and attentive to your own mission, vision and values while maintaining your own personal balance and wholeness.
What has been your greatest achievement thus far?
It was always a dream of mine to travel and visit some of the smallest, most remote, unknown villages around the world. I did that and was honored to meet and work with some amazing people who live there.
What has been your biggest failure and how did you overcome it?
I don’t recall “the biggest” failure because life is a series of failures (and little accidents) that happen all the time. When I was younger I experienced a lot of failures while trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. However, many of them became great opportunities for growth. These days my failures are different, but I continue to learn from them, making me stronger. I think what’s important is to accept failures when they happen and then decide what to do with them.
What do you feel is the biggest mistake people make when starting a business? Did you make it?
Trying to do too much too soon. Another big one is having a “build it and they will come” attitude. It’s important not to expect that your target market will come to your business (store, website or class) just for you and/or your services. This is still a lesson in progress for me.
What is the trait you most admire in others?
Authenticity. I love when people have the courage to be their truest and best selves. That takes a lot of confidence, wisdom and discernment.
What is your biggest professional pet peeve?
Lack of self initiative when it comes to learning and doing your best. Also, throwing colleagues under the bus.
How do you define a great leader?
Someone who generously gives of their time, acting as mentor and champion in the personal and professional lives of others.
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or dead) who would it be and what would you like the topic of conversation to be?
Garance Doré about life, career and elegance – being oneself and having the confidence and wisdom to be a beautiful, kind and whole person who knows how to love and be loved.
Who is the most badass woman you know and why?
Emmanuelle Alt. I don’t know her personally, but I find her confidence inspiring. She’s successful, intelligent and seems so down to earth. Also, Catherine Deneuve is amazing.
What is your best negotiating tactic?
Giving pause and listening well. I also think it’s important to follow the norm of reciprocity and share information.
What’s your best networking secret?
Finding commonality among each other as I think we all grow from connection. For me, collaboration and connection enhance our strengths and generate creativity and innovation.
How do you stay organized throughout the day?
Checklists! And my old fashioned Franklin Covey planner.
What advice would you go back and give your younger self?
Relax and take more risks.
Phone call or email and why?
It depends on the person and purpose of communication. I see value in both.
What are you most proud of in your life?
My son. He inspires me everyday.
What qualities do you believe make someone a great team member?
A great team member does his/her fair share of the workload. He/She treats others with respect, is reliable and is flexible.
What is the fastest way to turn you off in an interview?
Not being mentally engaged and not showing genuine interest in the values or goals of the organization. Also, not being prepared to ask questions.
How does someone impress you on an interview?
When they convey that they’re self-motivated individuals who push themselves towards success rather than waiting to be pushed. When they exhibit a willingness to work hard and learn. When they seem willing to be a part of building a learning environment, an ecosystem where we all can truly be in balance.
Where do you get most of your information?
National Public Radio (NPR), New York Times, Washington Post, BBC News, the Economist and Facebook.
What apps could you not live without?
Pandora, New York Times, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.
What is the best lesson you learned from your worst boss?
Leadership is not about position or title. It’s about responsibility and inspiring others.
What do think are the three most essential lessons you have learned in business thus far?
1 | Networking.
2 | Marketing.
3 | Branding.
What is your professional motto?
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
Who is your business crush?
Garance Doré.
Where would you like to be professionally in a year?
Churchill said there is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction. I suppose in a year I’d like to be heading in the right direction, for me. I think that will involve connecting in a deeper, more meaningful way with my clients and followers of my blog.
What do you regret most?
No regrets. Almost anything can be used as an opportunity for growth and shape you into a better person.
How do you define happiness?
The joy we feel when we’re building meaningful connections and doing what we’re passionate about. It’s being in the carefree state of flow that makes us feel alive and understood.
What is your best remedy for FOMO?
Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you found out why.” At some point most of us hope to find out why we are here. Until then, I think it’s important to try and forget about what everyone else may or may not be doing and instead figure out what’s meaningful to you. What makes you tick? What kind of change you want to see in the world and how can you be a part of it?
What makes you badass?
I lift others up as I continue to climb to reach my goals. I look for talent in others to inspire and empower them to reach their personal and professional potential.
Website: Petit World Citizen
Twitter: ptworldcitizen
Instagram: petitworldcitizen
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