Today on Pearls And Heels we feature Rosemary Ngigi. Rosemary W. Ngigi is an inspirational speaker, life coach, and founder of Potensheer. She is a Certified Trainer of Trainers with a wealth of knowledge and gifting in human potential development. Rosemary’s expertise inspires and guides people to discover their life purpose and connect with their potential at the deepest level. Her coaching at Potensheer is aimed at guiding individuals to design purpose-driven businesses/careers that enable them to take positions of purpose and influence in the marketplace, so they can effectively deliver the solutions they carry for the world while experiencing fulfilment in their work. Rosemary is driven by the belief that everyone is born to fulfil a specific purpose and deserves the opportunity and freedom to be all they were created to be. She uses transformative life coaching to enlighten and equip people to freely express and manifest their true selves.
- Describe your typical day.
I find it difficult to describe “my typical day” because I most recently do not seem to have one. Two years ago, I switched work from a career in grants administration to life coaching and inspirational speaking. This shift ushered me into a non-routine workspace; a shift I enjoy tremendously given my discomfort with routine. On one set of days I find myself spending most of my time coaching while on another round of days, I spend lots of time studying and generating speaking and coaching content. On yet another round of days, I take time to focus on marketing and networking activities. Despite these variations, one thing remains constant – my time of fellowship with God. I kickstart my day’s activities with a time of prayer, worship, and Bible study. This activity centres and helps me find my bearings for the day.
2. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I had a series of imaginations that morphed from one thing to another as I grew up. My earliest desire was a life of fashionable dressmaking – I constantly imagined myself owning a fashion store! That is actually laughable as I’m not too keen on keeping up with fashion trends! When they placed me in a pure sciences class in high school, my imagination shifted to the hospital corridors. I suddenly wanted to become a doctor! Slightly later, I figured I could make a good economist and this line of thought stole my heart throughout my university studies. Up until my moment of life purpose discovery, my eyes were firmly set on pursuing economic research, despite my long detour into grants administration!
3. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I would seek to clarify my life purpose first then embark on pursuing a purpose-driven career. I appreciate the life journey I have taken and recognise that none of my life experience has been wasted. I however feel that coming to an earlier knowledge of my life purpose would have better prepared me for work and given me a lot of mileage by now.
- What would you say are the top three skills needed to succeed at your job?
I would say discernment, communication and networking skills.
I find discernment indispensable to my work. It is important that I accurately discern the needs of those that I serve so I can deliver what is relevant to them.
Communication is essential for imparting knowledge that impacts and transforms lives.
Failure to network and connect with people would render my work unachievable. I must admit that I am generally not a “party person”, so networking presents a challenging area of growth for me.
5. As a professional how is it working in Nairobi? Is Nairobi open to what you do or what could be better?
Yes, it is, but there is room for improvement. Being the capital city, Nairobi has a big and dynamic business and professional community. This is the community I serve. The rapidly changing business and work environment in Nairobi and the world at large have pushed individuals to seek solutions to better position themselves in the marketplace.
The life purpose discovery coaching I deliver at Potensheer responds to this quest. Nothing helps clarify the direction in life and gives a firm and strategic positioning to those seeking stability in the marketplace as life purpose discovery does. The current business and workplace environment in Nairobi, therefore, presents a huge opportunity for the life-purpose discovery coaching I currently offer.
The challenge experienced in my work, however, lies in the need for a greater appreciation of the value of investing in life coaching on the part of the community I have been called to serve.
- What motivates you?
My number one motivation is knowing that what I do is my life assignment and that God is waiting on me to fulfil it, and that further, He has my back. Number two, as a life transformation agent, the thought of the boundless possibilities of the ripple effects that my work creates gives me a lot of motivation. Knowing that each life transformed through my co-working with God goes on to touch another life that goes on to touch another (and on and on the ripple effects go), tells me that my work is of immeasurable value. These convicting motivators are what keep me going every single day.
7. How do you define success?
I define success as the day-by-day realisation of ‘what I am here on earth to do’ – my life purpose. I think that there is nothing as sad as missing God’s intended mark for one’s life. To reach the end of one’s life and look back with remorse and regret at what one could have done to fulfil God’s will for their life is the worst form of failure, especially given the lack of opportunity at that point in time rewind the clock and make things right. There is no greater joy than fulfilling one’s life calling a day at a time. That to me is a great success!
8. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
God has been without a doubt my greatest source of inspiration. I have seen his hand in my life, and the continuous guidance He gives concerning my life assignment fuels the fire within me to keep going.
My mom has also been a source of great inspiration and the captain of my cheering squad! Her conviction and belief in who I was created to be and what I was created to achieve is an encouragement that adds fuel to my efforts.
I also draw a lot of inspiration from those around me and the world at large who boldly and relentlessly pursue their dreams and life calling. The inspiration I draw from them fires up my courage to press on!
9. What is your favourite aspect of your job?
Transforming people’s lives is very important to me. I am especially keen on impacting people in a manner that causes them to freely manifest their true selves. I, therefore, consider any piece of my work incomplete if it does not lead to the desired transformation. The best part of my work, therefore, is hearing stories of impact and change following my work delivery. There is nothing quite as fulfilling as hearing that my work has added value and brought the desired shift in someone’s life.
10. What would you say are the key elements to being successful?
I rate one’s state of spirit, heart and mind as the top three elements of being successful. I believe that success begins with being spiritually aligned with God so he can direct one’s path to success. I cannot imagine my work without direction from God; it would be chaos! The guidance he provides feeds my faith and conviction, and I ultimately bear fruit because I obeyed.
A broken vessel cannot adequately fulfil its purpose, nor can it maximise its potential. Similarly, a person with a broken heart cannot adequately fulfil their purpose, neither can they maximise their potential because whatever ill resides in their heart, will consistently get in their way. Take for instance someone governed by hatred – how can they adequately serve? How excellent would their service be and what would their likelihood of success be?
We have heard this over and over again! Our mindset dedicates our view of everyone and everything in the world. Naturally, therefore, an unhealthy mindset delivers unfavourable results in one’s life, while a healthy mindset delivers favourable results, even success.
11. What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your line of work?
Be alert to and obey without hesitation divinely inspired direction even if it seems like a detour from the seemingly logical path. You will be thankful that you obeyed.
Similarly, be alert to and seize opportunities for growth as they open up. Sometimes it is not evident where an opportunity is leading to, but if it feels right, and you have a sense of peace about it, then go for it! You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see where it leads.
Another opportunity that one must look out for is the opportunity to learn. Learn from those who have gone ahead of you in this field; get a mentor among them. Learn also from the people you serve. Listen to them carefully, embrace and seek to understand their feedback, and take the time to evaluate, reflect upon, and get the beneficial take-outs from it.
12. What has been your most satisfying moment in terms of career?
One of the most satisfying moments in my work happened on those days when I received written testimonials detailing how our Potensheer Purpose Program impacted our first set of Program participants. Reading through their “before and after” stories made my spirit soar! I then knew that my team and I had delivered on our calling and assignment as far as this set of participants was concerned. These types of moments are the kind to treasure and look forward to over and over again!
13. What makes you happy?
I feel extremely happy meeting individuals in need of the specific solutions that I carry. In fact, I often say to this category of people: “God has you exactly where he would have you be right now, because of the great stuff he has in store for you!”.
I equally get excited and yes most relieved when I meet someone who carries and willingly gives “my in time of need” type of solutions. It is exciting to meet someone who not only understands one’s need but one who also has an almost tailor-made remedy for it!
14. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
I love music tremendously and regularly enjoy soaking myself in gospel music. I also enjoy getting lost in the wonders of God’s creation. One of my favourite unwinding practices is sitting out in the garden and listening to the singing of the birds and the humming of the trees as they dance to the rhythm of the wind while losing myself in the wonders of God’s blue skies! If reading was not a critical part of my work, I would rate it among the top three.
15. Where do you see yourself in around 10 years?
I desire to ultimately reach the global audience and make my contribution to building a world of people increasingly free to be all they were created to be. I, therefore, hope to in ten years bring forth global avenues to impact and change people’s lives in a manner that will enable them to achieve their reason for being here.
If you would like to interact with Rosemary you can find her on Facebook and LinkedIn.
