We had the good fortune of connecting with Estelle Gibson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Estelle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I remember the moment I had the idea to do what I’m doing today. I was in court with my attorney, at the time I was going through a divorce. I was so grateful for how helpful my attorney was to me and the other women she represented and I had the thought “I wonder if these women need someone to help them with their money?”
At the time I was rebuilding my life financially and emotionally after my husband asked me for the divorce. I knew how hard it was to pick up the pieces-figuring out the mortgage, insurance, investments, warranties, bills, etc. All the things I hadn’t paid attention to for years, and I’m a financial professional! I spent all day long managing other people’s money, so I was happy that my husband handled ours.
In addition, I was trying to figure out how my marriage had ended and what I was going to do next. I always joke that during that time you could find me in the self-help section of any bookstore. I read every book and took every course I could find, so that I could feel better and understand what I was going through emotionally.
A few years later when I was involved in my church and self development communities, I saw that all of my friends were worried and stressed about money. They were living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to pay off debt while trying to increase their income. At the same time in the financial world where I worked, people had the knowledge, skill and experience to manage their money, but they were also worried and stressed about keeping, protecting, and growing it. I saw that neither community was experiencing financial freedom. It was at this time that I created a process to help people do both, learn how to manage their money and to also break free from the limiting beliefs and programming that causes their fears, worry and stress about money.
What should our readers know about your business?
I’m passionate and committed to empowering individuals, couples and entrepreneurs to create financial freedom, so that they can choose to live their dreams, whatever they are, everyday!
What makes me different from other financial professionals is that I use a holistic coaching approach. This approach takes into consideration that money affects every area of your life and that you are a unique individual. This isn’t a one size fits all problem. Each of us have individual behaviors, beliefs, personalities, lifestyles, skills, experience and situations that dictate how we operate, see the world and how we deal with money.
As a transformational speaker, it’s my intention that my audiences receive more than just information. I want them to experience a powerful shift in their awareness of how they relate to money, spend money, think about money.
Being a creative entrepreneur is a journey. There are challenges and obstacles, but there are also friends, partners and mentors that are with you along the way. I had one mentor say that being an entrepreneur is the best self-development endeavor you can attempt, and I’ve found that to be true! I also happen to be one of the people that think that every challenge has a silver lining and provides us with opportunities. I always think about it as learning, not losing. In addition, I try to stay present to my vision, allowing it to pull me forward when things get difficult. I think about the people that I’m here to serve and the difference I’m committed to making in their lives.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely head to Yellow Springs. Just 20 miles outside of Dayton, it’s one of my favorite places to visit. There’s so many interesting shops, galleries and restaurants all within a walkable downtown. You’ll find artists and musicians sharing their talents and sometimes performing live on the street, while you take in all the sights, smells and sounds.
The town backs up to a 1,125 acre nature preserve that’s accessible from a 15 mile network of footpaths. We’ll have our choice of eateries from Ellie’s at the Mills Park hotel featuring southern cuisine, the Sunrise Cafe featuring fresh and comfort food made from scratch or the farm to table seasonal menus at the Winds Cafe. After dining we can take a stroll, roller blade or bike ride on the Little Miami bike trail.
Next, we’ll head a few miles just down the road to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It’s the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world.
When we’re done with our tour we’ll head back to Yellow Springs and visit Youngs Jersey Dairy for homemade ice cream.
Oh, and while we’re there we are likely to run into local celebrity and resident Dave Chappell.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes to my family, friends, mentors and coaches that have always supported me through the twists and turns of this entrepreneurial journey. They’ve believed in me at times when I doubted myself.
Website: www.estellegibson.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/journey2freedom/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/J2Freedom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.gibson.9/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@estellegibson