Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Secombe.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born to parents who both worked hard. My dad was an entrepreneur, and my mother was a nurse. I looked up to them both and modeled my mother’s desire to help others and my dad’s enthusiasm to follow an idea and turn it into a business.
I applied myself at our local country school and won a scholarship to a city school for my final two years.
I started my first business selling student-named sweaters to schools with my dad and brother, followed by a news agency while studying physiotherapy at university.
After working for someone else as a physiotherapist for seven years, I founded Safe Work Practice focused on preventing injuries, which I sold twenty years later.
In 1997 I was awarded the role of Miss Australia, after raising $130,000 for people with cerebral palsy. While touring Australia in this role, I met my now husband who was exploring the world on his motorbike, setting out from his hometown of Dublin, Ireland. We now have three adult children.
In 2016 my mother passed away from breast cancer. I was grateful to spend ten years with her between diagnosis and her passing, and she realized that she had always put everyone else first to the demise of her wellbeing. This is why Soul Pleaser was born.
I recognized that I was following in my mother’s footsteps, burning out as a result of always being available to everyone else and not leaving any time for myself.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
My first significant challenge started at fifteen when a school friend commented on my weight. I experienced body dysmorphia and a controlling relationship with food for the next thirty years. This was a symptom of my perfectionism and high expectations of myself that were impossible to reach.
This same compulsion caused me to overwork. I only felt good about myself when I was achieving the high standards, I imagined others expected of me.
I was trying to keep everyone happy all of the time.
When my mother passed away, I was running three businesses while caring for three children. One of my businesses was global and I would wake to messages and would continue to reply to them prior to switching off my bedside lamp to go to sleep, only to wake again at 3 am to think about work.
I had no idea I was burnt out. It was my normal to constantly think about work, to worry about achieving my to-do list, and to rehash conversations from the past, concerned about others’ opinions of me.
My mother’s passing stopped me in my tracks. I was overwhelmed with grief. It was exactly what I needed to crack my heart open and get me out of my head.
This was the start of my recovery. I stopped working in the three businesses and rested for the first time in my adult life.
The gift of the space I created for myself was my next idea.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I help people stop people-pleasing and start soul pleasing. Even if you don’t relate to the term “people-pleaser”, I believe that at any moment we are either influenced by other people or our soul. (Please insert a word of your choice for the soul)
We often make choices based on what we think other people will think or based on what we have been taught to believe by other people. You are unique and the best choice for you at any moment is unique to you. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek advice or learn from others. Often when we are tuned into our soul and listen to our instincts we are guided to read or hear the best next step. The key is to learn the difference between these two influences so you can truly live your life your way, being who you want to be.
I help people through my “From People Pleaser to Soul Pleaser” coaching program, and my book of the same name. I have helped hundreds of people improve their confidence, become calmer, find their purpose, and enjoy better health, relationships, and financial abundance.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
Know what you really want. I often work with people who don’t know what they want, they are too busy trying to survive and keep up with all the demands they have on themselves.
To help you discover what you want, begin by looking at what isn’t working in your life right now and asking yourself how you would like it to be. Don’t be put off by the fact that you might not know how you are going to change it.
Then think about how you would feel if you already had what you want. The next step is to feel that way now as often as you can, and from this place, you will receive inspiration for what step to take next.
This is where many people get stuck. They don’t take that next step because they don’t have the whole road map and are afraid of failure.
You can’t steer a parked car. Move towards your goal and you can pivot at any time. Show yourself you can do it by taking the first step and you will gradually build momentum.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Success to me is feeling good. This means that you can be successful right now. You can choose to focus on something that causes you to feel good.
After all, every goal that you have – you have it because you believe that you will feel good when you get it.
But you don’t have to wait to get what you want to feel good; you can feel good now without it. It doesn’t mean you won’t get what you want.
I believe (and have experienced personally and watched my client’s experience) that by feeling good now you will attract the idea or people or resources that you need to create whatever you desire.
For me, being unapologetically me feels good. I know what I like and what I don’t, and I embrace life fully. I am of more help to others now than I was when I needed their approval because I give without any expectation of anything in return.
I give because it feels good.
That is success to me.
What’s next for you?
I am currently narrating my audiobook “From People Pleaser to Soul Pleaser: Six Steps to Being Who You Are Meant to Be”. The paperback and ebook versions are already published on Amazon.
I am a director and co-owner of Farm Owners Academy helping farmers to own a freedom farm.
I would love the opportunity to present a TEDx talk, and I will be traveling to Europe with my family.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
You can learn more about how I can support you at:
https://www.tracysecombe.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/soul.pleaser/
https://www.facebook.com/soulpleaser
https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulpleaser
https://www.amazon.com/PEOPLE-PLEASER-SOUL-Steps-Being-ebook/dp/B0B62F363J