Are you choosing to live a life by design or by default?

Here’s how to know the difference…

Life by design: 

  • believe life is happening for you 

  • are self aware and take responsibility for setting your path 

  • take time to respond instead of reacting to challenging situations

  • understand that success is defined as you see it

  • use language like “I will” of “I intend to”

  • see the importance of daily habits for their wellbeing 

Life by default:

  • believe that life is happening to you

  • see yourself as a victim and don’t make the connection to your own actions 

  • are quick to react when challenges arise

  • live by others definition of success

  • use language like “I need to” or “I should”

  • don’t see value in building daily habits

I lived the first years of my career in the default category, 100%. When I started my business in 2008 I was moving from default to design but at times, was still stuck in patterns that were not helpful in being an entrepreneur.

A little about my journey…

Here’s something not a lot of people know. I left my long term employer in June of 2008. I left the stability, safety and security of a regular paycheck to take a chance on me - to design a life I wanted to live. It was exhilarating AND scarry as F*&%.

I took out a small line of credit and got to work building relationships with Builders and Suppliers. I did all the things that I thought were crucial to the business - website, business cards, networking etc. It was going well. Client work was rolling in and I was feeling confident and clear about the path ahead. 

Then came January 2008 - I was feeling ill. I couldn’t figure out what the hell was wrong so I let it drag for about a month before I made an appointment with my GP. She promptly asked what symptoms I had and then dropped the bomb. “Could you be pregnant?” to which I laughed out loud, “Seriously, no way.” She gently suggested we do a test and see. Again, I laughed and said “Sure but that’s not it”.

Uhmm, that was SO it. That pee stick stared me in the face screaming YOU ARE GOING TO BE A MOM. 

I left that appointment feeling ALL the feelings. How was my husband going to react? After all, we had kinda thought we would be a couple DINK’s. (Double income no kids). I just started my business, how was I going to do both? What the hell??? This was NOT the plan. I also had all this programming telling me there was no way I could be a good mother AND a businesswomen, I had to choose one or the other. 

I’m 31 years old. I’ve just found out I’m going to be a parent AND I’m trying to build a business. No big deal, right?! 

Fifteen years later I can confirm that it has been (and will continue to be) a rollercoaster ride. Honestly, that is life. How we adapt and shift is part of the learning that comes our way. 

 

Designed for More Mentorship is what I wish 30 year old me could have found when I started in my Architectural Design business.

 
 
 

Supporting women in Architectural Design develop their own inner compass

Designed for More Mentorship provides guidance, advice & support to women in Architectural Design from my own lived experience. Think of me as your secret weapon, your back pocket resource.

I come to this relationship knowing that I am self aware, can offer skills on relationship building, have developed incredible listening skills with empathy and awareness and have incredible adaptability and intuitive senses. This didn’t happen overnight. My bumps in the road don’t need to be the same gravel you have to travel across. 

My philosophy is that you deserve a career AND a life that fits who you are and where you want your life to go. I believe a key part of that is in building relationships between other women. Connection is a fundamental human need. 

Let me guess…

Chances are you have experienced periods in your career where you felt you were the only person who’d ever face the challenge you are facing. Hun, I’m here to reassure you, you are not. I can help.

Think of me as your secret weapon. That resource you can come to, no matter the issue, and I will listen and help you process what is in front of you. My job as a mentor is to not fix you or the situation. My job is to offer a space for you to explore what feels right for you. I do that by asking clarifying questions and offering guidance that has the potential to open or widen your perspective. 

I have experienced first hand the benefits of having a mentor. Gained clarity, increased confidence and felt a deeper support than I knew was possible. 

In my case, this was what I gained after working with a number of people over a number of years. We are continually growing and changing so your needs will change over time.

 

What I know for sure is I truly care about you, what you are experiencing and I know I can help support you. 

 

But don’t just take my word for it...

  • She sees the things that I'm too close to see.

    “Krista's breadth of skills and knowledge is exactly what I need, as I move forward with owning my brilliance in all areas of life. She has this incredible ability to actively listen, pause, and eloquently summarize what I've just spent the last few minutes saying; as a result, I'm able to gain clarity in a short amount of time and take action on that gift of clarity (which is perfect because as a business owner/entrepreneur/stepmom, I don't have much time in my life!). Krista also leans into her intuition and offers suggestions that seem to come from thin air, but that simply work. She sees the things that I'm too close to see. Every time I work with Krista, a-ha moments abound and the momentum of action I start to take from there is invaluable. Thank you Krista, for all that you do and be.”

    — Amanda Perrot, Grounded Goodness

  • This to me is leadership.

    “This to me is leadership. This is your zone of genius. You recognize the needs of your people, removing impediments to allowing them to work to their fullest potential, thereby strengthening the organization as a whole.” 

    — Linda Yip, The Admin Gap

Ready to have a career AND a life that fits who you are and where you want your life to go?!

This mentorship is a good fit for…

  • Women in the midst of navigating the first 5-10 years of their career which often involves balance between family and career

  • Women who are self directed learners and believe life is a life long learning process

  • Women who want to be leaders in their own lives 

  • Women who can clearly communicate what challenges they are facing

Who this is not a fit for…

  • Women who can’t have open and honest conversation 

  • Women who don’t value building relationships 

  • Women stuck in victim mentality

What this container looks like…

  • This is meant to meet you exactly where you are at. It’s not a one size fits all approach so each mentee will have a personalized approach over a 6 month timeframe. 

  • Each month we will have: biweekly in person conversations

  • Voxer support in between our conversations and when you need critical support

  • You receive unconditional support from me in the form of conversation, stories, tools and practices you could find beneficial all while building a trusting and confidential relationship based in trust.

Ready to get started?

Monthly investment: $175/month+GST

Full commitment: $1050+GST (we don’t believe in charging extra for monthly payments y’all)

Availability: Open to four women in 2024, with first mentee starting in March