Discovering the unknown
Q. What is transformation? What can one expect if they embark on a journey of self discovery?
A. It is a very big subject. So transformation is really a process that people can choose to go through and really at the end of it what we are asking ourselves is who are we choosing to be? And how are we choosing to show up in our lives and in our work? That is really the question we come to in the process of transformation. Sometimes you can use metaphors such as our internal systems that we rely on every day. To make decisions and navigate life. So in the process of transformation, you can think of it like a reboot, like a new operating system that can come into our lives and help us to tackle whatever comes at us in life. So it is an opportunity to renew ourselves, to reconnect, to reinvent ourselves. And it is in various degrees, not everyone is the same, so you can do small transformations and big transformations. In various degrees we can relate to kind of reinvent the self and what we think as ourselves. This is the journey of transformation and healing, changing, going in oneself and getting through some of our patterns, recognizing our patterns, recognizing what is running us on a day to day basis. How we make our decisions, how we are filtering out, how we are going about life. I have to say it is quite a journey and process that takes time. So transformation is really about waiting through who we are and finding out more about who we are and sometimes waiting through the muck. Sometimes it is a messy business. People would love transformation to be very linear but through the experience I have let people through is anything but linear. It has us going up and down and sometimes back, and back again and forward again, but at the end of the day we are hoping for an upward sway. It is a lot of work actually but the payoff can be enormous.
Q. You did chemical engineering, then you went on to be a teacher and then a transformative life coach. I mean how did you end up on this path? It is a complete shift, a complete transformation in your personal life and professional life.
A. Absolutely. So yes I have been very good at math and chemistry and wanted a really good job to sustain myself. Engineering made sense. It was challenging, interesting, so I went for it and I enjoyed that piece of it. However somehow I knew in the process of getting my degree that there was a human left out of that space. There was a humanness left out of that space. Maybe like a human interaction. So it didn’t take me very long after I got my first project in engineering, doing a job out of college and made a little money, paid off a few loans. I wanted out. I wanted something more. And at that time I was also doing a lot of volunteering and working with a lot of different types of people in the city I was living in as an engineer. So for me science education became a natural step. It was a place that I could walk into in the non profit sector and be of assistance and really go to other places and work with communities that really needed support. So I went on that adventure and one of the things I really wanted to do in my life was join the peace work. So I had an opportunity to do a stint in West Africa and that really gave me a lot of experience in the classroom, in community work, and I brought all that experience when I wanted to India and settle down. I continued that journey in education and it was very rewarding. Fulfilling and very meaningful work. Dealing with kids. So as a teacher you become a natural mentor. You connect with the kids on such a beautiful level. So I enjoyed the creativity that I got in the classroom and I really enjoyed the kids. However at some point I needed to grow. I needed a new challenge and I needed something more. So leaving the classroom was a very difficult situation for me. I loved my work. I loved the school I was at, very integrated, everything was working out fantastic in the career and there was no real reason to leave. Except I had this deep urge to move on to something else. So I stepped out into the unknown with no plan in hand.
Q. What would be your advice to the youth today when they can’t decide which path to take in their careers?
A. I would say go for it. Because whatever your passion and your pure energy, will create the path on its own. It Is almost that sometimes we really just had to jump in to life, jump into opportunities and more of the times we will see the opportunities when you need them. We don’t see opportunities around until we take that leap to present ourselves. I would say go for it. Anything that we do well, anything that we put our heart into gave reward and recognition. Someone who connects with that energy, the path will form. You never know where it will take you.
Q. Tell me something because in your case once you made that decision, which doesn’t happen overnight, it is a transition, and a lot of hard work and passion. So how long did it take you to do almost all the courses around the world in your field? What was the time period?
A. After I left education I took 6 months to decide where I wanted to go. So I had that luxury that I could take a little more time and go into that space. It was actually during that time when I got myself a coach. It was during that time, speaking of friends, mentors, a lot of people who I was asking, their ideas, their thoughts and it took about 6 months and a year after that I would say to really work on myself, to get planted and sorted. By the end of the year I packaged my own learning in the coaching. I took other interests that helped me in my journey. I found success and realized what these practices do and after a year, d working for 5 hours without stopping, developing my skills, and coaching as many people as I can. Reaching out to many communities and coaching all kinds of different people. So I pushed myself to add value to people’s life.
Q. How did the transition from US to India happen in your personal life?
A. I met my husband in university and just 6 to 8 months before graduation I met this gentleman who I didn’t realise at the time that he was going to be my future husband. That was about 4 years to living my dreams but I decided to take the leap. The leap from the heart. Coming to India was a heart choice. We decided to give it go. So I am in Mumbai for the last 15 to 16 years.
Q. Have you adapted to India fully?
A. I am very settled here. There might be moments when I noticed the heat, pollution and noise but I have had the most amazing experiences in India.
Q. Which is your favourite place in India?
A. The mountains. I have always loved the mountains, the Himalayas are what I loved.
Q. What is your perspective post Covid? How do you see life changing?
A. I will start with myself. If I spent a lot of time traveling and doing a lot of things for myself, and it makes me more committed to the impact I have been having in my local communities. I love the social sector. We are giving back. Post Covid I feel there is a rise in consciousness. I can feel it. We are putting the status quo into question.
Q. How was your life before Covid and what is a day in the life of Jill Majeski before the lockdown and now?
A. Well I work from home. Part of this work is flexibility. I run my own show. Be my own boss and entrepreneur. I have been coaching 20% more during the lockdown since people are at home. Socially we are all spending time on Zoom connecting with friends. No traffic, not noise. I feel a type of freedom at home. Once you remove all the variables in life it changes.
Q. What does ‘Art of life Coach’ mean?
A. I am always looking at what I should call myself. Painting brought a lot of joy in my life and was a big part of my transformation as I was working through. My work and my life comes together. My paintings are what is inside out. I wanted to choose art and creation representing my life. It was just a way of passing on becoming a better coach.
Q. You are an extremely private person. So how do you go about coaching your clients? How do you go about that?
A. Because I had the liberty of growing my business organically it means I have to follow any of the business worlds. I chose to do this in stages and processes. I started with a small group of clients. They became my long term clients and seeing them grow is a joy. Clients have to have to be willing to trust.
Q. What is the best part of your job?
A. I think it is when I see people make progress. They look at themselves and the world differently. I love people creating a space for themselves. That is my takeaway. To see my clients blossom.
Q. What do you think is the greatest quality of a leader?
A. I think as time goes by we all grow. Sometimes we assume in our 20s and 30s will be the same in our 40s and 50s. The world has changed in the meantime. Knowing yourself is the key. Connect more with our staff at work. With Covid everything has changed. Leaders are connecting on a different level. Empathy is also very important.
Q. What would you advise people who are losing their jobs or anxious about losing their jobs?
A. We are experiencing a lot of inter connection. When our plans dissolve it is more important to be a part of the community. Maybe this is emotional and financial security. When the lights go out and everything is dark you simply need a ray of hope or opportunity. We need to be there for each other.
Q. Have you faced setbacks and disappointment in life?
A. Quite a lot. Things don’t materialize how we plan them. I have seen it in relationships, with friendships I see it a lot. Losing you job or not getting a promotion are setbacks for a reason. On hindsight the setbacks put me on course.
Q. How do you remain positive?
A. It is all about support. Friends and family are the key. My strength comes from my personal practice and my spiritual beliefs. A lot of guidance in community.
Q. How do you nurture EQ in people?
A. Inner stress and inner tension make a big impact. People can be unhappy and claustrophobic anywhere. We need to realise that in times of uncertainty. When we feel upset, we should also channelize empathy towards other people in our families as they might be upset too. Relationships and love ask to be conditional.
Q. How important are relationships?
A. I feel that those are the most important. In my life I have always figured out that relationships are needed in a positive manner.
