Day 146: Rochelle Moulton

February 23, 2010 at 12:01 am, Category: Inspiration

“I’ve always been optimistic.  I always see the glass as probably three-quarters or 90% full, because I think you have a choice in life in how you approach things, and it’s so much more fun to look at the infinite possibility than to worry about the horrible things that could happen that we really don’t have control over anyway.”

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Toni Reece: Thank you so much, Rochelle, for agreeing to be part of the Project today, and before we begin, can you introduce yourself?

Rochelle Moulton: Sure, Toni.  I am Rochelle Moulton, and I work with consultants and other advisors to help them grow their business.

Toni: Well, Rochelle, when you think of that word inspiration, who do you think you inspire and how do you do that?

Rochelle: Well, you know, I’ve been giving this some thought since you asked me about this, and I think there’s a common theme with the people that I know in that they had been stuck.  So they might have had an idea about what to do next, but they were maybe reluctant to act, or some folks had a lot of ideas but just lacked the focus to make the right things happen.  When I look back at it, I think a lot of the time they just needed permission to be as good as they already knew they were.

Toni: Okay.  So how do you give someone permission to do that and to even think that’s possible?

Rochelle: Well, I guess, you know, I have sort of a theory about that.  I had a very tumultuous childhood, but the gift of that was that I learned at a very early age how to adapt and deal with some of the crazy things that life throws at you.  So it’s made me very adaptable to change, and it’s given me a lot of insight into human behavior, and so I find that I attract people who are really looking to take some risk and kind of need some permission.  So sometimes it’s the story, or a story I might tell them that gives them that permission.

For example, I left a big firm partnership to start a boutique firm.  You know, I moved happily across the country to a place that spoke to me.  So what happens, I find, is that people who want to do something bold find me.

Toni: So they want to do something bold, whether it’s in action or thought?

Rochelle: Yeah.  I mean, I think it varies based on the person.  I mean, what’s bold to you or to me might be very different to someone else; it depends on the person.

Toni: Absolutely.  When you’re working with people in this way and inspiring them to think differently and to give them this permission, I would imagine there’s a lot of trust that goes in here as well – how do you think that then helps them to explore their potential?

Rochelle: How does the trust piece get them to …

Toni: Yeah, the work that you do and how you inspire others, does that also help them to explore their potential?

Rochelle: Oh, absolutely.  Absolutely.  I think … I really think trust is critical, and I think whether you meet someone on the phone or in person there’s a process where you’re establishing that trust.  For me, some of that is asking permission to ask questions that maybe seem a little bit probing, but I find most people — if they feel that you’re genuinely interested in them, that you generally care about what they have to say and the thought process they’re going through — can see that you are trustworthy.  I think that’s the start point.

For me to help someone explore their potential, I find it’s very high touch.  Again, for me, I like to have it in person if it’s at all possible … love it one-to-one or maybe in a small group if there’s enough trust within the group.

Toni: Oh, that’s interesting – and how do you know there is?

Rochelle: It’s almost like you can tell when there isn’t.  What I found is that you can … people have a physical … if you’re in person, you can see a physical manifestation of distrust and it’s not just, you know, the arms being crossed, but it’s maybe perhaps the way that they respond to someone else’s comment.  For me, it’s a very visceral, tangible kind of a sense.

Toni: You might be highly in tune to that.

Rochelle: I am, but I wish I could tell you how.  It just works that way, and it’s really understanding them and listening very closely and paying attention.

Toni: When you think about inspiration for yourself, Rochelle, what inspires you?  What do you need to be inspired?

Rochelle: I think the key thing for me is actually the water.  I love the ocean.  I was born near the ocean.  Unfortunately grew up a little bit away from it but visited it a lot and, even today, the place I live now I can see a little glimpse of the Pacific from my house.  And so, for me, walking on the beach — and there are great wide beaches here in Southern California — it clears my head and lets me think that anything is possible.

But again for me it’s the water, it’s anything that’s artist-made.  I really love beautiful things that were made by someone — paintings, textile, a beautiful design.  And probably like a lot of people, I have loved to be inspired by ideas from other people, you know, whether it’s … books are great because you can kind of do that at your own speed and you can discuss it with other people.  Blogs are great.  Articles by big thinkers.  I love people who aren’t afraid to challenge conventional beliefs and they’re going to start those big discussions and move them forward – love that.  It’s huge.

And then, I guess last is I just … I have to cook.  I have to cook!  If I can have some complex recipe that requires my total attention, I’ve come up … again, I don’t know how this works, but with some amazing ideas when I’m working over the stove.

Toni: Because your mind is completely onto something else, that something else can be received.

Rochelle: Exactly.

Toni: That’s really interesting, and I’m wondering if that’s not what you do for others, you know?  By granting that permission almost puts their mind to something else so that you can go in there and help them to almost settle their thoughts and quiet them and allow them to think through what they need to do.

Rochelle: Cook up something new.

Toni: You bet.  You bet.  That’s where I’m hearing a synergy there, you know?

Rochelle: Life is one big kitchen.

Toni: Yeah, I know.  So, let me ask you then – are there tools or methodologies that you tend to reach for when you’re feeling a little, oh, you know, “It’s time for me to fill myself back up here.”  I know you mentioned nature and beauty and so forth, but are there tools or techniques you also find yourself reaching for?

Rochelle: I think in terms of maybe a technique is for me, I like to have a close circle of really beloved good friends in business and in life.  And there’s some crossover in those two, but I like to have that sort of a posse and to be able to go to them — whether it’s on the phone or in person or writing them a note — and to feel that connection and be able to, you know … part of what we do is we talk about a lot of creative things and explore ideas and they’re kind.  You know, I surround myself with good, kind people.  So that’s … for me, that’s a well that I can go to, absolutely.

Toni: Have you always shown up this way, Rochelle?  Have you always come to the table full of the positive energy that you’re giving off in this interview and being genuine and knowing that your calling was to help other people get to a better place for themselves in business?  Have you always known that you were that way?

Rochelle: I think I was hard-wired … I sometimes say I was hard-wired as a consultant, and by that I mean to help people see things in a different way, but I think that it took me a while to really understand how to use the gifts that I have and integrate them both in my work and my life.  But I’ve always been optimistic.  I always see the glass as probably three-quarters or 90% full, because I think you have a choice in life in how you approach things, and it’s so much more fun to look at the infinite possibility than to worry about the horrible things that could happen that we really don’t have control over anyway.

Toni: Great, that’s great – and what do you need to explore your own potential?

Rochelle: Really, it’s the ability to … it’s funny, it sounds funny, but the ability to be free, to explore ideas.  I keep coming back to ideas, but what is really important to me is to be able to be open and talk about different approaches — even if you don’t agree with someone — but to be able to really explore different ways and express creativity, you know, whether that’s cooking or whether that’s ideas or it’s reading something or just walking along the Pacific on a nice day.

Toni: How do you think your approach to exploring your own potential ties into the approach that you use professionally?

Rochelle: Frankly, I think it’s exactly the same.  It’s the finding out … what are your real talents and passions?  One of the questions I often ask people is “What do you love so much that you would do it for free?”  And when you start to get at that … and sometimes people go “Oh, but no one will pay me to do X.”  I think it’s … I just think that’s huge is the ability to really figure out what your gifts are and then harness them in a way that other people can access.

Toni: So your role for people is to help them figure out professionally, for professional reasons, what their gifts are?

Rochelle: Absolutely, yes.  In a nutshell, that’s what I do, and I love it.

Toni: Right.  You can tell.  You can really tell that.  I think that people are going to listen to your interview and it’s very refreshing to hear how you inspire others in what you do but then also how it’s so mirrored by how you are inspired, and also how you explore your own potential and how those two are so, so tightly connected.  And I think that because of that, it’s the honesty, the trustworthiness, and the genuineness that is not only coming across in this interview, but must be how you deal with people, and that’s awesome.

Rochelle: Well, thank you, Toni.  It’s been a real pleasure talking with you.

Toni: I really appreciate your interview today, and we will post a link to how people can get a hold of you and maybe learn a little bit more about you at the end of your interview.  And for your interview today, thank you so very much.

Rochelle: Terrific.  You’re welcome.  Thank you.

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For more information about Rochelle Moulton:   www.rochellemoulton.com

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