We had the good fortune of connecting with Keren Eldad and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keren, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Thank you for this question! The answer will inspire many readers who themselves are thinking – as I was when I started – about pivoting their career, but don’t even know where to start. You may be surprised to learn that I did not HAVE A DREAM to become a coach and speaker (ah yes…. here comes the lesser known I DID NOT have a dream speech). Instead, I found and launched this career through a period of active EXPLORATION. About 6 years ago, I went through a personal crisis: I got divorced, quit my job to move back home, and found myself after that without a job for quite some time. One of the reasons I made it to the other side of that with a whole new career was that, even though I was flat broke at that time, I first and foremost dedicated myself to finding out what the heck I wanted to do. As a matter of fact, it was the first time in my life I turned inward like that. Like many of your readers, I had basically winged it or just done one right thing after another until that point, never asking myself what do I ACTUALLY want to do? Who am I, really? Think about it: how many of us ended up in a whole career never having thought through who we really are and what we want to contribute to the world? So I started asking myself questions: What do I really love? What would I totally rock, as a career? Who can I become? What would I do if nobody paid me? That is how I got here and eventually, launched the coaching business that would rock my world and transform the lives of others. I want your readers to do the same now. Some of those reading have already answered in their head – because they know what they are obsessed with. But let’s say – again – for worst case scenario purposes, that your answer is “I don’t know.” That is ok, too. In this case, consider that you do know what you don’t want. And as long as you are clear on the no pile – the yes pile is a lot clearer. Take the time to think about this. To this end, I cannot recommend coaching enough – it saved and changed my life through this very process and it’s a foolproof shortcut to do this because you are working with someone who will assess you and help you read between the lines of what you are coming up with. At the very least, start reaching for books that will help you focus and discover your real strengths and true passion, helping you create your big awesome life and successful business.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the Founder of With Enthusiasm Coaching (R), a personal and executive coaching firm specializing in personal emotional mastery and transformational leadership training. While creating this business was never easy, it was smooth and touched by inordinate amounts of luck. For example. I was lucky enough to have personally been mentored by some of the most well known coaches of our time, including Tony Robbins and Jen Sincero (“You are a Badass”), and I have also had the amazing fortune of resonating and working with world class leaders and executives from top industries and companies including LVMH, Richemont, Luxxotica, JP Morgan, Sovos, YPO and dozens more. Challenges along the way ranged from pragmatic, such as when I needed money to start and sustain this business, to scaling pressures and pains as the business has grown (so much!). But through it all -I did what I needed to do with joy in my heart – from having a full time job to support this in the beginning, to investing in all the systems that are helping me scale these days. The joy comes from my passion for what I am doing. I believe with all my heart in coaching, because I believe in people’s potential. I know that each individual has an equal chance at happiness, fulfillment and success – whatever that may look like to them. Having for many years served in the Israeli army and as a volunteer crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line, it is my personal mission is to serve anyone who has this desire for more with the greatest advantage towards creating that happiness. And that’s been what has carried me through and what makes this such a great business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1. Walk, Bike, or Paddle in Buffalo Bayou Park. In fact, try to do this at least once a week. It is so important to replenish our souls with nature, and I find this to be one of the greatest spots in which to do this whenever I am in town. 2. Shop the Vintage Stores on 19th Street in The Heights. I do this each time I am celebrating a big win – going out to search for that one special vintage piece that will mark the moment. I know this is materialistic, but I never spend too much and am mainly after conditioning my brain to remember that good things in life happen by marking the moment with a well-earned treat. 3. The Four Seasons in Houston is a great place to stay, has an excellent spa, but for me – is a superior place for a quiet meeting or drinks. I know, I know – this is not an original pick, but I do love consistency as much as I admire the spontaneous and the quirky. And boy, is the Four Seasons consistent!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a shout out to the greatest army of volunteers in America, Crisis Text Line. Especially right now, as America is hurting, grappling with centuries of racial injustice and the seemingly never-ending Coronavirus crisis. Crisis Text Line is here to listen to all who are feeling anxious, 24/7. As a volunteer crisis counselor with this organization for years, I can tell you: we got you, America.) As we move through this difficult moment as a country, I wanted to tell everyone out there who is feeling sad, depressed, anxious, isolated or uneasy that someone trained and empathetic is always there to support you. Just text 741741, and to Crisis Text Line; keep doing God’s work.

Website: https://www.kereneldad.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkeren/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keren-eldad-5232033/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiveWithEnthusiasm
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgGViwGVn_yrHkq3PQ9R_-Q

Image Credits
Photo: Mary Beth Koeth

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.