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

Hi Martina, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I love to work and I love to play. What really allowed me to create the balance I want for myself and my family was to get crystal clear on what I want to do for work. For me, that was starting my own coaching and consulting business after working in the sciences for over 15 years.

Balance for me means two things. One, having fun with what I’m doing. And two, having the energy to do what I most want to do in life. For me that’s creating a business that impacts and adds value to everyone I work with, having the time and energy to be present with my kids, and be able to pursue my passion as a rock climber. All these areas feed each other, when in the right balance.

Balance to me doesn’t mean staying in a soul-sucking career because that’s what you went to school for. Balance doesn’t mean living for vacations or using time off to do nothing.

I wasn’t always balanced. In fact, I felt pretty burned out at some point in my career. First, I thought it was from the long hours and pressure, yet looking back, the burnout and lack of motivation came from a shift in my values and a realization that I’m not fully tapping into my passion and potential in my career back then. I knew there was more for me to accomplish.

Balance to me means being passionate about what I do and using my strongest talents on a daily basis. Balance means working from a state of flow. For me, the term work-life balance doesn’t really exist anymore, because I don’t see “work” and “life” as two separate entities. It’s a continuum of flow and positive energy that fuels each other.

What should our readers know about your business?
Looking back at how my business has developed over the years, it’s fascinating to watch how the dots connect. When I worked in the sciences, I saw a huge need for leadership development. While scientists are often super-smart and driven, not everyone has learned how to become an inspiring leader. Needless to say, I saw a lot of wasted talents due to a lack of effective leadership. This is what inspired me to take a more holistic approach to leadership and help my clients develop an authentic style that is effective and allows them to work from a state of flow.

Being a rock climber, I love working with athletic folks and use analogies from sports such as climbing, skiing, or surfing in my coaching sessions. The themes of overcoming fear, taking the leap, trusting yourself, surrendering control are all aspects that many athletes have experienced and can leverage in their professional life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My family and I moved to Golden to be closer to the amazing outdoor opportunities we have in close vicinity. So, whenever friends come into town we take them climbing to Clear Creek Canyon followed by a relaxing evening at one of the local breweries such as New Terrain.

We also love to mountain bike at North Table or hike White Ranch Park.

One of our new favorite places to get food and drinks is The Golden Mill in downtown Golden. Their sushi is probably the best in town.

In the rare case, the weather is not suited for an outdoor adventure, we have a number of excellent climbing gyms here in the area. Earth Treks and Movement, and not to forget ABC kids in Boulder which is a fantastic gym for the little ones.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, I don’t know where to start here. There are so many people and resources that come to mind. Shoutout to my amazing business partners, family, friends, and clients.

I derive a lot of my inspiration from podcasts and books. Right now, my favorite podcast is “The School of Greatness” by Lewis Howes. Books I recommend are “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown, and the old-time classic “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.

Website: https://www.martinafelderman.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfelderman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildventurecoaching.co

Image Credits
Mariah Ehlert Bob Felderman

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