Meet Terra Goeres Ramachandran | Certified Life Coach for Women in Mid-Life

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terra Goeres Ramachandran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terra, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My business chose me in a way. I had spent 21 years in the digital marketing industry – 10 of those years in corporate and 11 years running my own agency with my husband. Despite spending over 2 decades in that profession, it never lit me up. I always felt like a square peg trying to jam myself into a round hole.

As you can imagine, and may even know from experience, things don’t go so well when you sell yourself out like that for years and decades on end.

For me, that experience, along with other related experiences, culminated in a nervous breakdown in December of 2017. I spent 6 months dealing with debilitating panic and anxiety. It was the darkest, most terrifying time of my life and I didn’t know if I’d ever come out of it. When I finally did, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s like that saying – “a healthy person has a thousand wishes; a sick person has but one.” And when my one wish came true, all I wanted to do was help other women from ending up where I did. I just didn’t know how.

Over a period of the next 3 years, I just followed a trail of breadcrumbs of things that interested me. I eventually stumbled on a book by Dr. Martha Beck (Oprah’s life coach), and that was the first time I thought about life coaching. I went through her Wayfinder Life Coach training program in 2021, finished my certification in 2022, and I’ve been building my business since then!

What should our readers know about your business?
What distinguishes me is not just my professional credentials as a certified life coach but the authenticity of my experience. I haven’t just explored the concepts of rebuilding and reinvention in mid-life; I’ve triumphed through the gritty, real-life process! This personal experience translates into a coaching approach that allows me to deeply resonate with the challenges, pain, and transitions that mid-life can bring, and also see and illuminate the boundless opportunities awaiting my clients on the road ahead!

What I’m most excited about right now is that I’m in the process of rebranding my business. My coaching business has been under the name, SoulfireShift, but I started a MeetUp group in Boulder last year, called Bolder Women, and that name has not only resonated with the women I’m aiming to work with, but it also feels like a much more accurate description of my mission and vision.

And that gets into your next question about the lessons I’ve learned and what I want the world to know about me, my brand, and my story.

You see, I think it’s really easy to get stuck in “fine”. And if you’ve reached mid-life, you probably know all too well what I’m talking about – at least in one area of your life, if not more.

“Fine” is that place that’s not bad enough to make us miserable, but also doesn’t light us up…make us happy…or make us feel that fire in our belly! But we get stuck there because it feels safe and comfortable. We don’t have to take any risks. And that’s ok for a little while. But eventually it starts to feel constricting. Like we’re getting smaller. And more afraid. And less passionate about our lives.

The longer we stay there, the more our soul dies a little bit everyday. I know this because, as I mentioned earlier, I spent a couple decades there and eventually ended up in a nervous breakdown.

What I had to learn the hard way is that to live a life that feels interesting…rewarding…fulfilling…and ALIVE, you have to make bold choices that feel scary and uncertain.

You have to take risks – small risks and big risks. Everything from getting involved with new people and new activities and choosing to show up, be seen, and be real…to choosing to follow the pull of your soul in your career, relationships, and other key areas of your life- even when there are no guarantees.

It’s hard to do. Really hard. But I believe it’s the only way to craft a life you truly love.

So the heart of my mission is to build programs and communities that support women in mid-life, empowering them to make bolder choices that lead to a life filled with passion and purpose!

As for your other question about building a business and was it easy? No. Definitely not. Starting something from scratch is really hard. You face external obstacles, as well as your own internal shadows.

How do you overcome the challenges? Keep coming back to your passion. Keep an eye on the vision that lights you up. It will motivate you to find the solutions, people, and answers you need to keep moving forward.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d definitely spend some time in Boulder – start the day with a hike on Mt. Sanitas or the Anne White Trail. If we’re feeling lazy, an easy walk around Wonderland Lake would get us going.

Brunch one day at Snooze; lunch on the rooftop at Avanti another day. Then wander through the eclectic shops on the Pearl St. Mall. Grab a late afternoon glass of wine at Postino and do some people watching and maybe catch a performance by one of the street entertainers. If it’s summertime and a Wednesday, we’d make our way back down the mall for Bands on the Bricks.

Cocktails on the patio at the St. Julien are a must! The gorgeous view of the mountains can’t be beat! Plus they always have a great band! If it’s raining or in the winter, License No. 1 or the Kitchen Upstairs or even the T-Zero bar at the St. Julien are great options. Then on to dinner at Hapa Sushi, Brasserie 1010, Stella’s Cucina, Salt, or Oak.

A day or two in Denver would also be on the agenda! A show at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, or perhaps an exhibition at the Denver Art Museum or the Nature and Science Museum.

Cocktails at 54Thirty if it’s summertime; otherwise, we’d go to Polka Lola or The Cooper Lounge. For dinner, it would depend on what we’re feeling – Cho Lan and Bistro LeRoux are great! Venice for Italian. Guard and Grace for steaks. Osteria Marco for a casual night out.

Red Rocks is a must! Hopefully there would be a good band in town. If not, I’d still take my friends there to run the stairs and just see the beauty of that amazing venue!

I would also take them for a drive up the Peak to Peak and into Estes Park. Brunch at the Stanley Hotel for sure, then wander through the cute little tourist shops!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband – 100%! He was my rock through my nervous breakdown and recovery, and he’s been my biggest cheerleader as I’ve switched careers and started my own business. His belief in me has never wavered. Starting something from nothing takes time and he’s been nothing but patient, supportive, and encouraging through the process. I’m so lucky!

Website: www.soulfireshift.com (but soon to be www.bolder-women.com)

Instagram: @bolderwomenclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088307570116

Image Credits
Dush Ramachandran (the professional photos)