introduction: 0:03

Music you're listening to fascinating women with Mark Laurie. And now, Mark Laurie, hello

Mark Laurie: 0:10

everyone. This is Mark Laurie here from fascinating women asked delight to have you. We also have got Laura Watson here. How are you doing?

Laura Watson: 0:19

I'm doing great. How are you today?

Mark Laurie: 0:21

Oh, this is, I'm great. This is just one of those wonderful days. We still got blue skies and sunshine, and I'm a happy kind of character.

Laura Watson: 0:28

Yes, it's been a nice September. So far. It has been good.

Mark Laurie: 0:30

It has been good. It has been good. We're getting down to more fascinating things. So one of the things I want to start with, because you, you're really a woman who's driven, I think, by by vision and by a moral code, so to speak, so what are your three beliefs that guide you?

Laura Watson: 0:44

Oh, boy, wasn't expecting that question. Three beliefs that guide me. I think the primary belief that guides me, first and foremost, is Do unto others as you have done unto you. I mean, I'm not a super religious person, but that was definitely, was a message that I grew up with, and it's definitely a mantra that I live by, is I want to I'm I've chosen a life of being in service,

Mark Laurie: 2:12

With walking your talk. That's a really tough thing to do. When has that created you a challenge or a problem? When you normally it's kind of easy. All sudden, you have a moment you go, Oh, I've got to take the hard route.

Laura Watson: 2:26

Yes, well, where I where the hard route comes up sometimes is in, I think, in relationships and in communication. I did not grow up in a family that had great communication, and we tended to avoid the difficult conversations. And so I actually got trained as a communication expert about 25 years ago, and it transformed my marriage. It transformed my parenting. I used the

Mark Laurie: 3:53

Once you start doing it, it becomes easier to do.I Imagine becomes a habit, and so it's not.

Unknown: 3:59

Yeah, I think good experiences build on each other. So if you're able to have a difficult conversation in this example and have a good outcome from that, then you can, I can walk away later and say, Oh, that wasn't as bad as I was making it up to be. And it makes the next conversation a little bit easier, and then and the next one a little bit easier. And whether it's a difficult

Mark Laurie: 4:34

Do you often push your comfort zone?

Laura Watson: 4:38

Well, yeah, I guess so. I mean, I've done it in my photography with you. That was a huge one. And, you know, and then I'm also a competitive dancer, so I compete in ballroom and country dancing. That is definitely a stretch of my comfort zone. Yeah. I'm someone who likes to kind of, you know, it's easy for me and natural for me to kind of play small, and can't play small on the

Mark Laurie: 5:35

know that's a big passion of yours. How do you get started with that? Like, it's about that'd be a good place to stretch my passion. Like, how did you get into ballroom dancing?

Unknown: 5:44

Oh, yeah, so I watched my parents dance occasionally, and just thought, oh, wow, that looks so cool. I would love to be able to do that someday. And unfortunately, I married a man who doesn't want to dance. So I put it off for a long time. You know, you get married, you have kids, all that kind of stuff, and there just doesn't seem to be time or opportunity. It gets busy. Yeah, it does get journey with incredible people instantly stretching myself, which is something that I love to do. So it's just been a ton of fun.

Mark Laurie: 8:07

It's kind of an ageless experience, isn't it? Like you really, there's just the design of it. It doesn't sort of stop at 25 or 35 or something. You can do it all your life.

Unknown: 8:16

Oh gosh no, yeah. In fact, the world country Dance Council, because I do country dance competitions. Currently, they actually had to add a new division, because they dance in age divisions, right? And so now people are dancing into their 80s. And so, yeah, there's actually a new division to accommodate to those age groups. So absolutely, and I believe the dance and the physical activity

Mark Laurie: 8:57

So you got your bit this I know which is a passion you're dancing. Do you have any other passions that you have any other passions that you work with that's in your life? For those, the two

Unknown: 9:03

that drive you, those are the main passions. I mean, other than that, I really love being on the water, and so that that's, that's another happy place of mine. So, yeah, we were really fortunate to be able to move out to an acreage a few years ago that is right by a lake. So I get to be on the water boating. I like to water ski, and it's just the peacefulness of being on the water.

Mark Laurie: 9:36

I was once a water skier, and there's nothing get when no one else is alive yet, like the world is dead, and the water is like glass, and the sun's coming up and the boat's not that noisy, and it's just, it's a very unique experience.

Laura Watson: 9:50

It's, yes, it's so peaceful. And like you said, when that water is glass and you're just gliding across and and then jump and wake it's a lot of fun. And it and it uses every single muscle in your body.

Mark Laurie: 10:03

There's nothing thats not being used.

Unknown: 10:07

I usually ache for a couple of days afterwards, but, you know, worth it.

Mark Laurie: 10:14

How do you want to change the world?

Laura Watson: 10:16

How do I want to change the world? Big Question, uh, well, you know, I started, I think, and I don't want to sound boastful or arrogant, but I think, you know, my way of starting to change the world is when I first started off in the social work profession and in counseling. I worked in child welfare. I worked protecting children. I did work with Adolescent Addictions, and I did

Mark Laurie: 11:55

What kind of shifts are you helping people make?

Laura Watson: 11:59

Oh, well, we work on a lot of mental and emotional mastery. You know, I work primarily with business owners and C level executives, and those are stressful jobs and stressful places to be in. And when we're stressed, we're not our best selves. You know, we don't always make the best decisions. We can be emotionally reactive, say things that we regret later, and so I show up and help

Mark Laurie: 13:26

Very holistic kind of thing. Who are your mentors? Who do you turn to as heroes?

Laura Watson: 13:30

Oh, well, you know what? My husband is, a big hero of mine. And you know him,

Mark Laurie: 13:34

I do he is. He's a singular, unique individual. I think I just, I John's very dear to me I think he's ah. He sees the world uniquely.

Unknown: 13:43

Yes he does. So he is definitely one of my mentors. He's one of my coaches. And me a long time to be able to take guidance from Him, but I do now, and he does have a unique perspective on things and a very thoughtful and considered and collaborative approach. So he's one of my mentors, for sure. And then I draw from other, you know, leadership gurus out there. I like Tony Robbins. I

Mark Laurie: 14:29

As you're talking, I sort of see a path where you you've gone into service, helping people and so on. And as I've talked to various clients, they take different branches where their lives kind of go. How far back to that start that that you started realizing that you were I guess there's two things that kind of come out of that. One is that you're a service person. You want to help

Laura Watson: 15:01

that goes back to my childhood. So my parents were always in service. You know, they service in the church. They were service in the community, whether it was being on Town Council, whether it was being in the Eastern Star organization. My dad was a mason for many years of his life. He was a hunter safety instructor, teacher for his and vice principal for his entire career. So I

Mark Laurie: 16:22

I just add entrepreneur to that, being a businesswoman, independent, all the risks that come with that, because service is more often tied with institutions where you're you're a cog in a wheel, helping the bigger thing, but you've branched out. So how'd that shift occur?

Laura Watson: 16:38

That's very interesting. Because, yeah, being in service obviously started for me, career wise, being a nonprofit and in counseling, and then I started to evaluate where I was going with my career. I've always had a passion in leadership and the opportunity that exists for leaders to sort of change the world, if you will. And so I met a very interesting gentleman. He was actually my contribute and bring value to the boardroom, which which was different, and, but, but, yeah, once, I mean, years go by and I just stuck with it and found out that I had something to offer. Was good at this, then even branched into some real estate develop, not development, sorry, real estate investing, so and so I've kind of got those two things going on now, right? So I coaching by day and then

Mark Laurie: 19:49

No, you've got some very amazing kids out of you, balance work, life and other I met them. I think they're they got compassionate drive and insight. They're just incredible. You've done a good job. How'd you balance that?

Laura Watson: 20:04

Well, by putting family first right. Like I John and I both know our values. We live in Western Canada, away across the country from our family, and so when we decided to have family, it was a very conscious decision that we were raising our family. We weren't going to have nannies, we weren't going to use day homes, we weren't going to have other people raising our family. And so we we let them make their own mistakes. And I get to see the kids on those mistakes. I

Mark Laurie: 22:21

can see the kids you're heading home. Yeah, there's like, coaching things to be happening pretty soon. It's gonna be about responsibility and how I shouldn't screw up. I got, I can just, can I come to your house? Billy, I can play in

Laura Watson: 22:35

the mud. Yeah. I mean, I can't say that the conversations are always perfect and that they weren't annoyed at times. But you know what, my daughter, you know she's at 27 now, yep, she calls my husband or I and say, hey, you know, I need a bit of coaching. I'm dealing with an issue, and to have our kids call and say, Hey, can you can we have a conversation? Can you coach me on this

Mark Laurie: 23:26

can relate that we've got our foster child, foster kid. I just said she like in her 50s or 60s. Now, anyways, she calls once a week, at least once a week, for several hours, and she's often looking for advice and insights and stuff. So it's kind of exciting. So I I appreciate, as a parent, what that means. When I turn to you, what's the biggest thing you've done? Would you look

Laura Watson: 23:56

Well, the World Championship was pretty cool.

Mark Laurie: 24:00

How do you prepare for, like, that's, I mean, there's the whole physical, get the dance, right? But that's a lot of the head game as well. How do you, oh, it's

Laura Watson: 24:07

ready for that, you know? Yeah, it's total head game. Because obviously, you're on the floor with other competitors, you're, you're in front of judges being judged. But I've always viewed so I compete as a reason to get better. So I don't view myself actually competing against the other competitors on the floor. I'm competing against myself, right? And so for one of the things I

Mark Laurie: 25:54

I just add this Flash guy, enter contest, print contest as well, right? And, and I'm the same thing I'm trying to do better than that's the commander. It's the same reason to keep alive and keep and keep fresh. I had this vision as you're talking you got a panel of judges, and they're scoring. You, you know, card card goes up. You're nine, you're 10, you're six, you're kind of stuff,

Laura Watson: 26:27

and there's that thing too, right? Like, I can, I'll come off the floor and like, oh, I sucked. I did this and that and but I also have to, and my coach keeps reminding me, you know what, there's seven couples on the floor, and not every judge. The judges are have to look at all of you. So that little flub you made, they probably didn't see it because they were looking at

Mark Laurie: 26:49

Then this is when judgey catches only all the flaws. What personal traits are you most proud of?

Laura Watson: 26:57

Oh, what personal traits am I most proud of? I'm really proud of my communication skills. I've worked hard on that. Like I said, I used to really fear having difficult conversations, giving feedback to people, and it was really through Toastmasters that I did a number of years ago, and my communication training that I, you know, I used to be in feedback conversations or receiving

Mark Laurie: 29:20

That's a great phrase. I love that.

Laura Watson: 29:22

Yeah, I think it's really powerful when we can, you know, accepting ourselves doesn't mean we think we're perfect, because I'm far from it. But people get

Mark Laurie: 29:30

confused about that, don't we continue, but they, they do get confused that that accepting your flaws is wrong.

Laura Watson: 29:40

Yeah, that was, that was something I learned in another personal development program I've done called landmark education. It's an amazing program, and one of the things we talked about was acceptance. And acceptable acceptance means we accept everything we are and everyone. And we were looking at it in the context of love with our partner, and the idea being that what love is is

Mark Laurie: 30:42

that's worth being proud of. Devs and Tracy, I wish you had

Laura Watson: 30:47

wishes. I wish I had I really wish I had more grace that would come in handy. I wish to that I had actually a little more what's the word I'm looking for? Dedication is the word more consistency. I struggle sometimes with being inconsistent. I can go off on tangents and rabbit holes, you know, at times. And as much as I love my routines, I fall off the wagon. And like my workouts, for example, I'm not always consistent with, and even my dance

Mark Laurie: 31:49

They are hard at times. Yeah, what have you changed your mind about recently? Something that you always had a belief in or a position on, and you've just changed your mind on it, you've flipped.

Laura Watson: 32:02

Oh, what have I changed my mind on recently? Hmm, nothing's, if

Mark Laurie: 32:10

you go back more than just recently, it could be just any point in time where you had one thought or one one vision on something that was appropriate, right?

Laura Watson: 32:19

Something so, yeah, so this isn't recent, but it is something that I discovered, is that once upon a time, I believed we are who we are. Right now, we are a set way of being. I'm an introvert, I'm shy, I'm this, I'm that, and that, you know, you kind of grow up, you, yeah, become who you are and and that that's set for life. And one of the things I've changed my mind on and

Mark Laurie: 33:39

world. Wow. Well, along those lines, What's the best advice we've ever received?

Laura Watson: 33:46

Best advice I've ever received? This is going to sound cliche, but just do it. Yeah, just, just do it. Like the things that hold us back are usually the thought patterns, the fear, the things that and we always make it up in our head to be worse than it's going to be. So if you really, you know want something or want to make something happen, just do it. Just take, take a little step, take a little action in alignment with

Mark Laurie: 34:48

Any action starts down the road, doesn't it? It opens Exactly, yeah. Do you think people is there? Is there something that people don't agree with you on? Would you have a position?

Laura Watson: 35:00

So things ask my husband that question,

Mark Laurie: 35:05

Which one, which one do you think is the most prominent one that you hold a position on most people ever have the opposite view of

Laura Watson: 35:16

I think that that learning or that position of possibility, I think the idea that we are a certain way and we can't change it. I do meet a lot of people that kind are kind of stuck in their mindset, and think, no, no, no, no. I you know, that's not for me. I'm this way, and that's not going to work for me. And so I would say, you know, people disagree with me on that and say, Oh,

Mark Laurie: 36:10

That is true. What are you curious about right now?

Laura Watson: 36:18

Um, I was going to mention politics, but I'm not going to go there. I'm kind of curious about actually, this is going to seem like probably way off base. I'm curious. We're in an interesting time right now around the environment of where the world is going, and those are big issues that I, you know, don't really feel like I have a huge impact on. I kind of, you know, I feel

Mark Laurie: 37:55

Remember my mom, but she was one of my heroes. She was talking about how depressing the world looked at one time, she said, and she's very optimistic person. She said, if you ever want to feel affirmed about the future, there's two places you can go. The first place is a high school graduation that is nothing but people looking to the future and their possibility. That's the whole way.

Laura Watson: 38:36

wouldn't do it. Yeah, that's great advice

Mark Laurie: 38:41

every path people take to get something, they've given up on something. They've had to give something up. You go for this way you have to give up something. What have you given up? Get where you are.

Laura Watson: 38:54

What have I given up? I probably I've given up time occasionally. Maybe, you know, as great as my kids are and as focused as we've been on them, there have been so few time, you know, and I've had to, you know, give up some time with them. So, you know, I've definitely given up that and, and there's all back to those sort of tangents and possibilities. I can see lots of

Mark Laurie: 40:34

You have, we have to make choices, and choices mean there's consequences for what you leave behind.

Laura Watson: 40:38

Yep, was a tough one for Yeah, what

Mark Laurie: 40:42

a few, what has given you the biggest adrenaline rush would that feel like?

Laura Watson: 40:47

Oh, adrenaline rush. Dancing is definitely an adrenaline rush for me. Water skiing is an adrenaline rush for me. And I was in a personal development program where one of the exercises was, we were doing a high ropes course, and one of the activities was, I had to climb this pole, and I had ropes on. But the I had to stand at the top of this pool and this little platform, and the exercise was I had to jump and try

Mark Laurie: 42:47

a, I've done that. It's a powerful muscle memory. You're climbing up there, your nerves are screaming because you're, you know, you're, even though you got the ropes, your brain doesn't quite connect with them. This little thing that's, you know, eight inches wide that you know both feet can't fit fully at the same time, and you're leaping and, you know, you're not going to make it's

Laura Watson: 43:23

yeah. Oh, and then there's the fire walk. That was a bit

Mark Laurie: 43:27

I have walked on the fire. So cute, because the guy goes up there. And I said, So what's the scene I'm expecting stuff, because we saw the flames all day, right? It's yeah, so just look ahead. Don't pause. No, there should be something. There should be some, like magical phrase, don't just walk ahead. Don't pause. And you're walking along. You look you down, you see your feet going

Laura Watson: 43:59

yeah. And, you know, I don't view myself as setting myself apart from others, but what I it's my view. These are just things that I have done that have helped me grow and realize that I am bigger and more capable of what I think I am.

Mark Laurie: 44:19

I mean by setting apart other people hear in the story what you've done and they're able to do it, they put you in a different space.

Laura Watson: 44:28

Maybe, yeah, just because

Mark Laurie: 44:30

you've done something that most people can't do, it's, it's against our you know,

Laura Watson: 44:36

most people maybe won't do instead of can't do. No, that's true, right? Like, yeah, it's a choice. And I get that lots of we tell ourselves, I can't, and, and it's not really about can't, it's about I won't, and if, if we because can't is really, actually victim language. It. Is, yeah. So yeah, I mean, I've done a bunch of things that people won't do. They won't go out on a

Unknown: 46:11

well.

Mark Laurie: 46:12

So what I really gather is, you've spent your life changing who you the story of who you are in your head, as you keep on finding the facets and kind of change. Is that a fair thing?

Laura Watson: 46:22

Yeah, you know, and it's and it began in a place of from a place of lack. I started doing these, the personal development programs and doing these exercises, because I thought something was wrong with me, and I had to fix what was wrong and right. And something shifted over time, that my and my view changed over time, that these experiences and things that I do are no longer about

Mark Laurie: 47:14

What would you tell your 25 year old self?

Laura Watson: 47:18

Oh, to like myself sooner that back to that self acceptance. Yes, you know, I met you when I was about 34 yeah, that's all right, yeah. And it would just like my daughter, for example, she's what, 27 and she has a level of confidence and self awareness that I didn't have at her age. So yeah, I would have told my 24 year old self just to you know, be patient, be more understanding

Mark Laurie: 47:50

That's great. Thank you for your time today. It's been enlightening as much as I've known you. This has been exciting to see this bigger you. It's great.

Laura Watson: 47:59

Well, thanks. I really appreciate the conversation. It's been a ton of fun being with you today. It's

Mark Laurie: 48:03

been great now for listeners, in the bio section, there's a bit more about her. There's all sorts of connection stuff. So some of the stuff that you hear talking about tweaks your interest, or you want to have some advice from a financial stuff, she's the person, and there's the contacts there. We'll see you all next time. Thanks again, Laura,

Laura Watson: 48:20

thanks so much.

Exit speaker: 48:23

This has been fascinating women with Mark Laurie join us on our website and subscribe@fascinatingwomen.ca fascinating women has been sponsored by inner spirit photography of Calgary, Alberta, and is produced in Calgary by Lee Ellis and my office media.