Welcome back to our ongoing series to introduce you to each other!
She’s a Woman on Fire! member and we want you to know her. Please say hello to…
Mandy Pratt
Boise, Idaho
Women on Fire Member: #00023
Please tell us about you, your family, your work, where you’re from, what you are “on fire” about.
I feel very blessed to live in beautiful Boise, Idaho near my wonderful family. I am a proud Auntie of three nieces and three nephews who play a very important role in my life.
Eighteen years ago, I met my best friend, Mike Ryan, who has worked with me on the personal development journey, and who has played a key role in my life. This year we launched our Life Coaching School called “Results In Coaching.”
It’s a dream come true for both of us to be doing this business full-time together.
How did you originally discover Women on Fire?
In 2003 I had a sales job with well-known financial expert, and Debbie Phillips was one of my leads. I called Debbie up and developed a friendship with her. How can you not love Debbie? When I left that job, she was the one contact I took with me.
Less than a week later, I became one of her personal coaching clients. Best decision I ever made.
Your favorite part of the day?
When I get to do what I love: coaching and spending time with close friends and family.
The last book you read that you would recommend to other Women on Fire?
I recently read Woman on Fire Jenifer Madson’s book “Living The Promises” and was very touched and inspired. Jenifer knows how to have empathy for someone who is in a dark place, and then knows how to convey the wisdom and strength to inspire someone to move through it.
Wonderful for daily meditation, or when you ever you need a quick shot of sanity and strength.
What is your proudest accomplishment in the past 12 months?
Despite having some health setbacks, I’ve stayed consistently focused and determined to successfully launch our life coaching school. There was a lot of work to do, but I knew the outcome would be worth it. I’m most proud of influencing myself to stay the course!
Name another Woman on Fire who has inspired you, and why?
Sophfronia Scott. After hearing about the heart-breaking tragedy at Sandy Hook, I felt the spiritual strength of Sophfronia. Her words of love, compassion, and healing kept me in a healthier place, especially when she lost someone so close to her. She inspired me to focus on what I could do to help versus dwell on the sadness.
If you had the opportunity to teach a child one strategy that would help to guide her life, what would that be?
SELF-WORTH. Especially for a young girl, I’d teach her to have self-worth of who she is, and to cherish her own personal gifts and talents. For her to know she is worthy of love, romance, and success. For her to have the wisdom and courage to easily walk away from a job, a man, or any scenario that doesn’t respect who she is, and what she has to offer.
What is something that we might be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve always been drawn to the Chinese culture. I studied Mandarin Chinese in college, and was going to travel abroad to Beijing, but took a job with Tony Robbins instead. It was a good choice, and I still plan to go!
Name women who have influenced your life, and what you’ve learned from each.
My mother, LaVina Pratt, has not only been the most fun loving mom a daughter could ask for, she also is the person who first influenced me to really work on myself as a young woman. She had me reading self-help books in 7th grade, and she would quiz me on the information I learned.
For my high school graduation, she bought me a ticket to a Tony Robbins seminar and life was never the same again. I knew that helping people the way I saw Tony do for others was going to be my passion and career for life!
My coach and friend, Debbie Phillips, came into my life during a very difficult time; I was very lost, confused, and full of self-doubt. I remember how comforting her soft, strong voice on the other end of the phone was for me. Debbie helped me to start taking care of myself in a way that I had never done before.
My best girlfriend, Jodi Coochise. Jodi was my college roommate at Gonzaga University. When Jodi was 27 years old she tragically lost the love of her life, her husband Kris, during a rockslide hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Being there for Jodi, and witnessing her strength and grace through such a tragic heartbreak has inspired me to know what we truly are capable of growing through. She is my hero.
Eighteen years ago I was blessed to be in the room with my sister when she gave birth to someone who would change my life forever. My niece Savannah helped me realize how important it is for me to walk my talk because it truly does affect those I care most about.
What is your favorite “pig-out” food?
FRENCH FRIES!! I gave them up for Lent one year, and will not do that again — way too hard. Maybe it’s because I’m an Idaho potato girl!
What is your favorite self-care strategy?
It is going to sound so simple, but my favorite self-care strategy is sleep. I give myself nine hours of sleep each night, and I’ve forgiven my body for needing more sleep than most people I know.
Giving myself the permission to take a nap if I need, going to bed early, or sleeping later has made all the difference in my mood and overall self-esteem. I love my sleep and I protect it!
What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced and how did you overcome it?
Breaking up with someone I was still very much in love with, but I knew it was not the right match for me. The only way I was able to overcome it was with the help and strength of my relationship coach and close friends.
I had a TEAM to cheer me on, and shoulders to cry on when I felt sad. There is no way I would have done it alone.
That experience taught me to have even more empathy and compassion for women who are in unhealthy relationships. I admit, before this happened, I didn’t understand why a woman would stay in a relationship that obviously wasn’t what she deserved.
Now that I’ve gone through it myself I understand her conflict and pain. I understand what keeps her stuck, because it kept me stuck too. Now if I come across a woman who is clearly struggling in an unhealthy relationship, I offer her compassion, patience, and love.
Judging her, shaming her, and pressuring her only keeps her stuck. This is a message I am personally very passionate about sharing with other women.
Are you a dog or cat person?
Growing up we always had dogs. I am a huge puppy person, because I love their playfulness and unconditional love. Three years ago that changed because I picked up the most beautiful kitty I’ve ever seen. I was at the Humane Society, and there she was — Beebop.
I immediately laughed, and thought to myself, “If I said the word Beebop everyday it would be impossible to not be happy.” It took six months to build trust with Beebop; at first she slept under my bed and only came out when she was hungry.
Today she is my coaching pal. She is snuggled by my feet right now as a type. There is definitely something to be said about the bond with cats, because unlike dogs you have to earn it.
What is the most powerful strategy you learned from working with Tony Robbins?
There is a saying in Tony’s leadership academy — “Physiology First!” And that is something radically different about Tony’s events. He has a very intense focus on moving your body, clapping, dancing, jumping, and even massaging! Motion = Emotion.
Whenever I receive a coaching questionnaire from a client who feels depressed, I support them in making sure they increase their exercise and how much they move on a daily basis.
I truly believe people are happier, not only if they exercise more, but by simply changing their lifestyle to include MOVING on a consistent basis.
When you reflect on your life so far, what is the first word or two that comes to your mind?
Magically blessed. I definitely know we are not alone. I’ve been wonderfully guided to meet the most perfect person, or read the words I needed, or hear the song that spoke to me at the right moment.
I am very grateful, and thank you for reading this interview. I hope to meet each and every one of you soon! Let’s go out and change the world one Woman On Fire at a time!
More about Mandy Pratt, known as “The Coaches’ Coach”
Mandy has been coaching clients of all ages and backgrounds, personally and professionally, for more than ten years.
She coaches both men and women on everything from starting and growing their own business, achieving their financial goals, overcoming limiting beliefs, reaching their fitness goals and building supportive and passionate relationships.
She received much of her professional training by working directly with numerous high-profile and pioneering trainers in the motivational and self-development industries. Mandy defines coaching as helping people get the results they want, which they were unable to accomplish on their own.
Today Mandy is focusing on training others to become successful life coaches through her school called “Results In Coaching.”
Visit her site at ResultsInCoaching.com
~ Compiled by Women on Fire Senior Writer Becky Adams
