My Story
“You are the sum of your experiences. Harness it.”
Margaret Prusan, Illumin Founder
Life has a way of leading us to unexpected places. If we don't have a plan we either get lucky or we get whatever life delivers often leading us further and further away from fulfilling our life's purpose. Like many others, one day I found myself on a road I never intended taking, getting whatever life delivered when I realized that I was in dire need of course correction.I had talked myself into a job I didn’t really want then 18 months later found myself depressed, bored, exhausted, frustrated, completely unfulfilled and, ultimately, fired.
Despite my directionless course, I still believed that I was in this place for a reason and it was up to me to figure out what that reason was. With that philosophy in mind, I started to ask questions and search for answers.
How did I wind up working in an environment that suppressed all that I was? What had happened to the career of the woman who had traveled to 20 countries, mixed with world renowned celebrities, served on international delegations in Europe and Central America, and launched products and businesses worldwide? And, importantly, what am I to do now?
The defining moment came when a dear friend “called me out” telling me I had been playing small and making safe career decisions. Most importantly, not "owning" who I was and what I really wanted. And she was right. Somehow I had lost my purpose, my dreams and my way.
That conversation sparked the beginning of an internal journey in which I decided to map out each of my professional experiences for the purpose of identifying and acknowledging all my talents, including those I had previously ignored. Surprising patterns and unexpected revelations emerged. But I didn't stop there. I wanted to get other perspectives so I asked colleagues, family and friends what they thought my greatest talents--and weaknesses--were. Their answers amazed me. By looking at my life holistically and through others’ eyes I was able to see myself, and what I had to offer the world, as never before.
It was through this reflection that I started to transform. I felt my self confidence re-emerge, gained clarity on my purpose and started to focus on how I should apply my talents. Most importantly, I was ready to "own it." I had not seen myself in this light before. I began to feel empowered and focused. The real me started to shine through as I got clearer and clearer on who I really was and why I was worth it when it came to the skills and value I had acquire, not just through my professional career, but over my entire lifetime.
The process was so rapid, powerful and transformative I wanted to share it with others. I knew I wasn’t alone in feeling frustrated, wanting to get un-stuck and wanting to find fulfilling work that fed my passion, my soul and my bank account. I felt there might be others like me who would want to find answers about their career, business or life in a more profound, and faster, way.
So, I began to apply this approach to my consulting clients, tweaking it to make it a more personal experience for each one. Bingo! Their hidden gems started showing up, too. Applying their personal insights created the motivation and self confidence they needed to remove roadblocks and get to a higher level. Not only were clients blown away by the process, but the results were transformative, quantifiable and almost immediate.
What's more is their rediscovered confidence carried into their personal life, too. So, I tried my approach with people who wanted to move beyond stuck in their personal life. Again, the results were transformative as clients very quickly cleared away the mental and emotional clutter that had prevented them from achieving personal goals.
The Illumin approach has been called "S.W.O.T. therapy" for your career--and soul. Often, in as few as three sessions or less, I see a client go from completely overwhelmed and stuck to clarity, empowerment and action. Self confidence soars as they embrace their life and career, understand their purpose and sense of worth, and release the emotional debris and clutter that has kept them stuck.
Illumin, and the powerful Mapping techniques I have developed, is the fusion of my life and over 25 years professional experience.
Illumin Techniques help define the stand-out qualities that make you unique and marketable. Whether a service provider, an executive in transition or an individual who simply wants more, Illumin guides you in embracing your experiences and value, eliminating hurdles and creating a future that ignites your career, your business and your life.
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Margaret is also the founder of source37, a brain trust and consortium of women-owned businesses providing services to entrepreneurs and corporations.