Eleanor Rouse
This week’s Control Yourself features Richmond’s Eleanor Rouse. After working full-time as the National Development Director for Girls For A Change, Rouse found her position cut to half-time in January 2009. As a result, she had to find an additional way to earn an income and felt she had an opportunity to explore a new avenue for helping women and girls believe in themselves and live authentic lives. Rouse created a series of resources for women to help them integrate all of who they are into their work, relationships and daily lives. A Weekly Women’s Circle and workshops such as “Step Outside the Cubicle”, create a space for women to access and trust the intuitive wisdom of their bodies and to open their hearts in the face of work and life challenges. Rouse also provides individual Somatic Coaching.
Susan Ayers: Can you give us a bit of background as to what your business is?
Eleanor Rouse: In my coaching practice, I work with individual women and groups of women interested in discovering and living their greatest truth in life, work and relationships. Somatic coaching works with the whole being - the mind, body and heart of a woman - to facilitate deeper awareness and more lasting change. In the Women’s Circle and in workshops, women also benefit from the insight, reflection, encouragement and support of other women on similar yet unique paths. It’s quite powerful to be seen for who you really are.
SA: Describe for us how the idea for the business was generated
ER: I have been committed to girls and women's issues from a young age thanks to growing up with 4 older sisters and a mom who consistently encouraged us to be everything we were capable of becoming. For the last 3 years I've been working for a national nonprofit organization, Girls For A Change, that empowers girls for personal and social transformation using a coaching model. I have also participated personally in many years of personal growth work, often with a spiritual or feminine focus. All of this led to my desire to begin sharing with other women what has helped me live a deeper and more authentic life. I'm still on my own path of discovery and growth (and likely will be for my lifetime) which I believe feeds my work and keeps me humble.
SA: What is the accomplishment for which you are the most proud as far as your business goes?
ER: That I took a risk and I started. That I have put myself out there because I believe in giving what I can and feel called to give - despite the somewhat constant feeling of vulnerability. My vision for my work continues to evolve but the underlying commitment to helping girls and women connect powerfully to themselves and lead meaningful, authentic lives remains consistent.
SA: What have you learned about yourself as a result of having your own business?
ER: It really is only possible for me if I believe in it 150 million percent. I’ve also realized that I still want to make a difference on a large scale. I am creating a way to integrate my love of coaching into my desire for global empowerment of girls and women for greater healing in the world.
SA: What challenges did you (or do you still) face when getting your business off the ground?
ER: Becoming known, word of mouth referrals and having people experience my work personally are the best vehicles for attracting new clients and workshop students. Marketing myself and trying to describe my work only in words on fliers or on my website is challenging for me because I don't think it can convey what it is really about or how it can benefit a woman.
SA: What suggestions would you give to someone who has an idea for starting a business?
ER: Digging deep to what you really want to offer to the world and holding on to that passion and conviction through all of the doubts (your own and others), the daily ‘to do's’ that really never end, and the amazingly fulfilling moments.
The workshops are held quarterly at area Richmond locations and the Women’s Weekly Circle meets on Monday evenings. For more information on Eleanor Rouse’s Coaching, Workshops and Weekly Women’s Circle, go to: www.EleanorRouse.com or call 804.591.9633.
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