Meet Christine Horstman | Author, Career & Life Coach, Corporate Trainer
We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Horstman and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Christine, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
The demands of raising a child and living with chronic illness have required me to shift over time. I have had seasons where I worked full-time, part-time, and even stayed home to focus on caregiving. I have made my decisions based on the priorities of my family and my health.
Balance takes shifting to find your equilibrium. I always think of work/life balance like a seesaw. When we spend too much time and focus on one side, we start to tilt and need to bring our energy back to the other side. It’s okay to bounce up and down a little. We have to be flexible, but if we over emphasize one part for too long, that’s when the other side goes crashing down.
I always explain to my clients that the fulcrum in the middle of the seesaw is our values. Our values bring us back to center and keep things in the healthy balance that is right for us. You’ll struggle with balance if you don’t know what is most important for you.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I help people from fifteen to fifty-plus figure out who they want to be when they grow up! The majority of my coaching clients are women who want to cultivate their strengths and communication skills not just for themselves, but for their family and teams, and to take the next step in their career. When I founded my business, Paper Doll Communication, I thought I would specialize as a small business consultant, but I missed the one-on-one staff development piece of my previous jobs.
Everyone wants you to niche these days, but being a generalist is my superpower. Working with corporate training clients weekly helps me stay plugged in and better support my coaching clients. I built my business skill set as a sales and general manager in several different industries. As a GM, I became experienced in hiring and staff development which led to HR, career development and adult learning. I draw on all my earlier work experiences every week, but I am also continually learning.
A focus on emotional intelligence, communication and soft skills is the thread that weaves everything I do together. Self-awareness and soft skills are the keys to success in life!
Working for myself has given me the flexibility I need as a mother and as someone who lives with chronic illness. The lessons I have learned as a chronic illness warrior and as a parent to a child with learning differences inform my work and set me apart as a coach. Resilience, self-awareness, finding your strengths and reinventing yourself aren’t just coaching themes but part of my own journey.
Publishing my book, Deal with It, Doll! Coaching Yourself Through Crisis, has allowed me to share more of what I have learned and offer support and coaching tools to more people. I know how hard it can be to take care of yourself and your family when life gets tough. Coping with one health crisis after another – cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and, most recently, long COVID – has equipped me with a toolbox that I share with others facing their own times of stress. Deal with It, Doll! covers the challenges and transitions we navigate personally and professionally.
I hope people will find it a timely resource. The book was inspired by the pandemic and the question of what is essential to each of us? How do we define ourselves and our lives, and how do we react to the many curveballs life throws at us?
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We live in Winnetka Heights, so we love being able to bike to Bishop Arts to eat, drink, shop, and just hang out. There are so many great spots these days, but a cozy dinner at Boulevardier with a great bottle of wine is always a treat. The house band at Revelers Hall is phenomenal and their neighborhood front yard performances were a godsend during the early days of the pandemic.
Davis Street is our other go-to area. There’s always a great show at The Kessler. Nova is like going to Cheer’s, and we love brunch on the patio at Cannon’s Corner. If you haven’t stopped into Tiny Victories for a cocktail, you are missing out. Davis Street Mercantile is the cutest shop to pick up a Texas souvenir or grab a gift. I always know I can pop in there and find the perfect present.
Several years ago, we did a bit of a crawl for my husband’s 50th. We started at Peticolas Brewing Company and played ping pong, shuffleboard, and foosball upstairs in their game loft, then we had dinner at Meddlesome Moth, followed by bowling and late-night snacks at Bowlounge. It was a great itinerary for a fun night on the town and gives visitors a peak at the Design District. If you go to Meddlesome Moth, you have to try their fresh basil-lime cooler – it’s so refreshing and delicious.
I always recommend spending some time at the Sixth Floor Museum and seeing the cattle drive sculpture at Pioneer Plaza by City Hall. For visitors with kids the Perot and the Dallas Zoo are a must. Klyde Warren park is a gem with so many activities all the time. A walk across the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge then a drive by graffiti park in West Dallas is fun for all ages.
Mexican food, of course, is a must for out-of-towners. Our favorites are Uncle Julio’s, Gloria’s, and El Ranchito. El Ranchito is so much fun on a Saturday night with the mariachis.
I could go on and on. Dallas just keeps getting better and better!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m so grateful for the support of my family and friends. My business has been built on referrals so I wouldn’t be where I am without them. In January, I published my first book, Deal with It, Doll! Coaching Yourself Through Crisis. Four people helped me get to the finish line with my book and they deserve all my thanks and a huge shout out! Thank you to my friend Caroline, my husband Doug, my dad George, and my sister Jennifer!
Website: https://paperdollcommunication.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.horstman/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-horstman-a2203278/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paperdollcommunication
Image Credits
Wayfairist Media and Rosa Poetschke Photography
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