We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Like many people, I used to think of work and life as two separate things that sometimes overlapped. Most of the time, work and life were in competition. When I was giving to one, I often felt I was neglecting the other.

When I examined my life, challenged my thinking, and thought about how I wanted to live, I discovered that this approach doesn’t work because it’s all life.

My life is one giant container, and I get to decide what goes in it and how much of each thing I want to hold. Work is a section of my life, not separate from my life. How I work, where I work, and how much I choose to work reflects who I am, what I value, and the life I want to create for myself.

This philosophy has served me well, and I teach it to my clients. It’s a game-changer!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m a life and executive coach, but that’s not how my career started. For almost 20 years, I was a sports and marketing executive. It was a fun, fast-paced career that allowed me to learn, grow and travel. I worked for The Walt Disney Company, NASCAR, an MLB team, and our local WNBA team – which is why I moved to DFW in 2016.

In 2017, I was on the D Magazine’s top executives in Dallas list. I had great work experience and a wonderful network from my years in the sports and entertainment industries. But something was missing for me. I wanted to make a change.

I had always been passionate about supporting women in business. I was very aware of the specific challenges women executives face because I observed them and lived them. I was also aware that the resources provided by most companies didn’t adequately address the challenges (if they were acknowledged or addressed at all). We were presented with false choices and lackluster options. When I started to explore how I could help address the gap in resources, coaching stood out as an option.

It combined my love for business and personal development, plus gives me a tangible and impactful way to be the solution to a problem I had lived and observed for so many years.

It wasn’t always smooth or easy, but I’d do it all over again! I love what I do, I love my clients, and I love the life I’ve created.

The process of deciding to make the switch from corporate executive to entrepreneur and the move to coaching was challenging at times. It was more than a job shift; it was an identity shift. I think that’s an aspect of growth and change that is often overlooked and rarely talked about.

I had to mourn the loss of the woman I thought I was going to be and welcome the woman I was and wanted to be. Which meant turning down offers for executive roles in sports (something I had worked very hard to achieve) to do what I knew was the highest and best use of my time – helping women define and create the lives they wanted for themselves.

I navigated other people’s expectations, opinions, projections, and judgments which required me to embrace that their thoughts belonged to them, not me. I didn’t have to carry them.

I had to address my own judgments, self-criticism, and uncertainty. What we think about ourselves can be the biggest obstacle to success. I refused to let myself be the reason I didn’t succeed. Having coaching tools and coaches helped tremendously. It’s one reason I advocate for this work – I’m a product of my product. I know it works.

Smitn is the name of the company. It’s a play on my last name and first initial, but it also represents how I want every client to feel – completely smitten with their life. I offer customized one-on-one coaching experiences that can include any combination of life coaching and executive coaching. But it’s not just about navigating life and work – it’s creating about lives that work.

As a former executive, I have a lot of empathy and understanding for where my clients are and the challenges they’re facing. Also as a Black woman, I bring cultural perspective and understanding that’s often missing in coaching and work environments. My coaching isn’t just theoretical. It’s grounded in real-world experience.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am an enthusiastic and unapologetic homebody! But I do like to get out and enjoy the area’s sites, shopping and food. Here are a few of my favorite spots:

Soiree Coffee Bar – I love this coffee shop. The atmosphere is great, plus the coffees and treats are delicious. A great place to start the day.

Jonathon’s Oak Cliff – Guests from out of town always enjoy the quaint surroundings and great food.

Dallas Museum of Art – It took me a while to finally visit, but it was worth the wait. It’s well-curated and spacious, so you can enjoy the diverse collections with ample personal space.

Klyde Warren Park – This is the ideal place to enjoy the energy of the city and the spirit of being outdoors at the same time.

The Scent Room – A friend introduced me to this gem. It’s a fragrance boutique full of the rarest and most delightful scents you’ll find anywhere. The staff is knowledgeable and can help anyone find a unique signature scent they’ll love.

Round Table Pizza – I was born and raised in California and Roundtable Pizza was a part of some of my best childhood memories. So, when I found out that a franchise was opening in Plano, I was ecstatic. It’s a taste of home in TX! You never have to convince me to stop by.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Good coaching and mentorship change lives, businesses, and careers – including mine. I dedicate my shoutout to my coach and mentor, Stacey Boehman.

She helped me create and appreciate simplicity in my business, allowing me to grow faster and serve my clients better. She’s a clear and present example of what’s possible and a source of encouragement and inspiration when I need it. And most of all, she believes in me in a way that makes it very hard for me not to believe in myself.

It’s an ideal coaching relationship and the kind of relationship I model with my clients.

Website: www.imsmitn.com

Instagram: @imsmitn

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/smitn

Twitter: @imsmitn

Facebook: www.facebook.com/imsmitn

Image Credits
Clifford Hamilton | Cliff H Photo Rachel Heacox | Heacox Creative

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