Written by: Denise Ledi, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As a kid, I remember watching my dad sitting at our kitchen table working away on technical drawings. Buildings of kinds, bridges, heck even power plants, you name it! Strange lines, angles, and numbers filled huge sheets of paper. He was a structural engineer, not that I really understood what that was. All I knew was drawings meant ROAD TRIP!!! We would be heading out of town on an adventure very soon!
You see, my father was a structural engineer; a new Canadian in the early stages of building his business & raising three young kids. Talk about a handful! During the summer months, he took my brother, sister, and I with him on inspections. I absolutely loved it! It we’d be up and out of the house at the crack of dawn. It felt like we were explorers, ‘the Ledi’s’- all for one and one for all, venturing out into the unknown. Off we went, styling in a 1980s Chrysler Cordoba. For those of you who don’t know what that is, think classic, big post 70’s era car. Can you imagine? Three kids strapped in tight; excitedly waiting for Dad to hit the gas when we got on to the highway. With no one in sight, every now again, we experienced a bit of ‘dough-ba power!!!!!! As we called it, or should I say, SCREAMED it when he let it rip in short bursts that left of laughing ourselves silly.
Oh, what I’d do for a bird’s eye view of us cruising and styling in our big silver beast of a car. With dad at the helm, our books, dolls, mini cars, and treats stacked in between us. Those were the days! Talk about fun! We were discovering new places, new people, new foods and more! Everything seemed so vivid, bigger, brighter, faster, higher..... No matter. Some things stay in our memories. Some things stay with us and shape us forever. These trips, framed by endless kilometers of highway, the beauty of the Canadian prairies, and the Rocky Mountains, captured my imagination & cultivated my love for new experiences and see things with fresh eyes. It also unknowingly planted the seeds of my adult dreams: to also own my own business one day. To take an idea and see it developed into something tangible; lasting, and
impactful. To connect, journey with others and discover something new and inspired.
It might seem strange then, that my entrepreneurial journey was didn’t start right away. I studied Criminology intending to become a criminal lawyer, eventually with my own practice! But the more attuned I became to adult responsibilities and practicalities, the more I chose routine. What is known and expected; the ‘safety net’ of a regular paycheck and all the trappings of what some may define as success. Somewhere along the way, I bought into societal definitions of lock stock and barrel and stepped away from my dreams.
But you know what? I wouldn’t trade my path for anything. I’m grateful for it. Growing up is inevitable. At some point, our childhood curiosity, excitement, faith, and trust become something we look back on instead of something we’re currently experiencing. Childhood was a time when we believed we could do and be anything! The late Jim Rohn, Master speaker, and motivator reminded us to “be like children, and remember there are four ways to be more like a child no matter how old you get: curiosity, excitement, faith, and trust…that is a powerful combination to bring (back) into our lives.”
I came to appreciate the power and truth of this statement along with this: great childhood memories that haven’t diminished with time, the ones that quietly empower our dreams, are not lost. They inspire us to be the person we are today. The seeds planted in childhood thought to be dormant or worse, dead; had not only taken root, they thrived. A flower had blossomed and demanded to be seen in its full glory.
Who would have thought I’d develop and launch a coaching business after all this time and become an entrepreneur? It’s NEVER too late to go after your dreams or change your views of success. Your dreams are personal. How you define success is personal. It looks different for everyone; it’s not a one size fits all destination. My dreams are an exciting and inspiring journey into the unknown, filled with endless opportunities best summed up by this quote:
“Success isn't just about what you accomplish in your life; it's about what you help inspire others to do." – Unknown
What are your fond childhood memories? For a moment, take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce about the good old days! They may be just memories now, but what beautiful memories they are. A reminder of glorious days gone by, and the days that made you who you are today.
To our childhood dreams & memories!
Denise Ledi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Denise Ledi is an Empowerment & Executive Leadership Coach based in Edmonton, Alberta Canada serving clients across North America. She has spent more than 20 years as a leader in addiction & mental health, forensics, and correctional healthcare and knows firsthand how complex and challenging it can be to lead in ever-changing environments. Denise integrates real world leadership experience, experiences as a coaching client with expertise as a certified executive trained coach and Master’s trained Criminologist to provide a unique, innovative, integrative perspective to her clients to help them gain clarity and achieve the measurable results they're looking for. Denise has been a mentor to 100+ professionals and family; including her younger brother & sister after their mother died and as their father built his Engineering firm into a successful business as a new immigrate to Canada. Chapter Chair- Powerful Women Today Edmonton, budding podcast host, speaker and presenter, Denise believes that our highest potential is reached by helping others reach theirs. It is her primary mission to empower others to become their best selves, access their whole potential, and make an extraordinary impact on the world!
