Accelerator Spotlight: Becky Burroughs
I always like to say doing story work is like peeling an onion.
As you go, you remove each layer, revealing more stories you have to tell.
This is certainly the case with Becky Burroughs. When I first met Becky, she didn't think she had a story to tell. Like so many of the women I meet, she thought her story was worthless -- not important to tell. But as we began our work together, Becky began peeling back the layers of her onion.
Now, Becky is one of the 14 authors who've come together to write their story in our community collaborative book, Elevate Your Voice.
And before the book has even officially published, Becky has already begun working with a publisher to write and publish her first solo book this year.
Becky is on the move! Her work as a leadership coach for women in ministry has seemingly been set ablaze with passion as a result of Becky doing her own story work!
Nowadays, you can find her live-streaming, creating Instagram reels, speaking on stages, and grabbing the mic any chance she gets.
All of this from someone who once thought she didn't have a story worth telling.
I hope Becky's spotlight here encourages you to peel the layers of your onion, and give your story a chance!
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APRIL: Let's start with a little introduction. Tell everyone a bit more about you & share a piece of your journey.
BECKY: I have had a wonderful life with a long marriage, four children, and a successful career. I thought the next chapter awaiting me was retirement. Instead, in a span of seven years, most of my roles and titles were stripped away and I was left with a full-blown identity crisis. I began a journey of resilient grieving, learning who I am at the core, my purpose, my passion, and my goals for the future. I began to look for at least one thing every day that brings me joy; I learned that I have a thirst for adventure, and how to love myself the way God loves me. Now, for the first time in my life I am authentically me, no longer hiding behind the roles and titles that I loved. I now help other women who are starting a new chapter in their lives, do so with purpose. But it is important for them to know that they don't have to wait. So I also work with women leading small business, non-profit or in ministry embrace their giftedness and live into the truth of who they are at the core, who God made them to be, so they can lead with confidence.
APRIL: How has 'storytelling' influenced you and/or your business?
BECKY: I have been working with April in one way or another for two years. I have learned the important elements of my story, as well as the importance of owning my story and telling it with ease. It has given me confidence to use my story in my coaching, and to encourage others to tell theirs. Last summer, I became one of the authors of the LIGHTbeamers/She Gets Published group and our book is about to be published in April, 2022. As a result of this experience, I will be publishing my first solo book this year, too.
APRIL: What does being a LIGHTbeamer mean to you?
BECKY: I discovered LIGHTbeamers two years ago, at a time when I was going through an identity crisis and questioning everything and everyone. And along came this community of like-minded women from across the country, led by this amazing story-telling coach who was generous with her resources, loved connecting and highlighting people in the community, and full of tips and tools to help anyone in their business. This group has become my lifeline, people who care less about where I have been, but more about where I am going and who want to support and encourage me along the way.
APRIL: What have you learned or discovered the most about storytelling and your story?
BECKY: We all have a story and I have learned that my story has value and there is someone out there who needs to hear it. It makes me relatable and connects me to others.
APRIL: What's been the hardest part about learning how to share your story?
BECKY: The hardest part was in the beginning, when I didn't know what parts of my story to include and what parts to leave out. Coaching with April was instrumental to wading through this. She has a story formula that makes the process so much easier.
APRIL: What is one piece of advice you'd give to another woman about using her voice and sharing her story?
BECKY: Don't let fear hold you back. You have a story to tell. You have a voice that needs to be heard. You are not alone. Everyone in LIGHTbeamers is somewhere along the journey of telling our stories. We are in this together and we are here to support you. Learning how to tell your story will give you such confidence, it will impact your business, and it will change your life!
APRIL: What do you love most about your work?
BECKY: I love empowering and equipping other women to know their value and live into their purpose with passion. It is life-giving for me.
APRIL: What are you busy creating now?
BECKY: I am about to launch my next Leadership Bootcamp for Women in Ministry, which will take place in March. I am also developing a video series called: Become the BOSS of your Mindset, which I will launch in the next few months.
APRIL: How do you relax after a busy week?
BECKY: Every day, I do at least one thing that brings me joy. Every week, I have a sabbath rest, whereby I only do things I want to do. Every month, I treat myself to a spa day: pedi, massage and facial. Self-nurture, something I completely ignored when I was younger, has become very important to me.
APRIL: What kind of things do you like doing outside of work?
BECKY: I love adventure and travel, (especially international) . I love going places I have never been, eating foods I have never eaten, and doing things I have never done. I love meeting new people! I love quilting, riding my bike, working out, and playing with my 16 grandchildren!
APRIL: How have you benefited the most by being a member of our VIP Membership, The Visibility Accelerator?
BECKY: The first year after I joined the Visibility Accelerator, I just watched. I watched the other women follow the prompts for visibility that come every week and I watched their live videos, THINKING that I would learn by watching. But after a year of this strategy and not noticing much difference in the confidence of my own visibility, I made the decision to be ALL IN. I decided that I would respond to every question posed; I would participate in every prompt; I would make my own live videos. Then I logged on to the Visibility Accelerator portion of the LIGHTbeamers website and began to take all of the courses that are available, actual nuggets of goodness that are a part of my membership. This simple shift in my approach, the decision to SHOW UP week after week, has made a TREMENDOUS difference in my confidence, my visibility, and my business.
APRIL: What sort of special achievements or accolades are you most proud of?
BECKY: In the first chapter of my life, I was a licensed Speech/Language Pathologist, with certification as an Educational Diagnostician, in Special Education, and in School Administration. Advocating for children was my passion.
In this chapter of my life, I am a certified Life/Leadership Coach, with additional certification as an Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, with specializations in: Leadership, Transitions, Performance, and Wellness. I also have advanced training in Conflict Management. I am a grad of IPEC, the gold standard for coaching training, and a member of the International Coaching Federation. Now, I advocate for women.
I am also a published author of the collaborative book: Elevate Your Voice, which is scheduled to be published in April, 2022, in which we took our story-telling to the next level, by working together to put it in print.
APRIL: What are the best channels for others to follow you?
BECKY: Connect with me through the following channels:
www.leadershipbootcampforwomeninministry.com
https://www.facebook.com/beckyburroughscoaching
https://www.instagram.com/becky_burroughs_coaching/
linktr.ee/becky_burroughs_coaching
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Becky is a member of the Visibility Accelerator -- my VIP membership that helps ramp up your Visibility, uplevel your Online game, and really master the Art of Storytelling to build an engaged audience. To find out more and join the Visibility Accelerator, click here.
