THIS ... so much this. As I always say, entrepreneurship has forced me to dance with ALL my ghosts (low self esteem, shyness, reluctance to sell or promote my products and services, and on and on and on). I am who I am BECAUSE I have been in business for 16 years, not the other way around. So START ALREADY! Your most empowered YOU is waiting!

Our elders speak of the eagle feather. As a youth or young adult you start at the base, the wider part of the feather. So many choices. So many options to try - where to live, what to do, where to study etc. This continues for quite awhile but with time, the paths narrow by choice or circumstance. Not a said thing, just a chosen path. But then it gets exciting, as you move closer to the tip of the arrow. Things get laser focused here. No more time for fluff. Now you know who you are and where you want to go and you quickly learn how to get there. My tip - The Approachable Indian. My rebrand - blue to represent the calm waters and the calm I bring to those stressed over Indigenous/Canadian engagement and relationship building. Blue to appeal to the Conservatives I so often work with (in Canada blue is Conservative and Liberal is red, opposite to the US). New pics showing my passion and energy and Indigenous pride. And the promise - to always be approachable to Indigenous and non as we build this bridge together. Laser focused. Intentional. The Approachable Indian. (New colours coming to website by week's end.) LOVE!!!

So for those following along, last week I began the rebrand of myself as "The Approachable Indian" knowing full well that this was going to turn some heads (putting it mildly). For those unaware, referring to an Indigenous person in Canada as an "Indian" is considered HIGHLY offensive and racist. But there were reasons for doing it (all to be explained in this week's video). But nevertheless, the rebrand began. I got uncomfortable giggles from my Indigenous audience on the weekend followed by "Ahhhhh" when I explained. I got applause and understanding from my daughter. And I got a VERY angry comment from an utterly offended person on LinkedIn, demanding that I take my post down as it is HIGHLY offensive to Indigenous peoples! (For the record, he is not Indigenous. Just an overstepping, over jealous ally.) I calmly informed him that I am Indigenous and that he should wait for the video. @Jerry Fletcher ... we wanted a tagline that got them talking. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! LOL The rebrand continues as I meet with my webmasters today. What fun! lol

I am awake, I am alive, and this morning I am absolutely excited and nervous and terrified and and and and ... For context, anyone in business knows the question, "What do you do?" We understand how imperative our answer is. If we can't answer in 3-4 words with a response that sums up what we do AND invites conversation, an opportunity is missed ... every single time. And in all honesty, saying, "I am a Relationship and Reconciliation Facilitator" has never invoked the right response. (To many Canadian businesspeople "reconciliation" invokes two distinct thoughts - a lot of work and expensive. NEXT!) But no more!! Thanks to my colleague, the AMAZING @Jerry Fletcher , a brainstorming session led to a lot of laughter and my answer - an attention-getting summation of all that I am and all that I do. Consider this a soft launch. A lot of rebranding must happen over the next two weeks time but soon you will learn the story and the multitude of reasons why THIS is the perfect answer for me! And sharing the news here? Well, that only made sense. So, what do I do? Oh, I'm .... Stay tuned! I love you! HUGSSSSSSSS Sandi @Crystal Wright this is why I wanted to chat. I needed your enthusiasm and support to encourage me to actually take this step (more on that later) but I AM DOING IT!! YAY!

@David Corsini .. we miss you! Sure you are insanely busy kicking tush and taking names, but thought you should know! Sandi