Taz Thornton - Summer Q&A 2021

Today we're discussing some of those things with Taz Thornton, coach, speaker, trainer, author. Taz work predominantly with business owners to help build their visibility, personal brand, audience and bottom line, and with individuals who want to build their confidence, self belief and personal empowerment.

When she's not doing that, she's either speaking on stages across the globe or training others to do the same, writing books or generally unleashing awesome! For more information visit https://tazthornton.com.

What are your plans for July in your business? 

In July we’ll finally get to run our exclusive Heart Of Speaking speaker training retreat, which should have happened in March 2020! 

I’m also running one of the weekend retreats for my 13-month spiritual empowerment programme - The Big One. 

Aside from that, I’m in talks with a big high street name to deliver some motivational speaking for their teams later this year, plus I’m developing some new group coaching programmes. 

It’s gonna be a crazybrilliant month! 

What are your personal plans for this month? 

One of my coaching clients is training as a firewalk instructor this month - the same training I did back in 2012. I’m going over to the training school to support her doing her 108 on the final night - we have to complete 108 firewalks in one session in order to qualify. 

A couple of my coaching clients have trained with the same academy now, so some of us are meeting up for the occasion - it’s always so awesome to be able to support people through something so momentous. I still remember my 108 as if it was yesterday! I had a tattoo designed to celebrate - it’s a power-full anchor to remind me I can achieve the seemingly impossible, and I’m reminded every time I glance at my wrist. 

Does July hold any particular significance for you or your business?

Though I’ve been coaching and mentoring people since I left corporate life, back in 2010, I officially launched under my own Taz Thornton brand in July 2015, so summer always marks a positive time in my business. 

Before that time, I’d always operated under a brand name - Firechild. Firechild is still operating today, but is mainly connected with my more spiritual programmes. 

Launching under my own name forced me to step further into my own power, stop ‘hiding’ behind a brand and grow. 

There’s no hiding place now, and I LOVE it! 

July 19 has been dubbed ‘freedom day’ what things will you be looking forward to in business and life that you’ve had to put on hold? 

My speaker training retreats being viable again. 

Being able to have the freedom and confidence to go back to running in-person events and workshops.

Dumping the masks! There’s so much controversy and divided opinion about them anyway and I’m looking forward to being able to go out without worrying about whether I have a spare mask in my pocket!

It’s also the month when the summer Olympics – Tokyo 2020 – begin. Do you have an Olympic anecdotes to share? 

I remember going to the Olympics when they were in London - what an amazing feeling that was. 

We need to give the world some positives right now - here’s to more events being allowed to continue. 

July is often associated with sport in the UK – with other events like the British Open (golf) and also Wimbledon? How important is sport to you in your life or business? 

I’ve been working with a personal trainer for the past few years now. Luckily for me, my trainer - Gemma Catlin - has her own 1-1 fitness studio, so we’ve been able to continue working together without worrying too much. 

I’ve also competed in a number of virtual events - lots of cycling ‘marathons’ and a Tough Mudder. I’m looking forward to having the option of sporting events in 5D though! 

On a much lighter note – July 17 is World Emoji Day and this often trends on social media. What do you think of emojis? 

I like emojis. It’s easy for emotion and context to be lost with flat text, so they can help us to convey feeling and meaning. 

I also have a few that are my ‘signature’ emojis and associated with my social posts and brand - the target (for coaching and business consultancy), the microphone (for my speaking and speaker training) and the fire (for my firewalking AND because I’m known for lighting a fire under people when they need it). 

I tend to sign off with a smile, pink heart and prayer hands a lot too - the prayer hands represent gratitude for me. 

As you might imagine, it’s not unusual for people to use the pink-haired punk emoji to represent me too!

Can you name one business you’d like to give a summer shout out too? Who has gone the extra mile for you recently? 

Yeah - a big shoutout to my VA, Dee Atkins (Miss Make It Happen). June has included some really challenging times, and the unexpected flowers she sent really made me wife, Asha, and I smile. 

Have you got any events planned for the coming months which you’d like to mention – where you and/or your business will take a leading role? 

As I’ve already mentioned, my Heart Of Speaking speaker training retreat is happening this month - I’m so, so looking forward to getting these back on the road. Not only because of the financial impact of not being able to run these events, but because I genuinely love them! There’s nothing like seeing that realisation when someone actually recognises their story is worth telling AND can make a positive impact for so many others. 

Have you got any services or special offers you’d like to mention? 

We’ve had an influx of new members joining our #UNLEASHED programme - an online coaching and support group for coaches, healers and therapists. 

Asha and I support them to create the best content and show up power-fully online, as well as delivering training and support on everything from package and brand development to audience growth, sales and onboarding clients.

Throughout the summer, we’re holding the special price of £45 a month, which includes access to our online support group (where Asha and I are available to advise and answer any questions), plus they get weekly challenges to help develop their business and brand, daily content prompts to help them come up with social media posts AND there’s live group coaching, via Zoom, every month. There’s lots more too, including fortnightly member spotlights, social media updates, PR opportunities and industry/profession news. 

Minimum subscription is 12 months, though most people stay around for much longer. Whichever price you sign up at is the price you pay for as long as you stay in #UNLEASHED, so the earlier you sign up, the cheaper your membership is. 

Grab that £45 deal while you can, folks! https://tazthornton.com/unleashed/

And finally:

These have been challenging times for us all. We’ve abided by the rules, waited patiently, held our nerve despite lockdown measures impacting our businesses, relationships and freedoms. 

It’s time to move on now and look to the future with a big dose of optimism. 

What have we learned through this? How can we take those lessons into the future and build on all we’ve understood about ourselves, about the world, about our priorities.

Let’s remember how far we’ve come and start taking even greater strides now. 

We’ve got this!