Meet Sarah
Dreamer, Wander-er, Old soul
Baker, Book & film lover, Aspiring London resident
Personal development enthusiast, & Certified Wayfinder Coach
Quite simply, this entire adventure in business ownership has been an anomaly in my life - a deviation from what was normal or expected - because I never saw myself as an entrepreneur.
Before launching Anomaly, I spent ten years working at Northwestern Mutual, a financial planning firm on Fortune’s top 200 list.
Despite being surrounded by (and coaching) business owners on a daily basis, I never considered myself to have the skills or personality of an entrepreneur.
This “I’m not cut out to be a business owner” story that I told myself is just one example of how my identity was keeping me from dreaming bigger about my future and the impact I could make in this world.
By slowing down, getting curious, and reconnecting to my creativity, I was able to shed my outgrown identity, explore new Ideas, and rediscover purpose.
Each Idea becomes a stepping stone towards the person you’re becoming.
The Idea of Anomaly and the process of bringing this business to life has asked me to expand my identity and grow in unimaginable ways. It has asked me to examine my limited beliefs, come face to face with doubt, and develop a working relationship with fear.
Nurturing this Idea requires that I tune into my intuition and build stronger, more trusting relationships with myself and my community. And at times, I’ve had to learn valuable lessons in disappointment and grief.
And starting a business is just one Idea, one example of this opportunity for personal growth and evolution. Regardless of shape and form - whether it’s an Idea to take a solo trip, write a book, start a community garden, or launch a podcast - each of our Ideas becomes a stepping stone toward the person we’re becoming.
Are you ready to take the first step?
My coaching approach blends:
Life + Work
By exploring new Ideas, you’ll start to blur the lines between life and work in a way that creates a more cohesive experience. This isn’t about breaking boundaries but viewing your life as one ever-evolving and inspiring creative project.
Visionary + Tactical
During my time at Northwestern Mutual and in my experience as a coach, I’ve developed the curiosity and agility needed to help clarify your big-picture vision and identify the next steps needed to bring each Idea to life.
Art + Science
As a Certified Wayfinder Coach, I’m equipped with tools from a wide variety of disciplines. This unique blend of art, spirit, and science allows me to meet you where you are and help you grow in a way that feels authentic to you.
“There is no destination, no end point. There is only creating and experiencing, creating and experiencing, creating and experiencing, in endless unique ways.”
— Suzanne Eder, What You Want Wants You
What keeps you from dreaming bigger?
A combination of fear, comfort, and a limited definition of who I was kept me from dreaming bigger about my life and the positive impact I was capable of creating in the world.
After all, life was good during my ten years at Northwestern Mutual. I spent my working hours contributing to a company that lived our shared values, and I often felt my contributions were appreciated by peers and leaders alike.
And yet… those years were also colored by a low-grade longing for something… different.
I longed to be in more creative spaces rather than the highly competitive and analytical finance industry. I never resonated with hustle culture and craved work that would allow for more nuance and fluidity. And although I strongly believe in the value of financial planning, I didn’t feel I was living into my unique purpose.
I explored other opportunities at times, applying for roles at companies like Pixar and Stitch Fix, but doing so always drummed up guilt. Life was good (read: comfortable), so who was I to long for more?
Wouldn’t dreaming bigger mean that I was ungrateful for the opportunities I’d been given? Wouldn’t it mean I was disloyal to the support I’d been shown? And if I allowed myself to dream big and that dream failed, what would people think then? Better to stay safe and small because things are good here, right?
These questions came to a head in 2020 when the pandemic and a few other life circumstances forced me to reevaluate what I really wanted and the kind of life I wanted to live.
Clarity unfolded in its own time, but slowing down was the first step. It allowed me to face these longings and their associated guilt (read: fear) head on. I gained awareness around who I was and the stories that I’d outgrown, made space to reconnect to my creativity and spirituality, and slowly but surely, started discovering new Ideas that would come together to build the purpose-filled life I’d always longed for.
I wonder… What keeps you from dreaming bigger?