Create a life you love – Inspiring Stories: Christina McFadden

I have the pleasure of knowing some amazing people. People who have done extraordinary things with their ‘ordinary’ lives.  Christina McFadden is one of them.

They have inspired me to think beyond the ‘normal’ as to what’s possible for my life – and I hope that by getting them to tell their stories here, they might just inspire a few others of you too.

Christina McFadden – Founder, Blue Door Partners

Christina McFadden
Christina McFadden

Tell us a little about yourself…

I am a Leadership Coach and Facilitator. I founded Blue Door Partners in 2016 – a professional development company for leaders – and all my dreams continue to come true – so much that I haven’t been able to dream fast enough.

I recently learned it’s ok that I don’t know my next big dream and it is expecting me either way – which was very relaxing to hear.

How do you know Nicki?

We both signed up for CTI’s Leadership training program. We friended each on Facebook before the program started and I thought (and still do) that Nicki was so bad ass living in Asia, from England and headed to Leadership.

Tell us a little about the life that you have created – and what you most love about it?

I made a big jump 2 years ago and love that my days are filled with leadership and team coaching or designing and leading workshops. I am over the moon.

Plus I get to travel the world (my personal favorite hobby) and take my work with me or work from home with my 3 black cats.

What are the defining moments in having created this life you love?

Being a millionaire on paper for a week back in 2000 as the first employee of Monsterbook.com – we made a directory (actual book) of urls. This was before there were any search engines.

I spent 12 years in Healthcare and worked my way up to COO. I kept getting fired or leaving after making big changes at a health centers.

I now know I am an agent of change and get bored once the heavy lifting is done. At the time I never thought I could leave a job after a year so I stayed even thought I was bored.

I was introduced to coaching, improv and acting 3 years ago, within 2 months of each other, and it changed the course of my life.

Now I get to coach leaders and run workshops with teams as my day job.

Who are your key supporters along this journey – and what have they given you?

This is truly one of my biggest challenges, I crave mentorship and I continually outgrew these relationships quicker than I wanted to, until I found coaching.

CTI coaches inspire me everyday. CTI leaders warm my heart. I try to talk to 2 coach friends a week (at least) because every conversation helps me grow.

How do you now ‘pay-it-forwards’? What support and inspiration do you provide to others to enable them to create a life they love?

I share all my paperwork for coaching and I am always happy to have a call about coaching. I love hearing about other folks coaching journey and sharing tips with each other.

What’s your current favourite book recommendation?

I am a hands on leader. I love to assist for CTI or watch videos. I do love books and I would rather be jumping into the work.

So take a look at this TED talk: The Little Risks You Can Take To Increase Your Luck

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?

I asked my cousin if she regretted not having kids as I was considering skipping having kids. She said, I am pretty sure you regret it either way. From that moment on I felt so free and knew not having kids was going to be just fine.

What’s next for you on your journey?

As I said earlier – it’s waiting for me even though I don’t know what it is yet.

A Ted talk? More coaching, more workshops and more traveling….. more cats and more kisses from my husband of 18 years.