From Passion to Purpose: Learning to Hear My Own Voice

Coaching Conversation with Mike Sema - 16 September 2026

When does a hobby become more than a hobby?

That was the question at the heart of yesterday's Coaching Conversation on Golden Mic Radio with Mike Sema.

Mike and I go back to my corporate days, so it was fascinating to hear the story of how his love for cycling grew into something much bigger - and how the journey has shaped the person he is today.

But what stayed with me wasn't really the business.

It was the courage to take something you love seriously.

Because I could see a little of my own journey in his.

I've always had a passion for health, fitness and people. I studied personal training for that reason - pursuing my passion - but somewhere along the way I became curious about something beyond the physical side of health.

That curiosity led me to coaching.

And today, I'm an entrepreneur running my own practice - something that, if I'm honest, I don't think I could have fully imagined when I first started following that curiosity.

Perhaps that's what new beginnings teach us.

You don't always start with a big plan.

Sometimes you start with something you love. Or you stumble on something that you grow to love.

You get curious.

You take the idea seriously.

You dream a little bigger.

And then, one step at a time, you discover that perhaps there was more waiting for you than you could see at the beginning.

We also spoke about dreaming big - not just having the safe, sensible, “cute” dreams, but being willing to pray bold prayers and imagine possibilities that stretch us.

And there's another personal lesson I'm taking from this season.

For years, I was incredibly critical of my own voice. I didn't particularly like hearing myself speak.

And now, after years of finding the courage to use my voice - through workshops, public speaking and now radio - something has shifted.

I'm actually starting to love the sound of my own voice.

Not just literally.

I'm beginning to appreciate what it means to use my voice.

To have conversations. To ask better questions. To create space for people to think.

Learning to Hear Myself Differently

Maybe that's another kind of new beginning.

Learning to hear yourself differently.

And perhaps the question is simply:

“What happens if I take this seriously and see where it leads?”

I did ask myself that question when I embarked on the journey of becoming a Health Coach.

But I've stopped asking it.

Instead, I'm allowing myself to live in it. To embody it.

Because I believe this is a calling, and this is where I'm meant to be right now.

Who knows what new question I'll start asking as I grow into becoming?

Thank you, Mike, for such a beautiful conversation. ❤️

Cheers to many more conversations!