Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Horstman.
Hi Christine, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Like many people, I’ve had my share of career twists and turns. My career got going when I became a tour consultant with EF Educational Tours. Before that, I worked for my family. They owned the Papyrus store in North Park for many years. In some ways, that journey to figure out who I was, what I wanted to do most, and developing the most natural skills led me to where I am today.
As a career coach and corporate trainer, I aim to equip people for their best professional life. One that honors who they are and what they want and supports a life they love. I’ve had a broad career with a strong generalist background, and it aids me in working with professionals and young people from so many different backgrounds. I spent many years as a general manager in several other industries, and my favorite parts of the job were staff development–hiring, training, and developing new managers. My training focuses on emotional intelligence, communication, and soft skills. I am constantly telling everyone that soft skills are the key to success no matter what you do.
Our personal and professional development go hand in hand, and as I continue to build my business, that is where more of my focus is going: helping people cultivate well-being and fulfillment at work and at home. Living with chronic illness prompted me to reevaluate my professional journey, and I understand that throughout our lives, we have to renegotiate what success and a well-lived life look like for each of us.
In January of 2022, I published a book called, “Deal with It, Doll! Coaching Yourself Through Crisis.” The book focuses on uncovering what is essential to each of us to thrive and be successful. Through a variety of podcasts and speaking engagements, I’ve enjoyed sharing insights from the book around developing resilience, self-care, work-life balance, and exploring the idea of “what’s essential?” and I am excited to share that in the fall, I will be launching my podcast with the Transformation Network.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has sometimes been challenging. My early career path was impeded by outside forces. When I graduated with a Poli-Sci degree in the early nineties, there were hiring freezes across government agencies, and the job market was poor in general. When I turned down an opportunity to relocate with EF and was striking out again, 9/11 led to a significant disruption in the travel industry. I had to look at my skills and interests each time and explore different avenues. In recent years, my career challenges have almost all been related to my chronic illness. I chose to build my own business so I would have the flexibility that I needed to care for myself and my family. That hardship, if you will, ended up allowing me to craft a career that is my true calling. As I like to say, sometimes clarity can be the gift of crisis.
I share a lot about my journey of embracing my “new normal” in my book, “Deal with It, Doll!” What I learned is that the antidote to resistance is acceptance. Once you accept where you are, you can move through it, past it, and come up with the right solutions. That means it can be challenging. When I was almost finished writing the book, I got Covid. This was in January of 2021, right before the vaccines were rolled out. It knocked me to my knees for about four or five months and delayed the book significantly. I had to double down on the lessons about resilience, growth, and reinvention I was sharing and find my way through again. It was one of the more poignant obstacles I’ve faced.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a generalist, my business defies common coaching advice to niche, niche, niche, niche. I wholeheartedly believe that embracing all of who we are is critical to building our best lives and meaningful careers. I love making local connections and am very involved in my Oak Cliff community, but my clients come from all over. Working with many professionals as a corporate trainer gives me added coaching insight. My corporate training clients feel a different connection and personal touch because I am a professional coach at heart and by training. Of all my accomplishments, I’m proudest of my community service and book. Writing a book is a bit like birthing a baby. You feel like a part of you is now walking around in the world. “Deal with It, Doll! Coaching Yourself Through Crisis” has been well-received, allowing me to make many new connections. I’m super proud of it and very grateful for the experience. One of the highlights of 2023 was having “Deal with It, Doll!” included in Passion and Growth’s subscription box. Passion and Growth is another Dallas-based, female-owned business focused on self-development and well-being. They were voted Best Personal Growth Box in the U.S. Subscription Box Awards. Being included among authors like Shonda Rhimes and Elizabeth Gilbert was an honor.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I can’t say that I believe luck has had an impact, good or bad. I suppose one could say my chronic illness is bad luck, but I don’t look at it that way. Life is full of challenges; everyone has to deal with and go through complicated, unfair, and challenging things. I believe more in intentionality and being attuned to opportunity. If you keep trying and working at it and putting one foot in front of the other, the right things will come along. When you have clarity about who you are and what you want, need, and hope for, you are more likely to notice when it comes your way. I learned in sales that activity matters. Networking is like that. You plant seeds, stay open, and never know what might grow from them. Sometimes, those seeds get swept away and planted in places you never imagined. It might seem lucky, but your actions and efforts had something to do with it. Keep at it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paperdollcommunication.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.horstman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paperdollcommunication/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-horstman-a2203278/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_KOJXqkACsiE52amkZGBLQ
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Deal-Doll-Coaching-Yourself-Through/dp/195509022X
Image Credits
Rosa Poetschke Photography, Misael Sandova Passion and Growth
