Taz Thornton is a speaker, motivator, and visibility coach, helping people reboot their lives and businesses. Taz started her career in journalism and progressed up the corporate ladder, with a few hops across the fence into PR and marketing, until she became UK director for what, at the time, was one of the world’s biggest B2B publishing organizations. She says, “Trouble is, although I had all the material trappings, none of it was filling me up.”
Taz works with owner managers to help them attract their finest characteristics, and establish a brand based on authenticity and trust. She says, “We work together on messaging, personal brand, and visibility, developing a practical plan for constant, positive presence wherever their target audience may be.”
Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between the World’s Leaders and Taz Thornton.
Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader. What challenges did you have to face to get where you are today?
It was a long road that took me to the point of re-inventing my life, including escaping an abusive relationship, the death of my father, breaking my back in three places in a suicide attempt, depression and breakdown. I look back now with gratitude for the rich teachings and life experiences and I genuinely don’t regret a thing.
By the time I’d realised my soul mission was to support, motivate and inspire others, I had a wealth of experience and plenty of tools in my kit, including all that top line management training, media and PR knowledge (I co-ran a PR and digital media service and training agency with my wife when I first left corporate), coaching, mentoring, NLP AND a few others you might not expect – I trained with the same guys who taught Tony Robbins firewalking and qualified as a firewalking and extreme empowerment instructor, spent a decade or so learning traditional ‘soul doctoring’ with shamans and medicine people, and even became a Reiki master.
Suffice to say, by the time I finally listened to my calling and went for it, I had all the skills I needed to get out there and make a difference.
Describe Taz Thornton’s offerings that address the needs of your customers.
My customers really fit into two core areas – business leaders and owners wanting to build their confidence, visibility and brand, and individuals who need to rediscover the truth of their soul and create a future they’ll eagerly embrace and enjoy living.
When I’m working with business leaders and owners, we focus a lot on their story and building their personal brand. There’s way too much head/heart disconnect in the world and we’ve lost the ability to connect with our customers on a real-life level.
We work on their story, their message and intentions and start to organically grow their tribe from there.
Later on, I might work with them to create their signature programme, write their bestselling book, or train them to become a world-class speaker. This can all be through a mix of 1-1 coaching and mentoring and group training programmes.
When I’m working with individuals, that might again include 1-1 coaching, though I also run 13-month and three-year spiritual empowerment programmes, which bring together earth wisdom teachings, talking therapy, meditation, journey work and empowerment techniques – including firewalking.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in this industry through your expertise in the industry?
I think one of the biggest differences I’ve made, so far, is teaching people about the power of vulnerability. Vulnerability really can be a superpower if we harness it properly. We’re in an age where people are tired of being marketed to and sold to; we need to go back to that age old truth that people buy people. When we stop hiding behind our logos, and start showing more heart, we lead by example, we’re more relatable, we give people hope. Our own struggles, the challenges we’ve overcome, show other people that A) we walk our talk and, B) it really is possible to flip your negatives and create a better life.
What are the challenges you and your team at Taz Thornton come across in your day-to-day operations?
We run a well-oiled machine now and, if we do face challenges, we see them as an opportunity to learn and grow. You know what they say: if there’s no solution, there’s no problem – it’s just part of life’s rich tapestry.
What people, what books, what life factors have influenced and impacted you?
People – I have to say my wife, Asha, first and foremost. Way back in 2006, just weeks after my father died, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and then made redundant. Asha has been through the wringer, from not being able to walk properly, to reinventing her life and totally changing her diet to come back to health. I watched, in awe, as she sacked off the clients that were bringing her nothing but stress (no amount of cash is worth sacrificing our health!), then recreated her business, from a full-service PR and social media agency, into an independent content coach, ghost writer and book editor, working with people who inspired her, instead of simply focusing on soul-crushing corporate contracts.
My mother, too, who always taught me to try my hand at anything. If you can’t do it, then call in the experts, but at least be brave enough to give it a try first. Of course, I’m talking about DiY, craftwork etc, not brain surgery!
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives Taz Thornton.
I’m absolutely committed to authenticity and integrity, and to using everything I’ve experienced to create a positive pathway for others. If I go through some challenge, the ultimate selfish act is to keep that to myself, instead of using it as a teaching experience. If I’m having a tough time, I’ll share it, as well as my plan to right my ship.
Running a business, entrepreneurship, or even building a successful coaching practice will not be right for everyone. We need to stop judging everyone else by our own value sets and allow people to flourish based on their own desires and merits.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs?
Make sure you know the difference between a business owner and an entrepreneur – they’re not the same thing and you can still be successful without adopting a title that doesn’t fit.
Get clear on what it is you want to achieve. Reverse engineer it from there.
Make sure you’re doing something you really enjoy – it makes the Difficult times much easier to live through.
Don’t keep re-inventing the wheel. Never plagiarise, but do take inspiration and teachings from those a few rungs ahead of you. do it your way, but recognize most paths have already been trodden some – it would be foolish to believe otherwise.
