Meet Trailblazer Audra Byrne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Audra Byrne.

Audra, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I didn’t begin my story as a small business owner. I started my career out of college as a middle school teacher and that’s where I expected to stay. As I worked through my 1st teaching job, I was quickly swept into a fast leadership track. I was encouraged by school district leaders to work my way up the ranks of the school leadership team. As an introvert, I never saw myself “in charge” of other people. My viewpoint began to change with each leadership role I was given. A new passion in me was born.

After having my 1st daughter, I stepped completely away from my profession to stay home with her. This was the joy of my life and something I hoped I’d be able to do. Although I was a full-time stay at home mom, the leadership bug kept biting. I found myself in part-time roles where I continued to lead. As I matured through my 30’s, many things about who I was and my purpose became clear. By 40, I knew I wasn’t meant to work for anyone else again. I was inspired to use my gifts on a grander scale. Even though I didn’t know exactly what it looked like, I trusted the intuition that pushed me down the path. After a personal transformation, I felt ready. I launched myself into small business ownership as an Advocacy Coach helping women self-advocate for their personal and professional needs and above all else, identify their gifts. It is exhilarating to use my experiences and my passion influencing women to empower themselves to the next level.

I’ve recently expanded my business to support overwhelmed and overworked small business owners. My passion for this group just pours out. My husband of 17 years is a small business owner, as is my sister, and my dad. I’ve been in this world all my life. When a small business owner is balanced and healthy, they positively affect themselves, their business and their family too. It’s an honor to support a special group of people who are monumental to the success of our communities and our world.

It’s an even bigger honor to model to my two daughters and my son that you can trailblaze yourself anywhere you want to go. Just be your own leader.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been anything but a smooth road. My greatest challenges were the 36 years of my life that I lived as an achievement and praise addict. I fed my addiction daily with a paralyzing personal expectation of perfectionism and exhausting over-commitment to others.

The best advice I have for other women, particularly young women starting their journey is HAVE BOUNDARIES in your life. Protect your time, your energy and your gifts. Your self-worth is not based on how much you commit to, accomplish, or do for others. This was a lesson I learned a very hard way.

There was a time when my self-worth was based solely on my accomplishments and commitments.
Anything you asked me to do, I did it. Anywhere you asked me to be, there I was. Any task you hired me for I showed up with no boundaries and 110% in. When you praised me for my over-achievement, I took it another five steps up. There was no stopping my expectations of perfection and loyalty that I placed on myself in an effort to get praise from others.

Those patterns of behaviors turned into chronic headaches and body aches. My days were filled with shortness of breath, chest pains from stress, and constantly trying to keep up with my schedule and the over-committing I was doing.

Living that lifestyle didn’t end well for me. After hitting a complete wall of exhaustion and desperation, I had to shut myself down. I stepped away from almost everything in my personal and professional life to reset myself. With a completely empty tank, I had nothing left to give and no interest in leading others, I couldn’t even authentically lead myself.

It took me six years to rebuild a genuine representation of who I am rather than meeting the demands of the image everyone else wanted me to be.

Today, I proudly work non-stop on my personal recovery and authenticity. Saying no is one of my favorite things to do to protect myself and my family. These new patterns give me the opportunity to reinvent myself and my life. My “you’re the best” addiction is gone, replaced instead with a thriving life of freedom and clarity.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m currently a leadership strategist who helps small business owners close the revolving door by cultivating empowered leaders and dedicated teams.

I’ve got an incredibly sharp eye for culture-driven leadership. One of the things I feel most proud of is my authentic and intuitive ability to help owners hire innovative problem-solvers and identify strong traits of their employees.

Aligning employees to natural roles and responsibilities in their business gives owners time for strategizing, professional development and personal freedom. It’s something they deeply need to keep a healthy balance in their business and their life.

I think what makes my company Your Business Unchained unique is the partnership I create with business owners to lead their teams. It’s rare to find support systems for small business owners. I’m a valuable resource helping them run a profitable business and be an impactful leader at the same time.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m a huge believer in having multiple mentors. Mine range from spirituality to business and a few things in between. I’m drawn to them by the ways they stand in the power of their innate gifts.

Having a trusted mentor is validating. Listening to their stories and getting advice through their wisdom encourages me to do things my own way regardless of what others might think.

I’m a seeker of all things people, who they are, where they come from, and where they want to go. Staying authentically curious has worked incredibly well for me in building relationships with my mentors. When we learn and understand our mentor’s journeys before us, we understand even more about ourselves. Stay curious, stay open, and pay attention to the value of people. Always look through a lens of gratitude at other people’s journeys and you may be surprised… just the right mentor will find you right when you need her.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yourbusinessunchained.com
• Instagram: @yourbusinessunchained
• Facebook Page: Your Business Unchained
• Other: www.linkedin.com/in/yourbusinessunchained

Image Credit:
Jolie Rodriguez Photography, Eklund Photography

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