Interview with Renee McDuffie
Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 2:37PM 
How we view ourselves shapes our experience. How do you see you?
I am firstly a Mother to 3 beautiful children; Tayla, Blake and Jayda, a wife to Shane and an Online business owner/Regional Vice President with Arbonne International. I view myself as a social butterfly, always busy always on the go. I like to think of myself as a self-driven motivated outgoing personality who loves to dream and go big!
We each know what 'wake up calls' feel like. Sometimes its a dream, an intuition, a deja-vu or another experience. What prompts you to move to the Sunshine Coast?
Lifestyle. You might say I am ready and eager for bigger changes. I am also listening to my heart.
It is said that when you go with the natural flow, you sense synchronicity, suddenly consider new choices and opportunities. Share some milestones in your life that lead you to where you are.
I suppose graduating with my diploma in Children’s Services (2004), after a debilitating back injury surgery going wrong. In 2007, I had to learn how to walk again. I became a very strong-minded, determined person because of this, and shifted my priorities.
Sounds like your sense of wellness shifted. Health challenges certainly do have a way of shaking us up and guiding us to see what matters. You are not alone when you imply your own health scare gave you a deeper appreciation for life. Chicken Soup for the Soul books are well-known. Invite you and readers to check out the Interview with Darron Eastwell.
Will do. I know forst hand that if I do not have my health, I cannot care for others or do my best work.
Other milestones include; falling pregnant with my first-born Tayla in 2008, marrying my best friend Shane in 2010, having my son Blake in 2011. In addition, I took a Career change course to study in personal training ( never completed it), had my gorgeous little Jayda in 2014. Starting my new Career path becoming a business owner in 2015 which I am still so passionate about with Arbonne.
Your story echoes we gain access to different kinds of wisdom at different life stages. What specifically prompted you to get involved in Arbonne?
I discovered Arbonne in 2014 and didn’t give it much of a thought. Yet, then was re- introduced by a very close friend in 2015 and I loved the whole concept, mainly of helping others and the whole ethics of the company. I have continued to grow and love the business even more and love my team so much. I have continued on this journey and plan to for a very long time to come. This entrepreneurial role allows me to be present for my family, and the important things. It has also allowed me many travel opportunities which I don’t think I would have had in other industries. I have done many other jobs but this one has always ticked all the boxes for me as I’m passionate about the health and wellness industry and personal development.
Well, it is said we invite into our lives only what we can handle, though not everyone listens to their passions. Opportunities feel more like synchronicity when we are in touch with our feelings. Working from home has growing appeal. No wonder you are happy with what you are creating.
Share some of your strengths and weaknesses and how you use these to your advantage.
Some of my strengths are: I am strong-willed and determined- once I set my mind on something, I get it done. I have learned to be a good listener and love to help others, and am very trustworthy. I also feel another strength is that I’m non- judgemental but this has also worked against me. Weaknesses: I am a massive people-pleaser so am not always as direct and honest as I would like to be. I don’t like to upset others so don’t say some things I probably should. I do sometimes get overwhelmed when situations aren’t within my control, which brings me to the next thing: I can be a control freak! (something I am working on!) To my advantage, when I get an idea on my head, I just go for it and always find a way to make a situation work. My wish to help others can work against me as I want to help/fix everyone’s problems.
Being brutally honest with ourselves is one of the hardest things to do. Kudos to you for being self-aware and taking steps to work on those behaviours that you realize can limit you.
Describe the biggest challenge you have experienced. How do you handle it?
The biggest challenge in my life would have to be when my spinal injury caused me to have surgery which didn’t go well in 2007 (I was age 23). And after a follow up emergency surgery of a blood clot forming on my spine, waking up with no feeling from the waist down, being told I may never walk again was definitelythe biggest life-changing event in my kufe so far. I handled it quite well until I hit a point when I had a breakdown.
Author Brene Brown reminds us nervous breakdowns can be key turning points in our lives. How did yours affect you?
That’s when the determination kicked in. I worked so hard for 2 years to do all I could in rehab to re-generate the nerves and build up my muscle and strength again. Surprisingly, I wouldn’t change this moment in my life. I i made me appreciate the things we take for granted like walking, toileting etc. Overcoming struggle has also made Me who I am today. And I was lucky enough to be one of the ones to get most of the feeling back. This also lead me into the passion I have for exercise and training.
Its easy to forget we each create our own luck. We shift from believing in coincidence to seeing synchronicity, to recognizing we create and respond to all that happens. Taking full personal responsibility can seem like a big leap, but it enables us to see blessings, come what may, is that not so?
Absolutely!
Similar to Joyce Meyer, Jack Ma, Donald Trump, Gerry Adams, Jason Navallo, John Mason, Tedy Bruschi, and others who wrote books called Never Give up, your resilience adn relentless determination take you far. Your story is inspirational in that it encourages people to learn a lesson wherever they are and stretch themselves to reach the next level.
That ordeal definitely taught me a lot about confidence and character-building!
What is the most spontaneous thing you have ever done?
I am spontaneous by nature...
Aren't we all, yet, sometimes adults forget!
Well, yes. My most spontaneous adult acts are doing the world’s highest cliff jump in Queenstown, N.Z. during a Arbonne trip, and jumping out of a plane! I am an adrenaline junky.
A woman who pushes boundaries... I love your style! We each create a sense of awe and wonder in our life choices. Let us in on three things very few people know about you.
There’s not a lot that people don’t know about me as I’m an open book. I am definitely an over-thinker and over-dramatize situations in my head. I do a lot of self-talk. As much as I love a social life, I also love me-time, sitting, watching mind-numbing trash t.v. and documentaries, I also love the beach (my happy place).
Tell us about a time when you did or said something that had a positive impact on an employee, co-worker, or customer. How did it make you feel?
I think in the role I play within my business and team I’m lucky enough to be able to pep my team up and try to help them break through a block in work/ life. I can think if times I’ve cried with some of the girls in my team when I can see a breakthrough in their personal development, within themselves and making them know that they are worthy of everything that they want and more. This always fills my cup up seeing them achieve great things or stepping out of their comfort zones.
As you imply, stepping out of comfort zones does not come easily to everyone, but it pays off. If your peers and team had to describe you in three to five words, what would they say?
If my peers and team had to describe me in 3-5 words : loud, chatty, fun, positive, driven, and determined.
What people reflect back tells us a lot about our level of authenticity. Speaking of this, tell us about a dream you have yet to realize. What are you doing to progress further to make it real?
My dream is to build my business up so strong that my husband can travel less with his work and be around more and be able to be more present with me and the kids. He is when he can but is also away a bit interstate and does miss some important things. I am working my tail off to hit that goal so we can then choose to be together more as a family.
Describe a time when a colleague came to you with a problem. How did you respond?
There are a fair few times a colleague has come to me with a problem I won’t specifically name any due to privacy. Each time, listened with 2 ears and waited to respond. Sometimes people just want to be heard.
So right! Empathy and compassion can be conveyed in silence as well as through words. We each have the power to give something of ourselves to enrich the world. We do this with time, money or other gestures. Tell us about a time when understanding something differently shifted your perception and priorities.
I’ve had a few situations in life that I have learnt from when I’ve had to step back and put myself in someone else’s shoes to see why they may be saying or doing something that has upset me. I’ve learnt that there is always a reason why someone is doing what they do. I’ve also learned to to as well and I can check my Ego at the door!
Why is it important to develop connection? How do you build a rapport?
I love connecting and building a report with people I meet in life. I’m always fascinated by others and their stories and think it’s so important to build that trust with new people. I guess I listen and if I can relate to something they are saying I let them know that I understand.
Indeed. Sometimes what is left unspoken is very powerful and leaves a huge impact.
If you could write yourself a letter before leaving this world that would be received by your reincarnation, what would the letter say?
Oh gosh! If I could write myself a letter from the future and read it today- wow 😮. It would probably say live life to the full, follow your dreams and don’t let others steal them, always have fun, always laugh even at yourself and love without judgement
Add anything else you wish to say...
My website is http://www.reneemcduffie.arbonne.com
email: reneearbonne@hotmail.com phone: 0409338774
Much gratitude Renee for all you share. This is a fabulous example of how shifts in priorities happen in our lives when we least expect it. Renee, like each of us in our own way, is a true gift to this world. She shows us that once we get in touch with what matters and identify our priorities, we can create a more fulfilling life and be happier people. Yet, a big message that stands out is before we can truly love others, and make a real difference, we must learn how it feels and what it involves to truly love ourselves. This is a unique journey for each of us. And the Soul learns and unlearns at its own pace.
As Arianna Huffington echoes in her best-selling book Thrive, its up to each of us to uncover and experience directly the meaning of well-being, wisdom, wonder and giving, during our lifetime. This is what gives our lives deeper meaning and us a sense of unique purpose. Check out Thrive Global for hints.