As Natalie was interviewed for the "In The Company Of Women" series, the tragedies were still fresh in her mind and certainly her heart. Natalie wanted to make sure that she was able to bring insights and information to all the readers and yet show respect for where we might "be" with our lives at this moment in time.

Question: You have raised two wonderful girls - you call them "Women of Influence" even though they are only 21 and 22 years old respectively. Why?

Natalie: There are lots of different kinds of leaders in this world and I consider my girls to be powerful right now - even though very young. The day of the tragedy, both of them called me to make sure I was ok. They know me so well. They knew I would be in a corner in tears and in pain with all the loss especially for the young people who were lost. I love young leaders, women and men of influence. They are so very cool and filled with an energy that seems endless. I've also been allowed to stay close to my kids and get a front seat view of how other children grew and are becoming the leaders for our future. I think we are in very good hands.

As a leader myself for so many years and watching myself grow, it is fun to also watch them grow. To see how it really works and what the true realities of "growing up" is all about. My girls and I have always been very close - me as a single parent and mother bear. Many illusions go away when you see the reality of what is needed to be strong, educated, confident, relevant and assertive. It takes guts. Lots of guts. And many hugs.

They are Women of Influence because they are compassionate, good role models for their friends and community, take on leadership positions with hesitation, live their beliefs with integrity and act on what they consider to be "the right and just action" to take.

With all due respect, "Life is Good! " Although my joy is a bit tempered these day, I am joyful and supremely hopeful. I adore having a successful Coaching, Speaking, and Writing consultancy in Merrimack, NH. After 15 years of building a healthy business, I have some insights for those who want to create extraordinary success in their professional and personal lives.

Question: What keeps you going and growing? What inspires you?

Natalie: Wow, lots of things inspire me. My girls. My business. My friends. The challenge of recreating me each year. And now the tremendous outpouring that America has produced because of the terrible tragedy.

I've been a single mom for many years and self-employed. Many times when people find that out about me, they feel sorry for me in some way. I have to tell you it has been the best life I could have had. My girls and I are incredibly close and we all grew up together. They are 22 and 21 and fabulous people. I've always loved my girls, but I truly like them down to their toes. They have taught me more than anyone, besides my mom. My girls and my mom are my heroes.

My mom lost a son in Viet Nam. It was not nice. He was a West Point graduate, airborne and a ranger. He was killed in 1970 - the height of the war - when it was not ok to be a soldier, much less a good soldier. We buried him at Arlington Cemetery with full casein, taps and the ceremonial flag. She actually lived through it. I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose a child. She is my hero because she is pure perseverance and integrity. If my mom says she will do it, she does.

Now so many people have lost their children and have to become brave. I cannot imagine their sorrow, but I want to be there for their recovery and growth. It is a privilege and honor to share someone's healing, you know.

Question: What current issues in the workplace concern you?

Natalie: Stress and Money. Money and Stress. Many have too much of one and not enough of the other. I am pretty sure that I created stress, so I decided to write about it. My new book "Give Stress a Rest" is coming out September 2001.

I wrote about stress because of my own experience and the experiences that my clients have. The stats on stress are more than scary. We humans are becoming very ill from the inability to recognize stress or stressers in our lives and then not being able to control the stressers.

Debt and money are the other piece of this puzzle when it comes to almost unbearable stress. Often we are living beyond our means and certainly beyond our paychecks. Even the very smart people I deal with are having a very difficult time balancing work life issues and their income.

Suze Orman is a wonderful guru on dealing well with your money. I would recommend everyone visit her web site for information on how to deal with their money.

Because of the tragedy, we are all looking very differently at the way we do business. Not only do we now have stress, we have incredible pressure to help people begin to emotionally and psychologically heal. Another big stresser is not knowing exactly what to expect in business. Things have changed and we need to be patient with how we deal with these new ways of being. We humans are not very patient with change especially when we did not create the change ourselves.

Question: What has been your biggest challenge in growing your business as a woman?

Natalie: In 1986 when I opened my business, it was not ok to be a female, self-employed, home-based business. Some SOHOs lied to our clients about where our offices were. I've been home based for 15 years and absolutely no one seems to care one bit now. In fact, when I tell people that fact, they look dreamily at me and wish they could have my life and work at home.

Over the years, industries have learned to respect and listen to women in business. Women have been the catalysts for changing the language used in customer service, how employees are handled, impacting the way communication takes place within organizations and hundreds of other ways. It has been a wonderfully challenging time to be a woman entrepreneur. So much has changed, so much still left to do.

My absolute biggest challenge, though, has always been me. Even when I've done something well, there can be those awful doubts about could it have been done better, sooner, bigger, nicer. I don't buy into the doubts as much anymore, but they still lurk right around the corner when I move past my comfort zone. As an Executive Coach, I get to support and work with many women of influence. Our common mantra seems to be "it's never enough". I am hoping that one day that tune will stop for all of us.

Question: What are your techniques for keeping your personal and professional life in balance?

Natalie: (Laugh) Balance. Is there such a thing??? I am competitive and curious. It is a fine combination for someone who never needs to sleep or slow down. However, the human body and mind eventually need to break into a nice even gallop in life. I've spent years practicing self-development techniques. I hike. I sing at the top of my lungs in the car. I meditate and walk. I am a deep thinker and writer. So all of these activities promote balance, but it is hard to achieve it.

In interviewing other women for the Company of Women series, each one has commented on the same struggle for balance in their lives. So I feel like I am in great company.

I have wonderful little techniques I use to help when my attitude and my heart are not in synch. I take several deep breaths, stand tall, stretch my arms out to my sides and pretend I am about to receive a marvelous award for something I've done. I call that changing the energy around what I am doing. When I move into this stance, I feel powerful and confident, therefore I am. I also am a huge believe in prayer. Taking that moment to pray, wherever I am, brings for me a sweet bit of peace. It allows me to be stronger for me and for those that need me.

Question: Who have been some of your more influential mentors?

Natalie: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Erma Bombeck, Jesus Christ, Ghandi, Madeline Albright, Mother Teresa, Angela Landsbury, Wayne Dyer, Mary Warzecha, Roland Olivier, and just recently, Robert Frost. I read a quote of his that I think really describes who I am and what my life purpose is about. He said about himself "I am not a teacher, but an awakener". I feel that my Coaching, Consulting, Writing and Speaking have been about awakening people to who they are and how really and truly magnificent that discovery is.

My clients mentor me all the time. They probably would dismiss that because they tell me I bring them so much. However, and this is a big however, they teach me and mentor me about the deep purpose of life each time we interact. I have the BEST job on earth. I adore being a Coach.

Question: What is it that you would like to share with the people who are reading this article? What would you like them to know?

Natalie: Not many women actually think in terms of being powerful. They think what they do is common and ordinary and not really worthy of much fuss and bother. They get up each day, do the 12,000 things that need to be done and then don't think much of it.

It was only in the last couple of years that I've really known what self-care was all about. The idea of putting myself first was foreign to me. So now I try to do something loving and sweet for me each day. I often stop what I am doing and touch my face and tell myself that I love me. I smile at myself in the mirror and wink at me. I twirl in skirts. I laugh very very loudly at jokes. I hug more frequently. I try very hard to be the very best listener that I can be. I send love notes and "You Go" notes to people every week.

With the tragedy on my mind and heart, I've spent many hours in deep thinking about what I could really do to be a better person. What could I contribute to my fellow Americans and fellow earth dwellers. Since I was not able to help dig in New York, or put out fires at the Pentagon or help in Pennsylvania, I did not want my energy of wanting to contribute to go away - not be used - disappear because the time away from the tragedy would fade my memory.

So....I've applied for 501(c)(3) status for a non-profit organization. For the last year I've been working on an idea regarding Global Equality (tm). Many fine, powerful, caring people have been involved in the process of bringing this idea to the forefront of our thinking. Well, I think September 11th determined the time for beginning the process is now.

The concept of Global Equality (tm) is simple. Equality is our birthright for all peoples. It is the privilege of being able to be free, to be, to create, to work, to grow, to prosper where ever and whomever you are. It is important that we understand that equality does not mean the same to all people. China and Los Angles would not have the same discussion about what equality is. Mississippi and Brazil would also have different discussions. However, we need to begin the discussion of what our world would look like if all peoples absolutely knew and acted as equals. It is very important that my purpose of being the "awakener" of the concept of Global Equality (tm) not ever look or sound like some sort of policy to be implemented. I would not know how to implement Global Equality (tm) in Saudi Arabia or Toronto Canada. But wouldn't it be grand if the awakening took place, the discussion took place and the first steps were taken? I think that the stars and moon would be pleased with such an undertaking.

I was born in Wisconsin and raised all over the world. I am pure American with the idea that things need to change NOW. I am encouraged that there is such enthusiasm for introspection and kindness and looking at news ways of being. And I am joyful that we are NOW beginning the process. I hope all of us can remember and practice patience with these new endeavors. I think it will take longer than we are use to having things change.

I've collected some very good materials on how to help begin the healing process and how to take good care of ourselves during the time. Please email me and I will make sure that I get a copy out to you right away.

We need to dream, pray, meditate and take very very good care of ourselves. Global Equality (tm) and growing our new way of life is worth the effort. The people who ran to the fires after the bombings did not care who they were helping - not their color, or size, or age or completion, or religion. They just helped. No questions asked. I think we could all learn a great deal from their lack of judgment and unconditional energy in helping.

My Coaching practice is based on helping women and men of influence to add skills to their already talented toolbox. Please let me know if I can be of support to you in sorting through your thoughts and dreams about how you now want the world to be.