Sheli Can Help You Shift, Transform, and Excel In All Areas of Life
What’s your story?
I’m a life coach living on an idyllic island in Hong Kong with my husband and cat.
Fun fact: by age 23 I had visited 23 countries. However, the Asian expat ”work hard, play hard” lifestyle took its toll. Eventually, I took a different route down the spiritual and wellness path.
Interwoven with a successful corporate career, I founded a web development company in 1996, started two digital marketing agencies, plus developed and ran a nutrition business.
I am now focused on life coaching and expanding an American nutrition business in Asia.
My passions are holistic wellness, environmental issues, and marine conservation.
What excites you most about your industry?
Helping people live a truly fulfilling and abundant life, while doing what inspires and fills their desires, is one of my passions. Nurturing people to achieve their full potential has always been part of my life, from mentoring staff to consulting with individual clients. Being a certified life coach and advanced “Soul Realignment” practitioner is a natural evolution of my consulting practice.
“Soul Realignment” uses the Akashic Records, which you don’t need to delve into, except to know that it offers very empowering and practical guidance to assist you in aligning with your highest path and purpose.
Part of living a purpose-driven life is helping people achieve their highest potential through self-awareness, wellness, and finding their purpose.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I have always been fascinated with Asia. Straight out of college I moved to Tokyo and was looking to work with someone iconic, like Eiko Ishioka or Ikko Tenaka. Instead, I worked for local design and magazine agencies. I learned a lot, just being involved with the Tokyo design/art scene.
Since then, I have spent my life living in and traveling throughout, Asia. I am also a cave and wreck diver, so that has taken me to very interesting hidden corners of the world, such as exploring wrecks at 70 m in Papua New Guinea. Asia is definitely home to me.
Favorite city in Asia for business and why?
For business, Hong Kong. Even with what has been happening, with protests and the virus, it just keeps ticking over. Also, since it still operates under British law and has the ICAC, there is not the same potential for corruption that you might find in other cities in Asia.
The second would be Chiang Mai, Thailand. The vibe there is way more laid back than Hong Kong. It is affordable, has good internet service at co-working spaces all over the city, as well as fabulous vegetarian food, and intoxicating culture. I love being there during Hong Kong’s chilly winters, as I am a total cold-wimp.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
That is a hard question. I have been blessed with a lot of advice! Probably the best advice I’ve received is from my dear Grandma, who would receive my calls from all over the world, and she’d always say, “I’m so happy for you sweetie, just keep traveling and doing what makes you happy!”
Who inspires you?
Sadhguru. There are many, many others, but the main impact on my inner well being and life is from Sadhguru’s teachings, and the programs, experiences, and offerings he has developed. However, that is not something I discuss with clients, because we each have our own spiritual journey.
For clients, as appropriate for their situation, I might recommend Les Brown, Tara Brach, Tony Robbins, Malala Yousafzai, Simon Sinek, Sheryl Sandberg, Satish Kumar, Maya Angelou, Charles Eisenstein, Dain Heer, TED talks, etc. There is not enough space here to list even a tiny percentage of the amazingly inspirational people who’ve graced this planet!
What have you just learned recently that blew you away?
Several things have blown me away. I recently did an “Access Consciousness” 4-day course, called “The Foundation.” My mind was blown open and it continues to expand as I delve further into the possibilities.
Last year I did an advanced Isha program, “Samyama,” that involved sitting in silent meditation for 8 days. This also blew me away, but on a whole new level.
Recently, I read a new book by Sadhguru, called “Death; An Inside Story: A book for all those who shall die.” It covers every aspect of the process known as death. It is a wild ride of a read and totally mind-blowing!
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would have taken my mental, spiritual, and physical health more seriously in my 20’s. But everything in life has brought me to where I am now, so no regrets.
How do you unwind?
I do 2-3 hours of meditation, breathwork, and yoga every morning.
I also love walking in the hills, swimming or scuba diving in the sea, kayaking, chilling on our roof garden, and, every evening having a chat on the roof with my husband.
There’s also lots of volunteer work, which is very rewarding. I volunteer with Isha, am on the Garden Gathering organizing committee, and we’ve recently formed a Tree Sisters (treesisters.org) group for tree planting. The latter has gotten me more into a whole new way of being in nature.
Favorite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
There are so many awesome places to relax in Asia! One favorite is the rustic Cave Lodge in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. It is set in a lush jungle overlooking a river and the only things you can do are, relax, go caving, or white-water kayaking. Getting to most of the caves involves trekking through beautiful terrain and the caves in that area are stunning! But you can only do so much caving, so there is plenty of time to just chill and enjoy the atmosphere on a hammock with a good book. Their local Shan food is fabulous.
Everyone in business should read this book:
“The Little Book of Ikigai: The Essential Japanese Way to Finding Your Purpose in Life,” by Ken Mogi. Ikigai is a Japanese word for describing the pleasures and meanings of life, “iki” (to live), and “gai” (reason).
There are five pillars of ikigai: starting small, releasing yourself, harmony and sustainability, the joy of little things, and being in the here and now.
Shameless plug for your business:
Are you doing what inspires you? Do you ever wonder what else is possible? What are your unique specialties, strengths, and areas you are meant to focus on?
You have the power to create the life of your dreams. I offer a bridge between where you are now and where you want to be, with loving practical guidance and empowerment.
Everyone is unique, but here are a few examples: how you best to manifest, specialties, and what helps you thrive and feel fulfilled, general wellness, micro-habits that will build desired habits while breaking unwanted ones, finding your purpose in life, and more.
How can people connect with you?
AsianEntrepreneur.org readers can use the link provided to schedule a free 20 mins Zoom call, to explore the possibilities and see if we are a good match for working together: https://inspire.shifttransformexcel.com/
Send an email to me: [email protected]
Twitter handle?
Twitter (I rarely use any of my twitter accounts): @shelibow, @brandcatalysth, @plasticbreak
FB:
https://www.facebook.com/shelib/
https://www.facebook.com/shifttransformexcel
IG:
https://www.instagram.com/shelibow/
https://www.instagram.com/shifttransformexcel/
https://www.instagram.com/createhealthnow/
https://www.instagram.com/tlc.asia/
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connects’ series of more than 1000 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built, and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder and CEO of MBH Corporation PLC. He is the author of three best-selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’, ‘Agglomerate’, and ‘Entrepreneurial Investing’.
Connect with Callum on Twitter and LinkedIn
Download free copies of his books at www.callumlaing.com
