In this heartfelt Sacred Business Stories interview, we sat down with
, a certified confidence and self-belief coach who found her calling at age 60 after retiring from a 42-year career in banking. Sue's story is a powerful testament to how past trauma can become your greatest gift to others when transformed through inner work and self-discovery.Sue shares her journey from being a shy girl who survived three toxic relationships—including being stabbed at age 17—to building her confidence and eventually creating a business helping others do the same. What makes her story particularly inspiring is how she embraced an entirely new path after retirement instead of following the traditional script, developing multiple certifications and evolving naturally into her role as a coach and writer.
Show Notes
[00:00:02] - Finding Purpose After Retirement
Sue retired from banking in 2019 after a 42-year career
Rather than simply retiring, she wanted to use her experience to help others
She began training in NLP and hypnotherapy to help people with confidence issues
What started as a "hobby" naturally evolved into a business, particularly after joining Substack
[00:03:51] - Early Influences and Childhood Dreams
Sue wanted to become a doctor but was told by parents and teachers she "wasn't clever enough"
This fed into a lifelong feeling of "not being good enough"
Following her father's suggestion, she went into banking instead
The pattern of outside influence and self-doubt shaped her early career choices
[00:05:11] - Overcoming Trauma and Finding Confidence
Survived three toxic relationships, including being stabbed five times at age 17
Hit rock bottom at age 38 after her third relationship ended
Started journaling and reading self-help books to rebuild her confidence
Found that her job in banking was where she felt most confident, showing her potential
[00:16:47] - Discovering a Common Thread: Proving Self-Worth
A coaching supervisor once asked: "Why are you still trying to prove yourself to your father after all these years?"
Realized she'd spent her life trying to prove she was "good enough"
This pattern both motivated her success and created resistance
Her mantra "everything will be OK" helps her move through self-doubt
[00:20:53] - The Mind-Body Connection in Confidence Building
Sue emphasizes the importance of body language in displaying confidence
Your subconscious believes everything you tell it and looks for proof
Positive mantras like "everything is working out for me" create shifts in perception
Repetition eventually transforms external mantras into your inner voice
[00:29:18] - Building Authentic Online Connections
Be yourself rather than trying to imitate successful people
Engage consistently and genuinely with others' content
Leave thoughtful comments that add value, not just "great post!"
Use live video formats to create deeper connections with your audience
[00:33:31] - Future Plans: Creating Impact Through Courses
Developing a "Confident Communication" course for professional women
Focus on helping women speak up in male-dominated environments
Includes body language techniques to project confidence
Planning a June launch with early-bird discounts and bonuses
Key Quotes
"I think I actually believe everybody is confident. It's the self-confidence and the self-belief, self-love that you lack and self-esteem." - Sue Reid
"I built up my confidence from like hitting rock bottom. And I love people. I really love meeting people and helping people. So how can I put those two together?" - Sue Reid
"Everything is always working out for me. And everything was just falling apart. And I'm like, everything is... repeating that over and over and over. And I would go for walks just thinking about that. There was no other thought." - Sue Reid
"The older I become more I become more healthier more abundant and more spiritual... the older I get like kind of going to the opposite direction that society in a way teach us." - Carolina Wilke
Resources Mentioned
Book: "Building Confidence, How to Thrive as a Shy Person" by Sue Reid (available on Amazon)
Jay Shetty School (life coaching certification)
NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Hypnotherapy
Journaling as a confidence-building practice
Mantras and affirmations for mindset shifts
Where to Find Sue
Substack: Sue Reid's Substack
Coming Soon: "Confident Communication" course for professional women (launching June 2025)
Join Our Sacred Business Community
If Sue's story resonated with you, we invite you to join the Sacred Business Network - a community of heart-centered entrepreneurs who understand that everything is connected. Share your gifts, challenges, and victories in a supportive environment designed to help you build a business that aligns with your deepest truth.
Our weekly Substack Lives feature inspiring stories like Sue's that demonstrate how your life experiences can transform into meaningful work that serves others. Whether you're just starting your business journey or looking to evolve your existing business into something more aligned, you'll find guidance and community here.
Thank you for joining us for this powerful conversation. Who would you like to hear from next on Sacred Business Stories?
With appreciation,
Phil & Carolina
P.S. You can read all previous editions of the newsletter here, and you can upgrade your subscription here.
What’s next?
Carolina and I are ready to support you in creating a business that aligns with your heart's calling. Here's how we can help:
Discover Your Sacred Business Alignment (Free): Take the Harmony Map Assessment and read our Sacred Business Manifesto to understand where you are on your path and how to move forward with clarity and confidence. Perfect for entrepreneurs wanting to understand how everything in their business connects.
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