RTDM: Ronne Ozgu
Ronne Ozgu
Health and Transformation Coach
New Providence, New Jersey
We want to get to know you! Briefly tell us about yourself: Where you came from, where you've been and how you're living your dream?
I was born and raised in a small town in New Jersey but it can be said that I really grew up and came into my own in Washington, D.C. which is where I went to college and lived for most of my adult life until recently. Most of my professional life was in the finance world and I served as a CFO for many years of my career. I am proud of all I accomplished in those roles, but truth be told, I never found myself in alignment with that career. It was a real struggle spending my days doing something that I did not feel was serving my highest purpose or using my greatest strengths and talents. There was no passion and very little fulfillment and several years ago, I decided that life is too short to keep doing what I was doing and not enjoying how I was spending my days. With the support of my amazing husband, I cut the cord from the world of finance, listened to my heart, took a huge leap of faith and earned a certification as a life coach. Fast forward a year or so later and out of the blue, I started to have some very debilitating health issues and literally became a shell of my usual high energy and outgoing self. Luckily, after a while, I found an amazing doctor who diagnosed that Lyme disease was causing all of the issues going on in my body, depleting my health and causing me to gain a lot of weight that I could not release. The doctor put me on the right path to healing and I am happy to report that I feel better and younger now than I ever have! That experience made me deeply understand that health is wealth and when we are not in a state of optimal health, it does not matter what we have or what we do. One thing led to another and I found an opportunity to become a Health and Transformation Coach. I am beyond passionate about sharing the gift of health and well being by using the tools I have learned to help others achieve a state of optimal health which literally leads to incredible transformation in so many areas of their lives. My passion is now my profession and my profession is my passion!
How do you define success?
To me, success is creating a life in which I feel peaceful, joyful, fulfilled and have a lot of fun and awe inspiring experiences. I also define success as designing my life in way that gives me the opportunity to serve others and be passionate about how I spend every hour of every day, all while being able to provide security and freedom for my family.
What did it take to make your dream happen and how do you make it sustainable?
It took having a vision for what I wanted to do each day, conquering fear and self-doubt, learning from others, and jumping into inspired action to do the hard work and the heart work. I make the dream sustainable by being consistent. Even on days when it feels like a challenge, I stay focused on who I can help by showing up as my best self - that keeps me motivated and allows me to sustain the dream each day!
What are you most proud of? Go ahead, boast a little!
I am most proud of surviving a couple of extremely challenging circumstances in life, (namely a health crisis and an extremely toxic and abusive relationship). Not only did I survive those situations, but I used them as a catalyst to thrive in life. I am able to see and appreciate the many gifts that came out of each situation and that encourages me to exist in a state of presence and to live in gratitude for all that is good in life.
What was your biggest obstacle/fear and what was your turning point?
My biggest fear in more recent times was the decision to leave a secure job and literally start from zero to launch and build my Health and Transformation Coaching business. It is hard to even call it a business because I am so fulfilled by the opportunity to support others in transforming their health and many other areas of their lives. I was full of fear in the beginning because it was a big financial risk for my family and although we have one child who already graduated college, we have two more to go. What if I couldn’t make it work? How would that impact them? The turning point was when I shifted my energy and focus to making a positive impact in the lives of as many people as possible versus “getting” clients to earn a paycheck, so to speak. That mindset shift literally changed the trajectory of what I have been able to build and how many lives I have been able to impact.
What’s the best advice you’d give to a younger you?
I would advise my younger self not to spend time and mental energy worrying so much about how everything will turn out because it almost never turns out to be as “bad” as we project. I would also counsel and guide my younger self not to relive the past or try to predict the future - just be present, enjoy what is happening in the moment, trust that you have the power to create the life you want and in doing so, all will be well. This approach will allow you to enjoy life a whole lot more on a daily basis!
How do you stay motivated and purposeful when you feel overwhelmed?
When that state of overwhelm starts to creep in, I first lean on my husband. He is my best friend, my rock and a very wise and comforting man. He always reminds me that everything will work out and he is right. I also go to gratitude for all of the blessings in my life because even in the midst of a challenging or scary situation, there is so very much to be grateful for. It is hard to be in a state of overwhelm and gratitude at the same time. I also remember that I have survived some pretty tough circumstances (as we all have) and I know that I will always have the strength to get through anything. It’s all about perspective!
Tell us a time when a perceived failure was actually a blessing in disguise or served you in a surprising way.
This is a bit challenging to answer because my philosophy is that there really is no such thing as failure because our “failures” teach us so much that can propel us to create the most optimal life for ourselves and open us up to opportunities and experiences that we couldn’t have imagined before the “failure”. That said, I have to say that the relationship I mentioned above wins this contest. It was horrendous. It was toxic. It was abusive. I was living in a state of terror for a long time. That said, it was also the biggest gift. If I had not gone through all of that and learned everything that I learned about myself and what really matters to me, I would not be living the amazing life I am living now. I would not be so appreciative for the small things which I have discovered are the big things that matter most.
What is your favorite vice/guilty pleasure/strange habit? Come on now, we all have them!
I absolutely love snuggling under my fuzzy electric blanket and cuddling up next to my husband - especially in the summer when the air conditioning is blasting!
What's the smartest investment you’ve made for yourself?
When I was turning the corner and healing from Lyme disease, I invested in a health and wellbeing program with a health coach to help me lose the excess weight I had put on, to develop healthier habits and to focus on living a long and vibrant life. I realized that the excess weight was not only a physical burden, but it was an energetic burden. I was limiting myself from pursuing opportunities and doing things I love because of it. Once I committed to losing the weight and improving my overall health, I began to feel better physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and that gave me the momentum to transform so many other areas of my life in so many positive ways. I was back to myself and feeling better than I had when I was much younger. It is because of that investment in my own health, that I committed to the mission of helping others to transform their lives through healthier living. The return on that investment is priceless not just for me and my family, but for all of the lives I have had the opportunity to impact!
What’s MOST important to you right now?
This one is short and sweet - what is most important to me now (and always) is the health and happiness of my family and friends.
Share 1-2 books that have impacted you the most:
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
What have you learned to say no to?
Toxic people. Enough said.
What's something surprising about you?
I absolutely love the Grateful Dead and Phish and going to as many concerts as possible with my hubby. It is amazing to let loose, dance the night away, connect with people from all walks of life and take in all of the amazing energy - I can’t get enough of it!
Who is a Risk Taker Dream Maker(s) that has inspired you? Why?
Sonia Lopez. Sonia is an incredibly inspiring person. She is a very loyal friend, a phenomenal coach and her energy and wisdom positively impact all who know her. Sonia has also recently taken a risk and is pursuing and achieving her own dreams so I think she is a great person to highlight on RTDM.
Follow Ronne:
OzguHealth@gmail.com
Facebook
(973) 830-7777
