Taking Brave Leaps at Any Age with Lisa Alfano
Today’s guest is no stranger to making big leaps, although she didn’t necessarily recognize that right away. She had made career changes and cross-country moves, but it wasn’t until she hit 50 that she realized something more drastic needed to change. She was tired of the sedentary pattern she’d fallen into and she was even more tired of waiting for… something else. So at 50 years old, she decided to embrace her passion, get a personal trainer, and start competing in triathlons.
I’m so honored to introduce my first ever coaching client, Lisa Alfano. After seven years of triathlons, a new business, and big plans for the future, Lisa Alfano is more fulfilled than ever, but the path to her current state in life wasn’t easy or simple. Finding her current state of being required lots of inner work, self-trust, and in her case, a coach (me, Lisa Hoashi!) to help guide her along the path and offer support to keep her accountable to her goals.
In today’s episode, Lisa details her journey from competing in triathlons to buying her first surfboard at age 57 — and the visions for her own business and community that have opened up for her since then. She explains how accountability through coaching was the missing piece for her to finally recognize the strength in herself and to go after her dreams. She shares with us the practical steps she took in preparing for her big leap from coaching exercises that helped her clarify her ideal future to the safety nets she has in place to support her transition into a full-time business owner.
This journey reinforced for Lisa Alfano that she’s even stronger than she thought. She can do hard things, and it brings her so much satisfaction to prove that to herself over and over. She encourages all of us not to wait to go after our dreams, but to get support and then take the big leaps as soon as we feel the pull. You’re not going to want to miss this conversation.
If you’re in a similar situation, asking yourself “what am I waiting for?” and looking for support as you plan your next step, I can help! Visit my coaching page orsend me a message to learn more.
In this episode, you’ll learn...
[03:19] How Lisa Alfano and Lisa Hoashi first met and the crossroad moment Lisa Alfano faced as she turned 50
[04:58] Why Lisa Alfano decided to start competing in triathlons and why they bring so much satisfaction to her life
[11:38] The role regret plays in our life and how we can use it to inform our choices
[16:15] The exercise from her coach (Lisa Hoashi) that changed everything for Lisa Alfano and helped her establish the accountability to accomplish her dreams
[22:11] The safety nets that Lisa Alfano has set up as she prepares for next big leap
[29:22] Why having a coach to guide her through big transitions has been invaluable for Lisa Alfano
[31:14] The community Lisa Alfano wants to build and why she’s so passionate about fitness and health for women 50+
[40:15] Lisa Alfano’s parting advice for anyone thinking about a change in their life
This season is all about the different kinds of leaps you can make in your life. If you’re looking for habits and tools to keep you going after your leap, be sure to tune into this episode.
Links mentioned in this episode…
Daniel H Pink’s book The Power of Regret: How Looking Back Moves Us Forward
Download my FREE change planner
Check out my Catalyst Coaching program
Connect with Lisa Hoashi
Connect with Lisa Alfano
Lisa Alfano’s Bio
Lisa Alfano made a life-changing decision to quit her job in 2014 to travel, with a one-way ticket to Thailand in hand. The journey showed Lisa more than just different places; the journey and experiences showed that she could do anything she put her mind to. And that she could survive and thrive despite taking risks and bucking up against societal norms. This vulnerable and courageous decision led, in part, to Lisa being more committed to longer distance triathlon races and starting to surf at the ripe young age of 57. At the age of almost 60, she founded Tri2Surf, a business for women ages 50+ who want to reset or discover their active selves and claim their power and passion.
Transcript of Episode 40: Taking Brave Leaps at Any Age with Lisa Alfano
[00:00:00] Lisa Alfano When I hit 50, I realized that there were so many things that I wanted to do and I didn't even realize that I wanted to do them. And by just verbalizing to my trainer that I've always wanted to do a triathlon, I never really realized I wanted to do it until I said it to him. Just opened up this whole I guess it opened up the mindset that just, you know, life is too short. It's fleeting.
[00:00:28] Lisa Hoashi Welcome to Leap Like Me, the podcast that helps you to be bold in life, to stretch what's possible and find more adventure, joy and purpose along the way. I'm your host, Lisa Hoashi. I'm a life coach who can help if you're ready to take a new, more authentic direction in life. On Leap, like me, we share the inspiring stories of people like you who have made a brave leap and offer practical tips for how to set your leap in motion, too. Let's get started. Hello, everyone, this is Lisa Hoashi and welcome to Leap Like Me. Our guest today is one of my clients, a friend and someone. I'm just really glad that I know. She made a life changing decision to quit her job and travel in 2014, and that journey showed her that she could do anything that she put her mind to. At age 57, she started to surf and train for longer triathlons, and now she has launched her own business. It's called Tri2Surf. And it supports women who are 50 plus who want to rediscover their active selves, their power and passion. A big welcome to Lisa Alfano. Lisa, thanks for joining us today.
[00:01:49] Lisa Alfano Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure.
[00:01:51] Lisa Hoashi So, listen, I originally met in Portland at a yoga retreat. I think we were roomies, weren't we?
[00:01:58] Lisa Alfano Yeah.
[00:02:00] Lisa Hoashi And then I ran into Lisa as I was getting ready to take my sabbatical year in 2013. We ran into each other on the street in Portland and she told me she was thinking about taking her taking one as well. And we just kind of bonded over that idea. And then when I decided to become a coach after my sabbatical year, I thought, you know, who do I know in my life who might be open to coaching, who's interested, who's been supportive? And Lisa actually became my first client. And so, you know, I've been coaching for eight years now, and Lisa and I have worked together like at various points in both of our journeys, and I've just been like so grateful for this ongoing partnership. Most recently, we have been working together to help her with the launch of her business try to surf. And it's just been really fun. I wanted to bring her on the show today because she knows so much about what it is to take away in your life. So I wanted her to tell us a bit about her lay offs. And I also want her to share, like what it's like to coach with me along those different types of moments in that kind of journey. So thanks so much for being here, Lisa.
[00:03:13] Lisa Alfano Yeah sure. It's a pleasure.
[00:03:14] Lisa Hoashi Introduce yourself a little bit and tell us a little bit more about you and what you're up to.
[00:03:19] Lisa Alfano Sure. So I am originally in I'm an East Coast transplant to Portland. I moved here in 2004 and that actually was a leap for me. I didn't even consider it a leap. I was in a a job that I thought was pretty taxing and stressful. And I realized it really wasn't doing me any it wasn't bringing any joy. So I left New York. I traveled a little bit and I realized I want to go back to grad school. And during my travels I met someone who lived in Portland. So I came to visit and realized Portland is the place for me. So I've been here since 2004. I'm currently full time employed. I am a triathlete. As you had mentioned. I started triathlons when I was 50, and I consider myself to be an athlete, a continued budding athlete. In my sixth generation of life, I've always been an athlete. I played softball when I was a kid. And fast forward, I think all of that active life when I was younger has definitely stayed with me and has blossomed since I've been in Portland.
[00:04:23] Lisa Hoashi And where do you feel like? I mean, it seems like there is a bit of like I have done talk with my clients about like the Crossroads moment. It sounds like that you around 50 kind of hit like a crossroads moment that kind of kicks some of these things off that have been in the last in the last ten years or so.
[00:04:42] Lisa Alfano Yeah, that was when I was preparing for the chat with you. I was reading some of the questions that you posed to me to think about, and I was like, Whoa, yeah. There was that pivotal moment when I turned 50. What I will share with you and the audience. So there was a pivotal moment in my life that I realized. I wasn't in a place that I that was really very healthy and it wasn't right for me and for a variety of reasons. And so I joined the gym. I was pretty sedentary, which is really not my M.O., so to speak. I was always active and it just a few years lull for whatever reason. I just wasn't as active as I normally was. So I joined the gym and the trainer that they gave me was a triathlete. And so we started training every week and he's like and I kept on saying, I want to be a triathlete, I want to do a triathlon. And never took that step. And when I met Ken, he just got me on the path to do triathlon. So I started training and that was the pivotal moment for me. That was the year I was 50 and I did my first triathlon and it was amazing and probably one of the scariest things I've ever done. Yeah.
[00:05:54] Lisa Hoashi And what did you get out of that experience? Like, what was the way?
[00:05:58] Lisa Alfano Well, we go in, so back in time, the training was awesome. I found that I need like there is such a pull for me to have to be active. I need the endorphins. Actually, he told me that I was an endorphin junkie and I really never heard of that before. I'm like, Nah, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing because endorphins, well, it's a natural drug. It's still a drug and you get high from it. Right. So I had to I had to decide, is that a good thing or a bad thing? But anyway, I just let it be what it ever was.
[00:06:26] Lisa Hoashi What do you think he was talking about? Like, what was he trying to capture with that?
[00:06:30] Lisa Alfano I needed that. It made me so happy. Like I just got that this euphoric sense about me. Everything changed when I was when I was training, when I was working out, when I was doing my triathlon, my whole state of being. While it seems counterintuitive, while I was like my energy level was so high, I was much more calm. And so when I was doing my training every week and then participating in the triathlons, sometimes there would be dips, you know, ebbs and flows. But that that euphoria that I had from the endorphins, I think that's what he was referring to. I was more steady, I was happier, I was engaged. I just wanted to do more of it.
[00:07:13] Lisa Hoashi Which I mean, you mention the word counterintuitive. It's like to get like really high off of like where it sounds like really hard work to a lot of us. I mean, a triathlon is like it's got the running, swimming and biking components, right?
[00:07:28] Lisa Alfano Yeah.
[00:07:29] Lisa Hoashi The endorphins. Where do you think they come from? You know, is it like the feeling of being strong for you or. But you can take on challenges, do hard things?
[00:07:40] Lisa Alfano I think it's a combination of all of that. I didn't. I did. I guess it showed me that I had a lot more strength in me than I ever gave myself credit for. When someone holds me accountable and pushes me, I'm able to live up to that or live up to what the potential I have in myself. And that's what happened. I realized that I could do anything. Like you said in the intro, I can basically do anything I put my mind to. And it really gave me a sense of empowerment and yeah, a lot of self worth empowerment. It gave me discipline and I held myself accountable where I don't think I had that for a while. And you know, looking back, it was when I say just just training, right? Just go into a trainer once a week and having a plan, doing my workouts, preparing for the race. It wasn't just about the race. It was really giving my sons myself a sense of peace and also to follow up and follow up with my commitments.
[00:08:44] Lisa Hoashi So it was like the satisfaction and being to like complete and keep up and yeah.
[00:08:49] Lisa Alfano Yeah. And it's like that in life. Right. Because there is a point where I wasn't really keeping up to my end of the bargain. I wasn't really holding myself accountable and I was going through the motions and life was fun. And I was, you know, I had a house, I had a I have a wonderful community here in Portland. But I believe that this entering the community of the triathlon community and doing that work really showed me that there was a part of me that was missing. And I love I love the competition. I love the community. I love the bonding of being with others who were doing similar things and also the sense of discipline and commitment that I had to doing.
[00:09:31] Lisa Hoashi Yeah. And so, you know, like, as we said, like you took a number like once you were kind of on this track, you started taking like a number of different leaps. And yeah, one of my questions for you is like, you know, now looking back over those leaps of like taking a sabbatical, starting to serve and starting a business, like what do you think those leaves symbolize or mean for you in your life?
[00:09:57] Lisa Alfano Have I should have done it sooner. Seriously, I probably should have done it.
[00:10:04] Lisa Hoashi I mean, that's a totally valid answer. You know, I think I mean, a lot of times I think that there are an expression of like, I want to live my life to the fullest. So I need I feel like I need to kind of cut like I'm going to take a leave because I feel like I need to catch up with where I really want to be at this point in life.
[00:10:22] Lisa Alfano Yeah, that's great insight. Yeah, I think I believe now that you put it in that way, I'm thinking in that perspective, when I hit 50, I realized that there were so many things that I wanted to do and I didn't even realize that I wanted to do them. And by just verbalizing to my trainer that I've always wanted to do a triathlon, I never really realized I wanted to do it until I said it to him. Just opened up this whole I guess it opened up the mindset that just, you know, life is too short. It's fleeting. You're something that I thought I've, you know, I've always wanted to do and I'm doing it now. That's and it's showing me that I can do it and that, you know, there's so many clichés about don't wait until you're on your deathbed to do X, Y, Z, you know, don't have any regrets. But it's true. You know, it is so true. If you have a desire to do something and you have the ability and capability and the privilege to do so, don't put it off because you're really you're fulfilling something that's really deep into your soul. Yeah, it just showed me that I was. I wasn't really who I could be. These leaps really brought who I was to life, and I was really in my authentic self. Yeah.
[00:11:38] Lisa Hoashi Well, what you mentioned about the whole, like, the deathbed and the regrets reminds me of a book that came out this year by Daniel H. Pink called The Power of Regret that I really enjoyed reading. But he he did like this really big survey, like a worldwide survey of regret, and asked people what they regretted. And there was there are several categories that he had regrets, but one of the most common was actually the regret of not being bolder in life. And so it's like, yeah, those, those things that you would have liked to have done that you didn't do right. And so I feel like, but we observe that people who are trying, who are conscious of like that potential regret. Right. Of not being bolder when they could have been.
[00:12:24] Lisa Alfano Right. Yeah, that is so true. And, you know, there's a contrary to that statement. There's also another book that I read regarding you try not to have any regrets because the things that you have done and have not done in the past makes you who you are today. And to think that if you didn't do X, where would you be today? You would be in a different place. Mm hmm. But I do hear what you're saying, because I do agree that I didn't want to continue to live my life without being bold, I guess, to use Pink's term. Yeah. So this is a this is a really fun topic to talk about and something that we don't always have enough time to think about. Mm hmm. Yeah.
[00:13:08] Lisa Hoashi Well, so let's maybe we could talk about your most recently, which was to launch this business.
[00:13:14] Lisa Alfano Okay.
[00:13:15] Lisa Hoashi So at least, Lisa, someone might look over your history of these different lay offs and just say, oh, it's easier for her if she's so brave. She just does what she wants. You know, this comes naturally. What do you think about that? Like, what's really the sort of inside scoop there?
[00:13:32] Lisa Alfano Like, I can understand why some folks say that, but in using the example of wanting to surf and getting out and buying my stuff and getting on a board and popping up like the first time, I mean, the perception when I talk about it, folks, I understand why they think that it's that it's easy. I am brave, but there's a lot of work that I've done up until that point, not just with surfing, but also with triathlons and my my business Tri2Surf. There's a lot of thought. There's a lot of angst. There's a lot of work with a business and life coach, Lisa Hoashi for instance. And so, you know, is there time with therapists? There is just self reflection and there's creating ideas and not feeling empowered. And there's a lot of angst and disappointment and not a lot of confidence in myself. And then with the help with you and with others. It all comes together, even though it seems totally disjointed. The work that I've done in the past and even continuing to do it today and when it comes, I think it appears to be easy because I have a lot of passion around it and I realize that it's part of my calling to just to build a community of women 58 plus to do some things that like I've done. So, yeah, I am brave and it is a bold step, but it's not really very easy. Mm.
[00:15:04] Lisa Hoashi Yes. Lisa. I mean I'm just thinking about, I mean, I feel so privileged because I feel like I've been here for like kind of the birthing of try to, sir. And so, you know, when we first started working together in the most recent iteration, it was, I guess I would kind of characterize it as like you were kind of looking ahead to like your next chapter. And I'm just curious like, you know, what were some of the things that we did that kind of helped you to? I mean, because now at this point, you're like starting to really live out like this next chapter, which is so exciting. But at that point that we reengaged after, you know, a few years, it was it was like you're like, okay, I want to kind of set the stage for this now, and I want to see, you know, I have this idea, what should I do with it? So what did we do that helped you with that.
[00:15:56] Lisa Alfano Really helped lay the foundation. For not the business itself. Well you helped lay the foundation for the businesses of itself? But all of the work that you had me do was so critical for me to get to this place. We did some strength finders. The key piece I know I'm thinking all of this, the key piece to what you helped me with was to hold myself accountable, which was probably the most difficult thing for me to do. You gave me exercises and references books to read about how to build a habit, how to create a habit, how to sustain it. But the key piece was being with you on a consistent basis. And holding myself accountable. Because there was so much that I wanted to do. I had all of these ideas and I couldn't get them down into something solid and really reflecting and analyzing and talking about what is my and not necessarily an end goal, but what is my vision. And did all of that work leading up to that vision? The one thing that stands out that I think was the pivotal piece for me that has helped me so much and I go back to it all the time is the write down what your ideal day is? I look back at that and it's it's changed a little bit. It has changed a little bit. That exercise, to me, has laid the foundation for everything. Like I said, I go back to all the time, like, am I trying to live my ideal day? And no, right now? No. And what can I do to get there?
[00:17:34] Lisa Hoashi Yeah, I love that. Yeah. So for those who are listening to this or watching it, what we're talking about is an exercise I often have clients do, which is just to write like a narrative. It can be like a one page piece of paper about what you would do during your ideal day from start to finish down to the little details of like, What are you wearing that day? Who are you with? Like, what are you having for breakfast? You know, how do you end your day? What do you do in the evening? And it's supposed to be like a workday as well. So, you know, to help us think about like, what are you doing as well for work? And yeah, it's it's such a simple exercise. I have a client right now who has been referencing that as well, that I think this is such like a central tenet of my work and that I have found really had results from my own life was just to like. Yes, to just have this, like very clear idea of like what the ideal is. And then the key. Like you said, keep checking in with yourself as you keep going. Like, am I doing things that are going to get me there? Am I getting closer? Am I making decisions today that are going to lead me closer to that vision?
[00:18:46] Lisa Alfano Yeah. Yeah. I also realize, I mean, all the work that we did together that led up to that, putting that down on a piece of paper. When I look at it, I realize it's not it is attainable. When you first had me do that, I thought, oh, my ideal day is I'm going to be on this, create this island and I'm going to be making millions of dollars. It has nothing to do with that. It was this. I can still I can envision it and it's more of a realistic goal. I keep on using goal, but it's a more realistic life that I want to live. That definitely is something that I can that I can see. So.
[00:19:24] Lisa Hoashi Yeah, well, and then, you know, and then it sounds like once you have that really clear kind of vision, it's about the what we were able to do with coaching to have this structure that allowed you to. I mean, a lot of what we do is you are definitely an ideas person. And so so yeah, a lot of times it is like you said, like grounding them and then we really design like, okay, what would be some actions that would help you move ahead with this and then just having that container to check back in? How is that going? And and yeah, I can really see how you've been making that a practice. I mean, more and more I see that you're like sending me messages to say like, okay, I did this, I did this. I'm still working on this. You know, it's like, it's great. Yeah. Yeah. Like, this is a great way to use the coach.
[00:20:15] Lisa Alfano Oh, it's wonderful to the audience. Well, and also to you, one of the hardest things that's been happening these past few years is I'm also working full time. And so so to go back also to the question about how some folks think that I'm that I'm brave, that this has been easy for me and it comes naturally and it comes easy. The struggles also are how to navigate around the work that I'm doing that's helping to pay the bills, and that's a full time job and then trying to get a business off the ground, which is really my it just it gives me so much joy. It's really super hard to do, but it gives me so much joy. But how to navigate both of those worlds on top of training for being still participating in the triathlon community and training for this season, upcoming season? That's something to think about when you're embarking on a starting a business or taking a leap like that. How to how to really accept that when you're starting a business, there may be a lot of challenges that you have to overcome and you've quit your job. Where is the income coming from? Like all of these things flow into starting a business or doing something that you've been wanting to do for a long time.
[00:21:31] Lisa Hoashi Yeah, it's really tricky. I mean, that particular challenge I didn't have to deal with because because I had already quit my job. And, you know, as I was starting my business on my savings, I was like, okay, this has got to work, you know? But I had the time and yeah, that's, that's is a huge energy challenge to, you know, be working full time. And like you said, like the the business itself is so energizing because you love it. And yet I imagine you're really pulled because you're like, I really want to work on this, this business that really lights me out. But I really still have to, you know, I have these big obligations with a full time job still too.
[00:22:11] Lisa Alfano Yeah. One of the changes that I am going to do is leave my job to be able to work on this business full time. I'm at the point in my life where I can. It's really super scary, but I have to. I can't deny wanting to get this building a community going. I just can't deny it any longer. So it's really scary. Like one of the prep questions that you got you gave to me to start thinking about for when we were talking is like, Where am I today? What am I going to be doing? What are some of the challenges? I realize that I can't deny this any longer. And so if you find your calling or if you find your passion, it's become so full of who you are. It really accentuates who you are that if you don't get it going, it could start wreaking a little bit of havoc on your life, for sure, I'll say. Right. Yeah. So I'm going to take that leap again in a few months and focus on this full time and really get my triathlon training going and my surfing and my business because that's just what really feeds me. Yeah.
[00:23:27] Lisa Hoashi Well, Lisa, and feel free to, you know, answer this in the way that feels most comfortable to you or just say like, you're not ready to answer it. But I'm just curious, you mentioned, I mean, a big part about taking a leap is that like usually the risky and they're scary. And so one of the things I really try to help my clients do is like think about how can they create some safety within that risk. And so, I mean, it sounds like you're doing a very big thing, right? You're leaving your job to to move ahead with working more full time on your own, Tri2Surf your own business. So what kinds of things have you put into place that will be your safety net?
[00:24:09] Lisa Alfano Now I can I'll feel comfortable answering this. So I have I own a house and I will be getting a roommate to help pay for the mortgage because that will help decrease the angst around money. And when I travel, I'll have someone here as well to help pay some of the bills. I also have a financial advisor that I have been talking to the past few years, and we're going to have a conversation in January to lay out a budget which is really scary because I've never lived on a budget before. Yeah, I have definitely been blessed and privileged and I actually understand where that privilege is coming from. So and so part of that is like just getting my finances in order. But it's not just the finances, the money itself. It's really having a relationship around money is what has to change, because right now I've lived a certain lifestyle and it's it'll change. And so, like, how do I. How do I handle? How do I accept? How do I embrace the changes that are going to happen and also recognize that I'll be okay?
[00:25:22] Lisa Hoashi Yeah. Well, you bring up such a good point. I think that a lot of times these shifts that we're making around the leap moment are big, you know, just big changes in life in general, and that they often call us to have a different relationship to money. So I'm thinking, you know, about some of my clients who have like really secure, high paying jobs, but they want to be more artistic and creative and entrepreneurial. And so it's like there might be a new redefinition of like, what is enough for me? And so I kind of let go of some of the things that come with, like with their current relationship with money. Yeah.
[00:26:01] Lisa Alfano Right. Yeah. You know, also on single and I don't have any children, so I don't have any obligations that are reliant on an income other than myself. So I think that's an important piece to to make note of because when I do leave my job, I do have access to retirement funds if I want to take it. And then I have a savings account that I will use. But I don't have I don't have you know, I don't have anyone that's relying on me to help pay for them and help them sustain their life. So that's an important piece also that flows into my business. This part of the my the community that I I'm working with or I want to work with are women who are 50 plus that may also have kids and obligations. And, and I want them and some of the my ideal clients are those that have children and they lost their sense of self or sense of active lives. Right. And they want to get that back. So how do they how do they get their active self back while having other obligations? Mm hmm. Like, how do you work with both? You have a lot that you've kind of let go because you have other things that have popped up. So that kind of flows into where I'm at. Also like how just having a different definition of what life looks like.
[00:27:25] Lisa Hoashi So we already kind of touched on what some of the scariest parts of starting your own businesses. But you know, I just am so cognizant of that, that there are so many people out there who would love to start their own business like this is one of their dreams, and yet they don't ever do it. So obviously there are like some very scary things that go along with that. Now that you've, you know, started this process, like, what do you think are some of the scariest?
[00:27:51] Lisa Alfano You know, you're upsetting your whole daily life. That's been the same for a really long time. I mean, really think about what does that truly what will that look like? It's not that scary and not that different if you take a step back and say, really, what's going to be different? Oh, I may not be going to a job from 9 to 5, but I am also going to be obligated and be held accountable to doing the business. So the scary part is moving into the unknown. That's all I'm trying to say. The scary part is moving into the unknown. I do believe having someone there to help you guide you along the way and help to get a little bit more focused is really super helpful. Scary part also is not having the support that we thought you need and I mean emotional support from whether it's your family or your close friends. So be prepared to not have that support that you think you need. And then you may realize that you don't really need it, which is something that happened to me when I moved from New York to Portland that helped me. That experience helped me realize that you need support from some stuff. Mm hmm. It's nice to have support from your family and friends to actually take that leap. But it's not absolutely critical, right, because it's coming from inside.
[00:29:22] Lisa Hoashi Yeah. I've also noticed that that is also a key place where a coach can help. Is that when you can find a coach who can be that support, where maybe you're finding it's lacking in the other parts of your life that can really help? I mean, I have so many people who come to me who are just like the people around me just don't get it. Or they're they're too scared. They're too scared for me. So they actually are not, like, helping me do this.
[00:29:48] Lisa Alfano Yeah. Last year, meeting you and having that, that, that coaching relationship was there was critical for me and getting, getting this business to where it's at because we started working together after we both got back from our sabbaticals. And I wasn't working at the time because when I got back I realized I don't want to go back to that so that work life again. And so we met during that transition period for me, and it was it was more of a focus of life and where I want my life to go, not necessarily just the business and having you or having someone like you, but for me personally, having you there to guide me along the way and then start helping me with visioning and where I want to see my life go. And what happened when I was traveling, how do I want to bring that feeling to my current world was just so important and it really laid the groundwork for where I am today. So I'm so grateful that we had that.
[00:30:50] Lisa Hoashi Opportunity.
[00:30:50] Lisa Alfano To have that relationship. So yeah.
[00:30:53] Lisa Hoashi I mean, it's so incredible to watch you bring all of this to life. Yes. I love seeing it. Yeah. Well, maybe that's a good segue way then to just hear a little bit about what your plans are for trying to serve, what is your vision, how well how would you really like this to serve women who are 50 plus?
[00:31:14] Lisa Alfano So my vision is to have a community, a safe, embracing, empowering community of women who are there for each other and for themselves to really reclaim their active lives right through claim their active selves. And what that looks like is get them, get folks moving, have a supportive environment to lean on each other about their fears and trepidations and challenges. And also all of the the great things that are happening by moving, whether that's starting triathlons, whether that's starting surfing or surfing with others or hiking like anything that's active and gets their their body moving. Because I believe that there's such a strong mind body connection that once their body gets moving, that mindset just becomes. More censored. So, yeah, I have this vision of this really bold, empowered, resilient community of women that we talk about anything and everything and then include that active life as part of that.
[00:32:24] Lisa Hoashi And do you see this as like this community? Like how far reaching is that? Is that meant to be like a community that's doing stuff in person or is that, you know, is it kind of like a broader movement of people who are in different places?
[00:32:41] Lisa Alfano Well, it's a broader movement. I don't know if COVID show has shown us that we can be so far apart from each other but still be connected. So, yeah, it's a broader movement. It's I am doing starting surf retreats. So that's one of the ways by which I can bring people and the women together in person to do some great bonding and community building and then also to surf because it's just such an amazing thing. But I also have a vision of doing remote summits where I bring other people together, where we have workshops and work panels, breakout rooms, and just all get us together, listening and hearing what other what other women are doing. So that's more of a remote type of community building. But in-person right now I'm seeing more surf retreats and locally also getting some running groups together and providing some triathlon resources. But that would be remote. And whether I get to them, get with them in person to do some training around that. But it's it's a combination.
[00:33:48] Lisa Hoashi Yeah. Well, I'm so excited to hear that because soon I will be able to join your community and I'm looking forward to doing that. Now I have something to look forward to, a turning 70. And, you know, I it just like it resonates so much with me. Actually, just a few podcasts ago, I talked about just working with my first like nutritionist and personal trainer on Alexander who's here is based in Barcelona. And so I have just like started like lifting weights and like doing my own workouts and it's just been it really has been a big change for me and that the benefits that you've talked about of like feeling empowered, feeling strong, really feeling like you've you've lit the spark again inside. Like I'm just like, you know, being able to accomplish these physical challenges and say to yourself, like, yeah, I did it. It's a really huge because I think, you know, I just have had two babies, you know, and so I'm kind of I'm in early motherhood and and there's it's just like and we're also having babies later in life. And so it's like, you know, I'm like reaching middle age with two young kids and I'm just like, that can really take a toll on your body. And I was just kind of like at a at that point, that kind of slump place of kind of like maybe how you felt when you were in your sedentary life. Right? Or you're just like.
[00:35:13] Lisa Alfano Oh.
[00:35:13] Lisa Hoashi Is this it? Like, Is this all my body can do now? You know? And whoa, that feels amazing when you can be like, I'm pumping weights. Like, This is amazing.
[00:35:26] Lisa Alfano I like to hear that that, you know, it's.
[00:35:29] Lisa Hoashi Like it's it really is big. And I love that you're wanting to share this with women at this age and also to to bring women together. Because I think that the other club area that comes to us at this age is is in our friendships and our community, and especially after we just lived out, you know, come out of a pandemic. So like.
[00:35:52] Lisa Alfano Yeah.
[00:35:53] Lisa Hoashi I think what you're offering is so important.
[00:35:56] Lisa Alfano Thanks. And I'm so happy to hear that you're doing that. You know, the that I haven't touched upon or we haven't touched upon. But you just did. Yeah. Is how our bodies are changing. And perimenopause and menopause. I mean, I've menopausal stage has been over for a while, but I found a Facebook group called Hit Play, not pause. And it's for active women going through experience of perimenopause and menopause. And the moderator, founder leader Selena Vega is awesome. And I have learned so much over the past few months by just being on the Facebook group and you know, I follow Selena is on her podcast.
[00:36:35] Lisa Hoashi Great podcast episode, by the way. Yeah, I loved that interview.
[00:36:39] Lisa Alfano Thank you. That was so awesome. It was so natural and so easy just like this one is. But it was just great. Anyway, I'm realizing that we women have to make sure that we keep our bodies healthy. And by that I mean because with menopause comes bone loss, hormone loss, all of that. So doing weights and being more active is really critical. You don't have to be a surfer or triathlete or a long distance. But we need to keep our bodies healthy for a bone and hormone perspective. So one of the things that has now morphed into my business, which wasn't on the plate at all, is bringing women to talk about what, you know, what changes their bodies have gone through and how can we be there for each other in support?
[00:37:31] Lisa Hoashi Absolutely. Yeah. There's still so much like talk that I feel like, you know, all kind of privately happened between girlfriends. But that is like that. By talking more publicly like that, women could really be in a much more supported place. You know, rather than keeping some of the changes or the struggles that they're having, like so, you know, secrets for just the most intimate relationships, you know? I feel like there's could be so much more empowerment if if women could talk more like have spaces to talk more freely about what's going on. Yeah.
[00:38:05] Lisa Alfano Yeah. And thankfully, they're opening up now. It's amazing what I'm hearing, what we're all learning from each other that, you know, our medical community's not talking to us about this. I'm learning that folks aren't even trained to learn about menopause in their training, and I'm hoping that that's starting to change. But yeah, we have to we have to be our advocates, our own advocates around this and find other women who want to talk about this. And, you know, it's interesting around the concept of friendships as we get older, I'm finding that it's I'm finding that it's a fact. It's a fallacy that as you get older, you lose the ability or you don't make friends as well or as easy as you do when you're younger. And I'm so grateful that that hasn't been the case. Mm hmm. My friendships that I've formed later on in life are so strong. But that doesn't negate the friendships that I've made when I was younger, because I'm still very like my my best friends have been made one month in college and when when I was in my thirties. But I'm not finding that. And I believe it's because we have a better sense of who we are now and try to serve is also trying to help guide and support other women to find themselves again. Because I've gotten feedback from some of my friends of about you know, I've lost myself. I have I love my husband, I love my children. But during that process, I've lost who I am and what I want. What a wonderful way to form a community to be able to talk about that stuff.
[00:39:46] Lisa Hoashi Absolutely.
[00:39:47] Lisa Alfano Yeah.
[00:39:48] Lisa Hoashi And like the means to to then go kind of rediscover it.
[00:39:52] Lisa Alfano Yeah. Yeah.
[00:39:53] Lisa Hoashi Awesome. All right, Lisa. Well, you are such an inspiration, and I wonder if you would just share one of your secrets, maybe for me and believe, like me, community, about just some advice you'd give us so we can also be badasses as we go into our fifties, sixties and beyond. What do you got for us?
[00:40:15] Lisa Alfano Be kind to yourself if you have this. Passion or calling or desire to do something. Think about it and do it. Don't wait and don't. And I'm speaking to myself here as well. Don't give yourself excuses about why not. Think about why you are stronger than you give yourself credit for. And reach out for support. The secret for me as well as we've been talking about, not so just a secret, but the thing that helped me the most is to be open about some of the struggles that I've had and talk about with a coach, you know, about what it is that I want and then have someone help you guide you along the way. So I don't know if that's necessarily a secret, but just. Just reach out to folks that are in your community, that are in support and do the things that brings you joy. I don't know what that would look like. It looks like that's for everyone else. But just doing things that bring you joy. Life is hard enough.
[00:41:21] Lisa Hoashi All right. Thanks, Lisa. All right. And now I would also like to say, how can we help you.
[00:41:31] Lisa Alfano Surf retreats now?
[00:41:33] Lisa Hoashi No, definitely. Tell us about that. Tell us. I imagine that there are going to be a lots of people like me who just, like, really want to support you in this beautiful thing you're creating and be a part of it. So how can we how can we how can we join up our support? Tell us what the options are.
[00:41:52] Lisa Alfano That's such a wonderful question. Thanks, Lisa. So my website is Tri2Surf to try to, which is a number surf. If you go there and you can read about me in my offerings. I'm still in the I'm still in the beginning phases of trying to figure out. I mean, I haven't what it's what I want to do, what I'm trying to figure out how to better provide support to other women. But go to that to sign up for my newsletter. I'll be providing some resources and some and links to my surf retreats. I have one coming up in Costa Rica in July. I am looking to do one in Southern California, so that's one way you can support. Yeah. So sign up for look at my newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter, check out the website. I would love to hear some feedback about how what it is that you're looking for. Eventually I'll have a questionnaire that's going to be on my website to ask, you know, What is that you need? What I may be able to provide to you. So yeah.
[00:42:50] Lisa Hoashi Cool. Awesome. That sounds great. And you're also on Instagram, right?
[00:42:55] Lisa Alfano I'm on Instagram as women, so try to surf.
[00:42:58] Lisa Hoashi Okay. Yeah. We'll provide all this stuff on our show. So, yeah. Thinking that head on over there to get connected with you. Yeah. Sounds great. All right. Well, thank you so much, Lisa.
[00:43:10] Lisa Alfano Thanks so much.
