Taz Thornton shares all about her crazy and fun 2023!

December is here! Christmas lights are up and businesses are starting to wind down to take a break over the festive season. Christmas is only a few days away and businesses are winding down for the festive period.

Up today is Taz Thornton. Taz is an award winning business visibility and personal empowerment coach, as well as a best-selling author and speaker trainer. She has spoken on business stages across the UK and Europe, educating and motivating on topics ranging from personal brand and client creation to overcoming adversity and turning vulnerability into a superpower. She lives with her wife near Lincoln.

What does December mean for your business?
This year is busier than usual. There’s an intensive training programme I’m putting myself through to benefit my clients which was postponed from earlier in the year. So, in an already short month, I’m missing another week, but my clients and I will be reaping the rewards in 2024.

Give us a flavour of your highlights of 2023.
I’ve been on tour with The Great British Expos across the UK. Brilliant timing as it coincided with the launch of the second edition of my book, Unleash Your Awesome, with lots of extra juicy chapters.

I’ve been putting myself through extra training and development programmes this year to add some new qualifications and skillsets to my client offering, including money mindset coaching tools and breathwork.

Would you like to thank anyone who has been especially helpful to you throughout this year?
Alec and the team at The Great British Expos for hosting me as their headline speaker for this year.

My awesome team, which includes Dee Atkins, my amazing PA, Fiona Scott, my awesome PR and my wife, Asha Clearwater, who’s my constant support, my rock and my inspiration as well as a brilliant book editor and publisher.

As always, I’d like to give a massive shout out and gratitude to my clients, old and new.

Have you done anything for charity or your community this year?
I’ve donated several services to charity this year, some of which have been auctioned off to raise funds, as well as giving free and subsidised coaching to small business owners and members of the community in need. I also regularly give to a number of charitable causes which I hope to build on in 2024 and beyond.

Christmas will, of course, be big news in December. What does this mean for you?
The Christmas period provides the best opportunity for business owners to properly slow down and take a good break from work. We’re seeing more people than ever struggling with anxiety, depression and burnout this year which seems to be largely as a result of the pandemic and lockdown. Rather than attempting to show up online 24/7 I would love to see people giving themselves permission to stop and recharge. We all need to top up our batteries and if we all step back from work and lead by example, we might be able to enter 2024 in a healthier, more positive place.

December 3 was Small Business Saturday in the UK. Can you name up to three local independent ‘retail’ businesses you would recommend using?
Bookmark in Spalding, Lincolnshire  – a lovely independent book shop which has a great café too!

The Avebury Henge Shop in Avebury – one of my favourites for all things mind, body, spirit.

Spice Of Life in Bourne, Lincolnshire – a veritable mecca of healthy food and natural health care goodies

December 20 is the Festival of Winter Walks. Do you love any walks in your own community that you could recommend?
A walk around Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens in Spalding is always a lovely experience. With a duck pond and garden café.

For longer walks, Fineshades Woods, part of Rockingham Forest, is a wonderful place to walk the dogs.

We’re lucky enough to live close to beautiful riverside walks which can take us from our village to Spalding and beyond.

What has been your proudest moment in 2023?
On a personal level 2023 has been my toughest year for decades, including palliative care, grief, health issues and unexpected financial bombs. Throughout, I have been able to use the tools I share with others to keep going, stay optimistic, find inspiration and keep supporting and motivating my clients and audience. I stand by my message of finding ways to flip your negatives and I think in 2023 I’ve demonstrated this more than ever. No matter how challenging life may feel at times, there is always an opportunity to learn and grow. We just need to remember to rest as well.

If you could choose three words to sum up 2023, what would they be?
Clarifying. There’s been a lot of stripping away, a lot of heartache and a lot of realising what’s important at the heart of everything.

Growth. Through the tough times there have been rich teachings and the creation of new foundations that allow for new shoots to be nurtured and developed in 2024.

Hope. This year I have talked down more people from metaphorical ledges than ever before. The past few years have really taken their toll on our business community and I believe we’re only just beginning to see the extent of that fallout. Whatever’s going on, we must remember that even when life feels hopeless there IS always hope. We might have to dig for it, but it’s always there.

You can find Taz across social media channels and at www.TazThornton.com