Leading Through Another Type of Change – My Message is More Than Menopause it’s about professional women “Investing in their present and future self” keeping women in business.
Writing in the first edition of Funky Magazine I shared my personal story about how I had to learn to lead through a new type of “Change” due to the “Clash of my Change & Career Curves” – my menopause. In this 4th edition I want to share with you how my message is more than menopause. My message is about professional women investing in their present and future self” as I learn to lead through another type of “change” after receiving the news I have myeloma, an incurable rare blood cancer. Yes I have another “M” word to manage alongside menopause.
REVIEWING MY BUSINESS AND BODY STRATEGY
It was always the plan to take a step back after completing my bodybuilding show in April 2023 to review both my body and business strategy. My aim was to explore how I could further assist professional women with my Menopause Resilience System® while extending my teaching to professional men via my Andropause Resilience SystemTM. This review took time as I worked with my team and my network to adapt our services to suit the evolving needs of professional women as 32% are still leaving their corporate careers or businesses due to their hormonal changes which is not acceptable. I also invested in my body by undergoing private blood work reviews to see how my body had recovered after my bodybuilding show. However the private blood work raised some concerns that required consultations with NHS professionals to understand why my hormones were
so very low and why my red blood cells were abnormal. I want to share that both of these were not as a result of bodybuilding but were underlying existing conditions.
SAYING NO TO ANTIDEPRESSANTS FOR A SECOND TIME
The interesting part is that my GP wanted to prescribe antidepressants before looking at my private blood work! To say I was angry was an understatement as that was the same 13 years ago when I went to the GP after my
“meltdown” that was early menopause and not “burnout” that was misdiagnosed as depression. After pushing back and saying no to antidepressants for a second time, I was given an NHS blood test and discussed the results and how I was truly feeling with a female doctor. She listened and understood, helping me with a solution for my hormones and sent me for further tests to investigate my red blood cells as she was concerned the abnormality was getting worse. Thank goodness she did, as it transpires that the abnormal red blood cells have given me another “M” word to deal with – Myeloma, a rare incurable blood cancer impacting my bones and kidneys. After a very stressful time having a biopsy and scan I was told that it is currently stage one. I am working with an amazing team both locally and in London on a treatment plan as my bone density and kidneys are actually holding up strong! My consultant said to me “you practise what you preach and what you preach works”.
I PRACTISE WHAT I PREACH AND WHAT I PREACH WORKS
What I have “practised and preached” for the past 13 years is my Menopause Resilience System ®. The consultant team looking after me confirmed that my lifestyle, food, strength training and sleep have kept my immune
systems, bones and kidneys strong as my body “deals” with the impact of the myeloma cells on my body. My Menopause Resilience System® is one balanced system that focuses on our physical, mental and emotional resilience focusing on the body, mind, relationships and taking ownership:
✓ Body | Feel Stronger
- Food: Eat to perform for optimal performance as our body changes
- Move: Movement to keep our changing body functioning and moving
- Snooze: Sleep to repair and rejuvenate as our body changes
✓ Mind | Think Clearly
- Calm: Managing our thoughts and keeping calm as our body changes
- Clarity: Keeping focused with our intention and energy
- Confidence: Building confidence so we can lead in a new way
✓ Relations | Manage Relationships
- Me: Self Leadership and the relationship with ourselves
- We: Group Leadership and the relationships with our family and friends
- Thee: Enterprise Leadership and the relationships with our workplace and networks
✓ Leadership | Take Ownership
- Vision: What is our True North – our purpose
- Mission: What will we do to go North – our outcome focused goals
- Strategy: How will we go North – our own map with actions
MY UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY
So this unexpected “opportunity” broadens the scope of my message way beyond menopause and hormonal changes. My message advocates that professional women invest in their present and future selves to manage not only their hormonal transitions but any unexpected situations they face like me. I want women to really understand their bodies and “push back” if they are not happy with the response from their healthcare providers and not accept antidepressants or a less stressful role as the default solution offered to midlife women. So, this isn’t a choice I would have made. But my lifestyle has saved my life making me even more passionate about professional women really investing in their own health like they do their business or career. It really is about consistently using the principles of food, move and snooze, building that muscle for life.
MY SUMMARY
Please own your blood work, understanding what the results are saying for both your hormones and overall health. If you don’t feel great, challenge your health care provider with your blood work and how you actually feel.
Do not take antidepressants or “change your professional career” as the first answer. Find the confidence and tenacity to push back and say no I want you to help me understand what is going on with my body like I did for both my misdiagnosed early menopause and myeloma diagnosis. Use my Menopause Resilience System® focusing on your food, move (including strength training) and your snooze to invest in your present and future self building that strong body to deal with your hormonal changes and anything else that life throws at you. As professional women I want you to stay in business as the rate of women leaving their role due to a menopause is 32% and with a cancer diagnosis that increases to a staggering 58%! We must have both resilient bodies and resilient businesses or careers.
PERSONAL CLOSE
So for me, it’s another “M” word, “Menopause Matters” and now “Myeloma Matters”. The current version of “Adelle” has definitely looked back and thanked her for investing in her future self. As I work with my consultant team to understand what the next 10 years look like for me dealing with myeloma, my focus still remains on empowering professional women to be smart, sassy and strong through change and growth. I will be back in the next edition talking about the importance of bone density. Until the next edition please invest in your present and future self.
Adelle Martin
Multiple Award winning Executive MidLife Coach & Professional Bodybuilder.
Empowering Professional Women to Be Smart, Sassy & Strong through Change & Growth
