Ophelia Hardisty
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About me
Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, I never really knew what I was destined to become as an adult. My dreams were big, but that didn’t mean to say that they would turn into a reality! Options I considered were, an Oncology Radiologist, but I was a disaster in Maths and Science. Then there was Journalism, but it didn’t help that I knew absolutely zero about current affairs. Somehow I got talked into studying Hospitality, by an aunt who knew that I loved cooking, but didn’t realise that I hated smelling of food all the time. Clearly “chef-ing” wasn’t for me! That’s what I ended up studying anyway, Hospitality Services. By the time I got my diploma the travel bug had bitten, but funds were scarce. The next best option was working on cruise ships as a Purser (Junior to Assistant to Senior) and 6 years later, after missing “normal” life I returned to land.
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Wow, what a transition that was! Finding a job, fitting back into my friendship and family circles and just learning to drive in traffic, which had since increased to a magnitude that I was not comfortable with at all. Dramatic, traumatic, all the tics you can think of, I had! This lead to a meltdown of note, which a Psychologist labelled as my “once-off meltdown sparked by unaided transition”.
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With my now vast experience in Hospitality, I somehow fell into Hotel Sales and that is what I was doing when I got assigned a life coach to assist me whilst I was doing a company-sponsored business course. The timing could not have been better! The company saw that transition needs to be supported.
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My coach supported me and facilitated the change through positive thinking. Suddenly I had goals to work towards, which I not only achieved then but continue to do so now. With facilitation from my coach I started climbing the corporate ladder and also realised that I could pay my experience forward by having a career in coaching.
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I love the outdoors, cooking, reading, travelling and spending time with my loved ones.
Credibility & Skills
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10 years as Regional Sales Manager of a Hotel Management and Marketing Company, has helped me refine my training, facilitation and strategic sales approach. I am passionate about personal development and mentoring.
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6 years working at sea in various Purser Department roles, side-by-side with over 50 different nationalities, has equipped me to understand, accept and embrace how different, yet similar we all are.
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A tourism background of more than 30 years, I am service orientated by nature, and therefore am always looking at how I can better equip myself to be of service to others.
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In 2019 I gained by qualification as a Results Certified Brain-based Life Coach through the Neuroleadership Institute, South Africa. My qualification covers all 11 ICF Core Competencies.
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In 2021 I became a member of Positive Intelligence® and am continuing to incorporate Mental Fitness as part of my coaching tools. (Mental Fitness is how we respond to life's challenges with a positive instead of negative mindset. It impacts peak performance, health & wellness, and relationships.)
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In 2022 I joined a global community of Positive Intelligence® coaches who actively practice mental fitness daily. We are united by our passion and desire to support those facing and dealing with humanitarian crises. We came together in response to the Ukrainian crisis. Our belief is that the gift of Positive Intelligence® can be shared with those in need everywhere. We are on a mission to help individuals build mental fitness and resilience during difficult times.
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What drives me
Living a meaningful and inspiring life by helping others do the same. Realising that I am fortunate to be living the life that I do and that each day is a gift to do better. Having experienced my coachees discover their life’s purpose by my coaching is a validation and reminder as to why my purpose is that of a life coach.