If You Didn’t Know Already, Now You Do: Coleen Ellis Really Rocks!

As the woman who opened the nation’s first standalone pet funeral home, an author, co-chairperson of the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance and member of the board of trustees at Fort Hays University in Fort Hays, Kansas, no one would argue that Coleen Ellis long ago achieved rock star status.

Now, she is making it official with the launch of Coleen.Rocks – a website where she highlights her mentoring, speaking and consulting services to a wider audience – not necessarily those connected to death care.

We recently caught up with Ellis to learn about her new venture and what she’s been up to inside and outside of funeral service.

 

What was the impetus behind forming Coleen.Rocks?

I have had so much fun over the past years in sharing my story with many different audiences. For the past few years, it’s been humbling to have a variety of attendees tell me that I needed to branch out, and take my message to other groups, from women’s associations and groups to entrepreneurs to those looking to gender-base their speaker base. The tipping point was last May when I had the pleasure of chatting with Erik Qualman, named by Forbes as one of the top 50 digital influencers, at a conference he was speaking at directed more toward insurance professionals. I was visiting with Erik, who by the way was a dynamic and fabulous keynote speaker for the ICCFA a few years ago, and just spit-balling my idea of branching out and spreading my wings.

He was so encouraging and gave me just the guidance I needed to finally take the leap. As for the name of my new business, it’s simple. My website is Coleen.Rocks, so taking that really cool URL as the name jus seemed to make sense: Coleen.Rocks! At the heart of my mission with this new venture of mine, it’s what want to happen when people hear my talks. It truly is a summary of what I hear from people after they hav attended one of my talks: “She’s energetic, inspirational, moving, and you really just want to do better and be better after you get a dose of her energy!” Those are humbling words for me!

 

Does this mean you will be paying less attention to death care?

Not in the near term as I have so many commitments already on my speaking calendar for 2020, as well as discussions already in place for 2021, in the death-care space. I love sharing in this space, and sharin my experiences, so I still want to give back to this part of my heart. After all, it’s such a driver for my mission, passion and my “why,” and I want to continue to fill my bucket up with sharing that knowledge and those stories in this area.

 

Why did you decide to share your story with a broader audience?

What touches my heart is animals. Much like I share in the video on my website, as I really reflect on my love for them, I found myself standing even taller and asking myself, “How else do animals affect my world?” They are such amazing teachers! In fact, I’m working on my next book with which will be all about that! I’m summing up this fun and organic learning in this way … we all know what IQ and EQ is. Let’s talk about AQ: animal quotient. The organic lessons we learn from animals. And, these organic lessons are amazing! For instance, for entrepreneurs and business owners, I like to share the story of the chihuahua with the title of this particular section: Chihuahuas Don’t Hunt.

That statement is funny, at first. But here’s the question: Are you indeed a chihuahua trying to hunt? Are you a person who is trying to do something, within your business or life, that is not in your wheelhouse? At th heart of this self-reflection is the life and business lesson that says “Do what you’re good at. If hunting is not your strong suit, what are your talents?” Another example: Think of a border collie, and how they have a goal in what they do naturally: it’s herding. Do you have a goal, or are you taking yourself, your team, and your business all over the place, and not working toward the desired or focused end goal?

Think about the lessons of just being and living in the moment, of unconditional love that we can all do better with as a person, and as a leader. And, there’s so much more that falls into these beautiful lessons! I can’t wait to share them in more detail with larger audiences.

 

What has the response been thus far?

I’m so honored to get this journey started. My schedule is booked with organizations such as the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, and so many more. While I’m still incorporating a lot of my pet loss training with these groups, the concept of AQ is being sprinkled in.

 

Can you share one or two of your favorite experiences as a public speaker?

I think for any speaker, it’s having someone come up to you after a talk to share how your words justchanged their world or the way they think about something. I am so honored and humbled to have had thathappen countless times! It literally makes me tear up even after hearing it numerous times. It’s truly moving.

Another experience that rocks my world when I’m on stage is when someone just bursts out, “Can you come home with me and give me energy, inspiration, and positive thoughts every day?” While I laugh with them and the rest of the audience, inside I just swell with pride. Knowing that I might have done something to rock someone else’s world and have them think different and behave different is really moving!

 

So … do your furry love bundles travel with you?

I would love nothing more than to have these loves with me on every trip! The new little fluff-ball, Beulah, is my arm candy! (Yes, her name is Beulah! I name my pets after my grandparents who have passed.) She is so stinking cute, and I am having fun in dressing her up in little tutus, bows and fun outfits. She will certainly turn heads with her cuteness! She’s only been with us for a few months and is already a pro in maneuvering airports and the Transportation Security Administration. She’s my fun traveler! Roberta Knauf is helping me in training with my flatcoated retriever, Albert, in getting him “stage ready!” I figure if I’m talking about the power of animals and what they can do just with their presence, then he needs to be present. He’s doing good with his training, and I can just tell in his demeanor that the stage and him will be incredible friends. I can’t wait!

 

I assume you will be playing a role at the ICCFA convention … can you share what you’ll be doing?

This year, I’m going to be speaking on pets and preneed. I’m excited to share my thoughts and experiences with the conference on ideas in this area, especially given that I spent so many years of my career with Forethought and in preneed. To bring those two subjects together is the absolute perfect combination of my passions.

Of course, we have various Pet Loss Professionals Alliance events, receptions and meetings, and I will attend all of them. The PLPA is my heart, and I will always support that movement in making sure we are doing what we can do for respectful and dignified services for our precious pets in death.

 

What are you most looking forward to at the convention?

As always, seeing everyone! That just fills me up, and I look forward to these few days for months prior to the conference. I also like to see all the new booths and creative ideas in what people are doing in our industry.

 

What else are you working on at the moment?

I’ve still got my hands full with Two Hearts. My Pet Loss & Grief Companioning Certification classes are still incredibly popular, so much so that I have also moved these to an online learning platform to cast a broader net for those wanting this learning. I continue to get asked to blog for other organizations, so writing is keeping me busy, which I just love.

I’ve broadened my base of consulting clients and am helping with some veterinary end-of-life services as well as some manufacturers on new memorialization ideas. I am also exploring a larger role within the Entrepreneurial Studies School at my alma mater, Fort Hays State University, to do some teaching, coaching and mentoring with students. Lastly, I was asked at the end of 2019 to step back in to the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care to take on a temporary leadership role as executive director to help the association get future ready, and properly poised to take on the next decade. My plate is full, and every day I’m blessed to be doing what I love!

Visit www.coleen.rocks to learn more about Coleen Ellis’ new initiative.

Source: Funeral Service Insider
Date Published: March 2, 2020
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