Balance & Beyond Podcast

Get Ready to be Blown Away by the Inspiring Story of Alex Cech ...

Alex is a woman who has fearlessly navigated the challenges of being a chemical engineer, Olympic rower, and mother of three. She's here to share her awe-inspiring journey, the breaking point she faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how she emerged even stronger, driven by a desire to be a better role model for her children. 

In part two, we'll delve into the magic of self-love and compassion. We'll unpack the difference between therapy and coaching and highlight the immeasurable value of a supportive tribe and a coach who genuinely believes in you. Alex's tale is a message of triumph and personal growth amidst adversity, a beacon of hope for those feeling trapped to seek help. So brace yourself for an incredible journey towards achieving true balance and living the dream life with Alex.

Episode Transcript

INTRO: Welcome to Balance and Beyond, the podcast for ambitious women who refuse to accept burnout as the price of success. Here, we’re committed to empowering you with the tools and strategies you need to achieve true balance, where your career, relationships and health all thrive, and where you have the power to define success on your own terms. I honour the space you’ve created for yourself today, so take a breath, and let's dive right in…

Jo:

This week on the podcast, I'm very excited to share a tale of a remarkable woman who I met a couple of years ago, who came to me with two children, looking to evolve her life, and looking to get better balance. So today, we're going to hear her story. We're going to understand what has shifted and get some insight into how this remarkable journey can go, when you all jump two feet in. Alex, welcome to the podcast. 

Alex Cech:

Hi Jo, thanks for having me. 

Jo:

I love it Well, so that everybody gets a feel for who you are and what's going on with you. I would love for you to introduce yourself and just tell us a little bit about Alex. 

Alex Cech: 

This is a big one, because I couldn't introduce myself when I first met you a couple of years ago. So, here we go. My name is Alex Cech, and I am many things. I currently work at a small but global consulting company in the water sector, where we lead technology and innovation for water utilities across the world. And one of the reasons that this is so close to my heart, is that I have a deep passion for our waterways and having access to clean water for everybody, mainly because I'm a rower. 

So, I raced at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 for South Africa, and the lightweight double. We came 14th, which was a huge achievement for us. But at the same time, it gave me a very deep passion for the water, and for being outdoors, and enjoying that space. 

So, backtrack a couple of years from there, I have a chemical engineering degree, I've worked in brewing, I've worked in the bioethanol industry, and I actually joined the water industry, because I realised that a lot of the renewable energy in this industry won't work. Unless we solve the whole water challenge. The other part of me is that I am a mum and a wife. So, I've got three lovely boys and a beautiful husband, and I live in Sydney. 

Jo:

Alex, that was a beautiful introduction. What would you say is different about that introduction that you just gave, which was incredibly articulate, and not full of yourself at all. How would you have introduced yourself when you and I first met? 

Alex Cech:

When I first met you, I said, “I work at a water tech company, and I love what I do.” “And I'll just get it over with.” “Okay, I'm an Olympian.” I was quite ashamed of being an Olympian. 

Jo:

And what beautiful evidence of how much has shifted in you. The fact that you now own all the parts of you, and you've been able to connect them all together is wonderful.

Alex Cech:

Yeah, they're all interconnected. I've learned that there's a whole, a wholeness to me, and not just tiny little pieces and boxes. 

Jo:

Amazing. So why don't we cast our minds back a couple of years ago, when you were embarrassed to be an Olympian? Where did you find yourself? How was life? How did you walk around feeling? What were some of the dominant thoughts in your mind? Or emotions that you had going on in your life? 

Alex Cech:

So, when I met you, outwardly things were going really well. I had a great job. I had two lovely boys, and I had a nice family. Nothing seemed to be wrong. But, then COVID hit, and I really suffered. And I suffered deeply. I think all women suffered when COVID hit, because all of a sudden, all of the challenges that I had just kept on top of were suddenly amplified. And it became the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. And it's almost like I needed to reach that breaking point to realise this is not how I want to continue, and I need to find a solution to this problem now. I can't wait anymore!

Jo:

So what was that? Often, you hear me say that being ready isn't a feeling, it's a decision. Because, too often, we as women, we just put up with it, right? We keep going, we put our head down, we get through the list. What do you feel was the catalyst? Was it coming in because we met during COVID? During, I believe, some of the lockdown periods? So, was it just like, “Oh my God, like, that's it!” “I can't leave my house!” “I'm going to kill my children!”

Alex Cech:

So for me, I felt like I wanted more. And I felt afraid of wanting more, because I thought I would break my family. I thought that my children would suffer, my husband would suffer, and it would all fall apart, if I wanted or got what I wanted. And when I met you, Jo, you poked me in a place that really hurt. 

Jo:

Sorry, not sorry. 

Alex Cech:

But you poked me in what I'll call, “a sweet spot”, where it was, “What kind of role model are you for your children?” And I think that's true for a lot of women. Yes, we go to work for ourselves. But, before we can admit that it's for ourselves, we do a lot for our kids. And so, for me, that was the gateway to fulfilling my own dreams. It was to realise that in fulfilling my own dreams, I was actually becoming a better role model for my children. It was powerful motivation, right? Big time. 

Jo:

And so, you went on a journey. You and I worked together. We've been working together for a while. If you were to share, I guess, what are some of the big shifts you've seen in your life, since you decided to do something, and decided to get some help? 

Alex Cech:

I've had some really massive shifts. On the work side, I’ve stepped up big time. I'm finally feeling like I can lean into work and be my best self, and not need to be worried that I'm going to break my family. And that has meant that I've done some amazing things. I've run two innovation festivals for major audio utilities. I've met so many new and different people that I would never have met, if I hadn't been able to let go of the fear of breaking up my family. 

And also, I suppose it feels like a minor detail now, but it's probably something worth saying I'm earning double what I was earning. And the other part of that is that I feel a lot lighter when I'm at home and I know my value. I suppose the biggest piece of evidence that I have is that, whilst I've really kicked butt at work and soared to new heights at the same time, I've done something I always wanted to do, which was to have a third baby. And it was seamless. Yes, there's always challenges. But it just felt like I was no longer a victim of circumstance. I was in control and could lead my own life, without that fear. 

Jo:

And now we have beautiful Ash in the world, to make your family complete. 

Alex Cech:

Yeah. So, we have this one year old, beautiful little baby boy, who was always wanted. But again, I felt like I couldn't have that third child because I wanted to work, I wanted to achieve my goals. I've always been a bit ambitious. Well, more than a bit ambitious. 

Jo:

And it's like, “Hang on.” “I'm the ambitious Olympian Alex, come on!”

Alex Cech:

I've always been ambitious and, yeah, through this discovery, I’ve found a way that I could both live the dream life that I wanted at home, and also live the dream life that I wanted outside of home. 

Jo:

So, Alex, there might be somebody listening. Now. Who goes, “Alex is off with the fairies!” “Would she like a rainbow and a unicorn with that?” How would you try to explain to someone what are some of the shifts that you have made? Obviously, we're seeing the results and the amazing outcomes doubling salary, confidence to have another child being lighter, absolutely kicking goals at work. And this isn't a very short period, mind you. We're talking since COVID. So, we're talking in three years. That's a lot to do. What had shifted within you to allow that to happen? What would you say has been the secret or the secret source? 

Alex Cech:

That's a really tough question. There's so many things that I've learned. 

I think over all of me it's been tapping into feeling a genuine, deep-seated sense of love and compassion for myself, and that has unlocked the doors. But there's a whole toolkit that comes with that and there's a lot of skill in knowing what tool to use at the right time, and that's something that I've been learning over the last three years and you do pick it up relatively quickly. 

But I think it all comes back to being able to let go of the shame and the fear and rather live in a state of love. That has helped me the most. And then the second part of that that is, a big part of the work that we've done together is that I have a tribe of women just like me who are all beautiful humans and they have my back and I have their back, and we kind of feed off each other's energy and hold each other up when we feel like we might need it, and that has also been a key factor in where I am today. 

Jo:

So what do you think was different about, say, coming to find a coach as opposed to going to therapy? Because some of the issues you're describing many people have you know holding on to shame and being a victim of circumstance and feeling trapped. What do you think was the difference if you could share for anybody who's curious? 

Alex Cech:

I think with therapy, you do a lot of talking, and you don't necessarily always arrive at an outcome. And whilst you may get certain toolkits to practice at home, there isn't necessarily that follow-up and follow-through with those, and the execution of that. And I come from a background as an athlete. So, coaching is very familiar to me. And with a coach, you get that continuity of checking in. Like, “How did that go?” “Did it work?” “Did it not work?” “Pivot, try something new!”

And you don't get that from a therapist, unless you are able to pay an absolute fortune. The other part of that, is that a therapist doesn't come with a whole tribe of other people who are just like you. A therapist doesn’t help you make really good friends, who you can also have as a support network. There's another piece, though. A coach always believes in you. A coach believes that you will get to where you need to be, and I feel that with you, Jo. You always believe in me, you believe in us. And I don't know that a therapist necessarily always believes in their clients. 

Jo:

It’s an interesting distinction, which is really powerful. And the reason we believe in you is because we enjoy poking you. Sometimes we can see you're the coach alright. So at any good coach you can do sporting or otherwise right. They can always see that you can do a few more reps. They can see where the fear is, which is why I love what I do, because we call you unstoppable Alex and, as she has emerged over the past couple of years, it is remarkable to watch it's a joy. 

Alex Cech:

It is a joy. 

Jo:

Thanks, Jo you're an absolute legend. So, Alex, where to from here? You've had remarkable results over the last little while. You've obviously been exploring different things. You've been opening up your intuition. You know there's so many avenues now, what makes you excited about the future? 

Alex Cech:

Well, you said it already. I've become this, “Unstoppable Alex”, and what excites me the most about the future is that I truly do believe that I can go out and get what it is that I desire, and that it's going to come my way. So, that's exciting. But, the other part of that is that I know my value now. And I know who I am and what I have to offer. And it always changes. 

But I'm now more self-aware. I can see it, and it means that when I'm at work or when, when I'm at home, it's almost like I've got this sixth sense of how, how people are reacting around me, and so I can use that. And that's the direction I really want to follow is to see where that deep intuition can help me to solve some of the bigger challenges that I see, whether it's the water sector or at home. 

Jo:

That, I think, is really quite exciting! There’s something beautiful about giving yourself permission to follow your dreams, right? To not feel trapped, to no longer be a victim of circumstance. And, let's be clear, Alex has a kid of a similar age to mine. She's got teenagers in the house. They're not always easy. Doesn't mean that “Unstoppable Alex” doesn't get floored by a teenager who won't get out of bed. We all have these human moments, don't we? 

Alex Cech:

Exactly, exactly, yeah, but there's a difference between being thrown under by them and knowing that you've got tools and a tribe that can help you get out yeah, that's the big difference. I think you don't feel so alone. 

Jo:

Absolutely. So, Alex, if there was somebody listening to this episode, who is where you were, who feels trapped, who maybe wants another child, but doesn't think they can have one, what advice would you give to them about options? Or, you know, words of wisdom? 

Alex Cech:

I think the biggest thing is to realise that it's okay to go and find help, wherever or however that looks. I think often women like us are so independent and so fiercely ambitious, that we think that if we ask for any form of help, that it's a sign of weakness. And that's some of the unlearning that I've had to do. Actually asking for help is a sign of superior intelligence, because knowing what question to ask is way more important than knowing everything. And so, if there is someone listening to this who is feeling stuck, I would say, “Give yourself grace”, to borrow a phrase from you, Jo, and ask for help. 

Jo:

Because everything changes then, doesn't it? I love how help is a supreme form of intelligence and there is magic when we ask for help. And sometimes people have to try multiple people for help. And just because the first person isn't the right person for you, that's okay! And the book didn't work? That's okay! You keep going, just like you never give up on your kids. We don't want anybody to give up on themselves, because you too, I'm sure, could be unstoppable, just like “Unstoppable Alex.” 

Alex, thank you so much for sharing your story today. I hope this has given you some words of hope and a lot of inspiration about what's possible on the other side of a toolkit, and an amazing tribe. 

OUTRO: Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who might need to hear this today. And if you're feeling extra generous, leaving us a review on your podcast platform of choice would mean the world. If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, visit us at www.balanceinstitute.com to discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women avoid burnout and create a life of balance, and beyond. Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast.