Anna Parker-Naples is a leading success coach, motivational speaker, founder of award-winning Inspiring Mummy Club, a multi-award winning voice actor and mum of three.
In 2010, Anna was told she may not walk again and hit an all-time low. Believing she could no longer be the kind of mum she wanted to be, have the creative career as an actor that she dreamed of, or have the life she wanted, Anna sought out help with how she was feeling. NLP and hypnosis changed her life dramatically. Not only did she recover fully and quickly, she went on to be a leading Voice Actor, narrating best-selling audiobooks and performing in commercials and Video Games, all whilst being a mum to her three children, doing the school run and being there for Sports Day! It was whilst in Hollywood, as an award finalist for the seventh time, that Anna realised it was time to step up and share what she had learned with other mums. She now leads Inspiring Mummy Club, an acclaimed self-development membership for mums who want more out of life.
Hey Anna, can you introduce yourself to us?
Hi, I’m a mum of three, award-winning entrepreneur, success coach, multi-award winning voice actor and founder of self-development online membership Inspiring Mummy Club. I’m a regular, normal mum who is passionate about helping other people learn how to reach for the stars like I have done.
Can you tell us about the incentive behind launching the Inspiring Mummy Club?
I have used Mindset, NLP and Hypnosis tools to completely transform my own life, and I wanted to find a way to impact other people’s lives beyond what I can achieve on a 1-2-1 coaching basis. This is powerful stuff, and many mums feel stuck. I believe I’ve found ways to change that, and have incorporated everything I’ve learned into the membership.
As a Master NLP Practitioner and life coach, at what point did you know that professionally this is something you always wanted to pursue as a career?
I was in Hollywood on the red carpet as a finalist for a Voice Acting award for the seventh time, and I realised how far I had come from having my third baby and being told I wouldn’t walk again. I’d recovered, and created an amazing career for myself as a creative performer, still being at home with the kids, and I knew that if others understood even a fraction of the mindset stuff I had experienced, it would change lives. I knew I was ready to step up and lead the way.
You are also a meditation teacher and hypnotherapist, how do you think meditation can be beneficial for us millennial women and as we begin to practice, what changes do you think we will incur both mentally and physically?
Meditation and mindfulness help us combat stress in an effective way. Our lives are busy, we are expected to respond instantly and at the ping of a message. That causes previously unknown levels of stress hormones in our body, and the effects are both physical and mental. It’s important to find ways to prevent burnout and to look after your mental health, and for me, meditation and mindfulness have the capacity for prevention and management of symptoms. I’m excited to see that more and more people are incorporating meditation into their lives, and would love to see it become the norm, in the same way, that exercise is now accepted as universally important whereas 50 years ago it wasn’t.
What do you think the common misconceptions of hypnotherapy are? And why do you think so many people still feel slightly uncomfortable with the idea?
People worry that they’ll be out of control, that they’ll say something they aren’t comfortable with. Stage hypnosis has made people fear they’ll do something stupid and stand up and run around the stage being a chicken! The reality of hypnosis though is that it can cut through the negative self-talk, and remind your brain that you are capable, talented, and deserving. The interesting thing is that your subconscious will not allow you to be out of control, as it has your best interests at heart. You are always in control, you are able to wake up at any time, and you will not say anything that you don’t wish to. What might just happen though, is that it could powerfully transform the way you think and speak into ways that support and encourage you to create the things in your life you really want, rather than self-sabotaging, self-criticising and holding you back. For me, it was the reason I recovered from being wheelchair bound. I stopped focusing on being stuck and looked at ways that I was free. It was enormously empowering, and I changed my language and thoughts to match my new beliefs. I was on my feet within three weeks and went on to create an acting career that worked around the children. Before I’d only seen obstacles, now I saw opportunities.
You offer sessions to help your clients build their confidence, self-esteem and change their mindsets, what methods are you using through you 1-2-1 coaching?
I work with people who are ready to change, but don’t know how or what they want yet! I use a combination of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Life Coaching, Time Line Therapy, and Hypnosis. Plus I become my client’s biggest cheerleader and hold them accountable. This means not only have they recognised their own habits, language, and thinking that holds them back, but they can begin to make huge inroads into the life they want to have. I think because I’ve been in both places, it gives me the ability to really help people. I’ve been stuck, depressed and low, and I’ve now created my own version of professional and personal success. Being able to show someone what they can achieve makes it real for them.
Can you us what is your most seminal point since launching?
Last year, just six months after launching, I won a major award for the impact I was having with Inspiring Mummy Club. The Inspiration Awards for Women recognise and support people who are using their abilities to inspire women and the next generation of girls. The other winners were Adele, Holly Willoughby, Rio Ferdinand and Penny Lancaster, so I was in great company. It showed me that I’d created something really quite special with Inspiring Mummy Club, which has the ability to impact many, many lives.
The most rewarding moment in your personal life?
Having my children is my first response, almost automatically! However, my professional accomplishments are so tied in with my personal journey. The first time I was a finalist in LA was a massive moment in my life. I was in a pair of heels, walking the red carpet, having fully recovered, and living a creatively fulfilling, successful artistic career, still whilst being at home with the children. It had been quite a journey from five years before. The next morning I shed a few tears over my breakfast as I saw how far I had come, and that the hard times were behind me.
Can you tell us what areas you have struggled with the most whilst building the Inspiring Mummy Club?
During the launch week of Inspiring Mummy Club, just as I had taken action and the decision to be a leader, an inspiration to other mums out there, I had two major personal issues. My father became extremely unwell, and my husband lost his job. It wasn’t easy to keep focused. However, I chose to see this period of intense pressure as a way to show that everything Inspiring Mummy Club provides really does work and make a difference. I used meditation and mindfulness to keep calm, to deal with the stress. I made sure my language and thoughts were forward-thinking, and that I didn’t allow myself to spiral with overwhelm. We’re all human, and I think it became a chance to show that it isn’t always easy to put your own needs first, and yet it has to be a part of your priorities. It’s what got me through the challenging times, and in hindsight it kept me grounded. I realised that I didn’t want to just show a shiny, successful version of me, but the real me, who deals with the ups and downs. Everyone has tough times. I’m interested in helping people navigate them with more ease.
What outlets do use to market the Inspiring Mummy Club?
Facebook is my main outlet, and I find Facebook groups particularly useful – it’s empowering to create a community of mums who all want to have more of the good stuff in their lives. Intelligent, capable women, who are ready to find ways back to their own abilities and capabilities. It can be challenging finding the right people in the playground! So to be able to bring people together is rewarding.
Apart from Facebook Live and YouTube videos, which other methods are you using to build your audience and expand your network?
I launched the Inspiring Mummy Club Podcast a few months ago, as a way to share stories of other mums out there making life count, and we’ve had an impressive amount of weekly downloads. I also host webinars with featured guest experts from the self-development world, so that it isn’t just my knowledge and skill set that my audience has access to, but other leading personal growth gurus.
We will be sure to tune in! What is the best piece of advice you have received to date?
That there is no failure. This allows me to be more playful in the way I approach expansion and trying out new avenues. It enables me to look for the ways I can learn from setbacks, which will lead to new ideas and possibilities. It is so much healthier than being or feeling defeated when plans don’t go your way!
What is the number 1 critical lesson you have learned along your path to success?
Nothing happens overnight. You have to set your target and keep going. There will always be challenging obstacles. It’s up to you whether they stop you in your tracks, or whether you choose to go around them.
How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?
I plan my time out well, and I only work during school hours. During the holidays, I get up and work early, and then spend the rest of the time with them. It’s important that I spend time with the children, and that’s a huge motivator for me to be focused on my work. Equally, it is vital that I take time out for myself too, and meditation and journalling is a crucial part of that. They are among the many elements of personal growth that I encourage my members and clients to commit to daily.
Which other leading entrepreneurs and leading female pioneers do you also admire and why?
I love Carrie Green who runs the Female Entrepreneur Association, and I’m a big fan of Jen Sincero’s books at the moment.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
My favourite self-development book right now is Jen Sincero’s ‘You are a Badass at Making Money.’ It’s straight-talking and down to earth.
You have just recently launched the Inspiring Mummy Club podcast, can you tell us briefly about it?
The podcast focuses on real women, doing incredible things. Each week I interview a mum who has used the challenges in her life as a springboard to create something new, to achieve in their personal or professional lives. We all love a good story, and I’d love for someone listening to hear something that resonates with them and decide to take action as a result.
What does success look like in your eyes?
Success is creating the life you want, and being happy with that creation! For me it is about enjoying the journey, it is about inspiring and motivating others, and about using my own experiences to lead others to improve their own lives.
What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?
#BEYOUROWN is about choosing what you want and creating it for yourself. It is about stepping out and stepping up, without waiting for permission.
We couldn’t agree more, so lastly, what is next for you and the Inspiring Mummy Club?
I’m doing more and more motivational speaking, and I have a book on the way next year. Inspiring Mummy Club is growing and growing, and I’m excited to see more members from around the world sign up to start making powerful changes to their own lives.
Twitter: @InspiringMummy @AnnaParkerNaple
Instagram: @inspiring_mummy_club
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiringMummyClub/
Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups
Website: www.InspiringMummyClub.com
