Wonder Woman: Laura Menze, Chief Love Officer of Ready-Match

Laura Menze is living her passion, quite literally in the love department as the creatively self-titled "Chief Love Officer" at her matchmaking company Ready-Match. “I absolutely, positively love what I do,” she says while talking about the true, authentic conversations about dating and being single in the forums she holds. Her 13-year career as a marketer for an international aerospace company was 180 degrees different from the amazing company she’s built and now she’s finally able to say, “I love my job!”

Devoted to mindfulness and knowing that kind of community is desirable, Ready-Match hosts a variety of events, workshops, boot camps, coaching, and webinars for mid-life and beyond singles who are ready for a relationship. ‘Ready’ meaning putting the time and effort in to first addressing your own personal growth by learning self-love, knowing your triggers and how to dump baggage, and then when you do start dating, have clear communication about your goals, intentions, and expectations leaving no room for frustration. Let the matchmaking begin!

So many services are offered by Laura and her team including retreats or self-paced online Relationship Readiness workshops, coaching for singles and new couples, and actual matchmaking but honestly every person should download the Dating Red Flags Checklist and review it in every relationship. I myself have experienced dismissing certain behaviors or warning signs, doubting my intuition, hoping it’ll work out. Referring to this invaluable one-pager can save a lot of time and disappointment. I wish I had this years ago!

Excited to be working on her newest project with award-winning producer and best-selling author, Betsy Chasse, on a television show called Radical Dating: Breaking Through the Barriers to Find Lasting Love Over 40.  To be filmed in the Los Angeles area, she will sit among a panel of five relationship experts coaching participants in an honest and real setting aimed at truly making a positive difference in the dating world. Contact Laura or visit the link above to learn more about sponsorship, contributions, partnership, and casting for this exciting project!

Visit www.Ready-Match.com for Laura’s events calendar, services, to read the blog, and to learn so much more about Laura and how she’s saving the sanity of humanity one date at a time. Thank you Laura!

How did it all start? What made you decide to pursue this path?

My original business is called LifeQuest Alliance and its focus is on general life coaching. As I coached my clients, they continuously came to me with relationship issues so, I thought I should get some training around relationship coaching. I became certified in Singles & Couples Coaching from the Relationship Coaching Institute and began focusing on coaching single clients. Those clients went through the Relationship Readiness program and wanted to meet someone who was also ready for a relationship and had done their work. They asked me to do matchmaking and, while I resisted for over a year, I finally decided to add it to my business however, ‘LifeQuest Alliance’ was not a good name for relationship coaching and matchmaking so, Ready-Match was born. We vet everyone for their Relationship Readiness, teach individuals how to Self-Match, provide matchmaking services, and also provide Relationship Building Coaching for new couples. Ready-Match is all about helping you on the front end of relationships rather than being a rescue service on the back end, when it is often too late.

What steps did you have to take to conquer your goal of being a business owner?

Although I have a Masters in Business Administration, I think that, knowing what I know now, I might not have embarked upon this journey so, there is something to say for ignorance being bliss! Also, the Universe sort of gave me a kick in the pants!  While I had incorporated my business while working full time, the corporation I was working for at the time laid me off. This was at the height of the recession and it was an extremely competitive time. One job for 200 applicants. I had to pursue my business. Otherwise, I would have had regrets not trying.

Owning my own business has taught me to conquer my fears, continuously learn about a variety of things, stay positive and highly focused, and to have compassion for myself. It is a continuous roller coaster and, just when I think I am smoothing out the ups and downs, another twist or turn arrives!  Never a dull moment!

How do you manage envy, ego or jealousy from getting in the way of your dreams?

Even though I come from an old school, traditional marketing background, I’ve never believed in competition, and I’ve had to grow a thick skin around what other people think simply from my marketing background. (Lots of opinions!) I believe in abundance and that there is plenty for everyone to go around. Besides, people will gravitate toward the person or company they feel the most comfortable with. I think the harder thing to manage is the negative self-talk and showing ourselves compassion.  After all, we are our own worst critics and we are nicer to perfect strangers than we are to ourselves!

What are some of the qualities you believe a person must have to build their own business/brand?

I think that anyone who wants to own their own business must be comfortable with risk; financial, personal, and more. There will be people, sometimes those close to you, who will tell you it will never work because their idea of success for you is much different from yours. They want you to be successful, but in the way that they envision because they are not comfortable with the risks involved.

To build your own business/brand, you also need to be extremely patient. We live in a society of instant gratification and instant fame, and all of that is very rare; especially when running your own business. It takes time, focus, a ton of effort, and consistency! It also takes passion. If you are not passionate about what you sell, it is like moving a boulder uphill!

What do you love most about your profession?

It’s all about love….what’s not to love? I also love my title, Chief Love Officer! Ultimately, I get to help people transform their lives to a place of leading themselves in life and love, and creating a life that they love while finding the love of their life!  In my opinion, it doesn’t get any better than that!

If you were to pinpoint a few tools for success, what would they be?

-       Managing your inner critic and minimizing the negative self talk

-       Listening to your intuition and trusting it…it always tells the truth!

-       Know your strengths and find someone for the things you are weak at.

-       Learn! Learn! Learn!

-       It will only happen if you believe it will happen!

What advice would you give a young girl about getting out in the “real” world?

I would highly advise her to be herself, find or create work that aligns with her values, where she is appreciated, and lead herself in life; make choices that are right for her, not someone else (parents, siblings, bosses, etc.) Be the leader in her own life! Trust her inner voice!

Finding a mentor is key. Do you have a female mentor or idol growing up who has significantly impacted your life? How?

My mother highly encouraged me to be financially independent from a man. I don’t think she ever thought I would become a coach and own my own business. She wanted me to be able to have choices in life; choices she never had. So, she mentored me to take care of myself, at a time when being a single woman in the world was essentially a new frontier. Other than that, I cannot say that I’ve had any mentors. I’ve truly had to blaze my own trails, which is exhausting yet very rewarding!

What / who inspires YOU to get through each day & overcome every challenge?

Quite honestly, it is the law of attraction. Our energy and our beliefs are what we consistently attract in our lives so, being aware of what we are actually attracting and making adjustments around our beliefs or perspectives is key in shifting things in your world! Personally, I’m still looking for the person who truly inspires me!

What is your definition of BEAUTIFUL?

Beautiful is a feeling. It is when you love the way you look, feel confident about yourself, and have your mojo (and your lipstick) on!

What is your favorite shade of Lipstick?

Pink Topaz! It is a hot pink shade of lipstick!  It is a gorgeous pop of bright color that brightens up your face and puts a spring in your step!

Why do you think women organizations like Lipstick Sister are important?

It is important to have support. Being a business owner can be a lonely journey. Organizations like Lipstick Sister are a lovely place of support where a woman can get help and feel loved…and that is extremely important in this world. After all, we all want to love, and be loved!

Do you have a favorite quote that empowers you, if so, share it with us!

“What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” – Anonymous

I love this quote because the only reasons we don’t try something are due to our fear of failure, fear of success, or fear of the unknown. If we take away the idea of failure, the door swings wide open and the other fears just fall away!