First, Ms. Audet, would you say that the heart always plays an important role in starting a business, if only for the initial momentum?

So much! We all have a little spark deep inside us that makes us want to make a difference. It’s what shines in our eyes. It’s the ability to make that little spark shine that gives us the momentum to start a business. We usually choose to dedicate ourselves to something that ignites us and is meaningful to us. The spark then turns into an effervescent flame.

Sometimes, along the way, however, we lose sight of those emotions that were originally guiding us. Why?

There are many reasons why this can happen: being buried under tasks, financial stress, getting lost in the needs of our customers, our negative bias that tends to focus on what is going wrong (rather than what is going right), etc. The best strategy to bring the heart back to the center of our business decisions is to clarify our “ why .” This gives meaning to what we do and has a significant effect on our ability to inspire others to follow us.

In your opinion, entrepreneurs would benefit from putting the intelligence of the heart to greater use...

Entrepreneurs experience a lot of stress! Their quality of life would improve greatly if they could manage it better. They can do this by harnessing the intelligence of their heart. A very simple technique allows us to regain our calm in exactly five minutes. This is a practice called cardiac coherence. By taking six regular breaths per minute for five minutes, our heart rate becomes stable and in perfect synchronization with our breathing. The easiest way to experience it is to use the videos offered free of charge and very easy to use.

What are the benefits of cardiac coherence?

Cardiac coherence improves our ability to move from a state of stress to a state of calm. Recent research from the HeartMath Institute in California indicates that the human heart has a nervous system of over 40,000 neurons that receive and communicate information to the brain. The heart beats at an irregular rhythm: it accelerates when we inhale and decelerates when we exhale. Cardiac coherence has the effect of putting the cardiac system in harmony with the breathing, the digestive system, the immune system, the hormonal system and the brain system which then all synchronize together.

Here are the benefits of cardiac coherence, when practiced regularly, according to the HearthMath Institute :

• Stress reduction

• Well-being

• Calm

• Decreased anxiety

• Improved sleep

• Improved attention, memory, mental clarity and problem-solving ability;

• Improved immune system

• Improved emotional balance

• Increased secretion of DHEA (hormone which plays a key role in slowing down aging)

• Increased secretion of oxytocin (hormone that promotes trust, empathy, kindness and generosity)

It is not only breathing that allows us to harness the intelligence of the heart, there is also work at the level of intention and thoughts. What does it consist of?

Our intentions have a direct effect on our thoughts, emotions and actions. They act as a compass in the exercise of our leadership. They direct our attention between point A and point B. Their flavor is more mental than emotional. They help us focus our attention in the direction of what is important to us. We thus shape our daily lives with more awareness. Before each meeting or project, get into the habit of clarifying your intention! This will allow you to increase the clarity of your interventions and your impact.

Finally, how do you ensure that you keep your inner child alive and what advice would you give in this regard?

Listening to the call of what ignites us is the simplest thing we can do. This Valentine's week, I propose the following exercise. Observe for the next few days the things that ignite you and bring you joy. Write them down on a daily basis. Include your most important professional and personal activities in this exercise. Embark on this experience with openness, sincerity and courage without putting on a filter. Then answer the following questions:

✔️ Based on my observations over the past week, what are the things\activities that turn me on the most in my life in general?

✔️ What do I want to do to make more room for them?

✔️ According to my observations, what are the things/activities that turn me on the most in my business?

✔️ What do I want to do to make more room for them?