What an amazing sight to see as you emerge from the underground in Rome.
Built as a vibrant entertainment hub in 70–72 AD, by the 5th century the Colosseum had fallen into disuse. For centuries it was stripped, abandoned, repurposed and left to deteriorate — collapsing in parts, forgotten in others.
But in 1749 it was declared a sacred site. Restoration followed. And by the 1800s it had become a tourist destination. Even then it needed more — and it wasn't until the 1990s that the vision, strategy and investment arrived that it truly needed. Today it receives close to seven million visitors annually, the highest revenue-generating tourist attraction in Italy.
Some things take time to be fully seen for what they are worth.
Psychologist Erik Erikson identified that women in their 40s and 50s enter what he called the generativity stage of life — a peak period of desire to contribute, lead, mentor, and leave a lasting legacy. Research confirms that this is when the motivation to make a meaningful impact is at its strongest.
And yet this is also the season when hormonal changes, shifting identity, family demands and the relentless pace of life can quietly erode a woman's confidence and clarity — leaving her feeling more like the abandoned Colosseum than the thriving one.
The potential of significance and a lasting legacy was always there. It just needed the right vision, strategy and investment.
That is exactly what the coaching environment creates. If you are a woman in your 40s or 50s who knows there is more in you — more to give, more to become, and probably more to leave behind — I would love to have a conversation.