Lee Hews, founder of Current Publishing & Maine Women Magazine has logged 30 years on the Maine publishing scene. Lee believes that outstanding local content, great design and fabulous art will build a strong and loyal readership, while providing the best environment for the advertising customer. Lee, a Maine woman for more than half her life is a Mom to four strong Maine women and mentor to countless others. She received an Executive MBA from Suffolk University in 2013.
Click to tweet: Lee Hews of @MaineWomenMag is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/205 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
Lee has always been a hard worker who wanted to incorporate herself into the business and as much managerial decisions as possible, to the point of often doing her boss’s work. A colleague of Lee’s pointed out one day that she was performing all of the work without the title, recognition or proper pay. Lee laughed it off at the time, giving the credit to her manager, but this statement forced her to really see what was happening. Within the next year, Lee was promoted to general manager and a year later had started her own company.
The Wake Up Call
Lee found herself in a place of nonstop work, keeping up the building momentum, until one day she was ready to sell. Lee had discussed the idea of selling with her family, and knew it was the right thing to do, but was leery. Lee wasn’t giving up, and she didn’t want it to be perceived as that. She didn’t want to disappoint her employees, partners, or their readers. Lee’s wake up call was realizing that this sale would be the best way for her to grow, and to continue to grow the products she had created. Lee made the call to the people she wanted to buy, and the sale took place 10 months later.
Style of Leadership
Lee is the publisher; she brings it all together. Lee leads by example in her role. She works very hard—is creative and passionate—and she expects everyone working with her to be productive. Lee stands by her view, “We all have to produce, we can’t just talk about it.”
What Are You Excited About?
Lee is just as passionate as ever about the work she is doing with Maine Women Magazine. The magazine has been in the market for 10 years, but was recently relaunched as a glossy publication. It keeps keeps getting bigger and better and they get more excited with each issue. Maine Women Magazine is also involved in three upcoming expos and sponsoring a wide range of women’s events and panels.
Biggest Leadership Challenge
Patience is Lee’s biggest leadership challenge. She has never been particularly patient, so she is learning to be patient with the process. Lee believes that you have to be patient with people all around you. Another leadership challenge Lee has faced is always trying to find the right people to work with.
Leadership Practice
Lee is very adamant in her ability to reconsider. If you are on a course, or are set on an idea or a plan, you need to be able to step back and reevaluate, and feel good about pursuing a different path, even though you may have planned it out differently. Lee also believes in listening to yourself and others and always asking for advice and input.
Advice For Younger Self
Lee would advise her younger self to bee more patient. Also, to take time and understand what motivates each individual and learn what each person can bring to the table, as everyone can bring something different.
Inspirational Quote
“It’s all about balance.” ~Lee Hews
Links
Email: lhews@keepmecurrent.com
Website: mainewomenmagazine.com
Website: mygenerationmaine.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/95northmagazine/
Zebralove Web Solutions: Your website tells a story about your business! At Zebralove Web Solutions, Milly and her team are going to make sure your website tells the story you want your customers to hear. Connect with Milly at zebralovewebsolutions.com to create the impression you want to make!
Private Facebook Community: Chat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!
Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing: A simple, step by step system that gives you the foundation and structure to take your goals and make them happen.
The Accomplished Community: A community of entrepreneurial Type A women uniting to achieve their biggest goals with confidence, integrity and a sense of humor.
If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!
For you today I wanted to share an email I received from a client after she did the “Get Your Energy Back” Process I offer in my business. How it works is you take a 20-minute online self-assessment and then we schedule 75 minutes to debrief your results. During that debrief session we uncover where your sources of stress are coming from and what you can do to alleviate it so you greatly reduce, and for some completely remove, those triggers for stress. It also gives you a process to continue this work as you become aware of other triggers that hide under the surface until the crop up and blindside you. You all know what I’m talking about. J
Even before meeting me this particular client had been working on developing a greater level of consciousness and she was in a place where she felt caught between the new perspectives, thoughts and ideas she was being exposed to and her parent’s counsel to seek her truth from a more traditional source.
Here’s what her email said…
“Hi Jodi,
I'm having a hard time relating my personal feelings of "Aha!" that I felt when I read [Eckhart] Tolle's work to the background both of my parents have in the bible.
That's a poorly worded sentence. How do I explain??
When I told my parents about my new discovery of enlightenment, they were quick to try to redirect me to the bible (dad, especially). Almost as though what I was learning was wrong, and I needed to get closer to God to fix this. But I've never felt closer to God than I do now.
So how do the teachings of the bible fit in to this? Admittedly, it's been a loooong time since I've attended church, and the style of the bible's writings just don't interest me. I have a hard time following it. But I want to understand the connection so that I can bridge the gap with my Dad.
I ask because you mentioned God a few times during the assessment, and I thought you might have some insight.
I almost feel like the bible is the basic how-to guide, and maybe even a little bit of backstory on why, while this new consciousness trajectory is simply mankind finally "getting it" and seeing the bigger picture of where things need to go in order to reach that final destination of heaven on earth. How do you see it?
Ok, back to work I go! ;)”
What a great question!! What was so special about this question for me is it paralleled my own internal journey with my faith and spirituality.
I’m sharing with you my response to this email and I want to be clear, I have no degrees in theology, I do not represent any organizations and I am not an expert on God, consciousness or human evolution. My response to this email reflects my journey and my perspective. I offer it here because it was helpful to the woman who reached out to me and it may be helpful to some of you.
Here was my response...
Find the post to this episode at https://womentakingthelead.com/consciousness
Zebralove Web Solutions: Your website tells a story about your business! At Zebralove Web Solutions, Milly and her team are going to make sure your website tells the story you want your customers to hear. Connect with Milly at zebralovewebsolutions.com to create the impression you want to make!
Private Facebook Community: Chat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!
Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing: A simple, step by step system that gives you the foundation and structure to take your goals and make them happen.
The Accomplished Community: A community of entrepreneurial Type A women uniting to achieve their biggest goals with confidence, integrity and a sense of humor.
If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!
Tara Lynn Foster is a leadership development speaker, consultant and coach. After twenty years climbing the corporate ladder, she took the risk to start a new career helping other professionals push past barriers and accelerate success in practical and meaningful ways. Tara has presented concepts of confidence, charisma and leadership to audiences ranging from Fortune 500 companies to regional organizations and non-profits. When she isn’t speaking, consulting or coaching, Tara enjoys spending time at home with her husband and three kids – or on a sandy shore in a beach chair alone with a pen and paper, contemplating her future best-seller.
Click to tweet: .@taralynnfoster is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/204 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
Tara had a goal while she was in corporate to have an executive role by the time her oldest was in kindergarten. She achieved this goal with a job within the same financial institution that she went after without knowing all of the details, but she was thrilled. On a day that it was her responsibility to pick up her children from daycare, as her husband was in study group, she was told she could not leave work until everything was finished. After informing her boss of these terms, she received a look and was asked why her husband couldn’t pick up the children. At that point, she knew her role was threatened and she had to continue to prove that she was reliable and capable of doing the job. If she was playing big, she would have realized that role was not right for her.
The Wake Up Call
Tara knew she was unhappy with her current role in the corporate world, and hired an executive coach. Tara was overwhelmed with life and unhappy at her job and she remembered driving to work, praying for just one happy moment in her day because her job was sucking the life out of her. Tara attended a women’s leadership conference and had major realizations. In the midst of a meditation exercise, where Tara was asked to focus on moments that brought her pure joy and laughter, she kept drawing a blank. In another exercise, she found that the fear of not having money from childhood experiences was what was holding her back. Tara spoke with her friend and her friend pushed her to make the jump. That Thursday evening, after the talk with her friend, Tara called her husband and confided in him about her need to change her life. He was supportive and kind, and not alarmed by this decision. On Monday morning, Tara made that risky move she had been dreading for five years, and started her new journey.
Style of Leadership
Tara takes an inclusive approach that is dynamic in nature. She loves to make things as interesting as possible. It’s important to Tara to be relational and empathetic, and to understand the perspective of those around her. She is also very focused and has a process driven mind, where solving problems becomes a puzzle she strives to solve.
What Are You Excited About?
Tara is excited about adding a new certification to her business to take the concept of personal branding and make it come alive in practical and useful way. She wants to help people take their slogan they could use on LinkedIn and push it past those boundaries into something completely new. This new certification will work with business teams and individual clients, as well.
Biggest Leadership Challenge
Tara’s first challenge is finding time to have time to maintain her family, marriage and social life while also running her business as a solopreneur. Because Tara does everything by herself, and is also trying to tackle this new project, she is struggling to find time to make it all happen.
Secondly, Tara is starting to realize more and more that she needs to incorporate her faith more into her business. She has always relied so much on her faith, that she hopes she can translate that into her daily work. Tara knows this may mean her clients will change, and she may have to niche more, but it is worth it for her to be her authentic self in her work.
Leadership Practice
Tara has a morning ritual that is critical to getting her attitude right and starting day right. First, she writes down five things each day that she is grateful for. Tara also reads scripture and meditates on that, while writing some notes down on how she can apply that scripture to her day. Lastly, she adds a little bit of time for prayer before starting her day. That quiet time in the morning is so important for her to ground herself and start the day off in the best way possible.
Advice For Younger Self
Tara believes that so much of what happens to us helps us become who we are. Of course, Tara wishes at times that she had known more, but wouldn’t change a thing. When she really thinks about it, she would listen more. Tara thinks that she really could have done better if she was more observant of the people and world around her and more empathetic. “Work hard and look forward, but be present. Enjoy where you are."
Inspirational Quote
“Fear is stupid, so are regrets.” ~ Marilyn Monroe
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Phillipains 4:6-7
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
This is Jodi Flynn and you are listening to Women Taking the Lead.
And for those of you who are regulars to the show, did you think I forgot to celebrate the 200th episode?
Oh no I didn’t and just like when we were celebrating the 100th episode I gathered up all the quotes from episodes 101-200 and strung them together. This is a celebration I’m going to listen to over and over again.
What’s really funny for me is this episode kicks off our weekly episodes themed 100% Jodi and there is about 2% Jodi in this episode but I think after listening you’re going to forgive me for this.
Here are another 100 Quotes to inspire and lift you up.
Find all the quotes and leave a comment here: https://womentakingthelead.com/another-100-quotes/
Rene Brent is Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an #1 International Bestseller author of the book How Big Is Your BUT?, International speaker and on faculty for The Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy. Rene has been an RN for over 25 years and has worked in ICU, Trauma/ER and Recovery Room. She helps her clients use the power of the deep inner mind to release blocks and reach personal and professional goals. She is passionate about teaching people how to Practice Happy and becoming a Happiness Hunter.
Click to tweet: .@ReneHypnosis is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/203 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
Rene grew up with an alcoholic mother. As a teenager, Rene knew she had to provide for herself and her little brother, that no one else would do it for her. Rene had a poor self image because of her height, and knew she had to find her strength from within. An instructor at Rene’s high school believed in her and gave her opportunities to succeed. This instructor finally got Rene to see herself from a different perspective. Rene realized that once she connected how she felt on the inside to her intimidating height, she could start playing big from the inside too. She now refers to herself as a warrior princess.
The Wake Up Call
Rene was married for 20 years to someone she later realized was a narcissist. Because of her past, she learned to find happiness in this relationship and didn’t realize she was still carrying falsehoods from her childhood into adulthood. During their divorce, Rene found herself rocking inside her closet as she did as a child and had a revelation. Rene realized she was not feeling pain from the actual divorce, but from the false beliefs she had held onto. Rene’s next steps were clear; she had to focus on herself and move away from the things that held her back.
Style of Leadership
Humor saved Rene’s life. She could always move through whatever life threw at her with humor. In the business and networking she does, she always maintains her authenticity. Rene knows that in stressful situations, we sometimes try to emulate someone else, but it never works. Rene also makes sure not to judge others, ever. What she learned to do was release judgement of herself. In each moment, Rene knows she is doing the best that she can. If she makes a mistake, then she learns from it.
What Are You Excited About?
Rene knows that we are not all taught to understand our subconscious mind and she wanted to get to a bigger audience. Rene is getting herself worked up to be a speaker. This is out of her comfort zone, but Rene knows people need to hear what she has to say about the subconscious mind and releasing yourself from perfectionism and how to move forward.
Biggest Leadership Challenge
Rene says she is blessed with an incredible life and a beautiful relationship, as she healed and moved through and welcomed someone into her life who is such a giver. Rene likes to make time for him and sometimes she finds herself quite busy and often working late. Right now her biggest challenge is finding that balance between work and love, relaxation and fun.
Leadership Practice
Self awareness. Rene goes into a meditative state, even if it is only 5 minutes. “Go into an altered state and find your truth.”
Advice For Younger Self
Rene would say to be nicer to her self, look within and trust her instincts. “You have great instincts and you’re beautiful.”
Inspirational Quote
“Do something every day that scares you.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneBrentHypnosis/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PracticeHappyNow/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/renehypnosis
Website: PracticeHappyNow.com
Website: ReneBrentHypnosis.com
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Hello everyone and welcome to Women Taking the Lead. It has been a while since the last bonus episode and there is a good reason for that. There have been some changes going on behind the scenes here that I had thought about out loud in my last bonus episode but I am now ready to roll them out.
This will be the last “Bonus” episode. Will this be last time it’s just me talking directly to you on the podcast? Absolutely not. In fact, you’re going to be hearing a lot more of me going forward. Starting this coming Monday, which at the time of the release of this episode will be February 20th, 2017, I will be releasing one interview per week and one episode of 100% Jodi per week. In fact, 100% Jodi is what I am going to be calling these episodes. I got this idea for this title from one of The Accomplished Community members, Shelli Warren of SheConnex, so thank you Shelli!! I laughed when she proposed the idea and thought, “brilliant!”
So, each Monday I will be featuring a new amazing women who is taking the lead in her life and sharing her with you and on Thursdays I’ll be releasing an episode of 100% Jodi. But let me be clear, I want these 100% Jodi episodes to be inspired by your questions, your ideas, and the solutions to your challenges. The more you send me the more valuable these episodes are going to be for all of us.
Changing the format was in response to the feedback I’ve gotten from all of you. I kept hearing that you wanted more bonus episodes, more talk time from me during the interviews and questions on how to get more from Jodi. I love you all for that and I am incredibly humbled. I want to serve and be a part of your journeys because it is one of my guiding principles that we are all better together.
Here are some ways you can get more from me and be a more intimate part of me and my world:
(1) Listen to the episodes and even go back and listen to them again. Just like the movies we watch more than once we realize we missed something the first time around. Keep the inspiration going. If you like what you’re hearing subscribe in iTunes and leave me a rating and review so other women (and men) just like you can find this podcast.
(2) Want to keep the inspiration going? Share this podcast with your friends. Not only will you get inspired by listening to the episodes, your friends will bring up what they got out of listening in the conversations you have with them creating a shared experience – and this helps to integrate or anchor what you took away into your consciousness which will then show up in your actions.
Here’s where you can find the podcast: iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!
(3) Join the Women Taking the Lead private Facebook group. At this point we’ve got nearly 350 women who are up to things in their life asking questions, sharing resources, introducing themselves & their work, and finding collaborators to partner with. I’m posting questions and inspirational posts to keep you in the conversation and motivate you throughout the week. I’ve got the link in the blog post that accompanies this episode for you: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womentl/
(4) Buy my book, Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing. The feedback I’ve gotten from the community is Accomplished is well written, clear and concise, inspirational, motivational and the free resources that come with the book have been invaluable in helping you to achieve your goals. You guys, this is my signature coaching system in a book and you are getting it for less than $15. If you have a goal that you are struggling to get off the ground or you can’t seem to reach this is the book for you. You can find out more at womentakingthelead.com/accomplished or go directly to Amazon. If you put Jodi Flynn Accomplished in the search bar you’ll find it quickly.
(5) Join The Accomplished Community. This is the community I created for those of you who are ready to go BIG and want to do it with support and accountability from me and others just like you who are also stretching themselves to be the person they know they are meant to be – the best version of themselves. I don’t know about you but this was what I was craving early in my career and in my business. I have definitely been successful but I know I would have achieved that success feeling more confident and less stressed out if I had formed a committed community of women just like me to be a part of.
Here’s a big announcement and let me give you some background. Each month in The Accomplished Community I bring on a subject matter expert to do a video call with community – not a webinar where we are being talked at and Q&A happens via chat. This is a webcast where everyone on the call has an opportunity to interact with the expert. We’ve had 2 so far: CS Wurzberger, The Green Up Girl, presented on how to have a wildly profitable business and Meredith Bell of Performance Support Systems presented on how to connect with influencers on LinkedIn.
Next up we’ve got John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur on Fire coming to talk to us about Self-Mastery. If you don’t know John’s story let me give you a brief version to catch you up. After years of regularly changing careers looking for that perfect fit John decided to go after a dream and launched the Entrepreneur on Fire podcast. He didn’t know when he started how he was going to make money and for the first 6-8 months he had expenses and no income. Then it started to trickle, and trickle more and by the time he was 18 months in he was earning 6 figures a month from the multiple streams of income he created for his business. There’s a lot that went into how he did it but was always stood out to me about John is his unconquerable spirit. He doesn’t let much get him down and it’s nearly impossible to stop him and it’s self-mastery that is his secret sauce. Coming soon he will be doing an intimate presentation and Q&A for The Accomplished Community so if you want to be a part of it go to womentakingthelead.com/community and get yourself in there.
(6) Lastly, if you want to partner directly with me let’s talk about private coaching – either stand alone or included with The Accomplished Community. I love working one-to-one with you guys and witnessing the transformation that occurs while we are working together. Experiencing your ah-ha moments and helping you put them into action so you are achieving success more quickly than you first imagined – that gratifies my soul and energizes me to keep going. If you’ve been on the fence about working with me and not sure if this is the right time for you’ll let’s just have a quick chat about it. I am not a high pressure person. It’s either the right time for you or it’s not – and we’ll figure that out together within 20-30 minutes of chatting. The calendar link is too long and confusing to read so just head over to the blog post, click on the link and let’s get a chat scheduled on the calendar! https://calendly.com/jodimflynn/30-minute
Thank you so much for being a woman taking the lead, for joining with me and others just like yourself to hit our goals and make stuff happen. It is an honor and a joy for me to be a part of your journey and I’m looking forward to living the future that we create.
Here's To Our Success!
Private Facebook Community: Chat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!
Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing: A simple, step by step system that gives you the foundation and structure to take your goals and make them happen.
The Accomplished Community: A community of entrepreneurial Type A women uniting to achieve their biggest goals with confidence, integrity and a sense of humor.
If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!
Elizabeth Williams-Riley, President & CEO for the American Conference on Diversity, brings more than two decades of experience in education, training, and consulting on diversity and inclusion matters working with corporations, nonprofits, professional associations, communities and schools, nationally and on the local level. She was recently named Girls Scouts of America Jersey Shore 2015 Woman of Distinction, 2013 Woman Worth Watching, and is featured in Diversity Journal. Elizabeth is also a 2014 Lead New Jersey Fellow. She is a dynamic presenter, facilitator, and diversity and inclusion expert.
Click to tweet: .@AmConfDiversity is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/202 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
In Elizabeth’s teenage years, she had to come to terms with being comfortable with the skin she is in, her size and who she was. Her mother suggested that she audition for a beauty pageant. Elizabeth was convinced that she did not fit the mold for a beauty pageant. Though she was very involved in her community, school and church, Elizabeth felt that she was just not one of those girls. Her mom persisted and said there was no reason for her not to audition. Elizabeth followed her mother’s advice and ended up not only making her way through, but won! Elizabeth realized she was the one getting in her own way.
The Wake Up Call
There was a school in Orlando that was turning 100 years old and for the celebration, Elizabeth was asked to create a wall of history featuring images from the last century. As she was collecting the photos, she realized there were no pictures of people like her. Elizabeth used this as motivation to go out into the community and connect with people, often going door-to-door, listening to many stories and collecting photos. Elizabeth knew that she needed a complete picture of the history of this school, and she owed it to the community to feature the different people who contributed and why it was important for everyone to be included. From that point on, she made it a point to respect and value everyone she met and creating and believing in the humanity of individuals.
Style of Leadership
Elizabeth ensures to keep herself very humble. She also believes you need to be a good follower in order to be a good leader. Elizabeth is thoughtful when she engages individuals and keeps direct conversations but remains respectful throughout. Elizabeth is also very in tune with her own vulnerability. She is passionate, driven by what she does, but is also driven by the relationships she holds with those around her.
What Are You Excited About?
Elizabeth is part of a statewide No Hate campaign that was launched in January. To kick off the campaign, they held a town hall meeting discussing the meaning of hate and how it manifests in current society. Elizabeth finds it as a wonderful opportunity to engage people in bold dialog and learn from each other in a respectful environment. Elizabeth believes that when we want to learn and grow, we need to make sure we are thinking about all of us, not some of us.
Biggest Leadership Challenge
Fundraising is the greatest challenge that Elizabeth finds in the non-profit sector. That challenge holds so many great opportunities that it makes it all worth it.
Leadership Practice
The process of being able to really hear what people are saying without thinking of your rebuttal, active listening, is so important to Elizabeth. You are not listening to reply; you are listening to seek understanding. For Elizabeth, it has been one of her strongest skill sets because it allows her to see where people are coming from. Communication is a two-sided process.
Advice For Younger Self
Elizabeth would tell her younger self to never underestimate the value of her authentic self. Allowing your authentic self to show up wherever you go, provides consistency in your life. You don’t have to hide your mannerisms to fit in.
Inspirational Quote
“You never know how much your past will affect your future until it shows up in your present.”
Links
Website: http://americanconferenceondiversity.org/
Twitter: @AmConfDiversity
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanconferenceondiversity
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1561082?trk=tyah
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+AmericanconferenceondiversityOrg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amconfdiversity/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AmConfDiversity
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Dana Malstaff is the founder of BOSS Mom and author of Boss Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Business & Nurturing Your Family Like a Pro. Dana has channeled her success as a content & business strategist, into a fast growing community of business women she has helped begin and run their businesses and families like a Boss.
Click to tweet: .@danamalstaff is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/201 #inspiration
Dana believes in embracing the “hot mess-ness” and isn’t ashamed that sometimes she cries in the bathroom with the lights out or in the shower when no one is around.
After surveying her expenses in the beginning, Dana realized she was spending as much as she was making and hired a coach. Dana’s coach told her that she can continue to change her business and reopen parts that she had previously closed. It was, in fact, her business. Dana realized that she quit her job to make her own decisions, but wasn’t utilizing it to her potential. Dana opened the academy back up and told the participants that the structure would continue to change until it worked better for everyone and they were delighted.
When Dana was brainstorming ideas for her business, she decided to focus on what she was passionate about, mindful communication and how people connect in corporate America. In her past, the wellness company she was the director of built behavioral modification programs for large companies and she knew how important good communication was. Dana tried to build her business around communication, and realized that it became much harder than she had originally thought. Dana attended a conference with a friend, where the speaker made a comment that entrepreneurs should focus on that one thing they are amazing at, the skill that comes easy to them, and to start their business based off of that. Unsure of what her gift was, Dana helped her friend brainstorm during one of the conference exercises and a lightbulb went off. Her gift was brainstorming and strategizing, and she had been focusing on her passion this whole time. Feeling fired up with this new information, Dana jumped into a Facebook group and tested out a few things, with amazing return. Now Dana focuses on her gift, while also intertwining her passion, but the gift is what makes her money.
Dana leads by letting others lead. While assessing corporate businesses, she would focus on what made the employees happy, engaged and want to stay employed with that company. That process has translated into Dana’s leadership. She is constantly asking her team if they are doing what they love to do, because someone can always be brought on that loves to do what someone else hates doing. Dana believes that when you allow people to show you how amazing they are, they will come up with ideas you may never have thought of yourself. Dana knows that she may be the face of her brand, but she is only one key player.
Dana is excited to have her first Boss Mom retreat and all of the buzz surrounding it. “It’s like planning a wedding!” Dana is also launching The Raising Your Business program, which she spent an entire year building. Dana combed through all of her content and courses to come up with this new evergreen program. Her dad always said, “Information isn’t knowledge,” and she believes that translating all of the information into understanding what to do with it, and it what order, is the real resource that everyone needs.
Dana makes sure to assess her priorities every single day. She has a vision board and looks at what she is trying to do as a whole, not just the single tasks on a list. Dana believes that it is really easy to fall off the priority path and chase the shiny thing. Reassessing every day gives her the confidence to know she is saying yes and no to the right things.
Dana would tell her younger self that she is totally not an island. “I don’t care if you can make images in Canva, hire someone to do it.” Dana points out that by reaching out for help, you are actually helping move the economy forward by giving people jobs and you will get there so much faster.
“Ah, but a man’s [or woman’s] reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?” – Robert Browning
Boss Mom Website: https://www.boss-mom.com/
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danamalstaff
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Nikki Groom is a digital marketer, brand strategist, and content marketing expert for business leaders and entrepreneurs who want to build a profitable business while making the world a better place. She is also the founder of The 100 Stories Worth Telling Project, which seeks to amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs all over the world by sharing their real-life stories of overcoming adversity, and a firm believer that all businesses should lead with empathy.
Click to tweet: .@nikkigroom is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/200 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
Throughout her youth, Nikki was quite shy. She didn’t feel confident and had not found her voice yet. Nikki’s writing always gave her an escape and allowed her to use her voice, though. At the age of 15, Nikki spent two weeks shadowing a reporter at a local newspaper and remained quiet for most of her time there. When it was time for the editor to submit Nikki’s evaluation to her school, he reported that she met all the basic requirements, but included a paragraph stating that Nikki did not possess the voice or personality to become a journalist. Nikki felt that the editor didn’t know her at all and what she was capable of, and was infuriated by his assessment, so she set out to prove him wrong.
Nikki remembers that she had a friend at university who laughed at the idea of her studying abroad. Well, now Nikki lives in the United States. Whenever someone challenges Nikki, it only pushes her further to succeed.
The Wake Up Call
Nikki was the UK manager at a global company, and was craving a new opportunity. She was offered a job in London, but when she asked her boss for his opinion, he told her they weren’t offering enough pay and that she should wait. Within the next few months, the North American manager in the same company sent out an email announcing her departure. As she read the email, her head started filling with ideas and possibilities. Nikki drove home and had an internal struggle over her next steps and ended up siding with the thrill of this amazing opportunity. That moment was her wake up call.
Style of Leadership
Nikki would describe her leadership style as real. It’s something that people have told her they really admired about her. Nikki doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. Sure, she is an expert in certain areas, but she knows that there is always room to grow and learn. Nikki also likes to lead from within and from a place of empathy and compassion. She wants those inside her community to really feel included, as that was something she struggled with in her youth.
What Are You Excited About?
Nikki is super excited about her new website. It has been a huge production with a great team, and she cannot wait for everyone to see it. There will be new offers and lots of new stuff coming up this year.
Current Business Challenge
Even with her business is in a transitional phase, Nikki knows that one of the key things she has to accomplish soon is gathering a team around her to lift her to the next level. She has been working with a diversity consultant who is surrounded by a wonderful team, which showed Nikki that is exactly what she needs.
Leadership Practice
Nikki is a firm believer in meditation.
Advice For Younger Self
Nikki would tell her younger self to speak up!
Inspirational Quote
“Just start.”
Links
Website: http://www.nikkigroom.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkigroom/
https://www.facebook.com/100StoriesWorthTelling/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigroom
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikkigroom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkigroom/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nikkigroom/
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Astrid Mueller is a creative serial SOUL-preneur with a background in branding and design, who loves helping women to dream big and shoot for the stars. She works specifically with soulful women freelancers and soul-preneurs who struggle getting their dream business off the ground. Astrid helps them ignite their superpowers and create a successful, beautiful brand their customers love.
Originally from Switzerland, Astrid followed her heart to beautiful Kodiak Island, Alaska, from where she connects and empowers women around the world.
Click to tweet: .@Astrid_Mueller is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/199 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
About 10 years ago, Astrid was trying to get her name out at a trade show in Europe when she was drawn to a stand selling handbags with her idol’s illustrations on them. Since she, too, was an illustrator, Astrid spoke to the owner hoping to work for him. When the owner asked if she had experience designing handbags, Astrid regretfully said no. She felt discouraged, but went home and did her research. This is when Astrid learned that sometimes you just have to be a little bold and go after what you want.
The Wake Up Call
Astrid attended a training called Unstoppable Live, where they were selling a program for five figures that she was interested in. Unsure how she could afford it and scared to death, Astrid took a moment to center herself. She heard her heart screaming to jump at this opportunity and decided she could come up with a way to invest. Astrid went downstairs and spoke to someone about the program and ended up breaking down with all of the empowerment she felt by saying yes. Since then, Astrid has been on such a positive roll and has lost her scarcity mindset.
Style of Leadership
Astrid only recently started seeing herself as a leader and she still finds herself caught off guard hearing herself referred to as a leader. Astrid is happy and easy going and loves to come from a place of collaboration, inspiration and empowerment in all situations.
What Are You Excited About?
Astrid feels so blessed to be super excited about everything she is currently doing. Over the last two years, she has found her calling helping female entrepreneurs who are a lot like her younger self. Astrid uses her branding super powers and laws of attraction to help those women achieve their goals in one-on-one coaching sessions.
Astrid is also working on an artistic side project with 10 other female artists. She was looking for ways to bring back the use of her art, and got inspired by her oracle cards. The oracle cards they are collaborating to create will focus on inspiring and empowering female freelancers and soul-preneurs in their business and in life.
Current Business Challenge
Astrid refers to her ongoing business challenge as grounded leverage, staying grounded and centered and having free time while also growing her business. It’s a work in progress for Astrid, where she feels she’s got it, but has to remain aware of it.
Leadership Practice
Astrid is adamant on always listening to her heart and centering herself.
Advice For Younger Self
Astrid would tell her younger self to stop hustling, look for her inner north star sooner, and to follow what helps her open up to her own heart, soul, and desires.
Inspirational Quote
“Follow the fun that comes from the heart.” - Astrid Mueller
Links
https://twitter.com/astrid_mueller
https://www.facebook.com/AstridMuellerGirlpowerCEO
https://www.linkedin.com/in/astridmueller/
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Alyssa Wright is an artist, activist and capacity building expert. An accomplished facilitator and consultant, Alyssa works with organizations from East Africa to New England, all focused on powerfully creating social change, especially for women & children. A Co-Founder of the Massachusetts-based Recovery Theatre and a passionate advocate for the arts, Alyssa believes that when we place dignity and love at the forefront of our change-making efforts, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish together on this Earth.
Playing Small Moment
Because she didn’t feel that she had anything intellectual, philosophical or academic to say, Alyssa felt that her story wouldn’t necessarily help others and didn’t see the importance in sharing it. Alyssa had assumed that everyone experienced the same parental struggles that she had in her youth and that her story was just too common. Ultimately, she underestimated the significance of how she came to be who she was as a person.
The Wake Up Call
In July 2015, Alyssa had the opportunity to work with women and girls in East Africa with Heshima Kenya, a refugee organization. On her flight to Africa, Alyssa was filled with doubts and felt undeserving of the amazing opportunities that awaited her until she received an encouraging text from a caring friend. Once Alyssa arrived at the safe house, she was greeted by all of the girls, holding their beautiful children. The group took turns sharing their talents and when Alyssa was asked to share hers, she realized that her artistry made her feel more herself than she ever had. Alyssa was inspired and knew how she could make a difference.
Style of Leadership
Alyssa sees her leadership style as more of a mentorship that becomes kinship that becomes a legacy of doing the right thing. When Alyssa started in the world of philanthropy, she asked a more experienced peer how she stayed motivated when it didn’t seem they were moving the needle at all. The woman replied that they were in fact moving the needle, and to pay attention to the young people that were showing up. Those young people are what keep the movement going. With Alyssa’s leadership, it’s more than just inspiring a young person to work with her, it is making an investment in that person as a whole and making sure they are enjoying the progress, not just the goal.
What Are You Excited About?
Since last summer, Alyssa has been working with Tree Sisters, which has been an inspiring leadership journey for her. One of the projects they are working on that Alyssa is really excited to be a part of is a global philanthropic strategy that unearths feminine leadership within different communities while also repairing the nature around us.
Current Business Challenge
After working for Raising Change for seven years, Alyssa became partner and just recently received a certificate to further her leadership in her field. After building a new consulting business, Alyssa is challenged by finding her own identity and voice in an that same industry as a leader and not just an employee.
Inspirational Quote
“The time is is always right to do what is right.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Links
Website: www.alyssafwright.com
Twitter: @WrightAlyssa1
Tree Sisters Website: Treesisters.org
Mogul: https://onmogul.com/alyssa-wright-95
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Katie Clark is the 2016-2017 President of the Junior League of Portland, Maine. The League, a community fixture in Portland for 94 years with more than 200 members, promotes voluntarism, develops the potential of women, and improves the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
Katie is also a market research and social media consultant, working with companies large and small in industries as varied as software, seafood, fragrance, and finance. Katie is a social media influencer and has been named to 10 Great #MRX Tweeters Every Market Researcher Should Follow, Most Influential Client-Side Tweeters, and the Wearables 1k. She was selected as a Google Glass Explorer in 2013. Katie speaks at events and online about market research, social media, personal branding, technology, and productivity tools. She is a mom to identical twin three-year-old girls and an advocate for international adoption
Playing Small Moment
Katie loved attending Smith College, but the unspoken expectation that graduating as anything less than a leader would be unacceptable left students feeling like failures on day one. Because of this, Katie thought success would be instantaneous after grad school and was quite disappointed when she wasn’t saving the world just yet. Once Katie realized that her early jobs were stepping stones to greatness, she was able to teach other women with similar conditioning that it takes time and to embrace the journey to success.
The Wake Up Call
After working at an extremely stressful job that wouldn’t advance her any further in her career, Katie knew she needed a change. She decided to try out a job in retail, working at Barnes and Noble. Katie thrived on the customer interaction and learned how to manage people with differing backgrounds and personalities. This job gave Katie the change of pace she needed to allow her health to heal from the stressors of the previous job, while also teaching her the skills she needed to move on to bigger things.
Style of Leadership
Katie feels that she leads in a humble way, while also focusing on being hyper organized. Humble leadership is important to Katie because it allows her to lead towards a goal or higher purpose without making it about herself.
What Are You Excited About?
Katie has been elected as this year’s president of The Junior League of Portland, Maine. There are 292 Junior Leagues that span 4 countries, and each league selects their goals based on their unique needs each year. This year, The Junior League of Portland, Maine is working with Partners for Protecting Children and The Main Freedom Project and Katie is excited to advocate for the changes that she feels the community needs in these areas.
Current Business Challenge
The Junior League has been around for 94 years, yet the awareness to the changes they provide to the community is minimal. Often the community is aware of the organizations in which The Junior League is involved in, but not the work they have accomplished. This year, they are working on having more brand ambassadors to spread the word and bring in more members while also attracting like-minded organizations to get involved.
Your Support System
Inside The Junior League, Katie is surrounded by 200+ women that make up an outstanding support team. In her home life, Katie’s husband has been her real hero. After adopting 3-year-old twins, he has really helped be her biggest support, logistically and emotionally.
Leadership Practice
Katie really tries to check her own biases. Whether in business or at home, Katie realizes that her filter is often different than someone else’s and will adjust accordingly to keep an open mind.
Resource to Develop Leadership
Books on servant leadership, and there are many, are fantastic and everyone should read them.
Exploiting Chaos by Jeremy Gutsche
Advice For Younger Self
Katie would tell her younger self not to worry, that she is going to get there. It’s not going to be instantaneous, but you will get where you need to be. Katie is an impatient person, so sitting in the unknowing can be hard for her but she tries to keep faith that she will get there.
Inspirational Quote
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Jesus, to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
“Remember. Your story can help save someone’s life. Your silence contributes to someone else’s struggle. Speak so we all can be free. Love so we all can be liberated. The moment is now and we need you.” Yolo Akili Robinson, Dear Universe: Letters of Affirmation and Empowerment for All of Us
Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insightsgal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieeclark
Website/Blog: http://www.insightsgal.com/#welcome
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightsgal/
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Esther Kiss is the founder of Born To Influence, a boutique publicity firm specializing in helping experts and personal brands get more publicity, leads and sales. Her clients have been featured on TV, in newspapers, magazines and on some of the top podcasts in the world, resulting in millions of dollars in additional sales. She is also the producer and host of Born To Influence: The Marketing Show, where she interviews highly successful entrepreneurs and NY Times bestselling authors about their marketing and publicity strategies.
Playing Small Moment
Esther was notoriously shy, so shy she was given the nickname, Pinky. Unsure of the reasoning behind her given nickname, assuming it was because of her favorite color, Esther inquired of her ex-boyfriend and was told it was due to her excessive blushing. Even one of her teachers told her to stop being so scared. When Esther acted, or was on camera, she could behind someone else’s words. When she launched her own podcast, it was time to step up and stop being shy.
The Wake Up Call
When Esther was unsure of what her business was going to consist of, she would do small projects while still acting and day trading. Esther knew she could continue to do the small projects while she kept an open mind about her business and not pressure herself too much to have it all figured out now.
Style of Leadership
Esther sees her leadership as straightforward with an easy going style. She likes to be nice to people, but she is also very, very clear. When Esther makes a request, she suggests that the client and her have a Skype call and always makes sure that she always makes sure to be clear of all expectations and an gives her clients an easy out.
What Are You Excited About?
Esther is working on transitioning more into coaching. She is currently preparing a done-for-you package for those with a specific set of skills who are looking to step into the spotlight. In addition, Esther is looking to add more coaching to her business for those who can’t justify hiring a publicist but want to learn those skills themselves.
Current Business Challenge
Esther is at a point where she is doing the done-for-you packages and can take less clients, but also gearing up the coaching side. This presents a bit of a time management problems for her. Esther is currently trying to hire and delegate more. She does work with a virtual assistant team, but hopes to work more with one person.
Your Support System
Esther works with her virtual assistant team and a publicist that she works with more on a project-by-project basis. Esther still does the pitches and follow ups herself, but she uses a publicist to make phone calls or send emails for the occasions where her clients want to be on television or radio.
Leadership Practice
Esther believes in not thinking too much. When she is clear on a goal, she tends not to overanalyze it.
Resource to Develop Leadership
Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi
Advice For Younger Self
Esther would tell her younger self to start going for what she wants so she could get really clear on her goals. Esther is now able to follow through more because she has a stronger connection with what she wants.
Inspirational Quote
“Your network is your net worth.”
Links
Website: http://borntoinfluence.com
Free Gift: http://borntoinfluence.com/gift
Twitter: https://twitter.com/estherkiss
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Teena Evert inspires and empowers women to deepen and strengthen their greatest asset: their connection with themselves. Her extensive background as a marriage and family therapist and relationship coach, paired with her honest, gripping, compassionate speaking style fuses personal growth with finding and nurturing a loving relationship with a partner. Successful, driven women are moved to consider new possibilities in their quest to find a new relationship (or fortify the one they already have).
Click to tweet: .@TKEvert is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/195 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
Teena recalls having a shirt with a patch that read, “Think Big,” while she was in elementary school. As a young girl, she thought that thinking big could make her taller, smarter and prettier. In her adult years, “Think Big” has a different meaning. Teena had to learn to embrace her self worth and know that she is valuable and more than good enough just the way she is.
The Wake Up Call
Teena was constantly enrolling in personal development courses and reading self help books that were supposed to help her figure out how to have a more fulfilling life. Teena did learn to practice yoga and meditation to calm her mind and balance her emotions. Teena was ultimately searching for a healthy relationship with herself and to build a relationship with a potential partner and these tactics didn’t help her achieve that. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to get her needs met, or that she even had needs, which caused resentment to build. The universe kept hitting her over the head to get clear with what she wanted in a relationship and live in alignment with her core values.
Style of Leadership
Teena would say that her leadership style is full of moxie. She leads with courage and lots of guts. Teena also leads by example, shows up as her best self and is transparent about her struggles. If she can inspire someone to think big, then Teena feels like she is leading from her innate brilliance.
What Are You Excited About?
Teena is releasing her second book, Put Love First, a book for women who are smart, successful and driven that want to turn their love from hot mess into a hot success. The book teaches women how to prioritize their love life without losing ground in their business.
Current Business Challenge
Teena’s biggest challenge is feeling uncomfortable. She acknowledges that whenever we up level our life, we feel really raw and uncomfortable. Recognizing this keeps Teena anchored, rather than feel paralyzed and ending up self sabotaging.
Your Support System
Women tend to be very independent; asking for support doesn’t come as our first choice. Teena had to learn to find the right support, and she did in a mentor and women’s tribe that keeps her honest. Without a tribe of women by her side, Teena doesn’t think she would follow through with her ideas.
Leadership Practice
Teena isn’t sure it is a practice, but she believes in “being real” every day, bringing the pretty and the ugly.
Resource to Develop Leadership
Conversational intelligence: How to Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results by Judith E Glaser
Advice For Younger Self
Teena would tell her younger self, “You’ve got this. Trust your gut. Don’t doubt yourself and say no more often so when you say yes you really mean it.”
Inspirational Quote
“One of the most courageous things you can do is identify yourself, know who you are and what you believe in and where you want to go.” - Sheila Murray Bethel
Links
Website: http://www.teenaevert.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ignitelovenow
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TKEvert
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teenakevert
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
TJ Jones is a leadership crusader, author, speaker, team-builder, and coach. He has spent 25 years first as a teacher and coach, then twenty years as a corporate sales executive and head of training and development. TJ crusades for fiercer caring; caring to be our best selves, caring for others, and caring for the greater cultural good. TJ’s mission is to Awaken, Influence, and Inspire others to become “Caring Warriors.”
A Woman Who Has Impacted You as a Leader
TJ has had the opportunity to work with many great leaders, but he thinks back to a particular senior executive who gave him his first opportunity. She was a great business woman, who was also very warm and likable, with a talent to balance those aspects beautifully. Ultimately though, it was TJ’s wife that made him into the leader that he is now. Without her love and support, TJ wouldn’t be crusading for much now.
What He Sees That Holds Women Back
One of the many bosses TJ has had was such an impressive woman, who was smart and analytical. During one of his performance reviews, she broke down and was clearly upset. Initially, TJ was shocked and wondering why it was happening during his review, but he felt she could trust him. She has received feedback that she was too harsh and intimidating. Lack of self acceptance can hold us back and cause us to overcompensate in certain areas.
What He Has Learned From Women
Instead of just opening up the laptop when you sit down with someone, TJ learned that particularly in the beginning, that it is better to discuss the expectations with an employee or peer. It is really important to have an open and honest conversation to start the working relationship.
What Changes Are Necessary for Women to Step Up as Leaders
TJ believes that women don’t need to change so much, but to become, to progress throughout our lives. TJ listened to one of Oprah’s commencement speeches, and she said after her show ended, that she wondered if she mattered anymore. We take the need to feel significant, to feel connected to the world into the professional environment. Expect to continue to grow and better yourself. If you aren’t getting that, ask yourself if this the right thing for you. Make necessary steps to continue and grow.
What Are You Excited About
Tj recently launched his first book, The Caring Warrior, which can be qualified as a self help book with leadership undertones. TJ wants to create a new generation of caring warriors.
Inspirational Quote
“Does anything take more courage, is anything more challenging, and sometimes frightening than to live by your own mind, judgement and values? Is not self esteem a summons to the hero within us?”
- Nathanial Brandon
Links
Website: http://tjjonesleadership.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJJonesLeadership/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaringWarriorTJ
Book Recommendation: The Confidence Code by Katty Kat & Claire Shipman
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Natalie Eckdahl is a business coach, professional facilitator, keynote speaker and host of the Biz Chix Podcast which iTunes ranked a #1 New Business Podcast in March 2014. Natalie has an international coaching practice where she works with female entrepreneurs desiring to grow a profitable business whether they are just starting out or have a million dollar company. She leverages her 20 years of business experience, graduate business degree and social media savvy to help her clients efficiently adapt their business to their family life and individual priorities. She is the busy mom of three children ranging in age from 2-14 and starts her day with a steaming cup of Ethiopian Coffee.
Click to tweet: .@bizchixpodcast is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/193 #inspiration
Playing Small Moment
When Natalie started her podcast, she thought her show would be an instant hit with the sponsorship to go with it. After a year with lots of expenses and absolutely no revenue, Natalie had to reassess her plan and focus on her niche audience. After a mentor suggestion, Natalie came up with a new plan which has helped her business soar.
The Wake Up Call
In the Fall of 2015, Natalie and her husband sat down and discussed their financial goals for the upcoming year. With a set number of revenue that would be transferred to the family account each month, Natalie would be able to prioritize her expenses while also seeing the rewarding amount she had actually earned.
Style of Leadership
Natalie is confident that just 60 minutes with her in a strategy call, she can help any entrepreneur with their business. Inside that very call, Natalie can become familiar with their current success and how to further develop it.
What Are You Excited About?
Natalie is excited about certain trends she discovered this year and has come to really understand the entrepreneurial woman. She is excited to help women profit their business and to see traction build in her own after 3 years.
Current Business Challenge
Not wanting to cut corners, Natalie struggles to find time to create a bigger team she can properly delegate to. This is due to her very busy schedule.
Your Support System
With Natalie’s current struggles of establishing a new team, her husband has agreed to step in to help and be her tech handyman. Natalie also has a mastermind that has helped her along the way.
Leadership Practice
A self-proclaimed podcast junkie, Natalie often learns from fellow podcasters through binge listening once she's found a favorite. This auditory practice helps to expand her show and interviewing skill, by exposing herself to a wide ranging set of styles.
Resource to Develop Leadership
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Advice For Younger Self
If Natalie had the chance, she would tell her younger self that you can’t plan it all out. “You don’t know where life is going.” She had a whole plan in her 20s, and things have been so pleasantly different. It was through all of the things that weren’t in the plan that made her who she is today.
Inspirational Quote
“Do it scared.”
Links
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Julie Broad is an Amazon #1 Best-selling Author, recipient of the Top 20 under 40 award for Vancouver Island (2014), a successful entrepreneur, recognized real estate investor, and a popular speaker and workshop trainer.
Her first book, More than Cashflow, debuted at #1 overall on Amazon.ca, and went on to win an International Book Award. Her newest release, The New Brand You launched in July 2016, and recently won a Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Sales Book.
Playing Small Moment
After spending two months making a proposal Julie felt would transform a sales process in her organization, she presented it to the president. Without looking at her ideas, he mandated she follow his plan. Julie realized she had spent much of her life pursuing a path she didn’t want to be on. She was 100% accountable for things she had 0% control over. She knew she had to quit.
The Wake Up Call
Julie and her husband attended a personal growth seminar. During the exercises, she realized she did many of the things in her personal and business life because she wanted people to like her.
Style of Leadership
Julie leads by example. She would rather let the people around her see her taking action and making mistakes, than be afraid of making mistakes.
What Are You Excited About?
Julie is just a few weeks away from giving birth to her first child. She will also be starting a business to assist new self-published authors sell their books.
Current Business Challenge
Julie finds it challenging to be in her current transitional state.
Your Support System
Julie’s husband is her biggest supporter.
Leadership Practice
If Julie says she is going to do something, she does it without hesitation.
Resource to Develop Leadership
The New Brand You by Julie Broad
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Advice For Younger Self
“Be you. You are the only person worth being.”
Inspirational Quote
“The missing piece is always action.”
Links
Website: HaveMoreInfluence.com
Youtube: JulieABroad
Twitter: @TheJulieBroad
Facebook: JulieBroadSpeaker
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
After nearly twenty years in senior leadership roles in communications at media giants Universal, Sony, and Turner Broadcasting, Libby founded executive coaching and consulting firm Libby Gill & Company, in November 2000. A sought-after international speaker, she guides established and emerging leaders to inspire purpose, and ignite performance, by building engaged cultures based on trust, respect, and hope.
Author of four books, including the award-winning YOU UNSTUCK: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-taking in Work and Life, which has been endorsed by business leaders including Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh and Dr. Ken Blanchard.
Her latest book, CAPTURE THE MINDSHARE AND THE MARKET SHARE WILL FOLLOW: The Art and Science of Building Brands, shows readers how to build brand loyalty through deep emotional connections.
Playing Small Moment
Libby has always worked behind the scenes, but she yearned to be front and center, in the theater. Instead of getting out in front and taking charge, she let her fear overcome her.
The Wake Up Call
Libby’s wake up call came when she received her head shot back from a touch-up artist, with too many notations.
Style of Leadership
Libby’s leadership style is a blend of candor and kindness. She found her sweet spot in not being too direct nor too nice.
What Are You Excited About?
Libby is excited about her new leadership course, which focuses on helping people rebuild their careers.
Current Business Challenge
Libby believes in the content she has created. Her next challenge is marketing it and sharing it with people.
Your Support System
Libby found having an accountability partner was meaningful, and she has an assistant whom she considers to be her right hand. She also has other people she employs, plus outsourced support.
Leadership Practice
Libby’s leadership practice is a 3-step vision process.
Resource to Develop Leadership
Advice For Younger Self
“There are people out there to help you!”
Inspirational Quote
“To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.” ― Robert Lewis Stevenson
Links
Website: Libbygill.com
Website: Yourcareerquiz.com
Twitter: @LibbyGill
Facebook: MeetLibbyGill
Instagram: @LibbyGill_co
LinkedIn: LibbyGillLeadershipExpert
Email: AskLibby@Libbygill.com
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
I’ve talked before about how the seasons impact our behavior. September tends to be a time of transition while December with it’s darker shorter days brings on reflection and going inward. Now that I know this happens I plan for it and take advantage of it.
But there were some things that came onto my radar unintentionally that prompted the topic of today’s episode: disclosing what I’m afraid to tell you.
Two weeks ago I was listening to the BNI and the Power of One podcast. There is a segment of the show that happens about once a month where the host, Tim Roberts, brings on a co-host and together they discuss a book together. The book they reviewed that day was Loving What Is by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell.
Though Loving What Is is not a business book but it’s what I refer to as a life book. These are books that have ideas that are so profound they ripple across every area of life and so can be used to impact business, career, health, finances, you name it.
I was intrigued by what was shared in this podcast and immediately went to Audible to download the audiobook.
The book is centered around what is now popularly called “The Work.” It’s four questions that help you to separate what’s real from what’s made up in your mind so you can let go of angst and suffering.
This book blew me away, has continued to do so, and the timing was perfect as I had a couple of clients who were engaged in doing deeper work to find peace and happiness. I was able to recommend this book to them and they’ve been reporting feeling more peace and freedom around things in their life that were troubling them.
Then last week I was listening to another of my favorite podcasts, The Lively Show with Jess Lively. This podcast was recommended to me by Kendra Wheeler who has been a guest on Women Taking the Lead. I was hooked immediately. Jess Lively is about 10 years younger than I am which makes her a millennial and I have been appreciating her perspective on the world, work and life.
Jess is very open about her life and right after I started listening to her she went through some rapid and drastic life changes and she’s balance being respectful of the privacy of others and sharing a great deal of her thoughts and feelings knowing it has been helpful to her community. She’s not afraid to talk about finding flow and intuition and she’s interviewed people on her show that I dream about having on Women Taking the Lead. I get a happiness boost every time I see one of her episodes downloading onto my phone.
You can imagine my surprise when last week I hit play on her latest episode and she started talking about how she hasn’t been enjoying the thought of doing future episodes as much as she had in the past. When she did her own inquiry into why she was feeling this way she realized it was because she had been holding some things back and so didn’t feel like the podcast was a place that she could fully express herself like she had been in the past. To clear the air she listed out all the things that she had not been saying on her podcast and it was amazing.
Nothing she said was shocking or earth shattering but you could almost feel with each admission that her load was lifting and she was being herself without effort and letting that come forth however she was in the moment.
I too have also been feeling the weight of responsibility with my podcast and my business and my relationships and her admission had me wondering where I have been holding back and being less than forthcoming.
I started doing Byron Katie’s “The Work” and also began listing out what I wanted for my business and my podcast and took a close look at what I had been keeping to myself – not in an attempt to deceive, but more because I wasn’t dealing with feelings that were nagging at me.
Here is my list of things I’ve been afraid to tell you...Listen in!
Private Facebook Community: Chat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!
Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing: A simple, step by step system that gives you the foundation and structure to take your goals and make them happen.
The Accomplished Community: A community of entrepreneurial Type A women uniting to achieve their biggest goals with confidence, integrity and a sense of humor.
If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!
Jennifer Briney is the host of Congressional Dish, a twice-monthly podcast exposing the secrets drowned out by the partisan noise in the United States Congress. By interpreting legislation, summarizing Congressional hearings, and following the money, Jennifer Briney analyzes the actions of Congress that are generally ignored by the corporate media, delivering the information from the perspective of a fed-up taxpayer, who bears no allegiance to any political party or ideology.
Playing Small Moment
For six months, Jennifer had an idea to make a podcast but never acted upon it. She allowed the naysayers in her life to influence her decision. It wasn’t until after her father had a near-death experience, that she decided to take his advice and run with the idea.
The Wake Up Call
Jennifer downloaded 30 episodes of Audacity to Podcast, and then followed through with every piece of information the host recommended. She’s embarrassed by those first episodes, but is so happy she did it!
Style of Leadership
Jennifer’s leadership style is hands-off. She wants people to be responsible for their own work; for this reason, she avoids hiring employees, and instead, gives work to freelancers.
What Are You Excited About?
Jennifer is excited about her new opportunity to outsource her busy work.
Current Business Challenge
Jennifer knows it will be challenging to deal with the new presidential administration and the new one-party House and Senate. She will need to buckle down and pay attention to everything.
Your Support System
Jennifer’s husband, Joe, is supporting her through the early days of this venture; her father; and Darrell Darnell of Pro Podcast Solutions, who does the audio editing. She also has a volunteer, who helps with her graphics.
Leadership Practice
Trust is Jennifer’s most effective leadership practice. But she really doesn’t consider herself a leader.
Resource to Develop Leadership
Daniel J. Lewis, Dave Jackson, Adam Curry, Joe Rogan and Kara Santa Maria
Advice For Younger Self
“Don’t stress yourself so much. Do it in your own way, and you will be fine.”
Inspirational Quote
“You never know until you try.”
Links
Website: www.congressionaldish.com
Twitter: @JenBriney
Facebook: www.facebook.com/congressionaldish
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Carol Cox is the creator of Speaking Your Brand, which helps purpose-driven women entrepreneurs and leaders shape their business and personal brands, share their message, and become recognized as influencers in their field. She teaches business and marketing classes at a university, and during election seasons, serves as a Democratic political analyst on TV news.
Carol believes that as high-performing women, we change the paradigm, the perception of ambitious women, by more of us actively and visibly pursuing bigger audacious goals, raising our voices and sharing our stories about what really matters — on stages, in boardrooms, in our businesses, in the media, and in our families — so others can learn from our journeys, see themselves in ours, and become leaders in their own companies and communities.
Playing Small Moment
Carol was in her early 30’s when she decided to finally run for chairperson. She obtained the position and enjoyed the success for a time, until her friends stopped supporting her. After that lesson, Carol started building multiple support systems so she always has support for her ventures.
The Wake Up Call
Carol’s wake up call came after an interview with a news organization. She had smiled her way through a serious topic with the intent of seeming likable. Later, she realized she had betrayed her emotions for the sake of feminine likability.
Style of Leadership
Carol is a hands-off leader. She trusts the people she is working with and they know the best way to complete their part of the work.
What Are You Excited About?
Carol is excited to be re-launching her online group coaching and Mastermind program this coming February.
Current Business Challenge
Scaling is Carol’s biggest business challenge right now.
Your Support System
Carol’s husband is her main support system. In addition, her Mastermind group allows her to interact with people who help to keep her focused and accountable towards achieving her goals.
Leadership Practice
Carol reads about a wide range of topics so she stays well rounded and can provide insights in different areas.
Book to Develop Leadership
Advice For Younger Self
“Move to New York City!”
Inspirational Quote
“You can’t take people further than you have gone yourself.”
― Carl Jung
Links
Website: www.speakingyourbrand.com
Free gift for listeners:
www.speakingyourbrand.com/takethelead
Facebook Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/speakingyourbrand
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Lin Eleoff is an Internet startup lawyer, but she's more than that — she's the kind of lawyer that wants to help you avoid having to hire a lawyer, especially when you're just trying to grow your business, and money is tight.
That means she doesn't want you to hire her; she wants to show you how you can do a lot of the legal legwork yourself. Her "DIY Legal Toolkit" not only answers your legal questions, it provides you with checklists, templates, and the law you need to know about in order to "cover your assets online." Online entrepreneurs don't know what they don't know, and that means they're exposing themselves to liability, and they're putting their personal assets at risk.
Playing Small Moment
Lin says playing small for her was when she attempted to be all things to all people.
The Wake Up Call
Lin started her online business without knowing what she was doing. After some time, she made a 46-step checklist that she made into a book. A book she wished she had had access to when she first started her business.
Style of Leadership
Lin would like to be a leader who leads with grace, to enable those who have the guts and the grit to go for it. She throws in some humor and some sarcasm, just to lighten things up.
What Are You Excited About?
Lin is really excited about her new Mind, Body, Business Freedom Mastermind. She wants to make an affordable community for women who want to find success when starting their own online businesses.
Current Business Challenge
Lin says it has been challenging finding a group of like-minded women who are willing to go all-in.
Your Support System
Lin belongs to a high-level Mastermind Group, she has a business coach, a virtual assistant, and a tech support system.
Leadership Practice
Asking questions is Lin’s practice that makes her a better leader.
Book to Develop Leadership
The Dance of Anger, by Harriet Lerner
The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz
Advice For Younger Self
“You are on the right track. Keep doing what your heart is telling you to do. Yes it’s scary. Keep moving forward.”
Inspirational Quote
“This too shall pass.”
Links
Website: CoverYourAssetsOnline.com
Website: DIYLegalToolkit.com
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
Dana Zarcone, known as “The Liberating Leadership Coach,” is passionate about helping her clients live all-in and full-out, step into their power, and enjoy epic success in life and business. Dana has her masters in counseling, is a national certified counselor, certified core energetics practitioner, certified life coach and energy healer. She’s the founder of Source Your Joy™ and is a motivational speaker, author, and host of The Your Shift Matters podcast.
Playing Small Moment
When Dana was growing up, her parents had her life already roadmapped for her. She did exactly what was expected of her. Dana’s playing small moment came after receiving her mother’s discouragement after she told her mom she was going back to college, after becoming successful in corporate America. She ended up staying the course and continuing her work, when it wasn’t what she wanted to do.
The Wake Up Call
Dana decided to leave the corporate world to become an entrepreneur and coach. When she took the leap, she realized that she didn’t know who she was. She had identified herself with her job title and her paycheck for so long, she had no idea how much confidence she lacked. After a breakdown and some soul searching, her wake up call came when she realized she had a purpose in this world.
Style of Leadership
Dana’s leadership style is about being compassionate, sympathetic, humble, and non-judgmental. She firmly holds people accountable.
What Are You Excited About?
Dana is co-authoring a book, The No-BS Truth: What it Really Takes to Build a Business. She is also really excited about her energy work, and having Jodi as a guest on her new podcast, Your Shift Matters.
Current Business Challenge
Dana underestimated just how much work having a podcast is, so she is in the market for a Virtual Assistant.
Your Support System
Friends and family are supportive of Dana’s ventures. Her virtual friends have really been great sounding boards and mentors. She is thankful for these women she considers some of her dearest friends.
Leadership Practice
Dana does a 5-minute energy routine.
Book to Develop Leadership
Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson
Advice For Younger Self
“Don’t let other people’s opinions about you and about life determine how you feel about yourself and what you can accomplish.”
Inspirational Quote
“Our deepest fear isn’t that we are inadequate. It’s that we are powerful beyond measure; and there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so others won’t feel insecure around you.”
― Marianne Williamson
Links
Website: http://www.DanaZarcone.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danazarcone
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanaZarcone
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SourceYourJoy/
Podcast: http://www.YourShiftMatters.com
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Radio and never miss out on #inspiration and community!
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
In this holiday season while we are putting more effort into being forgiving, cheerful and jolly I thought I’d go over some of the reasons why you might want to continue the effort throughout the year…at least until it doesn’t require as much effort.
We’ve all needed to vent at one time or another. The pressure builds inside of us and we need to release it to a close and trusted confidant.
The mistake I see some women make is bringing that behavior into their professional life assuming everyone they are talking to is on the same page as they are. They voice their grievances indiscriminately and without any commitment to create change for the better.
Another reason I’m doing this episode is as a reminder to myself to always be mindful of the impact I have on others. I’m generally known as a positive person but I have my moments of negativity and I’d like those moments to be fewer and farther between in the future.
Also, if you are a win-lose kind of person I can tell you when you go negative in a relationship you lose. The person being the most negative appears to be the more immature, unstable person and thus will appear to be the source of the problems.
Protect your reputation and your peace of mind by being aware of what comes across as negative and work towards keeping a more positive frame of mind.
Obvious ways we tend to go negative
This is also a form of gossip and it is as damaging to the other person as it is to you. You may not realize it but you are sending a message to those you are talking with that you don’t know how to handle conflict, that you are not capable of resolving issues.
While you may find people who agree with you and validate your position you also make yourself look weak and untrustworthy. Those around you will believe you to be the type of person who will sell them out as well should you get mad at them.
Instead, find a way to resolve your conflict with the source. If you need to talk through your strategy with someone first, find a trusted confidant who will listen objectively and keep your conversation confidential.
Everyone is going through something. No one has it easy. It’s okay to share with your friends and close associates an update on some challenges you have to let them into your world and possibly brainstorm some solutions. If the conversation is focused on finding a solution it can actually be energizing, especially to those who love problem solving.
And before you share your challenges, weigh whether or not it is even worth sharing. You’ll be surprised that if you are able to let some things go and not focus on them by engaging in a conversation about them, fewer things will bother you.
We all have things to be grateful for, share those instead.
It’s unprofessional. I’ve seen people try to be snarky in mixed company thinking that it was a good joke but instead it landed like a lead balloon. Sarcasm is easily misunderstood so outside of the private conversation with your other sarcastic friend, avoid it. It’s not worth taking the chance.
Subtle forms of going negative
It’s okay not to agree with others but when you shoot down other people’s ideas and don’t have a logical reason for it or an alternative you run the risk of looking contentious. Rather than disagreeing outright politely ask questions that would help the other party see the gaps in their plan or reveal information that would help you to see the validity of the idea.
Have you ever been around someone who was constantly blurting out, “I don’t like that”? Oy!
When asked for your honest opinion it’s okay to be honest, just hold back from laying it on thick.
This passive-aggressive tactic is usually employed after someone has not gotten their way. Rather than accepting what has been decided they choose to disengage and refuse to participate in protest. This is considered childish behavior and it makes the situation uncomfortable for everyone.
Rather than moping either completely remove yourself from the situation or organization if it’s that intolerable or shake it off and start participating again.
Be the person others want to be around
We all can agree that it’s draining to be around people who are constantly complaining. Don’t be the person others want to avoid because you have a tendency to go negative on occasion.
I go over all the triggers to this behavior and how you can be the person others want to work with, promote and support as you move toward your goals in my book, Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3LH7S0
Private Facebook Community: Chat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!
Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing: A simple, step by step system that gives you the foundation and structure to take your goals and make them happen.
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com
If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!
Michelle McQuaid is a best-selling author, workplace well-being teacher, and playful change activator. With more than a decade of senior leadership experience in large organizations around the world, she’s passionate about translating cutting-edge research from positive psychology and neuroscience, into practical strategies for health, happiness, and business success. She blogs for Psychology Today, Huffington Post, and Live Happy, and her work has been featured in Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, Boss Magazine, The Age, and more.
Michelle lives to help people discover their strengths, move beyond their fears, and finally discover what it truly takes to flourish with confidence.
Playing Small Moment
Michelle says her playing small moment came when she requested coffee with a friend who was a C-level executive from a large financial firm, to ask for some career advice. When her contact said she should take on a new role, Michelle was embarrassed, because she didn’t think she had what it would take for a role of that size.
The Wake Up Call
While watching TV one evening, Michelle was amazed to learn there is a science behind how we show up every day. This was her wake up call that maybe she had plateaued in her current position, and it was time for her to learn more about positive psychology.
Style of Leadership
Michelle practices positive leadership. She has a weekly check in and asks her team members “What lit you up the most?”
What Are You Excited About?
Michelle’s book, Lead Like a Woman, was released in early 2016. When she and her partner saw the incredible results, they devised a way to get it in front of more women, through an online program.
Current Business Challenge
Michelle finds it challenging not to be attached to outcomes, and to give her best efforts to the daily processes.
Leadership Practice
Michelle looks for the best in people.
Book to Develop Leadership
Lead Like a Woman, by Michelle McQuaid &
Megan Dalla-Camina
Advice For Younger Self
“Be gentler on yourself.”
Inspirational Quote
“What if everything you dreamed was entirely possible?”
Links
Website: https://www.leadlikeawoman.net
Website: http://www.michellemcquaid.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chellemcquaid
Character Strength Assessment: http://www.viacharacter.org/
Find more resources at https://womentakingthelead.com