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Women Taking the Lead

The Women Taking the Lead podcast is a resource for women leaders, allies, and organizations looking to promote more women into senior leadership. Episode formats include specific leadership challenges, "on-air" coaching with women leaders, and interviews with internal talent and organizational development leaders. Women Taking the Lead inspires women to overcome self-doubt and lead with confidence, integrity and a sense of humor.
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Now displaying: July, 2017
Jul 31, 2017

 

Jenn Aubert is an author and entrepreneur.  Her first book Women Entrepreneur Revolution: Ready! Set! Launch! (Balboa Press, 2014) explores the mindset, motivation and behaviors of successful female entrepreneurs and the role models in their lives who have influenced them. She is also the co-founder of LearnSavvy, an online community for women business owners with a primary focus on facilitated peer group masterminds, called Savvy Circles. Jenn currently lives in Portland, OR with her husband and adorable son.

Click to tweet: .@LearnSavvy is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/226 #inspiration

Playing Small Moment

When Learn Savvy was more of a marketplace for education, Jenn recruited women to teach classes. As they started to move away from that setup, Jenn realized that she had been solely relying on these other women to teach the classes and undervaluing her own knowledge.

The Wake Up Call

For many years, Jenn suffered from severe anxiety over talking to people on the phone. The moment that Jenn decided she wanted to write a book consisting of 100 interviews, Jenn knew things had to change. If Jenn wanted this book to be a success, she had to jump into the deep end.

Style of Leadership

Jenn uses calm enthusiasm. She believes there is just so much frantic enthusiasm, and that approach can tend to make some individuals anxious. Jenn uses a calmer approach, but still encourages with enthusiasm. Jenn also believes in genuine relationships and finds some joint ventures or list building promotions to feel slimy, where she would rather make natural introductions.

What Are You Excited About?

Jenn is currently excited about Savvy Circles, her peer facilitated mastermind group. This group of usually 4-6 women meets up weekly for 90 days. Jenn finds it incredibly inspiring to watch the journey of those women.

Current Business Challenge

Jenn struggles with marketing and standing out in a crowd. With so much noise, being able to get in front of the right people is always a challenge.

Leadership Practice

Meditation.

Advice For Younger Self

“Appreciate where you’re at right now, rather than always looking forward.”

Inspirational Quote

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

Links

Website: http://www.learnsavvy.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learnsavvy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/learnsavvy

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 27, 2017

Man, the summertime crazy has commenced. It took everything I had, and little less sleep, to get this episode out this week. My schedule was jam-packed and I have family coming to visit so my schedule is going to be all out whack for a couple of weeks. I'll have a week of rest after (or not) and then I'm off to Podcast Movement.

The old me would have become insanely stressed out and resentful, and the people around me probably would have been very aware of it. I would have tried to get rid of as much on my to do list as possible to try to alleviate the stress. 

The old me would have battled with myself about doing an episode this week and I probably would have done it but it would have been because I didn't want to look bad. I would have been motivated by a fear that if I didn't do this episode I would lose momentum, and lose the faith and trust of those of you who look forward to the 100% Jodi episodes each week.

I'm not going to deny I'm a little wound up this week with everything but I wanted to do an episode this week because I'm motivated from something different than fear. The emotion I'm motivated by is love.

I love doing these episodes. I was hesitant at first. I was excited and nervous and testing out the waters with different topics but now I've hit a groove, gotten your feedback and now 100% Jodi is a labor of love.

As much as possible do things coming from the emotion of love. I think we can agree it's much more enjoyable to be feeling love while you are taking action than it is to feel fear.

I would much rather do an obstacle course loving the exhilaration rather than running it half freaked out by the obstacles I have to overcome.

Sometimes it's not even fear we need to shift but there can be something really special that can come about when we add love to the mix.

I remember when I joined BNI my chapter took attendance but they didn't enforce the attendance policy. That seemed fine with everyone because everyone seemed to give a best effort to attend...until they didn't.

When I was the President of the chapter from 2012-2013 I had some real concerns with what I was seeing. With my personality type, and my background in corporate you know I went to the reports to see what was going on. Sure enough, when attendance was good there were corresponding increases in the numbers of referrals passed and the amount of money we tracked in closed business.

When attendance went down so did the referrals and money made by the members.

 Okay, so after looking at the BNI reports for my chapter for attendance, referrals passed and money made by the members, it was plain as day what I needed to do but this would be a major culture shift and I had only been in the chapter for a year and a half. A large number in my chapter had been in the chapter for more than 10-15 years, some of them for nearly 20 years.

However, the solution was clear but I needed to do this right. So I presented the information first to the members who were in leadership roles in the chapter and proposed that we start enforcing the attendance policy. They were surprised but the numbers didn't lie and they agreed to the change. 

With their support I prepared a PowerPoint presentation to do at an upcoming meeting. I was a little nervous given some of the personalities that were in the chapter at that time but I knew it was the right thing. I was resolved. And I was preparing for the presentation with that energy.

My friend Michelle who is also a member of my BNI chapter, chatted with me the day before my presentation and asked me how I was feeling. I've mentioned her before as the friend who balances me out and this demonstrates exactly how.

I told her I was ready, I was resolved and it was the right thing to do. Michelle replied, "And remember you doing this because you love them." She was exactly right! I wouldn't have risked so much if I didn't love the people who were in the room but I wasn't present to it as I was preparing my data and creating the slides.

Every Type A woman should have a friend like Michelle in their life.

I started my presentation by asking everyone in the room if they had hit their money goal the prior year. Only one person raised their hand. I then told them that my goal as their President was to change that. The reason people join BNI is to make more money. Everything else, and there's a lot of other things, are a bonus. People leave BNI if they are not making enough money for their efforts.

I delivered my presentation focusing on how the attendance policy was going to help them make more money and achieve their goals. At the end of the presentation I decided to be completely transparent and I told them I wanted to do this because I loved them and I wanted them to be successful.

Everyone agreed to my proposal to start to enforce the attendance policy. We've been enforcing the attendance policy ever since and my chapter has gotten better every year.

On your part it feels better to come from a place of love, and it feels better for the other person as well. People can sense the intention behind what is said and an action taken. They may not be able to name it exactly but they do get a sense of whether it feels genuine or manipulative.

If you're not coming from love you are likely being somewhat manipulative.

Things that will take us out of love:

  • Money fears are soul sucking
  • Conflict in an important relationship 
  • Judgment of another or a situation
  • Challenges to our values
  • A lack of love in others

We have to consciously choose love in these situations because it's too easy to get sucked into fear and anger. 

If you find yourself getting sucked into negative emotions come back to a place of love. How do I do this is focusing on the things that I love. I might get fearful about some aspect of my business but then I think about the women in this community. I remember why I work so hard and why I continue to challenge myself to put out good content. 

When I get stressed out about a lack of time I remind myself that it's my expectations of myself that causes the time crunch and that I love peace of mind more than perfection. I then do what I can from a place of love. And sometimes I surprise myself; because I'm so calm doing my tasks they actually get done more quickly because I'm not so easily distracted.

Make Plans and Take Action from a Place of Love

As you start planning your days and your to do lists begin by getting yourself, not only in a good state of mind, but a good state of heart as well. Remind yourself of what you love and once you begin to lighten and feel the good emotions, then take action. 

Especially do this before every meeting or phone call. Get to your set point of love and go from there. I guarantee you, you will see a difference in your productivity, your results and the effect you have on other people. 

This is simple but not easy. It's a practice and I am constantly getting off track and going into auto-pilot, catching myself and resetting my mindset and my emotions. It takes some effort but it is SO WORTH IT.

If you are looking to be around more women who are taking the concepts I've been sharing in these episodes, talking about them and putting them into practice then you want to check out The Accomplished Community. While I certainly have a private facebook group that any woman can join, The Accomplished Community is an exclusive community of women who are taking it to the next level.

What I am really good at is showing Type A women how to let go of the stress so you can believe in yourself and, with clear vision and confidence, take the actions that are going to see you to the success that you want. My coaching removes the barriers that keep you from having the experiences you know you were meant for. Whether that is gaining more clients, growing your team, achieving awards and recognition in your industry, gaining that promotion, speaking, podcasting, or writing your book. If you've dreamt it I can help you achieve it.

Go to https://womentakingthelead.com/community to find out more and register if this is for you.

Thank you all for joining me and here's to your success!!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 24, 2017

Megan Kelly is the Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Executive Producer at Honor Society and brings nearly two decades of experience on both the advertising agency and production sides of the business and was an early adapter for digital content. While honing her skills for every facet of production and cultivating strong and enduring relationships, she has also earned a reputation for curating and developing talent. Prior to founding Honor Society, she led production teams for such top industry shops as Savage, Shilo, The Sweet Shop, Public Domain and Czar. Most recently Kelly started the Live Action Division at Click 3X. Kelly’s work has garnered some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including One Show, AICP and Cannes Lions.

Click to tweet: Megan Kelly from @HonorSocietyTV is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Leadhttps://womentakingthelead.com/225 #inspiration

Playing Small Moment

Megan has always been a hard worker who strived to keep everyone happy. In her thirties, she found herself juggling motherhood and a corporate lifestyle. Megan realized she had been trying to follow the rules, but sometimes rules need to be broken in order to grow.

The Wake Up Call

Megan was placed in charge of the division at one of her past jobs and was really proud of her accomplishments. Though she was the head of the division, Megan wasn’t able to have the creative freedom she needed or recognition that she deserved. After a certain point, she was pulled aside by her boss and told that she needed to run the company the way he wanted her to.

Style of Leadership

Megan’s staff is large and quite varied, so her leadership style sometimes differs. Overall, she strives to have a family-type environment where all opinions can be heard.

What Are You Excited About?

Megan is working on a couple of things that are yet to be released, but that she is really proud of. Honor Society is also starting to work on episodic branded content work for networks.

Current Business Challenge

Megan feels that she can be an impatient person and an overachiever. She struggles finding balance, and always finds herself wishing to be further along during the growing process.

Leadership Practice

Megan always tries to trust her gut. Especially with all of her experience, she needs to trust herself when she feels something isn’t going to work.

Advice For Younger Self

“Learn to trust yourself. Embrace trusting yourself.”

Inspirational Quote

“Better to ask forgiveness than permission.”

“Nevertheless, she persisted.”

Links

Website: honorsociety.tv
Email: megan@honorsociety.tv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honor-Society-Films-943277799060462/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mynetwork/invite-sent/megan-kelly-8677515/
Instagram: @honorsociety.tv

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 20, 2017

It looks like last week’s 100% Jodi episode left its mark. I got an overwhelming response with visits to the blog post; comments on the blog, the Facebook posts, mentions in tweets, Facebook messages, emails, women joining the private Facebook group, and my email list, etc. Thank you so much!!

What I loved was even those who let me know they didn’t express their spirituality the same way I do reached out to let me know that episode made an impact on them.

If anything the response was, “Yes! Be courageous. We love it!”

I wrote, recorded, edited and uploaded that episode on July 4th. A little ironic that it all happened on the day the U.S. celebrates Independence Day.

However, that meant I lived with what was in that episode for nine days before it dropped. I had to manage myself for over a week because although I was excited to be more open and honest about what was true for me, my ego and my inner critic was having a field day with me.

I’ve been through this before and I’ve coined this experience The Exposure Hangover.

Here’s Where The Exposure Hangover Comes From

Some of you may be able to relate to this, others maybe not. But let me take you on a journey to the past. It may have been in college or soon after. You were out for an evening with your friends.

You had a drink to kick the night off. You were having such a good time you weren’t paying attention to how many drinks you had. Everyone was having a good time and the night was going strong.

You had thoughts like, “I love my friends. They are the best.” And, “I love my new friends. We just met in the bathroom but we bonded.”

Trust is high and you say things you’ve never felt so comfortable saying before. There’s a vibe of fun and acceptance so you become a little more daring.

At some point in the night you felt your buzz starting to fade and so you had another drink. What number drink is this? Who cares, I feel great!

Bio chemically there is a lot going on in your body. One thing that is happening is your body has started to release a load of endorphins which are blocking pain and anxiety, causing you to feel great and courageous.

The night ends and you go home to sleep it off in your bed thinking this was the best night ever.

And then you wake up the next morning. And the sun is peaking through the curtains. Pain shoots through your eyeballs triggering a headache. You’re dehydrated and nauseous and every nerve ending feels exposed.

It’s all foggy at first and you’re not sure what made you feel like death.

Then images and sounds from the night before start to filter through to your consciousness. Some it might be funny at first and then…you remember.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!”

You said or did something that was so risky and outside of how people know you that a jolt of fear and shame hits you like lightening.

You cringe, you moan, you want to deny it but there’s no taking it back. All you can hope for is that other people don’t make a big deal about it but they probably do.

I don’t know about you but more often than I’d like to admit my hangover was made all the more painful because I felt vulnerable to being judged, ridiculed or treated coolly.

What The Exposure Hangover Looks Like in Your Business

If you are a business owner or you are striving for promotions in your career you’ve probably had this feeling before.

In order to stand out, to be noticed and ultimately successful you have to put yourself out there.

I’ve shared this Jen Sincero quote from her book You Are a Badass at Making Money in a previous episode but it bears repeating.

“You have everything you need right now to start turning your financial reality into something that doesn’t make you wake up screaming in the middle of the night. You just have to be willing to do what it takes.

And here is what it takes: agreeing to get really, really, really, really uncomfortable over and over again.

We‘ve been raised to believe that you have to work hard to make money. And certainly there are times when this is true but the real secret is you have to take huge uncomfy risks. You have to do stuff you’ve never done before to make yourself visible, to acknowledge your own awesomeness, to risk looking stupid.”

This could potentially look like speaking up in a meeting and giving our opinion, sharing our values with the people we work with, getting real with a client, telling a personal story while giving a talk or delivering a workshop, or revealing your relationship with God on a podcast.

And here’s the thing, when you do it you might be a little nervous but you know it’s the right move. Because it’s the right move you’ve started boosting yourself up likely causing your brain to release more endorphins so your fear gets mixed with some courage.

It almost doesn’t matter how your words or actions are received, you will likely experience The Exposure Hangover later.

When the endorphins make their way out of your system the Ego kicks in and your inner critic goes insane. It will tell you that you are a fool, an idiot, and have you fearing an enormous backlash.

I want you to know if you experience this it is actually very normal and it shall pass. It is not an indication that you did the wrong thing it’s an indication that you did something new and scary and you have removed a layer of what has been limiting you.

I tell my clients there is the real you at your core and it is always there ready to be released. However, over the years you’ve taken on stories about yourself, other people and the world that inhibit you. Imagine each story is like a blanket that has been placed over your head impeding your vision and impeding other people’s perception of you.

Is it any wonder that you feel so misunderstood and disconnected from other people when you are hiding under so many blankets and they are doing the same?

Let’s change the perspective of The Exposure Hangover

Rather than relating to The Exposure Hangover as a bad thing let’s label that initial inner critic reaction as what happens when you let go of a blanket. You have been relating to that blanket as a security blanket but you don’t need that security blanket.

In a short amount of time you will have adapted to no longer having that blanket over you. You will feel lighter, your vision will be clearer and you will feel closer to the people around you.

Unlike a real hangover greasy food will not make you feel better but perhaps hydrating and sitting still for a while to integrate or allow the feelings to slowly move through you will have you feeling better in no time.

If you know you need to be more visible and more vulnerable to start gaining more success and you don’t like the idea of going it alone check out the Work With Me! page on womentakingthelead.com.

There are all sorts of ways to work with me that don’t necessarily involve a long-term private coaching package. We can find a way to work together in a way that feels right for you.

Thank you all so, so much for joining me and here’s to your success!!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 17, 2017

Lisa Woodruff is a professional organizer, productivity specialist and author of The Mindset of Organization, Take Back Your House One Phase at a Time. Lisa believes organization is not a skill you are born with. It is a skill that is developed over time and changes with each season of life.  Lisa has helped thousands of women reclaim their homes and finally get organized with her practical tips, encouragement and humor through her blog and podcast at Organize365.com.

Click to tweet: .@organize365 is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/224 #inspiration

Playing Small Moment

After years of working in sales, Lisa left and started her Organize 365 blog. After a push from her husband, she incorporated sales back into her life and started doing sales parties. At these parties, she realized her audience grew significantly. It turns out that people really wanted to hear what a professional organizer had to say!

The Wake Up Call

Lisa started Organize 365 as a blog in Jan 2012 and had been waiting for a brand to find her and ask her to write about them, as she had seen so many others do. After that didn’t happen, Lisa decided to do a virtual webinar to teach about her Sunday basket. When she got onto the call, she realized everyone who signed up had already been following her and been using their Sunday baskets but needed more guidance.

Style of Leadership

Lisa has a teaching background, so she leads through education, motivation and action. Lisa wants to tell a story so people can understand their own mindset.

What Are You Excited About?

Lisa is excited about her newest book, How ADHD Affects Home Organization, and how empowered people with ADHD will feel once they realize there are methods that work.

Current Business Challenge

Lisa struggles with finding mentors or business leaders that are at or above the level she is in.

Leadership Practice

Lisa reads, or listens to podcasts every day.

Advice For Younger Self

“Just start. Don’t wait for anyone to give you permission; just do it.”

Inspirational Quote

“Done is better than perfect.”

“Progress over perfection.”

Links

Website: http://organize365.com

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/organize365

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 13, 2017

I feel like I’m inviting you into my living room because this is going to be an intimate conversation. Buckle up because this is another one of those “What I’m Afraid to Tell You” episodes like the one I did 6 months ago.

This episode was brought on by two conversations I had within a 2-week period. The first conversation was a coaching call with one of my clients. She has given me permission to share our conversation with you and I am very grateful to her. We have been working together for 2 ½ months so we’ve gotten very comfortable with one another. In fact when we’ve talked about personality tests like Myers Briggs and DiSC our profiles are a near match. She joked that if we lived near each other we’d either be hanging out all the time or avoiding each other because we would be a mirror to the other and there might be times we don’t like what we see. I completely agreed.

We were chatting a couple weeks ago and she mentioned that she wasn’t sure of me when she first started listening to the podcast. She enjoyed the interviews and got a sense that we had a similar take on things but the Marianne Williamson quote at the end of my episodes has a strong reference to God and that did not resonate with her. Also, being from the UK and living in Australia she also sees how evangelical U.S. citizens can be. I chuckled and thought this impression was very fair considering what gets blasted in the new and on facebook whenever there is a presidential election. She had a valid concern considering she didn’t know me very well.

However, it was when she heard my episode on Higher Consciousness vs. Traditional Theology that she realized that I was a spiritual person but not practicing any religion. It was then everything clicked and within a few weeks she reached out to me and we scheduled a Skype call.

I was very appreciative that she shared this with me and grateful that an unintended consequence of that episode, also inspired by a conversation with another client, allowed her to feel comfortable reaching out to me.

Okay, so that conversation happened and about a week later I was having a one to one networking meeting with a member from another BNI chapter. I had recently seen a book list he put together for his employees and it included some of my favorite books like Start with Why, The Four Agreements and The Alchemist – books that from my perspective are spiritual but not religious;  along with another book that had the word “spiritual” right in the title.

Of course I had to ask him if he considered himself a spiritual person. This opened up the gates to a conversation I did not see coming. During our conversation I told him what my client recently shared with me about the perception she had of me. He asked me some great questions and picked up on the fact that this is an area I censor myself, not just on this podcast, but in my entire life.

There is such a stigma around spirituality, and exploring concepts like faith, divinity, intuition and higher callings. It’s not to say that I feel a need to talk about these things all the time but even when it’s relevant I often find myself saying very little on the subject even though the truth of the matter is I believe these things are woven into everything. From my perspective there is no conversation where these topics are not relevant. It’s like trying to pretend water is unnecessary.

In the course of a conversation I would have no problem saying, “Do you mind if we pause while I go fill up my glass of water?” but the thought of saying, “Do you mind if we pause while I check in with my intuition?”, makes me feel squeamish. I could count on one hand the number of people I would feel comfortable saying that to and I only feel comfortable because they did it first, thus giving me permission to do the same.

And this is probably something many of you have grappled with. Being Type A and likely left-brained, logical thinkers we like our facts, our case studies and what has been scientifically proven. It can be difficult for us to embrace faith because that would mean letting go of control and allowing things to unfold. We don’t like being told what to think and believe, or having anyone assign our role or cap our potential, so the dogma of religious institutions can chafe against who we are at our core.

And for most of us we have collapsed spirituality and religion into the same concept but they are distinct. Spirit is your non-physical form and your connection to something greater than yourself as an individual. Your spirituality is how you choose to explore and express that connection. Religion is a system of practicing faith and worship. Religion is structured and has agreed upon principles.

I want to be clear that I am all for a religious practice if it aligns with you and allows you to grow in your spirituality. Joining a religious community can provide support, guidance and company in your spiritual journey. I was raised Catholic and although I am not a practicing Catholic there are many things that I treasure about the Catholic faith. I can’t remember what age I was but I would guess it was somewhere between 4th and 6th grade I had a catechism teacher whom I felt comfortable with. Because of my level of comfort I would pepper her with questions. Being logical we can instantly see when things don’t add up, when they don’t make sense and if there is inconsistent information we have a hard time trusting the source.

For instance, in the Catholic faith you are only to receive communion if you are in a state of grace, meaning your sins have been absolved. And you can only receive absolution by confessing to a priest and doing your penance. So for example, if you skipped mass the week prior and haven’t made it to confession it’s a no-no to receive communion. However, during the mass right before receiving the Eucharist the entire congregation repeats the words, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” Having said that, and believing in a forgiving God, you are still not to receive communion unless you have confessed to a priest.

Still, often when I am back in Worcester visiting family I will attend mass with them for several reasons. I like the people of their parish. They are warm and friendly and comical. It also makes my parents happy to see me attending mass. They do not push nor do they hide their hope that all their children will become practicing Catholics once again. They are very respectful of my choices and so I feel a freedom to attend mass. Lastly, I sometimes become very moved during the mass. When you get past the quirkiness of the Catholic mass, and some of the dogma that doesn’t resonate, you can see that it is designed to create an environment in which you can have a spiritual experience. Sometimes I feel so connected to that something greater my eyes start to water.

If you cut yourself off from the notion that there is something greater than our mortal coil you will limit what is possible for you in regard to your own development and your human experience.

I remember watching a PBS broadcast of a talk Wayne Dyer gave and he made the statement, "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

That stirred something in me and I realized I already believed that but I had never heard it articulated in that way.

That is at the core of my beliefs but it has been a journey to get here. My faith has been tested many times and I went through a time when it was shattered.

As I share this story I don’t want you to get hung up on the word God. If God resonates with you, great; if not know that in the telling of this story I could interchangeable use the words source, higher power, universe, etc. Change out God for the word that is true to you.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 10, 2017

Naomi is a mother of a child on the autism spectrum and a specialist coach for families like hers. She manages an amazing movement Autism Living Life On The Spectrum which consists of over 9,000 people touched by Autism and/or Special Needs, with a focus in helping families create a life where they can turn the obstacles they are presented with into opportunities.

Click to tweet: Naomi Amat is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/223 #inspiration

Playing Small Moment

Ten years ago, Naomi and her family were away for her a wedding, and her son had an accident and fell out of a window. During the healing process for her son, she realized that everything they had done had been centered around her son for so long. Changes in focus needed to take place so Naomi could put some energy into herself and what she wanted to do in life.

The Wake Up Call

Naomi and her family were struggling with her son. She made some great progress working with him and family dynamics started to move forward, but she felt unfulfilled. Naomi was a busy mom who realized all that she had gained from other people and their journeys. With that inspiration, Naomi started a Facebook group that featured her learnings, and it took off from there.

Style of Leadership

Naomi looks at the emotional, physical, and mental impact as well as family dynamic, to figure out how to move forward from situations that may seem negative and turn them into a positive.

What Are You Excited About?

Naomi is working on creating Autism acceptance on a global level.

Current Business Challenge

Naomi finds that most people have a preconceived idea of autism and she is working on changing that perception while educating at all levels.

Leadership Practice

Naomi believes in always reflecting on what is happening around her. Sharing her stories and coming out the other side has been empowering.

Advice For Younger Self

Embrace change ourselves to be able to see that change is a possibility for others.

Inspirational Quote

“By nurturing you, you can better nurture your family too.”

Links

https://livinglifeonthespectrum.com/

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 6, 2017

I’ve been resisting this episode and the topic of next week’s episode as well. Which is kind of funny because the book I’m reading right now, or I should say the physical book I’m reading, because you guys know I’ve always got a book in audible going as well. The physical book I’m reading is Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly.

In this book Matthew Kelly states, “The hardest war to win is the one you don’t even realize you are fighting, and the hardest enemy to defeat is the one you don’t even know exists. Every day you are at war with resistance.”

I love you all for reaching out and letting me know how the interviews and the 100% Jodi episodes are impacting you. The more conversations I have with you the more I want to bring out the best in my guests and encourage them to be open and vulnerable with you. I am also striving to be more open and vulnerable, to share the perspectives and experiences I know will help you.

One topic that seems to be coming up a lot lately with my clients and in this community at large is the theme of being a lone wolf. What I mean by lone wolf is being the type of person who likes to take care of themselves; to be independent and to be seen as someone who has got it all together.

Especially for me and the women I attract into this community, we love helping and taking care of others. There’s no shame in other’s accepting help from us but there’s shame when we even consider asking for help from someone else. It’s a double-standard and we come out the losers.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook Community: Chat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

Jul 3, 2017

Rita Morales works with wellness entrepreneurs who want to take their online presence to the next level through authentic branding and creative websites that capture the personality of her clients. 

She is a firm believer that a pretty website is pretty useless without a strategy behind it to maximize sales and conversions.   

Rita empowers her clients by teaching them how to tame technology effectively through a hands-on approach with each client.  

Click to tweet: .@ritasmorales is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/222 #inspiration

Playing Small Moment

Rita knew how to build a website, but she didn’t know enough about herself to create her own branding. Rita had to believe that she could slowly transition into this more powerful state. When she figured out her branding, she finally realized who she was helping, what she had to do and it really opened a whole new view for her.

The Wake Up Call

After Rita established her branding, she finally felt awake. Rita understood what she should have been doing, and learned how to brand herself and others to really make an impact.

Style of Leadership

Rita is an organized, Type A person. Becoming an entrepreneur allowed Rita to see that she didn’t need to be so serious. Rita tries to be relatable but firm in her leadership.

What Are You Excited About?

Rita is taking her solopreneur shop into a larger agency model. Rita knows how to manage projects, so she is excited to grow it and take it to the next level.

Current Business Challenge

Always finding the right people is a challenge that Rita faces. Being Type A, its hard for her to give up certain tasks until she feels like a person is skilled in that area.

Leadership Practice

Rita journals no matter what is going on around her. Her journaling allows her to analyze everything and understand things better. After her journaling, she will do a page of affirmations.

Advice For Younger Self

Rita would tell her younger self to stop overthinking everything and trying to be perfect.

Inspirational Quote

“You are enough.”

Links

Website: http://ritamorales.com 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ritamoralesdesign 
FB group: http://facebook.com/groups/brandingyourbusiness
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ritasmorales
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritasmorales/

Thank You to Our Sponsors

FreshbooksThe all new FreshBooks makes ridiculously easy accounting software that’s completely transformed how freelancers and small business owners deal with their day-to-day paperwork. Get a 30 day, unrestricted free trial go to FreshBooks.com/lead and enter WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

altMBA: Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop is an intensive leadership and management workshop designed for changemakers who have a fire in the belly. This is for people who are itching to level up and make a bigger impact. Find out more at:  altmba.com/womentakingthelead

Zebralove Web SolutionsYour 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!

Resources

Private Facebook CommunityChat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingA 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.

Subscribe to Women Taking the Lead

If you enjoyed this episode subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher RadioGoogle Play Music or iHeart Radio and never miss out on inspiration and community!

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