Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge (general)

Leonard Kim an award winning marketer and author is on the show today chatting with us about showing the real you, making your life transparent so that your biggest failures can’t be used against you. He believes that if you control your brand in a proactive way you won’t have to be reactive down the road. Plus you might inspire others who are going through the same struggles you did.

He went from being almost homeless, failing at every company he tried to build to the successful businessman he is today. He had to step back from his failures and see what choices he made that caused him so much heartache. That’s when he realized he had forgotten what he had been taught about putting others first, focus on serving first. He was so focused on himself and what he couldn’t do that he forgot about all the things he could do to help others.

Listen in as Leonard takes us through the journey to success and the roadblocks and milestones he had on the way to transparency and being true to himself.

Show Notes:

  • [03:05] Welcome to the show Leonard Kim!
  • [03:55] Leonard chats about the journey from almost being homeless to an award winning marketer and author.
  • [11:08] His book is about ditching the regrettable moments in your life.
  • [12:35] Should you tell the world about the skeletons in your past or do you just need to reflect on it?
  • [15:05] Things can’t be used against you if you are transparent about them, control your own narrative.
  • [16:18] He talks about the exposure resume - sharing the bad and the ugly of your life.
  • [18:07] We live fragmented lives in business, personal and social media.
  • [19:16] Sharing the good, the bad and our version of our ugly on social media will make us more cohesive as a person.
  • [22:10] Why should you be the lead of a brand called “me”?
  • [26:55] There are 5 different levels of exposure around brand transparency.
  • [29:13] Which of the 8 steps of the brand process does Leonard recommend?
  • [33:00] Your Bio needs to reflect the real you even if you look vulnerable.
  • [37:25] We all feel closer to someone who shares the same experiences as we do.
  • [40:25] Leonard's final thoughts and advice about how to be more vulnerable and transparent. 

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW233.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Sandra MacLeod, the CEO of Echo Research is on the show today to talk about how important our reputation is in business. She tells us how as women we can build our reputations by keeping an eye out and paying attention to what is being said about us. It is ok to be different but be strong and different, don’t let anyone keep you from doing what you think is right.

Sandra believes that being an entrepreneur today is about believing in yourself and managing your expectations, there will be ups and downs so just hang in there. Also, surround yourself with like-minded people and create an inner circle that will support you and keep you strong.

Sandra has accomplished many things in her career and she isn’t stopping now. When she looks back she remembers a friend of hers saying “Make a promise, keep a promise” and she has lived by that every day of her life.

Show Notes:

  • [02:27] Deirdre introduces today’s guest Sandra MacLeod.
  • [03:59] How did Sandra go from communications to research?
  • [08:35] In her opinion you need a sense of numbers and an understanding of statistics to be good at research.
  • [11:04]  Are companies coming to her before they are at a crisis? Listening?
  • [12:49] She feels that social media is a wonderful power but there is also the dark side that can hurt individuals and organizations.
  • [17:04] Building a following on social media can be very helpful in your business.
  • [18:27] How can women build their reputation among their peers and as a leader?
  • [20:58] Dare to be different, you can be different and be a strong woman at the same time.
  • [22:20] What does it mean to be true to your brand?
  • [25:15] Sandra thinks what it takes to be an entrepreneur today is belief in yourself and managing your expectations.
  • [27:57] Who do you surround yourself with? Who’s in your inner circle?
  • [30:46] When looking back on your career of the things you have accomplished, what surprises you?
  • [32:40] She had a friend that used to always say “Make a promise, keep a promise.” This has stuck with her over the years and she tried to always follow through.
  • [36:15] What resources does Sandra use to keep up to date with current ideas?
  • [38:46] Does she think young professionals should get involved with their industry associations?
  • [39:32] How does she manage her time? Does she have “me” time?
  • [40:55] Her final thoughts on reputation management and staying on your brand.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW232.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Keeping in touch and building bonds with people takes communication, patience and dedication. In business and in your personal life consistency in communication is a must. My guest today has a network of 5,000 lawyers to communicate with. She says that there are many ways to communicate with people if you take the time and put in the effort. 

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network Director of Global Relationship Management. She works closely with the Network’s Executive Director on oversight and management of day to day operations of the ILN. 

In her role, she develops and facilitates relationships among INL member firm lawyers at 90+ law firms in 67 countries. She seeks opportunities for member firms to build business and relationships while ensuring member participation in Network events and initiatives.

Today we talk about how relationships are needed at every level and what we do now can ensure that we have the best people around us later. We also chat about how her future promotion is affecting the people around her and how having a tribe of good people in your circle can keep you on track.

Show Notes

  • [02:39] Lindsay Griffiths started her path to Global Relationship Management when she asked the Executive Director, her father, if she could work with him at ILN.
  • [04:53] To maintain a good relationship with your members it takes consistency. You must know, like and trust each other for it to work.
  • [06:09] Everyone is busy, prioritize what is important. When you make people feel important, they are more willing to create that level of business that is important to you.
  • [08:05] In relationships with clients communication and responsiveness are key. Clients want to hear from you. Even if the news is bad, communicating the issues and having a plan to fix it is always better than silence.
  • [11:48] They encourage everyone to use as many different types of communications as possible. There are 5,000 lawyers in the International Lawyers Network (ILN) all over the world, so many different types of communication are utilized.
  • [13:26] They use all of the social media channels now, 10 years ago they only used LinkedIn. It’s been a long road but now there are lawyers even on Facebook.
  • [14:32] Being a woman in a man's world is challenging some days. She says it’s harder in the US than it is internationally.
  • [15:22] There is a women's group in the ILN, they just had their biggest showing at a conference, 30% of the attendees were women.
  • [15:53] Lindsay is being promoted to Executive Director, there was some push back but the majority of people have been very supportive.
  • [17:16] She feels like she has to prove herself but it just might be because she hasn’t really promoted herself the way men do. Because she is taking over from her father some might not think she can do it until she is in the role.
  • [22:44] When men promote themselves they are seen as go-getters. When women promote themselves they are seen as showy or bragging too much.
  • [24:50] She recommends that you have a very strong support network of women who want the best for you and will give you honest feedback. It can be very tough to find those kinds of women but keep looking because you will find your tribe.
  • [27:03] Don’t be afraid to stop being friends with someone who isn’t a fit for you, if they don’t support you or have your best interests at heart you don’t need them.  
  • [29:52] She is a photographer so when she isn’t working she is taking pictures of animals and posting them on Instagram. She also enjoys crocheting hats for cancer patients because cancer has affected her family.
  • [33:18] A fear of failure is what Lindsay says gets her up in the morning. She is a perfectionist and loves the idea of figuring out how to better help her lawyers collaborate and layer relationships.
  • [35:52] Social media for her is about relationships if you are careful, it can be a good tool.  
  • [37:28] She spends about 2 hours a day on social media. She used to use it more but now she has someone managing social media for her.
  • [38:24] She goes to at least one industry conference a year to keep up with the changes in the industry, she also reads a lot to see what other industries are doing to get ideas.
  • [40:02] Lindsay’s advice for building and maintaining really important bonds is consistency, make sure the people you want to be close to are being communicated with on a daily basis, reach out, stay in touch so they know that they are a priority to you.

Links:

Direct download: WW231.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Have you ever had a story you wanted to tell but you had no idea how to get it out to the masses? Have you ever felt like you didn’t know where to start? My guest today did it on his own and took his book Eat Less and Move More to the best sellers list along with two more books that also had the same level of success. 

The journey made him realize that it's not easy to write a book, get it edited, published and marketed with limited resources. He thought why not do something that would help others in the same situation and so Brody Consulting Group was born.

Paul Brody is the founder and CEO of Brody Consulting Group. He works with his clients to write, publish and market their books with a proven system he designed. He is also the host of the Get Published podcast. 

We chat about his journey in writing his books and taking them to the best sellers list on his own steam and how that experience catapulted him into the business he leads today.

Show Notes:

  • [03:32] A health crisis caused Paul to reevaluate his life when his doctor told him if he didn’t lose weight and get his act together, he’d be dead in five years.
  • [04:14] He lost the weight, kept the weight off and beat the odds, he wanted to tell the story about his own journey.
  • [04:42] He had no idea how to get his story out there or get a book published.
  • [05:02] Sitting by the pool at the Mirage in Vegas everything started to flow, opened up his notes app on his phone and sketched out the entire outline for the book. A week later he wrote 20,000 words and that became his first draft.
  • [05:39] He spent 8 hours a day learning the publishing side but then he had to figure out the marketing side. He then spent more days learning how to launch a book successfully and how to evolve with a changing market.
  • [06:08] A month later, in August he launched the book “Eat Less and Move More.” It became his very first bestseller.
  • [06:24] Paul was also a motivational speaker and wanted to write a couple of books based on those seminars, he wrote Motivation 101 and Positivity Attracts. They both became best sellers.
  • [06:31] He started having other authors ask to be shown what he did to become successful so early on, how to market and publish their books.
  •  [06:52] He started coaching people one on one on writing, publishing and marketing their books. Within a year and a half, his company was up and running.
  • [07:03] They then expanded into hybrid publishing where they do, done for your publishing services, done for your book marketing and this last year they have added executive ghostwriting.
  • [07:31] One book from a health crisis completely changed his life. Everyone has a story you just have to get it out there.
  • [08:53] The most typical mistakes that first time authors make is trying to edit their own book.
  • [09:51] Always do a final proof even when you have an editor and always read the book out loud.  
  • [11:06] Paul’s company takes a holistic approach with writers, they don’t pitch ideas, they just want to know about your book, your situation and what you want to get out of it. He tells his clients that it's not a book launch, it’s a product launch.
  • [14:23] He tells people that he is a farmer because all he does is plant seeds.
  • [15:20] His proven system is breaking down everything into bite-size portions, simplify.
  • [18:05] Having a great looking professional book cover is very important for a successful book launch.
  • [23.37] He never even thought about starting a podcast until people around told him he should spread his knowledge and that it would be a great medium to do that.
  • [24:17] He started the podcast Get Published recording one episode a week, went to 5 episodes a week and at one point was doing four episodes a day. They have done 350 episodes in the year since the podcast was launched.
  • [26:15] After authors build their platform, having a podcast to get the information out to more people is definitely a great way to get their brand out there.
  • [27:33] Social media is a great way to drive brand awareness and push people towards your website to bring that traffic in.
  • [30:22] LinkedIn’s sales navigator is something he recommends for the ability to reach out to people and send traffic your way.
  • [31:30] The challenge he faces in his business is setting expectations early with clients, making it clear that they are not going to make millions of dollars on the front end with royalties.
  • [34:01] You can not be an introvert as an author and expect to sell tons of books, you have to get out there to keep the momentum going.
  • [36:24] Online speaking and virtual summits are great ways of getting out there without having to physically be in front of people.  
  • [38:50] Paul always says he gives his information away for free, clients pay for implementation.

Links:

 

Direct download: WW230.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Why do we sometimes find ourselves in relationships with partners that aren't right?  Everybody wants to find joy and love. Being trapped in a relationship that is hurtful or harmful isn't good for your health. The right partner can bring so much joy into your life, but how do you avoid those hurtful and harmful relationships? My guest today is an expert on this topic. 

Iris Benrubi is a psychotherapist and marriage counsellor. She is also a dating and relationship expert who has spent the last 20 years coaching and counseling men, women, and couples on how to find true love. She is also the author of Lonely & Single to Loved & Adored. On today’s show, Iris shares her journey, her dating expertise, and tips from her book. 

Show Notes:

  • [03:16] This is Iris's fourth career. She was a psychotherapist and marriage counselor for many years. When her 18 year marriage ended in divorce, she had an identity crisis and had to do a lot of soul searching.
  • [04:26] A couple years later, she entered the wild west of dating. She realized she had to own that she couldn't see her own blind spots.
  • [04:53] For the last few years, Iris has been teaching women how to find and maintain the relationship of a lifetime, they don't have to go through what she went through. 
  • [05:33] Her book and programs look at three components. The first one is finding who are you and how do you show up? Women often compromise to make relationships work and come from a place of fear. 
  • [06:15] Once we know our own value we start to look for someone different. Women need to be clear on what they are looking for.
  • [07:40] We have a blueprint that we are born into from our families. Babies are a blank canvas, but what gets imprinted on us is how relationships work.
  • [08:04] We get an identity, and we also look at how our parents interact. Even though we may not like it, this relationship blueprint is imprinted on us.
  • [08:43] It takes work, but you can shift your relationship blueprint.
  • [11:53] We pick our partners based on the wounds we have from childhood. If we pick a partner who is conscious, we both get to heal from those wounds, and create a happy and safe relationship.
  • [12:22] Ask what the shift is that you need to make to be attracted to a better kind of partner.
  • [13:20] Go for 80% and work to grow the rest.
  • [14:30] If you cut people out for tiny little things, it may be because you have a fear of intimacy and getting your heartbroken.
  • [15:29] When there is safety and you can feel what you feel, you can then negotiate and reach a compromise.
  • [16:08] We either do exactly what our parents did or the exact opposite.
  • [19:00] What we don't see and challenge is our blind spot.
  • [20:43] You don't have to agree with what people are saying, they just want to be heard and acknowledged for what they are feeling.
  • [21:46] Relationships are about how safe do I feel with you. The more we can allow someone to be who they are, the more space there is for them to want to be with you.
  • [23:34] One thing Iris learned was that it was difficult for her to express what she needs.
  • [27:16] Make sure you get into relationships that are in alignment with your values. 
  • [28:49] The first six months is the honeymoon stage. After this, we start to see reality. How do the two of you show up when there is conflict. 
  • [30:52] People often think dating is a numbers game, and that's a recipe for exhaustion. You need to know how to screen potential partners.
  • [31:32] You need to write a profile that attracts the kind of people that you are looking for, and you need to know how to screen and sort potential dates.
  • [32:01] Women need to be the buyer not the seller.
  • [32:51] Online dating becomes fun when you start picking people who are fun for you.
  • [34:57] Am I having fun? Do I feel safe? Am I happy?
  • [35:57] It's about the quality of time that you spend together. 
  • [38:09] Iris's clients keep her going. Helping people excites her.
  • [39:15] Be introspective and responsible for yourself. This is where you get to create inner peace. Invest in yourself and get the skills you need to upgrade yourself. 

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW229.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

In business, does growth equate to bigger means better? What if you could scale your business and find more freedom and success with a company of one mindset? Today's guest has a lot to share on this topic. Paul Jarvis is a designer who likes writing. Paul has been working for himself since the 90s. He is the creator of the online courses Creative Class and Chimp Essentials. 

He is also the author of Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business and the co-founder of Fathom Analytics

His work has been featured in WIRED, Fast Company, and more. He has been noticed and mentioned by Ashton Kutcher and Arianna Huffington. 

Some of his clients include Microsoft, Danielle LaPorte, Mercedes-Benz, Maria Forleo, and too many to mention. He is here with us today to share the mindset of a company of one. We talk about what it means to scale your business, be profitable, and find freedom. We’ll learn that sometimes in business, bigger isn't always better.

Show Notes:

  • [03:31] Paul wasn't planning on being an entrepreneur. He worked for an agency in Toronto. He loved the work and the clients, but he didn't like the company. 
  • [03:57] When he left the company, clients started calling him. He then realized that he might be able to do this on his own.
  • [04:30] Paul became an entrepreneur by accident. His planned trip to the library to learn how to write a resume turned into a trip to learn how to start a business. 
  • [05:20] The biggest benefit of running his own business is being able to have a direct client contact. It's a lot harder to get a new customer than to keep an existing one.
  • [06:03] He preferred to focus on retention as opposed to acquisition by offering excellent customer service.
  • [07:35] One of the biggest client misconceptions is that they will let you know when they need more work done. Paul started contacting his clients and discovered that they did want more from him.
  • [08:07] Keeping in touch also keeps you top-of-mind.
  • [09:50] Paul can run a business with a very small group of people and outsource things without having everyone on the payroll.
  • [10:24] Paul doesn't want to run a big company and manage other people. He doesn't want to build a business that will put him into that role.
  • [11:36] It's hard to be skilled at every area of a business. Focus on what you are good at and get others to help with the other stuff. 
  • [14:17] Paul is extremely driven when he decides to do something. He didn't plan to be a writer, but he enjoys it, and it's a great way to share ideas. 
  • [15:22] Paul's favorite story is about his friend's dad who was an architect that started working at home. Above his computer he had a sign that said "overhead equals death."
  • [17:08] Expressing personality is attractive to clients. Sharing your personality can draw in the people who are the right fit and push away the people who aren't.
  • [20:51] People buy based on how they feel they are treated. Fostering success and making customers happy is the best way to sell. 
  • [22:34] One of his friends encouraged him to start a podcast. He now has two shows and is starting another one. 
  • [24:29] A business has to make enough to keep going. Helping people also makes you feel really good. 
  • [26:31] We often put self-inflicted pressure on ourselves in business. 
  • [28:07] Growth is beneficial in the beginning of starting a business. People are happier if they make more money, but only up to a certain point. 
  • [30:18] Freedom is important, so working 16 hours a day isn't a requirement.
  • [31:05] Doing less is Paul's biggest productivity hack. He also turns off distractions. Take on less stuff. 
  • [32:10] “No” should be the default for everyone. This way you only do what needs to be done. 
  • [34:50] Find the types of projects and clients you enjoy working with and that can really move the needle. Say “no” to the other stuff.
  • [35:22] Overtime you can narrow your niche down. In the beginning, you may have to be more open to trying different things.
  • [36:04] Paul likes routine. He wakes up early. He makes himself a coffee and then goes on to work on creative stuff. After that, an hour or two on admin. Then he'll garden or exercise. 
  • [38:05] Paul's biggest “aha” moment was when he wrote an article about why he doesn't put growth at the top as priority for his business. He got 1,200 or 1,300 replies from people who had the same sentiment. He realized that there was probably a book that could focus on this topic.
  • [39:48] The byproduct of business success isn't growth it's freedom.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW228.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Are you reaching your full potential? What does this even mean? How do you find your flow and feel more fulfilled? Sheila Murphy spent a really long time in Corporate America. She was a senior legal counsel at a Fortune 50 company. She trained teams, built leaders, and knew what clients were looking for in their lawyers and their law firms. 

Today, she is a coach and career consultant specializing in working with lawyers and law firms to help them reach their full potential. Which means building a book of business, developing their networks, and their reputations. She is also the founder of Focus Foreword, LLC. Sheila shares her story and we talk about how it’s possible to find a career that you really love.

Show Notes:

  • [03:45] After years in the corporate world, Sheila felt like she wasn't being challenged anymore.
  • [04:01] She started talking to her network and thinking about what she was good at and what she loved to do.
  • [04:38] The core of her being was to help people develop and empower them to reach their full potential.
  • [05:15] As she was contemplating her career transition, she kept telling herself to focus on going forward. This is also how she came up with the clever name for her coaching and consulting business.
  • [05:57] She was strategic about thinking about what her next chapter would be. She was also strategic about where she spoke and how she branded herself and her use of social media.
  • [06:11] When Sheila launched her business, she had certain people lined up from her network. She also had a plan to grow.
  • [07:07] It's not as easy for women as it is for men in law firms. The pay gap with women is getting worse. 
  • [08:11] The overall way that women are treated on a macro-level could be improved and then individual coaching on a micro-level could help women equalize the pay and respect they receive in law firms.
  • [09:12] Sometimes women don't sell themselves, and they just stay behind the desk and do the work. Selling yourself is important in the corporate world. The biggest indicator of success is your network.
  • [10:04] A mentor is someone who gives you advice. A sponsor is someone who moves you forward and speaks for you when there are opportunities.
  • [10:46] Having a sponsor can really propel your career especially for women and people of color. Someone has to believe you're going to go in a 120% to sponsor your career.
  • [12:18] It's really critical to find a sponsor, because it will make such a difference in your career.
  • [13:02] Networking doesn't have to be that scary, it's just a conversation with another human being. Networking is also about giving value to the other person.
  • [15:26] It takes 7 to 20 contacts in the legal field to convert somebody from meeting them to doing business with them. 
  • [16:28] As soon as you meet someone send them a personalized LinkedIn invitation. Also respond when something happens on their profile like when they post an article or get a reward. 
  • [19:21] Social media can give you amplification and help you do some of the lighter touches without meeting in person. So, it can be very helpful.
  • [21:16] One of the most important skills a leader can have is to listen to people with an open mind.
  • [23:15] Challenges Sheila faced when she switched to being an entrepreneur included losing her corporate title and not having an assistant. She always strived to be a better leader and better communicator. 
  • [26:04] Having someone do administrative tasks helps you focus on what you need to focus on as an entrepreneur.
  • [26:49] Blocking time allows Sheila to fit in important things like going to the gym or meeting with friends or just sitting and thinking.
  • [30:08] Sheila loves finding her purpose and being happy. People often think they can't control their career, but they can. It's really about finding your best place that makes you the happiest.
  • [34:22] Early in your career path, talk to other people about what the journey is like.
  • [36:53] The stresses of being an entrepreneur are much more self-imposed.
  • [39:01] Sheila's corporate legacy was giving the company very strong employees that were engaged and effective. Making an impact on these people's careers to her was a success. This is what she hopes to have in her new business. 
  • [40:06] Push yourself out of your comfort zone and believe in yourself, and you can have a healthier, more fulfilled career. 

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW227.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Most moms want to be great supportive moms, but how do you do that? My guest today, is an energy healer who believes that to give your kids the support they need, you need to come from a place of freedom. Laura Hackel uses crystal bowl healing sessions, ceramic vessels, and crystals to raise vibrations and assist with healing.

We talk about what all of this actually means and how to be a better mom using “mom GPS,” as Laura calls it. She shares her story of how she found this calling and explains how energy healing, vibrations, and trauma all tie together. This is a fascinating look into looking at life in a different way to benefit yourself and those around you. 

Show Notes:

  • [04:07] Laura majored in computer science, but quickly learned she liked talking to people. She got a job at a startup where she could talk to people. She worked in staffing and ran different departments, but as the company grew she knew she wanted something else.
  • [05:08] Her identity was tied in to who she was at work. She started taking yoga, was gifted a bowl, and started taking classes. She was also asked if she was a potter.
  • [05:43] She gave herself time to experiment. 
  • [06:32] She then met a healer. It was amazing to see what life had opened up. 
  • [07:13] She went to shaman school. 
  • [07:50] Her children challenge the status quo and she is a conflict avoider. 
  • [08:30] She then played the crystal bowls. They all have different tones. The vibration is high and energy that doesn't serve you has to rise up.
  • [09:28] When she plays the crystal bowls for a room of people different amazing things will happen for each person.
  • [09:43] There is high vibration and low vibration energy. If you are angry or ashamed those are low vibration energy switch will stick with you.
  • [10:21] Stuff that happens in our external energy field leads to illness in our bodies if we don't clear it.
  • [10:37] The vibrations will target what needs to leave and some of it will be really old and you don't even know what it is.
  • [11:04] The bowls can help you negotiate through difficult times.
  • [14:10] When you heal a belief you change how you feel about it.
  • [14:54] The whole idea of being a mindful mom is knowing that inside of you you know what your child needs.
  • [16:45] What you think something means causes you to suffer.
  • [18:07] To help other mom's be mindful, you have to be mindful.
  • [22:50] We travel with people whom we've traveled with before and whom we will travel with again. They are our soul family.
  • [25:07] Crystals get to sit in Mother Earth, and they come out with a high vibration. Find a crystal and see what calls to you. Laura keeps crystal in her water bottle.
  • [29:04] Different crystals support different needs. You can put them under your bed.
  • [32:23] Ceramic bowls have a higher vibration, but the ones that Laura makes have a high vibration. She has channeled her intention to heal. 
  • [34:22] Embracing more is a six month to a year process. 
  • [36:03] Trauma gets trapped within us, and we are never free of it until we process it. 
  • [37:16] Trauma can be from anything, even small things in a child's brain.
  • [38:34] When we experience something traumatic our beliefs get flipped on their head. It's easy to get stuck as a victim when something traumatic happens, so work needs to be done to get your power back.
  • [40:15] Our pain can be our gift.
  • [40:37] Do something outside of your comfort zone to get perspective.
  • [41:07] Write down what happens when you get angry about something. Then laugh at how not factual it was. 
  • [42:26] Find a crystal. Try things and see how it feels. Take 10 minutes a day to breath.  

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW226.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Jaime-Lee Fraser is a business growth expert who develops professional companies into market leading brands. She is also the co-founder of Kwired a branding and acquisition readiness firm. Jaime-Lee has coined the acronym CAUSE which stands for connection, authenticity, uniqueness, storytelling, and emotion to build brands that really stand out.

Jaime-Lee stands out with her own unique story. She was vacationing in Bali in 2002 when she ended up being surrounded by flames after the building that she was in was bombed. She used this as motivation to thrive as opposed to living in fear.

We talk about being your true self, building brands that get noticed, authentic storytelling, masterminds, personality types, and even using the Wim Hof method to sit in a bath of ice.

Show Notes:

  • [03:31] Jaime-Lee was in a bombing attack in Bali in 2002. She wasn't harmed physically. She was trapped in a burning building. It was remarkable how everyone wanted to help everyone else survive.
  • [04:50] She came out the other side being grateful for being alive. Although, the experience did take an emotional toll.
  • [05:05] The experience was traumatic and transformational.
  • [05:44] She tries to look at it as post-traumatic thriving.
  • [06:30] It was difficult moving away from the fight or flight mode. She did recognize that she needed to take time out to rest.
  • [07:32] She moved to London by herself.
  • [08:24] Performance is the core of what we do as humans. She started working with great mentors and she met her business partner Shawn Wells.
  • [11:14] CAUSE came about because these five concepts are important to grow a brand.
  • [13:13] A huge piece of standing out is being authentic. All of the pieces need to be taken into the storytelling to build a brand.
  • [15:47] She also uses NLP when working with clients.
  • [19:19] Jaime-Lee loves masterminds and the events that she attends. In person meetings are a game changer.
  • [21:51] Consistency is key for growth.
  • [23:24] Jaime-Lee is an ENFP in the Myers & Briggs personality test.
  • [25:04] To step out of her comfort zone Jaime-Lee seeks new experiences. She did an ice bath challenge.
  • [27:43] They used the Wim Hof Method.
  • [28:18] You have to bring yourself to a place of control. You have to master the breathing and connect your breath to a place of peace.
  • [30:40] Having routines in place helps Jaime-Lee deal with stress. Getting decisions in place is helpful. Using lists also helps with overwhelm.
  • [35:18] Asking too many questions means you are out of flow.
  • [39:28] We all need a reset and a break from technology.
  • [40:03] Look at CAUSE and what it means to you. Are you bringing it into your brand and relationships?

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW225.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Did you know that it’s not only possible to achieve your lifelong dreams, but the process of doing so will increase your success and competency in other areas of your life too? This is exactly what happened to today’s guest Karen Brown. Karen was successful, but she always felt she was missing out on a calling or purpose. She also was always drawn to Ironman races. One day, it finally hit her that her calling was to compete in an Ironman race.

She did this, and the challenge and discipline of preparing for the race improved her life in other areas. She was even able to take what she learned along the way and use it to focus on leadership coaching. This conversation with Karen is really inspirational. She shares knowledge based on science that we can all use to shift our mindset and use the power of our subconscious thoughts to create any habits we want. Karen is an expert in leadership and professional performance and the author of Unlimiting Your Beliefs: 7 Keys to Greater Success in Your Personal & Professional Life. She shares so much truth and knowledge in this episode that you won’t want to miss it.

Show Notes:

  • [03:32] Karen was climbing the corporate ladder as a leader for about 20 years. She had the outward trappings of success, but she felt like something was missing.
  • [04:01] She was feeling a lack of purpose. She was wondering what this was all really about.
  • [04:20] Whenever she watched the Ironman World Championships on TV, she felt these emotions.
  • [05:00] 1982 was a dramatic Ironman year for women.
  • [05:53] Watching the Ironman made Karen wonder if she had something inside her similar to that in which she hasn't tapped into yet.
  • [06:51] Karen truly believes that she was meant to do the Ironman World Championships because it was the toughest thing that she could fathom at the time.
  • [07:11] It forced her to stretch and expand her comfort zone. It became her personal growth and development vehicle of choice.
  • [07:53] She thought that professional capabilities and personal goals and dreams were completely separate, but they are actually inextricably linked.
  • [08:15] The doorway to being able to access her abilities came through achieving a lifelong dream.
  • [08:30] Once Karen stepped into the pursuit of her dream, she was able to elevate.
  • [09:14] All of us have a lifelong dream whether we admit it to ourselves or not.
  • [09:35] There are scientific reasons why we tend to back away. Yet this is the exact thing we need to do in order to transform.
  • [10:27] People limit themselves because they are scared. Our unconscious mind makes it a behavioral pattern kind of like a habit. The pattern of limiting beliefs repeats itself.
  • [11:47] Our default pattern is not to try something new.
  • [13:43] Women's typical limiting belief is some version of I'm not enough, while men feel like they have to do everything themselves and can't ask for help.
  • [15:23] Conscious thoughts are actually gateways into our unconscious mind. We also compare ourselves to other people who are already doing that big goal. This is called comparison bias.
  • [17:11] Our subconscious mind is the most simplistic yet powerful machine. It will believe and carry out anything we tell it.
  • [18:46] Conquering limited beliefs is a three-step technique.
  • [19:08] We also need to tap into our dreams and harness the power of our unconscious mind.
  • [20:16] We need to do whatever it takes. Have “No Discipline” or the ability to say no to the distractions and things that will get you off-track from achieving that lifelong dream.
  • [22:41] Feedback is always tainted with our own personal filters and values. Think of it as perspective.
  • [23:58] Change your company's feedback system to a prospective system. Other people's perspectives are the best way for us to see things in a different way. This is a gift that allows us to grow and change.
  • [25:17] Women will hold their thoughts back in the boardroom until they've thought out every option. Men just talk on the fly.
  • [26:34] Comparison bias. Our subconscious is also judging. Once we understand how our operating system works, we are really only in competition with ourselves.
  • [28:53] Once you know yourself better and know how unconscious behavior patterns are formed, it's so much easier to change them.
  • [30:32] It's common in our culture to look for a quick fix instead of looking inside of ourselves.
  • [31:19] We need to be present when we are talking to people and really listening.
  • [33:03] The younger generation immediately switches into the how. It gets in their way and stops them from harnessing the power of their unconscious minds and coming up with incredible solutions.
  • [35:33] During Karen's journey with Ironman, she learned how to manage distractions.
  • [38:31] Part of Karen's morning routine includes getting enough sleep. Then she wakes up early, works out, and has quiet time. She spends at least 30 to 45 minutes learning or whatever she feels like doing in the moment.
  • [40:55] Pay attention to whatever your lifelong dream is and put it front and center. It's the key to everything you're looking for.
  • [41:50] Our unconscious mind can carry out anything that we think up.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW224.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT