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I am dedicating this episode to my father who recently passed.
In between the waterworks, I think about the happy memories we created together. I know deep in my belly that he lived a full life and indeed it is the circle of life.
As hard as losing a loved one is…the end of one chapter brings birth to something new.
So, as I pay homage to my father it is also the perfect time to wrap up Season 1 of the podcast.
Season 2 will be coming soon.
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If you missed the last podcast episode (#38 – Permission to press pause – Part I), be sure to check it out.
We talked about the importance of giving yourself permission to pause so you can enjoy the “in-between” moments of life.Today’s episode is recorded live from a private villa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where I am co-hosting the Recharge leadership retreat with Katerine Johnson.
Our personal development sessions have been curated to remind our attendees that tension is a teacher and that we must not ignore the warning messages that continue to show up.In today’s episode, we’ll review how quickly tension can consume the mind, body and spirit if we let it get out of control.
It’s time to get going…so, dive in and enjoy the episode!
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Manglende episoder?
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I have been talking about it for months – now the time is finally here.
Yes, I am hours away from facilitating the Recharge Leadership Retreat, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.I will be joined by the amazing Katherine N Johnson (who is an amazing mentor and coach and I’m honored to call my friend) – and together, we will let the experience we have been curating for the last 18 months unfold beautifully.
What’s interesting is, one of the most respected careers is leadership - but we are all so busy chasing success that we forget to pause long enough to recharge. I have decided to take action and lead the way and so I hope you take the opportunity to do the same.If you are joining me in Puerto Vallarta this week, I look forward to serving you - it’s going to be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
If you are unable to join us this time, then check out this episode for the three keys (Awareness, Appreciation and Action) of giving yourself permission to pause.
Now, take a breath, breathe and if you are joining us then I can’t wait to see you in Mexico! -
I don't know about you, but sometimes I need a little kick in the pants to get me going again.
You, too?It is sooooo easy to fall off “the wagon” right? – and, if we don’t have the right support, before long, moments will turn into months and we will be down and out for much longer than is necessary and that is definitely not a good thing!
Today, I’m supplying you with a little rocket fuel, that I hope will be the first step to getting you all “juiced-up” and going again.
Relax, kick off your heels and tune into today’s episode.
BTW: Here is the link to the Real Women Atlanta Magazine I mentioned at the beginning of the show. It is currently published in digital format so check it out at your leisure.
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As leaders chasing success, we (unknowingly) often take on one of the following three leadership personas:
The planner – focuses on the big picture creating roadmaps of what to expect ahead The thinker – loves investigating, researching and getting caught up in the weeds The go-getter – focuses on moving forward and is unphased by obstacles and roadblocks
This episode provides insight into the importance of putting wisdom into action if we are going to achieve fundamental success.As part of the discussion, the episode takes a bird's-eye-look at eight leadership archetypes originally discussed in a Harvard Business School (HBR) Article.
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When working with ambitious, high-potential leaders who are actively chasing success, often the key measure at the core of that success is money.
In today’s episode, we unpack other currencies of success that may be worth considering.
Besides money, we take a look at the currency of time, love, energy, happiness, status and independence.
Enjoy the episode.
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Have you ever set yourself a massive goal but had no idea how you are going to achieve it?
Well, you are not alone and I hear you loud and clear!
In episode #33 (Waiting for the magic to happen) we talked about getting out of our comfort zone by moving through the fear and learning zones to get to the zones where we grow and stretch.
Like it or not, overcoming inertia is a necessary evil if we want to lean into our edge.So today I’m taking a dose of my own medicine (gulp) and announcing the title of my new book that is in the works. It’s called Fired Up! How Smart Leaders show up “turned on” bringing the magic every time.
This is a book for all those amazing leaders who have lost that fire in the belly feeling – you know that energy that's at the core of who we are and the work we do. The goal of the book is to help you reignite your passion, purpose and drive so you continue to excel personally and professionally.
This will be my first solo effort as an author and although I am super excited, I am also full of anxiety and anticipation about the journey ahead.
As you listen to the episode, I hope it inspires you to declare something “impossible” that you want to work on over the coming months, too.
Dive in and enjoy the episode – and don’t worry about making it happen, I’ve got your back because we’re in this together!
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Sometimes we get super comfortable with life. Deep down we know we want more but we wait on the side-lines of life waiting for the magic to happen.
We stay stagnated in a job, relationship or situation for longer than necessary often making excuses that stop us from growing and evolving.
The truth is, without any momentum to get over the inertia, it could be a very long wait!
This episode is a nudge forward to help you get out of your comfort zone and into your growth zone.
Stop waiting for the music to happen; instead, go after what you really want!
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There is something beautiful about the rhythm of life that I really enjoy.
It’s like the details are in the flow, the patterns and the tempo that make up our day-to-day world and help us live a happy and fulfilling life.
From the rise of the sun to the annoying alarm signaling it’s time to get up and start the day.
From the food choices we make to the timing of when we eat; from the way we move about the day to the thousands of thoughts we process every minute, hour and day.
When we are thriving, there is something simply magical about the ebb and flow of the rhythm of life.
And…every once in a while, for one reason or another, life kicks in and we lose our flow. Instead of thriving – we find ourselves surviving or perhaps even struggling – and we both know this is such a yucky place to be, right?If you find yourself starting to feel out of synch in one way or another, it may be the perfect time to recalibrate.
Check out the episode on three things you can do to get your juices flowing again.
BTW: here is the link to the song I mention in the episode:
Artist: Club des Belugas
Track: Hip Hip Chin Chin on Spotify or Youtube -
With the 2021 Summer Olympic Games currently underway in Tokyo, the best athletes gather from all around the world to play, compete and win.
We all know that every athlete hopes to take home a medal (or two) but only a small handful actually do.
In this episode, we look at how world-class athletes train from week to week and then chat about what we can learn from their dedicated regime.
Enjoy the episode.
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From my days as a project manager, I remember all too well managing my client’s projects down to the smallest detail to avoid scope creep and running out of money before the project was completed.
Scope creep is what happens when changes are made to the project scope without any control procedures in place and things end up going over budget.
Well, this is exactly what has happened to my waistline over the last few months – specifically because (like many of us working from home) I have not worn “real clothes” for the last 18 months or so.
When our go-to daily work attire is athleisure wear, we enjoy the benefit of being super comfortable all day long.
However, with no zips, buttons, or belts in play, there is no control procedure to remind us when scope creep is underway.
In today’s episode, I share why it is important to try on a dress or a pair of trousers every once in a while, as it can help alert us that things are getting out of control. Additionally, I share three simple measures you can use to get back on track again.
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Feeling overwhelmed sucks. This sensation, along with the heavy, weighty feeling of stress simply drains any energy, inspiration and passion we have for feeling great.
As someone who once worked 12 -16 hours a day I know the feeling well.
When we find ourselves on this roller coaster ride, it's important to have tools at hand so we don’t have to stay on the “dark side” any longer than necessary.
Armed with the right tools, we can start to change the narrative from feeling overwhelmed to feeling alive and energized – enjoying success without the stress.
There's always a range of tools and approaches available to us but sometimes we don’t have the time to learn and embrace more information.…however, the right tools can simply be powerful questions you ask yourself when the going starts to get tough or the warning signs appear.
What obligations (that no longer hold meaning for me) can I let go of? When am I going to stop pleasing everyone else? What have I been neglecting in my life that really needs more of my attention?
In this episode, I share my three favorite questions that I also challenge you to answer for yourself:By answering these questions, you're taking the first step to releasing the tension that comes with feeling overwhelmed.
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As wonderful as it is to take a pause in life, there’s a time when we just need to pick up momentum and get going again.
For me, it’s been about flying and traveling; however, as flight restrictions have been in place for the last year (or so) both domestic and international travel have been off the cards.
With an invitation to speak at The Human Leader in You Conference (hosted by Dr. Patricia Burlaud) in Orlando, it was time to get back in the air.
With my bags packed and mask on (still a requirement during these post-pandemic times) – I boarded a short flight from Atlanta to Orlando.
Listen to this episode as I discovered what I really missed about traveling and how it may inspire you to get your engines revving again.
Enjoy the episode.
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I have the pleasure of interviewing many amazing women on this podcast and today I’m excited.
My guest, Diana Watson, is a woman who stands out from the crowd.
Diana’s journey started in the US, and like many looking to do something different, she decided to venture abroad eventually landing in Taiwan (where she is now based).
Like many Smart Black Women, Diana has accomplished a lot, but unlike many, Diana embraced Mandarin and later went on to win a Chinese Speaking competition.
Diana is an author, four-time national speaking champion and cultural immersion expert. Her latest speech in Mandarin "Am I Strange?" had over 1,000,000 views only two weeks after it was posted on YouTube and transformed how the world views black women (and men) who speak Chinese.
Diana trains individuals and organizations on how to effectively immerse in other cultures by emphasizing foreign language public speaking, cross-cultural leadership and cultural intelligence, so they will obtain critical knowledge that leads to profitable outcomes ultimately making a positive impact on the local culture.
Her book, “The Speaking Seed: Secrets to Successful Foreign Language Public Speaking,” is the first book ever dedicated to foreign language public speaking.
Diana recently co-authored her latest book “Called to Lead: Success Strategies for Women” and it is now available on Amazon.
Diana has lived in Taiwan for almost 16 years and considers it home.
email: [email protected] Instagram: speakingseed Facebook: thespeakingseed LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/watsondiana -
With summer in full effect here in the US (or perhaps it’s autumn in your part of the world) – well, whatever the season – it is a reminder that time waits for no one - as quickly as the last six months flashed by, the next few months will do exactly the same.
Tune in and listen to this episode for my favorite song that reminds me how many minutes in a year and three keys to taking action so you can maximize every single moment of time to come.
Here are the YouTube and Spotify links to the song: Seasons of Love (from the Broadway show, Rent) I mention in today’s show.
Seasons of Love on YouTubeSeasons of Love on Spotify
Enjoy the episode.
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Would you ever ignore a warning light on the dashboard of your car?
Probably, not – the truth is, within a short period of time we typically take action and also seek out a professional to take a look at the car problem, right?
Yet somehow, when warning signs show up in the body, we conveniently ignore them or make excuses why we can’t see a professional today, tomorrow, next week or perhaps even next month (I know, I have been guilty of this too.)
Listen in to this episode for a friendly reminder of why you should take immediate action when an unexpected health warning sign shows up in life.
Enjoy the episode.
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Sound is a beautiful thing – but silence can also be powerfully therapeutic, too.
You’ve probably experienced various times in your life when you have felt tired, overloaded, and out of gas, right? Well, have you ever thought of using silence to recharge physically and emotionally?
Because noise is around us all the time, we have become accustomed to the barrage of sounds that constantly pound our ears and nervous system…and over time, this can suck away energy and negatively affect us.
Planning periods of silence can be a great way to refresh and renew, so listen (I know, it’s a paradox) to hear about my experience at a recent silent retreat – and the three things you can do to create a powerful therapeutic silent experience yourself without leaving home!Enjoy!
Special Thanks to Lauren Morton, the hostess of Bee-at-Peace Silent Retreats for guiding us through the experience.
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In today’s episode, we hear from my guest, Ashleah Nelson.
Like many of you out there, I call Ashleah – Superwoman! She's a wife, mother of two amazing kids, and also has time to run a wellness coaching business.
Ashleah’s journey has been an interesting one, and in this episode, she spills the beans of what it really takes to make it all work!
My hope is that it will inspire you to lean into your own journey – whether you are creating it or living it out loud.
Here’s Ashleah’s Bio and contact information:
Ashleah Nelson is a wellness coach, certified personal trainer, and the founder of Know Full Well. Through movement and mindfulness, she empowers Black women to put themselves first and nourish the fullest version of themselves. Her approach is informed by her background as a social worker and sexual health educator- prioritizing intuitive knowledge, self-acceptance, and pleasure.
You can reach Ashleah here:
Email: [email protected] Website: knowfullwell.co Instagram: @knowfullwell.coEnjoy the episode!
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As a leader If you feel lonely at work, you’re not alone.
As you ascend the ladder of success and take on an official leadership role, it can often reduce friendly staff interactions and lead to more of a divide between you and your team members.
Leadership loneliness is a subject that’s recently been featured in the Harvard Business Review. The research suggesting that loneliness can lower productivity and create stress for both you and the rest of your team. This along with the associated negativity can eventually ripple throughout an entire company or organization ultimately affecting corporate morale, goals and revenue.
Keep in mind that loneliness is different from being alone. It has more to do with
working conditions that don't fulfill your desire for connection and companionship.
Depending on individual personalities, the workplace conditions could be ideal for one leader and isolating for another.
This episode introduces three strategies on how to encourage a greater sense of connection so you can lead a more harmonious leadership lifestyle - especially when you feel you’re feeling totally isolated.
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There comes a time during the journey of life when we stop caring so much about how society sees and judges us, and instead, we decide to lean into how we want to be seen in the world – authentic and original!
For most, this is easier said than done because often we have spent a lifetime living in the shadow of ourselves (the place where we have cleverly learned to mask all our imperfections and limitations).
Although we may think we are ready to evolve, we second guess whether the world will accept and embrace who we REALLY are.
Well, as scary as it is – you owe it to yourself to lean into your authentic self.
Listen in for insights on why now is the time for you to stop hiding and instead show up in all your glory!
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