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I met Saskia a little under 10 years ago at a conference focused on social entrepreneurship and social business in London. She is one of those people you don’t forget in a hurry, and I’ve been following and admiring her work ever since. She is the co-founder of Yunus Social Business, a philanthropic venture fund that turns donations into investments in sustainable social businesses that provide employment, education, healthcare, clean water, and clean energy to over 9 million people around the world.
Saskia describes her purpose as “changing the powerful animal that is capitalism for the better.” The problems she is solving are big, messy and complicated, but her infectious passion for these issues is what carries her through.
In this episode, we talk about how Saskia came to work with Professor Yunus; and the thoughtful, type-A process she created to get there. We talk about the importance of combining profit and purpose in business, as well as advice she has for those who are interested in pursuing a similar path.
#PurposePlays from this episode:Revisit your Purpose Statement annually. Once a year, remind yourself of your purpose and evaluate how you are or are not living up to it, and how you can recommit to this statement in the year ahead.
Don’t underestimate passion. If you choose to dedicate your career to a social cause, choose something you are very passionate about because it’s the passion that will help you stay focused and committed when the going gets tough (because it will).
Surround yourself with people who share your purpose. Whether it’s colleagues, employees, a mastermind, or a group of likeminded changemakers, these individuals can help re-energize and re-inspire you in moments you are struggling.
Make conscious choices. Once every few months, do the research to determine if there is a more sustainable alternative to the products you are using or buying. You don’t have to do this for every purchase, but focus on the items you buy a lot of.
Links:Yunus Social Business
For intrapreneurs: Business As Unusual
COVID Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs
The Good Guide by Marieke Eyskoot
Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus
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Natalie Taylor is a Financial Planner and Public Speaker. Her personal purpose is to help people cultivate a plan for their finances based on their values and goals. In other words, Natalie helps individuals, couples, and families invest their available funds in what provides the greatest amount of fulfillment, not just financial return.
She has been a financial planner for over 15 years and a lot of her work is dedicated to making professional financial advice more accessible and relevant to a broader audience. She spent 7 years working for FinTech startup, LearnVest, and recently opened her own financial planning practice to work with individual clients.
In this episode, we talk about Natalie’s earliest money memories, how she fell into financial planning, the values she and her husband optimize for, and the advice she has for people who are navigating the tricky but fulfilling balancing act of parenthood, entrepreneurship, relationships, and life in general. What I love about Natalie is that she walks the talk, which makes her such an incredible and relatable example of the power of purposeful financial planning.
#PurposePlays from this episode:
Align your money management strategy with your values. Identify your values: 1) what is most important to you, and 2) how you live your life. Use your values as a filter when determining how to prioritize your spending and saving, what to invest in, how to make trade-offs in your budget, etc. I recommend using Natalie’s Values Guide for this process (available on her site). Create margin in your life. Build in time and space so you are not scheduled back to back to back. Sometimes you have to grow at a slower pace than you want to, so you can continue to make intentional decisions and show up as your full self. It may require you to detach self worth to productivity, but it will ultimately help you live in greater alignment with your purpose. Create margin in your budget. This gives you the flexibility to make spontaneous decisions and enjoy life in the moment instead of living for “some day”.Links:
Natalie’s website (be sure to wait for the pop-up to receive the Values Worksheet)
Article on Teaching Kids About Money
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Shownotes
Hands down, the #1 question we get is “How can I find more purpose at work?” Many people spend the majority of their waking hours working, so it’s no surprise that feeling miserable or disengaged at work can have a tremendous impact on your broader wellbeing. This is exactly why I am so thrilled to introduce you to Claire Lew. She is the CEO of Know Your Team, a software tool that helps business owners and managers build happier, more productive companies. Claire’s personal mission is to help people become happier at work and she has partnered with organizations in over 24 countries, including household names like Airbnb, Kickstarter, and Medium.
In this episode, we talk about Claire’s personal story--of how an introvert became a leadership expert. We talk about big broad topics like overcoming fear around career decisions, as well as tactical tips like how to approach a tough conversation with your manager. Claire draws on personal experience as well as all the incredible data she has collected through Know Your Team, and I personally walked away with so many insightful takeaways from our conversation.
#PurposePlays from this episode:
If you’re looking to experience more happiness and purpose at work, start by asking yourself the question: What conditions in a work environment do I need to do my best work? Once you have a clear answer to this question, it will be a lot easier for you to ask for what you need. When going into the conversation with your manager, always be mindful about sharing context. The number one reason managers may get defensive is because they are misreading your intention, so be as CLEAR as possible about why you’re asking for something or why you’re sharing certain feedback. Find an outlet for processing emotions that is embodied vs. cerebral. Make time for this activity, even (rather, especially) when you don’t feel like it. If you have trouble with this consider doing it for others instead of yourself: if you give yourself time to indulge in this activity, you will become a better person/mother/colleague/employee/etc.Links
Personal Website
Instagram
Twitter
Know Your Team Website
The Heartbeat Podcast
Favorite book: The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge
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Cameron Rogers is a certified health coach and content creator on a mission to make healthy living approachable through her Freckled Foodie brand. She’s been named one of Forbes’ top 5 entrepreneurs changing the New York wellness scene and this is no surprise given the passion and enthusiasm she brings to her work.
Cameron started her career on the Sales & Trading desk at JP Morgan, but after an accident (she *literally* got hit by a bus) forced her to slow down, she made the brave decision to pursue what truly lights her up. (Something that she had previously never considered as a dream career, mind you.)
In this episode, we talk about what it was like to quit her job in banking and the steps she took to prepare for this moment, we talk about the early days of launching a personal brand and how she crafted her elevator pitch, and how the Freckled Foodie has given her a platform to make an impact.
#PurposePlaysTest the waters with a side hustle before leaving your full time job. This will not only allow you to make sure the passion isn’t a “phase”, but it will also help you establish a track record (case studies, testimonials, client relationships, content, etc.) so the transition is less scary.
TIP: Cameron actually kept her colleagues in the loop about Freckled Foodie when she first started it as a side hustle, which gave her a built-in support system at work.
Crowdsource your elevator pitch. If you’re struggling to articulate what you do and why you do it, ask your friends/family/followers to describe what you do and how they see you creating value. It not only gives you good material for your pitch, but it will be a confidence booster as well!
Identify the opinions that matter. If you are letting other peoples’ opinions prevent you from following your dream, take the time to write down exactly who “they” are. Now write down the names of the people whose opinions you actually value most (this should be a short list) and ask yourself: What will these individuals think/feel/say if I do this? You may find that you’re wasting a lot of time considering opinions that ultimately don’t matter to you.
LinksFreckled Foodie Instagram
Freckled Foodie Blog
The Freckled Foodies & Friends Podcast
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Sophie Kahn is a trailblazer. She’s brilliant, beautiful (inside and out), and one of the kindest, most thoughtful lady bosses I have met. We both went to the same High School in The Netherlands, but only became friends years later when our paths crossed again at Princeton University when Sophie was studying for her masters degree in finance.
After finishing up her degree, Sophie took a job at the Boston Consulting Group BCG in New York City. She has always had an affinity for the fashion world, however, and it was only a matter of time before she ended up there. It was during her tenure at Marc Jacobs that she and college friend Bouchra had the idea for Aurate, a direct-to-consumer fine jewelry brand that is taking the world by storm.
In this episode, we talk about Sophie’s personal journey and her thoughtful approach to building the Aurate brand and team. While I could have easily spent the entire episode learning from her business prowess, I had asked her on the podcast to speak about relationships. In the book, I discuss the importance of having a “Purpose Pack” and Sophie is someone who has intentionally invested in her inner circle of women (and men!). Research shows that quality relationships are the most important predictor of long-term happiness and health, and Sophie eloquently shares her wisdom on this important topic.
#PurposePlayWrite down a list of the people who are in your “purpose pack”. Then make a commitment to show up for these people, for the highs (birthdays, weddings, baby showers) and the lows (breakups, bad days at work, financial trouble). Go above and beyond to invest in these relationships and give yourself permission to say “no” to other commitments or requests that don’t involve the individuals on your list.
LinksPersonal Instagram
Aurate Instagram
Aurate website
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Earlier this year, I was on a trip with some friends and mentioned that I was going to interview an ultramarathon runner for the podcast. One of the men on the trip immediately piped in to ask who, as he’s an avid runner himself. When I mentioned this week’s guest, Kris Brown, I observed a major fanboy moment and I have to admit that I felt pretty cool to have snagged an interview with this guy.
Fortunately, Kris Brown turned out to live up to the hype. Beyond an impressive track record, Kris boasts a great sense of humor and humility (which I imagine is rare in the world of professional athletes). Not only is he a professional ultramarathon runner but he is also the co-owner of a popular Cuban restaurant in Santa Barbara, CA. I still don’t know how he juggles these two all-consuming careers, but he seems to take it all in his stride.
In this episode, we talk about how Kris “fell into” long-distance running and why he still works in hospitality, even though he’s threatened to quit the industry countless times. We talk about what he’s learned from managing kitchen crises (both big and small), the difference between structure and discipline, and how Kris builds momentum when he’s been out of the game for a little while. Kris describes purpose as “the balancing act between things that bring you enjoyment while also fulfilling the desire to serve”, and it was such a pleasure to chat about how he’s navigating this balancing act personally.
#PurposePlay from this episode
Build momentum one step at a time. Instead of setting your sights on a big, farfetched goal, create a slow build. Start with a smaller goal and keep increasing your output or your goal by a little every day. This will allow you to build confidence and improve at a rate that is more sustainable until you eventually uplevel to where you want to be.
Links
@KrisBobBrown
Cubaneo Restaurant
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Shownotes
A few months after graduating college, Christine Amorose Merrill left her corporate job to travel the world and blog about it. While she has no regrets about exploring and eating her way across the globe, she ultimately decided that she is happiest in an environment that offers more structure and financial security. From the outside, the nomadic life can sound incredibly exciting, making it very hard to admit that you would actually prefer to keep your day job. But Christine has learned to own this decision wholeheartedly.
In this episode, we talk about Christine’s journey and the tradeoffs she’s made along the way; we talk about how to pursue your passion without compromising your financial security; we talk about her love of travel and the decision to de-prioritize blogging after almost a decade, and why it’s so important to lean into what brings you joy.
If you’re at a fork in the road or find yourself holding onto a job or a side hustle that no longer serves you, Christina’s advice may be exactly the nudge you need.
#PurposePlays from this episode:
Check in with yourself every few months and ask: Am I still making time for the activities I loved to do as a child?
Remind yourself that there will always be good jobs for good people.
If something excites you or makes you curious, DO IT. Even if you try it and fail, or don’t enjoy it, you can always say you did it. No one can take that away from you.
Links:Blog: https://www.cestchristine.com/
Instagram
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Shownotes
At the age of 5, Tim Sae Koo proudly declared to his mom that he wanted to be the first Asian American President of the United States. He was on track to achieve this until he realized that politics wasn’t efficient enough for him. That’s when he discovered the world of entrepreneurship.
After bootstrapping and successfully exiting his first tech startup (TINT) in Silicon Valley at age 27, Tim went on a journey to heal, reset, and let go of the limiting beliefs he had picked up along the way including the need to create to prove himself (rather than creating from love).
Today, he is putting his many super powers to work as the Chief Manifestation Officer and a Partner of 1heart, an organization focused on supporting and empowering heart-driven leaders. He’s also an ecstatic dance DJ, avid meditator, and plant medicine enthusiast.
In this episode, we talk about Tim’s journey and some of the tools that are supporting his transformation. We talk about overcoming expectations of the people who love us most, how Tim defines his purpose and how he continues to course correct in order stay true to himself.
#PurposePlays from this episode:Mediate or journal in response to the question: What do I want to create? (Imagine you had all the time, money, and energy in the world.)
If you are taking time off to travel or in between work, set clear intentions for what you want to get out of this time and find a way to remind yourself of these intentions frequently. (Tim wore a piece of jewelry that served this purpose).
If you are making some big changes in your life and are worried that those close to you may not understand, approach the conversation without any expectations. Share your decision or your passion openly, but don’t put pressure on the other person to jump on board right away. Give them time and show (rather than tell) them how this new direction is benefiting you.
Links@timsaekoo (Instagram)
www.youtube.com/user/tsaekoo
https://www.1heart.com/
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My guest this week is someone I went to college with. I have been watching Nell Diamond from afar the past 9 years, as she launched a successful direct-to-consumer business, built a personal brand, and started an adorable family.
Nell is the Founder and CEO of Hill House Home, a modern home and lifestyle brand. In this episode, we talk about her journey to entrepreneurship, how becoming a mom changed her approach to life and business, the guilt she experiences from time to time (spoiler alert: it’s not mom guilt) as well as how she elevates her mood when she has the blues.
I was struck by how self-aware and thoughtful Nell is about the decisions she has made, including her openness about weekly therapy sessions and choosing to ignore the stigma around pursuing a so-called “frivolous” industry. Nell is someone I admire greatly, both personally and professionally, and I have a feeling you will too.
PurposePlays from the episode:Create a list of “mood elevators”. What are small things that bring you joy and shift your mood instantly? Whether it’s a walk, a croissant and a side of cappuccino, a yoga class, or some quality time with loved ones- write down at least 5 things you can do whenever you’re feeling blue and keep that list on hand.
#TherapyThursdays. Let’s all get over the stigma around therapy already and embrace this amazing opportunity to “treat” ourselves to an hour of someone else’s undivided attention and listening ear. Self awareness is essential to living on purpose and therapy is one of the most powerful tools for training this muscle.
Links:www.hillhousehome.com
@nelliediamond (Instagram)
@hillhouse (Instagram)
Book recommendation: Unicorn: The Memoir of a Muslim Dragqueen by Amrou Al-Kadhi
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Tara is one of those people who has the type of energy you can’t get enough of. She’s real, raw, and undeniably relatable. She also happens to be a self made success story.
Tara is a women’s empowerment advocate, and she uses dance as her main medium to get women to channel their fearless “alter ego” and learn to love every part of their perfectly imperfect selves. She also has a wildly successful YouTube channel and network marketing business.
We talk about the power of movement, how to overcome the tendency to self-sabotage, what it takes to craft a brand that’s both real and empowering, how all of our fears are universal, her personal practice of intention, and what happens when your favorite form of “play” becomes your profession.
#PurposePlays from the episode:Tap into your “alter ego”. Imagine your best self: What are you wearing? How are you standing? Where are you going? How are you feeling? Now give that person a name and try to embody him or her more frequently. Start by practicing this in everyday situations (like doing groceries or walking to work) and before you know it, you will start to tap into your alter ego with more and more ease.
Choose a word for the year. Select one word you want to embody for the next 12 months (you can also do this for shorter periods of time if you prefer). It should reflect how you want to approach everything in your life: your career, you relationships, your finances, your health, etc. Journal about how you are going to live out this word and remind yourself of it frequently, especially when opportunities arise or decisions need to be made.
Links:@tara_romano
@toneandtease
Tara’s upcoming event
Tara’s YouTube channel
Tara’s book recommendation: Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
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Shownotes
Desirae is the founder of Minimal-ish, a lifestyle brand and podcast that is helping men and women live with less so they can make room for what matters most.
In the book, I talk about the benefits of decluttering your environment, your calendar, and your mind and Desirae is an expert on this topic. But she’s also very honest about the challenges of the lifestyle she’s chosen and even admits that cleaning her house is actually one of her least favorite activities. Instead, Desirae is committed to being intentional with her time and getting really clear on what is most important to her in life.
In this episode, she talks about her personal journey to minimalism and some of the resistance she faced along the way. She shares her favorite rituals and tons of Purpose Plays to help you take control of your time and use minimalism as a tool for living on purpose.
#PurposePlays from the episode:Write a Surrender List. Start your day by journaling a list of things you are “surrendering” to the universe (or whatever higher power you believe in). You can surrender your anxiety about work, anger with a spouse, or the launch of an upcoming product. LET GO of whatever you are trying to control so you can focus on the other parts of life that are (probably) far more important.
Create a decluttering date with yourself or your partner/roommate. Put a dedicated time on the calendar for “maintenance” cleaning so the mess never gets too overwhelming and you can trust that there will be time to address it.
Create a Purpose Statement. Read this blog post for a step by step process.
Linkshttps://www.desiraeendres.com/
Minimal-ish Podcast
@Desirae.Endres
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JJ Barrows is an artist, writer, standup comedian and all-round wonderful human. She describes how she stumbled upon comedy (a profession that fascinates me!) and I know she will act as an expander for anyone who is thinking of pursuing something creative in order to live out their purpose.
We talk about the art of comedy and what to consider when turning your hobby into your career. We talk about how JJ gets out of a rut, trains her confidence muscle, and how validating her own worth and her feelings has helped her support others more genuinely. She shares lots of words of wisdom, including the power of becoming your own best friend (instead of your own worst enemy) and tips on how to navigate criticism.
#PurposePlays from the episode:
Do one (small) thing every day to create momentum towards your goals or dreams. Don’t overthink it; just take the next best step and trust that the small things add up. Become your own best friend vs. your own worst critic. Give yourself grace and make sure to first acknowledge and validate your fears before going into solution mode or getting down on yourself.Links:
@jjbarrows
Personal Website
“Doodle All Day” Special by Drybar
Call a Spade a Spade by JJ Barrows
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Sam is the epitome of a multi-passionate entrepreneur who shows up, big time. She’s a professional dancer, certified life coach, speaker, and Regional Vice President with Arbonne.
Like many of us, she’s struggled with worthiness which manifested itself in disordered eating and more recently, a divorce. But these experiences led her to find her voice and ultimately discover the value of mindset. Now she is sharing all her hard lessons learned through her coaching, her podcast (FULL OUT) and social media. She describes her purpose as activating and supporting women in owning their power and realizing they’re worthy AF so they can live their lives full out.
We talk about her divorce and what ultimately led her to stand up for herself; we talk about how she balances a portfolio of careers, the role journaling has played in her life, the importance of self-awareness and how the foundation of self discipline she developed in dance has been a key ingredient for her success.
#PurposePlays from the episode:
Journal, journal, journal. A few of her favorite exercises:
Write down 3 small things you’re grateful for every day.
Write down 10 of your dreams as if you’ve already made them come true. (When you write them down as a truth, your brain looks for ways to make them come true.)
Get support. Challenging times are part of life and you are the only person who can take responsibility for taking care of yourself so honor that and find a therapist, assistant, personal practice, coach, or other confidant.
Affirmations. Some of Sam’s favorites include: I Am Light, I Am Love, I am overflowing with gratitude.
Links:
www.samanthajoharvey.com
@SamanthaJoHarvey
FULL OUT Podcast
Samantha’s Book Recommendation: The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
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From the moment I saw Donna speak at a women’s financial empowerment event here in Santa Barbara, I knew I had to have her on this podcast. Her goofy, yet gracious demeanor is beyond endearing and her personal story of emigrating to the United States from China represents the American Dream at its finest.
Donna is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, but she is not your average advisor. Her personal trials and tribulations have allowed her to identify her unique strengths and passions, which she now applies to make a meaningful contribution to her community. Donna has dedicated her career to providing women with the financial education and support that her family was never fortunate enough to receive.
In this episode, we talk about Donna’s experience emigrating to the U.S. and how she ultimately found her way to the wealth management industry; we touch on the power of practicing smart money management, the importance of positive self talk, and her recommendations for staying committed to your purpose (even when life gets in the way).
#PurposePlays from this episode
Create a financial vision board. Write down the things that are most important to you, the things that give you the most anxiety or fear. Then talk to a financial advisor and map out a game plan with small, measurable steps so you can reach these goals. Create a “Lucky Stick List”. We all get hit by a Lucky Stick every once in a while, but more often than not we take these moments or things for granted. Create a list of when and how you’ve been hit with the Lucky Stick (i.e. an alternative to a Gratitude Practice).Links:
Donna’s Practice in Santa Barbara, California
CFP Board list with top questions to ask your Financial Advisor.
Donna’s book recommendation: Triumphs of Experience by George E. Vaillant
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In this inaugural episode, host Alexandra Cole shares a glimpse of her own personal purpose journey and vision for the podcast and beyond.
She offers a tangible definition of purpose and what it means to live on purpose, as well as the reason so many people decide to settle for less than a full, vibrant, fulfilling life. You’ll learn the basics of the Sweet Spot framework and how to start identifying your own Sweet Spot. And finally, Alexandra provides a preview of what to expect from future episodes.
