Episodes
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In today's episode of Dominate Your Day, visionary leader and entrepreneur Leigh Burgess discusses her journey from the academic corporate world to becoming a consultant and author.
Leigh shares insights from her personal experiences, including overcoming burnout, transitioning from roles at Dartmouth and Duke, and finding new pathways by creating the 'BOLD' framework, an acronym for Believe, Own, Learn, Design.
She explains how the pandemic catalyzed her personal transformation, culminating in her leaving a demanding corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship with her daughter. Leigh also highlights the significance of continuous self-belief and reassessment of personal strengths in business.
Her new book, 'Be Bold Today,' encapsulates this journey, offering strategies for personal empowerment and success. Through the conversation, Leigh expresses the vital role of support networks and how aligning with one's strengths and values can foster both personal and professional growth.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 4: The BOLD Framework: Believe, Own, Learn, Design
Minute 14: Building and Sustaining a Business
Minute 18: Personal Reflections and Bold Moves
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.
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Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.
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When was the last time you were in a flow state?
As we enter this final stretch before Thanksgiving, I want to share some insights inspired by The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler. Kotler explores how to harness our biology to enter "flow"—that highly focused, energized state where we lose track of time. At this busy time of year, it’s a great opportunity to use our strengths to achieve flow more often. Think about strengths as your natural gateway to flow.
For example, if Learner is in your top strengths, you may find flow in skill acquisition. If Competition ranks high for you, you might feel in flow in high-stakes situations or by setting up small, daily challenges. This week, I encourage you to reflect on a recent flow experience: when was the last time you lost track of time, and what strength were you using? Identifying these moments can help you create intentional, strength-based pathways to flow every day.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.
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Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day
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Today I am joined by Laura Frick, Director of Competitions at PGA of America,
We discuss her journey in the male-dominated golf industry, reflecting on her education at Ferris State University and various roles within the PGA.
Recognized as a 2020 Woman in Business honoree by the Dallas Business Journal, Laura highlights the importance of mentorship from influential figures, including her mother and mentors like Mike Damakis and Steve Tanner.
Our conversation covers the significant growth and changes in women's sports, particularly golf, citing increased participation and innovative formats like Topgolf. Laura shares her passion for working with junior golfers, creating memorable championship experiences, and the joy of witnessing young players' development. She offers leadership insights, emphasizing proactivity, team culture, work-life balance, and the necessity of taking breaks to recharge. Laura reflects on her strengths, the importance of mental and physical wellness, and the impact of strong leadership, providing valuable advice for aspiring leaders.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 3: Journey Into The Golf Industry
Minute 19: Leadership and Responsibility
Minute 24: Balancing Work and Self Care
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.
LinkedIn
Instagram
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day
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Have you heard of the “flywheel effect?”
The flywheel effect — introduced by Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great — emphasizes that success comes from consistent, focused efforts in one direction. By identifying and leveraging personal strengths, you can fuel your "personal flywheel" with sustainable energy.
For example, those with strengths like Achiever or Focus can use these talents to stay driven and aligned with goals. By embracing uniqueness to enhance productivity and impact, you can avoid settling for less than they can achieve as leaders!
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.
LinkedIn
Instagram
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.
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Trisha Cunningham, a seasoned nonprofit leader and former Fortune 500 executive is my guest today.
Trisha, now the CEO and President of North Texas Food Bank, shares her extensive career journey, which includes her impactful role at Texas Instruments. She discusses her transition from corporate to nonprofit, driven by a passion for community and mentorship.
Our conversation covers how Trisha's faith and inspirational mentors guided her path, the importance of community building, and strategic leadership insights. With highlights such as the core areas of wellbeing integrated into the food bank's mission, and her emphasis on being bold, open, and differentiated as a leader, Trisha's story is a powerful narrative of using one's skills for greater good.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 3: Impact of Mentorship and Community Development
Minute 13: North Texas Food Bank's Mission and Wellbeing
Minute 30: Leadership Advice and Personal Balance
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.
LinkedIn
Instagram
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day
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Aleya Harris is the spark for your spark™. A trailblazer in purpose-driven story crafting, she is a marketing executive and ex-Google Vendor Partner who brings her dynamic experience to her role as the CEO of The Evolution Collective Inc. Aleya is an international award-winning speaker, the founder and lead trainer of Spark the Stage ™, and the host of the award-winning Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast. She is also the bestselling author of Spark the Stage: Master the Art of Professional Speaking and Authentic Storytelling to Captivate, Inspire, and Transform Your Audience.
Aleya faced unexpected challenges, including a layoff and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aleya shares her transformative journey, including her struggles with postpartum depression, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and the importance of resilience and authenticity. She also provides actionable tips from her speaking course, emphasizing the power of storytelling, the importance of ego control, and the impact of being fully present on stage. Tune in to learn how Aleya harnessed her natural talents and overcame obstacles to inspire others through her words.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 2: Aleya's Career Journey
Minute 8: Developing a Public Speaking Career
Minute 22: Overcoming Personal and Financial Challenges
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.
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What does it mean to be the CEO of you?
Building your personal strengths brand is key to unlocking your full potential and creating lasting impact. Drawing inspiration from Jim Rohn’s advice to "work harder on yourself than you do on your job," it's time to focus on self-improvement, leveraging your strengths to drive personal and professional growth.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a way to plan your day based on your unique strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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Today I Dr. Alan Rozanski, a seasoned expert in nuclear cardiology and a professor at Mount Sinai.
We discuss the critical connection between well-being, stress, and heart health. Dr. Rozanski shares his journey from aspiring private practitioner to leading figure in mind-body medicine, driven by a profound discovery linking emotional stress to heart disease.
He emphasizes the importance of finding one's purpose, staying physically active, and maintaining life balance to combat burnout and improve health. The episode also highlights how even small exercise routines can positively impact well-being and offers practical tips for managing health amidst a busy lifestyle.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 4: The Discovery of Mind-Body Connection
Minute 15: The Importance of Physical Activity
Minute 21: Future of Health and Medicine
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day. No more leaving your CliftonStrengths Assessment in your desk drawer. Now you can use The Strengths Journal™ to channel your unique strengths and dominate your every day!
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Will you dare to be vulnerable?
As we move through the busy season of October, it's crucial to focus on well-being and mindset as key elements in leadership. This is the perfect time to embrace vulnerability in your leadership style, a concept championed by Brené Brown in her book, Dare to Lead.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a way to plan your day based on your unique strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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Danielle Cobo, a working mom, leader, speaker, and author with a background in medical sales is my guest today.
Danielle shares her accidental entrepreneurial journey sparked by a series of life-changing events in 2020, including a toxic work environment, her husband's deployment, and the loss of her mother. Despite these challenges, Danielle grew a significant LinkedIn following, eventually transitioning to a coaching business.
She discusses the power of personal branding, the importance of vulnerability, and practical strategies from her book, 'Unstoppable Grit,' for overcoming burnout and building a meaningful career. Danielle emphasizes the importance of intentional daily routines and the value of mentorship and coaching for personal growth. She also addresses issues like toxic work environments and the misleading nature of social media, offering actionable advice for leaders and individuals feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 3: Danielle's Accidental Entrepreneur Journey
Minute 10: Finding Clarity and Purpose
Minute 22: Navigating Toxic Environments
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day. No more leaving your CliftonStrengths Assessment in your desk drawer. Now you can use The Strengths Journal™ to channel your unique strengths and dominate your every day!
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Do you know your why?
As we approach the final weeks of the year, it's the perfect time to reflect on our productivity and how to make the most of the remaining days. With the holidays approaching, it's essential to focus on aligning your purpose with your strengths to finish the year strong.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a way to plan your day based on your unique strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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In this episode of Dominate Your Day I welcome Diane Allen, a violinist and speaker known for her TED Talks and her expertise on the flow state.
Diane talks about her journey from being a professionally trained violinist to becoming a keynote speaker, emphasizing the importance of finding one’s flow state to achieve peak performance.
She narrates her personal challenges, including dealing with her son's depression and her mother's Alzheimer's, which led her to leave her musical career temporarily. Diane discovered a profound sense of purpose through public speaking and eventually integrated her music with her speaking engagements, resulting in transformative experiences.
She discusses the neuroscience behind the flow state and shares practical steps for achieving it. Diane's upcoming book, 'Flow: Unlock Your Genius, Love What You Do,' encapsulates her insights on how individuals can increase the time they spend in flow to enhance their performance and well-being.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 1: Diane's Journey from Violinist to Speaker
Minute 10: The Power of Flow State
Minute 15: Applying Flow State in Leadership
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a way to plan your day based on your unique strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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We're excited to introduce you to our newly rebranded weekly podcast: The Weekly Leader’s Digest! Previously known as Monday Motivation, we're evolving to better serve the dynamic leaders like you who are dedicated to making an impact in the world.
Each Tuesday, we'll deliver guidance on personal branding, wellbeing at work, mindset shifts, employee engagement, and productivity
This week, we're exploring the power of strength-based charisma and how it can elevate your leadership skills. Inspired by communication expert Vanessa Van Edwards, we learn that charisma is a skill anyone can develop, not just a natural trait. You’ll learn how to tap into your unique strengths—whether it's energizing a room with "Woo" or mastering intelligent listening with "Analytical"—to create more meaningful connections.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a way to plan your day based on your unique strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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Vanessa Peace, Vice President of Marketing at the American Cancer Society is my special guest today.
We discuss Vanessa's inspiring journey over 15 years from her roles at Southwest Airlines, AT&T, and Children's Health to her current position. Vanessa shares personal insights on becoming an advocate for her daughter Ella, who has a rare disorder called Rett syndrome, and how this experience has shaped her professional leadership and advocacy efforts.
We talk about the societal impact of Vanessa's advocacy work, her personal struggles with imposter syndrome, and the importance of authenticity and using one's strengths to make a difference. Vanessa also highlights the American Cancer Society's initiatives in research, patient support, and awareness campaigns, including efforts to address disparities in cancer diagnoses and treatment.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 1: Vanessa's Journey to Advocacy
Minute 9: Strengths and Personal Branding
Minute 14: American Cancer Society
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose. The Strengths Journal™ is the first and only Gallup-certified daily planner that helps you actively use your strengths to dominate each day and ultimately– transform your life.
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How many of us have distractions in our lives? Distractions are a constant part of our lives—whether it's the news, texts, emails, or social media, they never stop.
These interruptions are the arch-nemesis of productivity, leading to scattered work patterns, missed deadlines, and subpar performance. Over time, this lack of focus can damage our personal brand, as inconsistency and inattention become noticeable to others.
The key to combating distractions is to create a structured and disciplined environment. I follow the work of Nir Eyal, an expert on behavioral design. He wrote Indistractable, which offers insights on managing distractions and improving productivity by emphasizing the importance of identifying internal triggers.
Based on Eyal’s work and my own work with CliftonStrengths, I encourage you to take time to identify your internal triggers.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a daily planner that will help you live intentionally in your strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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Today I welcome Angela Burgess, founder of Broad Oaks Consulting, a business combining her passions to support nonprofits and donors.
Angela shares her journey from a finance background to working with nonprofits, aiming to align her work with her values. She details her transition sparked by a challenging period in her life, which led her to pursue impactful work with Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Angela discusses her entrepreneurial path, the creation of Broad Oaks in 2018, and the services provided to help nonprofits grow sustainably. She talks about the importance of clarity in messaging, donor experiences, and the impact of marketing for nonprofits.
Angela also tells me about her book 'Are You on the Right Bus?' and offers advice to leaders and difference-makers on staying the course through challenges for greater impact.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 4: Aligning Career with Core Values
Minute 11: Founding Broad Oaks Consulting
Minute 20: Writing and Publishing a Book
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.
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Achieving peak productivity isn't just about managing time and prioritizing tasks; it often starts with the right mindset. Many people struggle to reach their full potential because they are held back by limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and negative thinking.
Lewis Howes’ book, The Greatness Mindset offers us some great wisdom on how to cultivate a mindset that propels us forward, instead of holding us back.
Embrace failure as a learning opportunity by reflecting daily on what you learned or what fear you conquered.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. Linkedin. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a daily planner that will help you live intentionally in your strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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Joya Dass, a renowned news anchor and public speaking coach speaks to me today about her career journey, her approach to empowering female leaders, and the importance of confidence and mindset.
Joya shares her personal story of overcoming challenges to become a news anchor and how she now helps women prepare for significant public speaking engagements like TED Talks.
Our conversation covers the impact of mindset work, the importance of personal storytelling, and the unique aspects of Joya's year-long mastermind program that includes strategy intensives in exotic locations.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 8: Breaking into Business News
Minute 17: Mastermind Program and Personal Branding
Minute 24: Common Mistakes in Personal Branding
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose. The Strengths Journal™ is the first and only Gallup-certified daily planner that helps you actively use your strengths to dominate each day and ultimately– transform your life.
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Do you feel like your task list is long and your stress levels high? I think a lot about working moms, who are out there serving their families, their children, while also working and never taking a break.
In my coaching, I talk to a lot of these women, and it can feel hard for them to say no. Consider this question based on Greg McKeown’s work, Essentialism: what is essential in your life? Knowing this can help you know how to say no to activities that ultimately don’t serve you, your work, or your families.
Take this action step today: Based on McKeown’s book, first, make a list of your current commitments and activities, then evaluate each one to determine its true importance in your life. This is where you identify your priorities. Using your CliftonStrengths can help you navigate this process. For example, if you have the Strategic strength like I do, you can look at the big picture and spot patterns to identify your priorities. After making your list, eliminate non-essential activities by removing or delegating those that don't contribute significantly to your values.
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Looking for a daily planner that will help you live intentionally in your strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.
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Patti B. Johnson the former CEO of PeopleResults is my guest today. Patti talks to me about her inspiring journey from small-town Oklahoma to corporate leadership and entrepreneurship.
She shares insights from her career, including her time at Accenture, starting and growing her own business, and the subsequent acquisition of that business. She discusses her book 'Make Waves', which focuses on leading change and the importance of mindset, determination, and adaptability in both personal and professional life.
This episode offers practical advice on change management, strategic planning, and balancing ambition with personal life. Please listen if you are looking to navigate and lead through change.
Episode Minutes:
Minute 3: Strengths and Starting a Business
Minute 13: Lessons and Leading Change
Minute 22: Building and Selling a Business
To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.
Email: [email protected]
Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.
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