435 Pivot Point: A Moment of Doubt - a monologue from Sarah Elkins
In today’s episode I’m sharing a story about a pivotal moment in my business, a situation that had me questioning everything about the direction I had taken, the investments I made in time, energy, and money, and what transpired to get me through that experience to land on the other side with confirmation and a bit more confidence.
435 Pivot Point: A Moment of Doubt - a monologue from Sarah Elkins
In a moment of inspiration on one of my hikes, I realized that after more than 430 episodes, this show is overdue for a format change.
For the book I’m writing, a companion to my recently published TEDx talk, I’m exploring research around narrative identity, which is the way the stories we share influence who we are, and self-awareness as defined by present-day psychologists.
The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning, and my hope is that future episodes will offer additional insights for the book, my guests, and our listeners.
In today’s episode I’m sharing a story about a pivotal moment in my business, a situation that had me questioning everything about the direction I had taken, the investments I made in time, energy, and money, and what transpired to get me through that experience to land on the other side with confirmation and a bit more confidence.
“It was like being immersed in a foreign language, bringing me to a level of understanding and insight with this tool that I’m not sure I could have achieved so quickly in any other circumstance. It was amazing and exhausting.”
Listeners, now it’s your turn:
Did my story remind you of something that happened to you?
What memory popped into your head when you heard it?
What did you learn about me as a person?
Did you learn what I do without hearing it directly?
I can say “I’m a gallup-certified StrengthsFinder coach”, but that’s not meaningful and doesn’t give you useful information about what that might mean for you or for a friend you might refer to me, right?
What’s a pivotal story in your career?
About Sarah:
Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, TEDx speaker, DisruptHR speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening.
Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness.
Visit her website to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook.
Episode 160: When You Feel Honored to Do the Work You Do
This woman is absolutely compelled to improve life for people she encounters. She sees the best in people, and has a beautiful way of bringing out the most endearing qualities. At the same time, she doesn't hesitate to let them know when they're getting in their own way.
Her number one talent in the StrengthsFinder assessment is Includer, which means that she is compelled to include others, and to be included herself. Sarah is the kind of woman who walks into a roomful of people and has a sixth sense in finding the most uncomfortable person, knowing exactly what to say to make them more comfortable, and nurturing that comfort to the point of that person actually enjoying themselves.
Life Just Makes More Sense When Your Work Lights You Up
Image of Sarah Johnston for podcast cover art.
Have you ever interviewed or been interviewed by someone with your name? Boy can that feel strange and awkward.
This conversation with Sarah Johnston was anything but awkward. She dropped some insights here that kept my brain in gear and spinning for days afterward.
This woman is absolutely compelled to improve life for people she encounters. She sees the best in people, and has a beautiful way of bringing out the most endearing qualities. At the same time, she doesn't hesitate to let them know when they're getting in their own way.
Her number one talent in the StrengthsFinder assessment is Includer, which means that she is compelled to include others, and to be included herself. Sarah is the kind of woman who walks into a roomful of people and has a sixth sense in finding the most uncomfortable person, knowing exactly what to say to make them more comfortable, and nurturing that comfort to the point of that person actually enjoying themselves.
When Sarah works with a client, she listens with an intensity to hear what is not being said. Her story about the medical student who had given up on applying for a residency, and instead decided to focus on applying to be a medical technician or physician's assistant provides a crystal clear image of what she hears and how she compassionately presents her thoughts to others.
Sarah's work most definitely has huge impact on individual job seekers, but the true gift in her work is the ripple effect it has. For a person who has been out of work or under employed for a significant length of time, simply getting an interview can create a positive shift in mindset. Getting a job means a huge impact on that person's family and friends, and can shift the lives of others through the decisions to pay it forward.
The way that Sarah transitioned between jobs, and then into her own business is inspiring.
*Correction at approximately 20 minutes, I referred to Heather Younger's book, The Art of Caring Leadership, which will be released in Spring, 2021, but her first book is, The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty, and was published in 2017. Listen to her podcast here.
Episode 93: Your Life's Trajectory Can Shift with One Reaction
Aaron Orendorff can look back at the time in his life when he took a complete, 180 degree turn, and know that though the incident that preceded it was beyond his control, his response to it wasn’t. He reacted to that incident with enthusiastic self-sabotage, and his career as he knew it at that point ended in a dramatic explosion.
It’s Not the Size of Your Network That Matters, It’s the Quality
Aaron Orendorff - image from an article on AutoPilot
Aaron Orendorff can look back at the time in his life when he took a complete, 180 degree turn, and know that though the incident that preceded it was beyond his control, his response to it wasn’t. He reacted to that incident with enthusiastic self-sabotage, and his career as he knew it at that point ended in a dramatic explosion.
A delicious Reuben sandwich at Elephants on Corbett, Portland, Oregon (Josh in the background)
What he knows now, that he couldn’t possibly have known then, was that his writing had already caught the attention of a person who would later become a mentor and supporter in his career pivot.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Aaron while I was visiting Portland, Oregon. We met at Elephants on Corbett, a lovely delicatessen in an older neighborhood filled with arts and crafts style homes built in the 30s and 40s. We sat in the upstairs dining room and started to record this episode. In the background, you’ll hear the sounds of a lively clientele of children and adults, enjoying delicious food.
I always look forward to hosting guests on this podcast, and I can rarely guess at the direction our conversation will take. This discussion took a few twists and turns around career pivots, a meaningful network, and the amazing satisfaction he finds when working with people he thinks are much smarter than he is. It came back in an organic, circular fashion to meaningful pivot points in our lives and careers, and the people who show up when we need them the most.
If you’re as intrigued by this guy as I was, I suggest you connect with him on LinkedIn, and visit his website to learn more about his uncanny ability to translate complex technical jargon into meaningful language almost anyone can understand.
After our recording, I decided to stick around when Aaron had to rush off to a meeting, and I’m so glad I did. If you get to Portland, Oregon, you might just want to stop by one of the Elephants Delicatessen locations!