299 Clarity and Having The Courage to Do What You Aspire To
The constant pressure to do the best and be the best is something many of us grew up knowing. Thinking we had to have straight A’s in school, trying to be the best in our extracurriculars, and even taking up tasks that should have been given to someone who’s skills would suit the task better, whether it’s because of our own internal voices or external pressures we need to learn to seek clarity and focus on the skills that make us invaluable to our team and family.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Mandi Graziano discuss how past failures, current clarity, and future aspirations drive us and shape us into who we are today.
299 Clarity and Having The Courage to Do What You Aspire To
The constant pressure to do the best and be the best is something many of us grew up knowing. Thinking we had to have straight A’s in school, trying to be the best in our extracurriculars, and even taking up tasks that should have been given to someone who’s skills would suit the task better, whether it’s because of our own internal voices or external pressures we need to learn to seek clarity and focus on the skills that make us invaluable to our team and family.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Mandi Graziano discuss how past failures, current clarity, and future aspirations drive us and shape us into who we are today.
Highlights
Just because you failed at something in the past doesn't mean you aren’t smart. Everyone learns differently.
Feeling like you don’t fit in is a universal and normal experience.
Embrace your strengths and acknowledge when you can’t do a job outside of your field of expertise.
Quotes
“Some great sales people aren’t great leaders and some great leaders aren’t great sales people.”
“Just lead by example, just share one tip once a week in the meeting of something that has worked for you in the past: And that is mentoring without mentoring, then you’re raising everybody around you without telling people what to do.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What are you going to do with this information that you received today? This gift of a moment where you could develop clarity about what activities you really like to do, the activities that bring you that kind of passion where you can find time in your day everyday to do those things, because it’s not just at work but at work is where you spend most of your time, so find opportunities to feed that to find more satisfaction and maybe it’s time to reach out to a coach to help you find that clarity.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Mandi (From her Website)
In the early days, Facetime Coaching Company was Mandi's "side hustle" while she worked for hotels. Since 2010, her Coaching, Speaking, & Writing have grown and become a very equal part of her world.
In 2010, Mandi went to “the other side” of the hotel business and joined her long time client, HPN Global, a full service site selection & venue finding global meetings company. Here she finds hotels and venues for her clients all over the world, negotiates pricing & contracts while consulting her clients in all aspects of managing their meetings, conferences and conventions.
Mandi runs her businesses with vigor, balance and excitement.
Some people may say she has a "side hustle" Mandi believes "It's ALL HUSTLE why can't we do all the things we love?"
It’s important to Mandi that fun ensues in all her professional endeavors, even in the most serious of situations. Whether she is coaching your team to close deals OR scouting out the perfect location for your meeting, there will always be laughs and excitement.
Check out Mandi’s website Mandi Graziano, as well as her LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
296 Storytelling Can Improve Your Career - It's Not Just Interviews
This is the 4th episode in a series on storytelling for professionals.
In episode 292, Sarah shared stories about her love language – which is cooking for people. She explained that when we share stories of the activities that bring us great joy in service to others, we offer a glimpse of our character and values to our audience, whether that’s at work, in an interview, with family and friends, or when we’re sharing content in any form of media or on any platform. Her stories of nurturing and nourishing people in her home demonstrated part of what makes her a good addition to any team – her positive energy and ability & ambition to create an environment where people feel safe and encouraged to bring their best.
Episode 294 was a story about a team she worked with at a job years ago. It was a work story that demonstrated her openness to learning, how she manages frustration and different ways of approaching projects and relationships, and her meeting facilitation skills.
And last week’s episode 295 was a personal story about planning a family reunion for 40 guests. It demonstrated her meeting & event planning skills, team building/leadership, and made it very clear what matters to her.
In this episode you'll hear about stories Sarah shared in job interviews, why she shared those particular stories, and the end result (spoiler alert: she didn't get the job).
The idea and goals for this series is for professionals to truly understand the value of sharing personal experiences and work stories in different environments, and to uncover your stories to begin collecting them so you're ready when an opportunity presents itself.
By preparing stories to answer the most common, (kind of stupid), questions, you have the opportunity to share so much about yourself, way beyond what’s on your resume and cover letter.
In any professional setting, whether around the proverbial water cooler, at a networking event, when presenting to your team or organization, side conversations during meetings, knowing how to share meaningful stories is a practical skill.
Collect your stories, practice them, and categorize them so you are likely to share the right one at the right time, with the right audience, demonstrating your skills, values, character, and vision.
Thanks for listening to Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will.
Curious about how Sarah's workshops and keynotes will help you and your audience or team be better ambassadors for your organization and their careers?
Visit her website, elkinsconsulting.com, to schedule a discovery call.
This is the 4th episode in a series on storytelling for professionals.
In episode 292, Sarah shared stories about her love language – which is cooking for people. She explained that when we share stories of the activities that bring us great joy in service to others, we offer a glimpse of our character and values to our audience, whether that’s at work, in an interview, with family and friends, or when we’re sharing content in any form of media or on any platform. Her stories of nurturing and nourishing people in her home demonstrated part of what makes her a good addition to any team – her positive energy and ability & ambition to create an environment where people feel safe and encouraged to bring their best.
Episode 294 was a story about a team she worked with at a job years ago. It was a work story that demonstrated her openness to learning, how she manages frustration and different ways of approaching projects and relationships, and her meeting facilitation skills.
And last week’s episode 295 was a personal story about planning a family reunion for 40 guests. It demonstrated her meeting & event planning skills, team building/leadership, and made it very clear what matters to her.
In this episode you'll hear about stories Sarah shared in job interviews, why she shared those particular stories, and the end result (spoiler alert: she didn't get the job).
The idea and goals for this series is for professionals to truly understand the value of sharing personal experiences and work stories in different environments, and to uncover your stories to begin collecting them so you're ready when an opportunity presents itself.
By preparing stories to answer the most common, (kind of stupid), questions, you have the opportunity to share so much about yourself, way beyond what’s on your resume and cover letter.
In any professional setting, whether around the proverbial water cooler, at a networking event, when presenting to your team or organization, side conversations during meetings, knowing how to share meaningful stories is a practical skill.
Collect your stories, practice them, and categorize them so you are likely to share the right one at the right time, with the right audience, demonstrating your skills, values, character, and vision.
Thanks for listening to Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will.
Curious about how Sarah's workshops and keynotes will help you and your audience or team be better ambassadors for your organization and their careers?
Visit her website, elkinsconsulting.com, to schedule a discovery call.
Quote
"By preparing stories to answer the most common, and kind of stupid questions, you have the opportunity to share so much about yourself way beyond what's on your resume or cover letter."
295 Personal Stories and How They Matter
The relevance of stories in career and life is something that is undeniable, whether it be a professional story about a time you were vital to your team at work, or a more personal story that demonstrates skills that are so second nature to you that you don’t even think about them any more, learning when and how to share every story and how they put your talents and values on display is a skill that can take you above and beyond.
In this episode Sarah Elkins shares a personal story that exemplifies her skills, talents, and values, throughout the story listen for cues, and take note of how she tells the story in a way that compliments everyone and the situation they were in, and not just herself.
295 Personal Stories and How They Matter
The relevance of stories in career and life is something that is undeniable, whether it be a professional story about a time you were vital to your team at work, or a more personal story that demonstrates skills that are so second nature to you that you don’t even think about them any more, learning when and how to share every story and how they put your talents and values on display is a skill that can take you above and beyond.
In this episode Sarah Elkins shares a personal story that exemplifies her skills, talents, and values, throughout the story listen for cues, and take note of how she tells the story in a way that compliments everyone and the situation they were in, and not just herself.
Highlights
Sharing personal stories to portray skills and values.
Check with yourself on what your intentions are regarding new projects and responsibilities.
Asking for help and advice can be critical in certain situations. It doesn’t mean you’re incapable, it means that you are willing to use the tools provided to you.
Quotes
“Listen again to hear the cues, notice how I included other characters in my story. Notice how I described my role in it so a listener would know I was the primary character while acknowledging that I didn’t succeed alone.”
“Sharing a story of a personal experience like mine is a great way to demonstrate your skills, character, and values.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What stories came to mind for you as I shared my family reunion story?
Think about the steps you took to make that project or experience successful.
Think about how you interacted with other characters in your story.
Were you the hero? Were you the guide?
Why does this story matter to you? What was the impact of your success?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
294 Communication For Potentially Conflicting Approaches
Frustration and irritation is common in every relationship, more often than not it stems from not understanding others or hearing out what others have to say. It is up to us and those we work with to find a peaceful and healthy resolution.
In this episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on the early points in her career and how she saw her talents even before knowing about Strengths Finder, but most importantly how she was able to help her company and colleagues.
Ask Yourself: Am I Contributing or Antagonizing?
Frustration and irritation is common in every relationship, more often than not it stems from not understanding others or hearing out what others have to say. It is up to us and those we work with to find a peaceful and healthy resolution.
In this episode Sarah Elkins think about early points in her career and how she saw her talents even before knowing about StrengthsFinder, but most importantly how she was able to help her company and colleagues.
Highlights
The bad parts of a story are just as important as the good.
Progress takes time.
Holding yourself and others accountable.
Quotes
“I’m sure we can find a way to work better together.”
“I just want people to feel like their voices are heard, that’s it. I want to set the foundation here for this group of faculty to know we aren’t railroading them into agreeing to something that doesn’t make sense.”
“I was still very frustrated but far less than before because I knew his goals. Understanding his leadership goals allowed me to back off and know that he was leading differently from me, but he was leading.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Think back on the story I just shared, did my story remind you of something that happened recently at work or maybe earlier in your career? What was your experience that was similar, can you identify the characters in the story and what lessons you learned? Categorize the story so you can identify what that story demonstrates about who you are and how you work.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
293 Self Reflection: Assessments
Fear of the self is something that has existed for hundreds of years, it’s been something remarked upon by Plato and Socrates, and it is a very common human experience. However if we approach our talents and sense of self with curiosity we can foster a healthy, loving relationship with yourself, your career, and your future.
In this episode Sarah Elkins reflects on the assessments she was hired for and found that some of the audience didn’t “buy into” her assessments, only for said audience members to discover things about themselves.
293 Self Reflection: Assessments
Fear of the self is something that has existed for hundreds of years, it’s been something remarked upon by Plato and Socrates, and it is a very common human experience. However if we approach our talents and sense of self with curiosity we can foster a healthy, loving relationship with yourself, your career, and your future.
In this episode Sarah Elkins reflects on the assessments she was hired for and found that some of the audience didn’t “buy into” her assessments, only for said audience members to discover things about themselves.
Highlights
How you subconsciously act often reflects your talents.
Have faith in the professionals you hire.
Don’t allow the fear of how others may react or treat you based on your talents effect your desire to learn more about them.
Quotes
“One thing I’ve noticed in my work with clients is that some people want to distance themselves from their results, and for one reason or another they don’t want to experience themselves through the concepts of whatever assessment they took.”
“I get it. Most of us have been given negative feedback about our talents, we’ve been criticized for our approach to problem solving.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
When was a time you were skeptical about something and decided to be open to the possibility anyway? Have you recently changed your mind about something you believed strongly? What story can you tell to demonstrate your willingness to change your mind, to demonstrate your ability to take in new information that might alter how you see yourself, or how to approach a problem.
Add your story to your collection of stories, because whether you’re interviewing for a job, interviewing for a podcast, or maybe even on a date, having the right story to share can demonstrate exactly the qualities you want people to know about you.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
292 Food Stories
Love languages come in many different forms; gift giving, words of affirmation, and for today’s episode specifically, the act of cooking and giving a good meal to those you hold close. It is vital to the health and continuation of relationships that we discover these languages and think about how these actions impact how others view us.
In this episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on the concept of love languages and how important they are to understand and how they influence how we are perceived by others and ourselves.
292 Food Stories
Love languages come in many different forms; gift giving, words of affirmation, and for today’s episode specifically, the act of cooking and giving a good meal to those you hold close. It is vital to the health and continuation of relationships that we discover these languages and think about how these actions impact how others view us.
In this episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on the concept of love languages and how important they are to understand and how they influence how we are perceived by others and ourselves.
Highlights
Discovering your love language is vital to understanding how you are seen by others.
Living in the moment and enjoying that moment is more rewarding than any photograph.
Find your why and realize how it impacts yourself and those around you.
Quotes
“I think a lot about legacy, about how I want to know myself and how I want people to experience me. And in my work as a speaker and coach I’ve asked a lot of people those questions: “How do you want to see yourself? What do you want to see in yourself? Kindness? Intelligence? Competence? What do you need to know or experience to be confident that you are those things?”
“I asked her the question: How do you want to see yourself? What words do you want to use to describe yourself?
Her answer didn’t surprise me, but it surprised her a little. She said: I want to see myself as resilient, competent, and thoughtful.
My next question made her stop to think: How will you know you are those things?
After a few moments she answered: “When the people I care about describe me that way.”
“And what do you need to DO, to BE, to SAY to ensure they describe you that way?”.”
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!