313 Rediscovering Yourself
Change is a fundamental law of nature, nothing stays the same forever. This is especially true when it comes to people, we are never the same even from moment to moment, we are allowed and expected to change, to grow, to become a version of ourselves that we can be proud of.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Michelle Cooper discuss growth, change, and the pains that come with it. Michelle brings warmth, empathy, and a depth of emotion that will make you laugh, maybe cry, but certainly bring you some hope and determination for the new year.
313 Rediscovering Yourself
Change is a fundamental law of nature, nothing stays the same forever. This is especially true when it comes to people, we are never the same even from moment to moment, we are allowed and expected to change, to grow, to become a version of ourselves that we can be proud of.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Michelle Cooper discuss growth, change, and the pains that come with it. Michelle brings warmth, empathy, and a depth of emotion that will make you laugh, maybe cry, but certainly bring you some hope and determination for the new year.
Highlights
Sometimes all you need to do is learn the rules because you already have the skills.
Acknowledging the other people who help shape your story.
Sometimes finding your voice and your purpose can cause friction in your life, but it is your responsibility to work together and remedy the strife.
Quotes
“To me whether it’s a partner or a friend or a family member, it doesn’t really matter. If they can’t support something that’s really important to you then they shouldn’t be in your energy.”
“You’ve got to have some data, you’ve got to go with your gut, and you have to come from an empowered place, not a victim, not a limited mindset, not survival. So how do we change that?”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What about this conversation really resonated with you? Was it this idea of finding community somehow in your late thirties? Was it about knowing that sometimes you need to have those hard conversations to give your partner a chance to change and to grow with you rather than leaving them behind? What will you do in 2024 cause it’s early still, to make a decision about something that maybe you committed to without fully being committed to it but you’re afraid to let it go?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Michelle
Michelle Cooper is a Business Mentor, Author, Podcast Host, and International Speaker. What began as a journey of self-awareness and healing has boomed into over a million-dollar business empire with a mission to shift the trajectory of wealth, one entrepreneur at a time.
Michelle will help you tidy up your money and the relationship you have around it so that you can run your business and life with confidence and clarity, ultimately ending the suffering around your finances.
Be sure to check out Michelle’s LInkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram as well as her website at MichelleBCooper!
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 Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
310 Painting A Picture Of Yourself You Can Be Proud Of
Stories. We all have them and we all share them at some point or another, those stories may make your listener laugh or they may make them cry, what is equally important in storytelling is how you tell stories about other people in your life, how you talk about others says just as much about you as your own personal stories. By exploring the world around you and experiencing the diversity and unique qualities that every place and every person has to offer, you will feel even more alive and grateful for the stories you have to share.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Peter Davis discuss the many facets of life, storytelling, and how uplifting others can lead one to a fulfilling life path. Peter brings intelligence and empathy to the conversation with thought provoking quandaries and heartfelt personal stories that are sure to leave you with some introspective questions to think about.
310 Painting A Picture Of Yourself You Can Be Proud Of
Stories. We all have them and we all share them at some point or another, those stories may make your listener laugh or they may make them cry, what is equally important in storytelling is how you tell stories about other people in your life, how you talk about others says just as much about you as your own personal stories. By exploring the world around you and experiencing the diversity and unique qualities that every place and every person has to offer, you will feel even more alive and grateful for the stories you have to share.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Peter Davis discuss the many facets of life, storytelling, and how uplifting others can lead one to a fulfilling life path. Peter brings intelligence and empathy to the conversation with thought provoking quandaries and heartfelt personal stories that are sure to leave you with some introspective questions to think about.
Highlights
Do things that make you feel alive.
Diversity and change are the fruit of life, accept it whenever it decides to show itself.
Don’t forget to let yourself dream, yes working towards success is important but don’t forget to let yourself enjoy the little things.
Are the stories you are still holding on to years later useful to the narrative of the person you are now?
Quotes
“I learned very quickly in Chicago that being good at something, they don’t care. Everyone’s good at something. You got to be great, you got to stand out, you really have to have something to offer, and you have to be tough, you have to be able to take criticism. Lots of it.”
“You’re on an L Train going downtown like everybody for work, you’re going to see people at every station of life. And they are all reading a great book.”
“The years go by, you’re propping up a story that is no longer useful and the psychic energy required to maintain that infrastructure must be exhausting.”
“You’re going to have to find a way to differentiate yourself in a way that is compelling, powerful, and accurate. And authentic.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Whatever you’re doing I hope that you can start to answer that question: I see a day when.
I have no doubt that whatever you put together you can then use to really inform how you present yourself to the world around you. Because the stories you tell say a lot about who you are, and the stories you tell about others in your community say even more about who you are. So share your stories and share them well.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Peter
Peter Davis helps leaders of small to medium-sized B2B service companies, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher learning craft and tell stories that attract their most natural audiences; people that actually want to buy from you, work for you, invest in you, fund you or volunteer for you. Performed consistently, a compelling story has the power to improve personal, organizational and brand performance.
Be sure to check out Peter’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his website Heroes Quest Consulting and the video Business Is Theater!
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 Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
304 Women's Relationships
Whether it be in the workplace, in daily life, or anywhere we go in the world, we meet exceptional individuals that make life both enjoyable and enlightening. It is vital to not only appreciate these people, but to seek out more kindred spirits to lift up and to be lifted up by.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and her friends Kimberly Davis and Heather Younger discuss the importance of support and relationships in both our careers and in our down time.
304 Women’s Relationships
Whether it be in the workplace, in daily life, or anywhere we go in the world, we meet exceptional individuals that make life both enjoyable and enlightening. It is vital to not only appreciate these people, but to seek out more kindred spirits to lift up and to be lifted up by.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and her friends Kimberly Davis and Heather Younger discuss the importance of support and relationships in both our careers and in our down time.
Highlights
Surprise someone with support. Be a champion for another.
Don’t judge or treat another poorly because of your own preconceived notions.
Being intentional when lifting others up.
Do not contribute to the hatefulness and meanness in the world, look for the good and the hope that is inspired by those you hold dear.
Make the work worth it, but don’t let yourself get overworked and overwhelmed. Everything you do, begins with you, so try to be at your best.
Quotes
“The folks I hire, I’m not hiring them because they’re women. There’s a strength about them, there’s an independence about them, I can tell they’re just going to get stuff done.”
“I think the reason I like it is because I know they’re intelligent, I can trust them, they know things I don’t know.”
“Sometimes I do feel so sad, and so fatigued. Like Sisyphus pushing the boulder uphill all the time, that I have to stop and refuel because I am unable to keep an even level of fight or flight because the fight or flight just feels fruitless.”
“If there’s one person, who changes one behavior, in an audience of hundreds of people, in my mind the impact there is worth it.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
When was the last time you lifted someone up, or stood beside them during a trying time? How often do you actively turn to another person on your team and as their help because they have more knowledge on a subject? If you could say one thing to the people in your life that make the work worth it what would you say? Remember Dear Listener everything you do starts with you, so make it come from a place of kindness and understanding.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Heather from her LinkedIn
"A DYNAMIC APPROACH THAT EASILY ENGAGES THE AUDIENCE."
*Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content: https://www.youtube.com/@heatherryounger*
Heather R. Younger, J.D., CDP, is an experienced keynote speaker, two-time author, and the CEO and Founder of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement, leadership development, and DEI consulting firm, where she is on a mission to help leaders understand the power they possess to ensure people feel valued at work.
Known as The Employee Whisperer, Heather harnesses humor, warmth, and an instant relatability to engage and uplift audiences and inspire them into action.
Rooted in her belief that employees aren’t just numbers on the payroll but human beings with ideas that matter, Heather’s talks and workshops are dedicated to helping teams, leaders, and organizations shine by improving how they listen to, communicate with, and empower employees.
"My why is to give a voice to the voiceless at work; those employees who feel powerless or hopeless or helpless."
Heather’s personal Why emerged as she sought to find meaning from her difficult experience growing up in the 1970s. As the only child of an interfaith and interracial marriage, both Heather and her Black father were shunned and excluded by extended family because of the color of their skin. While the sting of exclusion left Heather with a lot of questions growing up, it also led her to develop a high level of resilience and a deeply inspired commitment to advocate for anyone who has ever felt devalued.
Today, she credits her capacity to navigate complex social dynamics and discuss identity in the workplace to those early experiences, and is dedicated to creating opportunities for organizational leaders, teams, and individuals to learn strategies for reframing adversity while empowering leaders to change their workplaces for the better.
As a champion for positive change in workplaces, communities, and our world at large, Heather delivers clear and purposeful strategies that drive real business results – such as increased employee engagement, loyalty, collaboration, and connectivity.
The results?
- Team members feel heard, seen, and valued
- Companies create safe environments and a culture of trust
- Diversity and creativity are celebrated
- Resilience rises
- Stress falls
- Productivity goes through the roof
- Customer retention and referrals soar
- Everyone wins – sometimes in ways they didn’t even realize were possible.
Learn more at heatheryounger.com and employeefanatix.com.
Email me at heather@employeefanatix.com
About Kimberly from her LinkedIn
Kimberly Davis is the founder of the Brave Leadership University and has more than 20 years experience in front of groups and audiences of all sizes. Since 2001, Kimberly has been leading development programs world-wide, around authentic leadership, purpose, presence, influence, presentation skills, communication skills, engagement, and customer experience. In March of 2008, Kimberly launched “OnStage Leadership,” which has received rave reviews and has made an impact on leaders across the country.
Kimberly also teaches Authentic Influence and Executive Presence for SMU's Cox School of Business' Executive Education Program and their Latino Leadership Initiative, and for the Bush Institute's WE Lead program (empowering female leaders from the middle east).
Kimberly is a TEDx speaker and her book, Brave Leadership: Unleash Your Most Confident, Authentic, and Powerful Self to Get the Results You Need, was the 2019 winner of the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Business and Career; an Amazon Bestseller in Business Leadership, Business Motivation and Self-Improvement, and Motivational Business Management; and was named as the number one book to read in Inc. Magazine’s “The 12 Most Impactful Books to Read in 2018,” with a cover-endorsement by best-selling author Daniel Pink.
Specialties: Authentic Leadership, Leadership Development, Career Development, Personal Development, Engagement, Communication Skills, Public Speaking, Presentation Skills, Facilitation, Theatre, Experiential Learning, Customer Experience, Organizational Development, Training & Development, Talent Management
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 Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
297 Change, Growth, and Hope - How The Belief Others Have In Us Can Move Us
Change is an inevitable part of life, how you choose to handle that change is what defines us as people. Will you crumble and erode like an immovable boulder, or will you bend and grow like a sapling waiting for it's time to reach the sky? We never know what we are capable of until we are put to the test, even though sometimes others see our potential better than we ever could.
In this episode Sarah Elkins reconnects with her friend Amy Oviatt, they discuss these points as well as how our beliefs are shaped by our experiences and how others view us.
297 Change, Growth, and Hope - How The Belief Others Have In Us Can Move Us
Change is an inevitable part of life, how you choose to handle that change is what defines us as people. Will you crumble and erode like an immovable boulder, or will you bend and grow like a sapling waiting for it's time to reach the sky? We never know what we are capable of until we are put to the test, even though sometimes others see our potential better than we ever could.
In this episode Sarah Elkins reconnects with her friend Amy Oviatt, they discuss these points as well as how our beliefs are shaped by our experiences and how others view us.
Highlights
Find friends who will lift you up.
There are deep truths that we do not see in ourselves until years later. People who believe you are destined for great things aren’t wrong, sometimes the greatness is just delayed.
You will be surprised what you are capable of.
How will you take feedback when you receive it?
Quotes
“I would certainly hope that I’m a person who creates safety for other people, because we all need that and we all want that.”
“The upside of that part of me is that I really figure it out. It may take me a while but I’m not somebody who ever just buries things and moves along, I must figure out the answer.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What will you do in the next week to uncover something that maybe is blocking you from what you want to do? What will you do, will you take a step tomorrow, will you take a step the next day to make a choice to live the life you want to live? What book will you read and take action on? Maybe you’ll hire somebody, maybe you’ll be a coach, maybe it’ll be a fitness instructor or a life coach, maybe it’ll be a hypnotherapist. But what will you go into with big wide open arms and open eyes and open heart to make a change to improve whatever is going on in your life.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Amy
Colorado native Amy Oviatt graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, the only accredited college of Hypnotherapy. She holds a degree in Business from CU - Boulder, and has a wide variety of experience in her toolbelt.
On her own spiritual and healing journey, Amy has found inspiration in the works of Caroline Myss, Gary Zukav, Brian Weiss, amongst others.
Hypnotherapy, including Life Coaching, Therapeutic Imagery, and other healing modalities, is a powerful vehicle to move clients forward in achieving the healthy and fulfilling life they seek. Amy helps her clients release limiting beliefs, replace unwanted habits, and align the subconscious with their most important goals, resulting in improved relationships, greater success, and more peace on their own life’s journey.
Check out Amy’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram! As well as her website Guided Journeys!
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!
291 The Stories We Keep
As much as we all may wish for life to be sunshine and daisies we can often end up focusing on the storms and trials that accompany them. It can be easy to lose yourself to grief and bitterness when viewing your life through those storm clouds, however it is important to remember that it is only a passing thing that shadow and even darkness must pass, and how you tell your story after those times can reframe how you see your life and give hope to others who may be going through something similar.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and the esteemed Rob Kugler discuss the importance of stories involving grief and sorrow, while also acknowledging the great acts of kindness and courage it takes to survive through these times in life.
291 The Stories We Keep
As much as we all may wish for life to be sunshine and daisies we can often end up focusing on the storms and trials that accompany them. It can be easy to lose yourself to grief and bitterness when viewing your life through those storm clouds, however it is important to remember that it is only a passing thing that shadow and even darkness must pass, and how you tell your story after those times can reframe how you see your life and give hope to others who may be going through something similar.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and the esteemed Rob Kugler discuss the importance of stories involving grief and sorrow, while also acknowledging the great acts of kindness and courage it takes to survive through these times in life.
Highlights
Spite can be a great motivator in certain circumstances.
Stay mindful of how you tell your story so that you tell it in a way that can be appreciated and reflect your values.
Doing your best in situations where things feel out of control.
It’s important to know that what you’re going through is not uncommon and to tell those stories brings comfort and acknowledgement to others. No story is too mundane to tell.
Quotes
“People keep on asking, “Hey are you going to write another book?” And I tell people, “Yes, I’d love to but I haven’t done the things I want to do to write about yet.”.”
“There’s not alot to complain about if you don’t look at the one thing you can’t have.”
“When is that moment, or when is that conversation that starts your story? There’s times when, even to get to the other side as we mentioned earlier, just moving forward with confidence of knowing the value of the story that already exists. So if we’re like to say “Hey I want to look at making a second edition.” But also following through on the ideas of the calendars and prints from the photos that I took along the journey.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
The first thing I’m going to ask you to do is when you read a book that you really like, leave a review. You can do it on Amazon, on Good Reads, maybe share it because those of us who have written books know that writing a review really is meaningful, so if you really liked a book leave a review even if you kind of liked a book write a review and leave three or four stars. But write a review because that means people are reading the book and that matters to us.
The second thing I’m going to ask you to do is to consider what struggles you’ve experienced in your life, what grief you’ve experienced in your life, and how you can frame that story so that somebody else can feel what you’re feeling and see what it’s like to come out the other side.
That’s what I’m asking you to do because your stories don’t define you, but how you tell them will.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Rob from his LinkedIn
Through experiences from teaching Pre-K to leading Marines, from acting in Los Angeles to field marketing, from leading volunteers in Disaster Relief Operations to finishing a degree in Fire Protection Technology, from traveling the country taking photographs with my three-legged labrador to publishing a book with a major publisher, well rounded life experience is my biggest asset.
I am currently bringing those experiences into classwork at Washington State University where I am obtaining a degree in Strategic Communications.
My goal at WSU is to learn new ways that my writing and photography can not only tell stories of my experiences, but the stories of brands, companies, organizations and people I believe in.
Be sure to check out Rob’s LinkedIn, his photography Instagram, and Facebook! As well as Marcus Brotherton and Rob’s website Life Illustrated!
Pick up a copy of his book A Dog Named Beautiful! And be sure to check out No Vet Alone where you can help veterans in need.
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!
290 Ideation
Working on ourselves is a never ending yet very worthwhile endeavor that shapes who we become as people, and where we want to go in life. Sometimes that work is hard and can seem intimidating or at the very least tedious, especially if our strengths have been criticized or used against us in the past. However, like anything worth doing, growing as an individual takes hard work and support, especially from yourself.
In this episode Sarah Elkins poses this thought to the listeners of Your Stories Don’t Define You How You Tell Them Will, and implores us to look inward and begin to see our strengths as things that can benefit us instead of hinder us.
290 Ideation
Working on ourselves is a never ending yet very worthwhile endeavor that shapes who we become as people, and where we want to go in life. Sometimes that work is hard and can seem intimidating or at the very least tedious, especially if our strengths have been criticized or used against us in the past. However, like anything worth doing, growing as an individual takes hard work and support, especially from yourself.
In this episode Sarah Elkins poses this thought to the listeners of Your Stories Don’t Define You How You Tell Them Will, and implores us to look inward and begin to see our strengths as things that can benefit us instead of hinder us.
Highlights
Love your talents because they make you who you are even if you sometimes struggle with them.
Practicing what you have learned and want to learn will improve your skills both new and old.
Allowing yourself to flow in whatever way you need to go.
Quotes
“One thing I became aware of in the first year of my coaching practice, is that I have to be very careful not to project my own feelings onto my clients.”
“The space between stimulant and response and the choice we have in that space. Will we give that stimulant a positive, negative, or neutral value?”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Have you reacted defensively to frustration after seeing the results of an assessment, maybe like the Clifton Strengths, Meyers-Briggs, Enneagram, or Disc? What are the memories that are surfacing after seeing those qualities that were criticized in the past, and what stories can you begin to collect as evidence of those results as beneficial in your life as strengths.
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!
286 Choosing and Creating Your Own Community
Connection and choosing the community that will help you grow and thrive is vital to self growth and peace of mind, especially when you are going through major changes in life or are thinking of how you want to spend your life.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Vanessa Jupe discuss the importance of community and connection while navigating life and its changes.
286 Choosing and Creating Your Own Community
Connection and choosing the community that will help you grow and thrive is vital to self growth and peace of mind, especially when you are going through major changes in life or are thinking of how you want to spend your life.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Vanessa Jupe discuss the importance of community and connection while navigating life and its changes.
Highlights
Planning for the future and enjoying the time you have.
Connection and support are vital to every stage in life.
If you don’t feel like you belong in a community you can make your own.
Quotes
“It took me a year before I was like, ‘Okay we’re gonna do the community event.’ I was just so worried about it, I just didn’t want it to become a negative thing, because I’ve seen so much of that and I want what we’re building to be incredibly supportive.”
“It’s tough because there are people and things that you love, and you’re like ‘ah, well, now that I have a kid I’m going to be making different decisions than I might have if it was just me’.”
“There are some very painful things that I experienced in my life that I don’t know if I’ve learned a lesson from yet, and there were things that I was scared about that were awesome! And I was like ‘Oh, I learned that I could do that thing that I thought was scary.’ Right? So it’s not always the most painful.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Your stories don’t define you - the things that happened to you or in your life - that’s not what defines you.
It’s how you talk about those things, It’s how you choose your internal dialogue, and the stories you’re telling so that you can shift them from maybe being a victim to being your own guide and hero.
Remember - there are lots of guides out there just waiting to be in your corner and support you, and I just have one request:
Listeners, it doesn’t have to be when you’re having a big decade birthday, or when you’re about to empty nest, or some random arbitrary part of your life that you can do the program that Vanessa’s husband created for them: Think about the moments in the last ten years that are really meaningful, that have shaped you into who you are today, and start thinking about what moments you want over the next ten years.
You can do that today. It doesn’t have to be a big decade birthday or the start of a new year, I encourage you to think about that.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Vanessa
Vanessa Jupe founded Leva after experiencing the challenges of breastfeeding, being a working mom, and finding work-life balance firsthand. She is a passionate leader with 20 years of experience in the digital product development. Jupe is also a mother and wife.
Jupe holds a BBA in Information Systems from the University of the Incarnate Word, an MS in Technology Commercialization from UT Austin McCombs School of Business, and a certificate in Women in Leadership from Cornell University.
Jupe is committed to helping working moms succeed. She believes that all moms deserve to have a fulfilling career and a happy family life. Leva is her way of making that happen.
Connect with Vanessa on her Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
Check out Vanessa’s website Levapp and the associated Instagram and LinkedIn!
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!