352 Human Curriculum
Human connection is imperative to our growth and success as people, however if we do not take time to work towards creating a community to feed our social needs we will end up stunted and spinning our tires unable to continue.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Christopher Fillipiak discuss the importance of community and growth, which often comes with the fact we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable by loving and being loved in return.
352 Human Curriculum
Human connection is imperative to our growth and success as people, however if we do not take time to work towards creating a community to feed our social needs we will end up stunted and spinning our tires unable to continue.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Christopher Filipiak discuss the importance of community and growth, which often comes with the fact we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable by loving and being loved in return.
Highlights
Growth often means vulnerability.
Creating community and passing those skills down to those who look up to you.
We need hugs. We need to know we are wanted and loved.
Bringing community and love to everything you do.
Quotes
“Being able to find the people you resonate with, and I think so much of it is getting clear and creating the life that you actually want, whatever that looks like, and being able to be honest about that.”
“It helps me to lean in to creating a community that I want.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
How can you flip the equation so you’re spending more time in that place where you feel connected, sometimes that can be outside by yourself, but particularly when you’re in community, when you’re not lonely. Think about how you can spend more time finding that community and choosing that community. Embracing outliers and bringing them into community so they feel it too. We need to shift that equation so more of our time is spent there instead of loneliness.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Christopher
I’m a sales coach and consultant who helps CEOs succeed at their own sales work. My experience is unique in that it combines a foundation in engineering, solid business principles, plus a focus on mindset. The result is an integrated approach that comprehensively transforms sales organizations. I have helped businesses 12x their sales growth, increase deal flow by 500%, and bring on 500% more clients.
I’m a strong believer that mastering a sales skillset helps us create the life we want. And what could be more important than that? So many CEOs dread sales work; I teach them that it’s a loving act. Ultimately, getting what you want in life is up to you.
While I work with clients all over the country, I’m based out of Asheville, NC, where I enjoy mountain biking, dancing, laughing, learning, and raising four amazing kids with my wife Karen.
Be sure to check out Christopher’s LinkedIn and Facebook! As well as his website!
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!
346 The Words You Use
You lead from wherever you sit, which is why it is so important to be intentional with your thoughts, words, and motives as you go through life.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Erin Diehl discuss the importance of picking the right words for yourself and being intentional with the energy we bring to any situation.
346 The Words You Use
You lead from wherever you sit, which is why it is so important to be intentional with your thoughts, words, and motives as you go through life.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Erin Diehl discuss the importance of picking the right words for yourself and being intentional with the energy we bring to any situation.
Highlights
Picking the right mantra for yourself. Nothing is one size fits all.
Letting others voice their thoughts so they feel seen and heard.
Give yourself grace.
Quotes
“Rituals, and prayer, and mantras, and affirmations, and words mean a lot, but we have to really believe them and internalize them, in order to make a difference in our own life and then we can therefore change others once we have shaped ourselves.”
“I look back at past versions of me, that didn’t have some of the knowledge I have, and I just give her grace because she was just figuring it out and I’m still figuring it out.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What can you do in the words that you use, how can you shift to a “Yes, and” with your team, your children, your partner, with your friends, how can you support the people around you and make sure you are living in alignment with how you live in the world.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Erin
Erin “Big” Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, Failfluencer, and Professional Zoombie. Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin created improve it!, a unique professional development company rooted in improv comedy, that pushes leaders and teams to laugh, learn, play, and grow.
She is the proud host of The improve it! Podcast, a Top 1% Global Podcast, which helps develop leaders and teams through play, improv and experiential learning, and first time author of the Amazon Best Seller & Top New Release: I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy.
Among her many accolades, Erin is most proud of successfully coercing over 36,000 professionals to chicken dance.
Be sure to check out Erin’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Erin’s websites It’s Erin Diehl, It’s Erin Diehl - I See You, and Learn To Improve It!
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!
344 Evolving Stories
Returning for his second episode, Tom Jackobs and Sarah Elkins discuss how storytelling has changed for both of them since their last conversation, how their tools and strategies have changed, as well as how important storytelling is as a medium for both of them.
344 Evolving Stories
Returning for his second episode, Tom Jackobs and Sarah Elkins discuss how storytelling has changed for both of them since their last conversation, how their tools and strategies have changed, as well as how important storytelling is as a medium for both of them.
Highlights
It is okay to look for coaches, especially when you yourself are a coach.
Find your own strategies and tools for writing and working.
You can be good at things and not be the best at them.
Quotes
“At least I started writing, because that is the hardest part.”
“I’m not a chef, but I’m a good cook.”
“We need the ones that are going to slow us down and make decisions better.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
You’ve listened to this whole conversation about how Tom started his book, how he wrote his book, why he wrote his book, why he started his podcast, and some of the challenges he experienced in that time. What is something you want to take on that you’ve been considering for a long time that you are now ready for that maybe you weren’t ready for a year ago or five years ago. What will be your first step? Are you the kind of person that needs a template to get started or are you a person that looks at a blank page and gets inspired?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Tom
I am a Coach of Fitness Health, Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, Improving Sales, Customer Service.
Be sure to check out Tom’s book, Selling with H.E.A.R.T.: The Only Way to Sell Confidently, Connect Deeply, and Grow Your Business with Integrity!. And connect with him and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! As well as his podcast on Spotify and Apple podcast!
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!
315 The Risks Of Following Your Passion
In life we are bound to do any number of things on our path to a successful career, adding to our portfolio of stories and skills in our pursuit of happiness. These things do not take away from our skills but instead add to them and our expertise, it all depends on how you choose to apply these acquired tools in our life and career.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Elaine Belson discuss how walking the many paths of life have helped shape them into the successful entrepreneurs they are today, offering insight and positivity involving the paths to fulfillment and success. Elaine brings warmth and an intelligent insight to the conversation, referencing and telling many stories of her numerous skill sets that have helped shape her and her business into who they are today.
315 The Risks Of Following Your Passion
In life we are bound to do any number of things on our path to a successful career, adding to our portfolio of stories and skills in our pursuit of happiness. These things do not take away from our skills but instead add to them and our expertise, it all depends on how you choose to apply these acquired tools in our life and career.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Elaine Belson discuss how walking the many paths of life have helped shape them into the successful entrepreneurs they are today, offering insight and positivity involving the paths to fulfillment and success. Elaine brings warmth and an intelligent insight to the conversation, referencing and telling many stories of her numerous skill sets that have helped shape her and her business into who they are today.
Highlights
Your skills can be applied in a variety of ways, even in situations you wouldn’t expect them to be in.
What you take from your experiences contribute to your expertise, even if those experiences are not directly.
It’s okay to sit back and look at how far you’ve come, to witness your own performance on the stage of life.
Don’t call it a gift when you have worked hard to hone your talents and skills.
Try different things, be a jack of all trades. Broaden your horizons.
Quotes
“If you have certain skills it doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, right? You can thrive. It’s more about the tools in your tool box than it is about experience.”
“Our experiences are not just our resume.”
“It was this Aha moment for me, this “Oh this is what it feels like!” You know to just be happy with something. It doesn’t have to be huge, high, right? It’s that ability to get up everyday and want to go to work.”
“That’s what I think true passion is, is when you can get up everyday and look forward to what you’re doing.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
I would love to hear how this episode landed for you. What did you hear in it that made you realize something about yourself? Maybe that you’re a gypsy careerist and you haven’t given yourself enough credit for all of the ways that those iterations of your career have made you who you are today? I would love to hear about that.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Elaine
I have 30yrs combined clinical, military, political and teaching experience. I joined at the age of 42 and served as XO for Medical Command in Afghanistan. My "brand" is "Embrace your Humanity" - harnessing your innate abilities to make good decisions and self-validate. Positive and practical, this approach empowers people to solve their own problems through insight, problem-solving and coping skills. I'm a pragmatist and think in soundbites - so my content is original and easy to understand, remember and apply. I have a full-time practice, host a serial podcast and do guest appearances. I also write a newsletter about psychology in politics. However, my primary focus is public speaking.
Be sure to check out Elaine’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! And be sure to check out her website Elaine Belson!
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!
Want to join this year’s NLV Conference? Register here!
307 An Analogy For Happiness
In today’s environment that is so rife with the use of social media it can be both bewildering and disconcerting to not know what is or isn’t manufactured for content, as well as the perceived obligation to have to participate in social media. Although both overwhelming and exciting one must always remember to have their values at heart and to put forth what you want in the world while also keeping in mind how to support your friends and family online.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and AJ Kumar discuss how social media has impacted our perceptions of the world as well as our interpersonal relationships. AJ brings an insightful and warm perspective to the conversation, while also sharing his joy of learning and trying new things, and how these experiences have brought him to where he is today.
307 An Analogy For Happiness
In today’s environment that is so rife with the use of social media it can be both bewildering and disconcerting to not know what is or isn’t manufactured for content, as well as the perceived obligation to have to participate in social media. Although both overwhelming and exciting one must always remember to have their values at heart and to put forth what you want in the world while also keeping in mind how to support your friends and family online.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and AJ Kumar discuss how social media has impacted our perceptions of the world as well as our interpersonal relationships. AJ brings an insightful and warm perspective to the conversation, while also sharing his joy of learning and trying new things, and how these experiences have brought him to where he is today.
Highlights
We are all multifaceted.
You can’t just give up and stop learning.
Be cautious of the attention you invite into your life and how you return that attention.
Think about what story you want people to tell about you.
Quotes
“Earth is a school, life is a school, like you’re always learning something and you’re always trying to learn something from the past because if you don’t learn stuff from the past then you end up repeating that mistake until you learn that, and once you can learn that and extract something from it then you move forward.”
“It’s blurred, you can’t tell what’s real and what’s fake an d that’s a concern. People could use that negatively, it's hard to say, it’s like any tool, somebody can use it to build a house or knock someone over the head with it. I think that's the place we’re at now in society where how are you wielding this attention that you’re getting? Are you using it to harm people or are you using it to help people?”
“It’s all about understanding people’s problems, trying to be in their shoes the best you can, and then helping them solve it.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What will you take on as an adult to help you process information in a way that’s different than how you’re doing it now? AJ decided to pick up a rubix cube and was able to figure out all kinds of analogies for his work just by playing with a rubix cube. For me I like to go on a hike, I always find that since I have such cerebral work sometimes I need to just get outside and allow my brain a little time to focus on something outside of myself in nature. So what will you do, and how will you find your creativity within that puzzle or that hike or maybe it’s a snuggle with a pup. Whatever it is, find it, find your analogy for happiness at work and at home and I hope to hear from you.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About AJ
Aj Kumar, the “Digital Maestro,” is the founder of The Limitless Company, a studio system for influencers. AJ and his team are on a mission to help entrepreneurs in the Creator Economy build for-profit human-healing brands. Aj has helped corporate brands like Salesforce, Mint, Intuit, and industry-leading personal brands including Neil Patel, Nikki Haskell, Nontoxicdad, and Kimberly Snyder.
Be sure to check out AJ’s LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as his websites Limitless and AJ Kumar!
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!
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!