431 The Art of Aging - Featuring Diane Place
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Diane Place discuss the art and beauty in aging and how it allows us to collect amazing stories, learn new things about ourselves, and how we can use these experiences to help others.
431 The Art of Aging - Featuring Diane Place
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Diane Place discuss the art and beauty in aging and how it allows us to collect amazing stories, learn new things about ourselves, and how we can use these experiences to help others.
Highlights
Aha moments and how trusting yourself will most often take you to better places in life.
Bringing in other story tellers to enlighten yourself with intergenerational, interracial, and interhuman connections.
Reframing aging and how we perceive aging, in that it is never too late to do anything and you don’t need to step back just because of a number.
The stories we tell ourselves and the stories told around us shape our perceptions, and we need to take active steps to make sure that it is positive and healthy instead of cutting ourselves and others down.
Quotes
“I’ve had “ah ha” moments in my life that led me to make crazy decisions. Some of them didn’t go so well… most of them did because I trusted my heart.”
“Find connections with who we are, not just what we’ve done.”
“We need to seek the new stories if we have some of those old stories. We need to ditch them. We need to erase them, and reinvent them.”
Dear Listeners, now it’s your turn:
What part of this conversation made you realize something about your own aging and maybe your internal messages that are affecting who you are and that you’re modeling and sharing with younger people. If you’re one of the younger listeners, under 50, what part of this conversation made you eager to hear the stories of people around you that you’ve only ever known skin deep? I would love to hear what resonated with you in this conversation.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Diane
After 66 years on this planet, I am grateful to have aligned my passions, talents and heart-driven desires in all parts of my life.
After dancing on the edges of my passions throughout my career and my life, the coincidence of three “lightning strike” experiences in 2018 - a cancer diagnosis, shutting down a business venture, empty nesting as I turned 60, compelled me to focus on what I truly wanted to do with my "one wild & precious life."
Fostering connection, learning peoples' stories and creatively inspiring others have always been a personal passion. With Third Act Quest, and our community, the 333 Collective, and my newest program AHA! Third Act Stories — this passion is now front and center. I am working to reframe aging by connecting and inspiring women for their life’s most exciting and meaningful chapter — their “third act.”
My 40-year professional career includes: a decade in Boston with an international ad agency; ten years with America Online (AOL-Time Warner) in the early days of the internet as Senior Vice President; and three entrepreneurial ventures; a cause-marketing firm, Dunbar, Hunter & Associates (bridging corporations and nonprofits around aids, homelessness, domestic violence and breast cancer), WonderBlink Photography, and The Global Design Post.
My favorite quote:
“Tell me, what is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” - Mary Oliver
Be sure to check out Diane’s LinkedIn, and her website Third Act Quest. Plus, check out the Third Act Quest community here, and her YouTube Channel for even more great content.
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.
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!
204: Inner Voice Have You Spinning? Fire Your Narrator!
How do we overcome that powerful voice in our head that keeps us from succeeding and sharing our accomplishments?
Sarah Elkins and Valerie Gordon tackle the topics from their previous conversation, as well as new topics such as questioning the loud voice inside your head and rewriting your own story. This engaging conversation dives into the deeper meaning behind the “narrator” we experience, how do we seize those thoughts and put them into action?
Valerie Gordon Knows a Thing or Two About Stories
How do we overcome that powerful voice in our head that keeps us from succeeding and sharing our accomplishments?
Sarah Elkins and Valerie Gordon tackle the topics from their previous conversation, as well as new topics such as questioning the loud voice inside your head and rewriting your own story. This engaging conversation dives into the deeper meaning behind the “narrator” we experience, how do we seize those thoughts and put them into action?
“Another type of narrator’s thoughts that’s going to get in your way of future success, where did that story start? And how do we rewrite it?”
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Valerie:
Valerie Gordon knows how to harness the power of a story to meet a wide range of business needs. A 10-time Emmy-winning television producer with two decades producing stories for CBS News, HBO, and ESPN, she knows what makes a story meaningful and memorable. Through Commander-in-She LLC, the career and communications strategy firm she founded in 2017, Valerie helps clients take command of the power in their own stories.
Valerie works with corporations and speaks at conferences to engage employees, guide teams, and grow future leaders. She offers keynotes, workshops, virtual training, and individual coaching, providing the communication skills necessary to help clients ascend the leadership ladder, manage relationships and critical conversations, build their personal brand and create next chapter success.
Her new book, “Fire Your Narrator! A Storyteller’s Guide to Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Life” is about the stories we tell ourselves and the impact those internal stories have on our external success.
Visit Valerie’s website and follow her on LinkedIn!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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.
203: Is It Truly Possible For People To Change? Featuring Lester Young
At the age of 19, Lester Young was convicted of murder. Today, he has transformed his life and utilizes his gifts to fulfill his purpose.
Enjoy this riveting discussion between Sarah Elkins and Lester Young, Executive Director for Path2Redemption, as they delve into how mistakes of the past don’t define who you are today. From learning “how to plant the seed” and cultivate your unique gifts, to giving back to others and changing their perceptions of you, this is an episode that will truly inspire your inner want for growth.
A Convicted Murder Believes in True Redemption
At the age of 19, Lester Young was convicted of murder. Today, he has transformed his life and utilizes his gifts to fulfill his purpose.
Enjoy this riveting discussion between Sarah Elkins and Lester Young, Executive Director for Path2Redemption, as they delve into how mistakes of the past don’t define who you are today. From learning “how to plant the seed” and cultivate your unique gifts, to giving back to others and changing their perceptions of you, this is an episode that will truly inspire your inner want for growth.
“I’m not tied to my story. I’m showing you the evolution, the transformation that I went through.”
Books Discussed:
James Allen’s As A Man Thinketh
Bob Burg’s The Go-Giver
Lester Young’s The Five Stages of Incarceration
Lester Young’s The Five Stages of Growth
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Lester:
Lester Young, Jr is a native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. At the age of 19, Lester was given a life sentence (with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years). Entering prison without education was indeed a struggle, but he did not allow this to stop him from educating himself as well as others. With the support of family and friends, Lester was able to obtain his G.E.D and later enroll in Business Management Courses, via mail, as a student at Ashworth College. Lester began drawing attention and was constantly rewarded for his interest in helping others. With permission and no hesitation from the warden, Lester along with the prison chaplain began meeting to create templates, outlines, programs, and classes to instruct and mentor fellow inmates. This is where the idea of him establishing his own non-profit organization “Path2Redemption” got its start. After his release, on May 15, 2014 (22 years and 5 months) the outlines of his programs are still being taught in prison. Mr. Young is the author of two books The Five Stages of Incarceration and The Five Stages of Growth. Lester is also a proud father of a 6-year-old daughter.
Visit Lester’s website and follow him on LinkedIn to learn more!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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.
202: Becoming a Scientist: Why Do Stories Matter?
Indulge in this engaging conversation with Sarah Elkins and Scott Hanton, Editorial Director for Lab Manager Magazine and former Industrial Chemist and business leader for 30 years. They explore the beginning of his interest in becoming a chemist, as a young 13-year-old listening to a random man share his work stories, a moment that would instill a life-long passion for him.
Scott Hanton Has Firsthand Experience in the Power of Stories In His Journey to Becoming a Chemist
What do you want to be remembered for when you leave this world?
Indulge in this engaging conversation with Sarah Elkins and Scott Hanton, Editorial Director for Lab Manager Magazine and former Industrial Chemist and business leader for 30 years. They explore the beginning of his interest in becoming a chemist, as a young 13-year-old listening to a random man share his work stories, a moment that would instill a life-long passion for him. This was Scott’s “lollipop memont”, and was only the start - flash forward to Scott’s career today as he and Sarah discuss how managers treat their employees, as well as how our work and stories change others' perceptions of us.
Don't miss this great TED talk, where Drew Dudley talks about "lollipop moments" in the context of everyday leadership. This was a game-changer for Scott.
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Scott:
Scott attended Michigan State University and received his Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry, before earning his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scott was an industrial chemist and business leader for 30 years. His titles included General Manager, Laboratory Operations Manager, and Chief Scientist for Intertek Allentown. Scott also held the roles of research scientist, laboratory supervisor, and section manager. Currently, Scott is the Editorial Director for Lab Manager Magazine.Due to these positions, Scott has developed expertise in analytical characterization, people leadership, and business management. Scott is an active member of ACS, ASMS, and ALMA.
Visit Scott’s page on Lab Manager Magazine and follow him on LinkedIn.
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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.
Episode 98: Make a Choice to Experience Resilience & Growth Through Struggle
In our conversation, Oleg shared some important moments in his story, particularly of his first few months in his adopted family in the United States. What I love about the stories he shared was how he presented the other characters, the supporting roles in his stories. From the classmate on the soccer field who managed to understand Oleg’s body language to pass the ball to him, to his adoptive parents who placed small sticky notes on everything in the house, wall, window, door, table, fork, couch, to help him learn English, Oleg can look back at his transition with gratitude for those characters. He looks for those parts of his experience to share the beauty of overcoming odds.
Your Stories Create Your Identity. Cherish Them.
Oleg Lougheed
Awful, tragic things happen in life. When those things happen to you as a child, you get to a point in your young adulthood when you can choose to either be bitter about them and resent them, or to learn from them and grow into your resilience and character.
Oleg Lougheed made the choice, after spending a lot of time asking “why me?” to not only learn from those traumatic childhood experiences, but to share them with others to help them see their own potential to overcome, grow, and thrive, despite their circumstances.
In our conversation, Oleg shared some important moments in his story, particularly of his first few months in his adopted family in the United States. What I love about the stories he shared was how he presented the other characters, the supporting roles in his stories. From the classmate on the soccer field who managed to understand Oleg’s body language to pass the ball to him, to his adoptive parents who placed small sticky notes on everything in the house, wall, window, door, table, fork, couch, to help him learn English, Oleg can look back at his transition with gratitude for those characters. He looks for those parts of his experience to share the beauty of overcoming odds.
What will you choose to remember of your stories that will help build your resilience, your hope, and your ability to positively influence others?
Oleg Lougheed’s start in life was inauspicious. At 9 years old, he relinquished his parents' rights and entered the Russian orphanage. At 12 years old, he decided to be adopted into a new family, in a new country, halfway across the world, to start a new life. At 24 years old, he began his journey of helping others live the life they have always dreamed of, despite their hardships and misfortunes by allowing them to recognize the uniqueness and worth within their own story.
Connect with Oleg on LinkedIn, and be sure to follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and on his website.