Your Stories Don’t Define You
How You Tell Them Will
A podcast to unlock your stories and uncover meaningful insights.
314 What Builds Community (Like Chickens)
Community is the life blood of our growth and success as human beings, even in the very beginning of humanity’s first steps across the globe we were hyper social creatures who relied on one another to survive, whether that be to have enough food or blankets for the cold months or maybe even knowing you could go to your local carpenter to ask for a new chair. We have always relied on one another to build ourselves and each other up, and without that fundamental part of our humanity we wouldn’t be where we are today and we will only stagnate and mold if we distance ourselves from it.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Jake Cinti discuss the importance of community and helping the places we call home to thrive, true although the experience of cultivating community isn’t always sunshine and roses, it is always an important and vital process. Jake Cinti brings equal parts intelligence, awareness, and compassion to the conversation, offering an insight into the world of reality and social work that is often overlooked or unseen. His values only becoming stronger as he has continued his work with his brother Dylan, Yarrow, and Ypsilanti.
314 What Builds Community (Like Chickens)
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Community is the life blood of our growth and success as human beings, even in the very beginning of humanity’s first steps across the globe we were hyper social creatures who relied on one another to survive, whether that be to have enough food or blankets for the cold months or maybe even knowing you could go to your local carpenter to ask for a new chair. We have always relied on one another to build ourselves and each other up, and without that fundamental part of our humanity we wouldn’t be where we are today and we will only stagnate and mold if we distance ourselves from it.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Jake Cinti discuss the importance of community and helping the places we call home to thrive, true although the experience of cultivating community isn’t always sunshine and roses, it is always an important and vital process. Jake Cinti brings equal parts intelligence, awareness, and compassion to the conversation, offering an insight into the world of reality and social work that is often overlooked or unseen. His values only becoming stronger as he has continued his work with his brother Dylan, Yarrow, and Ypsilanti.
Highlights
Your niche is just as important as everyone else’s, take pride in that.
Holding true to your values even if you are not seen in the best light.
Caring for your community is the foundation to success.
What helps you build community with other people? What are your Chickens?
Just because you hit bumps in the road does not mean you should compromise your values and goals in the journey.
Quotes
“Space, being able to have space, in this case it was literally saving people’s lives. And so I think that's a microcosm in general for how important space can be for social impact.”
“Creating, where we can, where we can find the opportunity to create micro-communities within a piece of real estate whether it’s a one multi family building or multiple adjacent. It’s something we think is very special and very important, and also hyper local which is a big part of Ypsilanti and how we hope to continue to work for and with Ypsilanti.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What is something that you’ve been considering that you can contribute to your community? What is one small way that you can encourage somebody else to do something that you know will help within your community, will build something important? How can you support the people that you need to support in order to build a community that’s healthy and caring for eachother? It doesn’t have to have a label, it doesn’t have to be real estate, it doesn’t have to be about homes and properties, it doesn’t have to be about helping people on a scale, as what we’re talking about with Jake and Dylan, but even swapping dough with somebody who has chickens find somebody in your community to contribute, build those relationships and let me know how that goes.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Jake (From Yarrow)
Jake is devoted to helping people and organizations drive lasting change. As an undergraduate and later an MSW student at the University of Michigan, Jake learned the fundamentals of positive organizational scholarship through his work with Ann Arbor teen center The Neutral Zone and the Ross School of Business’ Center for Positive Organizations. Jake then moved to New York City to pursue a career in social impact real estate. After spending several years growing Transwestern’s nonprofit practice, Jake shifted into a leadership role at OPEN Impact Real Estate, a firm dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations flourish in meaningful spaces. Jake was recognized as one of Commercial Property Executive’s “Stars to Watch” in 2020. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife Emily and their assorted plants and vinyl. He also serves on the board of Bloomingdale School of Music.
Be sure to check out Yarrow! As well as Jake’s LinkedIn!
Please check out the nonprofit mentioned by Jake and if you can make a donation within your means please do so; Mobile Studio Inc!
Overdose Prevention Model from the FDA
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!
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!
312 Approaching Differences With Curiosity
Differences between people are as certain as night and day, however it is entirely up to us to determine if we will embrace these differences and learn more about them or to further isolate ourselves into an echochamber of similar ideology.
In this episode Sarah Elkins reads from her upcoming book Authenticity is Overrated and ruminates on the importance of embracing differences as opposed to getting frustrated over them.
312 Approaching Differences With Curiosity
Differences between people are as certain as night and day, however it is entirely up to us to determine if we will embrace these differences and learn more about them or to further isolate ourselves into an echochamber of similar ideology.
In this episode Sarah Elkins reads from her upcoming book Authenticity is Overrated and ruminates on the importance of embracing differences as opposed to getting frustrated over them.
Highlights
What are some personal blinders you are wearing?
Life is boring without change and differences.
Approaching differences with curiosity.
Quotes
“We can have the most diverse workforce, a completely diverse group of professionals at the table. But if we’re only tolerating them, we are not embracing those differences.”
“What if you reframe that story of that frustration to learn the lessons from it and find somebody that’s completely different from you that works in a way that grows your business.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
This excerpt from my book is a reminder of the importance of embracing our differences. What have you been tolerating that you can approach with curiosity instead of indifference, frustration, or fear? What difference might that make for you at work? Think about one person from your work that you found especially frustrating to work with. Can you reduce the darkness of those blinders for just a moment to consider what that person’s talents were that are different than yours and maybe find just a few things about that person that were good challenges for you, learning opportunities that made a difference in how you see the world and how you handled a challenging situation that you encountered later on in your career. What if you reframe that story of that frustration to learn the lessons from it and find somebody that’s completely different from you that works in a way that grows your business. That brings innovation and creativity to your days at 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 Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
311 Admiration And Action
Inspiration is a necessity for growth and success, whether inspiration be drawn from daily life or from attending a keynote doesn’t change the importance, all that matters is finding it and determining whether you will admire said inspiration or take action because of it.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Seth Dechtman discuss their roles as storytellers and how hosting or participating in keynotes and similar functions have helped shape their craft and outlooks on its importance. Insightful, compassionate, and an equally wonderful storyteller, Seth makes this episode enjoyable and inspiring.
311 Admiration And Action
Inspiration is a necessity for growth and success, whether inspiration be drawn from daily life or from attending a keynote doesn’t change the importance, all that matters is finding it and determining whether you will admire said inspiration or take action because of it.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Seth Dechtman discuss their roles as storytellers and how hosting or participating in keynotes and similar functions have helped shape their craft and outlooks on its importance. Insightful, compassionate, and an equally wonderful storyteller, Seth makes this episode enjoyable and inspiring.
Highlights
We look to the past not to live there, but to move forward.
Put yourself in the shoes of another so that you can understand their story.
Do what you want to do now, there is no Someday.
Quotes
“I believe words matter and a speech can change a life and a speech can change the world.”
“I put that in a bucket called Admiration. It’s not bad, we all need it, it can be fuel, it can be validating, it can be the springboard to expand your ability.”
“You can’t be the taker as the speaker, you have to be the giver.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What key note or presentation or break out session have you experienced in recent years that fit into one of those categories or both of those categories, the admiration or the action or both. Did you take that next step, did you listen to that possibility, did it nibble at you for awhile until you decided yes or no I’m going to take that risk?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Seth
Master Curator Event Pros rely on me to book the most impactful keynote speakers | Event Strategist | Tennis Enthusiast | Pizzaterian | Globe Hopper
𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨:
✅ Find the speaker that best fits your event's scope
✅ Secure talent that works within your budget
✅ Save you time and energy
✅ Focusing on other aspects of your event
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫:
⭐ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 – I take time to understand your event & what you need from your keynote speaker.
⭐ 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 – your tailored list of keynote speaker recommendations is curated from my world-class database & global network.
⭐ 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 – I make everything more manageable for you. I take care of the speaker contract, scheduling the pre-event call with you & the talent, and double-checking all the details for a successful event.
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡:
👔 Meeting Professionals, Conference Planners, Education Directors, Production Companies, Event Marketers & anyone involved in the keynote speaker selection process
Be sure to check out Seth’s LinkedIn, Instagram, and his Website Key Note Curators and his Podcast by the same name Key Note Curators!
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!
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!
305 The Anthem of Poetry
The arts have always been impactful and meaningful to humanity, however one stands above all the rest in this episode and that is poetry. Poetry conveys emotions and thoughts that are often difficult to put into words, making it one of the most important avenues for both emotional understanding and human connection.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Maya Williams discuss the importance of poetry and how Maya’s experiences and life paths shaped her into the artist they are.
305 The Anthem of Poetry
The arts have always been impactful and meaningful to humanity, however one stands above all the rest in this episode and that is poetry. Poetry conveys emotions and thoughts that are often difficult to put into words, making it one of the most important avenues for both emotional understanding and human connection.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Maya Williams discuss the importance of poetry and how Maya’s experiences and life paths shaped her into the artist they are.
Highlights
You’ll never know who you can teach or inspire.
Find the communities that welcome and love you.
Give yourself permission and encouragement to seek what you need and will work for you.
Do the work, especially when it’s hard.
We are all full of contradictions, meaning it is even more important to hold true to our values.
Spite can be a great motivator, especially in succeeding and surviving.
Quotes
“I remember telling my therapist, “Oh well, I know that not every space is perfect, right? So I just need to find the first thing that’s available to me.” And then my therapist tells me, “You do not have to go to a house of worship that does not love you.””
“It makes me feel upset when someone says something like, “Oh I tried going to a therapist but I just felt worse afterwards so I stopped going.” and it’s like that’s part of the work! That’s part of the work! I can understand not wanting to continue with a therapist if they said something bigoted or they didn’t do their jobs, right? But they’re doing their job and you feel worse afterwards, you need to give it more time.”
“The most impactful friends in my life are the ones who tell me like it is.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
I’m curious to know if you have been interested in poetry. Have you ever found it interesting or intriguing or inspiring? And if you haven't, why did you stop looking for poetry that might actually inspire you? I challenge you to find a poem in the next two days that really resonates, a poem you can get into, dive into, maybe find some of your own healing in it. It could be from one of Maya Williams’ books, it could be searching “Poems about,” and then putting your keyword in. Find your poem that can be your anthem for a little while, and when that gets tired find another to be your anthem for a little while, just as you would with song lyrics or a song. Don’t forget to purchase a book of poetry from your local bookstore to support your local poets.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Maya (From her website)
Maya Williams (ey/em, they/them, and she/her) is a religious Black multiracial nonbinary suicide survivor who is currently an Ashley Bryan Fellow and the seventh Poet Laureate of Portland, Maine .
Maya's debut poetry collection, Judas & Suicide, is available through Game Over Books . And Maya's second poetry collection, Refused a Second Date, is available now through Harbor Editions.
See the contact section on how to invite them to your next event as a workshop facilitator, performance feature, speaker, panelist, and/or honorary consensual virtual or air hugger. Maya's content covers suicide awareness, mental health, faith, entertainment media, grief, interpersonal relationships, intimate partner violence, and healing.
She graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work and a Bachelors of Art in English in May 2017. She graduated with a community practice-focused Masters in Social Work and Certificate in Applied Arts and Social Justice at the University of New England in May 2018. She graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts for Creative Writing with a Focus in Poetry at Randolph College in June 2022.
They have featured as a guest artist, panelist, and speaker in spaces such as The Mixed Remixed Festival in Los Angeles, California, The Interfaith Leadership Institute in Chicago, Illinois, Black Table Arts in Minneapolis, Minnesota, TEDxYouth at Cape Elizabeth High School, and The Kennedy Center's Arts Across America series.
Ey has competed locally and nationally in slam poetry since her freshman year at East Carolina University under the slam team Word of Mouth in Greenville, North Carolina. While with them, ey placed in the top 20 at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI) in 2015, and opened for folks such as Indira Allegra, Neil Hilborn, and Angela Davis.
They were a finalist of the Slam Free Or Die Qualifier Slam for their National Poetry Slam (NPS) 2018 team and a runner up of the Slam Free or Die Individual Slam Championship in 2018.
Maya has a Patreon you can donate to right here.
Be sure to go to Maya’s website by clicking here, as well as purchasing their book here, and checking out their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Poets mentioned in this episode
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!