Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will-logo

Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will

Business & Economics Podcasts

It's not the things that happen in your life that define you, that create your identity. It's how you talk about those things. That’s the theme behind this podcast. Research shows that the stories you tell have a major influence in how you see yourself and in how others perceive you, so it’s important to be intentional about which stories you share and how you share them. Guests on the podcast share the pivotal moments in their lives and careers, offering keen insights and “ah ha” moments to listeners, while triggering related memories of listeners, opening up opportunities to uncover their own patterns and discover better ways to share their stories. During this podcast, I’m asking you to listen to consider your related stories, and to listen to consider which stories in your life might have impacted you in a similar way. --- Sarah works with executives who know that story sharing makes them more compelling as speakers and leaders, and who want to improve how they connect with audiences, by uncovering the right stories and learning how to share them effectively so they can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision.

Location:

United States

Description:

It's not the things that happen in your life that define you, that create your identity. It's how you talk about those things. That’s the theme behind this podcast. Research shows that the stories you tell have a major influence in how you see yourself and in how others perceive you, so it’s important to be intentional about which stories you share and how you share them. Guests on the podcast share the pivotal moments in their lives and careers, offering keen insights and “ah ha” moments to listeners, while triggering related memories of listeners, opening up opportunities to uncover their own patterns and discover better ways to share their stories. During this podcast, I’m asking you to listen to consider your related stories, and to listen to consider which stories in your life might have impacted you in a similar way. --- Sarah works with executives who know that story sharing makes them more compelling as speakers and leaders, and who want to improve how they connect with audiences, by uncovering the right stories and learning how to share them effectively so they can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision.

Twitter:

@sarahelkins

Language:

English


Episodes

324 Facets of Value

3/26/2024
324 Facets of Value Valuing every facet of where you work, especially if you work with other people, is vital to the survival and prosperity of any company. From treating your customers with integrity and respect, to rewarding the hard work and dedication of loyal and valuable employees, in order to thrive in the world as a business you must value every facet of that business. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Blake Hutchison discuss the importance of appreciating the skills and abilities of everyone in a company, while also giving the absolute best to customers and the public. Highlights How are others receiving your story? Why are you sharing particular stories? Discovering your identity and learning new experiences through travel. You learn a lot about individuals through time observing their behaviors and attributes. You never know how helpful, loyal, and incredibly valuable an individual can be unless you give them a chance. You never know how many opportunities you can have if you show care for your job and how you present yourself. The first interaction a customer should have with your company should be with someone who cares. Quotes “You change as a person when you go and you travel.” “You develop an empathy for customers because you are so close to them through the retail and hospitality context.” “It was a function of, first I’ll think about how much time I’ve put in versus what that customer needs from me right now. And that little bit of extra care and empathy ends up giving you a bit more willingness and want to help a customer too, and that can be missing sometimes but when it’s there it’s really powerful.” “I think the difference is related to whether you put yourself in somebody else’s shoes, or you only ever walk in your own. Walking in your own creates for a very narrow minded approach to doing work or living a fulfilled life, and walking in other people’s shoes gives you agility and flexibility and understanding and ultimately gives you empathy. And so part of it is do you work for yourself, do you work for the team, do you work for the company, or do you work for the customer?” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What did you take from this conversation? Was it something about wanting to travel, do you have the travel bug again? Was it something about a new business or an idea you have that maybe you need to make that next step because thinking about it isn’t going to start it. And who are you going to surround yourself with, because if you are a thinker and not necessarily a doer, you need some doers in your circle. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Blake BLAKE HUTCHISON - CEO OF FLIPPA Blake Hutchison is the CEO of Flippa, the world's largest marketplace to buy & sell online businesses. Blake leads the team as they build out a product empowering exit and ownership for business owners and entrepreneurs globally. Prior to running Flippa, Blake held leadership roles across multiple fast-growth tech businesses across E-commerce and SaaS. Be sure to check out Blake’s LinkedIn as well as Flippa, Flippa’s Referral Program, and Flippa’s Online Business Valuation! 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...

Duration:00:52:15

323 Authentic Connections

3/19/2024
323 Authentic Connections Authentic connections can be difficult to find, whether it be from not being taught the skills to form these connections or simply losing touch with former acquaintances, it can be difficult but not impossible and with the proper tools and a heartfelt message, authentic connections can be found anywhere. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Amy Daughters discuss the importance of authentic connections and how having meaningful conversations with individuals can lead to long term relationships. Highlights You’ll never know how profound a connection can be unless you reach out. It only takes a thoughtful act to change not just the person receiving, but the person giving. In the age of social media it’s more important than ever to treat people like individuals with their own stories and burdens they carry. Act with love in your heart, and encourage others to do the same. Quotes “It’s generally accepted that if you write me and tell me that you care about me and value me, that I’m the one that walks away the person most changed. But the reality, and I learned this 580 times, You’re the person who’s the most changed. The person who is releasing that thank you, that congratulations. Because I went from saying “What am I going to even say in these letters?” to once I looked at their profile and once I realized who they were to me, all of a sudden I had so much stuff to say; Thank you, I’m sorry, Congratulations, I support you. And I started to see all these things that were going on in people’s lives that I couldn’t see in the news feed that I had to treat people one person at a time.” “The handwriting is somebody’s personality but it’s also the physical manifestation of how somebody feels about you and how it made you feel.” “I think what we try do is we try to put everyone else in our own little box, you know whatever it is that you feel like you’re inspired to do. I was inspired to do that, but everyone is inspired to do something, they have a moment in their heart where they’re like, “Oh that’s what I want to do.” We got to encourage each other to do that.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Remember that title; Your Stories Don’t Define You But How You Tell Them Will. What are the stories that people can tell about you based on what you take from this conversation? Think about the stories people are telling about Dana and Parker, and about Amy, that they’ll never know and yet continue to create this ripple effect of connecting beyond the keyboard. Connecting authentically in a way that makes people feel seen and heard. What will you do? What is your next step? And, as always, thank you for listening. About Amy Amy Weinland Daughters, Award-Winning Author and Keynote Speaker, believes in a world where what makes us different is the very thing that connects us, instead of separates us. She brings that world to life by helping people reconnect to each other through the power of hand-written letters. She brings her wit, humor, and having written 580 handwritten letters to every single one of her Facebook friends, to show you how you can find deep connections in some of the most unexpected places. Be sure to check out Amy’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! 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...

Duration:00:51:36

322 Give Yourself Grace

3/12/2024
322 Give Yourself Grace To give yourself grace for mistakes you’ve made or for expectations that seem unattainable is something that can be more daunting than many of us want to admit. As difficult as it can be to be gracious with ourselves in order for us to grow and thrive as human beings, it is vital that we do be patient with ourselves and own our mistakes or failed expectations so that we can grow. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Nikki Campbell discuss the importance of resilience, growth, and grace with ourselves because everything we do starts with us and if we aren’t at our best we cannot give our best. Nikki Campbell brings warmth, understanding, and resilience to the discussion, telling many stories from her own life and how through her own strength and the love of those around her she was able to grow into who she is today. Highlights We can’t always explain why certain things in our past happen, but what we can do is use these things to give us the strength to follow our dreams. “You can either let it dissolve you or you can let it evolve you.” Our experiences are all relative. Parts of your story may not be so happy, but that doesn’t make you who you are. It is how you reframe your thoughts and choose a sustainable way of life that determines the rest of your story. You’re not living if you don’t have gremlins, or a similarly named thing trying to stop you from achieving your goals. Quotes “After sustaining any sort of type of trauma, whether it’s; psychological, physical, whatever. There are things that you can have as a secondary characteristic, maybe it’s some anxiety, maybe it’s memories that trigger you, or things of that nature, and you can either let it dissolve you or you can let it evolve you.” “It’s through her very gentle yet, I’ll say firm, way of speaking my thoughts back to me. It wasn’t until I had a therapist who did that did I realize; wow that’s not true. It’s the thought of like, if someone were to say to you what you say to yourself, what would your reaction be?” “I’m not going to apologize for how I am or who I am because it got me to where I am today.” “You need to have grace with yourself and know that you’re not always going to do things right. It took me a long time to do that for myself is to give myself grace. That, “Okay I said that, I did that, I got to give myself a break but I also need to learn how to move forward. Instead of sitting in it.”.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Were you sitting here in the living room with us and drinking some hot tea or coffee? When you think about the things you need to give yourself grace for? What are the gremlins you can shoo from your consciousness? Which are the gremlins that are really stopping you from moving forward? And how can you manage when you do do something wrong, manage that so that it doesn’t occur again. What lessons can you learn from it? And who do you know that you contribute to, to their learning and their growth as a result of claiming your own? And, as always, thank you for listening. About Nikki Nikki Campbell MS, NASM-CPT, BCS, CNC, ACSM-CIFT Nikki is a long-standing fitness and wellness professional with 15+ years of industry experience: She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Behavior Change Specialist, and Nutrition Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and a Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. Nikki holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with an emphasis on Sports Performance and Injury Prevention. She has seven years of experience working as a Wellness Coach at Mayo Clinic, and has held various programmatic positions within the disabled sports industry. Nikki’s passion for assisting in the improvement of one’s physical and mental health has spanned throughout her career and in her work with individuals of all ages and ability levels in and out of the...

Duration:00:54:54

321 Your Innate Worth

3/5/2024
321 Your Innate Worth Throughout life we are told from an early age what to do, what jobs would be best for us, and what society expects of us. Quite often this leaves us in a job that doesn’t bring us fulfillment, so we end up looking for that fulfillment and sense of worth by exploring other career paths as well as life paths, and exploring what makes us feel our innate worth. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Corree Roofener discuss how labels impact us and our skill sets from an early age, and how through hard work and dedication to one’s self you often find yourself in a fulfilling position in life. Highlights Are you labeling someone despite seeing them through only one lens? What labels were you given that you still think about? Do you define yourself or do others? What is your natural skill that you do exceptionally well and what can you do to nurture that skill? Asking for help is one of the first steps in growth. Bringing in others with different skills who can help you, can make you thrive. Build a diverse board of personal directors. Quotes “You learn about people as you are exposed, like you said having connection. Whether that be in a live event or just having a written connection like you said on LinkedIn. Someone responds to something you say and there’s this immediate conversation happening, or almost immediate conversation happening, and that feels so different.” “I think, I don’t think I actually know, I feel that when we begin to kind of unravel or open up those petals of that flower, we come back to what we innately know about ourselves, and we know it we just put it aside, because it’s, One: Not comfortable. Two: Not Successful. Three: Not a career. It can be a hundred different things, but what we do is we walk away from what we innately do so well or we cover it up. When we can start to own that, take value in that, we begin to find that “This is what I’m supposed to be doing.” but in that, what do we have to do? We have to ask for help. Which is so hard.” “And just connecting with that fact that, those side hustles, we’re gonna go right back to the beginning, typically are going back to who we are innately. We crave that as humans, we crave what we were created to do innately and we tend to change what that looks like because “Success says you should do X, Y, and Z.” Or, “Mom said I should do this.” Or, “Dad said I was good at this.” and so we stop and we don’t go back to that thing. One of the things for me that I had to really own, I’ve always been good with numbers but keeping synced “Oh I’m living that!” But what I had to realize is that my worth, my value as a mother was the message that had to be shared.” “It’s just so scary because again you’re speaking this dream out loud to the universe, to your peers, whoever it is, and you have no idea what it’s going to look like. And we so adamantly connect the word failure if it looks different than how we originally envisioned.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What is that side hustle you’ve been considering? What could you go back to from your younger days when you had an idea of what you were really good at. That you don’t necessarily need to make income at it, but you would like to explore again. Jot it down in the comments, share it with me privately, I am your audience for that. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Corree Corree Roofener; teaching resilience, compassion, and the strength of the human spirit through actions and support. Corree is a living embodiment of the adage that life begins at the end of one's comfort zone. Her remarkable journey is a testament to the extraordinary achievements that are possible when one chooses to live life with curiosity and courage. With every role she takes on, Corree continues to make a positive impact, helping individuals discover their inner strength and unlock their true potential with a mission to empower individuals to live boldly and authentically! Be sure to...

Duration:00:47:29

320 Anchored in Time

2/27/2024
320 Anchored in Time Labels and judgment are an unfortunate symptom of society, more often than not people will be framed in a particular light without any chance to defend themselves or for a full explanation to be given. Because of one person saying something, one bad interaction, or one misinterpretation a person can be frozen in time under whatever label was given to them. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on enlightening experiences that have recently occurred that have helped continue to shape her perspective on the damage of labels and unfair judgment. Highlights Art imitates life and more often than not, not for the better. Labels and keeping someone frozen in time can warp our perceptions of others and ourselves. Work on strategies to help yourself avoid judging another and labeling them unjustly. Quotes “Their spouses, families, and friends are all shocked of course, and they say things like “My whole life with you is a lie!” I desperately wanted to ask those family and friends, Did you feel loved and cared for all those years you were together? Are you going to ignore all that you know to be true about this person because of something they did over twenty years ago?! I want to shake them!” “Labels are a form of judgment and no one likes to be judged, especially from someone else’s limited information about us.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Do you have cringey moments you look back on, times that when you do look back on them realize they weren’t too great? When have you been labeled and judged unfairly? Are their stories about people in your past that maybe it’s time to reconsider before sharing? 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!

Duration:00:09:21

319 Cultures, Conversations, and Community

2/20/2024
319 Cultures, Conversations, and Community The beauty of humanity is that we all share different cultures, from the differences in our food to whether we take our shoes off in the house, culture shapes how we interact with our community and our career which is why it is vital we have conversations about culture, so that we may find our community, teach others, and learn about another person’s beliefs and values, in doing so we will all be stronger together as a community. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kevin Hamm discuss the importance of community, culture, and the conversations that need to happen in order for us all to have a better understanding and respect for one another. Kevin offers valuable insight, intelligent conversation, and a healthy dose of humor, approaching this difficult topic with humanity and dignity. Highlights A love for new and exciting things starts early and fosters growth and admiration for other cultures and ideas. What memories from your past impact your decisions to this day? Everyone sees the world through different lenses, be sure to encourage the growth and curiosity to see outside of your current lens. Being yourself is vital to your survival and to being able to thrive as a human being. Fostering community through compassion and pride. Making sure the whole world knows you and your community exist. Understand the cultural differences between yourself and other places, and understand that these differences can foster growth and connection between yourself and those of a different culture. What access to other cultures do you have in your own community that you can explore right now. Ask questions! There is no harm in wanting to know more. Quotes “At the time Governor Schwinden- I think it was Governor Schwinden, God I hope it was Governor Schwinden. Had just started the Sister State program with Kumamoto in Japan and so I joined a choir and discovered my love of sushi because we ended up going to Japan when I was a kid. And it’s really fun to think about being an ambassador for the state of Montana going over when you’re 12 years old or 11 years old, however old I was. Going over and being in front of the aristocracy, the Imperial Family, and all that in Japan, you know performing and being a soloist and homestays and meeting all these people, and having this incredibly intense, delightful introduction to how vast and different our world is, how diverse things are. When you’re a kid and finding out some of those things that are common in other cultures we never even hear of, like at the time we didn’t have a sushi restaurant in the state of Montana.” “The truth of the matter is I found a thriving and robust queer community up there as well and it was really interesting to see that this community that I knew existed in major metropolitan areas because Portland and Phoenix had given me that, also exists in these little tiny towns where people on a regular basis are like, “I’m going to move to the big city because I can’t be here!” and then they move away. But there were some that were still there and wanted to live there and really loved it, and that was part of the realization that I was like, “Oh my community, the queer community, crosses every other boundary, whether it’s racial or societal or economic, we’re everywhere. And because we are everywhere we have community everywhere.” And that took me a little bit to figure out, but once I figured it out I was like “Oh I can move back to Montana because my community exists!”.” “It’s not only that you don’t want to be insulting in a lot of cases. I don't know that it would be insulting. They would just look at you like, “Oh you’re not trying to be like us.” And I want to try to be like them. When I’m on their lands, in their place, in their house, I want to fit in, I want to belong, I don’t just want to be there.” “The one thing I would tell anybody going into a new culture is don’t be afraid to ask everything, ask the...

Duration:01:00:06

318 Cultivation Of The Self

2/13/2024
318 Cultivation Of The Self Change and growth are seen everywhere in life, from caterpillars becoming butterflies, to saplings becoming towering trees, it is a normal and expected part of life that should be encouraged and embraced, especially when seen in ourselves. Change can be frightening but if you keep pressing on and contributing with the best of your ability, you will come to a better place. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kristopher Lopez discuss the importance of appreciating the version of yourself from the past and cultivating the person you want to be now. Kristopher Lopez is an intelligent, respectful, and emotionally intelligent individual who brings a unique insight to the quandaries posed in today’s episode. Highlights The paths that lead us to wherever we are now sometimes seem contradictory. Resilience is like a ball, persistence is bouncing that ball so that it goes higher and higher each time. Mutual respect goes both ways and is invaluable to all relationships. Your contribution is valuable, and being consistent in that contribution is irreplaceable. Growth and change can be intimidating, and just because you do get intimidated by it doesn’t mean you’re failing. Quotes “It’s a mutual respect, right? Like, I get to know things about so many people that are public people that I don’t have to get to share and I will not share, just so they can understand that even though we don’t meet an expectation, or we have a falling out sometimes, that you’re still safe to come back to us and we’re not going to put you on social media, we’re not going to react in a way that is going to be detrimental to you or your career, and a lot of the mutual respect we have for each other circles back around.” “The situations in my life I was able to overcome those things because those are struggles and things I was dealing with and able to navigate. I’ve done so many things that have never been the best, I’ve always been that 7 or 8 but I’ve done a lot of 7 or 8 things.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What are you thinking about when you think about difference in who you were ten years ago, twenty years ago, and who you are now? How would people say that they experienced you then and is it the same? I kinda doubt it. So the next question is are you holding on to somebody else’s older version of their authentic self or are you seeing their changes for what they are? Their attempts to be different, to be better, to surround themselves with people that bring them up so they can return the favor for the next generation? Where are those sticking points, what are the questions you need to ask, and what will you do next to change your story? And, as always, thank you for listening. About Kristopher Retired Chief Warrant Officer III Founder: StayRoman (Inc 5000/Vet100 Awards) StayRoman Realty Curated by Roman Be sure to check out Kristopher’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his website StayRoman and StayRoman Realty! 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...

Duration:00:53:07

317 How Our Stories Frame Us

2/6/2024
317 How Our Stories Frame Us Taking the time to reflect on our stories and consider how they frame us and others is a uniquely powerful tool for storytellers. When we take a step back to look at how and why we are telling our stories we can see the lessons and the messages that are built into our stories and we can see just how important our stories are. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Amanda Edgar discuss how important our stories are, how they shape us, and how through time they are subject to change. Amanda brings intelligence, kindness, and humor to the conversation, which brings life and warmth to the episode. Highlights Things happen when we least expect them to. Your stories matter, you just need to tell them. Be mindful of how you describe people and events in your stories. If there is an inkling of revenge or blame when you're writing your story, you need to take a step back and ask yourself why you want to tell it. Quotes “One of the things I hear people say so often is, 'Well who am I to tell my story? No one cares who I am. I’m not Britney Spears or Michelle Obama, nobody cares about my story.' And I always tell them they don’t care about your story because they don’t know it yet.” “To me there is also such a powerful mindset piece, that hitting and exceeding that then suddenly so many more things are possible than you had ever imagined. Because you get so in your head about this goal you want to hit and I think it can be really counterproductive, there’s something to me about having that extra tool or that extra boost that people then get a little second wind and they hit these goals they hadn’t imagined.” Dear listeners, now it's your turn: What is it that you’re holding onto that maybe a little space can get you to the place of learning and sharing lessons so that other people don’t have to learn the hard way? What are you going to write down, your story, that you can observe differently and reframe it so you can learn the lesson you need to learn from it? And which of your family members are you going to reach out to with a cellphone and a record button to hear some of their stories? And, as always, thank you for listening. Mentioned in this episode The Ignorant Man’s Son by Victor James Hill About Amanda Amanda is an award-winning author and the CEO of Page and Podium Press, a publishing house that offers coaching, writing, and publishing services to self-defined leaders of all types--political leaders, industry thought leaders, community leaders, and leadership consultants. Her company focuses on projects that inspire readers to take action to build their communities and to fearlessly shape society for a better tomorrow. In addition to her two award-winning books, she will shortly release a new book she co-authored, Summer of 2020: George Floyd and the Resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Be sure to check out Amanda’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Also check out Page and Podium, as well as the Memoir Strategy Quiz! 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." Don't miss the opportunity to take our online Job Interview Storytelling course for just $99! 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...

Duration:00:47:20

316 Community In The Age of Social Media

1/30/2024
316 Community In The Age of Social Media Want to join this year’s NLV Conference? Register here! Throughout our careers we will all need to make decisions to benefit ourselves and others by being a good leader and building up our teammates. In the age of social media and technology it is easy to focus on progress and monetization over the health of your community and your team. It is vital to your growth as a person and a business owner to choose community and growth for the betterment of your business, your community, and your team. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and the equally accomplished Eric Elkins discuss the importance of community and teamwork in our current age, how taking the time to listen to others and hold yourself and them accountable can lead to growth and change in the world around you. Eric also shares the skill of storytelling and brings awareness, compassion, and mindfulness to the conversation. Highlights Sometimes you shouldn’t care what people think, especially if it’s something that makes you happy. Oftentimes growing means change, don’t be afraid to spread your wings. Community builds each other up, don’t be afraid to accept help and help others. Turn conversations that are hard into something positive for you in the long run. Value your team, without them you and your business can’t grow or make meaningful connections. Quotes “We could build a sense of community by building a sense of place.” “For me it’s always about connecting people so that they can be more successful and be happier and do what they need to do.” “I often say when you get a negative comment or a negative review: Your response has two audiences and two functions, the first audience is the person who wrote the comment, the negative comment or the negative review, and the first thing you need to do there is deescalate and hopefully get that conversation offline or into a private venue so that you can work through the situation and solve the problem. But that second audience is everybody else who’s watching what you’re gonna do, and so that’s why it’s always important to respond, take responsibility, and then to actively in that response move that conversation elsewhere.” “We all go to work. We all have to deal with the vagaries of the workplace, and the slog that is even a job that we love, and the one thing that keeps us coming back day after day is the connection we have to the people there.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, It’s time to hold up that mirror in front of yourself, what behavior are you continuing in your management or your conversations within your community and the people who care about you that maybe you didn’t like when other people did those behaviors towards you. I know it’s hard to be a manager, especially if you’re new to that, so make sure that you’re paying attention to what you didn’t like in your experience with managers and not continuing those behaviors with your people. Listeners, I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Eric Eric Elkins is a strategist, author, professional speaker, and CEO of WideFoc.us Social Media (http://www.widefoc.us/), a Denver-based agency he founded in 2007. Using organic and paid social strategies along with full-service community management, his team drives tangible results for B2B tech/SaaS companies, B2C brands, the home services industry, nonprofits, and global corporations. For more than 25 years, Eric has helped companies grow their visibility and increase revenue. He writes the occasional novel, hosts Denver food faves at denverlicious.com, and loves to share his eating and travel adventures on Instagram as @ericelkins. Be sure to check out Eric’s LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as his website Wide Focus and his food blog Denverlicious! About Sarah "Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can...

Duration:00:51:37

315 The Risks Of Following Your Passion

1/23/2024
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...

Duration:00:44:18

314 What Builds Community (Like Chickens)

1/16/2024
314 What Builds Community (Like Chickens) Want to join this year's NLV Conference? Register here! 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...

Duration:00:49:56

313 Rediscovering Yourself

1/9/2024
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!

Duration:00:47:24

312 Approaching Differences With Curiosity

1/2/2024
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!

Duration:00:09:19

311 Admiration And Action

12/26/2023
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...

Duration:00:47:01

310 Painting A Picture Of Yourself You Can Be Proud Of

12/19/2023
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...

Duration:00:42:50

309 Building Stories To Last

12/12/2023
309 Building Stories To Last Dedicating your time to something that fulfills you is a vital part of the human experience, an example from today’s episode being home improvement projects on a property that’s almost one hundred years old. Dedicating time to something that was loved so it can be loved again and in turn become a testament to your skill and care for details, can only empower you and elevate your skills and reputation. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Dylan Cinti discuss the power of putting time, effort, love, and curiosity into what you enjoy to do, whether that be a career, education, or a project. Putting that level of dedication into something that can be treasured for years to come is something that can only benefit you and those around you, just as it is so eloquently put by Dylan in today’s episode. Highlights Encouraging curiosity can lead you to incredible paths. The power of one person can change everything. Be proud of your seat at the table and what you contribute to the conversation. Quotes “That whole experience and being able to tell that story was- again like I was talking about with my experience in community highschool; One of these moments that afterward you feel so lucky, like wow I got to tell that story. And what an important story that is.” “In my experience in residential real estate I think there’s two ways to approach it: One way is you acquire as many properties as possible and you focus on building the biggest portfolio possible and you don’t focus to much on improvements, you focus more on expanding your portfolio size and that’s one way to do it, and then the other way is you put money back into these properties to make them better, to restore those historic features and you really put your time and resource toward elevating a smaller portfolio and taking that smaller portfolio to the next level and that’s very much our goal.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, When you think about a brand maybe you can turn that around and make your own personal brand, or if you don’t like that buzz phrase you can use the term reputation. What are you putting out there to demonstrate who you are and what matters to you? What stories are you telling? What images are you sharing? What are you doing on social media? Because all of what you do are making stories for other people to consider who you are, and if you are putting things out there that aren’t in alignment with how you want to experience yourself and how you want others to experience you, then you’re going to feel a disconnect and extreme dissatisfaction in relationships and in life. So I encourage you, think about what your reputation is and what you want it to be, and really consider how your behavior, your actions, and what you share contribute to who you believe you are, how you experience yourself, and how the people in your life get to experience you. And, as always, thank you for listening. Mentioned In This Episode Shelley Brown Paul Haury Ozlem Brooke Erol About Dylan I'm driven to help build brands and communities. As a creative marketer, I have over 10 years of experience leading teams to produce rebrands, content programs and multichannel campaigns for B2B and B2C companies. I also have operational expertise beginning with my role as Editorial Director at Walker Sands, where I led a 12-person team responsible for over $12 million in annual agency revenue. Through that role and subsequent leadership positions, I've learned the fundamentals of team management, financial forecasting and holistic marketing strategy — skills I brought to my co-founding role at Yarrow, a real estate firm dedicated to giving Ypsilanti residents places they're proud to call home. Be sure to check out Dylan’s Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as his company Yarrow’s website, facebook page, and launch video! About Sarah "Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job...

Duration:00:52:54

308 Change For The Better

12/5/2023
308 Change For The Better Change is inevitable. It’s a fundamental rule of the universe that everything must change, however it is entirely up to you for the perception of that change to either be a blessing or a curse. Perhaps that change was what you needed to become the person you are today and shed the identity you once held. It's understandable to mourn the person you were but you must look to the future and the new changes that will come. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Chase Dalton discuss the importance of change and holding true to your values despite change in life. Chase offers a compassionate and intelligent view on life by weaving his natural empathy into his storytelling, bringing a warmth and eagerness that is always appreciated to the discussion. Highlights What preconceived notions are you still believing about something you don’t know about? It’s okay to not understand things about life, but you need to be sure you are not judging another for how they choose to believe or cope with these things. What can you do in your sphere of influence to make a positive difference? Quotes “Time heals a lot, and it’s been a few years now and so I’ve been able to separate a little bit and make it easier to talk about but you’re right. It’s really receptive of you to point it out, it is exciting and it is freeing but there’s also a grief of a past life almost, of what I imagined my life would be like and the direction it was going to go in. Even beyond that, I thought I had it all figured out.” “We’re making -I’m making- a difference in someone’s life and it can spread up from there. If I can do that in my sphere of influence, if we could all do that in our sphere of influence, and realize we do make an impact, it is really rewarding. To be in a position of power, which is a huge responsibility and being able to use that in a way that I feel is productive and positive.” “Honesty isn’t just telling the truth to other people, honesty is something that’s inside. You have to be honest with yourself before you’re honest with anyone else. And part of that is accepting your stripes, your licks, when you mess up.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Think about a time where you made a complete 180, where you had to grieve the loss of certain relationships in order to move on as yourself? To find that separation between who you were based on your parents, your upbringing, your environment, and finding that maybe those influences aren’t all of who you are. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Chase I was an All-American track and field athlete in college. I made a couple of U.S. National Teams. My goal was to compete in the 2016 Olympics but didn't make it. But I've poured that energy and drive and the lessons I've learned as an athlete into being the best in everything I try. Right now that's being the best husband, father, partner, employer and business leader possible. A pivotal moment in my life was surviving a small plane crash that I was in December 2020. My perspective on life, relationships, religion, business and time completely shifted. My company Silicon Signs is in its 6th year and we've earned over $3M in revenue the past couple years and have a clear vision of where we are going and the problems we are solving. I'm passionate about culture and leadership. As an NCAA athlete I ended up getting "stuck" as a sociology major to stay eligible to compete. That ended up being a mercy in my life as I learned about different people, lifestyles, and motivations. It has guided me to create an environment in my company that allows my employees to thrive and enjoy their work. Be sure to check out Chase’s website Silicon Signs and the flyer, as well as his LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! 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...

Duration:00:38:38

307 An Analogy For Happiness

11/28/2023
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. Mentioned in this Episode Caroline Brookfield The Reluctant Creative 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...

Duration:00:40:25

306 The Escape of A Good Book

11/14/2023
306 The Escape of A Good Book Following the theme of art and how it inspires us, this week is writing. We have all picked up a book that shaped us in one way or another, and maybe we’re still looking for that next book capable of bringing us comfort and escape from our busy lives. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Adina Edelman discuss the importance of how writing impacts us and how working with authors has given Adina the opportunity to read and contribute to these works of art. Highlights Keep on trying, especially when you fail. Even if there is a failure you can still turn it into something better, even if it wasn’t the original idea you had. Make sure when you help someone that you are uplifting their voice and not replacing it with your own. Quotes “You’ve got to keep on trying it, and even to walk in with that sort of expectation that it is a process and it’s okay if things go wrong, and there will be elements in there that both need improvement, but you know the batter still tasted good. There was still something working there, there are going to be pros and cons at each stage.” “There are so many analogies with music and writing they just pop up everywhere, as for how it comes into play with working with my clients, well one thing is that just like there’s rhythm in music and so many different ways to play with notes to bring about a certain experience, that’s the same thing with writing. So that sort of melodic tendency in writing in order to pick that up and use that when I’m editing, so you know you could say that they are two separate things but it also could be that they are related.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, I know it’s hard to take the time to pick up a book and read, and what I’m finding is that the more I meet these authors the more I want to dive into their books. So maybe the next thing for you to do if you want to read more is don’t feel like you have to read nonfiction, read something that lights you up, read something that helps you get away from the reality of the world for just a little bit, that gives you a break from it, and those middle grade books are often a great escape from reality, and maybe it’s time to reach out and join a book club and find something that you can really enjoy. I have some friends that are struggling to connect with other people and they’re living in communities that they don’t feel connected to and everytime I recommend they find the local library and find a book club, because if you want to meet people that are of like heart and not necessarily of like mind, the library is a great place to do it. And, as always, thank you for listening. Writers and Books mentioned in this episode Judy Blume Joan Bauer The Inkheart Series by Cornelia Funke Peter and The Star Catchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson The Charles de la Forêt Series by Phillip L. Wray Even If I’m Not by Devorie Kreiman Homeward Bound by A. Yarden About Adina (from her website ​ Adina is an editor based in Baltimore, MD. She works with indie authors and small publishing companies, digging deep to unearth the gold in their books. Adina has worked on over 90 books, and she’s edited for Gatekeeper Press, Mosaica Press, Israel Bookshop, Menucha Publishers, and more. A fiction and poetry editor for the Baltimore Review, she has experience with a variety of genres and writing styles. She majored in English and Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University and graduated summa cum laude. Be sure to check out her website Edelman Edits! As well as her 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...

Duration:00:44:35

305 The Anthem of Poetry

11/7/2023
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 them 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...

Duration:00:55:21