Ambitious and Balanced Working Moms

It's not easy to travel for work particularly if you have young kids at home. There’s lots of feelings of guilt, sadness, likely anxiety. There’s a lot of coordination and plans that have to be made, traveling for work is just hard. In today’s podcast I want to talk about the cocktail of emotions that we experience as working moms when we travel for work. I’m gonna talk about my own experience of traveling when my daughter was young and how I ugly cried on the floor of my hotel room, and then will dig into the three choices you have if you travel for your job and are experiencing lots of guilt and sadness. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBghttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/aligning-motherhood-programwww.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/podcast/2022/6/20/cultivating-satisfaction-at-workhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin Enjoying the podcast? Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcastswhere ever you listen to podcastsApple PodcastsPodchaser

In today's podcast episode, I tackle the challenging topics that resonate deeply with many of you. I delve into listeners questions on the struggles of feeling undervalued at work, the complexities of networking, and the harsh realities of the motherhood penalty. It's a packed episode filled with heartfelt inquiries from the Ambitious and Balanced Working Moms community, highlighting the universal challenges and offering guidance on how to navigate these tough situations with confidence. Whether you're dealing with workplace issues or personal development hurdles, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBghttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/aligning-motherhood-programhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/emaillisthttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin Enjoying the podcast? Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcastswhere ever you listen to podcastsApple PodcastsPodchaser

In today's episode, we are doing a listener question and answer. We are diving into questions that you submitted via email or social media. Today, we are covering questions around what happens when you simply do not have enough time to get everything done and how you handle all of the overwhelm that comes with that. We will talk about what happens when you slip back into cycles of over prioritizing work and scheduling over times of self care. And lastly, we will dig into compromising on parenting boundaries and what to do when your kid just wants to eat fruit snacks for breakfast! This is going to be a two part series, and next week we are going to be covering additional questions that were submitted from listeners just like you. So be sure to hit the subscribe button and tune in wherever you listen to your podcasts. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBghttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/aligning-motherhood-programhttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/161https://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

In this episode, I sit down with Kim, my coaching client to talk about managing a successful career and being a devoted mom. We dive into how society often expects us to be everything to everyone all at once, the importance of truly being present in both our professional and personal lives, and how coaching turned out to be a lifesaver for her in navigating a balanced life. Kim shares her personal journey of how coaching opened her eyes to what's genuinely important and taught her to be at peace with the balancing act of career and family life. This episode all about shaking off the guilt, discovering what really drives us, and making choices that allow us to thrive in our careers while being a present and connected mom. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBghttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” or “Come on, come on, come on!” these are familiar phrases when rushing through daily life, particularly as a working mom. Although every working mom can relate, rushing is completely optional. There is a physical, mental and emotional impact that a “rushed” life has that takes away from the calm, present and joy-filled experience of everyday life and there is a way you can avoid it. In this episode, I dive deep into the mindset behind this hurried life, dissecting how our day-to-day hustle shapes our interactions and well-being and how, in the end, we bring this upon ourself (yikes!). I will also dive into 3 steps to help you shift from the relentless chase against time to a more controlled and present approach to life's demands. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBghttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

In this episode I introduce the "75/25 rule," where you make it a goal to ONLY be 75% ready for meetings, presentations, or talks with clients, instead of stressing out to get everything perfect. I will explain why going beyond 75% preparedness often doesn't pay off in terms of the extra time and energy spent. In this episode I will discuss the downsides of overpreparing, like missing out on quality time with family or personal hobbies because you're too caught up in work details. When you are not aiming for 100% preparedness, you can save yourself from feeling stressed and make room for the things in life that make you happy. At the end of the episode, I will offer 3 tips to adopt the 75/25 rule in your daily routine. I will share stories from working moms who've strived for only 75% preparedness and found a better balance between their work and personal lives. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBgwww.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

Most women don’t quite understand what is at the heart of mom guilt. They’ll say they feel guilty for working or for sending their kids to daycare or for not spending more time with their family, but this is not actually where guilt comes from. In today’s episode I’m sharing with you the real story behind mom guilt. Here is a hint: It does not have to do with how much you work, or how much time you spend with your kids or the fact that they spend more time with a caretaker then with you during the workday…it is about the story you are telling yourself. I will also normalize the experience of mom guilt and explain its connection to the mama bear phenomenon. At the end I will offer 3 reflection exercises to help pull yourself out of any guilt that you’re experiencing so you are able to be more present and engaged at both work and home. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBgwww.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookHow to be a present and connected mom.https://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

As an ambitious working mom, burnout and exhaustion come easily. Your brain is hardwired to want to do more and achieve more, it’s part of who you are and what makes you successful, but it’s also causing exhaustion. The most natural thing for you to do is to achieve more, not to rest. Resting, prioritizing yourself and your family, choosing to do fun and spontaneous things instead of work more, this kind of life doesn't come naturally to ambitious women and so requires intentionality and effort. In today’s episode I’m sharing with you 7 practical things you can do to help you prioritize rest and fun instead of doing more so you can create the sustainable ambitious (yet balanced) life you want. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBghttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

Most ambitious women have a core value of “being available” that they're almost ashamed to admit. It's like a value that they don't want to value. Always being available makes it difficult to create work-life balance because it has you always being “on” and unable to shut down your work brain, rest or be present with your family. In today's episode I dive into 6 excuses that your brain is likely using to justify being available and the over-working behavior that comes with it. You cannot be both present and available, at some point you will need to choose and I’ll explain the first steps on how to do that. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBgwww.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

The pivot moment is the moment you realize you’re about to say yes to something you don’t want to, or you’re feeling anxious about an upcoming presentation even though you’re prepared. It’s the moment you feel your anger rising at your kids that usually results in yelling., or the moment you feel the urge to log back on to work even though you know the best thing is to rest. It's the pivotal moment where you have a choice. You can either keep thinking, feeling or doing what you’re doing (which won’t result in what you want) or you can change course. In today’s episode I’m talking why learning how to navigate the pivot moment it is one of the most powerful things you can do as a working mom and I will share what it takes to create an effective pivot. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBghttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/podcast/2022/10/24/get-back-on-track-in-2-minutes-or-lesswww.rebeccaolsoncoaching.comhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

What happens if you were raised by a stay-at-home mom (and that is not what you have chosen to do) or the way you see other working mom’s balance life is not working for you? When you want to do things differently than your parents or peer group and you have no examples on how to do it, there are two specific questions your brain needs you to answer to ensure you are making the right decision and there will be no regrets. Your brain is craving direction and in today’s podcast I walk you through exactly what you need to do in order to feel clear and confident in your decision to work and to live regret-free. And I’ll also cover what it takes to be an amazing parent despite not having more time with your kids. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: How to be a present and connected mom.https://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin Enjoying the podcast? Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcastswhere ever you listen to podcastsApple PodcastsPodchaser

11 years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I felt like I was in the middle of an identity crisis. I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted out of life, my career or motherhood. I was driven by success and achievement and I knew that wasn’t going to serve me as I started a family. I knew I needed to make some changes, but I had no idea what to do or how to do it. I went on my own self-discovery journey, that eventually led me to become a coach. But it was an up and down journey that took getting comfortable with failure, uncertainty and required an increase in confidence. In today’s episode, I share my personal working mom journey and how I went from confusion and unfulfillment to success and balance. It required several leaps of faith and I will tell you how I navigated each of them. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.comhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

Motivation becomes almost non-existent by February for new year’s resolutions and goals. If you are like many working moms, you probably want a “redo” or to start fresh this month or perhaps you’re even ready to quit. But here’s the thing, quitting or even starting over is one of the worst things you can do. There’s a reason why you didn’t make progress towards yours goals in January and you need to know exactly what didn’t work and why so you can fix it moving forward. But if you decide to start again, you’re likely not going to evaluate your failed attempts. In fact, avoiding thinking about failure is probably one of the reasons why you want to start over to begin with. In this episode I make a case for why you should keep going toward your goals instead of start fresh, take a “redo” or even quit. Additionally, I will offer 3 insights into why that is the better direction to take especially if you find yourself already off track for the year. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.comhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

If there’s one thing that gets completely de-prioritized by every mom I know, it’s SEX. Look, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to just be roommates with my partner. I want a fun, exciting and consistent sex life. But as ambitious working moms this can be hard! It becomes one more thing you “have” to do and it feels more like a chore rather than an intimate experience. So to help us figure out what it takes to prioritize sex after kids, I interviewed sex and pleasure coach, Danielle Savory. In the episode Danielle and I talk about why sex after kids is so hard and why it's important to put effort into a better sex life (the impact goes far beyond the bedroom). Danielle also shares her #1 tool for making sex a priority and how to “warm yourself up” so that you’re ready to go when sex happens. This is a juicy one, so let’s get to it! Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.instagram.com/thepracticeofpleasurehttps://www.daniellesavory.com/podcasthttps://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/podcast/2023/3/20/unleashing-pleasure-with-danielle-savoryhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

What’s it going to take to get promoted and advance your career in 2024? I asked this question to executive coach and promotion strategist, Stacy Mayer, who explained that the first step to getting promoted is ownership. We need to decide, as women, what we want out of our career and what we are willing to do (and not do) to get it. In today’s episode, Stacy shares with us what it takes to own your advancing career, how to get exposure to your boss’s boss through strategic ally meetings and the #1 thing you can do, right now, to lay a foundation for a promotion by the end of the year. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/podcast/2022/10/17/advancing-your-career-as-a-working-momhttps://www.stacymayer.com/resources/Stacy's 30-60-90 Day Planwww.ReadytoBePromoted.comhttps://www.stacymayer.com/155-1/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacymayer/https://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

I’ve been selecting a word of the year for the past 20 years, so I know a thing or two about not just how to select a word but how to make it an effective practice. In today’s podcast I’m sharing with you why the word-of-the-year practice is important if you want to create an ambitious and balanced life this year, I’ll give you my quick 3-step process on how to select a word, and most importantly I will share exactly what you need to do in order to keep it top of mind, so it can fuel you all year long. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.comhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

The #1 mindset to help you get unstuck and meet all your goals this year is: I can figure it out. This one thought, as you learn to cultivate it, will help you to move towards your goals and create the both/and life you want. There’s no settling this year working moms, this is the year that you stop over working, you get yourself into a job that you love and you make yourself a priority. In this episode, I’ll be sharing why this “I can figure it out” mindset is important for 2024 and how it will help you get unstuck as well as 5 things to expect when you start cultivating it. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.comhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

The motherhood identity crisis is the internal questioning that happens after you start having kids. “Who am I?” and “What do I want?” are fundamental questions that need to be answered in order for you to continue operating as an ambitious woman. In today’s podcast I am sharing with you two reasons why women experience an identity crisis after becoming a mom and what they can do to help themselves through it. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

The fastest way to get to the balanced and fulfilling working mom life you desire is to love your current working mom life. When you need something to change, you feel dependent on it for happiness. When you feel satisfied and happy with the life you already have, you feel more confident in yourself and your ability to navigate through any changes you desire. In today’s episode, I am explaining why the fastest way to make a change is to love your life without it changing. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/bookhttps://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/be-present-optin

As the year ends, your brain is seeking closure for the things that have taken place and is ready to reset for the year ahead. In today’s podcast I want to teach you the #1 end-of-year practice that will make this reflection time effective and energizing. It will help your mind focus on all of the good that happened this year, show you exactly how to grow and improve and give specific next steps to move forward into the new year. I’m teaching this entire process right here on this episode and giving six tips to ensure that the practice is 100% effective. Topics in this episode: Show Notes & References: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/book Enjoying the podcast? Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcastswhere ever you listen to podcastsApple PodcastsPodchaser