Shameless Leadership

Nothing is as bad as it seems. Nothing is as great as it seems. I have been taught this lesson over the years and I needed it this week – a few times. Life threw me for a few loops this week. 5 loops to be exact. There was the mold scare, the car scare, the dog scare, my mom’s medical emergency, and Vinnie’s trip to the ER.  My tendency is to PANIC when I get hit with these curve balls. While I’m outwardly very calm, internally I am planning for the worst in every way. I jump to conclusions, let my mind race endlessly, and assume my pretty little life will be irreparably harmed.  Do you do this? Please tell me I’m not alone.  But, here’s the TRUTH….. Just to the left (or right) of your internal freak out is this: It will all be ok You are strong – phsycially, mentally, emotionally You have a great support network – husband, friends, family, fan club You are resourceful  You are adaptable You are a fighter You are resilient  You will learn from every challenge You will grow from every challenge   Therefore, it is imperative that when faced with a challenge or hardship, you must: Be up for the challenge Be ready to dig deep Be ready to stretch yourself in uncomfortable ways Take the space and time you need  Ask for help  Make concessions  Process   Tune in to hear by 5 crises and how I my perspective saved me from my panic. Links Mentioned:SMA Episode 62: Carrie Wilkerson – The Barefoot Executive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pratima met her husband when she was 20, shortly before their arranged marriage in India. Almost immediately after their wedding, they moved from India to Alabama.  After 8 years of marriage, Pratima found herself preparing to take her own life. She could no longer survive in her arranged marriage and she didn’t yet see a way out.  Out of sheer will and determination to create a different and better life for her daughter, Pratima saved herself. She credits one quote with saving her life, “the darkest hour is before dawn.”  Pratima got out of her marriage, created a career path for herself, never having worked before, and built a life inspired by words that she kept close to her heart and always visible to her eyes.  Listen in to hear Pratima share: What life was like inside her arranged marriage The steps she took to start her own life from scratch How she worked her way out of $92,000 of debt in 6 months Where she found inspiration and power on her darkest days What her job with Apple taught her about running her own business The biggest obstacle she sees women facing  Links Mentioned:Website: craftstreetdesign.comInstagram: @craftstrtdesign  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’ve been thinking about the Attitude Adjustments that are necessary in life when one wants to move forward to accomplish great things. Cause we all want to move forward and accomplish great things this year, right?! Here are 3 Attitude Adjustments you need to make now (warning: controversial!)  What you focus on expands. You are only as busy as you think you are.  You can’t have it all – right now – and that is ok.  Perspective is everything. I challenge you to look for new perspectives in this fresh, new year. Don’t let yourself stay in one place. Move – just a little bit forward every day. Work on your head space and your actions will reflect your new attitudes. This is crucial. And you deserve it. Because you deserve to have the best year.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carmen Sognonvi is founder and publisher of Top Flight Family, the leading online destination for luxury family travel. Her insights on travel have been featured in TravelPulse, HOTELS Magazine, Seatrade Cruise News, Luxury Daily, Hotel News Now and TravelDailyNews International. Carmen firmly believes that you can (and should) travel with your kids from a young age. She offers family practical solutions for travel, as well as tips on how to travel in luxury without luxurious price tags.  Listen in to hear Carmen share: The tops myths of family travel - and the truth behind them How to start small with family travel The 3 most common mistakes families make when you traveling (I bet you’re guilty of at least 2!) – and how to fix them The best upgrades that are worth splurging on  How to get Global Entry for free The 10 best vacation for families in the US  Links Mentioned: Shameless Mom Free guide: Top Flight Family Guide to the 10 Best vacations For Kids in the US Website: http://topflightfamily.com/Top Flight Family on InstagramTop Flight Family on PinterestTop Flight Family on TwitterTop Flight Family on FacebookArticle: How to Get Free Global EntryWebsite: The Points Guy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you noticed the Anti Resolution Revolution? I’m a big fan. Huge.  Quite frankly, resolutions suck. They are too big. They are too vague. They are not “bite sized” enough. They are framed as punishments. They are designed to make us fail. Every year…. If you really want to improve your life you have to look at tiny habits. You have to implement small changes that build confidence and improve motivation. You need to be excited and positive about the potential and possibility that lie ahead of you.  In this episode, I share: Why resolutions suck Why your brain literally cannot handle your resolution Why habits are better than resolutions and how they are totally different in nature What 3 steps you must take to make a new habit successful Tips to start a new habit, whether you want to eat better, lose weight, be less stressed, manage time better, or just generally love your life more  Links Mentioned: Article: The Science of New Years Resolutions: Why 88% Fail and How To Make Them Work SMA Ep 82: The Power of Recency and Frequency  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth DiAlto is known for her raw, honest and grounded approach to self-help and spirituality, She is the founder of the Wild Soul Movement, author of Untame Yourself, and host of the popular Untame The Wild Soul podcast. She’s been a teacher, leader, speaker, coach and trainer to groups and individuals for 13+ years and she also consults organizations ranging from start ups to large corporations such as Dove UK. Elizabeth and I met through our work in the fitness industry. However, she left the fitness industry a few years ago to untame her wild soul and, ultimately, an entire new life for herself. I was so excited to reconnect with her and hear how she made the transition between career paths, and interpersonal relationships, and how she started living a life that was much more authentically hers.  Listen in to hear Elizabeth share:  Why it’s important to work IN, rather than work OUT What YES feels like in your body, what NO feels like in your body – and how to start uncovering the truth that lies in your gut The difference between the masculine arts & feminine arts and where you fit Why it’s ok to change your mind and be inconsistent How everything you’ve ever needed has always been inside of you  Links Mentioned:Book: Awakening ShaktiBook/Cards: Ask your Guides Book: Outrageous OpennessFree Resources: Untameyourself.com/companionPodcast: Untame the Wild Soul   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You can look back on 2016 as the BEST year or the WORST year. If you choose to look back on it as the BEST year, you get to own every amazing experience you had – the moments when you pushed your limits, reached a new high, felt magic, saw beauty, learned something new, had a shift in perspective, totally rocked a challenge, modeled strength to your kid(s), and felt power in your core being.  If you choose to look at 2016 as the WORST year (as I see a lot of people doing on social media), you negate and dismiss everything above. You walk away from an entire year of your life in defeat, without power.  I get it – 2016 threw us for a loop. A big effing loop. I’m right there with you. My year did not go as planned. I’m not pregnant right now. Our next president will not embody a single value of mine. I see pain and suffering at every turn, nationally and internationally.  BUT – I did a lot of great things this year. So did you. I grew this year. So did you. I found silver linings that I never even thought to look for. You can too. I am better for 2016. So are you.  Let’s celebrate everything 2016 was to us. Let’s have a freakin' party. Let’s own the heck out of our wins. I deserve that. You deserve that.  Cheers to a BIG year of challenges and growth and newfound strength & pride. Let’s carry all of this forward into 2017, shall we? We ROCK. Every damn day. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  Tune in to hear my biggest wins of the year, in spite of some of the biggest losses of my life.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elise is a high conflict divorce attorney who also has her own divorce story. Elise’s divorce involved Hurricane Katrina, multiple moves around the country, and, ultimately, a co-parenting plan where she lives with her kids and new husband in Seattle and her ex-husband comes out to visit and live with them one week each month.  After working through her own divorce, Elise decided to dedicate her law practice to helping other families thrive through divorce. Listen in to hear Elise share:  The biggest mistakes most lawyers make in representing people in divorce The power and advantages to mediation How to stay out of court, save a ton of money, and get what is truly best for your children What true co-parenting looks like The truth - you can be a horrible spouse and a great parent  Links Mentioned: Book: The Co Parent Handbook, by Karen BonnellBook: Sisters in law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the WorldBlog: (Lagniappe) http://www.elisebuiefamilylaw.com/blogWebsite: http://www.elisebuiefamilylaw.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I recently had 2 People Pleaser relapses. One was just for a day. One was for a couple months. Why is it so hard to stop pleasing all. the. people??? I know that as an Upholder (see article below), being a people pleaser may well be something I always struggle with. But, even if it’s a life long challenge, I will kick off 2017 recognizing where I fell short in 2016. I will recognize what I lost by prioritizing other peoples’ needs before my own.  In 2017 I will: Say NO more Say YES less Stand up for myself Tune in to my body and really listen Push myself to keep firm boundaries around my time, money, space, goals Start following my intuition in terms of where I really want to go in life over the next few years  What will you do to really listen to yourself and your needs as you prepare to enter a new year? Links Mentioned:Article: The Four Tendencies – What Kind of Person Are You?, by Gretchen Rubin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nikki Closser is a Seattle and Michigan based photographer and a new mom. She is madly in love with her work and with her baby. Nikki always knew she would be a working mom. She knew her passion for her work would not diminish in motherhood. However, she didn’t expect her passion for motherhood to be so strong. She admits that while she loves her work, motherhood is magical, and she doesn’t know why she put it off for so long. Nikki’s work photographing women is phenomenal. I had the immense pleasure of doing a shoot with her about a year ago and felt an immediate connection to her and everything she stands for in womanhood, entrepreneurship and motherhood (even though she was only a few months pregnant when we met). She also might love wine as much as me – so we’re basically soul mates.  The way Nikki reaches women through photography is breathtaking. Every woman she works with is made to feel like a true supermodel. Nikki is kind and gentle, but assertive and confident in her work, putting women at ease the moment they enter her studio. Doing a shoot with her is an amazing life experience I would recommend to any woman.  Listen in to hear Nikki share:  Here first Mama Bear moment – just seconds after her son was born How she and her husband envisioned and created a travel lifestyle with Van How she dives deep into work and into motherhood – but doesn’t let the two converge   What she sees through her lens as she photographs a woman Why she thinks every woman deserves a lavish photoshoot and gorgeous photos of themselves  Links Mentioned:Nikki Closser: http://nikkiclosser.com/Sue Bryce: http://suebryce.com/Nikki on FacebookNikki on InstagramBook: Monique in the Mango RainsSMA Ep 54: Rebecca Michi Children’s Sleep Consultant  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices