Quiet Messenger: Redefining leadership & messaging for introverts & sensitive souls

Today I chat with podcaster and business owner Natalie Eckdahl, a wife and mom with kids ages 7-months old, 3-years old, and 13-years old. We cover the power of connecting in person with other entrepreneurs, how running a business with her husband is both wonderful and awful, how she gets her family involved with eating healthy, her tips on being assertive and direct like a man without losing your empathy, and her best productivity hacks (she’s a master at this). “Even if it doesn’t feel like you have enough time, take care of yourself first.” – Natalie Eckdahl In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How she tempers the bluntness of a man with the empathy of a woman to have tough conversations, keep her boundaries, speak up to her kids’ teachers, and be direct in business Why she’s raising her daughter as a future entrepreneur without even intending to What she does to get her family of five involved in nutrition (hint: her daughter and husband each cook a meal a week and her 3-year old asks for kale chips for breakfast!) Her insight into raising a teenage girl who LOVES her body (and how she models being comfortable in her own skin) The go-to productivity tool that doesn’t use any technology (gasp!)… and the music app she uses to stay focused Mentioned in this episode: Schedulemax.com – Natalie’s business with her hubby Bizchix.com – Natalie’s podcast & coaching biz Focus at Will App She Podcasts – shout out to my ladies, cohosts Elsie Escobar and Jessica Kupferman FYH Episode 1 for my body and food perfectionism story My TEDx talk “How food fuels hustle” The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation! Natalie Eckdahl has three kids, 2 businesses and one husband. She co-founded ScheduleMAX.com an online scheduling software in 2010 with her husband Mark and is the host of The Biz Chix Podcast where she has interviewed over 170 amazing female entrepreneurs. She loves leading masterminds of entrepreneurial women and coaching women on how to create and grow their podcast. Natalie loves the beach, giggling with her kids and dark chocolate.   I wanted to have her on the show because she is organized, practical, and to-the-point in business while prioritizing family and understanding the energy-boosting power of self-care. What are you implementing this week? Share in the comments because I want to know!

In today’s episode, I discuss what is probably the biggest challenge I see come up for female entrepreneurs around feeding their hustle – lunch time! My hunch is that if you had easy options in the fridge, you’d have a much easier time breaking for lunch at noon (before you’re famished) and resisting the urge to order takeout. It would end up taking less time, and you’d end up with way more quality energy for the afternoon. In today’s episode, you’ll learn: The one concept that, once you understand it, will revolutionize workweek lunch-making forever The challenges of three of your sister female entrepreneurs from the Feed Your Hustle community (I bet they’ll sound familiar!) Simple but effective actions to take in advance that will set you up to feed your hustle successfully  How I lay out my own fridge using these principles The exact same advice I build into clients personalized meal plans (and how you can apply it to yourself right now) What I use to save bandwidth making my own meals every day (hint: it’s not recipes) Mentioned in this episode: My article From “Nothing to Eat” to Ease in the Kitchen in 3 Simple Steps The glass storage containers I use My Meal Templates article The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation! Which of the four keys are you going to implement this week? Share in the comments at feedyourhustle.com because I want to know!

Here are some reasons why I love today’s guest Marcie Mauro – fun is one of her top values, her upbeat energy matches mine (we thought we might explode the airwaves!), she structures her business around spending time with her family, and she’s open and honest about the struggles as well as the positives going on behind her scenes. In this episode, we set you up for emotional self care, not just the physical stuff. Marcie gets fired up helping others be more daring and take the risks that *actually* matter. “You don’t start a business if you’re not a risk-taker. But if you want to play on a bigger stage, make more money, your business can only grow as much as you do.” – Marcie Mauro In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How to overcome paralyzing self-doubt the next time you take a big leap in your business How she’s found balance between being a Type A over-achiever with big goals and raising her preschooler The preparation she does to feed her hustle when her challenge is forgetting to eat until she’s starving and then binging  That your confidence goes way up when you’re doing something you’re really into (aka having fun) What she does to calm her mind and fall asleep when she works in the evening and is still creatively wired at bedtime Why working out with entrepreneur friends keeps her upbeat and having fun (and how jazzercise is still alive) Mentioned in this episode: Marcie’s website (sign up to get her weekly dares!) Hillary Rubin’s episode The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation! More about Marcie: Marcie Mauro is a Mindset & Personal Growth Expert, Speaker, and Intuitive Fireball. She specializes in helping high-achieving women who are fed up with letting their inner blocks holding them hostage *right* at the edge of their next big vision. She says, rather than chasing more information to grow your business, you need to focus on your ‘inner game’ because she believes you are what’s standing in the way of what you want. Marcie is a co-author of the book EMPOWER! Women’s Stories of Breakthrough, Discovery, and Triumph; and was named “Next Rising Business Heroine” by Business Heroine Magazine last Fall as their September covergirl.  She has degrees in Psychology and Marriage & Family Therapy, and nearly a decade of experience helping others master their mindset to see bigger possibilities for themselves. What risk are you ready to take in your business? How do you structure work around fun and family? Share in the comments because I want to know!

Behind the scenes of how I took care of myself the week leading up to my TEDx Talk, a huge pivotal event in my life. So often when we have a big launch, speaking gig or other major event coming up, we somehow stop taking care of ourselves right at the moment we need it most… The moment we need to feed our hustle. I’m not saying I did a perfect job (because you know I’m about balance not perfection), but I want to be transparent and share with you what emotions and challenges came up for me and how I consciously fed my hustle with food and self care during what has been one of the most MAJOR events in my business. If you’re curious about the behind the scenes of a TEDx talk, you’ll like this episode. But it’s also for you if your personal life tends to fall apart and you feel out of control every time you have a launch or major event. “It was time to share my idea worth spreading, to be the conduit for the Feed Your Hustle Movement, and I was ready.” – Adria DeCorte In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How I took used self-care to not over-obsess about my talk in the week leading up to TEDx The process I followed to apply and secure my TEDx talk (great if you’ve ever thought about doing one yourself) A run-down of every single thing I ate the day of my talk to keep me grounded, energized, and in my power  What I did to move through the waves of panic I felt the 48 hours before I took the stage The simple eating shift that calmed my nerves the week of my talk  Mentioned in this episode: How to Power a TEDx Talk… with the Food You Eat – my article which includes a speaking meal plan My Balance Not Perfection talk Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch Episode 7 with Alexia Vernon – my TEDx speaking coach Go from Hot Mess to Hotshot Speaker (Alexia’s free video training) The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation beyond the episode!! Now your turn. Have you ever thought about taking the TEDx stage? What is your idea worth spreading? Go ahead and share in the comments at adriadecorte.com/episode15 because I want to know!

In this episode of Feed Your Hustle, I talk with my friend Licia Morelli, a psychic who teaches entrepreneurs to use intuition to guide business decisions.   We jam on drawing in clients that don’t drain you, listening to your body to settle into healthier habits, the easiest way to incorporate meditation into your morning to allow intuitive hits to come through, and so much more! “Intuition is inside of you. Trust the answers that are in you.” – Licia Morelli In today’s episode, you’ll learn: Why getting goosebumps means you’re psychic (and you don’t have to be a believer to use it)  The easiest way to incorporate meditation into your morning to allow intuitive hits to come through (even if you’ve got kids bugging you) How to use skeptic-approved “practical woo” to guide your business decisions and accelerate your biz A daily ritual to protect your energy and draw in clients that don’t drain you, complete with directions How Stage 3 Melanoma lead to a powerful shift in her business and a focus on giving back, plus her exact setup for donating 20% every month  Her highly effective morning routine and how she structures her workweek to prevent burnout (there’s a high rate for psychics) How cleaning up her diet amped up her power as a psychic… and you can get the same results whether you’re a coach, designer, or copywriter Mentioned in this episode: Licia’s website The House of Woo: 4 Weeks to Recognize Your Own Psychic Hits to Get Ahead in Business & Life The Lemonade Hurricane – Licia’s children’s book on meditation Licia’s Facebook Page Licia’s Twitter @madamelicia The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to ask Licia questions and tell us how you give back How do you use intuition in your business? How are you going to start? Plus share the deets if you give back in your biz! And help me choose a powerful cause to give back to. In the comments, tell me a well-run organization you highly recommend for 1) women’s empowerment, 2) access to healthy food, or 3) body acceptance.  Leave your comments on the full show notes at adriadecorte.com/episode14.

Today, I’m talking about how to eat and live healthy when you’re traveling (without letting it take over your trip). Why travel? Even though we work online in the digital space, most of us are building relationships by flying or driving to conferences, meetups, and events every year. And, of course, vacations are essential to your self care. “Ladies, I need some advice/suggestions on eating well for travel. I’ve got two upcoming trips (yay!) but I don’t want to lose the amazing habits Adria has helped me to create.” – Nina We had a discussion about this in the Feed Your Hustle Facebook group a while back. I figured it was perfect timing for this episode in light of the holiday weekend and that I just returned this week from traveling to Dallas for Nathalie Lussier’s Off the Charts Live conference, a meeting of 200 incredible heart-centered female entrepreneurs. “The goal of healthy travel is to keep your energy flowing and avoid that tired, weighted down feeling that comes with lots of sitting and heavy foods.” – Adria DeCorte  In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How to eat healthy when traveling by plane with only a carry-on bag (including what to bring and what to purchase when you arrive to make it easy!) The healthy snacks and food tips Feed Your Hustle community members swear by (and a surprising idea I never thought of before!) Tricks to keep your energy flowing with movement without even touching the hotel gym Exactly what to do before you arrive to make it easier to eat healthy during the rest of your stay What I do to feed my hustle if the conference is serving lunch or you’ll be eating out regularly Mentioned in this episode: The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation beyond the episode!! My go-to YouTube playlists for morning ritual yoga, vinyasa flow yoga, and HIIT workouts Travel Tools, Grocery Lists, and Recipes  Find these resources in the full show notes at http://adriadecorte.com/episode13 .

Today I chat with Susie Miller, a relationship coach for entrepreneurs, about how relationships are an essential form of self care, starting with your relationship with yourself and then radiating outwards to your marriage and family.  http://adriadecorte.com/episode12 Susie and I talk about how to prevent your marriage from becoming a business partnership, the three self-care acts she used to feed hustle during her book launch, and what you need to know as a woman to turn off your business brain at the end of the day and be fully present in your relationships. “When we take time to invest in our relationships, we are better as our whole best selves.” – Susie Miller In today’s episode, you’ll learn: The biggest challenge female entrepreneurs and “entre-spouses” face with keeping their marriage or relationship from becoming a business partnership Immediately applicable tweaks that will take you from roommates to romance The small psychological differences between men and women and how it could be sabotaging your feeling of connectedness to your partner (AND your sex life!) What it looks like to “be a wiser hare” rather than trying to fit the mold of the steady tortoise Why participating in a community (like the Feed Your Hustle Facebook group!) of like-minded entrepreneurs dealing with the same balancing act issues as you IS essential self care The revolutionary self care she indulged in during the hustle towards her new book that resulted in a surge of energy How to train yourself to turn down rather than turn off your work brain – and not let being “all in” with your business overrun your relationship The three specific and critical healthy habits she implemented during her book launch to feed her hustle (in a Balance Not Perfection way)   About Susie: Susie Miller, known internationally as the Better Relationship Coach, is an author, speaker, and coach. She is dedicated to helping you create better relationships in 30 days or less! For over 20 years, she has helped people reduce stress, improve communication, increase intimacy, and create meaningful relationships through tried and true methods for long lasting results. Susie is the author of Listen, Learn, Love: How to Dramatically Improve Your Relationships in 30 Days or Less! Susie has been married to her best friend, John, a lifelong entrepreneur, for 32 years and has three grown children. This conversation came at a critical time in my life as I prioritize my own marriage and make sure that when I look up from all this hustle a couple of years down the road, it hasn’t faded away. I’ve been making a point to tell my husband Jarrett that he’s the number one IMPORTANT thing in my life even though it seems like all my focus is on my business! Mentioned in this episode: Susie’s website Susie’s new book Listen, Learn, Love: How to Dramatically Improve Your Relationships in 30 Days or Less! The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation beyond the episode!! What are you going to do to prioritize and strengthen your relationship (with yourself OR your spouse) this week? Go ahead and share in the comments because I want to know!

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what my fitness currently looks like and how I recharge with off time. I pick up where I left off in episode 9 in this 2-part series talking about what’s currently going on in my own self care balancing act.  I’ll include the comparison of my old perfectionist exercise schedule to how I’m finding my way back to regular fitness, how I’m finding body acceptance, and my struggle to separate work from the rest of my life and be more present. “True BodyLove isn’t contingent on a specific weight or clothing size so that when we hit life changes (like entrepreneurship and motherhood!) our body image stays intact.” – Adria DeCorte In today’s episode, you’ll learn: Why gaining 10 pounds brought me closer to body acceptance  2 major steps I’m implementing to go from “no time” to work out to a regular fitness schedule that makes me feel strong and energized How I use movement to dissipate nervous energy before I hop on the mic for podcast interviews or take the stage for a talk  The only way I’ve found to shut off my maximizer brain and find something close to “meditation” – and the surprising way I incorporate it into my workday My morning ritual step-by-step, including the “rules” I break (which I had a TON of guilt over until I accepted it) What I’m doing to make my work and home surroundings more inspiring – a surprising element of self care! The relaxing shift in how I plan my business that has been a HUGE part of my self care (and how I’m not taking my own advice right now – oops!) Mentioned in this episode: The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation beyond the episode!! Adria’s Instagram account Wellness Wonderland Radio Mind Body Musings Adria’s free 3-Minute Morning Meal Plan Adria’s personalized Plant-Powered Meal Plan Past Episodes FYH 9 – part 1, how I eat for energy and more visibility FYH 10 with personal trainer Catherine Basu FYH 7 with speaking coach Alexia Vernon FYH 4 talking about vacations and white space with Stef Frank FYH 8 on honoring your bandwidth with Hillary Rubin For the full blog post with the entire transcript of the episode, go to adriadecorte.com/episode11.

Today I chat with personal trainer and entrepreneur Catherine Basu and discover what she’s learned from interviewing successful female entrepreneurs about how each fits in fitness to power her business.   Catherine and I talk about how movement can drive creativity, energy, and productivity in your business. And if you think you’re just not a fitness person, she covers how she became an accidental personal trainer even though she was terrified of gym class growing up. I think you’ll find it a relief and inspiration to hear how even a personal trainer has similar self care challenges to the rest of us female entrepreneurs. “Adding in movement to your day can help you be more creative in your business.” – Catherine Basu In today’s episode, you’ll learn: What a personal trainer who also happens to be a female entrepreneur does for fitness (and the morning activity that is key to boosting her energy for the day) A sneak peak into her “Fitting in Fitness” interview series plus how fitness fuels successful female entrepreneurs like Rebecca Tracey and Chantelle Adams The simple trick she uses to make sure it’s easy to make her daily go-to power breakfast  Why training towards fitness goals “exercises” your entrepreneurial muscles and leads to biz success Her one guideline to remember for dining out healthy at restaurants The exact practices and resources she’s implementing to get more sleep (a major challenge as she grows her business)   About Catherine: Catherine Basu is an ACE-certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor, and the owner of Fit Armadillo®. After working at gyms and schools in roles from trainer to wellness center director to running coach, she created her company to help busy women find fitness they could enjoy at their own place and pace. Armed with her B.S. Degree in Biology from The College of William and Mary, she enjoys debunking fitness and nutrition myths to help her clients achieve lasting results. She has been quoted for her expertise on LiveStrong.com, EmpowHER, and WorldLifestyle and writes as a blogger for the Huffington Post.   When she’s not training clients or coaching other fitness professionals, you can find her hanging out with her furry business partner, Nathan aka Nate Dog, who’s actually a bunny. While Catherine works with clients all over the world, she currently lives in Houston, Texas. Mentioned in this episode: Catherine’s website Fitting in fitness interview series (including each guest’s fitness dare) Catherine’s healthy pancake recipe Adria’s personalized Plant-Powered Meal Plan The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation beyond the episode!! How do you fit in fitness? And what’s your biggest challenge with fitting in fitness? Go ahead and share in the comments over at adriadecorte.com/episode10 because I want to know!

Today I’m going to get specific and transparent and share with you what’s going on in my own self care balancing act as I get more visible in my business, put myself and my brand out there, hustle hard, and keep my upbeat vibe.   I thought it would be valuable to take you on a tour of what food, movement, and mindfulness look like right now for me as a Healthy Living Strategist but also as a REAL person. I emphasize right now because these things change over time (if you like this episode, let me know, and I’ll do an update again somewhere down the road). I’m covering food today and I’ll move on to movement and mindfulness in two weeks for my next solo episode. “I don’t mind if I’m not perfect. I’d rather be relatable to my audience, let them see themselves in me.” – Adria DeCorte In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How I prepare for more visibility and media as I take the TEDx stage (hint: it’s not dieting!) My go-to breakfast and lunch for feeding my hustle during the workday A contrast between what I do in my own kitchen and the very different advice I give my meal plan clients The trick that keeps me from staring into the fridge aimlessly when it’s time to make a meal How I balance splurging on “junk food” with eating for vibrant energy The quick “recipe” I use for making lazy salads for workday lunches Mentioned in this episode: The Feed Your Hustle Facebook group – to continue the conversation beyond the episode!! Fresh Eats Radio – EP 85 – an interview with me! My interview on A Better Life Podcast The Starters Club 99 – Tip Tuesday – Making Sure You’re At Your Prime As An Entrepreneur with Adria DeCorte The Biz Chix Podcast (show hosted by Natalie, the voice of the FYH intro) FYH #5 Food Equals Energy How to Eat Plant-Powered (even if you’re not vegan) My personalized Plant-Powered Meal Plan Gourmet Girl LLC – Donna, an amazing Vegas personal chef in the FYH community VegeNation – the new vegan restaurant in downtown Vegas! For the the full show notes including the transcript, go to adriadecorte.com/episode9.