MINDSET ZONE

“Many women are on a mission to make a difference and create an impact but are very hard on themselves. Relax, do the best you can, and be gentle on yourself.” Ana Melikian In today’s episode, I joined Sandy, the host of the Instagram live “Hey, I’ve Got Something to Say,” to discuss the importance of being gentle with ourselves. We describe how women tend to doubt themselves and how they get critical of themselves before, during, and after their mission to change the world. We discuss mental fitness and how training our mental capacity for resilience takes time, practice, and patience. We also highlight the important role of negative emotions and underscore how we can cultivate the conditions where happiness can thrive and flourish in our lives. This week on The Mindset Zone: Why women doubt that they can make a difference in the world The important role of negative emotions Training our mental capacity for resilience like a muscle The importance of taking brain breaks, resets, and rests “The Happiness Fallacy” keynote and why we can’t force happiness to happen in our lives Creating the conditions where happiness and joy can spontaneously happen How positivity can backfire Honoring grief, bereavement, and mourning How to reset your brain after years of being conditioned with toxic positivity Changing the prince charming/damsel in distress narrative Our Favorite Quotes: “It’s so true that it’s time to get women in the spotlight. We’re good behind the scenes—but we need to challenge ourselves to go out there.” - Sandy Joy Weston “We have to allow ourselves to take the time to rest and restore, to go out of our routine and see things from a different perspective.” - Ana Melikian “Everyone thought that as soon as I graduated, I’d be on fire, but I took some time in the garden, weeding and planting. I felt I needed to take a break mentally to rejuvenate and get my energy back out.” - Sandy Joy Weston The interviewer: Sandy Joy Weston, M.Ed., is an author, entrepreneur, and media personality. A motivational speaker and fitness guru, Sandy is on a mission to spread joy and positivity. By using fitness and her gift of motivation as her tools, she helps individuals achieve their goals with ease and flow. She is the host of the podcasts “Let’s Keep It Real,” “Positive Power Lady” Live on Facebook, and “Hey, I’ve Got Something to Say” Live on Instagram.Her book, Train Your Head and Your Body Will Follow, guides readers in redirecting their thoughts in a positive, focused manner. *This episode was rebroadcast here at the Mindset Zone with explicit consent from Sandy Joy Weston, the host of Hey, I’ve Got Something to Say Live on Instagram. Connect with Sandy Joy Weston: Sandy Joy Weston Website Book: Train Your Head and Your Body Will Follow: Reach Any Goal in 3 Minutes a Day Podcast: Hey, I’ve Got Something to Say on Instagram Podcast: Let’s Keep It Real on Apple Podcast: Let’s Keep It Real on Google Play Podcast: Let’s Keep It Real on Spotify Podcast: Let’s Keep It Real on Stitcher Sandy Joy Weston on LinkedIn Sandy Joy Weston on Instagram Sandy Joy Weston on Facebook Sandy Joy Weston on Twitter Expand What’s Possible

“Our definition of success has to continue to grow, change, and evolve as we continue to grow, change, and evolve.” Laura Gassner Otting Laura joins me today to share her wisdom on success and being limitless. She defines success and explains why we need to allow our own definition to change as we grow. She describes why we need to plan for success and why planning for failure gets us stuck. She also discusses why being successful doesn’t necessarily make us happy, underscores what consonance is and why it matters and highlights the importance of frequently reevaluating our lives as we continue to grow as people. This week on The Mindset Zone: Laura’s definition of success How the meaning of success evolves throughout our lives Why we need to allow our definition of success to grow and evolve What encouraged Laura to leave law school to pursue something that mattered to her How working in executive search inspired Laura to write Limitless Why being successful doesn’t mean being happy The four C’s of consonance Identifying your calling and your connection to it Assessing the contribution of your calling and your control over it The importance of frequently reevaluating our lives Why finding your consonance as a leader means understanding the consonance of the people around you The Guest: Laura Gassner Otting (a.k.a. LGO) is an author, executive coach, and the founder of Limitless Possibility. Laura inspires people to push past doubt and indecision by helping them think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their current, limited scope of belief. Her 25-year-long career as an entrepreneur began when she joined the presidential campaign for Bill Clinton—an opportunity that led her to become a Presidential Appointee in the White House and Program Officer for AmeriCorps. Before becoming the renowned keynote speaker and coach that she is today, Laura served as the founder and President of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, one of the fastest-growing search firms in the country. Resources Mentioned: Why doesn’t success bring happiness? | Laura Gassner Otting | TEDxReno Stop Asking “How Can I Help?” | Laura Gassner Otting | TEDxCambridge Limitless Life Assessment MyFourQuestions.com Connect with Laura Gassner Otting: Laura Gassner Otting Website Book: Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life Podcast: LGOtv Big Talk Laura Gassner Otting on LinkedIn Laura Gassner Otting on Instagram Laura Gassner Otting on Facebook Laura Gassner Otting on Twitter Expand What’s Possible

“We will never say we’re going to solve hunger—that’s a much bigger issue tied with many layers of public and social policy. What we’re going to do is not let really good food go to waste while people need it.”Cathy Snyder Cathy joins us today to discuss food insecurity, poverty, and how the Rolling Harvest Food Rescue movement is alleviating food waste and hunger in the country. She shares how she became aware of what poverty and food insecurity really look like in the country. She describes the events that led to the founding of Rolling Harvest Food Rescue and explains the importance of dialogue in solving problems. She also elaborates on how movements like Rolling Harvest create a ripple effect and highlights how alleviating food insecurity benefits society entirely. This week on The Mindset Zone: How Cathy became aware of the realities of food insecurity, hunger, and poverty in the countryThe first steps Cathy took toward improving the food pantry she servedCreating and innovating the Rolling Harvest Food Rescue modelHow food is spoiled and wasted in the fieldsHow dialogue creates, sustains, and improves solutions to problemsWhat it takes to create a more sustainable food system for everyoneThe value of nutritional educationWhat gleaning organizations are and how to find themOvercoming the lack of awareness about food insecurityThe Rolling Harvest take on food justice and equity The Guest: Cathy Snyder is the Founder and Executive Director of Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit gleaning organization. After a decade of working a sales career in broadcasting, Cathy began her social impact journey and awakened to the depth of food insecurity while volunteering at a food pantry in New Hope, PA. Since then, what started as Cathy’s efforts to connect farms and food pantries has grown into Rolling Harvest, a vibrant network of volunteers, farms, food producers, and hunger relief sites. Through effective delivery and distribution of local food producers’ surplus, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue increases access to donated fresh produce and other healthy foods to hunger-relief sites that serve at-risk, food-insecure populations—including domestic violence shelters, low-income senior centers, children and family homeless shelters, and others. Connect with Cathy Snyder: Rolling Harvest Food RescueRolling Harvest Food Rescue on InstagramRolling Harvest Food Rescue on FacebookRolling Harvest Food Rescue on TwitterCathy Snyder on LinkedInEmail: info@rollingharvest.org Expand What’s Possible

“Being purposefully productive means you’re feeling in control, crystal clear on goals, making progress on your most important goals, and conscious about how you invest your time.” Don Khouri Don joins us today to discuss shifting our mindsets and vocabularies around busyness and productivity. He explains why we get into trouble with our to-do lists and offers advice on prioritizing tasks. He outlines the different cognitive biases we need to be aware of when making decisions and underscores why multitasking is an illusion. He also reveals why it may be better to learn how to say “yes” and highlights the importance of being purposefully productive. This week on The Mindset Zone: People’s tendency to wear busyness as a badge of honorConquering your to-do listsThe power of deadlines and consistencyMoving from to-do lists to action lists and how to prioritize your tasksCircadian rhythms and identifying your most productive time of the dayThe Pomodoro Technique and the concept of microbreaksEntering a state of flow and avoiding the illusion of multitaskingDecision-making and the importance of being aware of cognitive biases when managing prioritiesUnderstanding the sunk-cost fallacy and how to avoid it The Guest: Don Khouri is a speaker, author, and executive coach. He is the Founder of Khouri Coaching & Consulting, a coaching firm dedicated to helping tech leaders and healthcare providers improve their productivity through leadership development, team-building, and communication improvement. He previously worked at Fidelity Investments, where he held several key positions during his 21-year-long tenure. Among these roles was Vice President of Software Development, where he headed global teams and complex multimillion-dollar programs. Don holds a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Organizational Behavior from Boston University. In his book, When to Say Yes, Don shares a revolutionary approach to productivity and time management derived from his decades of knowledge studying the subject. Resources Mentioned: Book: When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink Connect with Don Khouri: Don Khouri WebsiteKhouri Coaching & ConsultingBook:When To Say Yes: The Five Steps to Protect Your TimeKhouri Coaching & Consulting on LinkedInKhouri Coaching & Consulting on TwitterDon Khouri on LinkedInDon Khouri on FacebookDon Khouri on Twitter Expand What’s Possible

“The arts transcend race, religion, politics, gender, sexuality—it is our humanness that we feel through the creative process. Art is medicine for the soul.” Lane Gardner Lane joins me today to discuss why creativity is our superpower and how it helps us become more innovative, courageous, and authentic. She explains why creative expression is not limited to traditional arts such as music or painting and outlines how creativity is beneficial to our well-being. She describes why creating a safe space is essential to creative expression and discusses why adults become intimidated by the notion of creativity. Lane also underscores art’s function as medicine for the soul and highlights how the power of collaborative creation allows for individual and collective healing from trauma. This week on The Mindset Zone Why Lane believes that creativity is a superpowerLane’s definition of creativity and the different forms of creativityThe inner critic and why adults get intimidated by the notion of creativityWhat adults can learn from children about creativityThe role of trust and play in the process of creative expressionHealing through music and the power of collaborative creationUsing music as a means to cultivate mental wellness and develop team collaborationTranslating emotions into art and how creativity helps us get through social change and collective trauma The Guest Lane Gardner is an award-winning art educator, singer-songwriter, and trailblazer in the therapeutic arts. She is the President and Founder of THREAD Connects, a non-profit organization that brings the therapeutic power of creative expression to individuals and communities living with trauma. Lane graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Her credits as a musician include leading roles at Lyric Opera Cleveland, Seaside Music Theater, and the West End Theater in New York City. In 2015, Lane released her debut album, Fertile Ground, through her own label, Third Road Records. As an arts educator, Lane has taught in public schools, special education schools, and youth centers across the country. She has also worked in various arts organizations, including The Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Conservatory of Performing Arts. Resources Mentioned: Can Creative Expression Help Our Rising Mental Health Crisis? | Lane Gardner | TEDxBoston Hear Me Out Connect with Lane Gardner: Lane Gardner WebsiteTHREAD ConnectsTHREAD Connects on InstagramTHREAD Connects on FacebookTHREAD Connects on TwitterLane Gardner on LinkedInLane Gardner on InstagramLane Gardner on FacebookLane Gardner on SpotifyLane Gardner on SoundCloud Expand What’s Possible

“We have a thumbprint from the divine on us; each of us has a song in our hearts that we are here to share, far and wide, in a way that nobody else can.” Fabienne Fredrickson Fabienne joins me today to share the Chocolate Brownie story and discuss why we all need to share our gifts, skills, and talents with the world. She explains why many people, especially women, hold themselves back from answering their life’s calling and describes how we can overcome our fears. She also discusses why it’s important that all women thrive financially and highlights the value of empowering communities of women in business. This week on The Mindset Zone: The Chocolate Brownie storyOur divine obligation to share our talents and gifts to the worldFabienne’s advice to people who second-guess their life’s purpose because of fearThe idea behind Boldheart and what it means to be bigger than your fearsHow accepting ourselves can help us overcome our fearsThe importance of freeing women from economic imprisonmentWhy women don’t believe they can run a business and raise a family at the same timeThe “popcorn effect” and normalizing thriving women in businessThe law of diminishing intent and the importance of role models and communities The Guest: Fabienne Fredrickson is a global entrepreneur and speaker. As the founder and owner of Boldheart, Fabienne has mentored thousands of women business owners for over two decades, helping them get out of overwhelm and reach a million more in their businesses. She is the author of several books, including The Leveraged Business: How You Can Go from Overwhelmed at Six Figures to Seven Figures (and Get Your Life Back). A celebrated speaker, Fabienne has been featured in several media publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, and The New York Times and Boldheart has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies for three consecutive years. Resources Mentioned: Activating Your Potential for Greatness | Fabienne Fredrickson | TEDxNewBedford Connect with Fabienne Fredrickson: BoldheartEmail: info@boldheart.comBoldheart on LinkedInBoldheart on InstagramFabienne Fredrickson on LinkedInFree copy of Fabienne’s The Leveraged Business bookBook: Embrace Your Magnificence: Get Out of Your Own Way and Live a Richer, Fuller, More Abundant Life by Fabienne FredricksonFabienne Fredrickson on InstagramFabienne Fredrickson on Twitter Expand What’s Possible

“Recovery requires comfort and time. Resilience requires stress and change.”Dr. G Dr. G joins me today to discuss how we can use stress to build resilience. She explains the neuroscience behind stress and how the brain sees all kinds of change as stressful. She outlines the skills we can develop to become “change-competent.” She also highlights how leaders should help people navigate through stress and underscores how being mission-focused helps organizations be more resilient and overcome change. This week on The Mindset Zone: From Stressed to Resilient and why Dr. G views stress differentlyThe brain’s three reflex reactions to change and it views all change as stressfulDeveloping mental strength and how to volume down the brain’s safety mechanismDeveloping the muscles of resilience and how good leaders approach organizational stressWhat resilience means to Dr. G and why it’s not a character traitDeveloping the skills necessary for navigating stressAn antidote to the Great Resignation and how being mission-driven can help organizations become more resilientBecoming change-competent through developing the eight resilience skills The Guest: Deborah Gilboa, M.D., is a resilience expert who helps families, organizations, and businesses identify the mindset and strategies that turn stress into an advantage. Dr. G works with groups across generations to rewire their attitudes and beliefs and create resilience through personal accountability. In addition to being a board-certified family physician, she is the author of From Stressed to Resilient: The Guide to Handle More and Feel It Less. As renowned for her contagious humor as she is for her expertise, Dr. G is regularly featured on TODAY, Good Morning America, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and other print and digital media outlets. Resources Mentioned: Book: The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja LyubomirskyDoctor shares ways to turn stress into a beneficial advantage | Dr. G on the TODAY Show Connect with Dr. G: Ask Dr. GFrom Stressed to Resilient QuizBook: From Stressed to Resilient: The Guide to Handle More and Feel It LessDr. G on LinkedInDr. G on InstagramDr. G on FacebookDr. G on Twitter Expand What’s Possible

“The right questions open an environment and culture of discovery, trust, and collaboration. Through this culture, inclusivity happens.” Pati Froyo   Pati joins me today to discuss how we can short-circuit mindset traps to break through in our careers and business. She shares how she took back her power in her career and explains the mind’s tendency to blame or act as a victim when faced with challenges. She describes the kind of leaders all successful organizations have and how a culture of trust and collaboration fosters inclusion. Pati also highlights the power of curiosity and its impact on organizations and offers advice on fostering curiosity and a growth mindset.   This week on The Mindset Zone: A meaningful breakthrough in Pati’s career How Pati discovered the importance of leaning into curiosity and asking the right questions How our mindset can enable or derail our careers and lives Recognizing leaders’ confirmation and cognitive biases The relationship between cognitive biases and systemic problems in companies and society The power of fostering honest, genuine, intentional curiosity in organizations How to cultivate curiosity and step into the growth mindset Pati’s “Aha!” blueprint and the characteristics of a great executive coach   The Guest: Pati Froyo is a speaker, executive coach, and intercultural leadership consultant dedicated to helping leaders create strategic breakthroughs in their careers and business. Before starting her executive coaching practice, Pati worked for ExxonMobil, a company where she held a broad range of global executive positions for over 30 years before her retirement in 2017. Pati graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.     Related Episode: Happiness & Self-Care | Melinda Cohan Interviews Ana Melikian   Connect with Pati Froyo: Pati Froyo Website Pati Froyo on LinkedIn   Expand What’s Possible

“STRESS means ‘stomach-turning reality, enabling self-success.’ Choice, not chance, determines your destiny. How you choose to respond to any given situation will help determine it.” Barry Shore Barry joins me today to discuss what STRESS means and how we can use it to our advantage. He reveals the gift of living a purpose-driven life and explains how to turn self-sabotage into self-success. He outlines the three stressors of life and the essential principles of living joyfully. He offers advice to people who find themselves in a very dark place. Barry also highlights the power of making small perspective shifts, the impact of practicing breathing daily, and why we should all love dog POOP. This week on The Mindset Zone: Barry’s background and what living a purpose-driven life gives you What it means to CREATE the world we live in The most searched-for word on the Internet before COVID-19 The three stressors of life and how to use them to your advantage Turning self-sabotage into self-success Barry’s habit of swimming two miles a day Being an ambassador of JOY in the world What HOPE means and the two most powerful words in the English language Learning to love dog POOP The Guest: Barry Shore is a mental wellness advocate, philanthropist, multi-patent-holding entrepreneur, speaker, and “Ambassador of JOY.” Barry is the author of The Joy of Living: How to Slay Stress and Be Happy and the host of The JOY of LIVING Podcast. As an entrepreneur, he has founded several enterprises, including ChangeBowl—a revolutionary fundraising platform listed among Oprah’s Favorite Things in OMagazine—and the Keep Smiling movement. Connect with Barry Shore: Barry Shore Website The Joy of Living Podcast Barry Shore on LinkedIn Barry Shore on Instagram Barry Shore on Facebook Barry Shore on Twitter Email: barry@barryshore.com Expand What’s Possible

“If you don’t spend enough time having experiences with people in the context of their lives, you don’t get an opportunity to go deeper and understand their true desires, motivations, and values.” Sue Bevan Baggott   Sue joins me today to explore why understanding the lives of consumers and customers is key to successful innovation. She describes her experience at Pampers and how they innovated diaper products after deeply understanding their customers’ desires. She outlines the three core dimensions of innovation, and the three levels of human experience organizations must learn to effectively innovate and design. Sue also highlights the power of empathetic connection and underscores how diversity drives innovation.   This week on The Mindset Zone: Why organizations need to start with empathy when innovating Innovating Pampers’ diaper design and the power of understanding customers at the human level The three core dimensions of successful innovation The story behind Apple’s miraculous innovation Three levels of human experience organizations need to understand when innovating How productivity tools can make us procrastinate The messiness of innovation and how companies can avoid disruption How leaders can nurture innovation in their companies How empathetic connection and diversity can drive innovative breakthroughs   The Guest: Sue Bevan Baggott is a speaker, strategy and innovation leader, angel impact investor, and board member with a proven track record of uncovering deep human insights that lead to impactful innovations and breakthrough business results. She is the founder of Power Within Consulting, a firm that empowers clients to accelerate business success by delivering human-centered, insight-driven business and innovation strategies. Sue graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and Biology from Lehigh University.     Connect with Sue Bevan Baggott: Power Within Consulting Sue Bevan Baggott on LinkedIn   Expand What’s Possible