Find Your Voice, Change Your Life

Today, I interview Susan Birch who grew up in a small village in New Zealand. She was the oldest of four children. The family kept busy and worked hard, and her siblings eventually found their callings and settled into successful career pursuits. Susan, however, felt a bit delayed because she often struggled with language. Finding the right words, conveying the right message, and keeping her mouth and mind at the same pace was difficult. Her pace, in fact, was sometimes rather slow, and people would sometimes be impatient with her or assume she was a lazy person. Quite the contrary! Not having a sense of direction through academics, she found herself lost and going through a rebellious teenage period. She later suffered extreme trauma, which affected her self-esteem and a myriad of other things. After she married, she began to feel safe and comfortable in her own skin. She was able to catch up academically, pursuing various subjects in college. As a parent, Susan looked at her children and began to feel a sense of inner transformation. She wanted them to grow up without shame, the way she had because of her academic struggles and personal trauma. She chose to work through the pain and find a way through it all, making self-care a priority and setting the best possible example for future generations. She now helps others to regain their power and take control of their mental and physical health by helping them to change the way they see themselves and their circumstances.__________________ If you want to lose weight, get healthy, and enjoy your life, then Susan Birch, known as the health detective, is the weight loss coach who can help you. By combining her functional medicine skills with neuro change techniques and tiny habits formation, she can help you remove the blocks that hold you back from losing weight, improving health, and staying that way. Find Susan here: susanbirchconsultancy@gmail.com https://www.susanbirch.co.nz/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-birch-the-health-detective-18241b115/ https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz ____________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.   Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Peter George who as a young child had a speech impediment. Because of this, he learned to stay quiet and kept his circle fairly small. He was shy and rarely spoke up in class. But he decided he could become very proficient in all kinds of sports, as the athletic kids rarely get picked on. But that was okay with him at the time, because he really enjoyed sports anyway. Then, he was forced to work with a speech pathologist who gave him very vigorous, exhausting conditioning exercises. He hated them, but they did help the speech issues to subside enough to be barely noticeable now. As is true for many people, Peter could talk easily with family and close friends, but was introverted when it came to connecting with new people at first. He was seen as snobbish by some in high school because he was athletic and successful but hardly spoke to anyone. Entering college and the workforce without sports as his shield, he had no choice but to speak in certain situations. When it came to keeping a job he truly valued, he stepped up and spent his work commute educating himself and working to improve his speaking abilities. Of all things that Peter has tried, he says that personal coaching made the biggest difference for him. His biggest takeaway has been learning that the people listening to us aren't thinking the horrible things we think about ourselves. They're just there to listen. If we focus on what we have to offer the listener, our perspective shifts and the fear goes away. Today, Peter works with others to show them how it's all about the audience. __________________ Find Peter here: peter@petergeorgepublicspeaking.com https://petergeorgepublicspeaking.com https://petergeorgepublicspeaking.com/public-speaking-podcast https://linkedin.com/in/petergeorgepublicspeaking https://twitter.com/PeterGeorgeIntl__________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.   Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Eric Brotman who was very entertaining in childhood. He loved doing standup comedy or singing, always mimicking his favorite stars. He enjoyed putting on a show for his friends and family, goofy and carefree. But he never actually used his own voice or his own style when he did these things. In school, he fit in everywhere and was friends with everyone, now referring to his younger self as "chameleon-esque". Still to this day, he has a tendency-- as many of us do-- to tailor his speaking style to his audience. However, the changes that took place after his parents' divorce led this high schooler to face adulthood much earlier than expected. Eric began working at age 14, made his way through college, and completed some internships that led him toward the finance industry (although his studies were in English and Psychology). In this field and in his work with clients, he realized the vulnerable work he was doing as people shared their fears, the financial mistakes they'd made in the past, and their hopes and dreams for the future. He found his voice through moving forward, trying different things, and being open-minded to opportunities that came his way. He didn't plan to end up working in finance, but he says it's the best outcome he could have ever hoped for, and he loves helping others to open their minds to the possibilities that life has to offer. __________________ Eric D. Brotman, CFP®, is the CEO of BFG Financial Advisors, host of the Don’t Retire… Graduate! podcast, author of the Don’t Retire… Graduate! book, and regular contributor to Forbes.com. He and his team believe that financial literacy is the key to financial freedom, so they provide free and affordable educational resources and accessible financial planning with no asset minimums. Free Resources: Ebook to help you save on taxes can be downloaded at lowtaxbook.com Ebook to help understand the financial planning process can be downloaded at whatisfp.com Complete library of resources, including webinars, podcasts, and articles can be found at brotmanmedia.com Find Eric here: ebrotman@bfgfa.com linkedin.com/company/bfgfa linkedin.com/in/ebrotman facebook.com/BFGFinancialAdvisorsfacebook.com/DontRetireGraduate twitter.com/brotmanplanning__________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com. Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Joe Perrone who remembers growing up in Connecticut and being a secure child. He was in a home-school environment where he had to build his own network of friends. Later, in a public school setting, he was thrust among many other kids his age who had spent their lives learning in a completely different environment. Joe had to learn to fit into this new rhythm. He observed different norms when he entered the workforce as well. The dynamics between family members, friends, and business partners were all very unique. Being unfamiliar with this realm made him hesitant to speak out when he wanted to. Still, business culture and power became great interests for Joe. He chose to stand up against the unfairness that was occurring in his workplace. The thing that gave him boldness in the face of potentially losing his job was his love for his coworkers and doing the right thing by them. Stepping into a leadership role was a roller-coaster ride, but now that Joe has found the right way to use his voice, he uses his passion for business to help others find their own success. __________________ Joe is a strategist who helps business owners reclaim their time freedom. He believes that your business should run itself. It shouldn't run you into the ground. Joe has been helping his clients find full enjoyment in everything that they create, and do it without burning out. An entrepreneur himself, he owns and operates two successful automotive repair shops, and he does it in about six hours a week. His favorite ways to invest his reclaimed time is in building strong relationships with his wife and his two young sons, and also building a business that runs successfully without him and helping other business owners do the same. Find Joe here: joe@joeperrone.biz Facebook Group: TIME FREEDOM WARRIORS facebook.com/groups/138934128239311/?ref=share Instagram: @joeperrone.biz  LinkedIn: https://Linkedin.com/in/joeon34____________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com. Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Regan Nelson who had great confidence when it came to speaking up. Her brother and sister were heavily involved in politic.  She excelled in speech classes and always found it easy to perform. The true missing piece, Regan says, was that she hadn't found a specific cause or passion that she personally identified as a reason to speak her mind and boldly share her own thoughts. Then she joined Beautycounter, a clean skincare line of products, and found that her heart was drawn to the concept of speaking up for change. She wanted to use her voice to benefit and improve the world. She had always naturally shared her thoughts about health and wellness as part of her background in the industry. But working with Beautycounter opened up a whole new world of awareness around the toxins that are in everyday products and packaging and the detrimental impact they have on our health and our planet. This became her new mission. Regan currently uses her voice within Beautycounter to redefine the standards of clean personal care and cosmetic products, focusing on increasing awareness and legislation around these new standards. __________________ Regan Nelson is an entrepreneur, educator, and positive changemaker. She holds a BS and MS in exercise physiology and has 16+ years of experience working in innovation and consumer insights in the consumer goods industry, 6 years of which she spent at Nike. Regan is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Portland where she served for two years on the Board of Directors as the Executive Vice President and Community Vice President, among other leadership positions. Through her Podcast, This or Something Better, Regan shares stories of innovators and positive changemakers committed to making the world better. Regan’s own quest for “something better” comes through her work as a Senior Director with Beautycounter. Regan is a passionate health educator and advocate for more health-protective legislation over the personal care industry. Find Regan here: https://linkedin.com/in/regan-nelson-4539646 https://www.facebook.com/thisorsomethingbetterpodcasthttps://beautycounter.com/regannelson?goto=/__________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.    Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Sandy Abell, who as a child felt starved for attention because her younger sibling received so much more attention.  She started acting out, as many children do, which led to people rejecting her. All of the rejection put Sandy in the habit of being and behaving the way she thought people wanted her to. Later, the REAL Sandy started to peek through, and she was excited to see that people seemed to really like her for who she truly was! As Sandy continued to come out of her shell, she developed a fascination with psychology and personal transformation. Her self-esteem grew as she started to acknowledge and learn about both the "good" and "bad" parts of herself, realizing how special she'd been all along. Now, Sandy is a life and business coach who takes joy in helping others to find their own transformation. For a variety of free resources, visit Sandy's website at www.insidejobscoach.com. __________________ Sandy Abell is a best-selling author, life and business coach, and licensed therapist. Her passion is supporting people as they rediscover how amazing they are. Find Sandy here: sandy@insidejobscoach.com https://.insidejobscoach.com https://.insidejobscoach.com/subscribehttps://.linkedin.com/in/sandra-abell-ms-lpc-acc-5b650b7/ https://twitter.com/SandyAbell __________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.    Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Kori Gouge who learned to be very quiet and cautious due to living with a step-parent who struggled with mental illness. Her concern was to not cause trouble or upset, which earned her the nickname "Mouse." As she started to grow up and explore career options, her dreams of becoming a writer were discouraged because she "wouldn't make any money", so the path to finding her true self began to twist and turn a bit more. Then she became an Air Force pilot, where this little Mouse discovered she was actually a naturally gifted leader! However, despite excelling in this field, Kori yearned for something different and much deeper. She chose to withdraw from the Air Force to study psychology, with "personal transformation" in mind. She discovered that when she was in a position to truly thrive from the inside out, she was able to be more effective and truly make the biggest difference. She now uses her story and her voice to help people to adopt this same mindset. __________________ Kori Gouge, M.A. is a Business by Heart Mentor, writer, author, and speaker. She has been coaching, teaching, and writing on personal, relational, and business growth and communication for over 20 years. Her fascination with human behavior and language led her to earn her BA in Psychology and MA in Intercultural Communication. Her love of adventure led her to several multi-country solo overseas trips and to living and working abroad for close to three years. In her work as a business by heart mentor, she guides transformational coaches to unlock their clarity for aligned client attraction and to grow their businesses from their divine purpose. Find Kori here: kori@korigouge.com https://korigouge.com https://www.youtube.com/korigouge https://www.facebook.com/kori.gougehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/korigouge/__________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.  Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Debbie Hoffman who worked on Wall Street for 20 years, and she performed very confidently. She excelled at an extremely young age and was one of the only females in a male-dominated industry. Her femininity gave her a strong advantage with clients. However good she was at speaking successfully on behalf of her clients it was not the same as speaking up for herself.After her retirement, she started doing work in marketing for a health and wellness company. Here, her confidence faltered a little because she realized she was representing herself, instead of speaking for clients, as she had done in the past. She experienced a strong physical reaction to the thought of speaking in public, as well as overwhelming imposter syndrome, wondering if she was capable and could really make a difference. Then, she was following up with a client who pointed out that so many people struggle with following up, and Debbie was so good at it. She encouraged Debbie to teach people how to do it well, and that's where Debbie found her purpose and has been helping people ever since! Now, she works with relationship-driven entrepreneurs, coaches, and network marketers to make sure they have a reliable follow-up system in place so that they don't lose potential clients and income. Get Debbie's free guide: 4 Secrets To “Power-Up!” Your Sales (Without Being Salesy!) http://www.powerupyourfollowup.com/freeguide __________________ Debbie Hoffman is a heart-centered sales & follow-up expert, speaker, and founder of “Power-Up! Your Follow-Up.” After 20 years of working on Wall Street as a Managing Director, with over $25-billion in sales, Debbie took her organizational skills (and an extraordinary ability to connect with people) and created multiple six-figure businesses. In addition, Debbie had tremendous success as a Network Marketer, having built an international team of several thousand consultants. She’s also a best-selling author and has a book highlighting her proven follow-up system… due out in 2022. Her mission is to support entrepreneurs to share their gifts and get their message out in a big way so they can create the impact they’re here to make.___________________Find Debbie here: debbie@powerupyourfollowup.comhttps://www.powerupyourfollowup.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerupyourfollowup/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbieahoffman/ https://www.facebook.com/debbieannhoffman ___________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.   Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Rich Stevens who tended to be the loudest person in the room, always making "noise". He had a big personality. At home, however, he kept to himself and was fairly mellow and quiet. He then realized that in business and in life, being noisy isn't helpful. He had a lot to say, but it was not useful, constructive, or otherwise helpful in any way. So his words were just noise, and they were off-putting. After battling years of depression, he realized that by making a lot of "noise" he felt that he was the problem. He has since learned to balance the different sides of his personality, focusing on quality over quantity. He has a deep love for people and now helps people to gain a better understanding of each other, allowing them to become stronger. _____________ Rich Stevens is a podcaster and motivational speaker. On his podcast Inside the Orange, he talks to people to understand the similarities and differences in people and how we can learn from each other. The idea of Inside the Orange comes from the idea that we think we 'know' people from the outside, but only when we look inside of people and understand them do we know what's really going on. Much like everyone knows what an orange is, but you don't know how good that orange is until you unpeel it... Rich wants to grow his brand and help businesses understand their people better through training and engagement to improve retention of people within the business and to help develop brand ambassadors. Find Rich here: insidethisorange@gmail.com http://insidetheorange.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/insidetheorange https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-stevens-0b557993/_____________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.  Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Les Brown is a well-known motivational speaker, but what you might not know is that he came from humble beginnings. In this interview, he shares a couple experiences from his childhood that shaped and transformed the way he lives his life. The key was in changing the story he believed about himself! Les is full of insightful knowledge and shares lots of quotes I'm sure you'll find meaningful. He enjoys lifting people up, building confidence and clarity. He believes that in order to find your voice, you must focus on 1) not being afraid to dream big, 2) owning who you are, and 3) protecting your relationship circle; it's important to only surround yourself with people who care about you and add positivity to your life. ________________Les has a coaching community called Coach Me, Les Brown, where he helps people transform their lives and finances. He shows aspiring speakers how to be successful and make money. His focus is on making a shift into mindset mentorship and meaningful connections. __________________ Find Les here: coachmelesbrown.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesbrownspeaks/ https://www.facebook.com/thelesbrown https://www.instagram.com/thelesbrown/ https://twitter.com/LesBrownLive https://twitter.com/LesBrown77 _________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.      Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.