11 Rules To Break To Set Yourself Free

Enter your name and email address to download our free eBook and set yourself free today!

* indicates required
It’s Time to Up Level.

It’s Time to Up Level.

by | Jan 3, 2023 | Business, Inspiration | 0 comments

Since the start of the year, I’ve been asking clients what their word is for 2024. I woke up in the morning a few weeks ago to my word, Up-Level.

No matter what your word is, I think every new year starts with:

Clearing out what is no longer necessary, removing anything complicated, zaps your energy, or no longer floats your boat. Getting super clear on what you want to create and aligning your beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and actions to make what you want happen, happen. Quality over quantity in how you show up, what you focus on, what you say, and what you choose to do. 

I’ve been clearing out with a vengeance. Drawers, closets, dressers, bins, cabinets, files, books, shredded papers, organized my kitchen, went to Goodwill, car trunk, went to Goodwill again, shredded some more, dumped all those sample products I get and never use, ice packs in the freezer I’ve been collecting…you know what I mean.

Clearing out always makes room for the new.

I then focus on creating an intentional action plan for the year ahead. (One that puts a huge smile on my face.) I like to start by looking at the eight intertwined areas of life. Then ask questions:

In what area(s) do I want change?

What’s my vision and intention?

What are my priorities and goals?

Where do I need help?

Creating an aligned plan helps to make changes in your life that will accelerate growth, keep you accountable and help you reach your goals the fastest. To make it super easy to create a plan for 2023, download a copy of Your Aligned Impact Plan, right here.

As an old boss of mine used to say:

“You can change a plan but you can’t change a “no plan”.

What breakthrough are you seeking?

Book A FREE 30 Minute Call with Me
The Procrastination + Perfectionism Loop

The Procrastination + Perfectionism Loop

by | Oct 21, 2022 | Blog, Business, Mindset | 0 comments

I recently had a conversation with a client and we talked about how much work he had on his plate, how he was falling behind and the anxiety he was feeling. I asked him a few questions:

Do you consider yourself a procrastinator?

Are you a perfectionist?

Have you always been this way?

I got a resounding YES from all three questions.

I said: “Procrastination always leads to feeling shitty.” He smiled and nodded his head.

80% of high achievers suffer from procrastination due to their high standards and expectations of themselves.

And, people who tend to procrastinate are more likely to be perfectionists. Perfection and procrastination go hand in hand. The truth is, it’s perfectionism that inhibits productivity.

Perfectionists believe they are loved for what they do, how they look, or for Doing It Right. I’m a recovered perfectionist but it still rears its ugly head, usually when I try really hard and don’t get the results I want.

The Perfectionism/Procrastination Loop is like being on a hamster wheel. It begins with having unrealistic standards, then fear of failure sets in, then avoidance comes next to stir up guilt and stress, which leads to thinking and feeling shitty about yourself.

if i waited for perfection, i would never right a word. Margaret atwood

Here are my 5 tips to break the perfectionism cycle:

1. Ask yourself, why do I believe I need to be perfect?
Most likely, it was how you learned to get love as a small child. Once you ask yourself, ask the question again, I bet you’ll get a different answer. You’ll recognize that you are loved for who you are – not for what you accomplish.

2. Stop second-guessing.
Doubting yourself and your actions is usually about what happened in the past. “Should I have handled the situation differently?” Start trusting yourself and the decisions you make. If you focus on what’s happening now, you can make a positive impact.

3. Release the judgment.
It only leads to a negative view of everything – yourself, situations and all the people who truly matter to you. Judgment dilutes your vitality. Instead, direct your energy into what you love and what inspires you.

4. Stop being your worst critic.
“Who are you to think less of yourself than others do? Belittling yourself is so passé. It’s time to learn to be kind and gentle with yourself.

5. Let go of unrealistic expectations of yourself and others.
Expectations only create disappointment, especially if they aren’t met. Be open to how things unfold. The outcome may be better than you imagined.

Having high standards and working hard to achieve goals is how you get ahead in life. Just don’t let it affect your happiness and those around you.

If you’re ready to maximize
your leadership potential, let’s talk.

A bigger picture of success awaits.

Schedule your complimentary 30 minute
1:1 Clarity Call with me here.

Schedule My Clarity Call Now
Communication is the Real Work of Leaders.

Communication is the Real Work of Leaders.

by | Oct 11, 2022 | Blog, Business, In-Power | 0 comments

Communication and the ability to influence is the #1 skill for every single one of us. Yet often, we either don’t make it a priority, forget to share details, or avoid a conversation altogether. From my experience, it’s because we are fearful of how the other party will respond.

  • Will the person get angry?
  • Or reject us?

  • Or be hurt?

If we have our druthers, most of us would prefer to steer clear of conflict and confrontation.

It’s just human nature.

We all know how it feels to encounter someone with poor verbal communication skills. We’re left feeling confused, frustrated or even worse, disempowered. You know what I mean. Instead of being lifted up, it drags us down.

A strong leader doesn’t need to be the smartest person in the room or work longer hours than others do. What is needed is to have a high degree of emotional intelligence, and bring people together around a common goal. A strong leader must use the right words to build up their team and articulate clear goals for individuals and for the organization.

In a LinkedIn survey, Emotional Intelligence ranked in the top 5 soft skills most sought after. EQ and knowing how to communicate with influence go hand in hand. Think Yin and Yang. Or Bonnie and Clyde.

Becoming a better communicator requires being intentional in both your conversations and in writing.

Here are my 6 simple and proven communication strategies for any conversation you embark on:

1. Be Prepared – Know what you want to say ahead of time

2. Be Clear – Keep it clear and concise

3. Be Confident – be strong in your point of view

4. Be Thoughtful – speak with compassion and empathy

5. Be Grounded – eliminate distractions, stay present and listen

6. Be Open – look for synergistic outcomes

Learning how to be a good communicator is crucial for your success in business and in life. It requires focus, practice, and commitment. It can be a lifelong journey so be patient and stay the course!

Remember, speaking up is a responsibility. So, use the 6 steps to be intentional and strategic in every conversation.

I’ve helped hundreds of business professionals get clear on what they want to say and how to say it, whether it be to a boss, employee, client, colleague, partner, or friend.

If you’ve been avoiding putting off a tricky conversation, sign up for a complimentary Clarity Call with me here.

Schedule 30 Min Clarity Call

And, if you missed my LinkedIn webinar, Strategic Communication: Get the Outcomes You Want, here’s the replay:

strategic communication: get the results that you want webinar
6 Communication Strategies for Any Difficult Conversation

6 Communication Strategies for Any Difficult Conversation

by | Sep 14, 2022 | Blog, Business, In-Power | 0 comments

Remember when we could sweep an issue under the rug, put our head in the sand and pray it would go away?

Communication and the ability to influence is the #1 skill for every single one of us. Yet when conflict arises, it’s the first thing that gets tossed out the window.

 

Here are a few situations I’ve helped my clients navigate lately:

👉 A client works for a large Silicon Valley company. He’s a top, individual contributor yet is being asked to lead his teammates and do the job of two people. He is stressed and sleep-deprived. We talked about what to say to his boss but he said she wouldn’t understand.

👉 A client runs the Americas division for a well-known corporation. A member of his team is not cutting it, he’s not focused on bringing in more revenue. We discussed what he needs to say to his employee. He still hasn’t had the conversation.

👉A client’s in-laws came to stay the night and forgot to mention they weren’t feeling well. Oops. My client’s entire family got Covid. She was livid…how dare they? We discussed how to have “the honest conversation” so something like this wouldn’t happen again. She decided to not rock the boat.

👉 Another client is in real estate. She has a partner and for the last five years, helped build a thriving business. She now wants to pursue another career and told her partner but now she is avoiding her. We discussed how to have “the honest conversation” to get back on the same page.

 

Here are my 6 simple and proven communication strategies for any difficult conversation you embark on:

1. Be Prepared – Know what you want to say ahead of time

2. Be Clear – Keep it clear and concise

3. Be Confident – be strong in your point of view

4. Be Thoughtful – speak with compassion and empathy

5. Be Grounded – eliminate distractions, stay present and listen

6. Be Open – look for synergistic outcomes

You can have a connected conversation, stand in your truth, be kind and caring – AND – get the results you want.

I have helped hundreds of professionals get clear on how to say what they want to say. whether it be to a boss, employee, client, colleague, romantic partner, or friend.

If you’ve been putting off “the difficult conversation”, book a free 30-minute clarity call with me right here.

High Performance – Debunked.

High Performance – Debunked.

by | May 27, 2022 | Blog, Business, Mindset | 0 comments

So you are a self-professed high performer. You excel at what you do.

It’s just who you are. You’ve worked hard to cultivate a high-performing mindset. 

✔️ You’re on it and run circles around everyone

✔️ You have clarity, especially about the BIG stuff

✔️ Your work/life balance is in check 

✔️ You speak up and communicate with compassion AND conviction

✔️ You have courage – in spades 

✔️ You make sound and timely decisions

✔️ You’re comfortable in your skin and able to laugh at yourself

✔️ You even rein in your anxiety, ‘cause you know everyone has some 

✔️ You feel joy on a regular basis

 

Congratulations. You’ve made it. You have the world by the tail. Yet, there are times when you fall into traps like these that take you off your game.

✔️ Looking ‘good’ at all costs 

✔️ People pleasing

✔️ Comparing yourself to what others say, do, and have

✔️ Doing things the way you’ve always done

✔️ Striving for recognition and approval

✔️ Controlling people and outcomes

✔️ Addiction to over-doing, over-busy and over-working

A high-performing mindset IS NOT these things.

 

One minute you feel more confident than ever, the next you don’t. That recurring belief you thought you tackled YEARS AGO, rears its ugly head. You know what I mean..the belief ‘I am not good enough’. It comes back to haunt you when things don’t go your way or according to your plan, when you’re out of your comfort zone, or get feedback you don’t like. Moments ago you were feeling AWESOME but now you’re feeling sad and like a LOSER.

 

If this resonates, I got news for you. Your Identity and self-esteem are tied up in your performance. And that’s always a no-win situation.

Contrary to popular belief:

👉 You are not what you do.
👉 You are not what you accomplish.
👉 You are not what people think of you.
👉 You are not how many likes you get.
👉 You are not how much money you make.

 
To move out of the “Not Enough Syndrome”, I can help. Book a free clarity call with me below.

What breakthrough are you seeking?

Book A FREE 30 Minute Call with Me
How to Not Give a Shit What Others Think.

How to Not Give a Shit What Others Think.

by | Jan 21, 2022 | Blog, Business, In-Power | 0 comments

I love seeing my clients grow into their authentic power and advance in their careers. It’s why I do what I do. Some of my favorite results I see are when clients shift from:

Having perfection as a mantra to embracing their ‘messy’

Playing the comparison game to feeling comfortable in their skin

Feeling insecure they don’t fit into claiming their uniqueness

Acquiescing to bosses to share their strong opinions

Feeling intimated by large Zoom meetings to speaking up

Doubting themselves to feeling confident in their decisions 

Prioritizing what others think to not giving a shit

Feeling disempowered to feeling like a badass

You don’t have to wait until you’re 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 to stop giving a shit what others think. You don’t have to wait until you’re older to feel totally awesome about YOU and what you bring to the table. You don’t have to wait to create the life you want – on your terms.

You can do it right NOW.

Being in the driver’s seat of your life starts with knowing who you are authentically – the most powerful version of YOU. Join me for the Your Authentic Brand Workshop on February 10th. 

Find all the details and sign up right here.