About Progress

Do you ever catch yourself staring down a long list of check boxes? Either you're overly eager to zip through them all, or paralyzed by the thought of even starting? Wherever you fall, productivity is one of those things we can all benefit by checking in on. This month I want you to be productive in less time and in ways that really count. We're calling it meaningful productivity.

Productivity is a strength of mine, but I want to tell you the truth about the weakness I have found in that strength. Full days, with lots of different things to do are exciting to me and always have been. But, what I learned recently is that I sometimes hinge my value off of my outcomes. So then, if I don't fit in and check off absolutely everything, I'm disappointed and unhappy. It isn't a sustainable cycle.

Facing my day using my 3 step system has really helped me narrow in on the to-do's that matter most, without feeling guilt from the things I don't get to. Tune in for the simple steps you can also follow, along with my personal experiences working on each one to turn my hamster wheel of productivity into something meaningful.

About a few other things...

Enrollment for Podcast U is now open! Save yourself the struggle of getting your podcast off the ground. Learn how to start and grow it in with the 3 month course that's right for you. You'll receive video instruction, a workbook, office hours and support.

If you want to sample the teaching style of Podcast U, check out these completely free classes: How to START Your Podcast and How to GROW Your Podcast. Stop procrastinating your potential and do something about this goal!

Make sure you're signed up for the Go Getter Newsletter to get each episode's Progress Pointers straight to your inbox every Thursday.

SHOW NOTES

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Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'm living the life I've always wanted...so why am I still so ______________ (insert negative emotion)." I have lived through that and for me it was feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, lost, stuck, even empty. Through a lot of personal development I dug myself out of that hole, and continue to grow in a way that lets me love this life I've always wanted - even when it's sweeping crumbs off the floor.

I want this change for you, too. Tomorrow is the very last day for enrollment in my small group growth coaching Progress Program. Don't let the opportunity to do something for yourself (and ultimately even for others via trickle-down-effect) pass you by.

As always, I'm giving my monthly "what's happening" life update in this episode - including a Harry Potter review, the coaching certification program I finally decided on, and a moving update. Then, how I got schooled this month. Including takeaways from each episode and what you all really taught me about self respect.

Tune in to hear what real women from the About Progress community learned this month. They share what inspired them, how they changed, and ways they will continue to grow. Being able to truly laugh, cry, and come together is the best part of each month, so thank you for your submissions!

About a few other things...

Make sure you're signed up for the Go Getter Newsletter to get each episode's Progress Pointers straight to your inbox every Thursday.

SHOW NOTES

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In this episode we uncover that the anecdote to shame, weakness, and negative self-talk is really compassion. Does showing yourself compassion feel unfamiliar? Maybe it's something you've only considered as an action towards others. If so, then it's time to be your own dear friend, as Cheryl puts it. As you work on your own self respect, you can drive your growth with more compassion.

Cheryl Cardall is a wife and mother of 5 on a mission to strengthen families, by strengthening mothers. She is an advocate for giving yourself grace and has worked on her own self to be able to focus on the positive. She opens up about her own mental health, and the relief a diagnosis brought her. She also shares tips you can use daily to find compassion for yourself, including an experience with affirmations that changed a lot for her.

To improve yourself, to grow, to even begin to respect yourself you don't need to do a 180 degree change. In this episode learn how weaknesses, even negativity, can coexist with strength and positivity. You can become your own friend, to find the connection and empathy that lends itself towards real self compassion.

For those times you need a reminder of everything you've learned, get this episode's Progress Pointers by subscribing to the Go Getter Newsletter and get them straight to your inbox each Thursday.

About a few other things...

If this episode struck a chord with you and you know it's time to respect what you really want out of your life, see if the Progress Program is right for you. Through small group coaching I want to help you get unstuck in ways that stick. Doors close 2/28 (or before that if the group reaches capacity - I keep it really small!).

SHOW NOTES

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One time I almost considered becoming engaged to someone (not my husband!) because I was so scared to say no. My struggle with saying yes and saying no has been a long journey, friends, and it's one I'm still working on. In this episode I want to talk about how to guard your yes's and give you my personal experience with, and guidelines, on how to do that.

Last year I lived a year of yes (anyone else read Shonda Rimes' book?) and learned a lot about myself, and others, who behave this way. Not only does saying yes, and even saying no, affect you, it affects everyone around you. Maybe that's not surprising. If this is something you struggle with, examine the feelings that come up when you give a mis-intended yes.

Now let's not go crazy here, I don't like laundry but I still say yes to it, because of my life's priorities. That's the bonus fourth point I share in this episode, along with 3 other rules I follow to guard my yes's.

If this topic is something you know you need to work on even more, check out Becky Higgins episode "Why You Need to Say No to Good Things".

About a few other things...

If this episode struck a chord with you and you know it's time to respect what you really want out of your life, see if the Progress Program is right for you. Through small group coaching I want to help you get unstuck in ways that stick. Doors close 2/28 (or before that if the group reaches capacity - I keep it really small!).

Not sure if I'm the right coach for you? Find out by attending my bite-sized class (1.5 hours!) on beating the procrastination blues.

SHOW NOTES

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In college, a therapist recommended I read "The Secret" to help with visualizing and understanding the influence of thoughts. Have you read it? Heard of it?? It's a little woo-woo for some, but the concepts have stuck with me over the years. So, instead of using manifestation to focus on the materialistic things, in this interview we discuss how to use it to get the life you want.

Shirin Eskandani, of wholehearted coaching, believes in and teaches manifestation...but almost without calling it that (she explains that!). In this interview she shares how several years ago she was in a really rough patch and took a giant leap of faith on self development for herself. Since then her ideas of manifestation are more focused on dreaming, self work, and overcoming obstacles.

We break down the beliefs women often have about themselves, as well as manifesting in non-materialistic ways, and how you can get started with this. I also share how manifestation has worked in reverse - meaning how the negative beliefs I had about myself were in fact coming true. Tune in for a lesson on how to get the life you want, while living the life you're in.

For those times you need a reminder of everything you've learned, get this episode's Progress Pointers by subscribing to the Go Getter Newsletter and get them straight to your inbox each Thursday.

About a few other things...

If this episode struck a chord with you and you know it's time to respect what you really want out of your life, see if the Progress Program is right for you. Through small group coaching I want to help you get unstuck in ways that stick. Doors close 2/28 (or before that if the group reaches capacity - I keep it really small!).

Not sure if I'm the right coach for you? Find out by attending my bite-sized class (1.5 hours!) on beating the procrastination blues. It's going to be offered on 3 dates and we will tackle some of the biggest obstacles that procrastination puts in our way.

SHOW NOTES

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Kim White taught us how to fight, feel, and love. She urged us to be grateful for our working lungs and legs, our difficulties with kids, the ups and downs of our marriages. 

In her fight against cancer, she taught us how to live.

Like you, I have been profoundly influenced by Kim and was so saddened to hear of her passing this early morning. This episode is a tribute to her--to her goodness, her sass, her strength, her realness, and her spirit.

We love you Kim. We love your husband, child, and family. Thank you for giving us so many gifts and letting us be part of your magnificent life. You will treasured, always.

Show Notes:

Kim's Instagram

Kim's husband--Treagan's--Instagram

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This is something we often talk about around here, but yet, always worth repeating. Do you ever feel like you're not fulfilled, even though you're living the life you've always wanted? You can replace 'fulfilled' with lots of words, like happy, confident, even yourself. Growing through those feelings, towards finding yourself again is really at the heart of About Progress. Today's interview provides another meaningful look at the situation many of us (myself included) find ourselves in; tune in and know you can grow into who you were meant to become.

Amy Tangerine is the creative behind her lifestyle brand, which includes a book, podcast, and workshops. But, of course, it isn't all just bright colors and confetti. Her story of running a million-dollar-business around the time of the 2008 economy crash, and how she found her way back to her creative self, shows the real grit to her growth.

Amy believes in infusing creativity into the everyday, while really nourishing yourself and giving pause where needed. In this episode she even gives you a "permission slip" that you mentally sign, so that you can get started towards who you were always meant to become. And if getting started is really where you're stuck, we spend a lot of time on that, too. If you have to ask yourself "Who's life am I even living?" then this episode is realllly for you.

For those times you need a reminder of everything you've learned, get this episode's Progress Pointers by subscribing to the Go Getter Newsletter and get them straight to your inbox each Thursday.

About a few other things...

If this episode struck a chord with you and you know it's time to respect what you really want out of your life, see if the Progress Program is right for you. Through small group coaching I want to help you get unstuck in ways that stick. Doors close 2/28 (or before that if the group reaches capacity - I keep it really small!).

Not sure if I'm the right coach for you? Find out by attending my bite-sized class (1.5 hours!) on beating the procrastination blues. It's going to be offered on 3 dates and we will tackle some of the biggest obstacles that procrastination puts in our way.

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the month of love, so we're going to sort of play off of that feeling with February's theme. No, not self love, not a frivolous treat yourself mindset, but real self respect. They are different, and there may be a time and place for self love, but as we work towards deep down growth and change you need to work towards self respect.

Why does it matter to respect yourself? Life has so many ups and downs, so much of it is out of our control. But you can control yourself, you can be your own anchor amongst the storm. Respect is something that we can anchor into, more so than we can with just self love.

Do you feel like you're living a reactive life? I'm opening up about the shift I had to make years ago, going from being reactive to active living. I had to find myself, learn to respect myself, and do something. What you're witnessing today was born during that time! In this episode I'm sharing a few simple questions you can ask yourself to just get started towards better self respect.

If you want more specific guidance on this topic, join our membership group. You'll have access to the monthly progress plan, live coaching, support and accountability.

Lastly, make sure you're subscribed to the Go Getter Newsletter to get each episodes Progress Pointers straight to your inbox each Thursday.

SHOW NOTES

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Last week's free organization challenge is over (catch the replays for a few more days). Let me just say, WOW! So many of you, more than I even imagined, showed up ready to learn and experienced true organizational breakthroughs.

Do you want to experience even more confidence and clarity in your life? YOU CAN, through organizing your mind, space, and time. Check out the Organization Overhaul audio course. With 12 teachers and 24 lessons, you'll be equipped with the tools you need to transform your life. The value of this course is $297, but only until February 1st it's $77. Podcast listeners get lifetime access for the lower yearly price with code 'PROGRESS' at checkout.

After this month of "getting started" I'm opening up about what that has looked like for my family - both big goals and exciting short term plans. I also share how I got schooled by our guests, meaning what surprised me and what I won't ever forget from our conversations. If you missed the Do Something growth spurt episode here's a friendly reminder it is never too late and I guide you through how to start there.

As always, I continue to be blown away by this community and the vulnerability in which listeners show up each month in these "Dear Progressor" submissions. In this episode you'll hear from women who each learned something different this month - how to overcome all-or-nothing thinking, the importance of creativity, and of course, getting started. One submission identifies herself as an About Progress "lurker" (that's okay!!) and then proceeds to open up about the life-saving lessons she learned and healing she has felt from this podcast, among other things.

Lastly, make sure you're subscribed to the Go Getter Newsletter to get each episodes Progress Pointers straight to your inbox each Thursday.

SHOW NOTES

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If you find yourself discouraged in your wandering, you don't have to be! The growth is really in the journey, not the arrival. If you don't believe that, we get into it in this episode with artist Caitlin Connolly. She shares her unconventional path, how it really took decades to believe in herself, and why you, too, should pursue your blessed wandering path.

You've probably seen Caitlin Connolly's work; her art is strikingly beautiful and many women identify strongly with her figure painting. I for one, knew I needed her to share her unique story with this community when Miranda Anderson shared a bit of it on her podcast.

There is something so familiar in her own story of struggling to find her calling. Her advice? Start with what you love. Anything, no matter how small or trivial in your mind, will do. Then build, seek support, find clarity, and gain confidence. We also discuss how to deal with "arrival disappointment", and the beauty in taking a break.

If you find yourself well-versed in fear, scared of trusting your gut, this episode should give you the "get started" boost you need. And if you want this episode's Progress Pointers make sure you're subscribed to the Go Getter Newsletter and get them straight to your inbox each Thursday.

About a few other things...

Ready for an Organization Overhaul? Learn from myself and 11 experts on a wide variety of topics meant to teach you how to take charge of your organization and change your life. Listen to 24 lessons over 12 weeks, receive weekly emails, and tons of support to get your mind, space, and time organized. Podcast listeners get lifetime access for the lower yearly price with code 'PROGRESS' at checkout. Prices go up February 1st, don't miss out!

SHOW NOTES

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