Ambition Without Compromise by Monique R. Shields

July 17, 2024 38 | Scared To Hire

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

In this special behind-the-scenes episode, I pull back the covers on my personal journey as a CEO and entrepreneur sharing my fears, challenges, and breakthroughs. From hiring hurdles to business growth, I get real and raw about the ups and downs of my five-year journey of building my business and the challenges of making my first full-time hire.

If you've ever hesitated to invest in yourself or your business, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now and discover how you can move past your fears and build the business of your dreams.

MENTIONED
12 | Allowing Your Ambition To Evolve with Jereshia Hawk

GEMS DROPPED
“Inevitably when we move through and we get one new level of clarity, a new barrier gets introduced. When we break through one ceiling, a new ceiling all of a sudden appears.”

“I had begun to buy into this sort of vague, emotional reaction, and told myself a story that was irresponsible to hire someone until I have this feeling that I can support them. And that's not what hiring is like. The actual exchange of expectations and the resources and the energy that flows between you and your team members or those who are working for your company, you're not paying to take care of them. And so that doesn't have anything to do with my values around being a thoughtful and kind and compassionate person and leader, right. How I will treat people, how I actually care about whoever works with me, their humanity, like I'm still me and I don't have to place this additional weight on the relationship that doesn't need to exist. It just really has no place.”

“We all need this. We need other people to help us catch those blind spots and shift our perspective. Otherwise, we're trapped in our own way of thinking, and we overcomplicate stuff. We make things harder than they need to be and it's just because certain things are hidden or there’re certain angles that we're just not exploring.”

“I think it's important to get yourself into conversation not only with your coach, because I would not have made the connections to the undercurrents right around the belonging, around the messiness if I had not already laid the groundwork, which with the deeper level work that I do with my coach and that I have done with my therapists. But these kind of [questions], ‘What's the next step? Where are we going to take it next?’ Not sitting in that alone. It makes all the difference.”

STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

44 min

July 03, 2024 37 | The Power Of Prioritizing Friendship And Connection

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

As a coach, facilitator, and speaker, I have come to realize that our dreams don't always welcome us with open arms. The journey towards our aligned future can often feel lonely and unwelcoming, especially when we are made to feel isolated.

Join me as I share personal stories and revelations about overcoming isolation and finding support in our journeys. From a significant encounter in 2018 that solidified my commitment to working with women of color, to the transformative power of finding and fostering authentic connections during the pandemic, this episode is a heartfelt testimony to the necessity of community for thriving.

Tune in to discover how prioritizing connection can unlock your potential and lead to greater success in both your personal and professional life.

MENTIONED
I'm opening three exclusive spots for women CEOs ready to redefine their leadership. If you're at a pivotal moment—launching a new fund, leading a team, or stepping into a new role—and feel the weight of what's next, I’m here to support you. Ready to invest in your growth and tackle challenges head-on? Visit www.moniquershields.com and fill out the simple contact form to get started.

GEMS DROPPED
“Success requires community. Success requires belonging. Someone needs to be looking out for you, holding space for you, sending up prayers for you, thinking of you, knowing what's going on with you, knowing a few layers deep, understanding the dimensions of your life, because enough of them overlap with theirs, and because they've spent the time, the intention of both working on themselves and making it known that they are serious and invested in your success, that they want you to win. There's no, like, weird, threatening, frenemy energy going on, right? “

“Your primary concern must be about connection. It must be about community. It must be meeting the needs.”

“As a black woman, we're used to counting on ourselves. And so the help that we really deep, deep, deep, deep down, that desire, the vulnerability, the sadness, the emotions, the joy that we wish we could not only express, but to be witnessed and to be held in and celebrated in or whatever needs to be amplified or just held, we don't know how to do that. Nobody has taught us how to do that. And so it is the medicine for so many things. “

“There's a whole different experience of human interaction in the world. And I think we think about this just for our kids. We are greatly impacted by this, • and I think it is costing us dearly. And I think for those of us who have layer upon layer of subjugated and or marginalized identities, however you hold that language in your mind, it's even more so. So we are under attack, like, our humanity. And what becomes possible for us is under attack because of what kinds of patterns and practices have become normalized in our societies.”

“When belonging is blocked, or you're not getting enough of that, it has far reaching impacts over the rest of your life. It has everything to do with how much money you believe you can make as well. Make it happen like you're fighting for your life, because you are.”

STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

37 min

June 19, 2024 36 | Learning How To Do Nothing

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In today's fast-paced world, the concept of truly resting and enjoying success often feels elusive. Many of us are caught in a cycle of hyper productivity and achievement, constantly striving for the next milestone without pausing to reflect or recharge.

Inspired by a friend's sabbatical and a compelling story from Will Smith's autobiography, I’m examining the internal struggle and unexpected discomfort that comes with stepping away from the grind.

If you're seeking ways to incorporate rest into your life, or simply curious about the journey of self-discovery and enjoyment, this episode offers valuable reflections and practical advice to help you embrace stillness and find balance. Tune in as I dive into the art of stillness and explore what it means to remove yourself from the relentless pace of life to reconnect with your true self.

MENTIONED
The Will Smith Autobiography Will by Will Smith

GEMS DROPPED
“Many of us have the privilege to do this, to actually take sabbaticals or to open a new chapter in your life where your work, your business, your profession is not at the center, at the core of your identity.”

“Some of us have been working full time employees since we were very small children. Whether we were going elsewhere, outside of our household to work or whether we were energetically, emotionally laboring, we've been like many of us have been laboring for a very long time. And so when that threshold arises where it's time for my sabbatical, it's gonna vary.”

“Without the expressed belief that I am working towards a sabbatical, some sort of extended break to pull yourself away and to reconnect with yourself and life…whatever. I think that that's what we're quietly playing for, but I don't think that many of us have actually taken ourselves to the place.”

“The question is what do we actually think we want and what we truly will find on the other side of this freedom to rest, the stillness, the pause that we all keep saying that we want?”

“I think we focus a lot on, like, I need to have a hobby, I need to have fun. And I think a lot of that just comes back down to like sit down either with yourself or someone else, however you process out your thoughts. If you can't think of like what am I into? What am I interested in besides making money, besides doing, you know, achieving things and you know, like working, what am I into? Go back to your younger self and think about what brought you delight and joy and surprise and what really intrigued you as a kid. What was something that you used to spend hours on. It may not be that exact thing today in its exact form, but some continuity of that still exists within you.”

“Build yourself a bridge back to yourself first.”

“Until he had had that kind of stillness experience where it's like, I have nowhere to go but to be here with me and to actually feel what it is that is trying to be felt. That is the thing that I think we are avoiding most.”

STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

40 min

June 05, 2024 35 | The Courage To Pursue Peace With Hillarie Maddox of BlackGirlCountryLiving

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

Are you yearning for a change in your life, especially one that brings you closer to your true self? This episode might just be the nudge you need.

In this episode, we unfold the essence of rewilding – a term that transcends its ecological roots to embody a spiritual awakening and connection with the natural world. Hillarie Maddox, a mother, aspiring farmer, community builder and the visionary behind Black Girl Country Living, shares her profound shift from the corporate grind to a life steeped in nature, healing, and community on Whidbey Island.

Join in as Hillarie recounts her journey– from her aspirations for big-city success to her courageous leap into a life that truly resonates with her soul. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of transitioning multiple times, the power of visibility in attracting life-altering opportunities, and the importance of aligning one's work with deeply held values.

Her story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to seek a more fulfilling path, and that transitions are not just about the physical move from one place to another but also about the spiritual passage from one state of being to another.

GEMS DROPPED
“When we allow ourselves to be free and have the privilege… it really ends up being like coming back into this formative early part of myself, this foundational part of me as a child to live a fuller expression of that kid now.” - Monique R. Shields

“When I first started getting into gardening, and homesteading and thinking about, like, you know, this is something that I have to do all on my own. And then realizing, like, homesteaders, farmers, they don't do this on their own, they work in connection to all of these other people, and you can't possibly grow everything on your own. And so it's been like this sort of expansive rethinking of what this lifestyle actually means. And that understanding has trickled into all parts of my life, including my career.”- Hillarie Maddox

“Many of us are still building our careers off of that very old dream. There's nothing wrong with having that dream, like, whatever age you have it at, and you pursue it and then decide, actually, this is not what I thought it was going to be and then making a new decision. But sometimes we never hit that point or allow ourselves to hit the point of reckoning where it's just like, this ain't it. It may be “it”, but sometimes it's not it, many times it's not it.” - Monique R. Shields

“If you don't know what your values are, then you're making decisions from all of these different inputs from who knows where in your life and then it creates this really out of touch, out of alignment way of living.“ - Hillarie Maddox

GUEST LINKS
Learn more about Hillarie Maddox | Website | Instagram | Substack
If you are looking for retreat space to host your programming around climate justice, BIPOC wellness, or land-based healing work, connect with Hillarie at [email protected]

STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

57 min

May 22, 2024 34 | Perfectionism & The Settled Place We're Seeking

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

Have you ever felt like you're constantly chasing a moment of peace, where everything on your to-do list is checked off, and you can finally relax? This pursuit of the 'settled place' might be more ingrained in your daily life than you realize.

There's a way to shift from this endless cycle of striving for perfection to embracing an abundant boss mindset. A mindset that allows you to assume possibility, to believe that space and resources you need will be available to you, and to prioritize your own well-being alongside your ambitions.

Join me as we unpack the layers of societal expectation that have taught us to stifle our emotions, to maintain composure at the cost of our authentic selves. I also share personal anecdotes and insights into how modeling emotional honesty can shape our environments, encourage others, and foster a culture of genuine well-being. Tune in to learn more.

GEMS DROPPED
“An abundant boss mindset is a mindset around leadership where you assume possibility. You assume that the space you require is available to you. You assume that your needs shall be met. You assume that if you take up the space it’s gonna be okay. There's a way that we kind of assume that we can have our needs met and that the things get done… at the same damn time.”

“Some of the most important mental resource tools I've honestly ever picked up were between therapy and the fact that I worked for four years at a mental health startup where I learned cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in and out.”

“One of the greatest lessons that I learned in my coaching training is how emotions move. Emotions are emotions. There are no good emotions, there are no bad emotions… emotions are just energy. They are energy that needs to flow through us. Our body is engaging with the world and energetically reacting to the experiences that we have, the relationships that we keep and when our emotions come up, as adults, we have been trained to work them on down, to make them feasible, to make them workable, or to shut them off, to shut ourselves off, and to go into numb mode just to survive the moment because we're not socially given the space to do much more than that on a da -to -day basis.”

“This craving of arriving at the settled place, this desire to get ahead of this, to get to the point where you feel peace and confident and on top of things. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but I think that what we are not recognizing in that process or in that craving is that it's not just so much as a desire to get to a place as it is I think a desire to get away from. Because what's happening is we're just scared to be present to what is so we need to get somewhere else where there aren't the complicated, hard feelings there. Sadness is not there. Rage, anger and frustration are not there. It's just pure satisfaction and rest and peace, which we all deserve. And I want to argue today that we also deserve to have regular space to feel all of the other emotions as well.“

STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

45 min

May 08, 2024 33 | Unpacking Trauma And Achievement with Psychologist Andrea Michel

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In this episode, we explore the intricate web of trauma, perfectionism and high achievement with Andrea Michel.

As a developmental psychologist, trauma-sensitive leadership coach, and former corporate badass, Andrea peels back the layers of what it means to be a high achiever, how our childhood traumas shape our professional lives, and the subtle yet significant distinction between burnout and trauma responses in the workplace. She offers a compassionate lens through which to view our inner perfectionist – not as something to be vanquished, but as a part of ourselves that requires understanding and, if we choose, healing.

Whether you're a leader seeking to create a trauma-sensitive environment or an individual ready to confront the roots of your perfectionism, Andrea's expertise will guide you toward a path of self-awareness and empowerment. Press play to join the conversation.

Some key points discussed in this episode include:

Understanding decision-making
High-functioning behavior, overachievement, and childhood trauma
Parenting and trauma
Forming relationships based solely on achievement
Self-awareness and Healing
Differentiating burnout and trauma response

GEMS DROPPED
“Simply put, trauma is any experience or any event that overwhelms our internal resources. And when we feel out of control of a situation. So in other words, trauma is anything that happens to us where we feel like we have no control over the situation and we're basically stressed out to the max. And so I like to say, when we think about trauma, there is the event, there the experience, and then there is the expectations. So the event is the thing that happens, the experience is how we interpret that thing that happened and then the expectation is how do others around us respond to that situation.” - Andrea Michel

“What I come into contact with, even with some clients in session, sometime we're asking, like, where does that come from? Why is that showing up? Why is that happening? What was that about? But we can't take it much further. And I just feel like sometimes it's just another reminder that you can't really do this alone. You can, many times only get yourself so far, because we can't see outside. We can't see outside of how we see.” - Monique R. Shields

“We have to unburden ourselves of things that we ultimately cannot control and we're not supposed to anyway.” - Monique R. Shields

“If you want to stop repeating the same cycle, you have to heal the trauma.” - Andrea Michel

MENTIONED

EP. 14 Spiritual Knowing and Self-Integrity with Josie Rosario

GUEST LINKS
Learn more about Andrea Michel | Website | The Global Center for Trauma | Private Coaching

STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

1 hr

April 24, 2024 32 | The Right Time Is Not Coming

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

Are you waiting for the perfect moment to make a change?

In this episode, I am shattering the illusion of the "magical right time" that so many of us are waiting for. The truth is, that moment when you feel entirely ready, when everything is in place, and when you've done enough—it's a myth. It's never coming. The right time is now.

Join me as I dive into the language of limitation and how phrases like "I just need to..." can trap us in a cycle of perpetual preparation, holding us back from stepping boldly into the life we're meant to live, without compromise. I also challenge the narrative that familiarity equals safety and explore the power of tapping into the unbridled strength of our younger selves to fuel our courage for change.

Press play and let's explore what it means to live freely and authentically, and how to back it into a plan that propels us forward.

GEMS DROPPED

“This magical right time, the time when you feel ready, when things are in place, when you have done enough, when you have prepared enough, and you know that this is up for you, that this is a challenge for you right now… The whole thing is a trick.”

“When you keep saying stuff like, well, I just have to think about, or I just have to decide, or I've got to give some more thought to … I need to do some preparation… I just. I just. I just. I just. y'all. This is all danger language. Danger, danger, danger, danger, language. We start backing ourselves into deep limitation because we are fearful of giving ourselves permission to be specific about what it is that we truly want.”

“I recognize that in order for this next part of me, this next phase to come to fruition, for that to happen, I'm gonna have to relinquish the reins. I'm gonna have to let this other part of me, this free and creative and open, this vulnerable part of me, come up to the driver's seat and I might have to get in the back, I might have to get in the trunk at some point. That feels so risky. It feels so, so risky internally.”

“We disconnect from that part of ourselves. We leave those, air quote, ‘childish things’ behind and we get serious about life and we put on new coping skills and different things toughen us up and rough us up, and we forget that that wild and free little version of us, has so much power.”

“I hope that if you are sitting in stagnation and not realizing, I hope that if you are sitting in, ‘I need to wait for the right time’, or ‘I just need to think through. I just need to figure out,’ or ‘I just need to, you know, shore up x, y and z,’ that you bust down those walls and get real with the truth of what's going on here, which is knowing that you don't have to cling to what's familiar and that you're not going to find your freedom. Your salvation will not come from this place. You have everything you need to make the move if you give yourself permission to let that part of you actually dream it up and connect you to the urgency of it all.”

STAY IN TOUCH

Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

29 min

April 10, 2024 31 | When Will It Ever Be Enough?

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

In this episode, I'm tackling a question that is rattling around the corridors of the minds of us highest achievers: "When will it ever be enough?" It's a relentless echo that reverberates in the silence left by our latest triumphs, a whisper that lingers even as we scale the peaks of what I’m calling “Money Mountain” with the weight of the world on our shoulders.

For those who've pushed themselves to the brink, who've crafted empires with their bare hands and sheer will, this episode is a soul-stirring examination of the unsustainable pace of success and the personal toll it exacts. We're pulling back the veil on the harsh truths behind burnout, the undercurrents of systemic pressures, and the personalization of collective dysfunctions that lead us to question our worth, our work, and our way forward.

Join me as we explore the deeper questions that should be guiding our pursuit of fulfillment. We'll navigate through the false narratives of entrepreneurship, the courage to be beginners in the public eye, and the vulnerability required to ask for what we truly want. Tune in and transform the way you approach your goals and your life.

MENTIONED

13 | Re-Mothering Ourselves

03 | What Are You Playing For? (CEO Series)

GEMS DROPPED

“In this quest to say, ’Am I doing enough? Is it enough? Have I ascertained enough? Have I done enough? Have I created enough?’ We're really searching for, ’Will I ever be enough?’ That's the real question that runs beneath all of this, is, will I ever be enough?”

“We're asking ourselves at the end of the day, why am I not enough? Why am I not rising to the occasion? Why is this wearing me out? Why am I having these emotional reactions and responses? Why am I being a fucking human being? We're punishing ourselves for our basic needs, and it's wrong. It is wrong. It is misguided. It is misdirected. So I want you to turn that energy into some better questions. I think a better question is ’Am I fulfilled, well, and whole?’“

“That moment where the decision is available to you, it can feel like you don't have a choice. And we always have a choice. We always have a choice.”

“At a certain point, money no longer delivers. There's no return on that investment emotionally. Once you get past a certain level it caps out and you're not going to get any more enjoyment, fulfillment, happiness, even delight. All of that just falls flat. And so, well, what are you even playing for? “

“There really is no enoughness that's going to truly satisfy you…the feeling that you're actually seeking to meet, which is fulfillment. If fulfillment is what's lacking, none of this other stuff even matters. And I think that that's what we end up getting ourselves to when we first start asking this question. What's enough? You're enough. What do you want? Who do you want to be? Who you desire to be? Start there.”

STAY IN TOUCH

Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

32 min

March 27, 2024 30 | How I Became A Podcaster - 1 Year Anniversary Episode!

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

In today's episode, we celebrate the one-year anniversary of Ambition Without Compromise, a testament to the power of persistence and the beauty of evolution. Join me as I take a reflective journey down memory lane, recounting the origins of this podcast, born from a desire to connect authentically and serve a community of visionary women.

From the humble beginnings of voice memos sent out to a small circle of friends and family, to the robust, twice-monthly musings that reach an ever-growing audience, this journey has been one of learning, growth, and unwavering commitment to my vision. I delve into five key lessons learned along the way, from embracing imperfection to tuning into the data, and the importance of meeting ourselves where we are.

As we step into the next year of the show, I invite you to celebrate the milestones we've reached together and the space we've created for daring questions and honest answers. Whether you've been with me from the start or have recently joined our community, I hope you find inspiration in the realization that ambition does not have to be compromised when we listen, adapt, and serve with heart.

In honor of our anniversary, I ask for the gift of your feedback. Leave a review and share how this podcast has impacted your journey. Your words not only help others find this podcast but also guide the future of our conversations. Send me a DM or an email to let me know your thoughts, and together, let's step into another year of uncompromised ambition.

REQUEST

Share your anniversary well-wishes by leaving a rating and review for Ambition Without Compromise on Apple Podcast. Your engagement fuels this journey, and I can't wait to hear from you.

MENTIONED

13 | Re-Mothering Ourselves

GEMS DROPPED

“Perfection is not required to do the next thing that you're trying to do. I just want to remind you, if you don't already know, or if you know, that you're placing this undue pressure on yourself, that perfection is not required.”

“Sometimes it's not about you having said the perfect thing, crafted the perfect positioning, and language, and put all of this thought and science and art just melding together into this gorgeous piece of work. Sometimes it's just the way you naturally say things. Someone else out in the world needed to hear it in that way. Someone's looking for YOU.”

“Sometimes we think we need to over prepare when it's like you are enough as you are, that your rawness is actually the best gift you can give people, for people to get a real taste of the essence of you.”

“You have everything you need to start, you just need to be creative. Just allow yourself to have the freedom to have like, a quick and easeful creative exploration. If you give yourself permission to be where you are and to listen to what exactly it is that you want.”

“Listen to the data to block out distraction. Most of the time, I think the distractions are like our insecurities, fears or doubts.”

STAY IN TOUCH

Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

43 min

March 13, 2024 29 | Betting On My Wellbeing: Sharing My Practices

⚡️Click Here To Text Monique!

In this heart-to-heart episode, I'm peeling back the curtain on my personal journey of self-investment and well-being. As I navigate the ebbs and flows of life, I've come to realize that to manifest the life I aspire to, I must over-invest in my well-being. Join me as I share the strategies and practices that are guiding me through 2024, from embracing the power of coaching to the subtle magic of herbal remedies and the transformative impact of environment organization.

I'll dive into the profound clarity that comes from addressing health and healing holistically, the importance of community and nurturing relationships, and the spiritual nourishment found in nature and the innocent play of children. This episode is an intimate exploration of how prioritizing ourselves can lead to attracting higher quality opportunities and achieving professional abundance with seemingly effortless grace.

Whether you need a nudge to take that first step towards self-care or you're seeking affirmation that your path of personal investment is valid, this episode is a gentle yet powerful reminder that when we take care of ourselves, the universe conspires to take care of everything else. Tune in to be inspired, to find permission, and perhaps, to make that life-changing decision for yourself.

MENTIONED

25 | Avoiding The Real Work

GEMS DROPPED

"We'll sabotage what could be big for us. We'll sabotage what could be incredible and exciting for us because we know that we don't have it within us, energetically, emotionally, spiritually, physically, that we don't have it to rise to that occasion”.

“If you take care of yourself, the things you want get taken care of, too. So how can we aggressively take care of ourselves?”

“Listen to your body and respond”.

“Every time you walk past something in your house and you're like, I got to figure out where to put these things, or I've got to figure out how to make that work better. But you don't have the tools to do it, or you don't have the time to do it. You leak energy … It's a cognitive drain, and it's small. But we're walking through our spaces…the environments that we're existing in, that we're working in, that we're living in, and we're having these little moments of energy, of attention that are being drained away from us because we don't have a space that fully supports the humans living in it and the belongings that we have.”

“Stop tolerating discomfort with setting up these systems, adhering to systems that actually support your financial well being, because that has everything to do with how you feel energetically, emotionally in your day to day life.”

“When we don't feel alone in the paths that we're walking, the journeys that we're on, because we know someone else is holding space for us, someone else is thinking about us. Or we can reflect back on the inside joke that came out of the last time we spoke, or the vulnerable share, and we can hold space for that person outside of it. It's just so important.”

“Once you leave the college and the grad school of it all, there are very few spaces that will forge that kind of bonding and connection because we don't have the same level of interconnected … intensity of a shared experience. Right? We have to create them”.

STAY IN TOUCH

Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].

49 min

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