b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck

In this episode, Erin sits down with Anton Gunn, a former state legislator, federal policymaker, and Harvard Professor and now the founder of the 937 Strategy Group for discussion on, well, everything.

Anton is sure to inspire you as he shares his passion for great leadership and how it was formed from a unique combination of being part of a family dedicated to service, the five U.S. Presidents he met, his many mentors, his college football coaches (what not to do) and hip hop.

If you're looking to truly become a great leader, you don't want to miss this episode. You'll be incredibly moved by his authentic perspective on how to move forward in life, take on incredible challenges and be the kind of leader that leaves a legacy for many people including, most importantly, your family.

Connect with Anton on Linkedin

Connect with Anton on Instagram

Connect with Anton on Facebook

Connect with Anton on Twitter

Visit Anton's Website

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "You're never too big to help someone out, because there's always someone out there in the universe who needs to hear from you."

• "Who am I to deny someone of their opportunity? It's not a rivalry, it's authentic."

• "I teach leaders not to be transactional, but to be relational."

• "To focus on relationships, regardless of status, is really important."

• "When you don't have a good environment, where people feel valued or respected, you can't get people to optimally perform."

• "I wasn't appreciated as a person, so I did the bare minimum, and you see the same in the workplace. You mentally quit long before you physically quit."

• "If you're disabled, if you have limited English proficiency if you're just poor, the system is fragmented for you and it's hard to live out your potential."

• "When you get into a new leadership position...you're only entitled to the respect and value of a leader for one day. The next day you have to begin earning that title and earning that respect of the team you lead."

• "You need to interview the people on your team for their expertise on how you should be doing a great job."

• "All of us at some point get told what we can't do, what we can't have, and that we don't have all the tools in the toolbox that other people have."

• "How do you encounter the person at the store, doing your laundry, the person washing your car. You can act a certain way with everyone, and that attitude reflects in your leadership."

Employee burnout has become a hot topic in recent years, as more and more workers report feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. There are several reasons why this may be the case, but some of the most common include unrealistic expectations, a lack of work/life balance, and a feeling of being unappreciated. Oh, and a global pandemic.

And we probably don't have to tell you the impact. But we will. For employees, burnout can lead to physical and mental health problems, as well as job dissatisfaction and motivation. For employers, it can mean increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and turnover.

Whatever the cause or repercussions, burnout can have serious consequences for both employees and employers. And too often we talk about what a person can do for THEMSELVES to reduce burnout. But the reality is they need help from their leadership more than anything.

In this episode, Erin shares 10 practical tips for leaders to reduce employee burnout that are so easy to implement you can literally start tomorrow.

Purchase You Do You(ish)

Want podcast updates and other tips? Join our email list. We promise the emails aren't slimy!

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "Instead of asking somebody, 'How are you doing?' change that to 'How are you doing on a scale of 1-10?'"

• "Take a real vacation and do not log in."

• "Share your experiment with others and let it grow like wildfire."

• "What one thing, if you could get rid of it would allow you to focus more on the big work?"

• "Take a real vacation. You could talk about the importance of taking a vacation all day long, but then if you go on a vacation and you're constantly checking in and you're the martyr that's taking meetings, that trumps everything you said."

Like a fine wine that's aged, Erin is finally busting out an interview with her favorite boss, Martha Temple, and she's sharing all her thoughts on how to have a big career by not conforming.

Earning an executive title and the corner office isn't exactly easy. So, what's the secret sauce to making it as a big time executive while maintaining your sanity and self? Well, here's what Martha will tell you it's not: fitting in.

Martha is an experienced CEO and P&L owner who led several major subsidiary companies within Fortune 50 companies and is now a Board Member of six companies. An Actuary only by certification (not by stereotyped personality), Martha has spent her career bucking the norm and leading with authenticity and passion.

She's a big believer that people have way more talent and great ideas than they give themselves credit for, and she's passionate about helping people see that success only really comes when you commit to standing out and doing the things that aren't necessarily popular or normal.

In this episode, you'll hear Martha share what's shaped her throughout her corporate career, dish out advice for others who want to make it to the top, and also share some funny stories along the way.

If you're interested in climbing the ladder while maintaining your sanity and self, this episode is for you.

Connect with Martha on LinkedIn

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "Being a woman in the roles I was in, I wanted to make sure that I was remembered."

• "It's sitting in their office and saying, 'I love that picture of your family.' Because all of a sudden you have a personal connection and too many people don't work that personal connection."

• "If you have somebody that'll support you and who knows you're not going to be perfect, all you have to do is figure out the first step."

• "You've got to trust your gut. If you don't trust your gut, you're never going to succeed."

• "I see too many people that sit in the background and have great ideas but aren't willing to be the one to put it out there."

• "If you do what you want to do and you love what you're going to do, you're going to be successful at it and enjoy life."

• "Stop apologizing and start being true to yourself."

00:00 Like, they're not willing to feel confident in what they're putting on the table. Like, that can kill you. People will sense that.

00:07 And people are smarter than they think. They're more resilient than they think. And they have better ideas than they think.

00:15 And so put yourself out there. It's hard to do. But people that put themselves out there, I think are much more successful.

00:21 And then they gain confidence and they want to do it again. Yeah. But I see too many people that sit in the background and have great ideas, but are willing to be the one to put it out there.

00:32 Welcome to the B-Cuz podcast with Erin and Nicole. Uh, wait, are we recording? Yes, this is our intro. So, we've been friends long enough to basically go from idiots to executives.

00:44 And then we got fed up with the fake working world, the rat races, and all the parts of our lives where we needed a costume to coat.

00:50 So if you're in, drop the superhero disguises and photo filters, and join us as we explore and power authenticity everywhere. Everywhere.

00:58 Hey guys, it's Erin here just introducing our next podcast guest and this is crazy. This is episode 157 because this is my favorite boss of all time and truly the one that showed me the way that authenticity can work.

01:22 You know, I talk about it in the book. I talk about how my father really laid the foundation, but Martha was my first person in the business world where I very subconsciously got to watch somebody that had tremendous success and she was not normal and she bucked the norm and was so approachable.

01:42 She was authentic. And so I'm not reading a bio. I will just tell you that Martha first and foremost is an actuary.

02:01 Which there's a funny moment in our conversation because she already recorded it, where she kind of has an epiphany that I never passed any exams. But she took a big chance on me.

02:11 She was an actuary, but she ran several businesses. She was the head of Aetna Global Benefits, then rebranded as Aetna International. A tremendous success running that for many, many years.

02:22 And then went on to run the New England region for all of Aetna, and then went on to run all of behavioral health for Optum.

02:30 And now is a board member, she's on six boards. And I just think you'll love this conversation.

Break out the bubbly and put your party pants on because NICOLE. GOT. A. NEW. JOB!

And to help her put her best foot forward, Erin's sharing her top tips with Nicole (and you, dear listener) on how to make that fancy new job better than the last.

People mentioned in the episode:

Jackie Brubaker's Podcast

Renée Bauer

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "Your text afterward was frameable. It was so well thought out. So poignant. I think it said something like, 'That was fucking, fucking, fucking awesome.'"

• "You don't have an appointment with me right now, Nicole does. Check my calendar. You need to exit stage left and go work on your homework."- Erin to her son Mick

• "An open door was created that I never would have had because of this moment of familiarity connection. It had nothing to do with professional clout."

• "Don't go into a new job trying to prove yourself based on hard work. If you go in and have this mentality that 'I'll do whatever it takes', you are essentially indicating to them that you were an employee earlier in your career."

• "How do you demonstrate your value and show that you're not just a do-er, that you're actually a leader?"

Podcast Episode Summary

In this episode of the Because Work Doesn't Have to Suck podcast, :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} and her co-host Nicole blend humor, vulnerability, and real-life transitions to explore authenticity, career reinvention, anxiety, and what it means to show up fully in both work and life.

Episode Highlights

Opening: Realness Over "Professional Cloud" (00:00–01:27)

The episode opens with playful banter and a rejection of "performative professionalism." The hosts invite listeners into a space where authenticity replaces polished facades, encouraging people to drop "costumes" and show up as themselves.

Community, Vulnerability & Support (01:27–04:30)

Erin reflects on an outpouring of support following a personal family loss. She shares how listeners and community members responded with empathy and shared experiences, reinforcing the podcast's goal of turning a "2D audience" into a "3D community."

Friendship, Life Moments & Humor (04:30–09:30)

The conversation shifts into personal storytelling—reunions with friends, shared meals, and humorous anecdotes from a women's summit event. The tone is light, self-deprecating, and full of vivid storytelling about food, travel, and connection.

Women's Summit & Meaningful Connections (09:30–12:30)

Erin reflects on speaking at a women's summit and meeting inspiring people, including performers and creators with diverse backgrounds. The discussion highlights the value of stepping into real-world experiences and building authentic professional relationships.

Career Transition & Identity Shift (14:00–17:30)

Erin shares a major life update: transitioning into a new professional role that aligns with her values, public service interests, and desire for more balance. She reflects on past stressors, identity shifts, and choosing a path that prioritizes sustainability over constant intensity.

Understanding Anxiety (17:30–23:30)

A key part of the episode explores Erin's realization that her "productivity overdrive" was actually anxiety. She and Nicole discuss how anxiety can manifest as over-functioning, control-seeking, and constant mental planning rather than visible panic.

Three Career Transition Strategies (26:30–41:00)

• 1. Set Boundaries Early: Establish clear calendar blocks and personal priorities immediately in a new role to set expectations and protect energy.
• 2. Use Strategic Humility: Build trust quickly by sharing relatable, human stories rather than leading with credentials alone.
• 3. Lead, Don't Over-Perform: Avoid defaulting to "always-on" productivity. Focus on leadership presence, judgment, and influence rather than constant output.

Reframing Work, Identity & Freedom (41:00–44:30)

The hosts reflect on balancing ambition with personal freedom, emphasizing that success can be redefined. Erin emphasizes preserving space for relationships, creativity, and presence rather than over-identifying with work.

Core Themes

• Authenticity as a leadership strategy
• Career reinvention and identity evolution
• Recognizing and reframing anxiety
• Boundaries as a form of confidence
• Humility and storytelling as trust accelerators
• Redefining success beyond constant productivity

Closing Message

The episode ends with encouragement to listeners to stay connected, share the podcast, and continue building community. The tone remains playful but grounded in a consistent message: real connection and authenticity matter more than performance.

We all want to be successful, but sometimes it can be hard to define what success looks like. Is it having a big house and a nice car? Is it being able to travel and see the world? Or is it simply being happy and content with your life?

The truth is, that success means different things to different people. But if you're having trouble defining what success looks like for you, our guest, Tim Schurrer, is here to help.

Tim knows what it takes to build a winning team. He spent almost a decade of his career-launching two brands— StoryBrand and Business Made Simple—as COO alongside New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller. Before that Tim worked at TOMS as well as Apple Inc. He is the host of the Build a Winning Team podcast, where he offers listeners actionable advice as he interviews some of the top leaders in business.

Ready to redefine what success looks like for you? Tune into this episode to find out how to get started.

The Secret Society of Success: Stop Chasing the Spotlight and Learn to Enjoy Your Work (and Life) Again

http://SecretSocietyBook.com

https://instagram.com/timschurrer/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/timschurrer/

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "If you're chasing after the wrong definition of success, it usually leaves you feeling worse or the same as you felt before you had that thing that you thought you wanted."

• "The momentum started to happen for me in my career when I stopped trying to be the guy on the stage and started helping other people."

• "Does your calendar, does your schedule, do your behaviors match up with how it is that you would say you define success?"

• "Success is in the assist."

• "We have to learn to identify what success looks like for each of us and keep our eyes on our own scorecard rather than constantly being influenced by everything else around us."

• "Our lack of defining success is used as a filter that is then causing us to behave and make decisions in a particular way."

In this episode, Erin and Nicole share highlights of b Authentic Inc's new study, "Authenticity in the Workplace."

At first glance, it may seem like a tall order to prove that authenticity works in the workplace. After all, how can you measure something as subjective and intangible as trust or respect? But rest assured – we have the data to back up our claim.

Curious to see how much of a difference authenticity really makes in a company? You won't want to miss this one (or its mind-blowing results!)

The Impact of Authenticity in the Workplace National Study

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "People that worked at authentic companies were four times more likely to say there's a high level of trust with them."

• "People that work for authentic managers were six times more likely, 600% more likely to follow them."

• "You just put on chapstick and now you look glowy and nice. And I'm trying to secretly get half off camera so I can shove a Cadbury creme egg in my mouth."

• "Authentic culture is more important than the diversity in a company. Intuitively it makes sense because if I go work for a company that has all the right numbers, you know, 50% of women in leadership roles. It has 30% people of color…But if those people can't be themselves or if it feels contrived or controlled or tokenized in some way it can actually go backwards."

Despite the fact that he grew up in the free lunch program at school, our guest, Brandon Fong, became a published author, traveled to 23 countries with his wife, ran the marketing operations for a 7-figure online education company with 250,000+ students, was featured on TV, and launched his podcast to a top 2% global ranking in less than a year… all by the age of 25. Brandon is on his own path to build his first 7+ figure business and share what he learns along the way.

Brandon believes that one of the most effective solutions to some of the world's biggest problems is to create a movement of people dedicated to pursuing self-expansion and doing big things in the world - not just for the outcome, but for what it makes of them in the process.

In this episode, Brandon shares with us a 3-step method for creating engaging and genuine connections that provide massive value, but also lay the groundwork for future opportunities.

Download a summary of Brandon's Magic Connection Method process

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will control your life and you will call it fate."- Carl Young

• "As I look back on that experience now, I really view that as one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. It really inspired me to pursue and think about things differently and to be more resourceful."

• "The number one thing in a mentee/mentor relationship is, "Is this person actually going to execute on what I'm teaching them?"

• "Open up your inbox and you want to be the exact opposite of everything that's in your inbox."

• "Value- it's not complimenting because the other person has a big ego you're complimenting because you'll know what's important to them."

It's always a bit of a shock when life throws us a curve ball. We think we have everything under control and then something happens to remind us that we're not actually in charge of anything. It can be a really difficult thing to deal with, especially if it feels like everything is crumbling down around us.

But when sh*t starts to go off the rails, it might be the perfect opportunity to reevaluate our lives and see if what we are currently doing is aligned with who we truly are.

Feeling stuck, unhappy with your current situation, or living in unalignment with your values? This just might be the episode you need to make a change.

Know Your Why I Michael Jr

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

• Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz

• Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "I gave up all pretenses and was like, "yeah, I'm just the drunk friend sitting at the table."

• "Baby Ruth is the worst candy bar, and I can think of two movies it starred in."

• "I feel like I won the dad lottery. I really do."

• "It's hard to live in a world where your biggest fan is not there."

• "We shall never speak of this again." -Aurelio Licata, Nicole's father

• "It's fucking weird in here."-Aurelio Licata, Nicole's father

• "It's useful to spend some time thinking about whether you're operating in 'what' or 'why' to maximize your energy, your efficiency, your impact. Do what you need to do. Survive, thrive, whatever the fuck it is. Knowing the difference between those two things and where you stand is the difference between standing still and moving forward."

00:00 Asking yourself those questions can be possibly an important litmus test as part of your litmus tests for figuring out where you are right now and where you want to go, right?

00:13 Are you in the right place? Are you working for the right person? Are you working in the right position? I believe that a lot of our frustration comes from wanting the why, but really only being able to access the what?

01:03 Welcome to the BeCuz podcast with Erin and Nicole. Uh, wait, are we recording? Yes, this is our intro. So we've been friends long enough to basically go from idiots to executives.

01:41 Hey Nicole, Erin. It's time for another podcast episode.

01:45 Sure it is because sometimes there are no right answers. And they're not so much today. I just got my root stats.

10:01 But I really appreciate that they've put me in a really good space because as my dad also passed away this week.

10:11 He passed away on Monday. Leave it to my dad like the guy who gave up Catholicism for lent during Holy Week.

10:34 But it was, it wasn't quite for me. My father was epic. I've talked about it many times in this podcast and I feel like I won the dad lottery.

12:10 It's just, I think what occurred to me, the thing that really hurt, besides being really hurt for my mom, was I was like, I've lost my biggest fan.

13:50 And I think I was sitting there thinking to myself, okay, I was asking myself a lot of what? Like, what is happening?

14:38 So I'm asking what? And the whole time my mom's asking why?

15:55 Dad, we've got that. We know what to do. You've showed us our whole life what to do. We can do the what. We can stop asking the why and we can do the what.

16:17 And it was really hard, but I was so grateful for the time, the opportunity to do it.

16:41 I think about careers and I think there's a what-why tie-in to work.

17:10 Sometimes being in a job can feel a lot like death. The end of a career or the end of a big job or an end of a relationship can all feel like a certain amount of death.

20:24 Perspective is a big part of it. Some people would sit in that room and just stop and cry and be so sad for loss, and my perspective is a different one — to find the joy and harmony and happiness.

21:47 Sometimes it's because we're putting so much energy into asking why, when sometimes we should just be asking what?

22:01 Some jobs you just don't get paid enough to ask the why. You literally are paid to do the what.

22:13 When literally all you are allowed to do and all you will ever do is the what in that job, maybe it's not the job for you. Maybe it's not the place for you.

23:37 There are times when, particularly in my last job, where I was paid to ask the why, and then they wanted to pay me to ask the what. And I did not want to do that.

24:35 If you can somehow figure out that there is going to be an opportunity to be at least part of the why, that's probably way more important than all those other things you typically look at.

25:29 Asking yourself those questions can be an important litmus test for figuring out where you are right now and where you want to go.

25:46 Are you in the right place? Are you working for the right person? Are you working in the right position? A lot of our frustration comes from wanting the why, but really only being able to access the what.

27:25 I knew the only thing that was going to help me get through was the what. That was all I had access to.

28:25 For the last three years, I transitioned from CEO, total why person, to doing the what.

28:36 I was actually thinking about the success that I'm starting to really see in the business. And part of it is that I am willing to do the what.

32:53 Knowing the difference between those two things and where you stand is the difference between standing still and moving forward.

33:19 I want to tell you that not only does your dad live in you, but I couldn't help but immediately think of all the people that listen to this podcast.

35:25 I truly believe that the universe is unfolding as it should. I don't mean that lightly.

36:46 One of the things that she said is it's okay to make room for not knowing. And that is what I've been doing the last six months.

37:14 A lot of people want to take the big jobs, zoom ahead, and I look at LinkedIn and think I'm probably the biggest loser on earth — but I'm doing exactly what I need to do.

38:01 It does not suck to be here. Even the hard stuff. It serves. I just continue to believe it.

38:20 Well, we love you. Thank you for sharing. Thanks for continuing to show up.

39:22 Invite a friend and expand their virtual universe because it's bold, it's badass, and it's basically better than drinking alone.

We've all been there – working long hours, spending evenings checking things off our list, and hitting the pillow stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed. When things don't work out, we hustle harder. But is this really the best way to live?

What if we didn't have to sacrifice our ambition or goals to live a fulfilling life? What if instead, we were more thoughtful about how we pursue them? Well, Mel, today's guest, has a thing or two to say about that.

Mel Miles is a coach, speaker, and the founder of Soulcation, a company that helps people develop vacation-like routines that revive the soul.

Formerly a program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she managed millions of dollars and helped launch the global campaign to eradicate malaria. After working in twenty-five African countries, she found herself hyperventilating through a panic attack, utterly confused about why she felt so stressed, exhausted, and unhappy when she was living the life she always thought she wanted. In the midst of her confusion and pain, she decided to quit her dream job, sell all her belongings, and travel alone around the world to answer the question keeping her up at night: In all her work fighting for the freedom and healing of others, was she living freely herself?

Mel currently lives in Lisbon, Portugal, where she is proud to have designed a life she doesn't need a vacation from.

Ready to bring vacation vibes to the everyday? Be sure to tune in.

Check out Mel's book, Soulcation

Check out Mel's Website

If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected]

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

• Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)

• Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram

• Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group

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DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "It feels so good to walk through the world, knowing that the ideas that pop into your head or the things that live in your guts can actually be birth to life."

• "We can fill our schedules with things that we think are rest without actually tuning into our body and asking, "What do I need right now?"

• "Oftentimes, we suppress the childlike playful self, and we don't learn to play. You have to almost relearn and reconnect how to play, how to be bored and be in nothing."

• "If you're not doing something to connect with pleasure, you lose the sense of a liveliness."

• "The actual feelings people were connecting to on vacation-that brought them the most joy and created the happiest memories, were feelings that they could access in their everyday life."

• "The work of being a human is knowing it's time to leap-letting go without yet knowing the answers, without yet knowing where we're going to end up."