b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck

Have you ever felt unaligned with your work? Or maybe simply that you're not making the impact you could...in your job or in the world?

In this episode, one of Erin's clients tells her story of how she went from unseen and bored to confident and literally sitting in the board room in just six months (and during Covid!)

Erin Hatzikostas interviews Tara Autrey, a Strategic Marketing Manager at Aetna, and a Board Member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Erin kicks off by asking Tara to talk about her situation towards the end of last year, and what challenges she was facing.

Tara talks about how she read one of Erin's articles and then was invited to her and Kaitlyn's "Your Richest Life" workshop. Tara took this as a sign from the universe that this is what she needed to break out of her rut.

Erin asks Tara to talk through what she learned about herself and the result she's seen after taking this leap and participating in the workshop. Tara talks about what she learned about herself and how she evaluated her skills, passion, and her "ikigai".

Tara discusses her uncle's suicide - how she felt she couldn't help him at the time, but has since dedicated much of her life to helping others, whether that be fundraising for charities, or sending simple messages to people who seem to be struggling, just so they know someone cares.

Erin then asks Tara to explain some of the things that happened - tangible and intangible - since the conference.

Tara talks about wanting to become a board member for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, and the steps she, successfully, took to get there. She explains that Covid has been a difficult time for so many people as it relates to mental health. However, she's found that mental health awareness as a whole has had a massive boost, with more and more people accepting the everyday realities of mental health.

They both discuss the energy you need to do the things you want, how to change your mindset, how to network the right way, and how you might be surprised with how you feel afterwards. Tara explains how this confidence permeates all aspects of her life, from raising kids to going to the gym.

The conversation moves on to mental health, the message Tara would like to get across about mental health: how to spot signs that someone might be struggling, how to react, and when to reach out.

Erin and Tara end by talking about life decisions...that even the smallest of moments can have a huge impact on your life, and you may not even realize it until you look back.

You can follow Tara @ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taraautrey/ Twitter: TaraA_79

To get Erin's FREE video course, Unst*ck Yourself, go to bauthenticinc.com/unstuck

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"I just knew I had to get out of this rut."

"At any given time you need to be doing one of two things: you either need to be inspired, or you need to inspire others."

"Corporate America wants you to be a bold leader, but you can still be a leader, a quiet leader."

"I always had that in the back of my mind, but I never thought about making a living or a profession out of it."

"In this time, people are more isolated, and people who are not generally depressed feel it even more. So Covid is making mental health more at the forefront."

"People who are doing things they love to do or are having success; it's not a fancy formula, it's simply that they persisted."

"I felt like my energy shifted, and I was more confident in my abilities."

"Sometimes I have undermined my own value, and I just didn't see it."

"The small poofs of inspiration can make all the difference."

"Suicide affects a lot more than one person, so if you reach out to that one person you are making a difference and caring for a lot more people's lives."

"Most people ask how you're doing, but they don't actually want to know."

"Invest in yourself."

"I think we're all ok and not ok at the very same time."

"If you ever want to invest in yourself, take the chance."

Work has such funny shit, why aren't we laughing at it more? Interviews are Petri-dishes (sometimes quite literally) for all kinds of awkward and hilarious stuff. They're also a great place to ask deep and thoughtful questions like: "Who's your plastic surgeon?" From the co-hosts of the b Cause podcast with Erin & Nicole, they take to the coach to say the things you are thinking but are too afraid to say out loud (well, at least on the internet.)

Check out more on our b Authentic inc Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-QCA1-XckiHxlCCflzH-g

Too many people spend time trying to fit into the molds in front of them. How do I change to get the promotion? What does "Leadership" expect from me? What should I be doing for work?

It's time to reverse that! You have to stop shoulding on yourself and instead, write down some of the big-ass life you want (and deserve). A Future Diary is Erin's non-woo-woo way of coaching people to manifest what they want. To see and feel the life they deserve. And then effing go get it!

It's another fun-filled week with Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata Grant, as they sit down for another "How was your week?" episode.

Erin returns from a trip to Michigan with her family and a huge power outage in the wake of Tropical Storm, Isaias. She and Nicole discuss the effects of the storm, amid a global pandemic and also a heatwave - because 2020 is the year that keeps on giving.

Erin asks Nicole to discuss how her job changes when an event such as Hurricane Isaias happens. Nicole talks about the struggle she feels between working on the ground level in emergency response, a role she loves, but now also being in a more senior position. Erin then asks her to think about which of these roles she prefers, and which she would choose if she had to.

Nicole talks about recent difficulties at work, with new management and new situations, trying to find a mix between what she thinks is right, what others think are right, and trying to apply some of Erin's coaching and ideas. Erin asks Nicole a question that maybe many of our listeners have thought before - what keeps her there?

Do you ever feel like the kid who wasn't picked for the team at P.E? Well, Nicole does. But maybe there's more to it than that. Maybe there were cliques who were bullies and wouldn't pick you, but maybe you never even liked the sport, maybe you arrived late and didn't really want to be there.

Erin talks Nicole through her coaching tips, and writing a Future Diary - not to figure out how to get what you want, the steps that need to be taken, or what problems could arise along the way, but simply to write down your dreams. What is your perfect day? Even if 50% of it sounds ludicrous because you're on a yacht somewhere doing something you never expected, just write it, dream it.

And stay tuned for episode 72 where Nicole will be on the hook to read us all her Future Diary!

To get Erin's FREE video course, Unst*ck Yourself, go to bauthenticinc.com/unstuck

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"You may be out of power, but you still have the force."

"Oh you're sitting in a pandemic? Well let me give you this storm and take your power and your WIFI too."

"In emergencies we allow ourselves to accept a measure of uncertainty."

"Even as an entrepreneur with my own business I am constantly asking myself, 'what do I really love to do?"

"Nobody hires a leader when things are good."

"When I want to say ' are you fucking kidding me' I now say 'let me get back to you on that.'"

"You have to fight the conspiracy in your own head."

"A lot of leaders don't know how to communicate well either."

"The other thing that keeps me there is fear. Am I worthy of something else?"

"With a fresh start, you won't be a new person, but it will be so much easier."

"Am I choosing not to play, or do I feel unqualified to play, or am I not invited to play?"

"Part of my big challenge is that this is a pattern of behavior."

"I'm in an industry that thrives on certainty and mitigating risk, but I'm doing work entirely based on uncertainty."

"Culture is driven more by the leaders and not by the industry."

"I believe you were put on this earth to do something bigger and better, that's run by you, that's strategized by you, that stands by you."

"My goal with anyone I coach isn't to change them. It's to change their addiction."

"Be audacious."

Work feels like one big game of Survivor these days, doesn't it? So we thought, "Hey, what if we could talk to a real Survivor winner (like CBS' epic show, 'Survivor'!) to see what we can learn from someone that had to face challenges way harder then your average office politics, all while hangry and homeless!

This week, Erin Hatzikostas sits down with Survivor Season 24 winner Kim Spradlin-Wolfe (winning Survivior is a HUGE deal ya'll), to discuss what it was like to be on Survivor - through both a win and a loss - and more importantly, what lessons she took away for her own, real-life that she can share with others.

Erin kicks things off by asking Kim about her time on Survivor, and how she felt about being thrown into a female/male divide (it was literally men vs women.)

Kim discusses how she prepared (or didn't) for the show, and how her upbringing gave her a false sense of what "leadership" actually meant.

With trust being such a volatile part of the game, Erin asks Kim how she handled others, both within and outside the game.

Kim explains that she tried to build authentic connections with other contestants, so they had some level of trust in each other, even if trust is never truly possible in the game.

Erin's daughter, Ella, wrote many of the questions Erin asked of Kim. For example, did playing the game destroy any bad habits? Spoiler: it certainly did. Did they get to bring toothbrushes? Spoiler: Nope!

How do you put your emotions behind you? Do you get to wear sunscreen on survivor?

They move on to discuss Kim's latest venture - her own design company - and how she decided to reinvent herself post show.

Kim explains that during her first time of Survivor, she ran two bridal shops, but realized that it was actually the designing of th shop that she loved the most (selling dresses wasn't for her.) So with the prize money from winning the show, she decided to buy and renovate an old home, a process she enjoyed so much it led to her becoming an interior designer.

Kim now focuses full time on interior design and renovation, and she's working on a potential pilot for a home renovation TV show! Kim won Survivor, but more importantly, she found her ikigai. You can follow Kim on IG @kimspradlinwolfe

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"I was able to go in, get a lay of the land, and do what needed to be done."

"You know you can; trust anyone; everyone will screw you over in the end. But you have to find a way to trust where you can."

"I was trying to make authentic relationships, because there was a trust in the connection, even if there was no trust in the game."

"Nothing in my life has changed me as much as Survivor has."

"I realized I was in all these cycles, and I think Survivor helped me break them."

"I was then playing with all these people I'd watched and idolized in my 20's - really a lot of pinch-me moments."

"Go spelunking and see what's written on your walls."

"If it's second class to be a girl, then I will be a strong girl who can throw a football better than the boys."

"When it rains it pours. When things are going well they go really well. That's how One World felt the entire season."

"Don't hate me because I'm eating peanut butter in the shower."

"When I was a kid we moved to 16 homes, and the consolation prize was always getting to redo my room."

"I like getting my hands dirty."

"What I do has to be meaningful for me, otherwise I can get off track really easily."

"One thing that breaks my heart is women who haven't locked into any identity and don't feel any power."

Who isn't asking themselves a few questions these days? How am I showing up? What am I serving up to myself, my colleagues, my family and anyone else one might see me in 3-D these days?

Erin Hatzikoastas and Nicole Licata Grant take it all in as they Zoom it up for another How Was Your Week Episode. And it's chock full of humor and honesty about the aches and pains in life, work and everything in between.

Appreciating that folks are still cheering her on 60+ big episodes in and asking some redemption, Nicole ponders a big Question, and talks about utilizing Erin's advice at work as she prepares for both the arrival of a new CEO/boss in the U.S and a virtual visit from the Big Boss from the global group. And, cue up a classic b Cause WTF moment...ah, the good 'ole times! Sometimes you have to not only ask the questions, but also answer your own damn question... This turns out to be a perfect into for Erin's Authentic So Hard (ASH) du jour, the launching of "A-H.O.L.E.S : Authentic Humans Overhauling Lousy Energy". In true Erin fashion, she's already drafted the manifesto and building a whole movement around it. But it hasn't been easy, and in a self-coaching moment Erin shares recent self-questioning, including that maybe it's time to shift her approach to include things she may have avoided.

Nicole gives her own idea for a supplementary framework based on a favorite four-letter word: Finally Upending Keynote Speeches. b Cause, of course... would anyone question buying into that service?

But another question looms: Are corporate spaces ready for the type of work Erin is doing? It seems that individuals clearly are hungry, but traditions and rules in the workplace create a gap between what corporations think serve en masses and what individuals want, Erin and Nicole feel like the playbook is changing; notable that employees being "out there" as valuable ambassadors - and assets - and not only can be, but must be leveraged in new ways, even if it doesn't seem like corporations are fully "there" yet.

With that, Nicole talks about her own ASH moment, feeling that the pace she's been moving is not sustainable. So, when a colleague asks for a task, Nicole explains - authentically - the situation, and surprise, surprise, she got a positive response. Whoa!

It all leads to the next big question: in this new world that's opening back up, what will going back to regular work (or different) life be like? But not to worry, the podcast will still be going strong: Nicole has a whole list of new observations, discomforts, and unsanitized questions to talk about.

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"Am I only fun to be around when I'm drunk?"

"Here I am, Identifying my problems but doing nothing to solve them."

"Anyone who hasn't listened to an episode before, that was a summary of the last 60+ episodes of Nicole's career."

"The antichrist of authenticity is this lousy, fake, go through the motions, bullshit energy that's in the corporate workplace."

"If I'm going to go and talk to corporations, how are they going to feel when they see things sassy like 'A-HOLE Manifesto'?"

"I've got one for you: F.U.C.K. - Finally Upending Crappy Keynotes."

"It's not going to stop me, but it reminds me I'm really pushing at the forefront of something that's different."

"It's the same playbook being set everywhere, and it has been for 30 years, and it's just not enough. The playbook is not working."

"If you're looking to move the needle, and you're looking to shake it up, then probably I'm you're gal."

"A lot of this shit sounds self-serving, and it's self-serving for the people at the top."

"You're doing the simple things that aren't that costly but make the biggest difference."

My LinkedIn has really blown up recently, maybe it's because I'm no longer behind a firewall."

"Every day I have people say 'if you have a job, I don't care what level, I'm gonna come and work for you."

"I'm feeling burned out, I'm not feeling productive, I'm feeling like I need to not sit in front of a computer for 18 hours a day."

"I've got a whole list of new anxieties to explore in this new world."

"We could be the best MC's any women's conference has ever seen."

"I was forced to have calls, I was forced to have interactions with people - there was a natural flow to things... even if it exhausted me."

It is nearly impossible to not feel inadequate in a world where accomplishment badges are everywhere. Comparison Monsters, as this week's guest calls them, can cripple our confidence. But what if you could change all of that by simply getting "back to neutral?"

This week, Erin Hatzikostas talks with Hilary Billings, former Miss Nevada, an on-camera host, celebrity interviewer, event MC, digital influencer, and motivational comedian to talk about everything from overcoming rejection to overcoming third-degree burns.

Hilary talks about her early life, coming from a "Production Family", which led her wanted to stay as far away from the entertainment industry as she could (you'll see how well that worked out.)

After getting rejection letters from 14 different graduate schools, she went to Nicaragua to rest and recover. She unexpectedly started writing travel blogs before meeting a great community of people and deciding to continue working as a travel blogger/writer.

Then, just a few weeks after returning home, she was tragically hit in the chest by a malfunctioning firework. While recovering she realized she needed to do something that would make her wildly uncomfortable. She landed on entering the Miss Nevada pageant, because being judged in a swimsuit with burn scars felt like the epitome of getting uncomfortable.

Erin asks to discuss not only why she decided to go traveling, but how and why she started writing about her travels. Hilary tells the story of a young woman she met who inspired her to think a different way about her options in life, and who's death were a catalyst for Hilary's next steps in life.

The discussion continues with Hilary explaining how she went from a travel writer to becoming Miss Nevada. She mentions how shocked she was when she realized how many of the contestants were not "the stereotypical pageant girl" but were in fact people with unique and sincere reasons to be there and use it as a platform for their message of positive change.

Erin asks about Hilary's move into E! News (it helps being named best blogger of the year and then being contacted by the editor of USA Today) which leads into a conversation on work ethic and what she learned as a journalist.

Ending on the big topic of confidence, Hilary discusses feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. How do you gain the confidence to take steps forward in life and in your career? She advocates for not jumping from one extreme to another and/or the "fake it till you make it" mentality. The likelihood is you will fall short. So instead of moving in extremes, move towards the neutral and slowly build your confidence.

You can get her free workbook - "Four Steps To Quick Confidence" and so much more @ hilarybillings.com

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"You bleed authenticity."

"I love this idea of you as an authenticity bloodhound."

"It's been this b-line of trying and getting involved in new things, and continuing down this path of embracing and overcoming diversity."

"Take that experience and proactively apply it to the next problem you run in to. If you're able to look back and apply that knowledge - that's the win."

"I'd never been in a pageant before. I was borrowing clothes and had my dress sponsored. I couldn't afford any of it."

"My first ever interview was with Ryan Seacrest - so you know, no pressure."

"The first rejection, you take it a lot harder. But then comes ages and time and seasons. The faster you fail, the more resilient you become."

"If I got the thing I thought I wanted, I would not be here. "

"Everyone we grew up looking at was airbrushed, but we didn't know it. Yet even now we do know, and we are aware, we still compare ourselves to it."

"IF you're in that place of feeling inadequate, and you try to pretend confidence, it will pull you down further."

"Try to find confidence in an authentic way."

"The definition of confidence is having the belief that you can rely on someone or something."

"For me, a big part of finding confidence and overcoming inadequacy is finding comedy in everyday life."

"It's been a lesson in dealing with some of the lower consciousness of the world."

Does it make any sense that most people work nonstop for 40 years so they can simply enjoy the last few years of their life? Shelley Paxton would argue that your soul deserves better. She believes that everyone deserves to b successful, not success-empty - and a life that's more authentic, courageous and purposeful.

Erin Hatzikostas sits down with the rebel of all rebels, Shelley Paxton, the former Chief Marketing Officer for Haley Davidson. She since has left and started a Soulbbatical movement.

Shelley discusses her inspirational father, how he went from meager beginnings to a CEO at multiple companies, and how even his mentality while battling illness in his later life was an inspiration.

Erin asks Shelley to talk about her younger life, how she was a rebel living the classic sex drugs and rock 'n' roll lifestyle...and also that time she drove into a lake.

Shelley talks about how she left college and started a great job at a huge marketing agency, moonlighting as part of an improv comedy act...only to ask for a sabbatical at the age of 25.

This sabbatical had a huge impact on her mindset, personal, and professional life, leading her to constantly question what do we NEED to do? When SHOULD we work? WHERE should we work? Should we save for 40 years so we can enjoy the last 5?

Erin talks about her 50% rule when trying anything, whether at home or at work - 50% of what you should do, and 50% of how you do it your own way.

Shelley talks about pushing your boundaries and living a life that is true to you.

She also opens up about a dark time in her life when she wasn't talking about her feelings and didn't think asking for help was an ok thing to do. She talks openly about her attempted suicide, and what she's learned from looking back on that period of her life.

We hear a few excerpts from Shelley's book, "Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel's Guide to Finding Your Best Life".

Be sure to check it out to really bring out your inner rebel. (FYI the book is so incredibly written Erin might have the entire thing tattooed.)

You can find Shelley and the Soulbbatical book and movement at:

soulbbatical.com Instagram @ soulbbatical Facebook @ Soulbbatical Coaching / Shelley Paxton Linkedin@ Shelley Paxton

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"If we weren't living it before, we're living it now."

"It was one of those things where you think 'This isn't supposed to happen. This can't happen.'"

"I think I shot out of the womb rebelling against everything."

"We somehow made our way through all of the trees, and our car nosedives into a lake."

"Improv is like life training, it's magical."

"We were 25/26 and we wanted to take a sabbatical. The Young and the Restless."

"The rebel who forgot how to break the rules."

"I want to spread my wings. So when an assignment comes up, send me wherever no one else wants to go."

"The concept of a soulbbatical is not to leave your job, it's to find yourself."

"My number one regret would be not living the life that was true to me."

"What would change in your life right now if you were being 100% true to you?"

"What are your personal values?"

"We are powerful motherfuckers."

"Awaken the rebel within."

It has been a dark several months. This week Nicole and Erin bring a big-ass spotlight of fun back into the b Cause Podcast via an improved run-through of the b Cause Facebook Group's least favorite business buzzwords.

Erin and Nicole double-click on the best-in-class business buzzword long hanging fruit. From their vantage point, they socialize it by saying more words to find the synergies and unpack a bunch of stuff that's above their paygrade.

In this short episode of fun and laughter, Erin Hatzikostas, Nicole Licata Grant, and Megan Thatford sit down together, reminiscing about the first-ever recording of b Cause and paying homage to the kick-ass community it has catalyzed.

Besides the reminiscing and business buzzwords, they also get slightly sidetracked talking about Nicole's soaring success with the b Cause Twitter account (well, actually, she got put in Twitter prison after one tweet, which leads to the realization that she perhaps wasn't the right candidate for the job.)

Listen in for the shortest, most action-packed b Cause episode yet!

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"We were having a quote on quote strategy meeting, and the quote on quote is very large because we're not that strategic."

"You forgot to tell me your Twitter engagement was so low You didn't mention that in the interview."

"I got put in Twitter Prison. Day one."

"I don't know anything about the social media, I'm a dinosaur."

"Anyone listening, hashtag speedmetal: it works."

"You know Nicole, we're going to take this offline. Our listeners don't have time for this."

"The juice isn't worth this grease."

"There's probably synergies involved."

"Our podcast listeners don't have time for this. I don't hav any line of sight on how this is going to help us get listeners."

"I feel like you didn't socialize this. Potentially you just made a unilateral decision."

"In reality, this is a little above my paygrade."

"Can you just say more words about that?"

"I think you just won."

"That was best in class."

"I'd like to double-click on that and maybe dive a bit deeper."

"Eh, we've always done it that way."

"Are we thinking enough outside the box though?"

"I don't think that's been socialized enough before."

We've all taken those personality tests. Hell, we even talk about them on this podcast. But can these tests do more harm than good? Is your personality your authentic self? Or rather, is it that your personality (and your authenticity) can and SHOULD continually change?

Erin sits down with Dr Benjamin Hardy, an organizational psychologist, to discuss everything from enneagrams, to trauma, to how envisioning your future self is critical to your growth.

From humble beginnings and an unfortunate childhood situation, Ben is an organizational psychologist and bestselling author of Willpower Doesn't Work. His blogs have been read by over 100 million people and are featured on Forbes, Fortune, CNBC, Cheddar, Big Think, and many others. He is a regular contributor to Inc and Psychology Today and from 2015-2018, he was the #1 writer, in the world, on medium.com.

He and his wife Lauren adopted three children through the foster system in February 2018 and, one month later, Lauren became pregnant with twins, who were born in December of 2018. They live on Orlando. Ben has gone on to become a best-selling author of one highly successful book, and working on two more, forged a career in organizational psychology, and started a family.

Erin asks Ben what started him on the road to Organizational Psychology and they dive deep into the pitfalls of personality tests, such as enneagrams and Myers Briggs.

Ben discusses the difference between identity and personality, and how they can shape, or be shaped, by behavior.

He moves on to discuss how people view themselves, and how you can create a picture of your future self: how you want your future self to be, to make sure you don't become stuck in who you think you are now.

You can find more information about Ben, his book, and his work here:

www.benjaminhardy.com

Or you can buy his latest book, Personality Isn't Permanent here:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607021/personality-isnt-permanent-by-benjamin-hardy-phd/

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We even sare more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"You are a positive deviant in how you challenge the norm."

"My big problem with these tests is that they overemphasize a person's personality."

"Your identity shapes your behavior. And over time, your behavior becomes your personality."

"You might notice everything that fits your label, but you won't notice all the other things that don't fit your identity."

"Research shows that your personality will change over time, whether you do anything about it or not."

"You can always develop, but if you stick yourself in a category then you might not even try it."

"Last week could have become a trauma if I'd been caught up in it. But I decided not to be defined by it."

"Trauma, if unresolved, creates a fixed mindset."

"You see yourself a certain way, but it's not objective. IT's not fact."

"You're as sick as your secrets."

"I have so many roles, and if I was the same person in each of those roles it wouldn't work."

"Nothing good happens when you do a bonfire with old high school friends."

You're running on the corporate treadmill. It keeps going faster and faster. It keeps getting tougher and tougher. What can you possibly do to not go flying off that treadmill, only to faceplant into the mirror on the wall?!

Sometimes you have to look up from all the running you're doing and look straight into that mirror. If you can see the craziness and the beauty that is your authentic self, that's where change starts. First within. Then outside.

This week's episode gets deeper and more raw than Nicole or Erin expected. Nicole starts by talking about the "Zoom-bomb" she got from her boss at 8:01 on a Monday morning to let her know of yet another big shift at work - a new CEO.

Erin takes some time to coach Nicole, asking her to close her eyes and describe two paths she can go down as she heads into this change. They discuss Nicole's fear of being judged, and how the overcompensation for those fears and insecurities may just be the fuel to the fires she feels time and time again.

Erin reflects on moments in her career where she faced similar challenges to Nicole, and they discuss the difference in attitudes, approaches, and outcomes.

Finally, Erin asks Nicole to visualize a different path, where she finds self-love and has full control of her success in both her personal and professional life.

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

Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/group-coaching

b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ www.facebook.com/groups/bCAUSEPodcast

We share even more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).

Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to https://www.bauthenticinc.com/dog-quiz

We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/

Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/our-2-cents

We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ https://www.bauthenticinc.com/b-you-shop

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

Tweetable Comments:

"It was a typical Sunday night: half panic attack, half wanna drink a bottle of tequila and slide into Monday morning. I was feeling pretty good."

"You're always half-dressed."

"It feels like a loss of control, a complete breakdown in communication."

"They're asking for an ocean when what they need is a grain of sand."

"If I'm a CEO coming in, I want to have a dialogue. I want to be asked questions."

"If you met an asshole in the morning, you met an asshole. If you meet assholes all day, you're the asshole."

"That is how I came into this company, and that is how I had success. But I have been beaten down by the system, maybe it's time to be un-beaten down."

"The goal was to connect. I defined how we would connect. And I really thought about him first."

"Being a survivor is not mutually exclusive to being a victim."

"None of this can systemically change until you decide to love yourself."

"If you ask good questions - and you ask for feedback you're willing to accept - someone might come back to you and ask the same."

"Nothing is wrong, or everything is wrong. That's just who I am."