Beyond Neutral

In recent episodes, we've delved into the concept of agency, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our control over actions, choices, and the impact we can have on our lives. Today, Paula delves into a formidable adversary: the fear of failure.

Listen in to learn:

• Defining the fear: Why acknowledging the fear of failure is essential. We often mask our fears under various pretexts such as timing issues, circumstances, etc. Paula suggests we name what it truly is first.

• Painting the picture: Paula leads us through a process of visualizing what failure truly entails. She encourages us to articulate the worst-case scenario, exploring the sequence of events leading to failure. We can learn what we initially perceived as a massive, paralyzing fear and reduce it to manageable steps.

• Rethinking success: Paula then invites us to redefine what success means and to break down the vision of success into smaller, more attainable milestones.

This episode offers valuable insights to empower you to pursue your dreams with confidence. Listen to it and let it inspire you to take that next baby step towards your goal.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

Time Stamps:

[00:04:11] So I'm not suggesting that those things don't matter. What I am suggesting is quite often that's not really where the concern lies, where the concern really lies is fear of failing or fear of not succeeding. And so the first thing that I try to work with clients on is what are you really afraid of?

[00:08:45] So the very first thing is. in addressing it is defining what it really is. What does it look like? Live in it? Sit in it? How likely is it to happen? What are the skills you have to avoid that happening? Okay. The other way, the flip side is to rethink about what success means. Okay, let's assume you do this. What would success look like? And always we knock it out of the park, right? Success would be, and it's over the top. Okay. Well, would you still be successful if you were three quarters of the way to that picture that you painted? Well, yeah, that would be successful. Would you be successful if you were halfway there?

[00:10:11] So often we get paralyzed by the big shape, the big concept of what it is, but the pieces that it takes to get there, the pieces that it takes to succeed, the pieces that it would actually take to fail, you realize are so unlikely because of how much you bring to any situation that you just kind of, they lose their power by going down this road, by driving down this road, that big concept becomes a small concept and becomes tangible and manageable.

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Take a moment, right now, to consider the extraordinary power of a pause in your life. Whether you're navigating the complexities of your career or personal journey, the pause can be your greatest ally.

In this episode Paula sheds light on the concept of "Neutral" and how it weaves through her life in the midst of intricate situations.

Listen in to learn about:

• Embracing the Neutral Space: Sometimes, the neutral space is exactly where we need to be. Paula highlights the importance of transitioning from one state to another. It's here that we find the opportunity for intention, where the insights we gain become stepping stones to progress.

• Tuning into Your Body: Paula shares her valuable insights on helping her clients become attuned to the physical sensations within their bodies. This heightened self-awareness empowers them to assess their reactions and make intentional adjustments. Simple actions, like shifting a ring or bracelet, remind us of the value of thoughtful responses over impulsive, emotionally charged reactions.

• Reflecting and Responding: Paula encourages you to pause and reflect on the wisdom you've garnered by embracing the neutral space. What insights have emerged from stepping back and intentionally occupying this neutral ground? The pause can be instantaneous or anticipatory, offering a canvas to paint your responses with intention.

In this fast-paced world, the art of pausing is often overlooked. Yet, Paula's journey reveals that the power of the pause is a beacon guiding us towards purposeful living. It's in this neutral space where we find clarity, insight, and the capacity to transform our lives. So, embrace the pause, listen to what it has to tell us, and embark on a journey of intentional choices.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

Time Stamps:

[00:02:07] And that is basically true in any situation that we encounter. So in a, in an interesting juxtaposition, one of the key ways to create agency is to be in neutral. Okay. And so I wanted to talk a little bit about. about that concept of intentionally moving to a space of neutral or what I like to call, with a lot of my coaching clients, I talk about it as the great pause.

[00:04:15] So between stimulus and response, there is a space in that space is our power to choose our response. That's agency in our response lies, our growth and our freedom. So that entire quote is really about stepping into this neutral space or stepping into a pause in order to be intentional about how you want to move forward.

[00:07:03] So I will work with clients on, you know, being aware of what's happening in their body and as they can feel that. As they can feel that happening to them, interrupting it somehow, some physical change. I've had clients who've twisted a ring. I know people who like intentionally take their bracelets or their wristwatch from one arm and put it on the other as a way to create space for themselves and allow themselves to think and pause and gather the response that they're looking for or gather insight into how they're feeling and what they're thinking and really being thoughtful about how they want to move forward rather than being reactive to it. So, um, the key thing is that the key thing is that neutral is actually a phenomenal place to be in as long as you're intentional about what you're learning from that process.

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In today's episode, Paula takes us on a journey to unpack the concept of agency. She delves into how agency is not just a buzzword but an absolute pillar of leadership and an essential component of our everyday lives. Paula wants you to grasp the significance of agency as it revolves around ownership and recognizing that you have choices. It's all about empowering yourself and taking meaningful action to enhance your life.

Paula begins by sharing a personal anecdote from her childhood. This story serves as an illustration of how our past experiences can linger and unexpectedly influence us well into adulthood. She explains how this childhood memory silently shaped her mindset and how recognizing it brought about a significant transformation.

Agency involves recognizing that we possess the ability to make choices and take action, even when faced with challenging circumstances.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

Time Stamps:

[00:01:18] Paula: So what does it really mean? In a nutshell, agency is really about owning and recognizing that you have a sense of control over your life. Over your thoughts, over your emotions, your behaviors, and and most importantly, your actions, because agency is really in a big way about action, it is about recognizing your capacity to take action.

[00:06:17] Paula: When I loosen that story and said, well, does it really have to be, or is that just of the experiences that became so prominent in my mind, right? And I, I had to kind of sit back and say, well, what if it wasn't that? And I had to start retelling myself the story about what packing for vacation could look like and what preparing to go could look like.

[00:08:44] Paula: What are you willing to do in order to change the trajectory of that situation? And so it's very important to sit back and realize, have agency, that you are in the position, you're the driver of this car, right? You are in a position to be able to impact that. Because one of the things to think about is that the opposite of agency is resignation.

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Are you feeling so done with summer?

Even if you LOVE it, many of us feel ready to get back into the rhythm of routine and regular life. This time of year has a palpable "back to school" feeling that still resonates even as adults.

While, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, September signals a return to school for students, it also stands as a time of fresh starts and new opportunities for adults, too!

In this episode, Paula encourages us to perceive September as an annual checkpoint to gauge our aspirations. Just as children get new shoes and backpacks, Paula encourages us to adopt a similar mindset of embarking on a journey of growth. In this context, she challenges us to assess our priorities for the remainder of the year.

Paula graciously opens up about her own plans for personal development. She shares insights into her upcoming learning endeavors that will kick off this September.

Through her own example, Paula emphasizes the beauty of continuous learning as a path to self-enrichment. Join Paula in embracing the September cadence of learning and growth.

Time Stamps:

[00:03:19] This is an awesome time of year to sit back and think about where you want to head, where you want get to. What are the big things that you want to really gain knowledge in and make happen. Set an intention to do that and then take a step whether, whatever that is, is it being a better leader? Is it going into September and really wanting to find that balance or what that means?

[00:04:30] Same thing as you might've done when you went from fifth grade to sixth grade or from, you know, freshman year to sophomore year. You took on a new kind of math, whatever it is, that cadence that you lived by for all of those years. How do you want to use that today to push yourself forward. Okay. For me, what I have done is I've signed up to take two classes that I'm really excited about.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

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In the inspiring season finale of Beyond Neutral, Paula reflects on the transformative journey of her inaugural podcast series. Through deep exploration of guest insights, she uncovers powerful connections between career challenges and life challenges.

• The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Paula emphasizes how the narratives we create can become barriers to our progress. Whether in careers or personal relationships, we all encounter similar obstacles. The podcast shines a light on these shared struggles, reminding us that we are not alone in our endeavors.

• Lessons for Career and Life: The diverse range of guests in this season offers valuable lessons applicable to both personal and professional growth. Listeners will gain insights on pushing beyond comfort zones, embracing worthiness, and trusting the journey. The episodes demonstrate that personal and career development are intertwined.

• Setting Summer Intentions: As summer approaches, Paula shares her intentions for self-renewal and encourages listeners to do the same. By embracing the podcast's lessons, she plans to step outside her comfort zone, trust the process, and acknowledge her own worth. Listeners are invited to embark on their transformative journeys by setting their own intentions for personal and professional growth.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

Time Stamps:

[00:01:42] I have talked to so many people and listened to so many stories and supported many people as they've tried to navigate challenges or changes in their life, right? So in executive search, it's a very emotional process. People changing jobs. And in that process you learn so much about the stories that people tell themselves. And now in coaching, you really dig into the stories that people tell themselves. And, and those, how those stories impact the way they think of themselves, they, the things they think they have permission to do or not do. And you realize, how much of the stories we tell ourselves are the things that get us stuck and unable to move forward. And so the reason that I wanted to launch this was to be able to bring those stories forward because I think the more that we can see the similarity that we all struggle with, the less power it has over us and, and the more insight that we can gain in how to kind of get over those things.

[00:06:10] I know so many women and men who have either adjusted to parenthood or who are going through the process of whether it's infertility or whether it's pregnancy or whatever it is, and how isolating that can feel, and how often there are these competing emotions in that moment. And that, uh, you know, applies in the workplace. And that applies in our, our, our personal lives as well. It's. All the same thing.

[00:10:09] And so that was really the point of wanting to do this podcast and wanting to bring those conversations forward. So now it's summer and in summer I like to step back and like to, basically re-energize myself, renew myself, take time to, you know, have a little bit less on my plate. Obviously, we all have to kind of keep up with everything that, that we've gotta keep up with, but it's such a phenomenal time to. Sit back a little bit and reflect for me, which is what my goal is for the summer. So I have set an intention to really, uh, enjoy my summer and take some of these lessons that I learned, as well as the, the lesson that I learned from just launching this, which was all of those things that my guests so eloquently pointed out, which is to step out of my comfort zone. Which is to trust the process, which is, you know, that I am enough. And to, to kind of, to step into that and realize being enough doesn't mean that you're perfect or that you, you're everything. It means that you got a lot of great things to work with and accept them and just continue to learn and improve and grow, and that's what you need to do.

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In this episode, Paula reflects on her recent conversation with Steve Gallo, the humble president of Oofos, a remarkable recovery footwear product line. She delves into Steve's advice to his younger self and the importance of not settling.

While reflecting on last week's episode, Steve's comment about not settling resonated deeply with Paula, as it reminded her of her own upbringing and the desire to reach beyond one's circumstances. Both Steve and Paula were influenced by their parents' hard work and the idea of not settling is about surpassing expectations and realizing one's true potential.

The key takeaway from Steve's wisdom is to actively seek diverse inputs and avoid limiting oneself to a narrow perspective. Paula suggests embracing a mindset of constant learning and regularly pursuing new skills or areas of interest.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

Time Stamps:

[00:08:52] The list is endless, but the thing I would say about that is don't settle for limited input. I think that's how I would edit that statement that he had. Don't settle for limited input. Seek insight, seek information, seek education. The more you do that, the better you will be, the better your brain will be, and don't allow, there is no reason for your circumstances.

[00:09:21] To limit your knowledge, it's available, it's out there, you have to reach out and get it. So, develop that mindset of what can I learn? And one of the things that I've challenged myself with is every quarter I look at like, what is a new class I can take? What is a new skill I can develop? And I make sure that quarterly I like to dive into something.

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Paula interviews Steve Gallo, the President of Oofos Footwear, where he played a crucial role in establishing the brand as a leader in the rapidly growing Recovery Footwear market. During the interview, Paula and Steve delve into his career journey, starting from his post-college years up until the present.

Steve shares how he was swiftly promoted to a sales role at Reebok and enthusiastically embraced the opportunity. This led to a fast-paced and exhilarating career, with three promotions in three years. However, when you climb the corporate ladder rapidly, blindspots can go unnoticed. Eventually, Steve realized the need to invest time in obtaining his MBA while still working. He learned invaluable lessons from this experience and believes it significantly propelled his career forward. Paula and Steve also explore his transition from the big corporate world to the relatively smaller business environment at Oofos Footwear.

In this episode, Paula and Steve discuss the following topics:

• The significance of not settling and taking risks in both life and career.

• Navigating the transition from a big corporate position to a smaller company.

• The importance of diverse leadership styles and how we can utilize various approaches to effectively collaborate with our teams.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

Time Stamps:

[00:04:57] Steve: You know, I, I just, I loved it. So, you know, I, I made a good impression on our sales team. Mm-hmm. And very, very quickly in a short period of time, within a year was promoted into, uh, a sales role. Um, and basically the pitch to me was, Hey, um, you know, you're gonna be taking over territory that's a mess. Um, just wanted to let you know you're gonna be, you know, moving into a hornet's nest. And, um, they gave me the offer and, you know, I'm still young. I'm just outta college, and I wasn't a very good negotiator back then, and it was double my salary and I was like, yeah, I'll, I, I signed on the dotted line. I'm in right. Drive home fast. My newly married, my, my, my new wife. You won't believe what just happened, right? They hit the jackpot. Yeah. We can pay rent this month, so we're good. And, um, yeah. Dove in and honestly, you know, you and I have talked to those before. Sometimes when you're taking over a territory that is mm-hmm. Had its challenges or difficulty, it's actually easier because there's nowhere to go but up.

[00:10:04] Steve: Um, move from me because I could apply a lot of the things that I was learning that I couldn't really talk to in business meetings. That on the academic level, the light bulb went on for me. Right. Oh, that's fabulous. Yeah. You know, so I was, you know, as opposed to going through your MBA after school. One of the things I, after undergrad one of the things people always ask me about is, you know, How important is an mba? I say I think it's important if you think it could help you get to where you need to go. Mm-hmm. Um, I also strongly advise people, you know, you really should get some work, real work experience. Mm-hmm. So you can make those courses that much more impactful. Because I'm not sure how, if you go from your undergrad to the MBA right away, yeah. You get the piece of paper and you learn more. But the reality is it's not gonna, you're not gonna be able to apply it the way you would

[00:15:50] Steve: Which is fantastic, and I'm a lifelong learner. I, I, I like to learn about a, a, a lot of the aspects of the business. Um, read a ton of, of, you know, business books and, you know, high leadership. Level profile. Mm-hmm. Uh, you know, autobiographies, et cetera. And, you know, a lot of the lessons you learned from folks like that, um, Louis Garner, Steve Jobs, those type of people. You know, you can, you apply those and you remember all those things and you see 'em come to fruition, especially in an early days of a startup. Absolutely.

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In this solo episode, Paula discusses her own interpretation of "Trusting the Process" and why it holds significant wisdom. She shares a personal story about a particularly overwhelming time in her life and tells us how she got through that.

Paula reminds us that life itself is filled with transitions, and we all encounter challenging situations in our careers or personal lives. At times, these situations can be gut-wrenching and immensely overwhelming. Paula shares how accepting your feelings in the middle of the process is crucial. There is power in acknowledging that our current circumstances are temporary and that change is inevitable. This acknowledgment forms a fundamental part of navigating through difficult times, and it helps us understand that the emotions we experience are part of our journey.

Trusting that the lessons and experiences we encounter will ultimately lead us to a better place, or at the very least, provide us with a different perspective, is key. Even the most painful experiences can teach us valuable lessons, and we will eventually overcome them.

Show notes: reidnco.com/podcast

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Paula interviews Brittany Drozd, a seasoned business coach focused on culture change, about her journey into coaching and the evolution of her business over the past decade. Brittany holds two Masters Degrees, one in Psychotherapy and Management, and another in Organizational Management. She initially began her career as a counselor, gaining valuable experience and becoming a catalyst for cultural change, which ultimately led to her dismissal. However, she now embraces that experience wholeheartedly. If you're seeking motivation and inspiration to keep going and trust the process amidst times of change, this episode is a must-listen.

During their conversation, Paula and Brittany delve into the following topics:

• Recognizing the interconnectedness between personal and professional life and how your demeanor in one sphere affects the other.

• Navigating challenging transitions and the importance of maintaining trust in the process, even when faced with difficulties.

• Escaping the limitations of labels and the shared passion of Brittany and Paula to empower individuals to develop themselves.

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

Time Stamps:

[00:09:25] Paula: I tell clients all the time, if you make a one positive change in one part of your life, the odds of it impacting all other parts of your life are probably 99% right? Because we're not separate beings from one place to the other. We like to think we are, but we never are.

[00:27:29] Paula: I asked the client once, how would it feel to be led by you? What would that feel like to be led by you? How would you like the way that you lead? You know, how would you feel about being spoken to that way? How would you feel about being directed the way that you're directed? Would you sign up again?

[00:30:12] Paula: If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be and how old would you be when you got it?

[00:30:25] Brittany: A great question. This really makes me pause for a reflection here. I would tell myself to trust the process. The day that I got fired. Oh, wow. Maybe even a month before that. I would tell myself to trust the process a month before that.

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Are you considering a major career change?

Paula delves deeper into this very common desire and explains why introspection is required before you decide to change lanes. She encourages you to think deeply about what limiting beliefs you may have, that are holding you back from imagining yourself in other roles.

In this episode Paula prompts you to contemplate the following in order to gain clarity:

• Take a close look at what skills you currently have and imagine how these can be applied in other career tracks.

• What is your real reason behind the desire to change careers? Are you looking for a different kind of intellectual experience or philanthropic purpose? Do you want more time with your family?

• And lastly, what are you willing to let go of, status, financial benefits, etc?

Show Notes: reidnco.com/podcast

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