Big Deal Energy

“Jealousy is the feeling that arises when we fear or anticipate the interruption of that love, or that bond. We need it, and we go into a survival mechanism when we fear this. So when we fear an interruption of the love bond, we can revert right back to our baby state. We can go right to the primal brain and fear for our very survival.” - Dr. Joli Hamilton 

Jealousy is a normal emotion to experience, but all too often we dismiss it or not talk about it, or we use it as this proof of love. That is going to change, because today on Brave By Design, my expert guest pulls back the curtain on jealousy so that we can come alive, reclaim our joy and stop letting this natural emotion hold us back in life.

Dr. Joli Hamilton earned her doctoral degree at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Depth Psychology with a specialization in Jungian and Archetypal Studies. 

She is a professor of psychology and faculty at the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment, where she teaches intimacy and communication skills, kink and BDSM for educators and therapists among other courses.

She is a psychologist whose life has always revolved around teaching in non-traditional settings. Rather than working on what is “wrong” in a situation, Joli approaches every question and emotion with an attitude of curiosity, looking for the ways she can help you to find your own answers, providing practical, well-researched support for your personal exploration of sexual and relationship issues at every step of your process.

This episode with Joli must be listened to, perhaps more than once, because the insights she has to provide on something we all experience as humans can quite literally be game-changing. As always, let Joli and I know your biggest takeaways from this episode, and I’ll see you back here next week!

Connect with Joli: https://www.jolihamilton.com/ 

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

Are you a service-based business who wants to build your brand and get booked solid? Learn how podcasting helped Laura do that over at: podcastbrandlab.com

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• What is happening with the fear we have of being “too much” as women [5:47]
  
  
• How she says she truly experienced joy for the first time at the age of 33 [15:36]
  
  
• Jealousy defined, and how people often use it to control others [25:16]
  
  
• What tools are available to process the feelings that jealousy brings with it [30:29]
  
  
• Why jealousy is an essential emotion, and the joy that can actually come from having it [33:20]
  
  
• What “compersion” is, and the way you can use it to balance your emotions [38:51]
  
  
• Joli’s tips and strategies for helping a partner deal with jealousy [45:36]

 
Additional Links & Resources:

Joli’s LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook   

Her Book, Project Relationship: The Entrepreneur’s Action Plan for Passionate, Sustainable Love

The myth of the “too much” woman (Brave By Design Episode) 

“I started to realize I have a choice to make here, I can actually be a person that succeeds in spite of his past rather than doesn’t succeed because of it. I really do believe that it’s a conscious decision, a conscious choice.” - Chris Kenney

Your beliefs around money are often formed at a young age and carried throughout your life, which is why it’s critical to be aware of them, particularly if you’re an entrepreneur. Today’s Brave By Design expert guest not only overcame hardship and challenges in his upbringing, but he smashed the limiting beliefs or “rules” he had around money, and he now helps others around the globe to do the same.  

Chris Kenney supports ambitious coaches and consultants to position, package and sell high-ticket packages and programs so they can increase their impact, have a freedom lifestyle, and leave their mark on the world.

If you’re ready to break your own money rules in order to live a life of freedom and choice, then you’ll get so much value from what Chris reveals in this episode! 

Connect with Chris: https://www.chriskenneycoaching.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

Are you a service-based business who wants to build your brand and get booked solid? Learn how podcasting helped Laura do that over at: podcastbrandlab.com

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• The pivotal moments in Chris’s past where money created feelings of shame for him [1:49]
  
  
• How and why he made the conscious choice to succeed in spite of his past [6:58]
  
  
• What Chris’s thoughts around selling previously looked like, versus what this looks like now for him [20:27]
  
  
• The significant mindset shifts that he had to make around money in order to get comfortable asking for the sale [21:58]
  
  
• How Chris built a business up to $300,000 in revenue without a website or the use of digital marketing [27:35]
  
  
• What happened during the pandemic to Chris and his business, and what he did to pivot and thrive [31:31]
  
  
• Tips for identifying the seen and unseen items in a sales conversation, and what will happen once you begin to do this [33:37] 

Additional Links & Resources:

His SALES MASTERY Inner Circle Facebook Group & Sales Mastery Academy

Chris’s  LinkedIn 

“I think what a lot of people do is they try to step up [to manifest something] and maybe they don’t get an immediate response so they retract again. Instead just hold it, because sometimes you have to release the old patterns for a little bit before the new one will fully come in. The Universe will ask if you’re sure you want it and if you are ready. That’s ok, and if you want to hold the space it will shift with you.” - Laura Powers 

Are you using manifestation and your intuition to its full potential? As a multi-dimensional human being, today’s special Brave By Design guest shares the behind-the-scenes of the amazing life she has built for herself. She reveals how she got to where she is right now, and the way she helps others do the same with her books, podcasts, courses and insight in the psychic world. 

Laura Michelle Powers is a celebrity psychic who has been featured by Will Ferrell’s “Ron Burgundy Podcast”, Buzzfeed, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, Motherboard Magazine by Vice, and many other media outlets. She is a clairvoyant, psychic medium, writer, actress, model, producer, writer, and creative entrepreneur.  Ever since she was a child, Laura has seen and sensed ghosts and spirits and she has learned how to manage those experiences, using this ability to connect with the angelic and other realms.  She now uses her experience communicating with angels, spirits, and other energy beings to help her clients better understand and change their lives.

Laura offers so much wisdom in this episode, and whether you are looking to uplevel your personal life or your career, the special gifts that are inside of each of us can be activated to do this starting now. 

Connect with Laura: https://www.healingpowers.net/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts! 

Are you a service-based business who wants to build your brand and get booked solid? Learn how podcasting helped Laura do that over at: podcastbrandlab.com

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• Laura’s experiences growing up and how her psychic abilities led her to having intense feelings followed by actions of repression [1:58]
  
  
• How to start tapping into your intuition the way creating time and space to listen and allow your intuition to guide you [8:14]
  
  
• The way that angels and spirit guides will help guide you on your highest path [12:59]
  
  
• How to identify and listen to your intuition and identify if something is out of alignment [18:22]
  
  
• Why Laura believes so strongly that if you have a gift you should use it [25:07]

Additional Links & Resources:

Laura’s Personal Website & Podcast

All of Her Books

Laura’s Instagram, Facebook & Twitter

To Book Laura

“When we are substituting accomplishment and getting things done for our deeper needs of connection, for belonging, for love and acceptance, that is always going to be hollow. It’s like fast food; it’s empty calories.” - Buck Dodson

Perfectionism is something that everyone suffers from in one form or another, and today’s Brave By Design guest has insights to share that can help it from stopping you thrive in your daily life. 

Buck Dodson is a life coach and licensed therapist igniting gay men’s curiosity about their deepest wants and supporting them to embrace, express and live out their most compelling life visions. Buck also hosts his own podcast, Gay Man’s Life Lab.

You don’t need to be a gay man to benefit from what Buck has to share today. What he reveals is a reminder that life really is about the messy parts, and overcoming perfectionism isn’t something that can be achieved quickly. Be gentle with yourself, and most importantly, give yourself the grace and patience needed in this process.

Connect with Buck: https://www.buckdodson.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

Are you a service-based business who wants to build your brand and get booked solid? Learn how podcasting helped Laura do that over at: podcastbrandlab.com

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• Buck’s experiences coming out as a young man and the struggles he faced early on feeling the need to be perfect [8:29]
  
  
• His thoughts on how we use perfectionism as a mask, and what’s really going on underneath the surface of it [15:16]
  
  
• What he says is the payoff with perfectionism, and why people ultimately do it [19:46]
  
  
• How Buck knows when he is starting to slip back into what he calls “perfectionistic thinking” [20:52]
  
  
• Why perfectionism is not only hollow, but also a substitute for what we’re really looking for [21:29]
  
  
• The ways that perfectionism and codependency are linked, and how boundaries can be implemented to help offset the damaging effects of this relationship [25:21]
  
  
• A powerful first step to take to start breaking the grip of perfectionism [36:03]
  
  
• Connecting with your body as an antidote to perfectionism [42:04] 

Additional Links & Resources:

Buck’s Instagram

His Podcast & Gays and Gals Happy Hour Episode 

Brave By Design Episode 42: Boundaries as a Bridge to Connection with Lisa Dempsey

The Spirituality of Imperfection by Ernest Kurtz

“In order to be an authentic communicator, to be heard and to get to the point you have to be willing to see and hear whatever criticism may be coming at you and not necessarily internalize it and personalize it.” - Anthony Hayes

Whether you’re in business, a community leader or a political candidate, at some time in your life you may experience a communication crisis. It is during these times that possessing the skills to communicate not only effectively, but authentically to your audience, is of utmost importance. Today’s special Brave By Design guest is an expert in the field of crisis management, and not only does he share his advice on how to be an authentic communicator, but you’ll also hear his fascinating backstory, his experiences in the industry and his thoughts and opinions on timely topics such as social change and “cancel culture.” 

Anthony Hayes has spent more than 15 years in communications, crisis and issue management and political and legislative campaigns. He founded The Hayes Initiative to apply his experience steering organizations’ public affairs and media relations to clients across business, politics, nonprofits, and philanthropy. A seasoned C-level advisor, Anthony has cultivated an energetic, fast-growing company now trusted to execute strategy for prominent clients around the globe.

The Hayes Initiative (THI) is a full-service public affairs firm providing strategic counsel and support on a range of needs including communications, media outreach, crisis management, government and community relations, and event planning. They help leaders and organizations deliver major initiatives, break through the noisy media landscape, and navigate the world of politics and government. They excel with high pressure, politically sensitive, and confidential issues while demonstrating the utmost level of discretion and judgment. As an LGBTQ owned and operated firm, they are proud of their work in the advocacy space and of their efforts to help organizations realize inclusivity at all levels of their work.

Connect with Anthony: https://hayesinitiative.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• How Anthony’s turned his greatest challenge as a young child into his greatest asset as an entrepreneur [3:11]
  
  
• His thoughts on being aware of how you are being received by others [6:27]
  
  
• The damaging impact on your organization when you don’t speak up and be the change you want to see in the world [15:15]
  
  
• Anthony’s powerful lessons learned from working with big names and top politicians [21:39]
  
  
• His perspective on “cancel culture” [30:01]
  
  
• Tips and strategies for “getting to the point” when communicating [37:27]

Additional Links & Resources:

Anthony’s LinkedIn & Email 

What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton

“Stick with the definition [of selfish] if you want. If you want to say that it’s to fill your ego because it’s all about you, stick with it. I’ve redefined it as a personal intimate gift to create my joy. It’s that space that I need to do what I need to do for me, call it selfish, so that I have more to give freely.” - Naketa Thigpen 

I’m so excited to be bringing today’s guest back to the podcast, because her first appearance on Brave By Design was one of our most popular and talked about episodes. You may remember Naketa Thigpen, who spoke about work life balance and overcoming addiction to stress in that episode that aired early last year, and what we talk about today almost feels like a continuation of that amazing conversation. 

Naketa R. Thigpen, LCSW, is regarded as the #1 Balance & Relationship Advisor in the World, is the President & CEO of ThigPro Balance and Relationship Management Institute, a global personal development company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA that's revivifying the industry.

In this episode Naketa reveals how having an addiction to stress led her to redefine what being “selfish” really means, and the way being selfish can play a huge role in your personal and professional life. What she shares here is fascinating, and I hope you find it informative, and timely, during these challenging times. 

Connect with Naketa: https://thigpro.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• How the word “selfish” was, and still is today, weaponized against women [3:30]
  
  
• What are some of the detrimental effects of not doing anything for yourself [6:56]
  
  
• How do we start to be more selfish [15:51]
  
  
• Why you need to be completely open and honest with the people in your life about your boundaries [21:57]
   
• The key difference between being “nice” and being “kind” [28:31]
  
  
• Actions steps you can take right now to slow down and assess what is going on in your body [38:45]
   
• Ways to be kind to yourself, starting now [40:39]
  
  
• Naketa’s thoughts on admitting what you really want, and the role that self-pleasure plays in being selfish [41:23]

Additional Links & Resources:

Tired of choosing between energy for your business and energy for your marriage? Join Naketa for her Free 5 Day Experience: The Joy Map Method Masterclass for Married Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More...

Register here> www.asknaketa.com/joymapmethod-masterclass/

Her Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

Naketa's First Appearance on Brave By Design

Her Books 

“If you’re not looking for a job, stop making your LinkedIn profile look like a resume. Nobody cares that you generated $3 million of revenue for your last company if you’re a sales consultant. They only care about what you can do for them. What are you doing for your company right now, and what’s your company all about?’ - Brenda Meller 

Are you using LinkedIn but not seeing the results that you want to see from all your efforts? Maybe you’re not even sure where to begin, or how to properly use this powerful platform? Today I’m so excited to have my friend Brenda Meller as our expert guest on Brave By Design, because she helps people unlock the true power of LinkedIn, and has so much wisdom to share around this topic! 

Brenda Meller is a self-proclaimed “ambassador” of LinkedIn, national speaker, and the Chief Engagement Officer at Meller Marketing, which provides marketing and social media support for individuals and businesses, specializing in LinkedIn. She has been leveraging social media to propel her personal and professional efforts for over ten years, and now blends this experience with her marketing expertise to help clients achieve their goals.

You can find Brenda Meller and Meller Marketing online on all the major social media channels.

In January 2021, she published her first book, Social Media Pie: How to Enjoy a Bigger Slice of LinkedIn.

Other Important Facts: Brenda loves coffee, chocolate, and pie. In her downtime, she enjoys jigsaw puzzles, and it was such a joy to introduce her to you today. I hope you find this conversation with Brenda informative and helpful in getting you those results you are after using a social media platform that we are both huge fans of! 

Connect with Brenda: https://www.mellermarketing.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• The amazing story of how Brenda went from anti-social on social media to being the “Queen of LinkedIn” [2:25]
  
  
  
• What she says is really happening when people resist using LinkedIn [6:14]
  
  
  
• Tips and tricks to get started engaging on the platform right now, including the very first step you should be taking [7:48]
  
  
  
• Brenda’s thoughts on the use of bots, and the way that she prefers serving her prospects [9:43] 
  
  
  
• How to begin walking through the fear of reaching for what you want - and a bigger slice of LinkedIn [18:05] 
  
  
  
• A breakdown of her P.I.E framework, and practical ways to use it daily while on LinkedIn [28:26] 

Additional Links & Resources:

Brenda’s LinkedIn 

Her Instagram, Facebook & YouTube Channel 

Get Brenda’s Social Media Pie Book 

“It’s so ironic that we don’t want to ‘hurt people’ and therefore we don’t sell to them, but what happens is we overdeliver for them and then ask what they’ve ever done for us.” - Annie P. Ruggles

Many entrepreneurs avoid selling, and for some the act of selling can be downright scary. If you’re in business, selling is necessary and today’s Brave By Design guest reveals how you can overcome any struggles you may have with sales by implementing the right mindset shifts.  

For almost a decade, Annie P. Ruggles has harnessed her Hulk-like disdain for hard-sales, tacky self-promotion, and overly competitive sleazeballs as inspiration to help people find better ways to grow their small bizzes.  She's guided hundreds of people toward making deeper connections, lasting impressions, and friendlier, more lucrative transactions and conversations.

Annie is the daughter of an award-winning motivational speaker and an always-ahead-of-his-time business strategist, and the granddaughter of a legendary used-car salesman, a perspicacious wordsmith, a singing waiter, and a cafeteria caterer with a raving fan base. (So clearly, she was literally born for this.)

She lives in Chicago with her hobbit husband (who is also in sales), her furkids, and her disdain for deep dish pizza.

As Annie explains, to sell isn’t to be manipulative. Selling our goods and services ( and ultimately ourselves!) to our customers is actually helping them in the best ways possible.

Connect with Annie: https://www.anniepruggles.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• The real reason why your business isn’t getting off the ground [2:10]
  
  
• Why marketing alone does not make sales [10:09]
  
  
• How Annie redefines the term “sales” [16:10]
  
  
• Why you are really hurting your clients by not asking for the sale [20:13]
  
  
• Her tips and strategies for being proactive with objections [26:36]
  
  
• Some of the big boundaries that needed in your business [36:52]

Additional Links & Resources:

Annie’s Website & Free Masterclass, How to Make Selling Easy – Without Getting Sleazy

Her Podcast

Annie’s Facebook & Instagram

“It came to a point where I felt like I had discovered the source of abundance and money that no one was talking about, and I was so clear that I was never going back to that broken financial lifestyle.” - Hilary Hendershott   

What if I told you it is possible to go from $600,000 in debt to having a multi 7- figure net worth? It sure is, and today’s Brave By Design expert guest actually did it! In this episode she is not only sharing her 7 steps to wealth, but she also reveals the mindset shifts and reframes around money that you can make starting today to improve your financial lifestyle.

Hilary Hendershott is the founder of Hendershott Wealth Management, a leading financial advisory firm for women and couples. With 21 years of experience as a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor and stock market expert, Hilary’s mission is to empower women to take control of their finances and make their money work for them.

As her career in the financial services industry developed, Hilary became increasingly aware of a unique gap in the marketplace. Hundreds of thousands of women were eager to make wise investment decisions, but the male-dominated financial industry wasn’t equipped to meet their needs. Founded in 2014, Hendershott Wealth Management is one of the first and only female-focused Registered Investment Advisory firms in America.

Hilary hosts Profit Boss® Radio, a weekly podcast where she and her guests offer inspiration and actionable advice to support women in their financial journey.  She’s also a TEDx speaker, and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NBC, ABC, FOX, DailyWorth, Forbes, and Investopedia. Hilary was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and Investopedia has named her one of the Top 100 Most Influential Advisors in the US in 2018, 2019 and 2020.​ With more than 30 television appearances, she’s considered the go-to personal finance expert in Silicon Valley for NBC, where they have nicknamed her “The Investor’s Voice of Reason.” Hilary has an MBA from Santa Clara University, and is a Certified Financial Planner.

Connect with Hilary: https://hilaryhendershott.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• How a financial professional found herself $600,000 in debt [2:38]
  
  
• What the journey from rock bottom to financially independence looked like [10:42]
  
  
• Common superstitions people have come to believe about money, and why you should be aware of them [13:46]
  
  
• The first steps to take to combine psychology and finance [18:28]
  
  
• The difference between spending money and being wealthy [21:38]
  
  
• The “7 Steps to Wealth” and why implementing each of them is critical to your financial success [25:31]

Additional Links & Resources:

Hilary’s Podcast & Episode 77: The 7 Steps to Wealth

Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 

“On the other side of those decisions there’s a domino effect, because then you’re executing those decisions. There’s mental freedom that comes from that, from just deciding and then moving into action. Rare is the time that the consequence of changing my mind has been worse than I thought it was, it’s almost always not as bad.” - Cherylanne Skolnicki

How would you like to overcome “analysis paralysis” and learn the techniques for taking action, once and for all? With the daily demands on women’s time, both at home and in the workplace, decision-making can be an overwhelming process. However, it doesn’t have to be like this. Today’s Brave By Design guest is here to talk all about work-life integration, and she shares the ways that she helps women put things in motion in order to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Cherylanne Skolnicki is the founder of Brilliant Balance, where she is a work-life mentor to working women across the country.

Over the last decade, she’s coached hundreds of entrepreneurial and professional women on how to stop settling, get out of their own way, and finally go after their dreams.

As a former corporate ladder climber and MBA who spent 15 years at a Fortune 50 company, she knows exactly what it takes for ambitious, strong women to find balance.

And yet as a married mom of three with a career she loves, Cherylanne also knows we want more than just to feel balanced...we want to be brilliant.

Connect with Cherylanne: https://brilliant-balance.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 

• Cherylanne’s “ winding path” to get to where she is today and how she was able to put things in motion [1:49]
  
  
• Why leaving the corporate world doesn’t have to be a radical shift for you [6:14]
  
  
• The three most pressing challenges that face women today [7:39]
  
  
• The real reasons that self-care is more than just “getting your nails done” [12:35]
  
  
• How by narrowing your sight of view, things will become clearer [18:04]

Additional Links & Resources:

Cherylanne’s Podcast 

Her Instagram, LinkedIn & Facebook