Business is Human

What happens when we allow ourselves to be curious? We challenge our current way of thinking and learn more about ourselves. Our curiosity drives us to step out into something we’ve never done before and just figure it out. It’s this act of figuring it out that gives us confidence. Once we start to evoke that sense of confidence in ourselves, others start to have more confidence in us.

In this week’s episode, we will listen to Kelly Gordon — the captain of a 75-foot motor yacht — as she tells us the story of how she followed her curiosity and had the sheer confidence to just “figure it out.” In her conversation with Rebecca, Kelly talks about her journey of becoming one of the few female captains in the boating industry, and her success in maneuvering a yacht with a female crew. She shares her deep desire to learn, and how she had the confidence to try something new.

Listen in to learn more about how Kelly had the confidence to follow her own curiosity, and the importance of searching and exploring throughout your career.

Connection is fuel for our soul and it requires us to know ourselves really well. We have to have a firm understanding of ourselves before we can actually connect with others in a meaningful way. Our connections aren't meant to fix us or change us; they remind us who we really are and why that matters. To know ourselves, we must reflect on what our unique gifts, talents, and abilities are. When we know how we're unique, then we can use that uniqueness to serve others, and we are all made uniquely on purpose for a purpose.

In this week’s episode, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession talks to us about the power of connection and reflection. Connection is fuel for our soul and it requires us to know us really well. Rebecca talks about we can get through times of uncertainty if we tap into who we are and what our purpose is. She tells us that we're not meant for everyone and connection isn't about getting everyone to like us. The people in our life that we have authentic, meaningful connections with will resonate with who we truly are. We will listen to Rebecca as she tells us about the way we can use our unique gifts and talents to connect with and serve other humans.

Listen in to learn more about why it is important to reflect on who we are and how to connect with others in a way that will affirm your uniqueness.

Business has a ton of uncertainty. The strategy, the customers, the employees — people are uncertain. We are personal, emotional, and social beings. We aren't robots. And uncertainty is a shared human experience that has the opportunity to ring us together. When we have those shared human experiences, there's comfort and courage that gets built in knowing that we're not alone.

In this week’s episode, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession talks to us about uncertainty in business and how we are all a little afraid. We think that business is all under control because there's a spreadsheet. But there's so much that is just “figuring it out.” Rebecca talks about the human side of business, reminding us that, “business is done by people for people, and nobody has it all figured out.” She tells us about times she has been afraid and fears she has experienced during her career, and she gives us permission to all “go figure it out together.” We will listen to Rebecca as she tells us about the way we can use uncertainty as a unifying experience that makes us feel bolder and more confident. In her own words, “we're all in this together.”

Listen in to learn more about why we are all a little afraid and how the uncertainty in business can actually unite us and embolden us.

Our uniqueness is our competitive advantage and our superpower. Each of us has our own talents and gifts that we can use to serve our community. However, we need to get curious about ourselves first and understand who we really are before we take on that challenge. When we can get through the uncertainty and the insecurity of life, we can own our uniqueness and tap into the power of our humanity. We can start to live our authentic life, and we can start to thrive.

In this week’s episode, we are sharing with you another podcast: The Follow-Up Question. Earlier this week, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession was a guest on Michael Ashford’s podcast. To share the podcast love, we decided to publish that episode here this week. We will listen to Rebecca as she tells us about her passions, her thoughts, and the things she’s writing about right now. She even shares a bit of her own personal story, and tells us about her book, “Business is Human.”

Before founding WEThrive.live, Rebecca had a highly successful career at Franklin Covey Organization. However, after 19 years, she decided to quit and start doing her own visits. She needed the space to explore her own dreams and creativity, and today, she is doing exactly what she wants to be doing: living her authentic life and telling people’s stories through WEThrive.live.

In Rebecca’s conversation with Michael, she discusses the human side of business and the emotional, personal, and social needs each person has. They discuss the challenges of uncertainty and imposter syndrome today as well as how to get curious about yourself. Michael and Rebecca share their love for stories and talk about the importance of communication and empathy in everyday life. To finish off the conversation, Rebecca shares how to live your most authentic life and be true to yourself even when you feel stuck.

Listen in to learn more about how Rebecca is bringing humanity back into business and helping people live their most authentic life.

Our life is long. Our journey and our experiences are here to guide us and teach us. We have to have the courage to listen, learn and explore. We should be curious about our interests, ideas, and dreams. We should take time to discover ourselves because there is no template for how to do our life and out career. When we gain deep levels of self-awareness, it gives us the ability to have empathy for others and serve our community. And when we use our gifts to serve others in a meaningful way, then we've set ourselves up for success.

In this week’s episode, we will listen to our final speaker Kelly Wingham — Founder and President of Data Activation Center, Inc. — as she tells us the story of how she pursued new opportunities and turned her company into a success. In her talk, Kelly talks about her many different experiences and the struggles she has faced over the years. She shares unconventional path to where she is now, and how she kept going even when things got difficult.

Throughout her life, Kelly has been able to see recognize possibilities and to easily visualize the outcome. Over the years, she explore many new opportunities and business ideas. About 10 years ago, she discovered an underserved market and recognized its potential. However, along the way, her company hit some major roadblocks and she was forced to change the business model. At one point, things were so tough that Kelly was digging through her old purses looking for change. One day, she received a call from a referring customer who proposed the solution she needed. Without a legal agreement or a meeting in person, a large sum of money was deposited in Kelly’s account, and she started to grow her company again. This year her company — a female-owned and operated business — is expected to close with $2 million in revenue.

Listen in to learn more about how Kelly had the courage to pursue new opportunities, and how she persisted through all the challenges her company faced.

And tune in next week to hear an episode wrapping up the Stand Tall In Your Story series and thanking the companies and people that came together to make this an amazing event.

The world needs us to boldly be ourselves. Oftentimes, we don't have the confidence to believe in ourselves and our talents. We listen to other people’s opinions of our lives before we listen to our own opinions, our own intuition, and our own ideas. To own our uniqueness, we must be courageous and confident. Once we shed the expectations others have set for us, we allow ourselves to be ourselves, and we find our meaning and purpose.

In this week’s episode, we will listen to Lindsay Tjepkema — CEO and founder of Casted — as she tells us the story of how she literally and figuratively found her voice. In her talk, Lindsay talks about being “too much” of everything and” not enough” of anything. She shares her journey of self-confidence, and how she had the courage to own her uniqueness.

Throughout her life, Lindsay has been listening to people tell her that she wasn't who they thought I should be. Over the years, she was told that she was too tall, too small, too loud, too quiet, too much, not enough, too young, and "too" everything. After years of putting her value in what other people said, she finally found her voice in podcasting. The podcast she started as a VP at a global SAS company led her to start a company of her own: Casted, the first and only marketing platform built around podcasts. Although it took her some time, she has regained the confidence she lost as a little girl.

Listen in to learn more about how Lindsay had the courage to boldly be herself, and how she literally and figuratively found her voice.

And tune in next week to hear from our last speaker about how to stand tall in your story and rise and thrive during these difficult times.

Everything we need to thrive is already within us. We each have unique gifts, experiences, talents, and abilities that we can give back to our communities. Each of us is a piece of the puzzle, and we're looking for other people that fit our puzzle to make us stronger and more beautiful. When we finally tap into our authentic and unique self, we find our joy and start to live a life of thriving, not striving.

In this week’s episode, we will listen to Amber Fields — Director of Sales at AIS — as she tells us the story of how she realized she was a gift. In her talk, Amber talks about not knowing what to do with her life and carrying around guilt and shame. She shares her journey of self-discovery, and how she realized that she already had everything she needed.

Throughout her life, Amber has felt like a failure because she couldn’t figure out what she was supposed to do with her life. After seeing her mom tired and unhappy, Amber decided to get an $80,000 college degree, so that she could create something different for herself. However, she walked away from her job as the news director of a radio show when she couldn’t bring herself to read the horrible news of what was happening on September 11, 2001. She felt shame and guilt for not using her degree, and ultimately decided to put herself on the back burner, so she could take care of her new family. After trying multiple careers, she still felt like a failure and was dying inside. She starting reading self-discovery books and attending classes; she was hungry for someone to tell her what she was supposed to do. After receiving some good advice from her husband, she dug in and found her truth. Amber finally discovered that she’s always had everything she ever needed. She realized that showing up as her authentic self is the gift she can give to others. In her own words, “It was never about what I did or what I do as a vocation, and it has always been about who I am.”

Listen in to learn more about how Amber had the courage to find her own truth, and how she discovers who she truly is.

And tune in each week to hear from another speaker about how to stand tall in your story and rise and thrive during these difficult times.

Our unique essence in this world is our true superpower. Our unique skills, talents, abilities, experiences, and even struggles all encompass our story. We are writing our story each day chapter by chapter. We need to intentionally write the story that we want to live because no two of us are the same. Each of us is unique. Each of us is different.

In this week’s episode, we will listen to Denisa Lambert — Vice President of Regulatory and Compliance with TRIMEDX — as she tells us a story of differences, struggles, love, and ultimately, empathy and unity. In her talk, Denisa was vulnerable and courageous. She decided to share a story that she has been hiding behind for 14 years.

Throughout her adult life, Denisa has contemplated what is normal. Her life and family have been anything but normal for the past 14 years. Unexpectedly, Denisa met her best friend and the love of her life at work — Susan. Unfortunately, their company didn't embrace them as a couple and within a year they both lost their job. Throughout their life together, Denisa and Susan have faced some major challenges and some wonderful joys. It is not at all what they expected, but they figured out how to make it work, and couldn’t imagine it any other way. They now have a house of six children, and in Denisa’s words, “it’s always going to be complicated, but we're not the ordinary family. And I think that's what keeps us going. This ordinary family is extraordinary together.”

When Denisa came to Rise and Thrive, she never thought she would tell the women — let alone the crowd — about her story. But they brought out the most vulnerable moments in her and inspired her to share her journey. After 14 years, Denisa decided to stand up and be courageous, so that she can empower others to not try to be normal.

Listen in to learn more about how she found the courage to tell her unique, authentic story and how Rise and Thrive brought out her most vulnerable moments.

And tune in each week to hear from another speaker about how to stand tall in your story and rise and thrive during these difficult times.

Sometimes we forget to put on our own oxygen mask before helping someone else. We advocate for everyone else before advocating for ourselves. And when we nurture and support others, we sometimes lose sight of our own needs.

In order to thrive, we have to be able to breathe and we have to advocate for ourselves. In this week’s episode, we will listen to Wendy Noe — Executive Director of Dove Recovery House For Women in Indianapolis — as she tells us a story about how she believed in herself and regained her breath. Throughout her adult life, Wendy found herself becoming a fixer. Always advocating for others, and never truly advocating for herself. When she left her previous company and her toxic boss, she was able to regain her breath and prioritize herself. Since then, Wendy Noe has built a strong brand and raised more money than she ever thought she could for the Dove Recovery House For Women. Currently, Dove is working on a statewide initiative because of the model Wendy leads at Dove — saving lives by providing free treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. She has become a fierce advocate for other women vulnerable in her own community. This week, you will hear about Wendy realized her own worth and began advocating for herself. When she could breathe, she was able to empower other women around her to breathe as well.

Listen in to learn more about how she regained her breath and now empowers other women in her community to breathe as well.

And tune in each week to hear from another speaker about how to stand tall in your story and rise and thrive during these difficult times.

Our stories are written by us for us, and our intuition and our dreams for the future play a strong role in those stories. We must pursue our imagination and our dreams to achieve our greatest growth. Because the most courageous thing we can do is be curious about what's next and be willing to follow that curiosity.

Writing our own story gives us influence over our own lives, and in this week’s episode we will listen to Courtney Simpkiss — CGO at Gibson Insurance Agency Inc. — as she writes her own story. Courtney Simpkiss is a small town girl who grew up in Indiana and achieved top leader status in a Fortune 50 company. Courtney is currently serving the world of employee benefits by looking for ways to navigate the complexity and confusion of our healthcare system. This week, you will hear about Courtney’s story of uncertainty and curiosity. After working at ADP for 14 years and ending up in the top 1%, she chose to leave and start a new career at Gibson.

Listen in to learn more about the difficult decisions she faced during her life and how she found her purpose and meaning by trusting her curiosity.

And tune in each week to hear from another speaker about how to stand tall in your story and rise and thrive during these difficult times.