Chasing Dreams with Aimee J.

Today’s episode is a special one and a very different one than normal. I’m going solo today as I reflect back on 2016 and look ahead to 2017. The beginning of a new year is always a terrific time for this kind of evaluation. From all of the wonderful recommendations from my guests, I’ve compiled Five Top Recommendations to Help You in 2017. These FIVE simple tips can help you as you continue to chase your dreams in this New Year. Aren’t you curious? Join me now!

TWEET: #2017—New start, new beginnings, and new #dreams to chase! @chasingdreamsHQ

Looking back to 2016

How was 2016 for YOU? As with most any year, we can find some good things and some bad things that happened. It’s the same, of course, for me. I’m humbled to have hit 73 episodes for the podcast, 50 guests, and over 20,000 downloads! Amazing! I have to say thanks to my listeners and my guests because you are the ones to make all of this possible. So many of my guests are friends, colleagues, and “dream guests” that I never thought possible.

TWEET: There is no substitute for hard #work.@chasingdreamsHQ

Looking ahead to 2017

So, what lies ahead for YOU? Like me, you may have big plans and big dreams. Learning how and when to say YES and when to say NO must accompany the chase for those dreams. I hope you’ve realized that you cannot say YES to everything! What do you plan to do differently in 2017? I hope to do more blogging, more coaching and have more involvement with my listeners. I want to overcome the challenges of spending more time together with my family. Finding time for everything I WANT to do is the biggest challenge of all. You may be experiencing the same difficulty. Specifically, I want to put myself first; I can’t help others if I’m not taking care of myself. I want to show that “representation matters,” and shine the light on those who are sometimes unnoticed. In short, I want to find the best tactics for dream-chasing and share them here with you.

TWEET: Take the FIRST step, and then the next one is easier. @chasingdreamsHQ

TOP FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2017:

5. Focus on and know your WHY

4. Visualize your dream

3. Just do it

2. Lean into your own discomfort

1. Don’t measure your success against someone else’s

TWEET: No one is going to hand you your #dreams. @chasingdreamsHQ

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [1:35] Aimee’s recap of 2016
• [3:23] Specific guests: friends and colleagues
• [4:30] Plans for “Where are they now?” spot checks in 2017
• [5:40] What are we going to do with 2017?
• [8:20] How to improve as we move forward
• [10:02] Chasing Dreams is now on iHeartRadio!
• [11:43] Plans for the Virtual Summit and other live events in 2017
• [13:37] The Big Challenge: Finding time for everything
• [15:27] New goals---going to the next level
• [18:50] Top Tips for 2017
• [35:10] Enjoy the journey—the chase—to reach your dreams

TWEET: Don’t compare yourself as a #caterpillar to someone else’s #butterfly. @chasingdreamshq

RESOURCES: 

Lucinda Cross Shares Practical Steps to Activate Your Vision

Positivity Summit 2017

TWEETS YOU CAN USE:

TWEET: If it was #easy, then everybody would be doing it. @chasingdreamshq

TWEET: WHY are you doing what you are doing? #2017 #dreams

https://youtu.be/Pt9ZzgSdso8

What matters most to Carey Green is that his life matters - not just now but for eternity. He's working hard everyday to ensure that his life does matter, in a variety of ways. Carey is a retired pastor turned entrepreneur. He's built and runs Podcast Fast Track, a company that provides professional audio editing and production and SEO rich show notes, has created a couple of online video course, is author of 9 books on topics ranging from Christian growth, to business mindset, to fiction. His most recent project is launching January of 2017 - Live Build Change - a project aimed at helping Christian men and women LIVE an authentic Christian faith, BUILD a business (part time or full time), and CHANGE the world by integrating the two. It's his dream to make his life matter by equipping others to make their lives matter for eternity.

TWEET: Ep. 72: @CareyNGreen - #Live. #Build. #Change

When most Thought Leaders preach singular focus on one dream or passion, some leaders push back at that idea. Carey Green is one of those leaders. He has learned that some people are wired to pursue multiple passion projects. Carey counts himself among them. He points out that Thought Leaders who teach about singular focus do so fervently because it's worked for them. Carey is challenging the idea that one size fits all. He wants to open up business leaders’ perspectives to see more opportunities for growth, not less. To hear more from Carey, make sure to catch THIS episode of Chasing Dreams!

Have you ever thought deeply about your legacy? What will you leave behind when all is said and done? As the New Year approaches, people often think about how to change or make an impact on the short term. But Carey Green has his eye on a different prize. Carey wants to make an impact that will live on long after his time on earth has passed. He wants to make a difference for eternity. Carey comes from a background in Christian ministry. His faith has fueled his latest passion project. Carey is launching a new endeavor called “Live.Change.Build.” Its focus is to equip Christian men and women in their pursuit of a stronger faith, a growing business, and creating an impact in their world. To catch more of Carey’s vision, listen to this inspiring episode of Chasing Dreams!

TWEET: #Leaving a #Legacy @CareyNGreen

Have you ever been in a “Funk?” Has there been a time in your life where you just couldn’t figure out the way forward? How do you navigate your way out? Carey Green was in the middle of putting together a new project when he hit his “Funk.” He learned some important lessons in this season and how to make it out on the other side. First, he learned the necessity of letting others in. Carey shared his thoughts with someone close, his oldest son who works with him. That made a huge difference! Second, Carey focused on the clarity he had before the “Funk” set in. He calls it “Never doubting in the dark what you clearly saw in the light.” Hear Carey expand on these thoughts and more on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

Is success always something you weigh by the numbers? What if there is a different way to gauge your impact? Carey Green is rethinking what success looks like. Carey is an entrepreneur so he’s a numbers and business guy at heart. But even deeper than that, Carey is a man of faith. It’s his faith that motivates him to look differently at success. He launched this new project to make a difference in the lives of others and to change the world. Carey wants to see his life influence others for eternity! To catch a view of success from a different angle, make sure to listen to this episode of Chasing Dreams!

TWEET: How do you #weigh #success? @CareyNGreen

• [1:10] Aimee’s introduction to this episode with Carey...

Tiffany F. Southerland is a lawyer by training and change agent at heart. She is the founder of Four Corners Coaching, where she works with students and rising professionals on owning their stories, understanding their strengths, and leveraging life experiences as they pursue more fulfilling careers and lives. Tiffany is also the host of "How Does She Do It?," a podcast dedicated to sharing practical insight and honest perspectives on adulting and being grown. She has been a TEDx speaker and has served as a panelist, moderator, and keynote presenter for various groups and organizations. Tiffany writes, speaks, and coaches on topics including professional development, career transitions, overcoming trauma, and balancing personal values and career goals.

TWEET: Ep. 71: @tiffsouth - Channeling her #Talent as a #ChangeAgent for Others to #Embrace Their #Potential

Have you ever met someone remarkably confident in who they are? Aimee met someone that fits that bill. Her guest on this episode is Tiffany F. Southerland and she describes herself as a “Change agent at heart.” At the center of Tiffany’s personal narrative is a love for serving others and helping them discover personal transformation. Tiffany started her professional career in law. Then, after embarking on her own journey of personal discovery and transformation, she changed careers. Tiffany currently works as a career coach, chasing her passion to help others. Don’t miss this inspiring episode of Chasing Dreams to hear more of Tiffany’s story!

Do you ever feel like you are living in two different worlds? Work life and home life? Tiffany F. Southerland felt the divide between these two worlds for a long time. She discovered the first step towards living an integrated life is owning your story. She encourages the people she coaches to get rid of the “Compartmentalized life” mindset. Sometimes making this transition to an integrated life is messy and scary. After having embarked on her own journey, Tiffany is uniquely positioned to help others. Listen to Tiffany’s helpful insight on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

TWEET: Owning Your #Story @tiffsouth

When you meet someone new, what is one of the first questions you ask them? Usually, it's “What do you do?” This is your way of sizing someone up, categorizing them, defining them. If you are honest with yourself, you label the person in the mirror too. Tiffany F. Southerland realized that this method of labeling isn’t helpful. If your identity rests in what you do or where you work, what happens if that ends? Tiffany encourages people she coaches to find other means of personal identity. To hear how you can start that journey, make sure to catch this episode of Chasing Dreams!

What does a well rounded life look like? After years through law school and an early career as an attorney, Tiffany F. Southerland started to chase a dream. After developing the skills she needed on her own journey, Tiffany identified these four areas of focus.

1. Personal Development
2. Professional Development
3. Health and Wellness
4. Relationships

Tiffany teaches the necessity of tending to all four areas with focus and intentionality. When one area is “off” or unattended, it can have ripple effects into the other three areas. Tiffany is passionate about helping others discover the harmony she has learned through careful self examination. Hear more from Tiffany the awesome work she is doing on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

TWEET: Four Corners #Coaching @tiffsouth

• [1:06] Aimee’s introduction to this episode with Tiffany F. Southerland.
• [3:29] How did Tiffany get the title “Change agent?”
• [9:32] Owning your story.
• [12:10] Labels and Identity.
• [21:15] Reflecting on successes

Delali is Founder and President of Fearless Solutions, a software firm based out of Baltimore. Delali is a Certified Scrum Master and PMP® with a decade of experience leading agile software teams and programs. Delali graduated with a B.S. in Computer Engineering from UMBC in 2004. Delali always had a passion for entrepreneurship and after working at a handful of technology firms, he founded Fearless in 2009. Delali strives to make a difference in technology and his surrounding community. He currently resides with his family in Baltimore City, where he is passionate about increasing the rate of city youth heading into STEM fields.

TWEET: Ep. 70: @DelaliDzirasa - Using his #Passion to #MakeADifference in #Technology and the #Community

Delali Dzirasa aspired to be a business owner since his days in college. How did he get from a college student to a successful entrepreneur? What carried him across the finish line? Delali says determination and drive helped him achieve his goal. He tells the story of running his first marathon with a friend from college. The one thing that kept him going mile after mile was the simple focus on small incremental goals. One mile at a time. They built on top of each other. Before he knew it, he had finished all 26 miles. Similarly, Delali says entrepreneurship is like running a marathon. You have to set small attainable goals one after another. With each goal accomplished, you accumulate success. Hear more about Delali's story on this inspiring episode of Chasing Dreams!

Delali Dzirasa is a successful leader in the software development field. As he his influence in the industry has grown, Delali wants to give back. One of the ways Delali and his company, Fearless Solutions accomplishes this is by resourcing STEM programs. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM jobs are the jobs of the future. However, these jobs are increasingly difficult for minorities and women to obtain. If the United States is going to be competitive on the global stage, it needs to invest in resourcing and developing these job avenues. Learn more from Delali about STEM and the work he’s doing on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

TWEET: What is #STEM and why is it #important? @DelaliDzirasa

If you go to Fearless Solutions’ website, you will notice one thing right away. A purple cow. The purple cow is not just a gimmick. Fearless Solutions’ founder and leader, Delali Dzirasa was inspired by the book “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin. He realized that in order to be noticed, you have to do something outside of the box. In a world of run-of-the-mill “Brown cow” software companies, Delali wanted Fearless to stand out. He wanted the company to be known for their values like committing to excellence, integrity, improvement, innovation, and passion in every aspect of their business. Delali discuss the purple cow and more on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

One of the most overlooked aspects of a successful business is its culture. Almost everyone has worked in a negative or unhealthy work culture. But, how do you build a healthy one? Delali Dzirasa and his team at Fearless Solutions have created an exciting and vibrant work culture. They have dedicated themselves to trust and empowerment. They don’t micromanage people, they trust men and women to get their jobs done like adults. Instead of holding everyone to arbitrary rules, they empower people to work in a way that makes them the most comfortable and productive. By letting people work outside of the box, they have found that their employees are more likely to THINK outside of the box. Hear more about building a healthy work culture from Delali on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

TWEET: #Building a...

Matt hosts a weekly recovery podcast called "Pornfree Radio." It serves motivated guys who want to quit looking at porn. It frequently ranks in the top 100 of iTunes in Self Help with over 22,000 downloads a month. In 2015, Matt was let go from his corporate marketing job of 10 years and pivoted to a new career as an entrepreneur. He now coaches men and helps other coaches market their message. Matt lives just outside of Chicago with his wife, Janice and two boys.

TWEET: Ep. 69: @MattDobschuetz - You May Not Have an #Information Challenge, but an #Action #Challenge

You’ve heard the old adage, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Addiction is one of those battles. It can be a very scary and intimidating topic. Matt Dobschuetz knows this road well. He struggled with pornography addiction for years but eventually found himself on the path toward recovery. His story is an inspiration. Matt knows that he isn’t alone in his struggle with pornography addiction. Through his recovery, Matt resolved to use what he learned to offer hope and help to others by developing tools and resources to battle addiction. Hear more about Matt and his efforts to overcome addiction on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

To understand success, you have to understand the power of habits. Habits can make or break your potential for growth and productivity. The most successful and influential people in our society attribute their fortune to positive habits. Positive habits can seem like an unattainable goal. Because, many people struggle with negative habits. Matt Dobschuetz has experienced the impact a negative habit can have on a person’s life. He has also discovered the KEY to turning that weakness into a strength which led to exponential growth. Listen to this episode of Chasing Dreams as Matt goes deep into the concept of “Keystone Habits”. Get ready for life changing applications!

TWEET: The #power of #habits @MattDobschuetz

Charlie Jones once said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” Masterminds are collectives of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. They gather to push each other toward success and innovation. If you have been searching for that catalytic moment to help get you started, masterminds might be the tool you have been looking for. Listen to Aimee and Matt discuss the value masterminds bring and how they have made all the difference for Matt and the success he enjoys as an entrepreneur. Don’t miss this eye opening episode of Chasing Dreams!

What is it that holds you back? Why haven’t you taken that risk you’ve been dreaming about? Most people think that they simply lack the right information. That can sometimes be true. However, more often than not, people lack ACTION. Matt Dobschuetz is convinced that what most people need is encouragement and accountability to take an action step. Matt gets it, he’s lived it. He knows from experience that the only way you are going to move forward is to take that big scary first step into the unknown. Matt is so convinced of this truth, he is taking his own risky steps to help coach others. On this episode of Chasing Dreams Aimee talks with Matt about addiction, recovery, and personal growth!

TWEET: What are you #waiting for? @MattDobschuetz

• [0:57] Aimee’s introduction to this episode with Matt Dobschuetz.
• [1:44] Matt and Aimee talk about the Chicago Cubs World Series win.
• [6:05] Matt talks about his work with addiction recovery.
• [10:35] From a podcast to a platform.
• [13:49] Matt talks about rTribe.
• [19:07] Matt’s path toward recovery and personal growth.
• [25:27] The power of a...

Dr. Harold L. Arnold, Jr., founder of The Pursuit of Influence, is a social and organizational psychologist who specializes in developing family-focused culture in homes, places of worship, and business settings. Dr. Harold is a leadership enthusiast who relishes empowering leaders to maximum influence through his weekly, "Leading You Home Podcast, blogging at HaroldArnold.com, and numerous workshops. Dr. Harold is the author of three marriage books and one leadership development book all based on his own unique model for relationship-faith integration, including Marriage ROCKS for Christian Couples, Second Shift: How to Grow Your Part-Time Passion to Full-Time Influence and his newest marriage book published by CLC Publications, The Unfair Advantage: A Grace-inspired Path to Winning at Marriage. He is currently spearheading an initiative to bring 1000 Christian couples together for spiritual and marital renewal.

TWEET: Ep. 68: @DrHaroldArnold - Using his Passion to Encourage People to “Be Unfair”

Harold Arnold had a good job, he worked for fifteen years in Information & Technology Systems (IT). When one day, he heard a radio program that changed his life. The program “Focus on the Family” challenged him to look at his life and consider what he really he wanted. From that moment on, Harold embarked on a journey to truly discover what he was put on this earth to accomplish. Many years later, Harold discovered his purpose and what he calls his “Why”. Fueled by this discovery, Harold is passionate about helping others find their “Why” too! Listen to this powerful episode of Chasing Dreams to hear more about Harold’s story and how you can find your “Why”!

Why are you here? What is your purpose? Dr. Harold Arnold struggled with the same question. Even after he had a big “Ah-ha” moment Dr. Arnold struggled to find that “Why”. When his church started a study on Rick Warren’s “40 Days of Purpose”, Dr. Arnold began to articulate his calling. This process required many nights filled with of prayer, patience, and wise council. Once Dr. Harold found his “Why”, he focused like a laser beam on his mission to help others in their journey of faith, marriage and discovering their passion. Don’t miss Dr. Arnold’s challenging lessons on this episode of Chasing Dreams!

TWEET: Finding your “Why” @DrHaroldArnold

Finding your voice or unique calling can be very difficult. Once you find it, it feels amazing and you jump in with both feet! The trouble with articulating your calling can come when you find someone who is successful and doing what you want to do. You might find yourself before long, sounding like them, copying their passion instead of unleashing your own. Dr. Harold Arnold discovered that this is a common occurrence and wants to help people like you avoid this setback. In this episode of Chasing Dreams, Dr. Arnold discusses three vital steps in the process of growing and discovering your voice.

1. Listen to good people in your circle that will help you pursue your calling. Listen to what is going on inside you. What is rumbling under the surface?
2. Love what you have been called to do. As you are listening and discovering what that is, start doing the work. Put feet to your passion!
3. Lead others into your calling. Lift up others along the way.

Check out this podcast episode to hear more from Dr. Harold Arnold!

Wouldn’t be nice to see clearly what the next step is in business and life? Rarely does life provide that kind of clarity you crave. It can seem like a mirage in the desert. What is the solution? They say hindsight is 20/20 but how does that clarity help with making decisions in the present? Lack of clarity can leave you paralyzed in fear, complacency, and comfort. Aimee

Jason B. Penn is a partner with Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC and has expertise in representing people injured by serious medical negligence. Jason has turned his previous experience as a medical malpractice defense lawyer at a leading defense firm into a successful practice for plaintiffs in medical malpractice litigation. Jason regularly litigates against physicians, hospitals and nursing homes in cases involving birth injury and trauma, cerebral palsy, brain damage, cancer misdiagnosis and other medical illness. In 2015, he was named as Maryland’s Finest Young Professionals by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Maryland’s Finest are selected based on their exemplary leadership, activity in the community and their demonstration of excellence in their profession or business.

TWEET: Ep. 67: Jason Penn - When You Have a #Dream, You Just Have To Do It

How do you discover your dream, the one thing that drives or motivates you? You might think of a dream as something you latch onto at an early age, or maybe you think of it as a passion that wells up from deep down inside you. Have you ever thought of your dream as something you can discover along the way? In this episode of Chasing Dreams, Aimee talks with her friend Jason Penn about how he discovered his dream. What Jason learned might be the missing piece you’ve been waiting for. Don’t miss out on his inspiring story and helpful insights!

You’ve heard of the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Imagine what the world would look like if everyone lived that out. Pursuing your dreams doesn’t have to mean that people get left behind in the process. What if you can pursue success AND show people that they matter? On this episode of Chasing Dreams, you’ll hear from Jason Penn as he shares about how the little things like a personal handwritten note or a Starbuck’s gift card can go a long way in showing people that you care.

TWEET: #LittleThings can make a #HugeDifference!

Sometimes success seems unattainable, especially when you try to excel in the workplace and have a life outside it. Can you have out of this world success and still have a life? How does business, life, and everything in between work in harmony? Listen to this episode of Chasing Dreams, as Aimee talks with Jason Penn about what really matters in life and how he makes it work. Jason shares some great tips on how to pursue success and still enjoy life, don’t miss out!

Most people would be thrilled about tackling the big dream they have in life, but what about the other dreams you have? Your initial dream can loom so large, take up so much focus in life, you might wonder, is it realistic to pursue multiple dreams? Jason Penn is pursuing multiple dreams! He’s excelling in his work with advocacy law AND he’s chasing his passion for fishing. Jason believes that everyone should listen to and act upon the dreams you discover along the way. His conviction is act now, there is no better time than the present! Jason’s advice might be the “ah ha moment” you’ve been waiting for!

TWEET: #Multiple #dreams can be #accomplished with #equal #passion!

• [1:13] Aimee’s introduction to this episode with her friend Jason Penn.
• [3:01] Jason talks about his work with advocacy.
• [9:45] Who helped Jason pursue his dreams?
• [11:26] How Jason gives back, who he helps.
• [14:18] Jason talks about why he chose to work in advocacy law.
• [18:49] Taking time to add that personal touch.
• [22:08] The little things can go a long way.
• [24:20] How does Jason balance work, life, and everything in between?
• [30:47] How to you pursue multiple dreams?
• [32:02] A simple practice to start your week off in the right...

Nina is the founder and host of Keep it 100 Girl, an internationally known storytelling podcast which discusses how to empower women and men to have open conversations about their lives with no filters. When she’s not on a beach, she resides in the Washington, DC area. Nina talks to you like she talks to her own girlfriends. No filters. She wants to make you laugh from all the fifty shades of cray-cray women and men go through. She enjoys helping women to find their superhero strength based on real life personal experiences from women of all ages and stages of life, who reveal what they are thinking, but not saying out loud.

TWEET: Ep. 66: @NinaBabel - Shares Why Keeping it 100 Helps Her #Empower Others

Nina Babel has always been a confident girl and young woman. One aspect of that is the ability she’s had to be clear on who is around her and the things they bring to every interaction. She’s been able to discern the good and bad in people and to speak straight regarding what she sees. She’s learned something about herself as well: if someone tells her she can’t do something she will be motivated to do it all the more. That’s what has propelled her to do bigger things in her life and to create a podcast where she talks with people about the most difficult or awkward subjects for the sake of unpacking the truth about life and how we all navigate the landmines.

Nina Babel is moving into more and more realms of influence that she never expected when she started her podcast. The simple decision to start a podcast has opened up new realms of possibility that have enabled her to see a few steps ahead that she can shoot for. She’s found that looking ahead at the possibilities is what inspires her to pivot what she’s currently doing to make it better and to become a building block for those future things. If you want to be inspired by a young woman who’s really rocking things, this episode is the kind of fuel you need.

TWEET: Thinking toward the next step is vital for #DoingYourBest now @NinaBabel

Many entrepreneurs are so creative and visionary they can’t easily stay focused on one thing to get it done with excellence and efficiency. Nina Babel knew that about herself and made the decision to invest in her own development through hiring a coach. She can’t imagine where she would be if she hadn’t taken that important step. Her coach has helped her narrow things down, get ultra-focused, and stay on track to truly accomplish the things only she can do. Her path has accelerated rapidly as a result and on this episode, she shares her best advice for those who want to chase their dreams, so be sure you listen.

Nothing worthwhile happens by accident. It takes extreme determination and consistent movement in the same direction. But you can’t keep yourself on the right path if you’re always bouncing from one project to another without guidance or clear direction. That’s why Nina Babel suggests a coach for everyone who wants to chase their dreams. In her mind, a coach is the person who helps you see the things you can’t see on your own and will keep you accountable to doing the things to move forward toward the goals you need to be reaching.

TWEET: The #HyperFocus that enables Nina to #succeed wouldn’t happen without her #coach @NinaBabel

• [0:51] Aimee’s introduction to this episode with her friend Nina Babel.
• [1:50] How Nina has taken her work to a new level this year and her explanation of what “keep it 100” means.
• [11:16] How the scenarios people face today are different than those faced 10 to 20 years ago.
• [13:25] Nina’s...

Jaime is an avid hockey fan. He loves the competitive spirit and the team aspect of the game. He enjoys the sport so much that he decided to integrate his passion for the sport into his passion for marketing. Jaime has been working in the sales and marketing arena since he left the US Army as a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division in 1994. Working for three different fortune 100 companies, Jaime learned quickly how to build relationships. The challenging aspect of working for a large company was having the ability to be creative. This is the main reason he went out on his own and started his own business. As time progressed, Jaime found that he really enjoyed making websites for people and so he started Slapshot Studio in 2013 and never looked back. Jaime enjoys traveling, boating, playing guitar, hanging out with family, and playing hockey.

TWEET: Ep. 65: Jaime Jay - Don’t Let Others Fence in Your #Dreams 

When Jaime Jay left his service in the 82nd Airborne division of the U.S. Army he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. He waited tables for a while then got into some corporate jobs where he learned a ton of things. One of those things was that he had enough ambition and dreams of his own that he really needed to start his own business. But it was scary. All of the uncertainties that come from not having a consistent paycheck and all of the responsibilities being on your shoulders were very present and very real for him. How do you deal with that kind of pressure successfully so you can move on and make your business a success? Jaime Jay shares his story on this episode of Chasing Dreams.

Two things that Jaime Jay says were instrumental in his success are that he was stubborn and that he was selfish. What he means is this: You can’t stick with it during the hard times to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals if you aren’t stubborn. And you can’t expect to be a blessing or benefit to anyone else if you can’t first provide for yourself, so you’ve got to be determined (stubborn) and you’ve got to be clear on accomplishing what you want and need to accomplish (selfish). If you’ll take the time to hear how Jaime describes his perspective on those two things it will make a lot more sense to you and hopefully inspire you to put those two things to work for yourself.

TWEET: #Leaders are always asked the #questions. When do they get to #ask their own?

When Jaime Jay’s business team started to grow he discovered within a short amount of time that as the leader of the company, everybody came to him for answers. That was OK, he didn’t resent it or feel overwhelmed. But what he realized was that he didn’t have anyone that he could ask the questions he had. That’s when he first took the steps to get involved in a Mastermind group so that he could get help, insight, and benefit from the experiences of other leaders who were on the same business path that he was. Jaime has a lot of great things to say about masterminds and wants to encourage you to get into one as soon as you can. You can hear his challenge on this episode.

When it comes to business success most people measure it in terms of dollar signs. That’s a worthy aspiration and one that has to be in place in order to truly be profitable. But Jaime Jay says that he’s learned that viewing that long term goal as the measure of success is a sure way to become discouraged and impatient. Instead, he measures success by setting goals for each day and the accomplishment of those goals. That way he’s able to have victories every day, build momentum, and stay optimistic about the path he’s on and the ultimate results that will come...

Dr. Kyla McMullen earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was also a Meyerhoff Scholar. She earned her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan (2007-2012). While earning her Ph.D. she was also a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. At Wayne State University she taught computer literacy courses to over 2,000 students. Professor McMullen is the first underrepresented woman to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member at the University of Florida’s Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields. She is the author of "Beautiful, Black, and Brainy" and "Brilliant is the New Black" which showcase hundreds of exceptional young African Americans who excel in STEM fields and don't fit the typical "scientist" stereotype.

TWEET: Ep. 64: Kyla McMullen - Don’t Tell Me “If” Because I’ll Just #Work Twice as #Hard

When Kyla McMullen began her graduate school work in Michigan she was told by an advisor that the workload would be extremely demanding. And there was one other thing. She would be the first African-American woman to graduate with a Ph.D. So when her advisor said, “If you graduate, you’ll be the first,” she took it as a personal challenge. The “IF” nature of the statement made it sound like there was a question as to whether she could do it - and that’s the moment she determined that she would. If you take the time to listen to this episode you’ll get a taste of Kayla’s optimistic and can-do attitude that has propelled her to achieve her Ph.D. and even go beyond. 

As Kyla McMullen has been working hard to build her career she’s spent a good deal of energy toward the promotion of African-American people in the sciences. Her desire is to see more and more people of color both discover and utilize their brilliance by becoming scientists. Two articles she wrote in her efforts to draw attention to the work done by black scientists blew up the internet with thousands of shares. They are “Beautiful, Black, and Brainy” an article that highlights black women in science and “Brilliant Is The New Black,” which highlights black men in the scientific community. You can hear why Kyla decided to write those articles as well as learn about the incredible impact they have had, on this episode of Chasing Dreams.

TWEET: A #crazy couple of #blog articles that got Kyla lots of #attention

You don’t have to be the most intelligent person in the room to have the highest levels of success. You just have to know how to work harder than anybody else. That’s what Kayla McMullen believes and what she’s proven with her success in the computer science field. She believes that anyone can accomplish anything if they are willing to work at it. On this episode of Chasing Dreams, you’ll hear Kyla’s story and get to hear her explain why she doesn’t think it’s her smarts that got her by, but rather her work ethic. 

When Aimee asked Kyla McMullen for one recommendation or piece of advice for all those people who are chasing their own dreams, Kyla said that every person needs to be careful that they don’t measure their success by somebody else’s. In other words, you are unique, so don’t compare yourself in ways that make you feel that you’re failing. Your level of expertise or accomplishment will probably look very different than the people who have gone before you so don’t