Do you bring your true self to work? Freely sharing your ideas, opinions, and genius, despite what other people may think. Or, are exhausted by trying to fit in and afraid of being discovered as the fraud that you sometimes feel like?

Are you able to have difficult conversations at work, or do you just go along with the flow, trying to please other people? Do you spend time in your day feeling like an imposter, holding back parts of yourself?

Guest Czar and author, Linda Basso, shares the value of bringing your authentic self to work and how being authentic can be freeing to you and those around you. 

Basso spent more than two decades in corporate marketing and advertising. Despite her unquestionable success, she felt the pull for something different. She didn't want to mingle at cocktail parties or schmooze clients. Basso wanted to write and she became a yoga teacher on the side, trying to somehow atone for what felt to her like a misaligned career. 

Upon discovering coaching Basso realized her passion for helping small business owners and professionals claim their authenticity by designing a business or career that fits their lifestyle. This work, she soon discovered, impacts not only the client but their clients, colleagues and even their families. 

Basso shares some good news about authenticity, including:

*It can be learned

*Being authentic is your natural state -- so it requires less energy to maintain

*It's never too late to start to cultivate your authenticity -- you can begin today!

Basso's nightstand reading recommendation was:

Essentialist: Do Less but Accomplish More, Guide to Identifying the Essential Things, Focus on and Getting Them Done by Martin Hell.

Basso's book, 

The Authentic Marketer: The Real Girl's Guide to Know Your Worth, Get More Clients & Grow a Business that Genuinely Fits Your Lifestyle

is available on Amazon.

You can also purchase her book, take enlightening quizzes and read a ton of useful material on Basso's website, www.LindaBasso.com

Joey Chandler, Purpose Coach and Host of The What's Your Purpose? Podcast, has identified five core values: Love, Joy, Happiness, Excitement and Freedom - that drive people. 

Isn't it time that you figured out who you are and make greater use of that in your life?

The challenge, according to Chandler, is to identify what purpose actually motivates you rather than just what you think you are supposed to value. 

Identifying and being more intentional about your purpose will prevent you from having that feeling of exerting a lot of effort but not making much progress in life.

You can take Joey's assessment and find out more about his work on his website: www.joeychandler.net

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Speech and Communications Coach Tiffany Foote joins us to share her insights into how you can have fearless and engaging presentations.

Tiffany, who earned her "Fearless Millennial" title in her workplace, has personally conquered her own fear of public speaking and now enjoys helping others to do the same. She focuses on practical tips that you can put to immediate use. 

Listen and learn how you can:

*Keep nervousness in perspective

*Choose clothing that boosts your confidence

*Gesture comfortably to encourage audience attention

*Reel in an unwieldy audience

*Avoid coming across as manipulative

*Use stories and examples to make boring materials come alive for your audience

*Develop and deliver engaging virtual presentations

*And more!

Tiffany's nightstand picks: in addition to her dog's leash and the lamp that Tiffany DIY'd during Covid, Tiffany's book pick is "The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go" by Amy E. Reichert.

Find out more about Tiffany and her work at: https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/thefearlessmillennial

First a confession: when it comes to public speaking, my freak number is off the charts. I know most people don’t like talking in front of groups of strangers – or even groups of friends -- and I know that some people will go to great lengths to avoid those situations.

That’s where my freak factor comes in. I love public speaking. I love doing it, I love talking about it, analyzing other people’s speeches, talking with other people about public speaking, reading books about it, writing articles about it – I just can’t get enough. I have not found a support group for freaks like me and I am not sure it exists. I am starting to think I may be the only one in the world with this problem.

Fortunately for me – and for you –the Guest Czar for this episode wrote a book on transitioning from nervousness and nausea to becoming a passionate presenter. If you get nervous and nauseous when it comes time to present, you are in good company. I will even go so far as to tell you that you are normal. Lucky you.

The good news is that my guest, Mike Acker, author of the book, Speak With No Fear: Go From a Nervous, Nauseated and Sweaty Speaker to an Excited, Energized, and Passionate Presenter, shares some great tips that you and I will both enjoy. Before you roll your eyes and think that Acker is a freak too, I can assure you that he is not. He too hated speaking. As a child, he had a speech impediment. He was terrified of speaking in public. His fears increased exponentially when his family moved to Mexico and he had to speak in Spanish.

Acker was further challenged when his family moved back to the United States and he had to adapt to speaking English again. Oh and in college, Acker lived through one of those nightmarish situations where he was presenting and the walls started to close in on him and his words became garbled. So yeah, I think Acker has earned his stripes in the Public Speaking Haters Anonymous Club.

Fortunately, Acker transformed himself out of the darkness and into the light of becoming an engaging and passionate presenter. Lucky for us, Acker took notes along the way – and he is willing to share. Listen in and take notes so you can put his tips to use the next time you are preparing a presentation to make it a more enjoyable and enlightening event for you and for your audience.  

Find out more about Mike, his books, and programs at: www.MikeAcker.com

Stop trying to fit in to the mold that the world is forcing upon you. Speak up and speak out. Express yourself, your thoughts, ideas, and convictions, and, in turn, you will give others permission to do the same. 

Find out more in Keith Fraser's new book, Cojones: Grow a Pair for success.

Visit Keith's website: www.cojones.biz

Contact Keith directly: [email protected]

Tyler Foley has been acting on stage and screen since he was 6 years old. Over the years he has learned exactly what it takes to connect with an audience, reframe self-doubts when speaking to groups, regain focus and composure and compel an audience to engage with the material you are presenting. 

In addition to actionable how-to's, Tyler provides important insights into soliciting productive feedback and recording yourself so you can continue to improve. 

Tyler's book, "The Power to Speak Naked," as well as the book that is currently on his nightstand and that he encourages everyone to read, "The Fool's Progress" by Edward Abbey and "Positive Intelligence" by Shirzad Chamine are all available at the site that he recommends, bookshop.org where you can support your local bookseller (and get great prices too!)

You can find out about Tyler's new online course, his in-person training, private coaching, and events -- as well as access his free downloadable workbook at his site: seantylerfoley.com

If you have any questions or feedback in regard to this episode, or you have a guest idea for a future episode, please feel free to email: [email protected]

How to Break Out of a Soul-Sucking Career to Find Work You Love with Jay Bahadur

Do you jump out of bed in the morning, excited to do work that you love – or do you find yourself groaning as you hit the snooze button, wishing you would be magically granted a day off from work?

About one third of your life is going to be spent at work – why not spend that time doing work that fulfills you? Guest Czar and Career Change expert Jay Bahadur had to blaze his own trail away from work that drained him and now he helps others identify and pursue their professional passions.

In this lively discussion Jay will tell you how to:

• Take action instead of waiting for permission
• Manage your self talk so you don’t talk yourself out of happiness
• Persevere and stay motivated in the face of fear and challenges
• Handle the comments and expectations of friends and family
• Put the experience of others to work for you through informational interviews
• Use “What if’s” in a positive, productive manner.

What are you waiting for? Don’t spend any more time at a job you hate. Change the way you talk to yourself and start working on your career change today.

Find out how you can work with Jay and download his FREE Career Change Cheat Sheet at: www.evacuatetheoffice.com

You are also welcome to contact Jay with questions at: [email protected] 

Public Relations and Marketing Strategist Marybeth Bentwood got her start in acting and then transitioned into marketing and public relations. Along the way she has identified exactly what it takes to command attention and compel an audience to listen and act on what is being presented. 

Marybeth shares insights that you can put to use today to command attention and get your message across. 

Videos Marybeth references:

Click here to find Amy Cuddy's TED Talk about Power Posing

Click here to watch the funny Cat Lawyer video

Get more from Marybeth Bentwood: 

Find out more about Marybeth's work at: www.brandelevationco.com

Follow Marybeth on Instagram: @marybethbentwood

Do you like the way you sound? Would you like to improve the quality of your voice so people listen when you speak and remember what you say?

You are going to want to listen to this episode featuring Award-Winning Vocal Coach and seasoned professional vocalist Judy Rodman a few times so you can capture all of her helpful advice. 

Judy distills her wisdom into practical tips and techniques that you can put to immediate use to improve the way you sound. 

You can find out more about Judy's work, her "All Things Vocal Podcast" and sign up for her free newsletter on her website, www.JudyRodman.com 

Visual Communications Designer Nela Dunato explains the importance of finding your authentic brand voice.

Nela tells you how to look more professional through:

*The use of white space

*Choosing a clearly readable font

*A statement color

*And more!

Nela's book is, The Human Centered Brand

Get more from Nela and read her blog and find her book and other resources and links on her website at: www.neladunato.com