Ditch the Struggle with Alana Ruoso | Career & Success Coaching for Personal Growth

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In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• My physical/mental health crisis in 2019 that let to me ditching coffee
• Why you don't have to give up coffee, but questioning our habits can be life-changing ☕
• Getting triggered having to take the same medication as my dad
• Breaking free from family health patterns
• Doing the 'work' and the healing process including energy healing, emotional trauma release and homeopathy
• How I weened myself off coffee slowly over 3 weeks

Links and references ⚡️
✨ Heal Your Body meditation
☀️ Not mentioned in the episode, but this supplement was extremely helpful in dealing with digestion issues: DGL
☕ CafLib coffee substitute

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

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In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• Why I decided to give up freelancing (temporarily) as a graphic designer in 2016
• The stressful and disheartening process of looking for a job 😬
• Going through the interview process for 3 jobs in one month
• Getting ghosted by one company AFTER an official written offer
• Choosing to be openminded about new job opportunities
• Why a government job was the best place for me - and how it was NOT about the work

Links and references ⚡️
🖋️ My blog post on freelancing and searching for a job in 2016
🌐 Toastmasters

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• How we can be addicted to struggle, even if we hate it
• Why we hang on to struggle and refuse to let it go
• How my migraines helped me opt out of life
• 2 super powerful phrases to notice that will help you shift out of struggle
• How being in struggle mode keeps us in victim mode-and we often like that! 
• How it's scary to show up and put yourself out there because it means becoming a different person

Links and references ⚡️

🖋️ My Positively Positive article on struggle
🖋️ My Addicted2Success article on being overextended
🖋️ My Addicted2Success article on being being busy 24/7

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• 4 types of toxic bosses: Bullies, Micromanagers, the Incompetent and People Pleasers
• How my job as a Creative Manager in the cosmetics industry (big pink brand!) went from tolerable to toxic overnight
• What “Work hard, play hard” actually means
• Setting boundaries at work and being labelled “difficult”
• The trauma of having a toxic job and how it affects the mind and body
• Choosing to no longer participate in a job that brings out your worst self

🖋️ My blog post on toxic bosses
🌐 My LinkedIn post on toxic bosses
📕 Read a powerful story by coach Sue Mann about toxic workplaces

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• My (stressful!) 2022 job interview for a US digital marketing agency
• Juicy details from the (almost) 4-part interview process ☕
• LOL-worthy Glassdoor reviews
• The insecurities that bubble up during any interview process
• Red flags 🚩, Type As, silly corporate acronyms and salary transparency
• Being in alignment with a potential new job
• Why saying “Yes” until it's a “No” can be an effective career strategy

Links and references⚡️

🖋️ My blog post on alignment

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• 5 ways to build confidence - my fave tips!
• How people have always assumed I am naturally confident - NOT the case
• Making the life-changing decision to cultivate confidence
• Stepping outside of your comfort zone - especially when you don’t feel like it
• How testing your inner strength inevitably cultivates confidence
• What all confident people have in common
• How other people are affecting your confidence
• How the path to confidence is lined with discomfort - and worth every step

Links and references ⚡️

🖋️ My blog post on building confidence
🖋️ My blog post on getting out of my comfort zone: a public speaking story
☁️ The breath of joy exercise

Some of my favorite YouTube workout channels
💪 https://www.youtube.com/@ActionJacquelyn
💪 https://www.youtube.com/@POPSUGARFitness
💪 https://www.youtube.com/@PamelaRf1

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this (short!) episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• How personal development often focuses on our "Why"
• And why you may want to actually ditch your "Why"
• A simple question asked by coach Kate Northrup that had a profound effect on me–and my career
• How questioning our value can take a toll on our mental state
• The importance of “saying more”
• Following desire and moving into a state of “doing”

Links and references ⚡️

🌐⁠ Kate Northrup’s website
📕 Kate Northrup’s book “Money, A Love Story”
🖋️ My blog post on preparing for speaking at DesignThinkers

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• Recent Wayfair layoffs, toxic leaders and the work 24/7 corporate culture
• My own personal triggers when it comes to working insane hours
• The idea that if you are not "winning" you are "losing" (and a loser)
• Questioning work culture and toxic societal programming
• The pressure to work 80-hr work weeks
• Pushing back against unreasonable (and toxic) work expecatations

Links and references ⚡️
 
 🖋️ My blog post on staying a a job you hate

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• My deeply uncomfortable job interview for freelance work at a hot packaging design firm
• Asking for the money you want (and deserve)
• What happens when your value is openly questioned
• Losing self-esteem, confidence and faith in my abilities as a designer
• The importance of taking risks and ‘big swings’
• Why I am grateful for this interview even though it derailed me for a long time

Links and references ⚡️
 
 🖋️ My blog post on this story
🖋️  My LinkedIn post on this story

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:

• All of the details of my 12-wk Career Transformation coaching program
• How career coaching can help you discover what to do next–even when you feel totally lost
• The "golden thread" that is in everyone's life/career
• How it ties your unique abilities and talents together
• When to seek a coach or outside help with your career
• My unique talents and abilities as a coach–every coach is different and that is something to celebrate

Links and references ⚡️

 ✨Learn  more about my coaching work
✨ Learn about the Energy Leadership Index Assessment (ELI)

The podcast where we dive headfirst into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.

📣 Download your FREE guide How to Build a Brilliant Career: 6 Insider Tips to Help You Succeed No Matter Where You Are Right Now

⚡️Looking for career help? Work with me 1:1
🎙️Follow Ditch the Struggle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
❤️ Subscribe to my mailing list at alanaruoso.com for free & special offers.

Connect with me: Instagram: @alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso

Hi! I'm a graphic designer and certified career coach in Toronto, Canada. Using humor, empathy, and radical candor, I help clients set new boundaries, build self-esteem, eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors, and implement career growth strategies so they can achieve success on their terms.

Show edited and produced by Sue Ruhe: @suru.productions. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy, medical or financial advice. Listeners take responsibility for their actions.