Ever Better Today

Dr. Sheela Reddy is a psychologist, executive coach, and mother of two girls, who is passionate about helping women who are suffering through domestic abuse. Growing up in India, Sheela suffered domestic abuse throughout her childhood. Her way of coping was finding people whom she could count on, people who she referred to as her other mothers. She asked for help – and received it.

At an early age she recognized that she had the power to assist others who were suffering and has been using her innate gifts ever since. In this podcast she talks about her journey from India, shares her thoughts about the importance of speaking out, especially for Asian women, about resilience, and she offers resources.

Sheela came to the United States at age 19 because she was fascinated by the businesswomen that she saw while watching American television, and she was seeking a future with more possibilities.

She attended Loyola University where she earned her Masters degree in counseling. She then went on to help patients manage substance abuse issues. After several years she enrolled at Rutgers University where she earned her doctorate in multicultural counseling psychology. While at Rutgers she worked with her husband to build a business with operations in India and the U.S. While that sounds like a busy and stressful life on the surface, her challenges were compounded by being in a difficult marriage that ultimately ended in divorce.

Sheela has been a director at a domestic violence center and is now a practicing psychologist and an executive coach. In her practice, she loves working with individuals and families and is skilled at running corporate workshops in emotional intelligence and teambuilding. Alternative methods relying on mindfulness such as yoga and art – are an important part of her approach.

Part of my discussion with Sheela focuses on the #MeToo movement. More and more women are coming forward to share their stories of sexual harassment and intimidation, but Sheela and I believe that this is just a beginning. We know that there are thousands of women who are too reliant on their paychecks to speak out, and Sheela explains that, because of their culture, Asian women in particular find it very challenging to address and admit to abuse.

Sheela also discusses:

• When bad things happen, how do you cope?
• Making meaning out of a difficult situation
• Becoming more resilient
• Cultural challenges of breaking silence
• Not saying "why me?" Instead, look for resources.

Learn more about Dr. Sheela Reddy or contact her at Minedful.com.

Resources Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Hopeworks of Howard County, MD

Abused Persons Program in Montgomery County, MD

Power and Control Wheel from National Center on Domestic Violence

For help with taking your next career step, contact me at [email protected]

http://www.everbetteru.com/work-with-me-coaching

Dan Warburton is a transformational coach who lives in Brighton, England and spends a great deal of time in London. Dan specializes in coaching entrepreneurs and business owners to identify and break through whatever is limiting them, so that they can create a new and fulfilling lifestyle.

After being bullied as a teenager, Dan experienced a breakdown in his early 20's and that led to a breakthrough in which he dedicated himself to deep inquiry and the study of ontology, the nature of being. During this process Dan became a Tai Chi master, studied personal development, spent time with Buddhist monks, and read ancient scriptures. Dan's careers have included being a record-setting D.J., an interior designer for Tesco, and owner of a property maintenance and building renovation company.

Dan believes that it's important to surround yourself with people who empower, acknowledge, and support you to live at your best capacity. Her recommends being aware of negative thoughts such as, "I'm not good enough, nobody wants me."

He encourages taking difficult actions before the survival part of your brain kicks in and holds you back from breaking through your negative self-talk. For example, when you're at a networking event or seminar, take the opportunity to ask a question as a way of introducing yourself to everyone in the room. Dan explains that you'll have a three second window to act, and if you are aware of that feeling, you'll be able to create bigger breakthroughs.

He recommends getting clear on why you're doing what you're doing so that you have an arrival point in mind, and only taking actions that align with your dream lifestyle.

Learn more about Dan at DanWarburton.com.

Recommended Book

The Prosperous Coach, by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin

If you're an experienced professional and feel unfulfilled in your current position but you're not sure how to make a change, you might be interested in my Ever Better career consulting and coaching. Learn more here.

Will Wise is a professional question-asker!

As Chief Weologist at We!, Will and his business partner Chad Littlefield help connect people to people and people to ideas. His newly released book, Ask Powerful Questions, is for any leader who is ready for change. At the heart of it all is the importance of establishing trust and cultivating authentic connection.

In his role at World In Conversation, in the Center for Public Diplomacy at Penn State University, he trains people—from undergrad students to NATO soldiers—to have meaningful conversations that transform how they see the world.

After college, Will joined the Peace Corps and he credits his international experiences with helping him let go of how he sees the world and learning to embrace the other. The themes of exploration, connection and trust permeate both his personal and professional life.

These days Will lives in Central Pennsylvania with his wife and 3 young children and he strives to model curiosity and assumption-questioning. In this episode he shares the many ways he does this, the challenges, and the rewards of approaching life this way.

Key Takeaways:

• Will's time in the Peace Corps taught him to think differently and approach life in a non-traditional, creative way
• Explore making your own job and creating something new within the job you have
• The power of questioning assumptions with clear intentions
• Will's work with the Center for Public Diplomacy embraces the power of meaningful conversations.
• Will and Chad created We! to help people move from a 'me' mindset to a 'we' mindset.
• How Will is honing in on his priorities while balancing two jobs, a book launch and a family
• Choosing to be a learner not an advocate, and curious instead of combative.
• How to teach your children (and others) to ask "how" and "what" rather than "why"
• Explaining the Confederate flag to curious children
• Choosing to be a learner not an advocate, and curious instead of combative.

Links:

Ask Powerful Questions by Will Wise

This is What Perfect Looks Like by Heather H. House

The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz

We! https://weand.me/

Grange Fair in Central Pennsylvania

The Bread Sister of Sinking Creek by Robin Moore

Welcome to Ever Better Podcast 077!

I'm back from a Podcast hiatus and ready to create and share more shows that inspire career and life transitions!

In episode 076, published a few months ago, I said that I was taking a break to spend more time on important things that were happening in my life and in the lives of my family members and friends. Lots has happened and I'm back and ready to produce another season of Ever Better!

Here are some highlights of what I've been up to:

• We made several trips to Morgantown, WV where my son, Conner, is now a freshman at West Virginia University (WVU)! He loves it! We just came back from Family Weekend where we went zip lining and walked uphill lots of places because Morgantown is a city built on a hill. You can see pics on my website here: http://www.everbetteru.com/podcast/
• We took family vacations to the Outer Banks and to the Finger Lakes.
• I spoke at the Power Conference about Podcast Power: How to Reach Your Audience and Build Your Brand Through Podcasts. It was a great experience and I was able to connect with some wonderful women!
• As a result of speaking at the Power Conference, I was asked to give a workshop on How to Change Jobs Like a PRO. It takes place at the Philadelphia Free Library on Nov. 7 and registration is free and open to all! You can learn more here: https://bric.ticketleap.com/pro/

In addition to those adventures, I gave a lot of thought to the Ever Better Podcast and what direction it should go in. I wrote out a series of ideas about different formats and different ways of working with guests. But I realized that I'm really inspired by my guests' stories and love learning from them and sharing their stories with you! So, I'm going to stick with a very similar format with a focus on inspiring career and life transitions.

The frequency of Ever Better Podcast episodes will change. With my expanding coaching practice and public speaking, I won't be able to produce weekly episodes so I'll be switching to two episodes per month. I'm planning to have a guest share his or her inspiring story of career and life transition in one episode per month, and I'll share thoughts about getting ever better, every day in another episode. And I may throw in some bonus episodes!

A final note...if you're considering a career or life transition and you're feeling stuck, send me a note at [email protected] and I'd be happy to chat!

#EverBetter

http://www.everbetteru.com/work-with-me-coaching/

I asked five highly productive people the following question: "Do you have a trick for getting started on a project that you would really like to put off?" Here's a summary of the answers that I got from Deb Williams, Tim Berthold, Meg Daly, Maggie Huffman, and Dan Horowitz. Listen to the podcast for more insights!

And in other Ever Better news...I'm taking a Podcast Summer Vacation! Stay subscribed and you'll be the first to get the new podcasts released in the fall. Have a great summer!

My very first podcast guest, Deb Williams from the Financial Karma Coach Podcast says she starts her day with a 30-minute walk to clear her head. When faced with a difficult task, she consciously plans something she likes to do after she finishes the tough task. And, she uses the neuroscience based music service, Focus at Will.

You can listen to my Ever Better Podcast EP. 01 Financial Clarity to learn more about Deb.

Host of the Miami Hustle Podcast, Tim Berthold, says a morning meditation on the beach is how he clears his mind, and he recommends reading the War of Art, by Steven Pressfield.

Creator of the Miami Underline, Meg Daly, says she blocks out time in her calendar to do the task she dislikes the most, and during that time she only works on that task. She also tackles the most undesirable projects first.

• You can listen to my Ever Better Podcast EP. 35 Creating the Miami Underline to learn more about Meg.

The author of Oh Snap! My Career is in Crisis, Maggie Huffman, uses post-its to break her tasks down into bite sized chunks, so no task seems daunting.

• You can listen to my Ever Better Podcast EP. 42 What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? to learn more about Maggie.

LinkedIn's Dan "The Connector" Horowitz uses the buddy system to make him accountable for accomplishing hard-to-start tasks.

• You can listen to my Ever Better Podcast EP. 06 Networking, Necessary Endings and Neurodiversity to learn more about Dan.

If you are considering a life or job transition but are having a hard time getting started, I invite you to check out my Discover What's Next coaching program. Allow me to help you create a more fulfilling future. Sign up for a 1-hour complimentary consultation or email me [email protected].

Mentioned in This Episode:

Ever Better U

Discover What's Next Coaching

[email protected]

@EverBetterU on Twitter

PRO Career Transition Information

"Faith it 'til you make it" sums up Shawn Perry's infectious, positive attitude. Shawn is the executive producer and host of The Senior Zone, a radio show that he started at the age of 49. Without any broadcasting or public speaking background, Shawn felt called to create a radio show and then, like most inspirational people, found a way to make his dream a reality.

He's been on the radio for five years, and thousands of listeners tune in each Monday morning to hear resources and ideas that enrich their lives. The Senior Zone has evolved in a multi-faceted business for Shawn. He puts on live events that sell out, moderates panels and conferences, and he's a motivational speaker.

After high school, Shawn joined the Air Force where he had a full career. After retiring he held several jobs after that before landing in radio. He shares the ups and downs of his life journey and says that he doesn't mind failing as long as he's "failing forward."

If you are considering a life or job transition but feel like you aren't making progress, check out my Discover What's Next coaching program. Sign up for a 1-hour complimentary consultation or email me [email protected].

Key Takeaways:

[4:31] Shawn attended college while in the U.S. Air Force. [9:07] There have been many people who believed in Shawn, sometimes more than he believed in himself. [12:45] The Senior Zone radio show informs seniors about resources and gets them out and about. [24:26] Shawn found himself addicted to the challenge the radio show provided him. [29:19] The Senior Zone allows Shawn to do good while building a business. [34:37] Want more information about The Senior Zone mid-day gala? [39:55] The Senior Zone is on WYCB, a Minority-owned, faith-based station, every Monday.

Mentioned in This Episode: The Senior Zone [email protected] @TheSeniorZone on Twitter Ever Better U Discover What's Next Coaching [email protected] @EverBetterU on Twitter

My guest today, Phillippe Diederich is an award-winning novelist, and the author of three books, Sofrito, Playing with the Devil's Fire, and his forthcoming mystery, The Last Girl (written under the pseudonym, Danny Lopez). Before he became a novelist, much of his photojournalism work centered around the Latin American culture, mainly in Cuba and Mexico. Phillippe was a nomad who enjoyed the early days of his career when he could walk the streets getting a pulse of the people.

Phillippe is a devoted husband and father who believes our time here is short. He has an abundance of personal cultural influences from which to draw to build his stories. He is a man of the world, who allows us into his, with every book he writes.

During this episode, Phillippe shares the inspiration behind his stories, how the book industry made him a young adult author and where he took some of his favorite photos.

If you are considering a life or job transition but are having a hard time getting started I invite you to check out my Discover What's Next coaching program. Allow me to help you create a more fulfilling future. Sign up for a 1-hour complimentary consultation.

Key Takeaways:

[2:00] Phillippe's origin story, and how he became a photojournalist. [14:24] Much of Phillippe's fiction work centers around Cuba, and his first piece was the leader of a Harley Davidson club there. [27:29] Playing for the Devil's Fire addresses the changing landscape of a small town in Mexico from a young boy's point of view. [35:58] Danny Lopez is a pseudonym Phillippe uses to separate his adult work from his young adult stories. [41:13] Phillippe and his wife, Lorraine Ladish, share the belief that we are only here for a short period of time.

Mentioned in This Episode: Phillippe Diederich Ever Better Podcast Ep. 63 with Lorraine Ladish Ever Better U Discover What's Next Coaching [email protected] @EverBetterU on Twitter

Christy Tehven left her full-time marketing gig before she knew how she would spend her time, or make a living. An early affinity for nature attracted her to a floral business. When her attempt to purchase an existing floral shop business didn't pan out, Christy took some time for herself and went to a secluded cabin in the woods to figure it all out. She worked through Danielle Laporte's book, The Fire Starter Sessions. This break gave Christy the clarity she needed to decide her next steps. And, with the encouragement of her husband, Greg, the two attended Action Camp. This program provided a safe and open space for Christy to voice her goals out loud, and accountability partners to support her when she felt like giving up.

During this episode, Christy describes the ups and downs of her journey which resulted in the creation of her one-of-a-kind business, Love Always Floral.

If you are considering a life or job transition but are having a hard time getting started I invite you to check out my Discover What's Next coaching program. Allow me to help you create a more fulfilling future. Sign up for a 1-hour complimentary consultation.

Key Takeaways:

[5:33] Christy provides an update on her husband's Emerging Prairie project.

[7:31] How Christy's love of nature translates into her entrepreneurial floral venture.

[11:29] Action Camp gave Christy the accountability she needed to push forward with her project.

[17:30] Time alone in a cabin with Danielle Laporte's, The Fire Starter Sessions, offered Christy clarity about which direction her life should take.

[23:35] Other female entrepreneurs and a CO.STARTERS course guided Christy through the process of opening her floral shop.

[27:01] Christy designed a higher-end brand with a pre-order business model.

[30:23] The ability to adjust her business model has served Christy well. NO more prom corsages!

[35:42] Christy is thrilled with her business's growth after only a year and a half.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Love Always Florals

Emerging Prairie

Action Camp

SURGE: Your Guide to Put Any Idea Into Action

Fire Starter Sessions

CO.STARTERS Course

Ever Better Podcast Episode 31 with Greg Tehven

Ever Better Podcast Episode 62 with Steve Garguilo

Discover What's Next Coaching

[email protected]

@EverBetterU on Twitter

Paulette Boudreaux shared her inspiring life story during a panel discussion at the Association of Writers & Writing Program (AWP) Conference, in February 2017. The panel, Second Blooming: Women Authors Debuting After Fifty, attracted a standing-room only crowd, and I was fortunate to be in the audience. As Paulette and other writers told their stories, it seemed that a sisterhood was being formed and the audience became an extended part of the panel. We bonded through cheers, laughter, and gasps of exasperated recognition when an author described how she persevered through yet another indignity or insult.

Paulette joined me on the podcast to share just some of the fascinating experiences that she taps into when writing her southern-based fiction. She says that despite living on the West Coast most of her life, her inner monologue has a Southern drawl.

During out discussion, Paulette describes moving from Mississippi to San Francisco in 1970 in the midst of a school desegregation movement and how that impacted her. She shares the multi-decade journey that led to her groundbreaking novel, Mulberry, being published by Carolina Wren Press in October 2015. Her experiences include working as a journalist, a public relations professional, an English professor, and earning her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree all while raising her daughter as a single mother.

If you are considering a transition in your life, you may be interested in my Discover What's Next coaching program. Allow me to help you create a more fulfilling future. Sign up for a 1-hour complimentary consultation.

Key Takeaways:

[7:00] Paulette's novel, Mulberry, started as a short story.

[11:58] After winning a contest through Carolina Wren Press, Paulette's novel was published.

[17:11] Most human beings have a need to express in some way.

[22:25] Paulette's interior reality is Mississippi.

[28:10] For better or worse, Paulette finished her high school education in the desegregated schools of San Francisco.

[39:55] The Second Blooming Panel was an acknowledgment that women are not done when their children are out of the house.

[49:53] Paulette's advice for writers who have stories to tell.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Paulette Boudreaux

AWP Conference

Ever Better Podcast Episode 69 with Jessica Handler

Discover What's Next Coaching

[email protected]

@EverBetterU on Twitter

Today's episode is about opportunity seeking. This is the phase in which all of your previous work starts to pay off. There are seven steps to opportunity seeking, and I detail them for you during this podcast.

Follow the steps to increase your chances of being seen by the right hiring manager, and being properly prepared for your meeting. And most importantly, to increase the likelihood of landing your perfect job.

Mentally prepare yourself! This process may take some time. Finding a job is a numbers game and the name of the game is patience.

If you'd like personal coaching to work through these stages send me an email at [email protected] and we'll schedule some time to chat about where you are in your life and what you'd like to achieve.

Key Takeaways:

[1:38] Step 1 — Review Your Bio and Resume — Make sure that key positions and recurring responsibilities that you've enjoyed are properly represented. Update your LinkedIn profile.

[3:51] Step 2 — Create An Outreach List — Who do you know working at an organization you may want to work for?

[5:23] Step 3 — Reach Out — Make initial contact with a person in the manner in which they would like to be contacted.

[7:58] Step 4 — Meet by Phone or in Person — Prepare in advance to show respect for their time and to make the most of the opportunity.

[10:16] Step 5 — Follow Up — Thank the person for meeting with you within 48 hours.

[11:20] Step 6 — Keep Scanning — Scan your job alerts once a day paying attention to the job title and company, and consider who you may know there.

[12:53] Step 7 — Use Calendar Blocking — Find time in your calendar to block off for additional opportunity seeking.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Ever Better Podcast Episode #65

Ever Better Podcast Episode #68

Ever Better — PRO - All three phases of this coaching series

Ever Better

Discover What's Next Coaching

[email protected]

@EverBetterU on Twitter