Ever Better Today

For every experience, each participant will have their own unique thoughts and takeaways.

Consider how they tend to vary from yours, and whom you want to spend time with...

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Takeaways about the thought-created experience...

1. Every experience is created in your mind. You can have a good time, or you can have an awful time, or anywhere in between. It all depends on your thinking.
2. Life experience is a matter of perspective and what you expect. It's all about making the most out of the moment and deciding how to interpret events and conversations.
3. Our thinking creates our interpretation of our experience. Our thoughts are often influenced by what we're used to and what we've experienced in the past. But, you can alter your expectations at any point.
4. Don't bypass rudeness or bad experiences. Continue to establish boundaries and set expectations for appropriate, kind, thoughtful behaviors.

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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In the past two weeks have you ever:

1. Said something that you'd like to take back?
2. Not spoken up in a meeting or conversation and regretted it?
3. Passed up on an opportunity to hang out with someone?
4. Wasted your own time and wished you'd been more productive?
5. Bought something you regretted?

Tips on how to avoid regretful situations..

1. Be mindful of what you say. If you realize the moment after you blurt out something that you shouldn't have, you can take it back immediately and apologize.
2. Be brave and say what's on your mind! If you just sit on your hands in a meeting, you can still send an email to address your point after the fact, but it won't have the SAME IMPACT compared to if you had said it when everyone was there.
3. Be transparent. It should NEVER be an option to choose between two questions you have on your mind when the answer to both could be important to you and others.

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

Is it a compliment or insult?

It depends.

If it's how you are naturally, here's how to use it to your advantage! Be EXTRA EFFECTIVE!

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Here's how to be EXTRA effective!

1. Learn to read the room. Know when to maximize your energetic personality and when to step back. Adjust your energy output to the overall mood of the group.
2. Be EXTRA sparingly. Being EXTRA every once in a while is fine, but if you're going to be like that all the time, people will become exhausted.
3. Use your EXTRA sparkle when it works to your advantage. Use it in places where others may find it helpful to boost their energy levels or entertaining. Test the waters!

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

Practice behaviors that are opposite of what you normally do. Changing your behaviors can sometimes be as challenging as disrupting your routine.

When you challenge your norms and stretch your comfort zone you grow yourself and your capabilities.

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Here's how to do the opposite from the DiSC assessment perspective…

DiSC assessments teach us about ourselves and others. They elevate emotional intelligence and enable us to better navigate our professional and personal worlds. You can learn more about them in Ever Better Today Episode 23.

Dominant (D)

If you're a D, you may be seen as dominant in meetings. You speak out and are fast-paced in your decisions. You can come across as abrupt because you are more goal-oriented than people-oriented.

Practice the opposite behavior by taking a less dominant role in a meeting. If you speak less, it gives others more time to express their thoughts. Encourage others to contribute!

Influence (I)

If you're an "i" you may be known as a "social butterfly" who is authentically interested in others. People may tell you you're acting "extra" on occasion because you exude so much energy.

Like the Ds, you can practice opposite behaviors by speaking less and encouraging others to contribute more.

Steadiness (S)

If you're an "S" you want everyone to feel comfortable and secure. You ensure that the group operates at a steady pace. You may prioritize others' voices before your own.

Practice making your voice prominent by speaking out more in meetings. You may be pleasantly surprised that your team loves to hear what you have to say!

Conscientiousness (C)

If you're a "C' you are more analytical and detail-oriented. You value a thorough analysis before making a decision.

Try taking a bit more risk! Practice tapping into your instincts and making decisions with limited data.

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

As a meeting facilitator, how can you ensure that all voices in the meeting room are heard?

It's a responsibility that you've got to practice so that people start speaking up in meetings. This benefits everyone!

Each meeting counts and every voice matters

#yestoinclusivemeetings

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Tips on how to ensure all voices are heard in meetings…

1. Consider who is speaking and who is not. In meetings, remind yourself of the power you have to create a space where everyone's voice can be heard - not just the loudest or most dominant ones.
2. When leading a meeting, make it clear that you want to ensure every voice is heard. Let your team know you are expecting creative solutions. Listen to everyone's ideas and suggestions. Be aware of conveying negative reactions using body language or facial expressions.
3. Invite in the voices of the people sitting on the edges of the meeting room. For in-person meetings. often more junior people, or those who feel they have less influence, take seats away from the meeting table. But, by not making themselves seen and heard, they are continuing to limit their influence. Encourage their contributions!

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

Let's be honest. There are those people in the room who speak up regularly and those who don't. Chances are you know the people in your life who do speak up a lot. For others, it can be intimidating and challenging to get yourself heard by others. But here's something that I've discovered over time…the more you speak out, the more people expect you to share your thoughts and take notice of what you have to say!

I challenge you to speak up when you have a contribution to make - even if you aren't confident about what you're sharing.

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Tips on how to speak up in meetings and be heard:

1. Start Small. Begin with a couple of ideas or questions you can prepare ahead of time, and over time, it will become easier and more natural to jump into the conversation.
2. Be the first to speak. Don't be afraid to be the first one to speak up . . . TRY IT.
3. Look for allies and together elevate your voices. Find allies who share your views and who will repeat and give you credit for your ideas in a group setting. And, you'll do the same for them.
4. Look for supporters in the room, approach them and seek help. Ask for feedback and support from your colleagues, the meeting facilitator, your boss, a senior member of the company, or a mentor. Tell them you want to improve, and in most cases, they'll gladly help you to develop your skills.
5. Take action and practice your response when people start talking over you. Acknowledge that what you have to say is valuable and should be heard. Discourage sidebar conversations that distract from your message. If you're speaking in a meeting and others start talking, get the floor back and hold on to it.

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Here are my takeaways:

1. What you see isn't always what you get.
2. Don't worry about others. Just make the most of your situation.
3. If you're in a challenging relationship and you'd like it to be better, take action!
4. If you're in a challenging relationship and you know it's not healthy for you, take steps to make a change.

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

As you level up your business and become more successful, the network of people that you're spending time with may expand. Make new friends who are as motivated, creative, and successful as you - but keep in touch with your early supporters.

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Is it time to level up your network?

1. As you progress in your career, make sure the people you spend time with and get advice from are at the right level for where you are and where you want to be.
2. If your network does not offer sufficient opportunities, then expand it by making new contacts and cultivating them. Ideally, you should be involved in a group where you can make contributions and receive ideas that help you to elevate your business and life.
3. Keep in contact with old friends even if you are making new ones. Some friendships are for a season, but others will last a lifetime.
4. As your network grows, learn to prioritize your time so that you are spending it wisely.

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

As you recognize and develop your talents, make a habit of looking for those who can and will support you. Build your team! DO NOT be afraid to ask for assistance. You'll find that many people love to help!

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Building your team is one step in creating your masterpiece. Listen to episodes 48 and 49 to learn more. Then… Go to everbetteru.com/masterpiece to download my worksheet, You Are A Masterpiece.

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You don't need to feel isolated. Create your support system! Here's how…

1. Weigh your plans. Assess what you need assistance with. Find one person who can help. As you crystallize your direction, you'll get more clear on who to welcome into your life.
2. Ask your family and friends for support. Do you have siblings, cousins, co-workers, friends, or other relatives who can be of assistance? Ask one of them to tutor you in whatever area you want to develop. Maybe it's financial statements, public speaking, or creating a business plan. Often you'll find that they're grateful to provide assistance.
3. Look for professional assistance or a mentor. Creating your team could involve paying someone for professional assistance. If you need guidance, it's well worth the investment. It can make the difference between stalling and quitting or moving forward at a rapid pace.

1. Know your purpose. As you develop your plans, you'll identify more people to assist you. Maybe they're already a part of your team, and you can ask them to help you a bit more.

1. What can you help with? Don't be someone who takes without giving. As you receive assistance, look for those you can help. Who might you be able to help elevate?

Erika Ettin and "A Little Nudge"

Erika Ettin is an online dating coach.

The first steps of her career involved working for a financial institution. She realized that this was not the best use of her talents and that she was great at helping people to create relationships. She unmasked this skill and recognized that her adjacent possible was to create a company where she helped single people find their matches online. And that's how A Little Nudge was born!

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here

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Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I'm Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let's jump in!

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Recognizing your adjacent possible is one step in seeing yourself as a masterpiece. Listen to episodes 49 and 50 to learn more. Then… Go to everbetteru.com/masterpiece to download my worksheet, You Are A Masterpiece.

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Use your talents to unlock opportunities

1. Identify and use your given skills, assets and talents.
2. Invest in learning about and practicing whatever lights you up!
3. Consider a wider perspective than you normally would.

What's your adjacent possible?

1. What's hovering on the edges of the present state for you? This is your shadow future.
2. What have you been masking that you could unmask?
3. What skills could use at an even greater level?
4. When you use your skills to a greater extent, what's possible for you?
5. How can you impact other people?

References and inspiration for this episode:

"Where Good Ideas Come From" by Steven Johnson

The adjacent possible is a kind of shadow future, hovering on the edges of the present state of things.

The strange and beautiful truth about the adjacent possible is that its boundaries grow as you explore them.

Each new combination opens up the possibility of other new combinations.

"Worldwide Speech" founded by Erin Long

As a speech pathologist, Erin Long was dedicated to helping children develop their speech-language skills. Part of the State Department Foreign Service community, Erin recognized the need to provide speech therapy and related services to American students living with their families abroad.

And WorldWide Speech was born!

Now Erin is back in the U.S. and has expanded her customer base to students in the U.S.

Her adjacent possible was seeing the opportunity to use her skills to serve students living abroad. And then, her adjacent possible expanded to serve students anywhere in the world.

You can learn more about Erin and her team at worldwidespeech.com

"Hope Blooms" established by Kelly Krenzel

Kelly Krenzel worked at a hospice and recognized how much people appreciated receiving flowers. She saw that it created joy and moved them from feeling isolated to included.

Kelly recognized that there were many flowers that could be repurposed to brighten someone's day from churches, florists, and farms.

Her adjacent possible led her to create Hope Blooms the organization that is "changing lives, one bouquet at a time."

Hope Blooms repurposes donated flowers and rearranges them into beautiful bedside bouquets so that those who are in need most in our community feel a sense of inclusion.

You can learn more at hopeblooms.org

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To learn more about working with Ever Better, send me an email here or book a complimentary call with me here