Failing Forward

While out on a training ride in preparation for a 100-mile bike race, Meriden McGraw was hit by a car. The accident changed the trajectory of her life. She discovered mindfulness, was diagnosed with anxiety and passed on a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology in pursuit of a career in mental wellness instead.

Co-founder of Quidwell and director of the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness’s Corporate Mindfulness Team, Meriden shares her journey on episode 64 along with lots of quick, easy mindfulness practices you can do anywhere. She also discusses the connection between breathing and relaxation, and slowing down in the age of COVID-19.

Find Meriden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meridenmwb/

Learn about Quidwell: https://quidwell.com/

Find out more about the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness: https://www.uchealth.com/integrative/

In 2014, Brogan Dulle didn’t show up to coach his swim practice, and his mom, Beth, knew something was wrong. Eight days later, after an extensive search, authorities found Brogan had died by suicide.

On episode 63, Beth discusses the search party, and the good things that have come in wake of this tragedy. In 2015, the Dulle family started 8 Days of Greatness as a way to commemorate Brogan’s life each year. Today, mental health check-ins are a normal part of the family’s routine, and Beth works for 1N5, a nonprofit that increases awareness and provides education about mental health to stop the stigma.

Follow 8 Days of Greatness on Instagram @gr8nesstbd (https://www.instagram.com/gr8nesstbd/)

Learn more about 1N5 and find resources: https://1n5.org/

Some addicts are “scared straight” after a run-in with local police, but Trevor Steinhauser didn’t rub elbows with the Cincinnati Police Department. He got a call from the Drug Enforcement Agency. After years of drinking and using drugs, his interactions with federal agents compelled him to finally go to rehab.

On episode 62, the husband and father of three shares his addiction and recovery journey. Trevor believes his anxiety, depression, and penchant for head trauma as a young child led to his addiction. His sobriety led him to mend his relationship with his formerly estranged brother and start a podcast about behavioral health, mental health, and addiction.

Listen to Stigmatized, Trevor’s podcast: https://www.stigmatizedpodcast.com/

Ten years ago, Cherylanne Skolnicki’s biggest fears were failure and humiliation. She had just left her job at P&G to start a coaching business that’s completely different from the work-life mentoring company that she runs today. But for Cherylanne, her first business didn’t fail. It was a pivot to get where she is today.

On episode 61, Cherylanne shares how becoming a mother changed her, how to find your purpose, and how to re-energize your life through foundational balance practices. She also discusses how she knew it was time to leave corporate America and strike out on her own.

Learn more about Brilliant Balance: https://cherylanneskolnicki.com/

Listen to the Brilliant Balance Podcast: https://cherylanneskolnicki.com/podcast/

Jim Price likes to say he fails occasionally and learns continuously. That’s the mindset he encourages his employees at Empower to inhabit day in and day out. After becoming CEO of the creative media agency, which his mother started more than three decades ago, Jim invested in creating and more clearly communicating the company’s core values, which includes the tenet “Dust yourself off.”

On episode 60, Jim discusses leadership, goal setting and the projects and ideas that have resulted from his forward-thinking attitude. A huge advocate for Cincinnati, Jim also shares his vision for our region, starting with ditching our Queen City nickname.

Note: This episode was recorded in early January when unemployment numbers were significantly lower than today.

More about:

- Traction by Gino Wickman and the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) model: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/traction-gino-wickman/1100073595

- Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/

Support us by supporting our sponsor!

Looking to create change and develop your emotional intelligence to become a better leader? Learn how Deni Tato and Corporate Consciousness can help at https://www.corpconsciousness.com.

When she was in her late 30s, Stacy Sims wanted to be and feel different every day. But every day, she was repeating the same behavior—drinking—that was keeping her stuck. The same week she went into recovery, she started practicing pilates. Since then, Stacy has opened and later sold Pendleton Pilates, published a novel, and founded TheWell.World, an international network of mindfulness gatherings.

Stacy discusses what she calls our resilience blueprint and how to foster your mind-body connection through meditation and other mindfulness habits on episode 59. And as a special bonus, she leads at short guided meditation at the end of the episode.

Links:

Learn about TheWell.World and Mindful Music Moments: https://www.thewell.world/

Get more information about True Body Project: https://www.truebodyproject.org/

Stacy's books: https://www.stacysims.net/books

Support us by supporting our sponsor!

Looking to create change and develop your emotional intelligence to become a better leader? Learn how Deni Tato and Corporate Consciousness can help at www.corpconsciousness.com.

After 12 years in commercial banking, Darin Hall joined the mergers and acquisitions arm for Coca-Cola. He liked being in development, but after closing a deal to buy a source water plant in Africa so Pepsi couldn’t have it, Darin had an internal crisis. “What the hell am I doing?” he remembers thinking. “I’m not doing anything substantial.”

On episode 58, Darin talks about recommitting to his passion and purpose and devoting his career to community development. Along the way, he’s worked in the philanthropic world, as well as the public and private sectors. The president and CEO of Civitas Development Group also shares an important lesson: Developing your network is a crucial part of creating change.

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Looking to create change and develop your emotional intelligence to become a better leader? Learn how Deni Tato and Corporate Consciousness can help at www.corpconsciousness.com.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal, one complete with social distancing, remote working, and a whole lot of uncertainty and fear. Learning how to calm ourselves and reframe our thinking is more important than ever. Sara Hyzdu, a neuroscience coach and the founder of Why Grey Matters, joined us for our first live-streamed podcast recording to share coronavirus coping strategies.

On episode 57, Sara explains what happens in the brain when we feel stress and fear and how we can introduce the feel-good hormones of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin back into our brain right now. She shares lots of tips on how to connect with and support your kids and yourself. By focusing on what we do know and understanding our brains better, we have more control over our choices and feelings.

Learn more about Why Grey Matters: https://www.whygreymatters.com/.

These five foods boost brainpower: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/foods-linked-to-better-brainpower.

Support us by supporting our sponsor!

Looking to create change and develop your emotional intelligence to become a better leader? Learn how Deni Tato and Corporate Consciousness can help at https://www.corpconsciousness.com/.

Gee Horton grew up in a poor family with three siblings and no understanding of how he could pursue his dream of being an artist. He became a college basketball coach, but at the end of 2015, he wrote that he wanted to find his way back to art and have his work displayed in galleries. Now, Gee has a thriving side hustle as a hyperrealist artist in addition to his executive recruiter job.

On episode 56, the self-taught artist shares how he developed his artistic skills, how his side hustle has influenced his career, and the burgeoning art scene in Cincinnati that’s being driven by minority artists. Plus, he shares some great tips about manifesting and aligning yourself.

A mentor once told Stacey Browning to start doing the job you want before you have it. She took that to heart, rising in the ranks at Paycor until she was president. As a lifelong learner and a high achiever, it was natural for Stacey to lean in to new opportunities. What didn’t come as easily was being vulnerable enough to show up as her whole self, including being the mother of a child with a severe genetic mutation.

On episode 55, Stacey shares why vulnerability is a strength, when you shouldn’t share, and how to care less about what other people think. Today, she is a managing director for venture capital firm CincyTech, and instead of staying isolated, she seeks out support when she needs it.