If you’ve ever wondered whether your optimism is a superpower or something others dismiss as naive, this episode will reframe everything. Gallup-certified coach Samantha Kennelly joins Sarah and Bill to explore the CliftonStrengths theme of Positivity—not just as cheerfulness, but as an energy source, an influence strategy, and a form of quiet resilience.

Together, they explore how positivity operates in real life and real work—from leadership and team coaching to parenting, grief, and self-regulation. Whether you have high Positivity, work with someone who does, or just want to stop being drained by negativity, this episode offers powerful insights on how to protect your energy, hold space for others, and lead with hope without sugarcoating reality.

Main Takeaways

1. Positivity isn’t just about being cheerful—it’s a strength rooted in hope, resilience, and energy.
2. Without boundaries, high Positivity can become a people-pleasing trap that leads to burnout.
3. Positivity and empathy together can create deep connection—but can also make it hard to separate others’ feelings from your own.
4. Influence doesn’t have to be loud or direct—relational strengths can be powerful drivers of impact.
5. Self-awareness is essential for using Positivity maturely, especially in emotionally charged situations.
6. It’s okay to set limits around draining people or environments—Positivity needs recharging too.
7. You don’t have to fix everything—sometimes, Positivity’s greatest power is simply holding space.

Sound Bites

1. “Positivity isn’t blind cheerfulness—it’s hope that survives the hard stuff.”
2. “Sometimes the best use of Positivity is silence and presence.”
3. “I’m not here to sugarcoat—but I am here to help you see what’s possible.”
4. “People with Positivity light up rooms—but they can also crash hard when no one’s watching.”
5. “You can’t be the sunshine for everyone every day—especially if it’s sucking you dry.”
6. “I used to think I had to hide my Positivity to be taken seriously in the workplace.”
7. “Woo and Positivity together? It’s like emotional confetti—fun, but it needs a cleanup plan.”
8. “Sometimes your greatest strength needs to ride in the backseat, not drive the car.”
9. “I can be a riot at a funeral… because I don’t always know how to let people sit in sadness.”
10. “I had to ask myself—am I being authentic, or just uncomfortable with conflict?”
11. “Being a coach doesn’t mean you push all the time—sometimes, you sit, celebrate, or listen.”
12. “You’re not the anti-venom to negativity—you’re a person with limits too.”
13. “Positivity wants to fix—but empathy reminds you to first feel.”
14. “Your strengths are only as helpful as your ability to regulate them.”
15. “It’s okay to say, ‘I’m not okay today’—even if you usually bring the sunshine.”

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths 

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths 

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger 

Official Strengths On Fire Website:  https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/