Jump Start Your Joy®

This week, I'm delighted to have Lara Heacock joining me for the second installment of the Friendpreneur Series. This series focuses on conversations with friends, who are entrepreneurs. Many of the people are friends I've met either through the show (and have been on before!) or through contacts in coaching. I've found that starting and running a small business is something very new to many of us, who have grown up without examples of people who are entrepreneurs in our day-to-day.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lara in coach training over three years ago in the Courageous Living Coaching Certification program. She's so full of life and joy and I have loved getting to know her better, and seeing her grow her coaching practice. She's joining me this week for the Friendpreneur Series to share about her new book - Practical Kindness, and balancing a 9 to 5 job with her coaching. We laugh, we share lots of entrepreneur tips, and I know you'll love getting to know her.

Lara and I talk about:

• Bringing kindness and joy to corporate settings and work
• Recognizing that there will always be fear in pursuing our dreams
• How to work with fear
• Holding ourselves accountable for kindness
• Lara's experience in writing her new book, Practical Kindness
• The courage of being imperfect
• Creating boundaries and having difficult discussions
• The rise of the gig economy and how it ties in to 9 to 5 jobs
• Masterminds and the importance of connections as an entrepreneur
• Tips tricks and tools: finding a mastermind, figuring out what works for you energetically, don't pick up your phone first thing in the morning when you wake up, and getting in touch with what you need in each moment

Resources Lara Heacock's site: Kind Over Matter Practical Kindness by Lara Heacock (on Amazon) Amazing alarm clock on Amazon Gretchen Rubin's four tendencies framework test Emilie Wapnick's "How to Be Everything" on Amazon

Past Friendpreneur Series: Christy Tending on Self Advocacy, Going Beyond Self Care

On the show this week, I'm delighted to be joined by Julia Samuel. She is a British psychotherapist who specializes in grief and bereavement, and founded the UK Child Bereavement charity, that works with children who are grieving, as well as those who are grieving the loss of a child. She is the author of Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving.

Julia is a truly delightful person and I really enjoyed getting to speak with her. At first blush, grief may seem to be a strange topic to be covered on a show about joy, but, I see the two emotions as beautiful bookends to each other. Both states are vulnerable in their own ways, both grief and joy are deeply personal things, and each of us experiences them in our own ways.

What I love so much about Julia Samuel's book is that she honors and understands that the journey of grieving is different for each person, and that it's different based on who you have lost in your life. She chose to divide the book up into sections based on the person's relationship to the deceased.

Julia explains in the interview that she chose to do this because grief is different for each person, and because she wanted the book to be a companion for people who are grieving. She made it easy to pick up, easy to read a bit at a time, easy to see yourself in one of the people she shares about. She also includes the explanations, from a clinical perspective, of what is happening in the bereavement described - the patterns, what to expect, how you might feel. It's a book crafted for people when they are experiencing something that makes them feel separate, disconnected, alone, and isolated, and gives them support and insights during a difficult time.

Julia and I talk about:

• Her first love of swinging on her garden swing as a child Starting Child Bereavement UK, and her work as a patron
• Her early influences, including the bereavement of her parents
• Her love of personal connection, and how that led her from a role in publishing to becoming a grief and bereavement counselor
• The roots and starting point for her book, Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving
• Why people shut down and isolate when they grieve, and why they judge themselves on a right or wrong way of grieving
• Why allowing yourself to feel the emotions of grief is important
• How to feel the emotions of grief and loss without being overcome by it
• The impacts of losing important figures like Princess Diana to society, and why so many people are deeply stirred by these tragic losses
• How a country processes the loss of children in tragedies like school shootings, as it raises the questions of "the existential cruelty of life"
• How Julia reacts to resistance, by continuing on her path
• How to jump start your joy: by enjoying her grandchildren's giggles, getting in touch with nature, and watching romantic comedies and The Amazing Miss Maizel

Resources Julia Samuel's Website Julia Samuel's book, Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving on Amazon If you are grieving: Julia's 8 pillars of strength (a free download) On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elizabeth Kubla-Ross Waking the Tiger, by Peter Levine (a book on healing trauma) The Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Amazon Prime

This week on the show, I'm explaining the basics and tactics of content planning and strategy for your retreat, podcast, or blog on this solocast. Learn how to take your idea to a solid plan that you can execute using project management and inspiration. It's one of my favorite topics: Figuring out the building blocks of content strategy for your own brand. I'll be explaining how this can be applied to planning a retreat (which is where I first started playing with this approach), but it's also something I teach in my podcasting class about how to define your show and what it will be about. It's a little bit project management, and a lot of defining your brand and creating the building blocks of marketing, which are both things I do in my day job.

In short, this episode looks at how to get the ideas you have in your head, the one that you want to turn into something to share with the world, and get them out, on paper. From there, you'll see how you can take the idea, and begin to plan how you will share it - whether that be in a podcast, a retreat, or a blog. The basics in mapping out your idea and content are all similar, and this method can be applied to other things, too.

I'm also super excited about the download I've created for this episode, which is quite literally an entire mini-course. You can reach it by clicking here (or at the bottom of the post). You will LOVE the free content planning calendar that is included.

Here's what I'm sharing in this episode: - the basics of understanding your "what," or, what you want to share with the world - establishing your focus for your podcast, retreat, or blog - how to brainstorm your ideas and get them on paper (along with a printable to do that!) - why you need to draw a line in the sand for your creation around what you want to include, and what you don't want to include - what you need to consider as you look to right size the content for a podcast, retreat, or blog - how narrow down content when you want to do all the things - how creating a podcast, blog, or retreat is tied to spreading joy in the world

All of the resources for this episode can be found in the download packet. It's a super helpful tool that you won't want to miss (and includes a custom Google set of worksheets that you can re-use year after year!)

Get your packet here: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/358096

This week on the show, I'm explaining the basics and tactics of content planning and strategy for your retreat, podcast, or blog on this solocast. Learn how to take your idea to a solid plan that you can execute using project management and inspiration. It's one of my favorite topics: Figuring out the building blocks of content strategy for your own brand. I'll be explaining how this can be applied to planning a retreat (which is where I first started playing with this approach), but it's also something I teach in my podcasting class about how to define your show and what it will be about. It's a little bit project management, and a lot of defining your brand and creating the building blocks of marketing, which are both things I do in my day job.

In short, this episode looks at how to get the ideas you have in your head, the one that you want to turn into something to share with the world, and get them out, on paper. From there, you'll see how you can take the idea, and begin to plan how you will share it - whether that be in a podcast, a retreat, or a blog. The basics in mapping out your idea and content are all similar, and this method can be applied to other things, too.

I'm also super excited about the download I've created for this episode, which is quite literally an entire mini-course. You can reach it by clicking here (or at the bottom of the post). You will LOVE the free content planning calendar that is included.

Here's what I'm sharing in this episode: - the basics of understanding your "what," or, what you want to share with the world - establishing your focus for your podcast, retreat, or blog - how to brainstorm your ideas and get them on paper (along with a printable to do that!) - why you need to draw a line in the sand for your creation around what you want to include, and what you don't want to include - what you need to consider as you look to right size the content for a podcast, retreat, or blog - how narrow down content when you want to do all the things - how creating a podcast, blog, or retreat is tied to spreading joy in the world

All of the resources for this episode can be found in the download packet. It's a super helpful tool that you won't want to miss (and includes a custom Google set of worksheets that you can re-use year after year!)

Get your packet here: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/358096

This week on the show, I'm explaining the basics and tactics of content planning and strategy for your retreat, podcast, or blog on this solocast. Learn how to take your idea to a solid plan that you can execute using project management and inspiration. It's one of my favorite topics: Figuring out the building blocks of content strategy for your own brand. I'll be explaining how this can be applied to planning a retreat (which is where I first started playing with this approach), but it's also something I teach in my podcasting class about how to define your show and what it will be about. It's a little bit project management, and a lot of defining your brand and creating the building blocks of marketing, which are both things I do in my day job.

In short, this episode looks at how to get the ideas you have in your head, the one that you want to turn into something to share with the world, and get them out, on paper. From there, you'll see how you can take the idea, and begin to plan how you will share it - whether that be in a podcast, a retreat, or a blog. The basics in mapping out your idea and content are all similar, and this method can be applied to other things, too.

I'm also super excited about the download I've created for this episode, which is quite literally an entire mini-course. You can reach it by clicking here (or at the bottom of the post). You will LOVE the free content planning calendar that is included.

Here's what I'm sharing in this episode: - the basics of understanding your "what," or, what you want to share with the world - establishing your focus for your podcast, retreat, or blog - how to brainstorm your ideas and get them on paper (along with a printable to do that!) - why you need to draw a line in the sand for your creation around what you want to include, and what you don't want to include - what you need to consider as you look to right size the content for a podcast, retreat, or blog - how narrow down content when you want to do all the things - how creating a podcast, blog, or retreat is tied to spreading joy in the world

All of the resources for this episode can be found in the download packet. It's a super helpful tool that you won't want to miss (and includes a custom Google set of worksheets that you can re-use year after year!)

Get your packet here: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/358096

Fred LeBlanc is the powerfully energetic drummer and lead singer of the band Cowboy Mouth from New Orleans, Louisiana, and I could not be more excited to have him on the show this week. What draws me to Fred is his true dedication to joy, to choosing it, spreading it, his dedication to elevating the vibration and awareness of everyone at his shows. From his lyrics and the way he gets a crowd excited to the way he encourages others, Fred is an amazing example of positivity, love, and good energy. I feel so very lucky to have gotten to speak with him.

If you see Fred perform live with Cowboy Mouth perform live, you will witness how his dedication to bringing joy to every moment permeates the show, the music, and by extension, the crowd. Fred talks about how he made the decision early in his career to leave the successful punk group Dash Rip Rock because he could feel that the anger and firey energy of the group and music were killing him. Around this time, he was reading The Power of Positive Thinking, and he was inspired to create a new band, and do things in a different way than what he'd been seeing in the music scene. And in every show, in each interaction, in the songs, Cowboy Mouth continues to live out this positive message of believing in yourself, in choosing love, and in having faith in the greater good.

So what stood out for me in this interview? It's Fred's mindfulness, along with his dedication to following his intuition, having faith, and finding joy in the midst of life. We talked a lot about energy. "Playing music is a way of releasing energy," he said, "How can I be a good source of energy, the kind that lights me up, the kind of energy I need and everyone needs? What do I bring to the game that I LOVE?"

Performing and drumming are ways that Fred taps into joy. Even during difficult times, such during his recent divorce, or when he's worried about the potentially difficult financial side of making ends meet, he gets back in touch with joy and inspiration by taking stock in simple things. Fred said that when he's feeling disconnected, or when he notices that he's let ego take over, he enjoys "the feeling of a drumstick in my hand," or feeling the power of hitting the drums. With small, mindfully chosen steps, he re-connects and can move back into a place of joy and positivity. "I find ways of growing on joy, on the simple things."

• His being born deaf and how he feels that music was his first way of communication
• His approach to getting a crowd fired up during the Cowboy Mouth shows
• How intuition is an important guide
• The impact of Norman Vincent Peale's Power of Positive Thinking
• How he was impacted by his divorce three years ago, and the depression that hit him during that time
• How following what you love leads you to satisfaction, and how material things and fame can be hollow
• Following love, over fear
• His take on God, and the energy inside all of us
• Their upcoming album (The Name of the Band is...Part 2), due out May 5, 2018
• What happens when you don't follow your intuition
• Having faith in yourself and your ability to learn
• That joy is "so easy, but it's the hardest choice you'll ever make."
• Plus, listen to the song, "I Believe" by Cowboy Mouth at the end of the interview.

Cowboy Mouth's Website

Cowboy Mouth's Tour Dates for 2018

Cowboy Mouth's Album: The Name of the Band is … Greatest Hits So Far

Cowboy Mouth's Album: Fearless (includes 'I Believe') on Amazon

Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale on Amazon

On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elizabeth Kubla-Ross on Amazon

Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer on Amazon

Confidence coach, marketing mentor, and dancer Tanika Mason joins host Paula Jenkins to talk about how to shine with confidence. Tanika shares how to build confidence as an entrepreneur so that you can build a dream business you love.

Self care expert and activist Christy Tending joins host Paula Jenkins for the Friendpreneur Series to talk about self advocacy, becoming a mother, and running a business. Mompreneurs unite!

Amy Smith joins the show to talk about how to set loving boundaries, honor what you need, how to have hard conversations with compassion, self love and kindness. As two life coaches, and joy experts, Paula and Amy have a light and joyfilled discussion.

Ellie Bassick-Trovato, a life coach, joins me to talk about choosing love over fear, and how choosing love has changed her life. Inspired by "Conversations with God," by Neale Donald Walsch.