












“Acting is symbiotic with human life, culture, and how we interact with others.” 
– Darrell Stern







Darrell joins me today to discuss thriving through loss and transforming challenges into opportunities to thrive. He explains how he first got into musical theater and describes how the art helped him get out of his shell. He describes using acting techniques to manifest and discusses the relationship between acting and authenticity. Darrell also elaborates on uses for acting beyond TV and theater, highlights why it is an integral part of the human experience, and reveals why marketing is a form of acting.











This week on The Mindset Zone:




* Thriving through loss



* How Darrell first got into musical theater



* The relationship between acting and authenticity



* Acting in different modalities in different situations



* Darrell’s thoughts on the “fake it ‘til you make it” adage



* Connecting through loss



* How acting helps us connect internally and externally



* How connecting with the inner self allows people to connect with an audience



* The actor’s craft and the importance of articulation



* Transforming challenges into strengths and assets



* The duality of social life and social networking for business








Guest:



Darrell Stern is a master storyteller and CEO of Stern Inbound Marketing Agency, the world’s leading video-driven content marketing agency. Darrell has over 30 years of experience in digital marketing and is renowned worldwide as a “Digital Marketing Jedi.” By offering marketing methodologies and techniques at the Stern Marketing Academy, he helps others elevate their businesses. Darrell holds a Bachelor’s in Theater Arts from Drew University and a Master’s in Communication Arts from Montclair State University.














Connect with Darrell Stern:




* Stern Marketing



* Stern Marketing Academy



* Stern Marketing on LinkedIn



* Stern Marketing Academy on Facebook



* Darrell Stern on LinkedIn



* Darrell Stern on Instagram



* Darrell Stern on Twitter








Expand What’s Possible





Loss, Acting, and Connection with Darrell Stern

Our mindsets determine the way we see the world, as well as, the way we behave and who we are as people. It’s very easy and normal to stay stuck in fixed mindsets – limiting beliefs about our abilities and skills that prevent us to learn new things. We can intentionally cultivate a growth mindset that allows us to stretch our minds and amplify the realm of possibilities of what we do, and who we are. Amplifying our mindsets is one of the secrets of success, for most entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals out there.

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Self-Improvement















“You will find the critical points in your life where you defy expectations.”
-Ana Melikian







In this episode, host Ana Melikian delves into her personal and inspiring journey of defying expectations, both self-imposed and those set by society. Ana shares fascinating stories from her life, from her experience as a speaker with an accent in three languages, to more profound experiences like dealing with dyslexia and overcoming serious health challenges like inflammatory breast cancer.



Ana reflects on her upbringing during the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, her academic challenges and triumphs, and professional choices that led her to move across continents for love and pursue her passion in a new country. Each story highlights how she surpassed the expected limitations and societal norms to redefine success on her own terms.







She encourages listeners to examine their own life narratives through the lens of defying expectations, whether it be tackling bias about professional capabilities based on physical attributes, or pushing back against cultural stereotypes. Ana's message is clear – embracing a mindset of defiance can lead to extraordinary personal growth and accomplishment.



This episode is a call to listeners to engage in self-reflection, identify their own areas of ‘expectation defiance', and perhaps challenge a few limiting beliefs along the way.



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:00:00 Introduction and Ana's Mission



* 00:01:04 Defying expectations in language and speech



* 00:02:10 Personal history and the impact of the Carnation Revolution



* 00:03:46 Overcoming dyslexia and academic challenges



* 00:06:36 Defying gender norms in childhood and adolescence



* 00:07:55 Multilingual achievements and academic pursuits abroad



* 00:08:44 Personal decisions leading to life in the USA



* 00:10:07 Battling and overcoming inflammatory breast cancer



* 00:11:05 Reflecting on interviews from the podcast that defy expectations



* 00:14:16 The PIE method – Pause, Increase self-awareness, Experiment with defying expectations



* 00:15:31 Additional resources and how to connect with Ana
















Meet Your Host:



Ana Melikian, Ph.D., advises leaders on how to amplify impact while avoiding burnout. She is passionate about teaching others how to unlock their human potential using simple and powerful approaches such as her P.I.E. method.





Defying Expectations: Embracing Challenges and Overcoming Limitations















“Colors evoke emotions conditioned by personal associations, our culture, and historical context.”
-Ana Melikian







In this episode, our host, Ana Melikian, immerses herself in the vibrant world of hues as she unravels the significant role colors play in our lives. Like her cherished collection of scarves, Ana views colors as a means to transform our appearance, mood, and mindset.



She delves into how colors are a silent language influencing our emotions and shaping our actions, an awareness meticulously capitalized on by advertising and marketing industries. Ana highlights the strategic choice of colors by brands to evoke specific feelings—red communicates energy and urgency, while blue is synonymous with trust and calmness, to name a few.







Ana turns to the cultural and historical journey of color perceptions, such as the shifting gender connotations of pink or the power of purple. The episode is a color palette urging audiences to become more self-aware of their color choices. It's an invitation to pause, reflect, and maybe step out of your chromatic comfort zone to see how it changes your feelings and actions.



Are you ready to explore the power of colors in the zone where mindset matters?



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:03 Introduction to the Power of Colors



* 01:24 Significance of Colors in Branding



* 02:18 Ana's Personal Connection to Red in Her Brand



* 03:35 The Symbolism Behind Different Colors



* 04:39 How Brands Can Shape Color Meanings



* 06:03 Historical Context and Evolution of Color Meanings



* 07:30 Colors and Their Significance in Eastern Traditions



* 09:02 The Personal Impact of Color Choices in Daily Life



* 11:37 The importance of Color in Business Environments
















Meet Your Host:



Ana Melikian, Ph.D., advises leaders on how to amplify impact while avoiding burnout. She is passionate about teaching others how to unlock their human potential using simple and powerful approaches such as her P.I.E. method.





The Power of Colors: Uncovering the Hidden Impact of Hues in Our Daily Lives















“We have to be able to see the space between the stimulus and the response.”
-Ana Melikian, Ph.D.







In this episode of Mindset Zone, Authors Unite founder Tyler Wagner interviews Ana Melikian, PhD, for a transformative discussion on the systemic approach to human potential and the management of burnout. Ana introduces the listeners to her profound PIE method, emphasizing the power of pause, increased self-awareness, and a mindset geared towards experimentation.



Tyler and Ana delve into practical strategies for fostering sustainable work environments, highlight the continuum between burnout and full engagement, and touch upon the indispensable role sleep plays in maintaining optimal functioning.



Ana candidly shares her personal journey from psychology to coaching, revealing how her battle with cancer triggered a paradigm shift that led her to work smarter, not harder, and profoundly maximize her impact.







With an array of insights spanning from the psychological frameworks employed in therapy to the significance of connecting within larger systems, this episode is an enlightening roadmap for anyone looking to enhance their personal and organizational well-being.



Join us for a conversation that promises to uplift, inspire, and equip you with the tools necessary to thrive in today's fast-paced world while staying grounded in purpose and balance. Remember, when you feel stuck or overwhelmed, hope is available, and asking for help is a courageous step.



Ready to explore the intersection of individual growth and systemic synergy to prevent burnout and optimize your impact?



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:07 Introduction and Welcome



* 01:20 Ana Melikian's Journey from Psychology to Coaching



* 03:45 The PIE Method – Pause, Increase Awareness, Experiment



* 05:30 Strategies for Organizations to Prevent Burnout



* 07:10 The Importance of Sleep and Managing Work Intensity



* 09:05 Ana’s Personal Experience with Cancer and Redefining Work



* 11:15 The Continuum of Burnout and Full Engagement



* 13:40 Tools and Frameworks in Psychotherapy



* 15:20 Tapping into Human Potential through Connection and Systems



* 17:50 Concluding Thoughts and Further Resources








Ana Melikian Journey to Maximizing Impact Qoute







The interviewer:



Tyler Wagner is the founder of Authors Unite, a publishing company that allows business owners to elevate their message through the power of authorship.



Learn more about his work at:




* authorsunite.com



* The Tyler Wagner Show








*This episode is rebroadcast here at the MINDSET ZONE® with explicit consent from Tyler Wagner,

Journey to Maximizing Impact: Tyler Wagner interviews Ana Melikian, Ph.D.















“You can find nature everywhere if you look. The the impetus for this tree hugging capitalism was, yes, protecting nature, but also valuing people.”
-Nicole Fende







In this episode, Ana Melikian is joined by Nicole Fende, a former CFO and investment banker turned business coach for creatives. Co-founder of Creatopia, Nicole, shares her refreshing perspective on “tree-hugging capitalism,” where making money goes hand in hand with caring for nature and championing social causes and creativity.



Nicole delves into how her background in hardcore numbers intertwined with her love for nature led her to reshape the concept of success in the business realm. The pair discuss fair trade practices, the undervalued importance of nurturing people and the planet, and the potentially transformative impact of these practices on the environment and on business values.







Nicole emphasizes the unique role AI plays for creatives, suggesting it will enhance the value of human creations, while Ana underscores the necessity of human voice in steering AI and business in a direction that uncovers and uplifts human potential.



Nicole shares the inception of Creatopia, a creative community and resource haven founded to help creatives achieve sustainable prosperity without sacrificing their artistic integrity. Highlighting the power of community-based business models, Nicole illustrates that profits do not have to be at odds with values.



This episode also comes with a special quiz crafted by Nicole Fende, designed to identify what's blocking your creativity.



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 01:29 Introducing Nicole Fende: From Corporate to Creativity Champion



* 02:05 Exploring Tree Hugging Capitalism



* 02:54 Nicole's Journey: From Numbers to Nature



* 05:49 The Impact of Fair Trade and Conscious Capitalism



* 08:49 Transitioning to Support Creatives and Small Businesses



* 10:19 Launching Creatopia: A New Venture for Creative Prosperity



* 18:18 The Future of Creativity in the Age of AI



* 21:26 Harnessing Creativity to Combat Stress and Burnout



* 25:53 Creatopia: A Haven for Creatives and Their Audience



* 27:59 Final Thoughts and Resources








Meet the Guest:



Nicole Fende, aka The Numbers Whisperer®, helps creatives achieve business success. She is the author of two books, designer of the card game Body Be Gone™, and belongs to an amateur improv group. 



Drawing on her background as an investment banker, CFO, and credentialed actuary, Nicole co-founded Creatopia® to nurture joyful creativity and foster creators’ prosperity.



















Connect with:




* Creatopia's Website



* Nicole Fende's LinkedIn








Embracing Tree Hugging Capitalism with Nicole Fende















“Intention is more important than attention.” 
-Ana Melikian







In this episode of the MINDSET ZONE, host Ana Melikian delves into the importance of intentionality and mental fitness in navigating life's challenges. She emphasizes the power of cultivating intention in our daily lives to achieve our goals and aspirations.



Ana highlights the significance of redirecting our attention with purpose and intention, especially in today's world, where our attention is constantly captured in various ways. She reveals how being intentional allows us to regain control over our attention, leading to more proactive and purposeful living.







Additionally, Ana discusses the impact of mental fitness in handling life's challenges and negative emotions. By strengthening our mental fitness, we can recover faster and become more resilient, ultimately leading to a more intentional and mindful approach to life.



Let's dive in!














This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:00 Introduction



* 01:13 The Power of Intention Over Attention



* 04:35 Cultivating Intentionality for a Purposeful Life



* 06:00 Practical Steps to Enhance Mental Fitness



* 06:55 Closing Thoughts and Resources








Meet Your Host:



Ana Melikian, Ph.D., advises leaders on how to amplify impact while avoiding burnout. She is passionate about teaching others how to unlock their human potential using simple and powerful approaches such as her P.I.E. method.





Loss, Acting, and Connection with Darrell Stern

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