Marriage & Miracles

Me too. There are so many aspects to consider, the task can sometimes seem daunting.

If you're having a hard time getting noticed by the companies you've applied to, building your brand is exactly what can make you stand out from the rest of your competition.

"Branding is everything!"

Today we talk with digital marketing expert, Abby Zufelt,  who has had years of experience growing and advertising brands.

In this episode, we'll answer questions such as:

If you aren't exactly sure what it means to brand yourself, not to worry! Here are three great branding strategies you can follow:

"You have something valuable to offer."

LinkedIn is an amazing place to start your branding journey. You might be thinking that you don't have anything to offer, BUT don't be fooled! We often halt our work/growth/progress because of our limiting beliefs. It's time to challenge those and realize that you have so much to offer.

Here are a couple actions steps you can take to start branding yourself today!

"We are all unique and you've had experiences no one else has had."

Don't forget to check out the LinkedIn Do's & Don'ts episode of the Working Girl Talk podcast!

Abby is a digital marketing expert, speaker and the founder of Working Girl Talk, a podcast and community for working women.

Abby helps brands put their best foot forward online with strategic digital and social media advertising, SEO and email marketing. With a background in journalism and PR, Abby's work in digital marketing and branding all lead back to her passion: storytelling.

You can connect on IG @workinggirltalk or @abbyzufelt

How are you really doing?

COVID-19 has left an impact and continues to impact us all. It might leave you doubting the future. Maybe you've noticed a heightened fear of death. During these times it's so important to unpack and challenge our limiting beliefs.

While online meetings, homeschooling, and wearing masks have started becoming a norm, the stress and anxiety from the pandemic don't have to be. COVID-19 has shown up swinging hard when it comes to mental health. The mental and emotional toll is not one anyone could have predicted, but there are many resources (linked below!) that are here to help.

"You are not alone."

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation Poll, nearly half of Americans agree that the coronavirus has hurt their mental health. Emotional distress hotlines have had an exponential increase in usage as well. You can read more about the mental health crisis COVID-19 has created on The Washington Post.

In a time where hope seems futile, it is so important that as a whole, we offer hope to one another.

This may seem like a difficult task, especially when you're struggling with hope yourself, but giving hope doesn't need to be a huge act. I challenge you smile. Smile at the people you see when you're on a walk. Smile at the people you connect with online. And smile at yourself when you pass by a mirror. Just this small act can bring so much brightness into people's (including your own) lives.

"You were not created on accident."

If you can, I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. I want you to think back to a time where nothing made sense in your life, one of the hardest times in your life. Do you have that memory in your mind? Think about how hopeless you felt at the time.

Allow yourself to reflect on your life during this time. Trust that life will resume as normal, and use this time as best you can to think about what you can create, or what your dream life would look like.

Steve Jobs says “you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.” Watch the entirety of Steve Jobs speech here!

"You were born with a purpose."

Never be afraid to reach out for support.

Go here for a full list of crisis resources

I am always available and would love to connect with you guys. Whether it's to celebrate, mourn, or anything in between. I am here for each and everyone of you. The quickest way to contact me is through my email: [email protected]

These are the words that engineer strategist and founder of Tech Diva Success, Nicole Scheffler, lives by and encourages us to live by as well.

"You are creating your own life experiences"

Throughout today's podcast we'll be answering questions such as:

"Taking 100% responsibility for your life is essential"

Have you ever heard of E+R=O or the SCIPAB Method? We'll be diving into why these are integral parts of taking 100% responsibility of your life and how they can help you act more intentionally and purpose-driven in your life.

By shifting your mindset into one that looks for what actions you can take in response to an event rather than what circumstances you can blame, you'll be able to create the life you want instead of being tied to the life your immediate emotional responses create.

"Beliefs are no more than thoughts you've conditioned yourself to think over and over again"

Are you looking for more happiness in your life? We encourage you to partake in the Happiness Challenge. This two step process is a great way to kickstart a life filled with joy and can aid you in the first steps of taking 100% responsibility of your life.

Follow these steps:

1. Build a habit of gratitude

2. Control your over thinking (self talk)

Looking for a journal to start your journey? Check out the Confidence journal!

Don't forget to check out Nicole's blog!

"Every outcome you've experienced in life is a result to how you're responded to an event"

Nicole Scheffler is a ‘Tech Diva’ and has recently put her body of work into a collection online to help spark success for women in tech.

By day, she leads the strategy for Engineering within the Americas Partner Organization and has been in tech for over 15 years. After hours, she works to contribute to this collection of podcasts, books, and blogs to help women in tech become more successful.

This includes her award winning, long standing Diva Tech Talk podcast, her newly released book with Jack Canfield, and her speaking on this topic. She is also a certified Success coach!

Connect with Nicole on IG @techdivasuccess and Linked In! You can also check out her website!

Are you tired of people pleasing?

Click here to learn the #1 way to build your confidence muscle & become who you're meant to be, not who everyone else wants you to be.

Our levels of motivation are constantly changing. Being motivated feels great! But how do we deal with a lack of motivation?

In today's podcast, Janelle Lynnae will walk us through her seven steps to get your motivation back! We'll be answering questions such as:

7 Steps to Get Your Motivation Back!

1. Make a list of everything that’s pissing you off and everything you’re upset about.

2. Delete all social media apps for a few days.

"Comparison is the thief of all joy"

3. Find some stuff to be happy about! AKA Gratitude

4. Find encouraging Bible verses, inspiring quotes, or watch inspiring videos or listen to an inspiring audio books.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

5. Ask the WHY Question!

6. Take a break and go have good ol fashioned fun outside.

"It's okay to go slower."

7. Be patient and kind with yourself.

You’re not a machine. You’re not a robot. You’re a human. Remind yourself that it’s normal to have times that feel BLEH. Anticipate things to get better, but you don’t need to fake positivity right now. And never feel ashamed to seek professional help!

And don't forget to check out these great reads!

Check out IG @eyebrowsbyshaked if you're looking for some top quality microblading!

Connect with Janelle on IG @janelle_lynnae and facebook, or email us at [email protected]

If anything was possible, what would you do with your life? What does your ideal day and life look like?

These are the kinds of questions that Matthew Shakir, Founder and CEO of Awaken Momentum, challenges us to answer.

"I am stopping anything that's not allowing me to flourish in my life."

Throughout today's podcast we'll be answering questions such as:

"Create a life that is based on outstanding."

We'll talk all about how to grow the GRIT within yourself and use it to propel yourself forward in life. Matthew reminds us of the infinite possibility found in creating a new 'bottom' when hardship hits and how integral these events are in reaching your life goals.

Using hardships to move forward in life can definitely be hard! It's important to heal from the experiences first, in order to utilize them. Follow these steps to aid you in the process!

Steps to heal:

1. Find Out Who You Need On Your Dream Team. 

2. Spend Time With People Who Empower And Inspire You!

3. Take Care Of Yourself!

"If I want to treat my life to the value that I know that I have the capacity to, everything has to shift."

Matthew Shakir, the Founder and CEO of Awaken Momentum, is a Life and Business Coach and Men's Work Facilitator. He focuses on helping people grow and develop all areas of their life and believes that everyone has the ability to flourish and live platinum level lives. Matt has always felt called to serve others. In 2018, he launched Awaken Momentum where he is able to serve others by leading them in powerful life transformations. He encourages clients to truly tap into themselves, grow their GRIT, and start living out their ideal lives.

Connect with Matt on IG @matthewshakir and facebook, or by email: [email protected] 

Email Janelle or Matt to receive your copy of the Ideal Day Worksheet! And don't forget to check out Levels of Energy by Frederick Dodson

Struggling to create your morning ritual? You are not alone!

"If you are consistent in doing the small things in life, you will end up becoming consistent in the bigger things in life."

On today's podcast we'll answer questions such as:

We'll talk all about the importance of a morning ritual, the correlation between making your bed and your mood, and how morning positivity can set you up for a successful day.

"You can change your brain by the way you speak over yourself."

If you want to give yourself a fresh start to each day but aren't sure about what steps to take, this is the podcast for you!

"How you do anything is how you do everything."

Learn more about the impact of making your bed at Psychology Today!

Connect with me on IG @janelle_lynnae and facebook, or email me [email protected]

Today we welcome Melanie Spring, an international keynote speaker, emcee, and corporate trainer!

Melanie is a well known "Approachable Badass" who travels internationally with her crew to create branded experiences for humans like you. Melanie will help you find your story, build your confidence, and amplify your voice.

Connect with her on IG @melaniespring or go to www.melaniespring.com

Throughout today's podcast we will answer questions such as:

"Everything you've been through has added up to who you are today."

Everyone has a story and everyone is capable of growing from their story.

Melanie reminds us that from both the good and the bad we have experienced, our life story is being created.

"I am right where I'm supposed to be."

She talks about the how to understand your own story and how to be the author of it- you get to write what your future looks like!

We also discuss the importance of being brave enough to tell your story and become aware of how it impacts the person you are today.

"Speak from who you are, not as someone else."

Don't forget to complete the My Life Vision workbook and explore these other awesome resources!

You can also connect with her on Twitter, Linkedin, and Facebook to find out more about Melanie and her story!

This is a completely UN-EDITED, raw conversation between a black man that has experienced the pain of racism since the moment he was born and a white woman who's doing her best to understand. This conversation got uncomfortable for me, as the white woman, because it's easy for me to be afraid of saying the wrong thing or not understanding properly or looking ignorant. 

Thank you, Chase Tucker, for sharing your wisdom from a black man's perspective about everything that's recently been brought to light in a whole new way. Thank you for helping those of us, myself included, that don't know what it feels like to gain a better understanding of what's going on and how we can all contribute to making a difference

Connect with Chase on IG @chasetucker.

Simple Action Steps:

Today we will be answering these questions:

My favorite quotes:

“First, acknowledge there’s a problem. That’s the first step.”

"Let’s no longer make race taboo… you’re not supposed to be colorblind. God created colors for a reason! He created our different tones to be celebrated, not looked over.”

“America’s system is designed like this to keep a marginalized group in prison… it’s happening intentionally in America because it’s profitable.”

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Thank you, Chase, for sharing your perspective. I appreciate you.

Welcome Mindy Henderson, motivational speaker and accountability coach that lives in Austin, Texas!

You can check her out at Mindyhendersonspeaks.com, on IG @mindyannehinderson or check out her YouTube for her uplifting, motivational content!

Mindy was diagnosed at the age of 2 with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The doctors told her parents that she was supposed to die at the age of 3.

At the time, they were on a medical scavenger hunt, had ended up at the Mayo Clinic, and the doctors were wrong!

Mindy's dad did physical therapy with her at the age of 2 to help her get better. He didn't listen to the doctors prediction for her life.

Today, Mindy lives her life from a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop her from changing lives. Mindy now offers tools and relatable strategies to help people navigate inevitable adversity, while showing them how rich their lives truly are.

Mindy says that hope is one of the #1 tools for coping with adversity.

I asked her if she remembers a time where she felt like a victim to her circumstances? Or was she always so positive about it? 

She tell us, "Growing up, I came home from school crying on a regular basis. My parents would tell me to “Count my blessings.” All I wanted to do was cry and be angry but their message stuck. I grew up knowing how many blessings I had and ultimately my disability has made me such a stronger person!"

I asked her - What is a day in your life like? In what areas do you need physical help? 

"Most people can get out of bed in 5 to 10 seconds physically. For me it takes seven minutes with help from my assistant. AND I’m fiercely independent and I’ve worked hard over my life to be intentional to live as normal of a life as possible!"

"Words have power! Be careful of what you say every day because it might be subtle but it sets the tone for the space you park your brain in. If you look at it the right way adversity can be temporary,"

"I like to say that my disability is not my problem."

"You can’t compare your hardship to someone else’s hardship- if it’s a big deal to you then it’s a big deal. Don’t play the comparison game."

"If you never feel your feelings, I think you will end up crashing and burning. Get quiet. Reflect on what’s happening. But you can’t camp out there. You know when you’ve been wallowing for too long. It feels good to start taking action."

"The very thing that creates our adversity can be the thing that drives us to success."

"The easier road is to keep numbing this. The brave road is to create the margin in your time to think about the hard things you’ve gone through in life."

"You were created for a reason. Your creator does not make accidents."

Thank you, Mindy, for sharing your incredible story with us. You're amazing!

You might have a problem with boundary-setting if you:

Feel free to check out this awesome article I found called 18 Signs You Lack Personal Boundaries. This will help you put your finger on what areas you most want to grow in.

Having boundaries is important because setting said boundaries with ourselves and others leads to feeling more peaceful and free. It raises your level of self-respect, confidence, and allows you to let go of people-pleasing! 

In today's podcast, I will give you some ideas of strong and clear boundaries that I encourage you to implement in your life.

The main 3 categories covered today include:

Check out this article, quoted on today's show, on how working on weekends impacts your well-being.

The 4 Steps to a Clearing Conversation:

1.  The lie I created was.... (I'm annoying)

2. Where this lie came from... (i.e. tangible examples of things he or she did)

3. You can support me by... (not calling me XYZ)

4. What you can expect from me is... (AKA how can I show up better for you?)

Like Brene Brown says, "Clear is kind, unclear is unkind."

Thank you for listening! Head to our website nextlevelconfident.com to learn more.