Mastering Midlife Podcast

Kleo Curry is a certified financial planner and chartered retirement planning counselor. She currently serves as a financial advisor and wealth strategy associate for one of the world's largest wealth management firms, UBS. In addition to helping her clients meet their financial goals through volatile market conditions, Kleo is committed to serving her community as a member of the Loudoun County Transit Advisory Board and the Loudoun County Abused Women's Shelter.

Kleo joins me today to recount the story of her life and share what it means to look beyond physical attributes and focus on the human condition. She describes what it was like growing up as a poor black girl in Detroit in the 80s and explains why her mother taught her that she would need to "compete harder." She discusses what she learned about the universality of suffering as she worked in the financial industry. Kleo also highlights how, at one point in her career, she felt "owned" by success and details how she freed herself by embracing her gifts.

"To be educated is to be powerful. That's your key in communicating and moving around the world." - Kleo Curry

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Kleo's upbringing in 1980s Detroit
• Why it is difficult for people to converse about white privilege
• The universality of struggling and how beliefs shape our worldview
• The importance of being educated
• Why Kleo transitioned from working in a legal firm to the world of finance
• What it was like to work as a woman of color in the financial industry in the early 2000s
• What kept Kleo in the financial industry
• Emancipation from the bondage of "success" and why we shouldn't burn bridges
• How Kleo looked to her tribe of women for support
• Embracing your gifts and purpose in the world

Connect with Kleo Curry:

• UBS
• Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter
• Kleo Curry on LinkedIn

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

My friend, Helen Appleby and I recorded a series of conversations for LinkedIn last year discussing the challenges our clients face in their Senior Leadership positions. We received so much great feedback that I decided to release them as podcast episodes for you to experience.

Today's show explores how we help our clients (and ourselves) carve out the time to do the important work that needs our full attention.

"Billions of dollars are spent on getting your attention. It takes unnatural acts to get it back.." – Mark J. Silverman

• When something happens, we react from our memory/conditioning far more than reality.
• The power of a zoom buddy work session
• The power of two hours of deep work… not negotiable focus time
• The power or noise canceling headphones and focus music
• My Favorite: https://www.stevenhalpernmusic.com

Helen Appleby is a British, New York based Executive Coach, Author, Speaker and Leadership Trainer who has a strong track record of leadership and commercial success. Prior to becoming a full-time coach, she was a Global Business Leader for GlaxoSmithKline where she led the $1bn Respiratory Health business in Consumer Healthcare.

Her career at GSK and Unilever spanned 6 countries and she has lived and worked in Canada, the UK, Cyprus, Dubai, Malaysia and the USA.

She is the author of "The Unwritten Rules of Women's Leadership" book, course and podcast.

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I've discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity.

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you. My "10 Uncomfortable Truths" about overwhelm, from "Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life."

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book.

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

When you do things publicly, you're going to have haters. If your alive, you're going to run into not-so-great people. What do you do with that? And in 2020, we are all running on fumes, not at our best. How do we navigate the knees and elbows of the times?

"When I give an asshole a break, I'm free. I have a better day." – Mark J. Silverman

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Social media is a magnification of both the good and the bad
• People are grey… good one minute, rude the next
• How I got the nickname "Belligerent Teddy Bear"
• Giving the first 5 assholes of the day a break
• The transgression probably lasted 3 seconds, we live it over and over for a day or more
• Freedom comes from letting it go

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I've discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity.

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you. My "10 Uncomfortable Truths" about overwhelm, from "Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life."

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book.

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Stephanie Eberhart is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of TalentRemedy, a company revolutionizing the staffing and recruitment industry. With over 25 years of recruiting and business development experience, Stephanie works closely with emerging organizations to ensure that they hire the best talent. Stephanie has previously worked as a business development manager for Adecco and ALEX, and currently serves as the President of the Washington Executive Association.

Stephanie joins me today to share her advice in making shifts in your life and career. She discusses the value of remaining adaptable in the face of life's circumstances. She explains how the pandemic is changing how people think about their lives, careers, finances, and values. Stephanie also describes what employers are doing to attract employees amid the pandemic and discusses the steps everyone can take to change the course of their career in 2021.

"Life constantly changes. We have to embrace it, be grateful for it, roll with the punches, and be masters of our own life." - Stephanie Eberhart

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Stephanie's secrets to a vibrant life and how she takes care of her mental health
• Her journey to helping people figure out what to do with their careers
• What led Stephanie to co-found her own business
• How our mindsets evolved throughout the pandemic
• Why more people are making shifts in their careers or retiring in 2021
• The relationship between fear and action
• What employers are doing to attract job seekers in 2021
• Stephanie's advice for employees who are considering shifting their careers
• Why managers need to build personal connections with their employers

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson

Connect with Stephanie Eberhart:

• TalentRemedy
• TalentRemedy on LinkedIn
• TalentRemedy on Instagram
• TalentRemedy on Facebook
• TalentRemedy on Twitter
• Stephanie Eberhart on LinkedIn
• Stephanie Eberhart on Twitter
• Email: [email protected]

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Joe Perrone is a business coach who helps business owners reclaim their time and freedom. Since August of 2020, Joe has been helping his clients find full enjoyment in everything that they create and do without burning out. Joe—a serial entrepreneur himself—owns and operates Astro Auto Repair and New England Collision in addition to working with his coaching clients and raising his family.

Joe joins us today to share his journey into personal development and becoming a productivity coach. He explains his experience with burnout and how it eventually led him to guide other people to create more time in their lives. He also discusses how getting clear on his life's purpose impacted his relationships and business and underscores the importance of gratitude and giving back.

"Slow down. Slow down long enough to see what's going on around you. Slowing down allows us to see that and get clear." - Joe Perrone

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Running into a brick wall of burnout and what happens when a business keeps saying "yes"
• What boundaries are and the value of having a structured life
• The mistake of wearing busyness as a badge of honor
• Recognizing the myth of success and Joe's first foray into personal development
• A critical ingredient for self-transformation
• How getting clear on his life's purpose impacted Joe's relationships and business
• Joe's pivot from running a business to helping people find freedom
• Why coaches need to have their own coaches and mentors
• The value of slowing down and getting clear on what you want out of life
• The importance of creating a contemplative practice
• Why we need to schedule time for ourselves
• The power of gratitude and giving

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg McKeown
• Book: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
• Book: Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware

Connect with Joe Perrone:

• Joe Perrone Website
• Time Freedom Warriors Facebook Group
• Joe Perrone on LinkedIn
• Joe Perrone on Instagram
• Email: [email protected]

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Vicki Shillington is an executive coach as well as the Chief Happiness Officer of ThingqShift, a company dedicated to creating adaptable leaders and organizations that easily thrive from their start-up stage. She has led business and digital transformations for Fortune 500 companies as an executive coach and organizational development executive. For over two decades, Vicki served as an executive and consultant at North Highlight, Andersen, and IBM. She received her Master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology from Buckinghamshire New University.

Vicki joins me today to discuss how business leaders should navigate conversations on political and social issues in the country and worldwide. She reveals the four levels of listening and how each stage can help us connect with others who may have different opinions. She explains how having an internal practice can help us cope with external crises such as the pandemic and climate change. Vicki also highlights how organizations that are willing to contribute to a greater purpose thrive amidst crises.

"It is up for business leaders to navigate conversations in such a way that they can truly listen, empathize, and provide a perspective." - Vicki Shillington

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• How spiritual, internal practices can help us cope with crises
• How media keeps us in fight-or-flight mode
• What a polarized society means for business leaders
• The four levels of listening
• The importance of serving yourself and your needs
• Why business leaders need to be well-read about political and social issues
• How racial injustice, the pandemic, and other global issues accelerated many peoples' mid-life crises

Related Content:

• The Three Stages of Crisis with Vicki Shillington

Connect with Vicki Shillington:

• ThingqShift
• Vicki Shillington on LinkedIn

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

350 Podcast Episodes

70,000+ Books Sold to Date

100s of Talks to 1000s of People

1000s of Coaching Conversations

100 Essays in 100 Days

What have I learned? Not what you think!

• If I can write a book, so can you.

• If I can make a million dollars, so can you

• If I can change my career, so can you

• If I can create deep, meaningful relationships, so can you

• If I can be free of addiction, face my fears, become a new version of myself...

So can you!

If my improbable and miraculous life brings any message at all... it is:

Anything is possible.

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I've discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity.

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you. My "10 Uncomfortable Truths" about overwhelm, from "Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life."

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book.

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Karen Davis is an executive coach, author, and speaker. After 25 years in managerial and executive leadership roles in B2B tech and services, Karen changed her life by working to transform the lives of others. Karen's practice focuses on one-on-one coaching with executives, entrepreneurs, and other executive coaches. Alongside Alex Mill, Karen authored How to Get the Most Out of Coaching: A Client's Guide for Optimizing the Coaching Experience.

Karen joins me today to reveal the characteristics that make a person coachable and outline the wisdom of her book, How to Get the Most Out of Coaching. She highlights the differences among coaching, consulting, and therapy, and discusses how coaches can align their goals with a client's consultant or therapist. She also explains why coaches need to clearly define and maintain their professional self while coaching clients, and discusses why it's important for clients to be at 100% during sessions.

"When coaches and clients are both at their 100%, that isn't a leader-follower relationship, but a leader-leader." - Karen Davis

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• How the book, How to Get the Most Out of Coaching, was conceived and born
• Why coaches should teach their clients how to get the most out of their coaching sessions
• Why coaching clients need to be opinionated
• What separates coaching from consulting and therapy
• The difference between the professional and social self and why Karen doesn't take her clients out to lunch
• How to navigate the differences among coaching, consulting, and therapy with your coaching client

Resources Mentioned:

• The Zen Life

Connect with Karen Davis:

• Karen Davis Coaching
• Book: How to Get the Most Out of Coaching: A Client's Guide for Optimizing the Coaching Experience
• Book: Unconventional Wisdom: Stories Beyond the Mind to Awaken the Heart
• Karen Davis on LinkedIn
• Karen Davis on Facebook
• Karen Davis on Twitter

Walking home from the gym one morning, I remembered something traumatic from a show we watched the night before. My body stiffened. Grief washed over me.

It's a TV show. I know the actor is on other shows. It's not real!

Then I realized…. My body doesn't know the difference.

"We have a far deeper and more interactive relationship with our thoughts and perceptions about the world… than the actual world." – Mark J. Silverman

In this episode of Mastering Midlife:

• When something happens, we react from our memory/conditioning far more than reality.
• It's like a groove on a record and influences outcomes
• How do we separate what we make up from reality?
• If we influence reality from our memories, can we also do it from deliberate visualization?

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I've discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity.

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you. My "10 Uncomfortable Truths" about overwhelm, from "Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life."

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book.

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today's episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don't forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.