Hello Friends!

After a bit of a hiatus, I’m back today specifically to sit down with my friend, Carri McQuerrey-Funk, who you may remember from Episode #12, titled “Maddie’s Message” where she told the story of tragically losing her daughter to a furniture tip-over, and Episode #13, titled “Leading Through Grief”, where she told us how she came back from that horrific loss and how it changed her whole perspective on what it means to be a leader. The link to those episodes will be in the show notes so you can go listen if you haven’t already.

Today, I’ve got BIG NEWS! I am SO excited to share with you that Carri is now a published author of the newly released book, titled “Don’t wish You Would Have; Choosing Resilience In The Face Of Loss.”

In our conversation, Carri gives us a sneak peek from the book, how a “love shove” from her coach made it all happen, the reasons why she wrote it, and the lesson we should all take away from it.

Get your copy of her book and register for her 5k below. 👇

Podcast Links:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  7:12   What's inside the book

10:27   Maddie's Message / STURDY Act

18:24   Book take-aways

40:46   What's next fr Carri

43:00   Why having a coach matters

48:13   Where to find the book and how to register for the Race To Secure 5k 10/4/25 

How to connect with Carrie:

"Don't Wish You Would Have" Amazon Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Wish-You-Would-Have/dp/1963922166

5k Race to Secure Registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/VirginiaBeach/MaddiesMessageRaceToSecure5K?fbclid=IwY2xjawNKfrFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFmSEpBVlBvalcyWnJVdVdNAR5MgoAvsh6dK6NLs5W5mEyF72G7zGFyCCC6_g4aydLgXoHniGC7DHICLK0c6A_aem_URoEwEOcTl9iYnNAcwuaPQ

Website: https://www.maddiesmessage.com

Contact Info: https://www.maddiesmessage.com/contact-us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576637377660

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carri-mcquerrey-funk-89788539/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@candidconversationscarri

Women In Consumer Finance Conference Registration: https://www.womeninconsumerfinance.com/

How to connect with Sandy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

Today, as we approach the end of 2024 and look ahead to 2025, we’re talking about one of the most underrated skills you can master as a leader: Goal Clarity. It doesn’t sound like much and it’s not sexy, I know, but it’s important to get it right.  

Whether you’re trying to get to the next level, or just want to be the best leader to your team, I’m sharing four practical steps that everyone can do to gain clarity and get into alignment with your boss to make your work life calmer, more productive, and far less demoralizing.

You probably know a few people who are always complaining about being SO BUSY, all day, every day, but they never seem to actually get anything done, right? Don’t be this person. It just means you’re not prioritizing. If you are running around like a firefighter all day putting out every fire, eventually you’ll burn up yourself.

I’ve been where you are—blindsided, overworked, and feeling like I’m missing the mark. But then I learned this very effective technique around goal setting and not only did it allow me to consistently exceed expectations, but it unlocked this superpower to become the boss’s “go-to” person, and I’m here to share that with you today.

Listen Here:

🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697 

🎧 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1 

  7:38  The problem with undefined goals

  9:17  The power of goal alignment

10:15  Step 1: Obtain your goals in writing

10:42  Step 2: Have a sit down with your boss

12:28  Step 3: Understanding priorities and KPI's

14:02  Step 4: Prioritize your boss's biggest worries

15:34  Incorporate your new alignment into your teams' goals

Registration Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/Becoming-Superwoman-Registration-Form

How to connect with Sandy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

Welcome back to Part 2 of my conversation with Katie Keich, consultant, entrepreneur, coach, and now AUTHOR? Oh my gosh, that’s so fun to say! Katie has so much to share today. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 (that’s episode #19), be sure to go back and listen to that. You don’t want to miss a minute of our conversation.

I mentioned in Part 1 that Katie’s got that “IT” factor. That GRIT that we all wish we had when life throws us a curveball. Well, in today’s episode, Katie’s gonna talk about where that comes from and how - when things get hard, she gets harder!

Then, she’s got an open call for you to get involved in her newest venture, it’s called “Pass The Torch”. It’s a very high-profile mentorship program designed to support, protect & advocate for junior high athletes all the way up to Olympic and professional athletes.

I’ll let her tell you all about it, but you can get involved if you're a current or former athlete, or you’re raising kids who are, or if you’re an executive at a company that would like to sponsor and support her mission.

She needs our help getting the word out, so let’s spread the word, share this episode with your friends and colleagues who might want to get involved, and reach out to Katie if you’re interested. Her contact info is below.

Podcast Links:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  3:15    Katie announces her new book venture

14:28    The real purpose of youth sports

20:08    "Pass The Torch" mentorship program for athletes at all levels

How to connect with Katie:

Website: https://www.athletesinleadership.org/

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.keich

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekeich/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_keich/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katie_keich

Katie's book recommendations (1) Traction, then (2) Rocket Fuel: https://ginowickman.com/books/

How to connect with Sandy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

If YOU’VE ever been an athlete or you’re raising CHILDREN who are athletes, this episode is for you.

In this episode, my guest is a former basketball player turned coach, business consultant, entrepreneur, and my friend - Katie Keich.

When I met Katie 6 years ago, I could just tell she’s one of those women with a rocket ship strapped to her back. Her career is already so impressive, yet she constantly pushes the limits of what she’s capable of. She sets goals and reaches them, sets more goals and reaches them. No matter the challenge, she’s up for it. She’s confident in her ability to figure it out. Adversity? No problem, she’ll get around it. She’s got that “IT” factor. That grit that doesn’t let her give up. And today, she’s gonna tell us where that comes from!

Katie & I covered a lot of ground during our chat, so again, I’ve broken the conversation into 2 parts.

In part 1, Katie will walk us through her career journey from corporate executive to entrepreneur. Katie’s been in rooms with some pretty powerful women and she’s spoken on some very BIG stages. Be sure to listen all the way through, because she’s going to reveal what she’s found to be the ONE THING that’s REALLY holding women back. It’s the one common theme she’s heard across all events, all industries, all levels of success, even across corporate America and professional sports. And it’s not what you think it is!

And then come back for Part 2, where Katie's got BREAKING NEWS about her NEW BOOK! And she's introducing us to her new project, “Pass The Torch”, a very high-profile mentorship program for athletes at all levels. She’s got an open call for current and former athletes that want to join the program and help her start a movement. You could be one of those people!

Podcast Links

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  6:00   Katie's journey from corporate exec to entrepreneur

19:06   The ONE thing holding women back

30:44   The Power of Networking

How to connect with Katie:

Website: https://www.athletesinleadership.org/

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.keich

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekeich/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_keich/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katie_keich

How to connect with Sandy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

If you’re in a bad or an unhealthy relationship and you want to leave, but the voice in your head is telling you that you couldn’t make it on your own, or you’re not worthy of the happiness you see in others, or that you just can’t find the strength to deal with such a huge change, then this episode is for you.

Today, I’m bringing back a previous podcast guest. She’s a business money coach who helps empower women to build the life of their dreams by transforming their relationship with money, but NOW, she’s coming back to us as a critically acclaimed and LA Tribune #1 Best-Selling author of the new book, Triumphs of Transformation: Inspiring Stories of Resilience and Life Change. That’s right, I have Georgianne McConnell back in the house today!

Do you know what the odds are of becoming a best selling author? Something like 0.08% of books published in the US annually make the US Best Seller lists. You have a better chance of winning the lottery or being struck by lightning TWICE than writing a book, getting it traditionally published, and making the Best Sellers list!

Georgianne is a contributing author to this compilation book where 30 authors share their personal stories of resilience and triumph, and act as a beacon of light for others going through similar difficult times. Georgianne is women’s money coach, but what she writes about in this book has nothing to do with money.

She shares the story of how going through a divorce was the catalyst to learning to lover herself again. It’s a story of hope and inspiration for all the women out there who are staying in relationships that aren’t serving them because they lack the belief in themselves and the understanding that you will be okay on the other side of that decision.

At the time we recorded the podcast episode, my pre-ordered copy of her book hadn’t yet been delivered, but I’ve since received it, and read Georgianne’s chapter and I can’t wait for you to hear all about it in this episode.

Podcast Links

Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/podcasts/perfectly-imperfect-2

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

10:00   Why sharing transformation stories is so important

14:18   Georgianne reads an excerpt from the book

25:34   Georgianne's transformation story

35:43   Advice for women who want more

How to connect with Georgianne:

Website: https://www.georgiannemcconnell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgianne.mcconnell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiannemcconnell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgianne_mcconnell/

Georgianne's book - "Triumphs of Transformation: Inspiring Stories of Resilience and Life Change": https://www.amazon.com/Triumphs-Transformation-Inspiring-Stories-Resilience/dp/1646871936

How to connect with Sandy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Inner Circle: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

Welcome back to Part 3, the final episode in my 3-part series with Marisa Thomas, Founder of DoorSeffect, author, and Rising Catalyst app creator. If you haven’t listened to Episodes 1 & 2, I highly recommend going back & listening to those first so you can better understand Marisa’s journey and how she came to be an entrepreneur & author.

In this final episode, Marisa’s giving us a sneak peek inside her new book, The Power To Lead: How To Optimize Your Energy To Thrive In Leadership. She’s revealing the 5 energy forces that you MUST have in balance in order to thrive in leadership. I’ve placed the Amazon link in the show notes so you can pick up your copy today. Once you have it in hand, be sure to re-listen to this episode so you can follow her commentary as you move through the chapters.

And as always, stick around to the end to hear Marisa’s advice for the next generation of women.

Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/podcasts/perfectly-imperfect-2

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  2:48     Mental Force

  5:20     Physical Force

  7:23     Cultural Force

11:17     Social Force

23:04     Environmental Force

28:43     Rising Catalyst App

35:01     Advice for The Next Generation of Women

How to connect with Marisa: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-thomas-coach/

Website: https://doorseffect.com/

Book: The Power To Lead: How To Optimize Your Energy To Thrive In Leadership

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Lead-Optimize-Energy-Leadership/dp/1662949049/

How to connect with Sandy: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Membership: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

Welcome back to Part 2 of my 3-part series with Marisa Thomas, Founder of DoorSeffect, author, and Rising Catalyst app creator. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, I encourage to go back and do so now.

In part 1, Marisa got really vulnerable and shared stories about growing up as an introverted child with a learning difficulty and battling depression as an adult, and how it all led her to realizing what her true strengths are. She revealed what the turning point in her career was when she realized she was no longer aligned with her purpose and her corporate executive job was no longer what she wanted. We left you with that cliffhanger in Part 1!

So now, in Part 2, Marisa will tell us what she DID want and how she began to live in her purpose through becoming an entrepreneur & author. She’ll tell us what her executive coaching business, DoorSeffect, is all about and how she found the courage to write her first book, The Power To Lead.

 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  8:33     DoorSeffect Methodology

  9:36     D = Disconnect

10:23     O = Offload

11:07     O = Open

15:02     R = Redirect

16:32     S = Set an intention

20:49     Finding The Courage To Write A Book

How to connect with Marisa: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-thomas-coach/

Website: https://doorseffect.com/

Book: The Power To Lead: How To Optimize Your Energy To Thrive In Leadership

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Lead-Optimize-Energy-Leadership/dp/1662949049/

How to connect with Sandy: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Membership: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

I’m so excited for today’s guest y’all! I’ve got Marisa Thomas in the house today! Now, if you don’t already know Marisa, she’s one of the most inspiring and relatable women I’ve ever met. I am so convinced that you’ll feel the same way, I’ve decided not to edit down the interview. Instead, I’ve made our conversation into a 3-episode series so you don’t miss a minute of her wisdom, and you can hear the whole thing! I’ve been anticipating this interview for a long while and I know you’re really going to enjoy her as well.

Marisa is the founder of DoorSeffect LLC, an author, an executive coach, and Rising Catalyst app creator. Marisa’s mission is optimizing the leadership power of executives and small business owners, and powering their purpose towards their BEST life in executive leadership.

With over 25 years in leadership - coaching the leaders of the future - she created a methodology that serves her clients to bring clarity and optimize where they place their energy, to thrive in life and leadership.

And to learn more about these concepts and methodology, Marisa lays it all out in her new book The Power To Lead; How to optimize Your Energy To Thrive in Leadership.

In today’s episode, Part 1, Marisa’s getting personal and sharing how she went from a terribly introverted child with a learning disability and full of self-doubt and anxiety, to a corporate executive battling depression, to entrepreneur and published author.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

3:38      Growing up as an introverted child with a learning disability 

11:00     Battling depression as a corporate executive

15:00     My career turning point 

How to connect with Marisa: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-thomas-coach/

Website: https://doorseffect.com/

Book: The Power To Lead: How To Optimize Your Energy To Thrive In Leadership

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Lead-Optimize-Energy-Leadership/dp/1662949049/

How to connect with Sandy: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Membership: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

If you’re a person who dreads having to have those tough conversations with your employees, or you’ve walked away from those conversations feeling like they didn’t go as well as they could have, this episode’s for you. Today, I’m diving into 5 tips for mastering the art of difficult employee conversations. These tips will help you navigate these situations with confidence, empathy, and grace, and leave you feeling more confident, more connected, and WAY less awkward.

What if I told you there’s a way to have these conversations with clarity and respect—so that even after the tough moments, the relationship and trust between you and that employee grows even stronger.  Hmmm…sounds good right?!

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  8:03      Tip #1: Get straight to the point

  9:02      Tip #2: Refer to previous agreement

12:25      Tip #3: Set expectations & ground rules

14:32      Tip #4: Stick to the facts

16:53      Tip #5: Stop talking & listen

How to connect with Sandy: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Membership: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up

We’re back for Part 2 of my conversation with Carri McQuerrey-Funk.

In last week’s episode she shared the heart-breaking story about how she became an unlikely furniture safety advocate after losing her 2 year old baby girl, Maddie, in a tipover accident 17 years ago. So if you haven’t listened to episode 12, be sure to go back and do that. It’s a VERY important episode with a call to action and she’s giving away free furniture straps to anyone who needs them. The links can be found below.

We’re going to listen in as Carri takes us through her career journey from collector to executive, what it was like to go back to work after losing Maddie, and how the accident shaped her as a leader. Having lived and worked through significant grief myself over the years, I’m always fascinated to learn how others deal with it. And, as always, hang with us until the end, because Carri’s sharing her advice for the next generation of women.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perfectly-imperfect/id1749176697

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-aquino1

  6:58  Carri’s Career Journey

12:37  Fighting Self-Doubt

16:19  Women In Consumer Finance

21:53  Leading Through Grief

27:00  How Maddie’s Death Shaped Her As A Leader

33:29  Carri’s Advice For The Next Generation Of Women

How to connect with Carri:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carri-mcquerrey-funk-89788539/

Maddie's Message: https://www.maddiesmessage.com/

Women In Consumer Finance Conference: https://www.womeninconsumerfinance.com/attendee-info 

Sandy Aquino WCF Career Coaching Partner: https://www.womeninconsumerfinance.com/career-coach-sandy-aquino

How to connect with Sandy: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyaquino/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proximityleadershipnetwork/

Proximity Leadership Network Website: https://www.proxleadnet.com/

Proximity Membership: https://www.proxleadnet.com/InnerCircle-Proximity-Leadership-Network

Kajabi Affiliate Link: https://www.proxleadnet.com/affiliate_users/sign_up