Do you ever find yourself feeling stuck in your career? Longing for purpose in your work and life?  You're not alone. In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of playing to your strengths.   

On this episode our guest is CHARLOTTE BLAIR, a seasoned Gallup certified strengths coach and the author of "Career Unstuck: How to Play to Your Strengths to Find Freedom and Purpose in Your Work Again."  You can purchase the book on Amazon and various platforms.  

Charlotte Blair is one of the longest-established and most experienced Gallup®-accredited Strengths coaches in Australia. She works with individuals and teams across the world to discover and apply their strengths to meet their goals. Charlotte describes herself as a proud dyslexic with amazing superpowers.  She is a retired equestrian, a bee keeper, a mother of two grown boys, a wife and a social butterfly.

Charlotte's book, Career Unstuck, is born from her experience as someone who left the  corporate nine-to-five, and all the trappings that come with that, to discover her unique talents and strengths. 

BIO:

Charlotte has been a Gallup-Certified coach since 2014 and is also an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC). After transitioning from a sales role for one the world largest IT companies, she now runs two successful businesses and partners with other coaches and learning organizations to deliver great outcomes. Charlotte is a founding partner in The Strengths Partners, as well as a coach and mentor to other global coaches www.charlotteblair.com.au    She is dedicated to helping people get their career unstuck and love their work again.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotteblair/

www.careerunstuck.com.au 

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How do we help our children succeed academically in a world that's increasingly challenging?

On this episode, I talk with JENNIFER LEE, Assistant Director of the Tiny Habits Academy, and Mom.  Jennifer takes us back to her journey as a young teacher, her transition into a behavior design specialist and her role at the Tiny Habits Academy, unpacking her experiences along the way. 

Jennifer's expertise comes to life as she discusses the importance of creating daily routines, tailored to each child's unique needs and preferences. Drawing from her own journey homeschooling her kids, she shares how she's used behavior design to  create 'Tiny Habit recipes' with her children.   To illustrate the impact of these methods, Jennifer gives us a glimpse into managing her son who grapples with strong emotions and her daughter who dealt with test anxiety.

Need more proof of how transformative Tiny Habits can be? Jennifer shares a personal success story. Her sixth-grade daughter picked up the violin, and through the creation of a small, specific practice habit and celebrating small wins, she went from panic to performing at the Kennedy Center. 

Through Jennifer's experiences and insights, we learn that academic success goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. It's about creating Tiny Habits that stick, recognizing each child's unique learning style, and most importantly, celebrating the wins along the way. 

BIO

Jennifer Lee is the assistant director of the Tiny Habits Academy, where she helps train and certify coaches in the Tiny Habits method. She has an M.Ed in teaching and learning and 20+ years of experience in childhood, secondary, and adult education. She has a life-long fascination with how our learning shapes our behavior and our behavior shapes our learning.

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Don't we all want to feel younger?  I know I sure do.  Aging is part of life. But HOW we age makes a difference.  Community is also an important component of aging younger.  On this episode, I talk with Tiny Habits Certified Coach JULIE BERGFELD about her journey into the world of wellness coaching.  I also ask Julie to share some tips for growing younger.   

JULIE BERGFELD coaches adults 50 years and older to feel their youngest.  She changes their relationship with food, movement and mindfulness. Through her signature SOAR methodology, Julie guides her clients to lasting success. 

An accomplished marathon and ultra-marathon runner, she was once the USATF Women’s 50K Trail champion. The cumulative stress to both body and mind took its toll and she vowed to learn to heal herself. Although her degrees in French Literature and Journalism hadn’t prepared her for it, as an avid learner she became a Human Potential coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Teacher, Nutritionist and Human Movement Specialist in addition to being a Certified Tiny Habits coach. Ultimately, she founded her own yoga studio Metro Power Yoga where she applied all her wisdom and was considered THE place for athletes to chill out.

                 "I want to be fully functional until my dying day." - Julie Bergfeld

Julie has been a guest on the podcast Mindful Money and a guest expert on several Tiny Habits Academy Panels. She is a sought-after teacher, workshop facilitator and speaker on topics related to sustenance, mindset, movement and sleep.

Related Links:

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-bergfeld-8a9138/

Facebook - Facebook.com/juliebergfeldcoaching

instagram - instagram.com/juliebergfeldcoaching

Tiny Habits Academy

Julie Bergfeld's Tiny Habits Coach Listing

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Join me for a conversation with  Anna Orenstein-Cardona, a certified financial educator, author, and Puerto Rico native.  We discuss how her personal experience with Hurricane Maria inspired her heartwarming children's book, The Tree of Hope. Anna shares her emotional journey of witnessing the hurricane's destruction from afar and its impact on her family back on the island.

Discover the powerful intersection of Puerto Rico's culture, history, and U.S. citizenship as Anna opens up about her unique path from grief and loss to writing a children's book that celebrates hope and the human spirit. Hear how her hard work and determination secured her a job on Wall Street and how it fueled her passion to help others learn about finance. We also dive into Anna's creative process, her experience with Faber Academy, and valuable insights into the world of children's book writing and publishing.

Finally, we discuss the ongoing impact of The Tree of Hope and the joy it brings to children and readers alike. Anna reflects on the supportive community that came together to rescue the famous Banyan tree in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the powerful message of hope it represents.

BIO:

Anna Orenstein-Cardona was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is an alum of Faber Academy (Writing a Novel and Writing for Children). She is active in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Anna is an NFEC-certified Financial Educator (CFEI) and Wealth Coach with over 22 years of experience working in global financial markets. In 2020, she founded Wear Your Money Crown® - an empowering, woman-owned financial education and coaching firm that is passionately dedicated to bridging the financial inequality gap.

Her debut picture book, The Tree Of Hope, was published by Beaming Books in 2022.
Currently, Anna is working on developing various projects, including more children books. She lives in London with her two very special furbabies and her Southern Gentleman husband, although spends as much time as she can in Puerto Rico. Where she regularly gets involved in rescuing abandoned animals and supporting local charities.

Learn More About Anna's Author Journey and The Tree Of Hope:

 http://www.annaorensteincardona.com/

Purchase the Book:

 Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Indiebound, and/or your local bookstore!

Fol

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Are you caring for an aging parent?  If so, you'll appreciate this podcast episode featuring Kim and Mike Barnes, founders of Parenting Aging Parents. 

Award-winning Austin journalists Kim & Mike Barnes provide actionable solutions about how to care for aging parents.   Their mission and passion is called Parenting Aging Parents.  While sharing their own experiences and providing guidance from experts,  Kim and Mike help others navigate the journey. 

5 Important Conversations you need to have about your aging parents.

1. Talk with your siblings. Get on the same page. 
2. Housing. Where do your parents want to live?
3.  Finances. (Pensions, Debt, Expenses)
4.  Legal.  (Wills, POA, Medical Directives)
5. Passwords. (Cell phones, computers, accounts)

About Parenting Aging Parents

Over the past five years, Kim and Mike Barnes found themselves navigating problems they never saw coming from their parents: Alzheimer’s, pacemakers, COVID pneumonia, and the tough decision to move parents into retirement communities. They’ve learned to balance the many facets of parenting aging parents, including medical, financial, and everyday-life decisions, emotional rollercoasters, protecting their parents from scams, and more, all while parenting college-age kids and building their own careers. Many struggle in silence—which is why Parenting Aging Parents provides information, resources, and support.

Through their free Facebook Group, expert interviews, and guide for gathering essential information, Kim and Mike provide access to the knowledge desperately needed for adult children. Parenting Aging Parents is a safe space and a second family for anyone in a position of support and caregiving for the elder relatives in their lives, and especially those who are struggling. Caregiving happens in the margins of life and tugs people (especially women) in so many directions – being a supportive child, a good parent, a productive employee – that it’s too easy to forget yourself in the mix. Parenting Aging Parents strives to provide content, connection, and community for its members so that adult children know how to be better prepared for the challenges ahead as their parents get older.

Youtube Channel
Facebook Group

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Have you ever wanted to pack up everything you owned and move to a new country?

That's exactly what Dan and Nisha Ferguson did in the early 90's.  They bought a 1976 Volkswagen bus, packed up their business and two young children and headed south.  The trip from Toronto, Canada to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico took six weeks.  It was an adventure. 

Dan is a sculptor and Nisha is a painter.  Their business is called DaNisha. Together they collaborate and create ceramic and bronze work.    For many years Dan and Nisha traveled the arts festival circuit in the United States.   Now they're part of a global network of artists living in San Miguel. 

During our conversation, Dan and Nisha talk about their artistic journey and the  life choices they made to live life to the fullest.  You'll hear that creativity is part of their DNA.

             "100% go for it."

             "We've never regretted anything we did, only the things we didn't do."

I was honored to visit Dan and Nisha  while on a visit to San Miguel de Allende with my friend Wendy Conklin, founder of Chair Whimsy. You can watch Wendy's video tour of Dan and Nisha's studio here. 

www.danishasculpture.com

www.facebook.com/danishasculpture/

www.instagram.com/danishasculpture/

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University faculty share their research and expertise with various audiences.  In doing so, faculty build a brand that promotes their own careers and the university they serve. 

On this episode, I talk with Regents' Professor Dr. Rodney E. Rohde - chair of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program at Texas State University.  When the pandemic hit, media outlets around the world were looking for answers about COVID 19. Journalists and news outlets turned to Distinguished Professor, Microbiologist, and Virologist Dr. Rodney E. Rohde.  During our interview, we talk about how faculty can leverage their expertise for the benefit of their career and the university.  

BIO

Rodney E. Rohde, PhD is a Texas State University System Regents’ Professor,  University Distinguished Professor, and Chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program in the College of Health Professions at Texas State University. He also serves as Associate Director for the Translational Health Research Center. 

Dr. Rohde is a Global Fellow, Fellow of the Association of Clinical Scientists, and Honorary Professor of International studies. He is an ASCP board-certified Specialist in Virology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology. He spent a decade as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Bureau of Laboratories and Zoonosis Control Division prior to his academic career, including two terms as a CDC Visiting Scientist. His research interests include Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance, and clinical/public health microbiology especially zoonotic diseases (Rabies, Hantavirus, and others). He also continues to enjoy his role as an Associate Adjunct Professor of Biology with Austin Community College (28 years) where he teaches fundamentals of biology and microbiology courses.

Dr. Rohde has published more than 80 research articles and abstracts, two books, and is a highly sought keynote presenter with over 100 international, national, and state conference presentations. During the #SARSCoV2 / #COVID19 pandemic, Doc R is the #1 quoted Texas State subject matter expert and has conducted over 150 interviews for podcasts, TV, newspapers, and internet sites as well as delivered dozens of webinars and workshops at the international, national, state, and local levels. 

 Personal Website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/

Twitter
Linkedin
YouTube

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Do you want to live a more CREATIVE life?  On this episode, I talk with Chair Whimsy founder Wendy Conklin.  She is a designer, an artisan, an educator and an entreprenista.   

A visionary thought leader, Wendy is leading a MOVEMENT to live more creatively.  Her brand includes custom chairs, online courses, business retreats and more. Wendy's new book is entitled  Life Whimsy: How to Think, Play and Work more Creatively.   

WENDY'S BIO
Many people dream about making their passion project their career but few are able to turn their dreams into reality. Enter Wendy Conklin, who transformed her hobby into a powerhouse brand, Chair Whimsy, inspiring clients the world over to bring a sense of whimsy and joy into their living spaces.

Wendy was an educational consultant, busy writing books and helping teachers implement the latest in teaching techniques. While she enjoyed her job, she felt there was something missing from her career. She’d always had a creative streak but wasn’t sure how to incorporate it into a lucrative business. In 2012, she took an upholstery course and was hooked.  It wasn’t long before friends began asking Wendy to help them “zhuzh” up their homes. Realizing she was onto something, she opened an Etsy store, offering custom refurbishing of antiques and flea-market finds.

Before long, Wendy found herself juggling her full-time job and the Etsy store, to the point something had to give. She realized that her misery as an employee was greater than the fear of becoming an entrepreneur. Springing into action, she took out a loan, asked for a six month leave of absence from work and set out to make her hobby a viable business. Within two days, she knew she could never return to her job and with the determination to make this new venture a success, she dug in.

Traction came quickly but in order to really make her new business soar, she knew she needed some outside advice and began working with a business coach. Contrary to popular belief that offering more options is the key to success, she niched down to a single focus - chairs. Wendy always had an artistic bend and by deciding to play by her own rules of fun, joy and lots of color, her Chair Whimsy brand caught flight, capturing the imaginations of clients around the world. In addition to her custom refurbished chairs, she expanded her line to include a collection of her unique designs made by artisans in Italy as well as fabric selection services.

In 2020, Wendy introduced her first course, DIY Upholstery, to teach others the joy of creating their own works of art. The response prompted her to create five more courses: Styling with the Chair Stylist, Sourcing Swoon-Worthy Fabrics, Fabric Mixology, Just the Bottoms, and The Business of Chairs. Dovetailing with the pandemic, the courses struck a nerve with thousands of women looking to learn a new skill while brightening up their homes. In under 18 months, sales for the courses hit over $500k. Encouraged by Wendy’s enthusiasm and gentle instructions to play, create and not worry about somebody else’s rules, these “Whimsies” are living the Chair Whimsy motto of “create the life you desire and a home that inspires you to live more creatively.”

Wendy lives in a personality-filled home in Round Rock, Texas with her h

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Show Notes

        I couldn't believe it...you could get paid for visiting people.

Reena Philpot is an accomplished business owner and expert salesperson.  She loves connecting with people and, after hearing her story, you will too.  Reena' s approach to sales is all about helping others.   

       I just wanted everybody to fall in love with helping other people. 

Reena (pronounced Re-nay) went from her telemarketing  job - making calls in a closet - to a successful career in sales.   Today she teaches owners and sales teams her simple formula for success. 

        Sales is the vehicle that I use to have and do whatever I want to do.

During our conversation, we talk about mindset,  goals, planning and focus.   We also talk about Reena's latest 'renovation' project. 

          A lot of times my clients don't have to do more - they just have to be consistent.

 

BIO Info 

Reena Philpot is the co-owner of PDS Copiers and founder of Reena Philpot Sales Coaching. She has spent the last 27 years as a salesperson and absolutely loves sales! Reena's passion is teaching owners and sales teams simple sales techniques allowing them to hit their targets and goals with ease. Issues with anything from prospecting to closing, reach out, and Reena would be happy to help.

Visit ReenaPhilpot.com or email Reena at [email protected].

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Geoff Girvitz is a father, a business founder, and the host of the Dad Strength Podcast. He has learned to work with his Unique Strengths to build an intentional, meaningful life.   Geoff is the owner of Toronto-based Bang Fitness.  He's also a Tiny Habits Certified Coach. 

Geoff built Dad Strength as a community for purpose-driven dads who want to have regular conversations about the stuff that matters—as fathers and as men.  During our conversation, we talk about the important role Dads play in the family.   

You can find the Dad Strength podcast at https://dadstrength.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thedadstrengthpodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffgirvitz/

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