✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

Imagine picking up a cello at four and a half years old, building an entire identity and career around it for decades — and then one day quietly deciding you'd rather be somewhere else at 8pm on a Saturday night than on a stage. No crisis. No burnout. Just a clear-eyed moment of: I think I'm done. Now imagine being told by your entire industry that people like you don't do that. And doing it anyway.

My guest today is Kate Kayaian.

Considering a career change?

After dedicating decades to the cello, Kate faced a difficult realization: her professional path no longer brought fulfillment. This conversation explores the personal journey of acknowledging when a long-term goal stops serving your life direction and why it is necessary to re-evaluate your commitments.

If you have ever felt trapped by your own success or wondered if you are on the right track, this video offers a relatable perspective on navigating a major career pivot. You will gain insight into the emotional process of letting go of a career change that no longer aligns with your personal growth.

Subscribe for weekly career and life reflections, and comment below if you have ever had to restart your professional path.

MORE INFORMATION:

Kate Kayaian is an author, speaker, and career strategist for high achievers who want to build lives of impact, purpose, and sustainable success.

A former professional cellist, Kate performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist in venues ranging from Boston’s Jordan Hall to leading European concert halls. She trained at the New England Conservatory of Music and held a fellowship with the New World Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas.

Today, Kate’s work centers on helping accomplished professionals—creatives, executives, educators, and entrepreneurs—define success on their own terms and create careers that feel as good as they look. Through her 1:1 coaching and her signature group program, the Creatives Leadership Academy, she guides clients to develop clarity, confidence, and the practical strategies needed to lead at the highest level without sacrificing their well-being.

She is the author of Beyond Potential, a practical guide for high performers navigating the next chapter of their professional lives, and the host of Tales from The Lane, a podcast exploring the hidden challenges and unexpected joys of success. As a sought-after speaker, Kate delivers keynotes and workshops on leadership presence, mindset transformation, and redefining what’s possible for high achievers across industries.

Alongside her private practice, Kate serves as President and Artistic Director of the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra, where she continues to champion creativity, collaboration, and innovation in the arts.

She lives on the island of Bermuda, where she spends her days coaching clients around the world, writing, speaking, and tending to her garden.

🔗  https://mailchi.mp/585d0fbc5a61/quarterly-retreat-planning-guide
From Kate: "Get my 4-Part Method to help create a roadmap for the next 90 days of your life and work. You'll learn exactly how I Plan, Create, Organize, and Optimize every aspect of my workflow so the following 3 months are smooth sailing.

I hope you enjoy this episode!

~ Bella

MS BELLA ST JOHN
✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching:
https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

✨ Success Redefined Podcast: 10-20 minute interviews with remarkable individuals who have pivoted their careers and lives to find a more meaningful definition of success.

💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:
https://bellastjohninternational.com/...

🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:
https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

Whether you are here to increase your AI literacy or that of your organization, or to find the courage to redefine your own path, you're in the right place.

✔️ Subscribe to redefine what’s possible.

• https://BellaStJohnInternational.com
  
  
• https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com 
  
  

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~
PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data.

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

Imagine growing up speaking perfect Swedish, and then being uprooted at age four to Brazil — where you were completely convinced everyone around you was simply speaking the wrong language, and made it your mission to teach your grandmother how to count correctly. That same spirit — of following what feels true even when the world says otherwise — led her from medicine to opera stages in Berlin and Italy, back to medicine again, and now to something she never expected: the psychology of dying, and what it teaches us about how to actually live.

My guest today is Ulrika Torquato - the creator of the Joyering® app, and with a background in medicine, opera, and the arts, she explores how small moments can reveal what truly matters and shape how we move through life.

https://joyering.com/

This link takes you to Joyering®, a free app created by Ulrika Torquato that helps us notice moments of joy already present in our daily lives. Access is simple, and your email is only used to log in.

~~~ 

MS BELLA ST JOHN

✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 

https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

 💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:

https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

 🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:

https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

🔗 https://BellaStJohnInternational.com

🔗 https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~

PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data. 🌼 

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

Imagine losing your mother at 16, then watching your grandparents pass away without a will — leaving 150 acres and a family in chaos. Then imagine building two businesses from scratch, only to have the 2008 mortgage crisis wipe out everything. Now imagine that instead of those being the end of the story, they were the beginning — the three failures that sent a single mom with a toddler and a baby back to law school, working for $5.25 an hour in between classes.

My guest today is Scherrie Prince, Attorney, Authority on Structural Business Design for Entrepreneurs, and host of the Play Big Faster Podcast, where she interviews founders and industry leaders.

~~~

Scherrie L. Prince is an attorney who advises entrepreneurs and business owners on ownership, governance, succession, and exit planning. She works at the intersection of business strategy and estate design, helping founders align how they operate today with what happens at transition, dispute, disability, or sale.

She is the host of the Play Big Faster Podcast, where she interviews founders and industry leaders on business, marketing, and emerging trends affecting growth and long-term leverage.

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

The strongest businesses aren't built by accident. They're built by design.

~~~

MS BELLA ST JOHN

✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 

https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

 💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:

https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

 🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:

https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

🔗 https://BellaStJohnInternational.com

🔗 https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~

PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data. 🌼 

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

Imagine being eleven years old, a Molotov cocktail crashing through your living room window, landing at your feet — and the only reason you're alive today is because your father grabbed it fast enough. That moment set in motion a life built on one unshakeable belief about the true heroes of freedom, and a passion that every single one of them deserves a champion in their corner.

My guest today is Nicky Billou - an Iranian-born Christian immigrant, bestselling author, speaker, podcast host, and founder of eCircle Academy, known for helping entrepreneurs become recognised thought leaders and grow profitable, purpose-driven businesses.

~~~

About Nicky Billou:

A two-time New York Times bestselling author, he is an in-demand and highly inspirational speaker to business  audiences such as Wealth Genius, Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), TEC/Vistage, RBC, Lululemon, Royal LePage,  and TorStar Media. He is an advisor and confidante to some of the most successful and dynamic entrepreneurs in Canada. He is the founder of eCircle Academy (www.eCircleAcademy.com ) where he runs a yearlong Mastermind & Educational program working with heart-driven Coaches, Consultants, Corporate Trainers, Clinic Owners, Realtors, Mortgage Brokers and other service-based Entrepreneurs, positioning them as authorities in their niche. He is the creator of the Thought Leader/Heart LeaderTM Designation.

http://Www.eCircleAcademy.com/appointment

The link is to a complimentary breakthrough call, to get clear on why you are stuck in your business and have a roadmap to get you unstuck and to the next level. 

~~~

~~~ 

MS BELLA ST JOHN

✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 

https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

 💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:

https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

 🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:

https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

🔗 https://BellaStJohnInternational.com

🔗 https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~

PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data. 🌼 

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

Imagine being eight years old, picking up the phone, and cold-calling George Lucas because you were absolutely certain he'd invite you to Hollywood to make movies with him. Now imagine that being the moment that accidentally set you on a path to building one of the most counterintuitive — and quietly revolutionary — philosophies in business: that the road to more yes starts with going for no.

My guest today is Andrea Waltz – the co-creator of Go for No!, a bestselling business book and mindset approach about overcoming the fear of rejection and taking courageous action.

~~~

https://goforno.com//quiz

Take the free Go for No! Quiz and find out how willing you really are to hear ‘No’ in pursuit of bigger goals.

~~~

MS BELLA ST JOHN

✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 

https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

 💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:

https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

 🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:

https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

🔗 https://BellaStJohnInternational.com

🔗 https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~

PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data. 🌼 

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

Imagine building a life around helping others define success on their own terms — only to have everything he thought he knew get rewritten when he lost his father at 27, survived a stroke in his 40s, and realized the book he'd been sitting on for years was finally ready to be born.

My guest today is Chip Scholz, executive coach, woodturner, and author of ‘Small Decisions, Big Shifts’, and ‘Every Dog Has Its Day’.

~~~

Today’s guest is Chip Scholz. Chip describes himself simply as a man with a lathe, a pocketknife, and a few stories. Over the course of a long career in business and coaching, he’s come to see that the moments that shape a life rarely arrive with fanfare. They show up quietly—in family conversations, unexpected detours, and even in a woodshop, shaping a piece of maple. His work explores how those small moments accumulate over time, changing how we see, how we live, and eventually what we’re willing to let go of. Those reflections come together in his book, Every Dog Has Its Day, a collection of stories about life, craft, and the decisions that quietly shape who we become.

http://www.scholzandassociates.com/ 

~~~ 

MS BELLA ST JOHN

✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 

https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

 💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:

https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

 🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:

https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

🔗 https://BellaStJohnInternational.com

🔗 https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~

PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data. 🌼 

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

In this episode of Success Redefined, we sit down with Ryan Drumheller, an expert with over 20 years in IT and leadership, to discuss the critical aspects of artificial intelligence. He emphasizes that with the rapid pace of digital transformation, it's crucial not to simply "set it and forget it" when it comes to AI automation, as "ai learns" and evolves. This conversation offers essential insights for anyone looking to "learn ai" and develop strong "leadership skills" for a successful "career" in the modern tech landscape.

Ryan Drumheller is an Extroverted IT Leader, Fractional CIO, and founder of Stellar Horn Group, where he helps businesses cut through the noise of technology and AI to drive real, measurable results. With over 20 years of experience in IT and leadership, Ryan has led large-scale initiatives including major mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity programs, and enterprise transformations while building and mentoring high-performing teams.

He is also the host of the Decline Invite Podcast and Decline Invite Short Notice, where he brings real conversations and direct insights on leadership, AI, business, and personal growth. Ryan is known for his practical approach, focusing on what actually works rather than theory or hype.

A lifelong learner, Ryan holds two master’s degrees, a bachelor’s degree, and over 170 certifications, and is continuing to push himself further with future doctoral ambitions.

For more information:
https://stellarhorn.com
If anything from this conversation resonates, you can learn more about what Ryan is building at Stellar Horn Group. He works with businesses as a Fractional CIO helping them cut through the noise of AI and technology and turn it into real, measurable results.

~ Bella

MS BELLA ST JOHN
✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 
https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

✨ Success Redefined Podcast: 10-20 minute interviews with remarkable individuals who have pivoted their careers and lives to find a more meaningful definition of success.

💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:
https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:
https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

Whether you are here to increase your AI literacy or that of your organization, or to find the courage to redefine your own path, you're in the right place.

✔️ Subscribe to redefine what’s possible.

*     https://BellaStJohnInternational.com
*     https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com
*     https://www.linkedin.com/in/msbellastjohn/

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~
PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data.

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

In this episode of Success Redefined, Ms Bella St John speaks with Amy Lennius, who discusses the complexities of women's emotional states and shares her personal motherhood journey. This conversation offers insights into her healing journey and how she experienced a significant identity shift. It's a powerful example of self improvement and personal development through a major mindset shift.

Amy Lenius is the Director of Group Coaching at Next Level University, Professional Speaker, and Next Level Certified Personal Development & Success Coach.
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thenextlevelnation
A free Facebook community dedicated to daily growth and self-awareness. A place where people can feel safe to be themselves and fail forward on their journey of holistic self-improvement.

~ Bella

MS BELLA ST JOHN
✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 
https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

✨ Success Redefined Podcast: 10-20 minute interviews with remarkable individuals who have pivoted their careers and lives to find a more meaningful definition of success.

💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:
https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:
https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

Whether you are here to increase your AI literacy or that of your organization, or to find the courage to redefine your own path, you're in the right place.

✔️ Subscribe to redefine what’s possible.

*     https://BellaStJohnInternational.com
*     https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com
*     https://www.linkedin.com/in/msbellastjohn/

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~
PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data.

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

In this episode of Success Redefined, Ms Bella St John and Liz Weber discuss how the landscape of work is changing, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. We explore the impact on ai jobs and the future of work, particularly for those in consulting, management consulting, and family-owned businesses. This conversation offers insights into professional growth and the leadership skills needed to adapt and thrive in this evolving environment.

LIZ WEBER: - She's been named one of 2025 Top 30 Global Gurus for Leadership along with Simon Sinek and John Maxwell. So, when Liz Weber talks, her clients listen.  Liz is an advisor to boards, owners, and C-Suite teams. She’s a leadership, strategic and succession planning consultant, author, and speaker.  Liz helps her clients focus on the right things at the right time to get the right impact. As a result, they enhance performance, profits, and their workplace culture.
For more information:
http://wbsllc.com/

~ Bella

MS BELLA ST JOHN
✨ AI Literacy and Mindset Strategist | Professional Artist

💠 Mindset Coaching: 
https://bellastjohn.com/coaching/

✨ Success Redefined Podcast: 10-20 minute interviews with remarkable individuals who have pivoted their careers and lives to find a more meaningful definition of success.

💠 Human-Centered AI Enablement Suite: Practical AI literacy program you can deliver in-house - focusing on the "humanity" of your organization, while leveraging automation to win in 2026 and beyond:
https://bellastjohninternational.com/aienablement/

🤝 If you want to share our AI Enablement tools with your network and be rewarded for it, check out our Partner Program:
https://bellastjohn.com/partner/

Whether you are here to increase your AI literacy or that of your organization, or to find the courage to redefine your own path, you're in the right place.

✔️ Subscribe to redefine what’s possible.

*     https://BellaStJohnInternational.com
*     https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com
*     https://www.linkedin.com/in/msbellastjohn/

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~
PS:  No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data.

✨ CLICK TO CONTACT: I would love to hear from you! ~ Bella

Is AI making it harder for you to trust your own instincts?

In this episode of Success Redefined, Ms Bella St John explores a growing problem many business owners, professionals, and leaders are quietly experiencing: AI is making it harder to trust your own judgment.

AI can be incredibly useful for writing, planning, brainstorming, and decision-making, but what happens when using AI as a second opinion slowly turns into relying on AI for validation? In this thoughtful episode, Bella shares real client examples of experienced professionals who began second-guessing their own instincts because the AI response sounded more polished, more certain, or more authoritative than their own thinking.

This conversation is not about avoiding AI. It is about using AI wisely, without allowing it to undermine your confidence, your professional instincts, or the judgment you have built through years of lived experience.

You will hear why AI often sounds confident even when it is wrong, how dependency can creep in through everyday decisions, and why there is a major difference between using AI to challenge your thinking and using AI because you no longer trust your thinking.

Bella also shares practical ways to notice whether you are checking your work or deferring to the tool, along with a simple way to rebuild confidence in your own decision-making.

If you use AI in your business, your writing, your client communication, or your leadership decisions, this episode will help you think more clearly about where AI supports you - and where it may quietly be taking over more than you intended.

To book a one-on-one AI Focus Session, visit:
🔗 https://bellastjohn.com/aicoaching

Topics covered in this episode include:
AI and decision-making, trusting your instincts, AI confidence, business judgment, human-centered AI, AI dependency, professional confidence, AI in business, using AI wisely, and how to work with AI without losing your own voice.

~ Bella

MS BELLA ST JOHN
Achievement Strategist, Writer, Artist

*     https://BellaStJohnInternational.com
*     https://ArtByBellaStJohn.com
*     https://www.linkedin.com/in/msbellastjohn/

~~~ Success Redefined ~~~
PS:  🐹 No animals were harmed in the creation of this video.  Made with recycled data. 🌼