No one was immune to this

In light of current circumstances, many of us have been presented with the fact that we’ve put all of our eggs in one basket. Maybe you thought you were doing your own thing but have really been a prisoner to a company. Or you were going down a path you thought was for you but you’ve come to realize it isn’t working out.

The gift we’ve been given

A season of silence or everything suddenly coming to a halt can be a huge gift. These times allow for our perspectives and what’s really important to us to change.

Whether you decide to jump into network marketing, leave your corporate job, start your own business or be a stay-at-home parent—that perspective change, albeit uncomfortable, can be the greatest gift.

Are you ready to take the leap?

My friend Julie Ciardi did just this. Julie walked away from her Fortune 500 marketing VP job to become a multi-passionate entrepreneur. She believes that there has never been a better time for women to create an additional income stream that is aligned to her passions and purpose than RIGHT NOW. She also believes that it’s the wild wild west out there for these women; they’re wasting so much time and money and not making money, causing friction with their spouse, affecting their confidence, and robbing them of their dreams.

The time to bet on yourself is NOW

To solve this problem, Julie founded IGNITE University. Leveraging proven and timeless business strategies in today’s online world, Julie helps women create profitable side hustles that give them joy, purpose and profit.

Quotes:
5:07 Julie
That was the universe. That was someone coming in and putting a seed in my head that there was something else.

6:18 Julie
I kept burying this voice inside of me saying ‘there’s a higher purpose here, you’re supposed to be doing something else.’

15:01 Julie
You talk about becoming bulletproof—the work I had to do to stay so clear on my mission ahead despite all the noise and fighting, and the almost feeling like your spouse was disappointed in you.

16:38 Julie
I actually had a $10,000 launch and I was so flipping proud of myself.

18:10 Julie
One of the most incredible parts of this journey post-corporate is knowing I’ll always be ok, I will always find a way.

18:23 Julie
Developing belief in myself is as big of a win as developing the business that I’ve been able to build over the last two years

22:33 Julie
I really take the time to very clearly write out what I’m working towards.

24:57 Tracy
If 2020 has taught you nothing else, life can change on a dime.

26:36 Tracy
When we help enough people get what they want through whatever your zone of genius is, you will have ridiculous amounts of what you need.

29:33 Tracy
Good is enemy of great, y’all. When you do actually have a safety net, you have to really mindf*ck yourself into believing you don’t.

33:11 Tracy
Unless it is your name on the wall, you are at the mercy of someone else, and the end of the day in 2020, who are you gonna put your money on?

Everything that could've been thrown on the fire has been thrown on the fire.

We’ve been thrust into this plot twist by COVID, a complicated political environment, and basically everything in our day-to-day lives changing.

This has disrupted a lot of our routines, including those pertaining to our health, business, and relationships.

And when things are out of control, we need to be more mindful.


Listen now


How to be more productive based on your enneagram type

I love sharing all the enneagram types in these episodes because while it’s important to know yourself, it’s also important to know the people you love, lead, and parent.

If you’re helping people grow—whether you’re raising them, leading them or loving them—you should know how to best motivate them to be more productive.

How core desires relate to productivity

Core desires have a lot to do with how we can all be more productive. If you can speak to someone’s core desire or core motive, you get a lot more out of them, their chances of being more productive are better, and they’ll actually be able to do more. This applies to you as well.

Why productivity?

Being productive is an important life skill to master. Especially when we’re trying to balance work life and home life—and now doing it remotely from our homes—productivity is more important than ever. The sweet spot isn’t being busy, it’s being more efficient, effective, and productive. That way, you’re able to actually enjoy the present moment!

Quotes:
1:23
Everything that could be thrown on the fire has been thrown onto the fire and that disrupts a lot of routines.

2:44
If you are leading, loving, parenting yourself or somebody else, knowing their core desire has a lot to do with how they can be productive.

9:55
For a 1, aim for 90% and know that the other 10% is going to be okay.

11:47
For type 2’s to be more productive, limit your people time.

14:58
For a 3, build a thoroughness of process into your task completion.

17:50
4’s, here is a huge productivity tip for you is to actually make a commitment.

20:41
For type 5’s, seek out new possibilities.

23:01
For type 6, it’s really important to have your core people.

26:10
For 7’s, creating a limited time and space for new ideas will be important so you can stay on task.

28:48
If you’re a type 8, especially if you’re an entrepreneur, build some time into your schedule where you feel like you have some freedom and you’re not being controlled by it.

32:02
9’s, really finding your voice and knowing that your voice matters and your opinion matters and start exercising that muscle a little bit will help build your confidence.

You bonked.


When you’re going, going, going and all of a sudden you have no more energy, can’t take another step and are lying on the ground...you bonked.

You didn’t eat enough, drink enough, or pace yourself. You bonked...and it hit you like a brick wall.

But here’s the thing: You have to bonk to figure out what your bonking signs are in order to offset the bonk next time.

How this relates to suffering

If you’ve never suffered, the first time you do you have no perspective on it—and it’s brutal. However, sadly, the more suffering you go through, the more comfortable you get in this state of mind knowing you WILL come out of it.

It’s important to point out that there’s a fine line between the sabotaging related to suffering (as in you’re intentionally suffering because it’s the only way you’ve found to move forward) and the embracing of suffering when it happens. The former is toxic, the latter is a pathway to healing.

Don’t get too comfortable

While a level of comfort is necessary when it comes to suffering, you never want to get too comfortable in this state. Getting comfortable in a world of suffering is dangerous. What’s more, no one wants to be around someone who’s suffering all the time—that person’s energy is difficult and can suck all of the other energy right out of the room.

The other side of suffering

After battling the suffering associated with alcoholism, Nicole went on to become a triathlete, get sober, found Skirt Sports, and today is a wife, mother, founder & CEO, leading the non-profit Running Start and hosting the Run This World with Nicole DeBoom Podcast. Hear more about her incredible journey in this episode.

Quotes:
3:42
It’s how we handle the curve balls, and square up on those curve balls and knock them out of the park that really makes all the difference.

7:43 (Nicole)
I like knowing that on the other side of suffering can be something better than you ever imagined.

10:27
There’s a fine line between the sabotaging related to suffering and the embracing of the suffering.

12:57 (Nicole)
For me, the blackout part of drinking happened fairly early in my life and continued all the way through until I finally stopped drinking in my 30’s.

25:20 (Nicole)
I had to go through kind of, really sort of a physical body rock bottom, and after that I respected my body more.

36:10 (Nicole)
Our whole life really revolved around Tim’s success and making sure he was set up for success and I was sort of along for the ride.

42:00 (Nicole)
[I took 2020] one mile at a time. Just like one day at a time.

42:22 (Nicole)
Everything has a life cycle. We, as humans, have a life cycle. Businesses have a life cycle.

55:11 (Nicole)
We don’t walk this world alone. When we walk the world alone, we suffer more.
1:04:13 (Nicole)
Sometimes it’s okay to just float in the water, not try to go forward...sometimes you have to turn into it instead of trying to ride a wave out of it.

Books to Read Based on Your Enneagram Type


Information doesn’t equal transformation.

Sometimes we think there's something more we need to know before we take action. Although I’m usually a take-action kind of girl, when I’m stressed I can go into analysis paralysis mode.

Remember: Integration of the information equals transformation. So if you’re struggling to take action, you need a guide. In this episode, I help you take the power tools you already have hanging in your metaphorical garage and use them to accelerate the transformation of your life.

Why books

As you’ve dug into the enneagram, you’ve learned that each type has core motives, fears and the hidden—or not so hidden—factor that holds each of us back. The books I talk about for each enneagram type will help you unpack that factor, better understand yourself, and start digging into the core motive behind everything you do.

Books for all enneagram types

Personal development books are my jam. The most important book that I’ve ever read was actually given to me in rehab. The key to this book and why it’s so powerful: It can be used as a workbook. What is it? The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. The other book every enneagram type should read is The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. This book is great for looking at what we’re most afraid of and considering our true motives.

Books for each enneagram type

Going further, I talk about each enneagram type briefly as well as the book I recommend for each one and why. Here’s a quick recap:

Type 1: Banish Your Inner Critic by Denise Jacobs
Type 2: Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
Type 3: How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell
Type 4: Stop Doing That Sh*t: End Self-Sabotage and Demand Your Life Back by Gary John Bishop
Type 5: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Type 6: Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Type 7: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
Type 8: The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown
Type 9: You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

Quotes:
1:40
Integration of the information equals transformation.

2:47
The more that you desire to grow and level up your life, the more will be required.

8:02
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every single day.” —Brene Brown

8:42
You can’t have the beautiful transformation without demo day.

10:26
“Each of us has an inner thermostat setting that determines how much love, success, and creativity we allow ourselves to enjoy.” —Gay Hendricks

13:10
“By giving the inner critic less of your bandwidth, you access, express, and cultivate your creativity.” —Denise Jacobs

16:02
“The truth about who we are lives in our hearts.” —Brene Brown

21:56
“You got yourself to this point in your life and I’m going to show you how you subconsciously did it—how you fucked yourself and how to dig yourself out.” —Gary John Bishop

25:00
“Don’t think of introversion as something that needs to be cured.” —Susan Cain

33:05
“You can’t numb those hard feelings without numbing the other ones.” —Brene Brown

36:35
“If you base your self worth on what everyone else thinks of you, you hand all your power over to other people.” —Jen Sincero

How the Enneagram and coaching can help you live with integrity

This episode is a very special episode because this week’s guest is someone who worked with me, helped change my life as much as I helped lead her change, and our souls connected the very night we met. Courtney Baker is a business coach and online marketing sales strategist, and this episode is all about our journey together, how we met, how my coaching helped her make the shift in her life that she needed, and how the Enneagram helped every step along the way.

Listen to this episode to hear how my coaching and techniques helped change one woman’s life, how she impacted mine, and the road we went down together to find fulfillment, compassion, and joy.

Initially connected

I start this episode discussing how I had found Courtney on social media, admired her work, sent her referrals, and eventually how we first met over dinner. We both discuss how we initially knew our souls were connected, how everything else melted away, and how she knew her life was about to change forever.

Using the Enneagram as a roadmap back to herself

We dig into how she was unhappy, how she had lost the joy and fulfillment of helping and coaching other people, and how she thought she was ‘broken’ after years of therapy and not knowing what was wrong. We talk about our journey working together, the different methods that helped,

She shares how she initially mistyped herself on the Enneagram, and how everything changed once I typed her correctly—even though she was resistant to hearing it. We talk about what it means to live in integrity, and how my coaching ensured she was doing so in every aspect of her life.

Courtney Baker

Courtney is a Business Coach for Coaches, Entrepreneurs and Personal Brands. She is an expert in online marketing and sales strategies helping her clients reach six and seven figures. Courtney has been in the coaching industry for over a decade and currently serves as a Forbes Business Coach.

From her start working on the marketing teams that supported high level coaches with six and seven figure incomes to creating her own coaching business that scaled from zero to over $200,000 in just a year, Courtney Baker is a strategy wiz. She is the founder of the Business School for Coaches, host of The Business of Coaching Podcast and specializes in helping women learn marketing strategies that bring massive success.

Quotes:
11:27 (Courtney)
Once I made enough money that I wasn't struggling or I could basically do anything I wanted, the drive to run a business kind of left me.

15:45
There is a dark side to all of this, especially when we are taking people to the next level, we have to do a gut check.

16:48
We don't have to grow in the drama or in the chaos. We don’t have to blow sh*t up to grow.

19:14 (Courtney)
It wasn't that there was never enough money, but money would never be enough.

24:14
I couldn't comprehend that you could have joy and be experiencing grief and pain in the same day.

31:43
You become more in integrity and a better f**king coach when you are in your work AND leading people.

37:26 (Courtney)
Most of the time I could be my own clients’ ideal client.

41: 51 (Courtney)
The journey is gonna continue for me, and I'll have more to learn always.

46:48 (Courtney)
If we are not careful with the sabotage cycle or have enough self awareness that's when we start to dip down.

56:45 (Courtney)
If there's any purpose of life, in my opinion, it is to do the best that we can while we’re here.

EnneaTalk Tuesday: Triggers

This week’s Enneagram Tuesday is all about Triggers. I discuss how the Enneagram can be used as a compass to help navigate how and why each type is triggered, what the motivations are behind these triggers, and how to use them as an opportunity for growth and resilience instead of running from the emotions and being fearful.

Listen to this episode to hear how each type might react to triggers, their underlying fears and motivations, how to recognize where you go when you are triggered, and how the Enneagram can help you find the beauty in the emotions it brings up.

Navigating my own triggers

I start off this episode discussing the two events that triggered me in the past couple of weeks and discussing how I was able to use the Enneagram to put the puzzle pieces together and navigate what I was feeling. I share how I used to lean into anger instead of being honest with myself about what I was avoiding.

Using weakness as your biggest strength

I go through each type and discuss what triggers might come up for each one, how to recognize when each type is feeling triggered, and how to pay attention to your feelings, get vulnerable, and learn and move forward with them.

I talk about how the very things that are your weakness can be your greatest strengths, just by knowing your triggers and letting them show where your biggest unhealed wounds are. I discuss how leaning into this can actually be a beautiful opportunity to project your life forward.

I share how the Enneagram can help you navigate your triggers, understand yourself better, and therefore have compassion and love for yourself to heal and grow.

Quotes:
0:57
The very things that you thought made you weak, are the things that actually make you strong.

1:41 Being triggered is a beautiful opportunity for growth.

12:32
It's kind of this beautiful puzzle, when you really welcome triggers in, it really gives you the opportunity to put the pieces together.

16:37
Having these triggers are allowing me to heal at the next level so that I can actually receive all the beautiful abundance of love, acceptance, friendship, partnership.

19:53
For the Enneagram 2’s- the Helpers, they are deeply rooted in being of service to others.

23:58
The 3 can take the unhealthy 9 when they're under stress.

26:49
Knowing that your big imagination is very possible, but staying present enough in the moment to not be attached to how to you there.

30:57
All of us are humans and we are all going to let each other down at some point because we are human and we are all so different.

36:55
Feelings last two seconds to two minutes.

41:59
The goal for a nine is to not ignore what your body is telling you first.

Eight Years Sober, and So Much More

This episode is a very unique Becoming Bulletproof episode. I discuss a special day that signifies 8 years of sobriety and open up about the events in my life that led to each of my compensatory addictions. I share my journey and how it was shaped internally and externally, how I hurt the ones I loved along the way, and the specific moments that led up to me finally deciding to get help.

Listen to this episode if you are struggling with anything in the current state of the world, learn how to find compassion and love for yourself no matter what you have been through, and how to make the commitment to yourself to show up, choose the wilderness, and do the work every single day—because you deserve joy.

Where it all started

I start this episode sharing a story about the first time I drank, how I was 15 years old and wound up not remembering anything from the night. I share the events that led up to my engagement, how I thought getting married and moving away would fix it all—and how wrong I was.

For my family

I discuss the behaviors that were modeled to me by my own parents, and the movie that wrapped up my past and future, how it paralyzed me but left me with nowhere to turn and no way out. Three years later my daughter was born, and I delve into how my eating habits and addiction worsened as my family grew. I describe the pivotal moment when my daughter was 4 years old that changed my life forever, and the long journey to get help that followed.

The journey ahead

Looking back on the past 8 years, I share the moments I struggled without the tools I needed. I talk about how true recovery happens with willingness to acknowledge your own part in it and take ownership in order to make sense of the puzzle that is your life. I offer advice on how to step into the wilderness and be aware of your spiritual condition, be committed to working on it, and stop giving into anxieties of the future and past so that you can live in the present with the joy you deserve.

Quotes:
2:49
Nature vs nurture is a real thing.

12:01
We do what we are modeled, taught, and told.

18:41
The desire to drink wasn't there but the desire to not feel was.

22:34
Just because we change our minds doesn't mean we didn't feel that strong back then.

22:41
When we know better, we do better; when we grow, we evolve.

30:50
Acknowledgement—it’s like the wilderness right, and recovery is the holy grail.

34:45
The good thing about taking ownership, is that nobody can take it from us.

35:33
Vulnerability is the superpower of all great things.

42:59
I see all the beautiful parts of you that you're hiding under the shame, that you're hiding under things that don't serve you.

45:53
Personal development is just recovery in a lot of ways.

46:02
What we have is a daily reprieve that is contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with the Enneagram

It’s a new week which means it is time for another episode of EnneaTalk Tuesday. This week I delve into the topic of Imposter Syndrome, what it looks like, how it can impact us, and how it shows up and presents itself for every type on the Enneagram.

Listen to this episode for tips and tricks to navigate out of imposter syndrome, how to recognize when you have fallen into it, and exactly how to lean into your gifts and trust yourself to lead the life and find the success you deserve.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

I start off this episode offering a few definitions of imposter syndrome, how it can show up if you feel like you don’t belong in a situation or that you are not qualified. I talk about how it can show up in relationships, business, friendships, and can lead to self-sabotage and self-fulfilling prophecies.

Using the Enneagram to lean into your gifts

I discuss how every single person can battle with Imposter Syndrome, how as we continue to level up and personally develop there will always be some level of fear, insecurity, and doubt. I offer tips and tricks for each type on how to handle and lean into your gifts to get out of the cycle and discuss how each type’s core desires and fears play a role in how this syndrome impacts each one.

I give examples of how the Enneagram can be used to recognize your true value and gifts and can be your greatest tool in pulling yourself out of self-doubt and into your true calling.

Quotes:
2:31
As we are leveling up and personal developing the crap out of ourselves, just know..new levels, new devils.

3:11
If you continue to live in that impostor syndrome and stay stuck in it and don't take action, you’re going to be stuck in fear forever.

5:13
I don’t want you for one more day to be robbed of joy, success, abundance, love, not for one more minute.

5:45
If we only have the awareness and then just take corrective action, the chances of it being sustainable or you know to go the distance usually doesn't last very long.

8:44
When 2’s really can build that muscle, they really are able to step into that healthy 4 part of them.

10:16
The more that you allow yourself to feel your way through, the less you’re going to be chasing the unattainable.

11:57
The basic desire for the enneagram type 5 is to be competent.

14:04
If you are a 6 you know that can talk your way out of, you know shining your light on the world.

14:55
The 7’s are the masters at you know just going to the next thing, going to the next thing and they don't take their time to feel stuff.

17:02
8's are world class leaders, and to be a world class leader, you need support and I know as an 8 that's one of our scariest things...but it’s important.

How one woman helps people leverage their best selves to find success

This week’s guest is someone I respect more than anyone else in the entire world. My admiration for her as a woman, wife, human, entrepreneur, and thought leader goes deep—and I don’t say that about just anyone. Cathy Savage is an incredible multi-million-dollar business owner, world-renowned wellness coach, and lives every aspect of her life in complete integrity.

Listen to this episode to hear wisdom and advice on how to shift your views to abundance, how to serve in the hardest of times, how to show up as your best self when it feels impossible to do so, and how to identify the very things that make you unique—and leverage them.

Listen now

Recognizing her gift and an unmet need

We start this episode discussing how Cathy’s entry into the health and wellness world, how she worked in corporate America and turned to competitive fitness to as an outlet. She shares how she brought dance to the gym and as it was an evolving sport, she began realizing that people needed help and there were no coaches to fill that need.

Living every aspect of life in integrity

She describes how this led to her first multi-million-dollar business, how she moved online to try and meet demand, and offers advice on how to always put family first while growing your own business and staying truly aligned with who you are. She shares the importance of not compartmentalizing your life and how this shapes everything when raising children.

We delve into how she helps people find what their good at, what makes them unique, and how to leverage this to bring success. We talk about how putting others success in front of yours and getting rid of ego is the most fulfilling and rewarding way to run a business. She shares how she does just that, and how she helps people win in all aspects of life.

Cathy Savage

Cathy Savage is an internationally recognized Fitness and Life Management Strategist who is located in Boston. She has been featured on MTV, ABC News and Fox News and she has been a contributor and board member of the
prestigious advisory panel for Oxygen Magazine and Strong Magazine. Since the early 1990s, Cathy has been the pioneer in successful coaching for women from all
over the world. Her online nutrition and wellness program are the first and most prominent all-inclusive global training program of its kind.

Cathy has coached and mentored celebrities, athletes, television personalities for lifestyle changes and business strategies as well. Her clients span the globe from the US, Australia, Asia, Europe and throughout North America. As a Boston College graduate, Cathy has used her education and experience of building a wellness empire, to develop into a women’s empowerment service where she coaches women on life strategies, and how to be money savvy.

Quotes:
1:49
When we actually believe in somebody it is with all of our being.

8:10
The greatest coaches did exactly what you said, they listened. They listened for what was needed.

12:32 (Cathy)
It is not putting one over the other, it is letting it all flow together in synchronicity and it works.

15:07 (Cathy)
As a parent your child needs to know, now more than ever, that there is that safety blanket of unconditional love that you are going to be there for them.

17:48 (Cathy)
For some reason we think that now it’s just everything is uncertain, when in reality, nothing ever was certain.

19:00
I think that the strategy for everybody is to just enjoy the simplest of things right now.

19:37
So you really have the choice to look at this as a gift of time where clarity can happen or you can just coward down.

24:36
My faith is "service for others always".

31:31
It's leveraging our true power of, whatever makes us so unique and running with it.

43:02
I am not going to be a cheerleader but I'm going to be the professional coach that brings you to the finish line.

Integrating the Enneagram to move the needle in your life

It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for another EnneaTalk episode. As we wrapped up our series with the Enneagram types last week, I figured it was time to talk about the most important part—integration. Integrating the Enneagram is where the magic happens, and I discuss just how to do that, what it looks like, and how it can change your life for the better.

Listen to this week’s episode to hear how integration can mean transformation, how in order to lead you have to know how to lead yourself, and how knowing how to use the Enneagram is the first step in transforming every aspect of your life.

Information doesn’t mean transformation

Whether you are a seasoned Enneagram user or a newbie just figuring out what your type is, I discuss the importance of integration and how the overload of information out there doesn’t necessarily mean transformation. I discuss how if you are using the Enneagram and aren’t seeing results in your life, it is crucial to ensure you are typed correctly, which can be difficult without a guide.

Leading yourself first before others

I dive into how the Enneagram can be used as one of the greatest tools in your toolbox if you know how to use it. I share how it can help shift your focus from self-sabotage and destruction to love and compassion, and how self-awareness and understanding yourself can help you become a better leader.

I discuss how learning the Enneagram was the greatest gift I never saw coming, how I learned and help others learn to integrate it into all aspects of their life, and how it moved the needle in my business, relationships, finances, and family.

Quotes:
0:57
The Enneagram, as you’ve heard me say, is an amazing tool—it's the greatest personal development tool I have ever used.

3:27
I love watching the light bulbs go off for people, and all of a sudden all this self doubt, and beating themselves up goes away.

4:37
I'm all about leadership, but leadership starts with you.

6:47
The best way to lead is to lead yourself first.

8:05
When we can get you back on track to who you were always meant to be and understanding who you are really, everything starts to shift.

09:16
You have to be in integrity in all areas of your life, honestly to be the most effective leader.

10:20
You can compartmentalize areas of your life but you can't compartmentalize integrity.

12:19
Learning how to use this tool has really kept me on track the last decade.

13:07
When you are able to have compassion and love for yourself, you can freely give it to other people.

16:50
Integrating the Enneagram in all aspects of my life makes things a lot easier and I want to help you do the same.