“Maybe everyone can live beyond what they're capable of.” In uncertain times it’s important we believe and know that we can do this. Today we’re hearing from you - our listeners - about how you stay motivated, and how you can help us to stay motivated, too. We’ve asked you to call in and give us messages of hope and encouragement to listen to on our best days and especially on our most challenging. Start your day with these powerful messages and let the motivation carry you through to tomorrow and beyond. 

We continue to adjust and redefine ‘progress’ in the tsunami of COVID-19 — with all of its effects on our careers, lives, and communities. Melanie and Dr. Michele have taken a step back to help you move forward: We’re reflecting on the wisdom and guidance of some of our past podcast guests. We’ve chosen tips that motivate and inspire... giving us the courage and confidence to know that -- while we’re in an unprecedented period of change -- this is also the time to free ourselves from what wasn’t serving us, so we can seek more of what fulfills us.  We’ve brought back some of our amazing guests -- like Kayla Francis (Episode 25); Kim Withee (Episode 35); Dr. Beth Ricanati (Episode 36); Lisa Houlé (Episode 38); Carrie Henley (Episode 45); Kelly Van Gogh (Episode 47); and DeAnna Gravillis (Episode 57). In these 14 minutes, you might just hear exactly what you need to help you pivot in the perfect direction...for you. Who knows? This might be the right time for you to rediscover the “you” of today and tomorrow -- which may be different than the you of yesterday. Listen to this episode and find out.

If you enjoyed the tips from our great guests, be sure to check out their full episodes in the links below!

• Kayla Francis
• Kim Withee 
• Dr. Beth Ricanati
• Lisa Houlé
• Carrie Henley
• Kelly Van Gogh
• DeAnna Gravillis

We are juggling rapidly shifting careers, we are parents, and - what seems like overnight - we became full-time teachers to our children. There was an “initial shock” for all of us as we thought through how we would navigate our new normal. Today we talk about how our lives have shifted at home, we share tips that have helped us work while also teaching our children, and we discuss what has helped us to make progress during the daily shifts of COVID-19. 

In some way, everyone’s careers, personal lives, and communities have been affected by the worldwide uncertainty around health. It’s impacted finances, education, relationships, other aspects of working life and personal well-being. “I’ve talked to a lot of women in the community who have businesses who have had to temporarily close with every intention of reopening or finding a way to come back. But it’s been a really difficult time.” We’ve all had to find our “sea legs.” To help you do that, we’ve dedicated this episode to reconnecting with yourself -- so you can have peace... despite the ‘tsunami’ that is COVID-19. 

“I tell my kids this all the time: 'If you don't ask, the answer is always no.'” As one of few top women executives in aerospace and aviation, Marcie Simpson has learned exceptional business skills and practices -- and she’s committed to sharing them with others. "Fake it 'til you make it and hold your head up high. If you don't believe in yourself, pretend that you do... because other people will believe it too.”

Marcie is the president and COO of Nycote Laboratories, a global advanced surface-coating manufacturer for mission-critical systems to the aerospace, automotive, and railway industries. She’s also the first woman President of Aerochemicals, a dynamic alliance of international industrial chemical specialists for the industry. 

Did Marcie always plan to be in aerospace? Nope. She has a fine arts degree and started her career as a graphic designer. Listen to Marcie’s journey. In hearing her dedication to being an exceptional leader and spokesperson, you’ll understand what it’s like to take a chance in a field that may be different than what you were trained in. “There are so many jobs in aerospace and... it doesn't matter if you are creative or you're a scientist or whatever your passion is. It's a great community to be a part of.” Aerospace may not be on your radar, but enjoying what you do should be. Marcie encourages you to have the confidence to figure out what that is. 

Erin Germain believes that stories can change the world.” Erin is Owner, Creative Director, and Executive Producer at “For Example Media.” She spent the first ten years of her career working on The Oprah Winfrey show, travel shows, and documentaries. Her vast experience gave her the confidence to launch For Example Media, a company that creates digital, branded, and educational content with clients ranging from Neutrogena, Nordstrom, and Lego to name just a few. Erin's worked on multi-million dollar campaigns with large budgets, and with small budgets with big ambition. While earning her Master’s degree in Specialized Journalism at USC, Erin interviewed her uncle who said something she thought was fascinating, ‘It is surprisingly easy to start a business. You just do it.’” So she did. Listen to Erin’s journey and be inspired to tell your story.

“If I've learned anything, it's that life is simply too short to spend so much of it doing something that depletes you or causes you to question your why every morning.” After 8 years as a Business/Intellectual Property attorney, Erin Fagerlind made a mompreneur career pivot to become a Co-Founder of Happy Baby - a studio that promotes happy and healthy lifestyles for moms and babies through movement, mindfulness and music. Launching and growing Happy Baby gave Erin the ability to build a business and give back to her community while making her family a part of it. Happy Baby has become a community where moms and families connect and share stories about what they have overcome on the road to and within parenthood so they know they are not alone. Her hope is that families “come, stay awhile and leave feeling full of love and support.”

Every rose has its thorns... even when you’re thrust into fame. As the 4-year old stepsister to The Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney in the 1960’s, Ruth’s life changed instantaneously. She was a target for years of school bullying. Through it, Ruth McCartney became resourceful and resilient, learning invaluable lessons that she shares in this episode. Listen and be inspired by Ruth’s dynamic and varied career path, including starting work as a child organizing Paul’s fan mail, becoming a British musician and then a Russian pop music star with over 4 million concert ticket sales, and now being an internet, digital, and new media entrepreneur serving as: the Co-Founder of a fan management software company; and CEO of both a creative digital agency — McCartney Multimedia — and a film, video, and commercial production documentary studio — McCartney Studios. Ruth co-founded the companies with her musician husband, Martin Nethercutt, and mother, Dr. Angie McCartney — who was our fabulous Episode 63 #SBIPodcast guest. Ruth is a visionary entrepreneur who never stops. She says, “I've never thought of myself as the female gender or a woman or disadvantaged. But just ...getting it done. I don't see hurdles or obstacles. And that's probably because of the upbringing I had.”

“Everyone needs that one person to believe in them in order to conquer the world.” After giving birth to her daughter at a very young age, and knowing that she did not want her daughter to repeat the pattern, Amy Lloyd was determined to build and create a good life for the both of them. She became very driven, overcame adversity, and did exactly that.  Amy spent most of her career working on behalf of the largest publishing/media companies in the world as an advertising executive. After reaching career success and raising her daughter, Amy wanted to give back and dive into her purpose. Through her passion to support girls, Amy created “Face it Today,” a company that empowers girls through self-care and entrepreneurship and gives them the confidence to know that they can do anything they want to in life, no matter what they are facing.

For Dr. Lucie Brining, “life is learning.” Dr. Brining received her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, where she played on the nationally recognized women’s soccer team. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine at USC and then joined UCLA Health in Manhattan Beach. Throughout Lucie's life and career she welcomes opportunities to learn and have new experiences. She lived abroad in Italy and Spain, studied Latin, Italian, and Spanish, and purposely decided to take a few years before attending medical school to learn about different areas of medicine and pursue an area of focus that she would enjoy. She takes the time to try new things and methodically figures out what she really wants to do. She encourages us to embrace new opportunities and to remember “you don't know what your potential is until you actually try to do it.”