Kindness and curiosity are the pillars of the Tortoise Institute, which offers a secular-based series of programs and services focused on developing emotional intelligence, decreasing stress, and increasing focus and resilience at work and in life.  According to Tracy Fink, founder of the Tortoise Institute, these concepts, when practiced daily, can help you keep an open mind and challenge the assumptions and limiting beliefs that keep you on autopilot and hinder your success.  

Why the Tortoise Institute—what’s in the name?  According to Tracy, “Wherever you go, there you are.  We are all like tortoises—we carry our baggage on our backs. We take our stuff with us. I’ve learned in my personal and professional journey that living each moment fully can bring you back to yourself in a stillness that ultimately enriches your life.” Tracy continues, “I established the Tortoise Institute to teach people to work with their “stuff” by offering services steeped in self-awareness and resiliency.”

We also chat about:

• What’s so important about self-awareness, meditation and mindfulness
• What’s the difference between meditation and mindfulness
• How these practices shape her life and business path, and why she thinks they can help you
• How to prevent burnout (or at least turn it to your advantage)
• Why we are responsible for our own success
• The science behind healthy habits and neuroplasticity
• How something as simple as a gratitude journal can help change your life
• Why everyone could benefit from acknowledging and expressing gratitude
• The importance of forgiving yourself and speaking kindly to yourself
• How to pick yourself up and learn from a stumble or “failure”
• What you can learn from reaching out to those whom you admire
• And so much more…

“I want to show my clients how to become “unstuck” and flourish in their environments,” says Tracy. “While there are many interpretations of Aesop’s fable of ‘The Tortoise and the Hare,’ at the Tortoise Institute, we closely align with the version that focuses on perseverance. The term ‘slow and steady’ applies not only to the tortoise that beat the hare, but also to the practice of creating a new mindset. It is a deliberate process with no shortcuts. However, with an attitude of kindness and curiosity, as well as confidence in the outcome,” Tracy continues, “we can be like the tortoise and meet our challenges.”   

What stuff would you like to unpack?

Find out more about Tracy and the Tortoise Institute at:

www.TheTortoiseInstitute.com

Here’s where you can reach Tracy:

Tracy.Fink@thetortoiseinstitute.com

Jamie Sussel Turner’s life is one full of lessons learned:

• How to be more inclusive and collaborative, from growing up the oldest of three sisters
• How to manage her time and emotions, from her years as a school principal
• How to live each day in gratitude, after being treated for breast cancer three times
• How to love and regain trust again, after divorce and remarriage

And the list goes on.

Jamie now applies what she’s learned about coping with challenges and stress to help her clients live the best, less-stressed version of themselves.  She is the Less Stress Coach. 

Jamie describes her life lessons in this episode and in her book, Less Stress Life—How I went from Crazed to Calm and You Can Too.  She is also known for her work with corporate and business teams, facilitating innovative and engaging workshops.

We also chat about:

• When to speak up and how to speak from the heart without blame or shame
• What she learned about gratitude from three bouts with breast cancer
• Overcoming obstacles in your personal life
• The lessons she learned from 12 years as a school principal and how she applies those to her clients
• The skills she uses with her clients to uncover the places in which their stress may be hiding
• How she helps her clients as they transition to new careers, overcome procrastination, or forge a new career path
• Why you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others
• What is “Fierce Conversation©” and how is it used
• And so much more

Even in the best of time, we all have stress in our lives. For some, the stress can feel overwhelming and hinder them from achieving success in their careers, or from enjoying deep and satisfying relationships with their partner or children. Now, in this time of the Covid-19, many more of us are subject to the stress and fears associated the pandemic.  Listen as Jamie shares her tips about overcoming the fears, stress and anxiety they may be holding you back.

Now, isn’t that a relief?

www.LessStressCoach.com

[email protected]

There is little in Carmen Rivera’s background that would lead you to believe she would become a successful banker and a real estate entrepreneur.  In fact, in many ways the cards were stacked against her.    She was raised in Paterson, New Jersey by her single mother along with seven brothers and sisters and six half siblings. Her mother did not speak English, and Carmen vividly remembers trips to the local welfare office. Carmen had no role model in business or entrepreneurship.  These concepts were far removed from her experiences while growing up.  While she knew little was expected of her, she expected more from herself.   A mutual friend described Carmen as “hardscrabble,” a term my friend used as a compliment. And Carmen’s life is a wonderful example of hard work, giving back and beating the odds. She began her career while raising her son, Sammy, and while attending the college—she was the first in her family to earn a college degree. “I knew what it was like to grow up poor, she said, and I love my mom.  But I knew I wanted to break the cycle of poverty and do so much more with my life.”    Specifically, we chat about:

• What it was like to grow up poor 
• Overcoming obstacles in your personal life
• How someone who grew up in a family without a bank account became a successful banker
• The challenges of raising a child as a single mom while working AND earning a degree
• What Carmen learned from taking boxing lessons
• The importance of finding a good mentor
• Why you may sometimes need to take a step back before you move forward in your career
• How to overcome the fear of taking a leap in your career
• How she learned to manage a team
• The importance of giving back to your community and how to pay it forward
• What it is like to start your own business while still working in a corporate job
• Why you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others
• What Carmen means by “Rivera Time”
• And so much more

Carmen’s personal journey and professional success are nothing less than inspirational. Despite her humble beginnings and the challenges of raising a son as a single mom, she has enthusiastically sought out to expand her career while starting her own business.    Others could look at her childhood and see only limitations.  Instead, Carmen has chosen to rely on her close family and strong mentors to spread her wings and thrive.      It’s not where you begin; but rather, where you end up.   www.thehomerealestategroup.com   [email protected]   908-233-8502, Ext. 489

Tracy Otsuka is one Smart A** Women. She should be; she’s the host of the podcast, ADHD for Smart Ass Women. She is also the creator of Coretography, her patent-pending brand-spankin’ new breed of self-development that organizes your brain and helps you discover who you are and what you’re meant to be doing with your life. Because for Tracy, “When you align who you are with what you do, life just automatically gets easier.” Tracy was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, eight months after her then twelve-year-old son, Markus, was diagnosed with it. Not liking the negativity and limiting stereotypes that typically follow such a diagnosis, Tracy set out to learn all she could about ADHD, and especially it’s impact on women. According to Tracy, for brilliant, driven ADHD women, the symptoms are much more a positive than a negative. Now, she’s on a mission to change the conversation on ADHD, and to help every woman quickly identify her unique key to a fulfilling career and life. Specifically, we chat about:

• Why we need to change the conversation around ADHD
• How symptoms of ADHD manifested themselves throughout Tracy’s career
• How she morphed from Georgetown-educated securities lawyer, to kicka** entrepreneur
• What is means to be interest driven
• Whether ADHD might be your greatest strength
• Why, when we don’t live to our values, we suffer
• Coretography, what it is, who is it for, and how she developed it
• And so much more

On her journey to help her son and herself thrive with ADHD, Tracy discovered a way to help everyone find their best selves. Turns out, the principles are universal. According to Tracy, “You are the best expert in you. When you try to go outside yourself, it isn’t necessarily good for you. Learning to trust yourself and your intuition will help you make the best decisions.” Your mission? Go out and kick some A** www.TracyOtsuka.com 707-318-9847

Susan Ascher is a Futurist.  She also happens to be the Founder of The Ascher Group, her executive and business coaching firm. But mostly, she’s a one-women think tank.  She’s been thinking about the nature of work, careers and living a more fulfilling life for as long as she can remember. In this episode Susan shares her Five Ps for thriving in the “Next Normal,” as she calls it, when we finally emerge from our Covid-19 lockdown.    Specifically, we chat about:

• The importance of self-confidence and why you shouldn’t fear failure
• What she means by “The Pause That Refreshes”
• Her mantra, “Read to Lead”
• Pivotal moments in her career and how she seized the opportunities
• Why she’s looking beyond the New Normal, to her “Next Normal”
• Regardless of whether you own your own business, or work within a large corporation, what you need to be doing NOW to win during the Covid-19 pandemic, and 
• What you need to do NOW to position yourself for the new future of work
• Her Five “Ps”
• Her NEW Five “Ps” and, importantly, HOW and WHEN to apply them
• What you need to do if you are laid off
• How to handle a business closing
• Why you need to move from networking to building deep relationships
• The importance of “give to get”
• And so much more

Corporations, executives and career-minded individuals rely on Susan for thoughtful advice and the frequent reality check. The best business advice she ever received: “Think like a man, work like a dog, and act like a lady.” “It may sound old-fashioned, Susan muses, but the advice still rings true.”    For Susan, the future is NOW. Go out and grab it!   Www.SusanAscher.com   [email protected]   973-919-8180

Cindy Myer, CEO and President of Ridgewood Moving, is keenly aware that death, divorce and moving are the three biggest stressors a person can face.  That’s why, after taking the helm of Ridgewood Moving upon the death of her husband, Rob, she developed the concept of building a “posse” to pull together the resources her clients need for a successful move.    For Cindy, giving back has become a cornerstone of her business philosophy.  Listen as she describes the importance of philanthropy within your community and why creating a culture of giving leads to personal and business fulfillment.   In this podcast we discuss the challenges she faced when taking over an established business, how she has since molded that business to her vision and the lessons she learned along the way.  We also chat about:

• How to thrive in a male-dominated industry
• The importance of building a company “culture” and a good team around you
• Why as a business owner you need to fire fast but hire slow
• How to take over an established business, and why you may need to shake things up
• How to handle employees who may be working to undermine your efforts
• Working with the senior market (her “VIP Seniors”) and what it means to become Silver Certified
• The importance of women supporting women
• How giving back to her community has given back to her business
• Why if you think about calling someone, pick up the phone and call them now!  

Cindy is by no means the only women business owner who has learned to thrive in a male-dominated industry.  And as with many other female business owners, she found she could rely on the support and assistance from a wide array of friends, colleagues and competitors.  “It’s about having a community about you that helps you succeed,” according to Cindy. But success alone is not enough.  “It is so important to create a culture of giving within your business and the community to feel you have truly arrived at your destination.”   Moving words, indeed.   www.RidgewoodMoving.com

Marie Raser, P.E., LSRP, is Senior Project Manager with Matrix New World Engineering, a women-owned, national environmental engineering firm headquartered in New Jersey.   In this episode Marie shares her experiences working in the male-dominated field of engineering, the challenges she faced as a woman working in the Middle East, and the perspectives—both personal and professional-- she has gained as a certified scuba diver.     We also chat about: 

• The importance of self-confidence and how to build your own 
• Why you shouldn’t look to your supervisor to be your champion 
• How she handles, “I thought they would be sending a man,” and similar comments 
• Pivotal moments in her career and how she seized the opportunities 
• Working during the Covid-19 pandemic and how she manages her team remotely 
• The advantages she perceives in working for a women-owned company 
• What she has learned from mentoring other women 
• Where she looks for inspiration 
• The positive changes she sees for women in engineering 
• What she learned about teamwork from competitive sailboat racing 
• The importance of confidence, resiliency and persistence in achieving career success 
• And much more 

Marie’s work has taken her around the world; her hobbies take her under the sea. She seeks out and continues to thrive in challenging environments. To every woman seeking to succeed in business, Marie offers the following advice: “Fight for your place at the table. Take on additional responsibilities when available. Sometimes it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and volunteer for a challenging project---or voice an unpopular opinion.”     Often times the best man for the job is a woman.    www.Matrixneworld.com  [email protected]

Samantha Myer is a New York-based stylist and designer who specializes in personal, editorial and red-carpet styling. She has styled celebrities, including Alicia Keys, and Budweiser ad campaigns. In this podcast we discuss Sam’s work as a stylist and designer, and how she’s made it all happen on her own terms. We also chat about: 

• The importance of letting your passion be your project 
• The pivotal moment in her career and how she seized the opportunity  
• How to successfully launch a new line of clothing 
• Finding a fashion need and filling it: the styles she’s designing for those working from home 
• The importance of confidence, resiliency and persistence in building your brand and your business 
• Why you should say “Yes” to new opportunities 
• Why you should “Fake it ‘til you make it” 
• What she means by taking one day at a time 
• How to overcome the fear of rejection 
• What the creative process means to her 
• The importance of giving back 
• Why and how she is encouraging others to make face masks during the pandemic 
• And much more 

LISTEN NOW    Sam continues to expand her jewelry collection and develop new lines of clothing. Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on her business, and the fashion industry as a whole, Sam’s persistence and optimism shine throughout this interview. “You just have to take one day at a time,” she says, “and let your creativity and passion be your guides.”     Sam really knows how to dress for success.     www.SamanthaMyer.com  [email protected]  @sammyer

Lisa started this business in 2009 after a career of recruiting. She found herself laid off, and the sole provider for her family. She began writing resumes as a way to gain some immediate income, which was the birth of what exists now.

She helps job seekers from resume, to application, all the way through the salary negotiation portion of their job search.

Corporate Recruiting

While Linda and her company are happy to help professional and entry-level individuals, their bread and butter is the senior-level job seekers in the corporate world.

She and her team all have experience in the corporate recruiting world and specialize in this field.

Coronavirus Crisis

In a time where people are being laid off, there are also people being hired. Listen as Lisa explains the difference between this time versus the 2009 market crash.

The lack of ability to network is very frustrating during this time of self-quarantine.

However, she addresses the other side as well. With the social media and online tools we have today, we can still be successful in our businesses.

What About the Older Workers?

Lisa shares the sentiment that we all need to embrace that everything is going to be different in this setting. While younger people are great at social media, they may not be able to do so in a business setting. The older generation understands the business importance, but may not be able to use the social media tools before them

The key, Lisa expresses, is the idea of both generations teaching each other and sharing their gifts.

Job Search During COVID-19

Now that you’re stuck at home, Lisa encourages those who are job searching to keep at it. People are still hiring, and her company has successfully assisted clients who have received accepted offers.

Lisa urges job searchers to look on the bright side. People are still hiring, and it is not impossible to find a career.

Thirsty for Connection

Lisa shares different ways to get connected via new methods of social media. There’s no harm to connect virtually. You never know what will come of an “e-vite.”

Create your own networking events. It can be as simple as getting on a Zoom call and creating your own opportunities.

Ray of Sunshine

Lisa expresses the importance of positivity. Keeping a positive mindset and disposition is a skill set within itself. Even if a company is not hiring right now, you can leave them with a lasting impression that will lead them back to you when society gets back to normal.

Be of Service

Look at ways you can be of service, whether it is within your organization or beyond. Linda expresses that this can be viewed as being a leader. Any time you get ready to complain, as yourself, “Is there a way I can make this better?”

There is ethical opportunity in chaos, and companies will look for those who step up to the plate and push through times of adversity.

Virtual Meetings

Lisa encourages everyone to utilize tools like Zoom to connect with others electronically. Since everyone is now stuck at home and travel isn’t an option, social media is a great way to connect.

While Lisa understands that we’re all going through a dark time, she still has a mindset of “how can we make this happen.”

If you can make something out of nothing, Lisa believes that there will always be a place for you.

About Lisa:

Lisa is the founder and managing director of Chameleon Resumes LLC, the premier executive resume writing and job landing consulting firm named Forbes Top 100 Career Website.

She’s a graduate of Cornell University. She’s also a certified professional resume writer, a job-landing consultant, and a paid moderator for LinkedIn’s premier career group, which has over 1.6 million members. Lisa also has 13 years experience as a recruiter. 

Chameleon Resumes reviews the goals of senior-level job seekers to ensure their career documents serve those goals, while meeting the needs of prospective employers. Lisa has been featured on way too many media outlets to mention, but here are just a few – Fortune, Fast Company, Forbes, CNBC, BBC, Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, Good Morning America. Well, you get the idea.

How to Reach Lisa:

Chameleonresumes.com

Joblandingacademy.com

Holly Hurd founded VentureMom.com to help moms from around the country start their own businesses.    Do you have a product to sell? Do you provide a service? Do you need a web presence and shopping cart (and want it all in 2 days?). Then you are a VentureMom.    Holly created VentureMom.com to provide mom entrepreneurs with a web presence, promotion, and distribution and marketing of their products in the VentureMom e-commerce marketplace. That marketplace currently attracts the affluent, often female shopper.   In its mission to inspire new mom entrepreneurs, VentureMom.com is also a site devoted to spotlighting what other moms have done.  “Many of the moms we showcase became entrepreneurs with little or no capital, no formal business plan and often no babysitter,” says Holly. Each week she profiles a different mom to demonstrate to others that they too can find a venture that will add to their family’s income and their personal fulfillment.   In this podcast we discuss Holly’s own business background—she has always been at the forefront of entrepreneurship--her goals in starting VentureMom, and some of the successful VentureMoms she has helped inspire. We also chat about:

• How to find your passion and your profit
• What it takes to start a small service or product-based business out of thin air
• The importance of persistent in business—and in life
• How she has guided hundreds of women to create businesses that help support their families and bring personal fulfillment
• The role Holly’s father played in her own entrepreneurial journey
• How she developed a VentureMom audience of thousands of affluent women
• How to come up with an idea, name and brand it, and market it to the world 

Her book—Venture Mom: From Idea to Income in Just 12 Weeks   The importance of women supporting women   LISTEN NOW   Holly is passionate about helping women find economic freedom through entrepreneurship, and the power of online marketing to create your future. “In the current age of the Internet,” says Holly, “I can show you how to start a business with one email.”   Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained!   www.VentureMom.com   [email protected]   https://www.venturemom.com