Women's Empowerment School

So, you set a new objective. What's next? For most of us high-achieving leaders, we put our heads down and focus on the hustle. But the actions we take to reach our goals are only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. How do we avoid the mistake of placing our attention on the doing alone? How do we expand our idea of what it means to set and pursue goals? How do we lay the groundwork so that our action is inspired—and sustainable in the long-term?

Today, Sylvia is sharing the fourth of five common mistakes people make when setting and pursuing goals, wrong dimension. She discusses our inclination to focus on action alone when working toward our goals and explains why a multidimensional approach is more sustainable. Sylvia walks us through the five dimensions of goal-setting, starting with the components of mental clarity and energetic freedom necessary to attract the support we need.

Sylvia goes on to describe the elements of emotional energy as well as the value in creating a physical environment (known as 'choice architecture') that supports the pursuit of your goals. Listen in for insight on incorporating all five dimensions to facilitate inspired action and learn how a multidimensional approach to goal-setting allows you to pursue your ambitions with joy and achieve tangible results!

The mistake of focusing on action alone in pursuing goals

The first dimension of goal-setting: Mental Clarity

• Intentional thinking
• Empowering self-talk
• Unwavering focus

The second dimension of goal-setting: Energetic Freedom

• From the past
• From resistance
• From negativity

The third dimension of goal-setting: Emotional Energy

• Heal past hurt
• Loving + open heart
• Inner knowing (click)

The fourth dimension of goal-setting: Physical Beauty

• Choice architecture
• Effortless self-care
• Body healthy + fit

The fifth dimension of goal-setting: Inspired Action

• Natural motivation
• Resilience + endurance
• Measurable success

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WES EP020: Goal Proof Yourself

HeartMath Institute Research on Human Performance

12 Leadership Powers for Successful Women by Sylvia Becker-Hill

Most of us operate under the working premise that setting and pursuing goals is about putting in the hard work to get what we want. But what if you're doing all the right things, yet you're still not achieving your objectives? Or worse yet, what if you've reached your goals—got everything you wanted—and you're still not happy?

Today, Sylvia is sharing the first three of five common mistakes people make when setting and pursuing goals: 1) Wrong strategy, 2) Wrong time, and 3) Wrong guidance. She explains why DO-HAVE-BE is the wrong approach and offers an alternative order that more sustainable and facilitates inspired action.

Sylvia discusses why we envision the future through the lens of the past, describing how that reinforces old limitations and offering a mind trick you can use to set goals from a faraway future. Listen in to understand why your intuition is more powerful than any team of advisors and learn how to goal proof yourself for true growth and transformation!

The first three mistakes people make in pursuing goals

1. Wrong strategy
2. Wrong time
3. Wrong guidance

Why the DO-HAVE-BE strategy of chasing goals doesn't work

How focusing on fulfillment first leads to inspired action

Why we envision the future through the lens of the past

How recreating the past reinforces old boundaries/limitations

The mind trick you can use to set goals from a faraway future

Why your own inner guidance is your best coach and advisor

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Brain Hack Video Series

12 Leadership Powers for Successful Women by Sylvia Becker-Hill

We all claim to want LESS drama in our lives. But when it comes right down to it, most of us pass judgement on everything and everyone we come in contact with. We then mistake those personal opinions for an objective representation of the external reality—which separates us from others and causes conflict. We make MORE out of what was observed and create a lot of unnecessary drama.

So, how can we harness the power of acknowledgement to label things simply, let go of the drama, and free up our energy to produce better results?

Today on Women's Empowerment School, Sylvia is sharing the fifth chapter of her book, 12 Leadership Powers for Successful Women, 'The Power of Acknowledgement.' She explains why we tend to mistake our individual opinion of what is observed with the objective, external reality and how that makes analytical thinking and complex decision-making nearly impossible.

Sylvia describes how labeling things in a simple way gives us power over them, much like in the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin. Listen in for insight around letting go of judgement and dropping all drama—and learn why the ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of human intelligence!

The difference between personal opinion and objective, external reality

Observing without judgement as the highest form of human intelligence

Why individual opinion makes analytical thinking nearly impossible

Why it's valuable to listen more than you talk

The advantage of labeling things/events as simply as possible

How to acknowledge mistakes without adding blame or guilt

How judgement-free acknowledgement frees up energy for better results

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12 Leadership Powers for Successful Women by Sylvia Becker-Hill

At the end of 2018, when we should have been celebrating, hibernating and contemplating, most of us were busy. Busy shopping for the holidays. Busy meeting end-of-year deadlines. Busy running from one event to the next. December 31st became a finish line that we were racing toward, and the pressure of meeting that arbitrary cutoff date left many of us stressed and in some cases, unhealthy. But what if you could refuse the rat race and live a different life?

Today on the podcast, Sylvia shares three nuggets to help you get out of the rat race, once and for all. She explains why life is NOT a race with a finish line or deadline and addresses how to leverage the power of a polite NO. Sylvia also explores the pitfalls of competition, describing how comparison kills self-esteem and destroys our connection with others.

Finally, Sylvia coaches you through the exercise of comparing who you are now with who you have been and who you could become, offering insight around the value of engaging in conversation with your anticipated future self. Listen in as Sylvia inspires you to stand firm in the knowledge that you are enough—in all your glorious human imperfection and messiness!

Sylvia's observation around our end-of-year busyness

Why life is NOT a race with a finish line or deadline

How to leverage the power of a polite NO

How deadlines serve as a threat to the ego

Sylvia's advice on dropping competition with others

How comparison kills self-esteem and connection

Comparing who you are now with who you've been

The value in dialogue with your anticipated future self

Standing firm in the knowledge that you are enough

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WES EP017: Your Gratitude Path to Success

WES EP014: The Power of Just One Question

Gratitude makes us feel good. Taking the time to express what we are grateful for releases feel-good hormones in the brain, making us feel content and more connected to the people in our lives. But what if gratitude can do MORE than help us feel good in the moment? What if it has the potential to put us on the path to success? To support us in manifesting our vision of the future?

Today on the podcast, Sylvia explores the miracle of gratitude in helping you identify the opportunities and resources necessary to fulfill your dreams. She shares the six ways that gratitude impacts your brain, explaining how deliberate gratitude practices can improve the way you feel. Sylvia also explores the connection between gratitude and future success and describes her 'walks of gratitude' ritual of literally counting her blessings.

Finally, Sylvia walks us through the Gratitude Path to Success, outlining the three phases of the process and discussing the value in choosing to be grateful for things that you have resistance to as well as future events yet to be manifested. Listen in for insight on acknowledging your fears and then reaffirming a better result—and learn how to leverage gratitude practices to rewire your brain in a powerful way!

The brain chemistry associated with expressing gratitude

The 6 ways gratitude impacts your brain

1. Floods with reward chemicals
2. Lessens symptoms of anxiety, depression
3. Hypothalamus works better
4. Greater resistance to stress
5. Fall asleep easier
6. Experience more positive emotions

Sylvia's 'walks of gratitude' practice to count your blessings

The kinesthetic experience of feeling gratitude in your body

Sylvia's Gratitude Path to Success

• Phase 1—easy to be grateful (zero resistance)
• Phase 2—a bit challenging (mix of resistance, wanting)
• Phase 3—big challenge (100% resistance)

How to be grateful for negative circumstances, future events

• 'Even though I don't/didn't want consciously that _____, I choose to be grateful because _____.'
• 'Even though I feared that _____, I am deeply grateful that _____ went smoother/easier than I was able to expect it to be.'

The significance of acknowledging your fears

Rewiring your brain around fear by reaffirming a better result

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'6 Ways Gratitude Affects Your Brain' in Bustle

Greater Good Science Center

12 Leadership Powers for Successful Women by Sylvia Becker-Hill

We are living in the midst of a trust crisis. A recent study reveals that more than two-thirds of the global population has no confidence that current leadership can address their country's challenges, and seven in ten people worry about fake news being used as a weapon. What is causing this widespread skepticism and fear? And what can we do to resist this deliberate destruction of trust?

Today on the podcast, Sylvia is investigating the pervasive falloff of trust. She shares the highlights of the 2018 Edleman Trust Barometer, discussing the trends around public trust in institutions including government, business and the media. Sylvia also explores what it means to trust a particular entity and the impact of your subconscious mind on your ability to trust.

Sylvia covers the reasons why we increasingly see the world as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous—and how the resulting decline in trust affects our behavior, level of aggression and desire to control a situation. Listen in for insight on strengthening your sense of inner trust and trustworthiness, leveraging self-care to up-level your ability to trust, and laying a foundation of trust in your communication with others.

The global trends that reflect the destruction of trust

• Low public trust in government, business and media
• 7:10 worry about fake news being used as weapon

Sylvia's distinctions around the truth of trust

• Sense of knowing person, thing or organization
• Predicting future behavior
• Expecting behavior beneficial to us
• Ascribing benevolent intentions
• Making self vulnerable to another
• Healthy attachment phase in early childhood
• Confidence as result of trust in self

Why the subconscious mind is more powerful in the long term

The concept of VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous)

Why our desire to control increases with fastmoving change

The relationship between a lack of connection and aggression

Why irrational behavior rises in the face of unknowns

How to strengthen your sense of inner trust and trustworthiness

• Heal inner child
• Set healthy boundaries (mind own business)
• 'I take NOTHING personal'
• Strengthen intuition (ask for guidance and ACT)
• Daily reconnection with source via rituals

How sleep quality and self-care impact your ability to trust

The value in communicating with utter respect and kindness

Why it's important to live your word

The need to strive for clarity in communication

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2018 Edelman Trust Barometer

Sylvia's Inner Child Course

ICF Coachingtag 2018

Conventional wisdom tells us that ego is a bad thing. Successful leaders with too much ego have questionable integrity, and they tend to create toxic cultures detrimental to the organizations they command. Ego is painted as the enemy, an adversary to be restrained and limited.

But what if this is the wrong approach? What if we could enlist the ego as a powerful ally and turn our fears into fuel?

Today on Women's Empowerment School, Sylvia is walking us through the fourth chapter of her book, 12 Leadership Powers for Successful Women, 'The Power of Loving Your Ego.' She explains how the ego is actually committed to our safety and survival and describes how it gets deeply ingrained in our subconscious through early childhood experiences.

Sylvia discusses our mission to heal and rewire the subconscious programming that triggers self-sabotaging behaviors like self-doubt, procrastination and perfectionism. Listen in for insight around reframing the ego as a committed servant and leveraging fear as the fuel for your dreams!

Our negative view of ego in aggressive or attention-seeking people

Why restraining or limiting the ego may be the wrong approach

How the ego is committed to our safety and survival

How the ego is programmed during early childhood

Why we must heal and rewire our subconscious beliefs as adults

Examples of how we might regress and sabotage our success

How your ego can be your most powerful ally

How to revise the ego's strategies to fit your adult life

The idea of teaming with your ego to turn fears into fuel

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12 Leadership Powers for Successful Women by Sylvia Becker-Hill

WES EP004: The Power of Total Alignment

WES EP008: The Power of Purpose

WES EP011: The Power of Your Attention

WES EP013: Fear of Failure AND Success

WES EP007: Self-Doubt—The Enemy Between Your Ears

When faced with a difficult situation or problem, we resist. We get stuck in victimhood, anger and resentment. So, how do we rescue ourselves from struggle and overwhelm?

What if I told you it's possible to bring yourself back into power with just ONE question?

Today on the podcast, Sylvia explores the idea that what you resist persists, explaining her own recent personal experience with a difficult set of circumstances around her parents' health and her changing business. She describes the connection between perception and experience, discussing the necessity of shifting out of resistance to an open-minded, solution-focused state.

Sylvia walks us through several iterations of the question she leveraged to reconnect with her inner wisdom, encouraging you to find the one that resonates with you—or create your own. Listen in to understand the insights Sylvia gained via this technique and learn how your sense of freedom and power is just one question away!

The understanding that what you resist persists

Sylvia's recent personal experience with resistance

The connection between perception and experience

Shifting from resistance to a solution-focused state

Questions to bring you back into your power

• What is right about this?
• What is the gift in this I haven't unwrapped?
• What is the pearl in this pile of dirt?
• What beauty wants to be discovered here?
• In what way is this situation protecting me?
• In what way is this serving me?
• How do I need to look at this to be happy?

How Sylvia leveraged this technique in recent months

How your sense of freedom is only one question away

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What happens when you start moving toward the edge of your comfort zone? Most of us start freaking out, as fears of both failure and success invade our consciousness. But true fulfillment lies outside that comfort zone. So, how do you quiet those fears, expand your comfort zone, and go BIG—running in the direction of your dreams?

Today on Women's Empowerment School, Sylvia explores the dichotomy of success, discussing the gender-specific rules defined by the patriarchy and why men tend to fear failure while women fear success. She explains the ego's commitment to keeping you at the center of your comfort zone and offers insight around the behaviors of self-sabotage that manifest when we reach the boundaries of the familiar.

Sylvia addresses the added pressure of societal expectations to stay within your comfort zone and walks us through three key strategies to help you stop freaking out when you go BIG. Listen in for insight around facing—and releasing—your fears and learn how to expand your comfort zone as you grow!

How our love-hate relationship with success is rooted in patriarchal culture

The two separate, gender-specific rules of success defined by the patriarchy

Why men tend to fear failure while women have a greater fear of success

The ego's commitment to keeping you at the center of your comfort zone

The behaviors of self-sabotage that manifest when we run toward our goals

How societal expectations pressure you to stay within your comfort zone

Three strategies to help you stop freaking out when you go BIG

1. Understand the collective, impersonal nature of your fears
2. Feel your fears in your body, allow them to evaporate
3. Welcome fear as guidance rather than a stop sign

How 'new knowns' will expand your comfort zone as you grow

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Brandpreneur

Sylvia's #Mogul Week Training

Enroll in the WES Fall Quarter

"Getting a gender equal world? That's going to take a lot of culture change, a lot of role reversals—our prime minister and her husband showing the way—where women are valued the same as men, where family violence is eliminated … and really where women are respected, and the fact that you've had time out and had children out of the workforce [is] valued as a skillset."

Dr. Jackie Blue is the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. She began her career in medicine as a general practitioner and New Zealand's first breast physician before shifting her focus to politics. Jackie spent eight years as a member of parliament and then moved into her current role as EEO Commissioner. She is committed to progressing human rights and issues of equity, addressing youth unemployment in the Māori and Pacific communities, and advancing the participation of women in society.

Today, Jackie joins Sylvia to discuss her work to close New Zealand's gender pay gap through equal pay legislation. She explains the country's pioneering legislation affording paid leave to victims of family violence and its status as the first country to give women the right to vote 125 years ago. Jackie and Sylvia explore key issues including paid parental leave for men and women, sexual harassment in the workplace, and the role of quotas in accelerating necessary change. Listen in to understand how businesses can change social policy for the better and learn how to leverage a powerful network of women in working toward a gender equal workplace—and world.

Jackie's role as New Zealand's Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner

Jackie's work to support the disadvantaged Māori and Pacific communities

New Zealand's 9.2% gender pay gap and the country's equal pay legislation

The world's first legislation providing paid leave to victims of family violence

New Zealand's status as the first country to give women the right to vote

The evolution of the paid parental leave policy in New Zealand

How New Zealand's prime minister and her husband serve as role models

Jackie's insight on how businesses can support victims of family violence

How the #MeToo movement has unfolded in New Zealand

Why no workplace is immune from sexual harassment

The cultural shift necessary to value motherhood as a skill set

The need for more women in private sector senior decision-making roles

Jackie's take on how quotas can accelerate necessary change

Why current workplace systems are not sustainable for men or women

How Jackie leverages family support to maintain her health

New Zealand's recent examination by the UN's CEDAW

Why businesses are in a strong position to change social policy for good

The power of a women's network as a support system

New Zealand Human Rights Commission

Jackie on LinkedIn

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UN Commission on the Status of Women

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's UN Address

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the UN General Assembly

Jacinda Ardern's First Speech as Prime Minister

Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Christa Stienen on WES EP003