The Rutledge Perspective Podcast

In this week's episode of The Rutledge Perspective, let's dive into the profound concept of being relentless in pursuit of our goals. Join us as we explore what it truly means to embody relentlessness and how it can transform our approach to life, business, and personal growth. Remember, your relentless pursuit of greatness can change the world. I would also like to take this time to thank everyone for listening to this podcast for the past 5 years. I'm truly humbled by the fact that you have tuned into this podcast every week, or someone sent it to you, and you went back to listen to old episodes. I will be officially sunsetting The Rutledge Perspective Podcast with this episode. The relentless pursuit of the impact I want to make requires that I take a pause and decide what the next iteration of the podcast is going to be. I must ensure that I align everything that I'm doing with this real idea to make an impact on women business owners who are creating the cultures that they want to work in. This isn't a goodbye, it's a see you later! To keep up with me and to know when I come back, please feel free to follow me @laurel.k.rutledge. Talk soon!

Welcome to this special segment of the Rutledge Perspective called the Founders Intensive, where we delve into the stories of remarkable entrepreneurs. Today, we are joined by the dynamic Jadeé, CEO of Corporate Solutions Tech. Jadeé reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, rooted in a childhood dream of making a difference and a relentless pursuit of success. Raised with the belief that failure is not an option, Jadeé shares how she navigated the transition from a traditional W-2 job to full-time entrepreneurship. Her blend of ambition, logic, and resilience has been instrumental in her success. Highlights ✨    

Welcome to this special segment of the Rutledge Perspective called the Founders Intensive, where we delve into the stories of remarkable entrepreneurs. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Campbell, the visionary force behind Soul Star, who empowers women leaders to change the world through radical self-care. As CEO of Soul Star, she champions women disruptors addressing systemic challenges, with a 100-year vision for humanity and the planet. Join us in this insightful conversation that focuses on aligning passion with purpose and navigating the journey from fear to fulfillment. Highlights ✨    

Welcome to this special segment of the Rutledge Perspective called the Founders Intensive, where we delve into the stories of remarkable entrepreneurs. Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Candice Tolbert, the Executive Director of Super Seeds as well as the President & Founder of Assist Financial Group. Candice's dual roles as a businesswoman and advocate exemplify her commitment to empowering individuals and communities through financial education and social change. Highlights ✨    

In this episode of The Rutledge Perspective, let's dive into the transformative power of letting go and moving forward. With the onset of the second quarter of 2024, it's evident that change is on the horizon. As we navigate through the remainder of this year, let us embrace the opportunity to let go of what holds us back and step into a future filled with new possibilities.

Today, we're going to be talking about goals and gardening. I know that may sound crazy but please allow me to explain. Oddly enough, my personal journey of gardening has taught me valuable lessons about determination, perseverance, and the true worth of pursuing your goals. In this episode, I will draw parallels to the challenges entrepreneurs face in building their businesses through anecdotes of failed cucumber harvests and the importance of pollinators aka bees.

Let's dive deep into the realm of data and its critical role in shaping business strategy. Understand that your data is essential, whether you're an entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader. From gathering insights to driving informed actions, let's explore how data can be your greatest ally in achieving your business objectives.

Let's delve into the concept of "Mission first. People always." There's something significant about prioritizing the mission of a business or organization while valuing the individuals involved in achieving that mission. Today, I will share my own experiences and insights, that emphasize the importance of aligning personal values with the vision of the business and making strategic decisions to build and lead effective teams. Throughout this episode, you'll gain valuable insights into compassionate leadership, intentional decision-making, and fostering a culture that empowers both mission success and individual well-being.

In this episode of The Rutledge Perspective, the focus is on collaboration in leadership, particularly within the context of women business owners. Collaboration, although a powerful tool, can sometimes be misunderstood, especially for leaders who prioritize input from others. This episode delves into the nuances of collaborative leadership, exploring its strengths and potential pitfalls.

Do you feel like it's time to make a change in your business or revamp some things? Whether you own a business or are building a career, it may be time to instill the “start, stop, continue,” process. This process allows you to objectively evaluate your current situation and focus on the things that matter. Proper prioritization will leave you re-energized and refocused. This will also allow you to see exponential change as it pertains to accomplishing your goals. Please listen as I break down how you can implement this process within your business or organization and maximize your team's success.

Okay…I know that we all want to see a quick turnaround and desire fast solutions but it's a climb to build a business. We can't focus on the silver bullet, the quick fix, or the easy bucks. You have to put in the work, there's no way other way around it. There are some people who seemingly blew up overnight but if you dig a little deeper you will find that they actually blew up over many nights. If you're going to build a sustainable business or career that you will appreciate, you must let go of your desire for that silver bullet. 

Let's talk about managing expectations. Whether you are building a business or a career, you need to be very clear about the expectations you set with others. More importantly, you need to have clear expectations for yourself. This clarity and understanding are important because they allow you to focus on the outcome and objectively evaluate detours that will ultimately arise. Managing expectations is about saying, here's what I'm doing, here's how I'm preparing, here's what I've committed to do, here's the history of how I deliver, and I'm going to do that all the time, consistently.

Let's grab our hard hats, lace up our boots, and put on our PPE because we're about to do some construction on this week's episode of the Rutledge Perspective. When I say construction, I'm not talking about buildings or homes, but more so the idea of building ourselves. Being under construction means breaking things down and breaking down barriers so you can move through and be in that space where you're meant to be. Whether you are building a career or business, it's about strategy and people. It's about learning, growing, and confronting those things that are holding you back. Listen now for tips that will guide you through that construction zone right into greatness.

Previously on the Rutledge Perspective Podcast, we talked about being nonnegotiable and how this is the year of truly being committed to our goals and our peace. While that's true, and it's very important to protect your peace, I don't want you to become a pushover in the process. A part of protecting your peace is being nonnegotiable about how people treat you. It's time to show up in our power and be nonnegotiable about what we want and what we mean without being ugly or nasty but in a way in which we will be heard.

We've reached 200 Episodes!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to listen, share, comment, or leave a review on the podcast. There is no podcast without your contributions and I'm truly thankful for each one of you. For this special 200th episode, we're going to be talking about rejection and how what we often deem as rejection is actually an opportunity for redirection. That rejection is not a rejection of you and your character or a demonstration of your worth, you're actually being put in a position to get the thing that was really meant for you, which is probably better than the thing you thought you wanted.

Alright y'all, this is the year that we are going to be nonnegotiable! No more plan B's. We have gotten to a point where our nest egg has turned into a safety net. Be clear, I'm not asking you to crash out or do anything crazy. I'm not even asking you to avoid thinking this thing through. However, I am asking you to be committed, and if you're spending a significant amount of time crafting your backup plan then it's time to reevaluate your level of commitment to the thing that you say you want. Let's talk through how we can be nonnegotiable in the pursuit of our goals as leaders in 2024.

Happy New Year! It's officially 2024 y'all, we made it. I'm here to tell you that if we set ourselves up properly, we will leave no space for this year to be anything less than incredible! This year, you have to make an assertive effort to sit in possibility and not toxic positivity. You have to truly believe that you have the skills and the aptitude and the drive and the energy to make things happen. Listen now to learn how you can set yourself up in a way that everything you do in 2024 is moving you towards a better year.

This is your time if you choose it to be. It's your time if you are willing to take the step to do something different and if you are willing to choose the things that are going to move you toward the thing you say you want as opposed to away from it. You must be able to challenge yourself to be uncomfortable, to get the thing you say you want. We are in the last few days of the year, and I know that 2023 was a hot mess for most of us but I'm claiming that 2024 is going to be different. This is undoubtedly your time, but it starts with a choice.

It's that time of year when we as business owners start looking over things and begin to worry about what's coming next. Do I have enough clients? Am I going to be able to pay my bills? Am I going to be able to pay off my business debt and personal debt? All the things! It's very easy to go into desperation mode and beat yourself up. Instead of making decisions out of desperation, leaders allow themselves to gather data, interpret the data, and translate the data into new actions toward their goals. Let's talk about how you can move from being desperate to deliberate as you begin to do your year-end evaluation and start prepping for 2024.

Let's talk about desires. Specifically, the desires that we have for our business, career, and teams. We tend to convince ourselves that we don't deserve the desires of our heart and as a result we negate them. I'm here to tell you that those desires in your heart were divinely given to you and you are not wrong. The key, however, is that you must be open to believing that you deserve that thing, as well as being open to however the fulfillment of that desire shows up. Let's dig into that big vision that you have and how to make it a reality so that you can stand your purpose.

Do people actually know your story? It's important that your team members, clients, and/or colleagues know about the things you've gone through and how you've gotten to where you are. When share your story and allow other people to tell theirs, you're able to find those common connections that really are the basis for incredible work. The power of your story moves you not only towards your goals but towards the impact you're trying to make for yourself and for others. Let's dive deeper and understand why your success is tied to how you talk about yourself and who you say you are.

We've reached the end of the year, and this time can be challenging for many of us for various reasons. It's important for you to really think about how you're going to reset. Also, in that resetting, what do you need to reframe? When you begin to reframe it, how are you then going to renew your energy, effort, mindset, and attitude to continue to move forward in your purpose? It's a requirement that leaders reset their minds, reframe their stories, and renew their energy if they are to effectively lead others.

Today, let's talk about picking your battles. I'm here to tell you that you do not have to show up to every fight that you're invited to. As Leaders, we must recognize that someone is always watching, and how we choose to engage says a lot about us. Our engagement speaks to our intrinsic character and the values that we stand by. This is also true in a corporate setting. How we engage in those difficult conversations as leaders around the performance of our colleagues and employees without being contentious is also important. Let's dig into today's topic and explore why It's important that we understand how we as leaders are willing to engage.

Let's talk about clarity. To be an effective leader, you must be able to be clear about the expectations that you have of people. It's also important that you're clear with yourself and manage your own expectations. Clarity is simply a way in which you can ensure your ability to serve effectively. Today we're going to talk about why clarity is so important for the success of your business and how understanding the historical context of your organization is one of the main catalysts in fostering that clarity that your team desperately needs.

Prioritization is about a continuous evaluation of what you're doing and a continuous vision of where you're going. Prioritization is about ensuring that things that you put first on the list are actually aligned with the vision that you have and that take the best advantage of your energy and how you work best. As leaders, we tend to not consider the message that our prioritization process sends to people who are relying on us to get their work done. Listen now for tips on how you can set your priorities in a way that is aligned with your vision and that creates a greater impact on your team!

Being a leader is not for the faint of heart. It's easier to take the path of least resistance. It's easier to tolerate bad behavior than it is to address it. However, great leaders are less concerned with their own discomfort of having a hard conversation than they are about the overarching direction, goals, and needs of the organization. Today's show is about the not-so-glamorous side of leadership because in the end, leadership is about behavior not about position and people will listen to what you say but they will believe what you do!

For those of you who need it, I am hereby giving you permission to put you first. But…here's the thing, you don't need my permission. You need to know that you are important enough to you that taking those small steps that relate to nobody but you is the thing that's going to ground you in so much power, love, comfort, and ability, that there's nothing that you can't accomplish! Today's show is not just about prioritizing yourself but putting yourself at the top of the list. This isn't about neglecting everything and everyone. It's about being intentional in doing small things that bring you energy and joy. It's about taking time for yourself but still staying clear on your vision, aligned with who you are, and then taking action that is aligned with who you are and connects your purpose with what you are trying to build.

If you listened to the podcast last week, you know that we talked about taking action and why sitting still and doing nothing is not an option for leaders who truly want to make an impact. Well, this week we're going to take it a step further. Today, we're going to talk about taking actions that are aligned with who you are and the goals that you have for your business. Are you a founder who was once very excited about your business but managed to lose that excitement as the business continued to grow? It could be possible that you're not actually losing excitement about the thing that you built, it could be the thing that you built is no longer fulfilling its original purpose. Today, I'm going to provide you with tips to help you identify if your business is disconnected from who you are as well as what actions you need to take to get you and your business in alignment with your goals.

This week in the Rutledge Perspective Podcast, we're going to be talking about taking action. There's a great quote somewhere that says, “Don't be mad at the results that you didn't get, for the work that you didn't do!” As leaders, sitting still and doing nothing is not an option if we truly want to make an impact. Today, I'm going to challenge those thoughts and misconceptions that tend to keep us stagnant. We often view action as making a big splash and taking a big leap. We get frightened at the mere thought of failure and the inability to exude excellence. I'm here to tell you that sometimes action is just taking a baby step forward because a small step is still progression. Also, failure is not fatal, it's an opportunity to learn! Listen now for tips on how you can get unstuck and take action with your business or in your organization.

Today on the Rutledge Perspective, I am joined by LaGina R Harris. LaGina is a Social Impact Entrepreneur and the Founder of the US Space right here in Houston, Texas. LaGina is also the Co-Creator of the Melanin Minds Mental Health Conference which provides mental health resources that educate, amplify, and create spaces for personal & and professional development within BIPOC communities. LaGina is a woman on a mission to amplify, support, and serve others. Today, she's going to help you craft your mission so that it can guide you through the tough times that are inevitable as an entrepreneur. Listen as LaGina pushes us all to understand who we are, our motto, our morals, and the values behind our businesses. If you're an entrepreneur who feels stuck and dissatisfied with your business and the direction it's headed, this is the show for you!

Today I'm joined by Adrian Villacorta. Adrian is an employment lawyer and the owner of The Villacorta Law Firm, P.C., located right here in Houston, TX. Adrian and I will discuss the fears and concerns that we as business owners and leaders are faced with as it pertains to implementing A.I. into our organizations. Whether you like it or not, AI is here, and it doesn't look to be going away anytime for the foreseeable future. The challenge for us leaders is figuring out how to harness AI's power for good instead of exposing the negatives. Adrian is going to break down how AI can increase productivity and efficiency expeditiously, and how it can help you tremendously with innovation. Most importantly, Adrian will walk us through the legalities surrounding AI, so that we are able to protect not only our data and information but that of our employees as well. 

Let's talk about endurance. Endurance is defined as the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. I need you to understand that leadership has a serious endurance component attached to it, you can't be an exceptional leader if you don't have some level of endurance, because leadership is hard. If you are running an organization and you are at the tipping point where you're trying to get to the next level, you must push past the discomfort of hiring more people and getting processes in place. You may be at the point where you're looking at what didn't work, what did work, and you may be having difficult conversations with people who may not be the same folks who can help get you to the next level. Well, today I'm going to help you embrace these difficulties that are necessary to reach your ultimate goals.

We often talk about networking, but we don't really talk about the depth of friendship and connection that can move from professional to personal and how important that is. If you are in an HR space, a legal space, or a very senior executive, then you know that it is lonely at the top. This creates a need to talk to people about the stuff that's going on personally and career-wise, how it's impacting you, and how you should respond to it. You have to find a way to develop those relationships internally that are your true confidential connections, uplifters, safe spaces, and that offer accountability. The beauty is that if you are discerning and allow these connections to be real, these shared experiences in a professional setting can be the foundation for true, lifelong, heartfelt, personal connections. You can develop an invaluable support system that will become your lifelong friends. Let's talk about how there are connections that can and do happen around relationships, even in professional settings.

I know that it sounds cliché and I know that you've probably heard a motivational speaker ask, “What's your why,” but what if I told you that getting a good understanding of your why can actually help how you move forward in your business?  I do what I do because I come from corporations full of hypocrisy that mistreat people to maintain power and support ego as opposed to operating in integrity. I want to help women who have built businesses that are social impact enterprises and are trying to create cultures that honor their employees, support them, and uplift them. I want them to be leaders that continue those values and continue the mission. That's what drives me and helps me navigate through the trials and tribulations that come with operating a successful business. Listen as I break down how you can identify your why and how you can use that to make a lasting impact not only in your business but your community as well.

After many years of leading corporations and running my own business, I've come to realize that there are leaders that don't share their own stories and that don't embrace the stories of others. When you're leading people, supporting people, and guiding people, whether that be in your own business, or an organization, part of your ability to connect with them, build trust with them, and support them in what they need, is being able to tell some of your stories and encourage them to be able to tell part of theirs. Leaders must realize that sharing their stories does not make them weak, it makes them relatable, and it can help provide inspiration to people to push them forward. Leaders must also understand that other people have stories as well and their stories did not begin when they started at your company, and it doesn't end when they leave. We must acknowledge that understanding people's stories and allowing them to show up as their best & true selves will boost their innovation, productivity, and efficiency.

Today's episode of The Rutledge Perspective is for all my Founders out there, specifically the seven-figure women Founders that are beginning to make that transition from Founder to CEO. This transition is tough as it is, but the waters can really get murky when we turn our passion project into a business and are not aligned with our purpose. Understanding the difference between passion-led and purpose-led work changes how we run our business as well as how we spend our time, energy, and resources. Today, I'm going to break down the differences between passion & purpose, so that you can get clarity with your vision for your business and be intentional with your next steps towards the life that you're trying to create. My goal is to get you in your zone of genius that helps solve problems for others and that leaves a lasting impact.

In order for you to serve the way that you want to serve, whether that be in corporate, in your own business, or in your family, there are things that you need to do to ground yourself and feed your root system, so that you can be strong, healthy, and clear to show up the best way that you can for those that need you and for those that you wish to be helpful to. Today, I'm going to walk you through how to identify the things that are fundamentally a part of who you are and how to build a schedule that will connect you back to those things, so that you can not only excel in business but give time to the things that matter most to you.

Have you ever heard the expression, “The struggle is real?” Well, the struggle is real but what people rarely talk about is the fact that the struggle is necessary! It's easy to try and find the shortcut and as a leader, it's easy to just give people the answer but in actuality, the struggle is an opportunity to use muscles that have never been developed or that have been atrophied from lack of use. Today we're going to talk about embracing the struggle as opposed to avoiding it. Sometimes the struggle is just what we need to develop into the leader that our people need. It's that same struggle that will eventually turn into a story of triumph and empower others. Right now, is an easy time to succumb to stress with all of the craziness going on in the world or you can recognize that you already have everything you need to make it through!

Hello everyone! This is a very special episode of The Rutledge Perspective as I decided to do a pop-up in New York City. Although I'm happy to be in NYC and doing my podcast here from this amazing studio, it hasn't been all peaches and cream. I've had to endure several potential setbacks upon my arrival in The Big Apple, but I was able to push through and deliver this episode. That's what today's show is about, being resilient as a leader and business owner. Leaders must learn to not only be resilient but flexible and adaptable as well. It's very easy to develop doubt when faced with tough situations. However, we can combat those doubts if we are laser-focused on our long-term goal and realize that these situations are just speed bumps along the way. We also need to have the capability to sit still, figure out exactly what is negatively affecting us, and decide what resources we have available to help us deal with the problem. Please listen as I break down how to build resiliency as a leader and tackle the hardships that life will ultimately throw your way.

Let's talk evolution. Not evolution in the sense of science but more so in life and business. Evolution is about being willing to see something different, understand something different, and move differently because of it. We all are familiar with companies such as BlackBerry, Polaroid, and Blockbuster that simply could not or would not adapt to change and were put out of business as a result. I'm here to tell you that this could also happen to you if you're not open to evolution. As the leader of your organization, you must be willing to change, understand what is going on around you, and embrace how that may impact your overall goals. The world is constantly changing, and this is especially true for the business world. You can't afford to sit in your comfort zone. Your organization needs you to be at the forefront of innovation if they are to succeed for generations to come and even after you're gone. I encourage you to listen to today's episode as I walk you through how to prepare yourself to evolve into your next phase and embrace your next challenge.

Happy Juneteenth! As we take time to celebrate the Juneteenth Holiday this week, let's also think about the idea of freedom, what it means to have freedom, and how it relates to business and leadership. When we tie freedom to Business and leadership, it ultimately comes down to the freedom of choice. We are all free to make the choices that we want to make which means that as leaders we must understand that our people are also free to make the choices that they feel are the right choices for them. It's our job as leaders to create safe spaces for people to make choices that are the right choices for them as well as the business. In today's episode, I will explain how you as a leader can set up guardrails & guidelines that give people the freedom to operate, grow, expand, and explore. Today's show will also help you to allow those that are looking to you for leadership to show up as they are, where they are, and for you to acknowledge the genius that they exude!

Have you ever heard someone say, “Show me your five friends and I'll show you how successful you'll be?” Well, I want to go deeper than that. Today, I'm going to walk you through how to be intentional and take empowered action that will help you build genuine connections that last and that are mutually beneficial. The problem is that people go into these networking rooms with a self-fulfilling mindset when the key is to gain as much information as possible to understand what a person needs, where they're trying to go, what they want, and what tools you possess that will enable you to support them. This is how you make an impact, and this is the energy that will come back to you. Let's dive in and learn how to take the right mindset into the right rooms with the right people!

In today's episode of the Rutledge Perspective, you're going to hear an amazing conversation that I had with Navy Veteran and serial entrepreneur, Angela Tyler. Angela is originally from Miami, FL. She joined the United States Navy in November 2007 and was honorably discharged in 2015. She has been married to her amazing husband for 12 years and they are currently living in Japan with their 11-year-old daughter. Angela and I talk about the importance of traveling, the story behind her multiple businesses, generational wealth, and most importantly, her mission to completely eradicate veteran homelessness. I stand with Angela in her belief that no veteran that has served this country should be without a home. Check out today's show to learn more about what we can do to support those that supported us.

How are you going to spend your energy? That's the question for this week's show and it's an important one because we ultimately get a choice on what we choose to give our energy to. As a solopreneur and/or business owner, you would hope that your energy is going to first yourself but also to your team and into serving others. This is difficult when we get thrown off track due to dealing with incompetent individuals that over-promise and underdeliver. It's these individuals that soak up so much of our energy that could be used in much more productive places. Today, I'm going to walk you through how to deal with these people so that they don't get in the way of your calling and what you were put on this earth to do. As a business owner, you can't avoid outsourcing tasks, but you can control whom you outsource them to and how to govern yourself when people don't hold up their end of the bargain!

Let's talk about accessibility. New leaders tend to struggle with this as they are prone to have an open-door policy and invite everyone to their calendars. This is particularly difficult for business owners that are moving from founder to CEO. However, the truth is the further that you go up in an organization the less accessible you need to be. I'm here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with visibility, but your ultimate goal is to make an impact in your industry and create an environment where people feel valued, and where they can grow & develop. You want to help facilitate your team's ability to do great work that will help grow the business. Today's episode is intended to help leaders reframe what accessibility means. Understand that your executive team is your voice, eyes, and ears. They are the direct contact to their next level and so on. Let's get you out of the details of the day-to-day operations and into the actual strategy of the business.

There are consequences for any agenda, no matter if that agenda is hidden or blatant. There will be consequences no matter what choice we make, and we are not free from the consequences of those choices. However, we can reap the benefits of making good choices, leading people well, and building up the leaders of tomorrow. This episode is about helping leaders make better decisions and expose those hidden agendas rooted in pride that are happening today and that are going to be the downfall of organizations that exist a generation from now. The goal is to be innovative, but your individual hidden agendas could potentially be preventing your organization from moving forward. Listen now to learn about hidden agendas and their long-term consequences.

In today's episode of The Rutledge Perspective, we're going to be talking about guidelines & guardrails vs borderlines and why this is important to you as a leader or business owner. Boundaries are impenetrable lines. Examples of boundaries are fences and walls. This boils down to what's allowed and what's not allowed. A guideline is something put in place for people to follow. These guidelines should align with the culture that you've established or the business that you're doing. Guardrails are upper and lower control limits placed on a given process. Guardrails are the places in which people have complete freedom to operate, exercise creativity, grow their leadership skills, bring in their perspectives, and launch plans to execute the goals that have been set. The information in this show is critical because as you get more comfortable with setting guardrails your ability to lead, develop new leaders, get things done, and be innovative will grow exponentially. Check it out!

I have a feeling that you've been in a rut lately. You haven't had that same tenacity and zeal in moving toward your goals. I want you to know that it's important that you raise your level of awareness to recognize what's getting in your way and that you take targeted action to find a solution to that thing that's bothering you. There's a lot of noise that's tied to old experiences. We get bogged down and anxious about choices that we made in the past that didn't work in our favor. When we are working towards new goals, this is actually an opportunity to go back and look at the impact of those choices and how we can redo, undo, realign, modify, and make adjustments that make a shift in our energy, effort, & attitude. Today's episode is all about getting you out of that funk and into your zone of genius. Listen as we break down how to identify what's holding you back and how to take targeted action toward your goals for your sake and for the sake of your team. Let's get you out of that rut and over those hurdles!

Has someone ever told you to be patient and you literally wanted to punch them in the face? Well, I can definitely relate to this as patience has not been one of my strong suits when it comes to my personal goals. I think that this is because we have associated a negative connotation with the word patience. When we think of patience, we think that it means sitting and waiting. In actuality, patience is when we sit, watch, evaluate, understand, adjust, and move again. The irony in all of this is that I actually learned this lesson in patience through my journey in gardening. I've wanted to give up on gardening at least a thousand times but my goal of wanting to eat something I grew wouldn't allow me to. I had to learn to be patient and realize that things don't happen overnight. I had to learn to access the situation, gather information, and make adjustments accordingly. This also applies to leadership. Remember that nothing is a straight line, and it takes time to get a department running smoothly. True leaders are invested in the success of their team and get satisfaction in seeing something grow that they helped nurture. Go ahead and check out today's episode to learn more about the correlation between gardening, patience, and leadership.  

Let's talk about risk. Risks are anything that gets in the way of you achieving your objectives within a company or your business. These risks can be financial, reputation, organization, production, and even talent. Before we address risk, it's very important that we are clear on our objectives, have a solid plan to reach those objectives, and also understand that the industry or business that we chose comes with its own set of risks. Assuming that we are clear on our mission, we can then tackle the reality of risks and understand our own risk tolerance to achieve success in our business. There is a multitude of ways to address risks. Today we are going to talk about managing, mitigating, and sometimes avoiding risks altogether. The purpose of this show is to help my business owners and company leaders realize that there will always be risks. The key is to take the proper measures and hire trained professionals to manage, mitigate, and even avoid some risks entirely. Today's episode will help you understand and align your personal risk tolerance with that of your industry or business. My mission is to help get you unstuck, ease your anxiety, and maximize your results!

Have you ever sat in a meeting for hours and at the end of it you feel just as lost as you did at the beginning? This is because “leaders” spend so much time making presentations look good, but they actually say nothing and have no real value. More time is invested in the slides than in the message and therefore no critical information is communicated. This is also why nothing gets done. Nothing gets done because no one is clear about what the true vision is. If you want to take your organization to new heights, you will need to build trust. Trust is critical and one way to build trust is to be clear. Clarity helps everyone move forward in unison toward a common goal but you as the leader must have a clear vision yourself. How do you develop a clear vision for your organization? WRITE IT DOWN AND MAKE IT PLAIN. Write your vision down and repeat it tirelessly until regurgitating it becomes second nature. Still not clear? Don't worry, on today's show I'm going to help you develop that vision and communicate it effectively to your team to help your organization soar faster and further!