Your Next Chapter - Business & Life Beyond 40

It is only women and whales who experience menopause – we are designed to live well past our child bearing days and become Matriarchs in our societies Menopause can leave you floundering around in the negative narratives that society has created   But it can also be a massively empowering stage of life if we choose to embrace it – a time of reckoning when we ask ourselves “what have I done, what do I want to do now, where am I going?”.   The Mary Oliver quote comes to mind now that we can be self-ful at this stage “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” New found freedom is a delight – you don't need to conform anymore, we can be Leaders not Breeders, we can take up more space and advocate for ourselves!   Don't be ageist against yourself like I initially was Be prepared, not scared. Talk to other women. Educate yourself to flourish with a midlife refuel encompassing nutrition, purpose, self-acceptance and freedom We don't dismiss the autumn leaves in favour of the spring blossom, Both are beautiful, they're just different,   About the speaker   I'm Rachel Lankester, founder of the Magnificent Midlife Movement. My niggling feeling led me to now. I've had several careers, including journalism, banking and PR, but I most LOVE what I do now - helping like-minded women in midlife and beyond feel great and live life to the fullest.  How did I get here? Let's rewind. I went through early menopause at 41, devastating at the time, as I was trying for a second child, but in retrospect, a positive experience. It took me on a journey of introspection and soul-searching. Now at 54, I'm better and bolder than ever. Though still battling those self-doubt demons from time to time!  Don't we all? I'm passionate about helping women navigate the often messy middle of life. So you can thrive not just survive. And become the woman you were meant to be.    I challenge the status quo and work to change negative stereotypes associated with older women. I believe the older and more experienced we get, the more we have to offer the world and especially those women coming up behind us.  We get better with age not worse. But I don't believe in denying we're getting older or hiding it either. I'm not ashamed to be a midlife woman. I'm proud of it. I think I've earned those midlife stripes just as much as I've earned the laughter lines around my eyes. They don't diminish me in any way.   I share fabulous stories from wonderfully inspiring women in midlife and beyond on the Magnificent Midlife Podcast. For a quick dose of inspiration, it can't be beaten.   You can buy the Magnificent Midlife Book here: https://magnificentmidlife.com/book/   https://magnificentmidlife.com  

How do you move from being the chief executive officer of a large advertising Health Network in New York, with 100 people under your command, to being a medicine woman, a galactic Queen, and a channel of light and love? It sounds like an extreme case of juxtaposition, but the two actually existed side by side for quite some time in June's life. It was only when homeward bound after COVID hit in New York, and spending time on her spiritual retreat in Topi Topi in country New South Wales, that June realised that her desire for the latter had overtaken the former, and that it was time to step fully into her next chapter, and use the gifts that had been bestowed upon her. This is a story of change of doubt, of fear, but more importantly, of trust, and how to really connect to and follow your heart so that you can step fully into the future that is calling you. Show Notes Challenges are a gift. We need to be buffeted and tested since we are here to grow Find your people, your tribe, the ones you can learn from- no one is meant to grow alone Perhaps you need to BE, instead of doing… The more I let go, the more the Universe delivers – its currency is trust Don't try and fit yourself into an existing mode, a straitjacket. Trust your instincts and desires.   About the speaker I'm June Laffey and I'm an Intuitive Mentor & Channel of Light and Love.  I live and work at Topi Topi Retreat, a beautiful powerful and idyllic haven, just three hours north of Sydney. It has not always been this way. I only made the decision to commit to this work and follow my spiritual path in February 2021. I work with the energy of this sacred land, whilst calling on my many spiritual gifts, including channelled light language and song. I am a kundalini reiki master also. This spiritual work is grounded by many years of international, creative leadership experience. Throughout my significant corporate career, I recognised, shaped and championed both people and ideas. I worked in healthcare advertising, choosing to move to health in 2000 as I wanted to make a difference. I worked for a major network for the past decade, moving up from Executive Creative Director of the Sydney office, to Chief Creative Officer in their flagship office in New York. I have won many, many prestigious awards and have headed up pretty much all the major international health advertising award shows, including Cannes Lions pharma jury chair in 2017. I've now chosen a fresh path, embracing my own truth by bringing clarity and empowerment to a whole new level. Quite simply I can help people find their power within, get out of their head and into their heart and move from jaded to joy. My superpower is uniting other's inner knowing with trust and action.  By channelling my guides and tapping into others' innate intuition, I can help remove blocks and make energetic shifts.  People experience different things – from peace, serenity and certainty to energy, vibrancy, and growth.  Results could be simple sudden clarity where people suddenly know how to make changes that have previously eluded them.  Or a complete shift in their perception of life and what's most important. Whilst at Topi Topi, I channelled The Academy of Light handbook, with activations to help reunite people with their inner knowing and purpose.   https://www.topitopiretreat.com/

Nicky lane had ticked all the boxes that she had been told with the essence of a good life qualifications a good job marriage motherhood. So why at 33 did she find herself disillusioned and disappointed? Living what she described as a mediocre life and feeling guilty about how she felt?   Nicky decided to ask herself different questions, questions that led her to tapping into not just logical choices, but heart led feelings and desires. And that's where she found her why that became the catalyst for her brave and expansive change journey in business and life.   I'm sure you'll find this conversation about personal evolution and possibilities, both inspiring and enjoyable.   Show Notes   Your life may not be “bad” – you're not homeless, so you “should” be happy – that's not a universal truth. The actual truth is that you don't have to accept mediocrity.   Give yourself permission to not accept the status quo, to be brave, to back yourself and create your own path   Conduct a Head and Heart exercise – my head wanted me to focus on the logical challenges of change, the negatives, how I should stay in my comfort zone, but my heart, my heart told me the truth about how I felt, and how I would always feel if life continued in the same way. One of the easiest and most revealing paths to self-awareness is the simple act of journaling The next step in the journey is the willingness to change   In my own journey, I realised that my spirituality has been pushed right down, but it's such a part of me, so inbuilt, it only needed to be rediscovered and set free. I know when you believe in a higher purpose, a richer, more purposeful life is available to you   I wrote The Change Journey Book in flow – it wasn't easy coasting, but the work felt light and enjoyable   The book and the accompanying deck of cards are a handbook and guidance for life, stepping you through the 10 stages of building self-awareness. The characters and their floral counterparts are character traits that will be of service depending on where you are in your own journey.   The core principle characters are Grateful Great, Optimistic Olivia, Zealous Zelda, Confident Carol, Empowered Emma and Joyful Jill   All you need is to start with small changes to tap into happiness – that energy is life-changing   About the speaker     In 2005 Nikki Lane left her marriage for no other reason than she wasn't happy. She wasn't being abused, they didn't fight, and they didn't hate each other. She just looked at her life one day and wondered, ‘How on earth did I end up here?' This wasn't the life she wanted to live and neither was her husband the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.   She decided that living a mediocre life wasn't enough for her, and so she left.   Turns out, it was the best decision she ever made and since that time, Nikki has travelled on a Change Journey of self-awareness. A journey that has led her to discover who she is and what she wants from life, which has brought joy and happiness into her world, more than she could have ever imagined.   Nikki now shares her experiences and teaches her Change Journey learnings to women from all around the world so that they too can gain self-awareness and choose to live a life they love. These teachings are available via The Change journey book, a set of oracle cards and personalised coaching programs.   www.thechangejourney.com.au  

It was one day in 2012 when Fiona Redding really woke up. She was 37, at home with two tiny kids, drinking every day, overweight, unfit and unhealthy. She had financial issues, could not find employment and felt deeply disconnected and very, very alone staring down the barrel of a future life that she could just not imagine living. She sat with one burning question that she could no longer escape – “How has this become my life?”.   Something really needed to change.   It's now seven years after the day when she started the journey to become the person she wanted to be. Fiona decided to get out of her own way and her life has completely transformed in every single area. Through the Happiness Hunter, she is now focused on helping you get out of yours, as she teaches and shares everything that she's learned. I had the chance to speak with Fiona to hear about that journey and I'm delighted be able to share her insights with you.   Show Notes   You start with a decision – my life is no longer acceptable to me. I need to change. It can be years in the making, but a moment HITS you and it begins. It's about life integration not balance, taking personal responsibility and focusing on contribution, reciprocity and community Take a DATA perspective not a drama perspective!   I've found that overcoming obstacles and challenges is what can lead to happiness and definitely develops resilience, such an essential character trait. The gift IS in the struggle.     If you can learn to change your mind about things then you can literally change your world.   The three pillars are 1/ Enhancing your mindset, 2/ prioritising wellness and 3/ creating connection/building community   Action trumps everything   About the speaker   Fiona Redding is the founder of The Happiness Hunter, a mindset coach, facilitator and speaker, creator of The Steps for Change and Good Morning Sunshine programs, producer & host of The Happiness Hunter Podcast, co-host of the Business Addicts podcast, author of The Happiness Hunter's Guide to Meditation and the soon to be published It Is Possible: Radical Transformation Through the Power of Belief.   She lives by the beach in Melbourne, Australia, with her two children Ariston and Vivi.   Her mission in life is to share everything she has learned – and is continuing to learn – about turning her own life around and to really help us understand that happiness is to be found in the overcoming of obstacles and challenges in our lives, and not in the absence of them.     By her own admission, Fiona's journey into business has been an interesting road. It would have made much more sense logically to just go and get a "real job" at many points.   Yet it was an unshakable faith and trust in the path she had chosen that kept her metaphorically and literally putting one foot in front of the other.   Fiona's belief in her mission and purpose continues to be rewarded. With The Happiness Hunter community and walks, coaching, speaking and healing business helping other people change their lives. Fiona also runs programs, retreats and workshops catering to clients locally and internationally.   www.thehappinesshunter.com.au   

Sophie Andrews had created an award winning highly successful bookkeeping business. Her background of fashion and gemstones in the UK led itself brilliantly to her focusing on the needs of people in creative fields, and the business flourished.   But after 15 years of dedication, the demands began to take their toll, physically and emotionally. Sophie's priorities had shifted. She was becoming bored, the desire for the work was no longer there. And to be honest, she knew that burnout was waiting just around the corner. It was time for significant change, and as many of us realise, letting go of the known to step into the unknown can be hard.  But we can do hard things! In this conversation Sophie and I talk about reframing our thoughts, letting go of old stories that keep us stuck, and choosing to swap striving for space so new ideas can make themselves heard.   Show Notes   The bookkeeping business was never my passion, but as a divorced, single Mum, control over my future was paramount, and I knew I could build a strong business in this area   I did actually begin another side business, the SOHO Agency (small office, home office agency) but the bookkeeping business demand exploded and I had to leave that one on the shelf   I realised the value of niching – I was the first bookkeeper who niched into a certain area, in my case, creative businesses, and it really paid off   I began to feel trapped. I had a big office, staff and all the responsibilities that went along with it   It was a meditation retreat, a new experience, that opened my mind to the fact that change was a non-negotiable. Once I had made my choice, I found a buyer within 3 months   Self-doubt still kicked in and I felt like I had failed in some way, had been so held back for 15 years. I had to reframe my attitude from resentment to gratitude, gratitude for all the business had delivered to me   I took time out, 4 months overseas to completely switch off and find my next idea. But it wasn't long enough and another year followed. I realised I couldn't strive to come up with a new idea from my logicalmind   It was during another meditation retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland where I found myself in complete flow and the answers just popped into my brain during meditation Meditation had helped me to recover from burnout. My own experience with this and creating a beautiful spot I my home in which I practiced became the inspiration for my new business, the Meditation Hunter   If you are contemplating change, we very aware of the stories we tell ourselves and remember our decisions are a choice     About the speaker   Sophie Andrews is a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur, with close to 30 years' experience in small business.     After a decade long career in the fashion and gemstone industries, she launched and then spent 15 years growing a successful and high-profile business that was not her passion.   Lack of passion led to the majority of those years being spent in an ever-increasing cycle of burnout and in 2019 she sold the firm and spent several months overseas before launching her current business, The Meditation Hunter.   The Meditation Hunter is both an online store as well as having a retail space in Sydney.  Sophie has personally put together a wonderful collection of ever evolving unique pieces, both antique and artisan, to help you create a space to inspire meditation and elevate your practice.  She also passes on ancient teachings & wisdom through open soul meditation, powerful breathwork and Kriya Yoga to provide clients with the tools needed to breathe life back into their lives.   www.themeditationhunter.com.au     

Deb Vawdrey knew she had given her all in her marriage. Her realisation that she needed to move on after almost 30 years was not a snap decision. Although she was filled with fear, she was absolutely clear - it was time to step into a new chapter. And when Deb released herself from the paradigm she had known for so long, she absolutely blossomed. In this conversation, Deb shares her experiences, the role that spiritual connection and community played in her growth, her ability to listen to her inner voice, and how these all combined to transform her the multi-dimensional Yogi and businesswoman that she is today. I hope you find this episode as encouraging and energising as I did.   Show Notes   I gave myself permission to pursue what most called me I've not had an immediate aha moment – my change arc has been, and still is, a slow burn which is fine as I don't have a use-by date! I know the emotional exhaustion of being the only person making the effort in a relationship, feeling like it's an uphill battle to connect, living parallel lives. There is no joy in that. I restarted my own bookkeeping business with my own clients – taking that step – no salary, no guarantees was scary Immersion in yoga helped me to get through. I'm a Yoga Teacher now and that has helped me to connect to my own true work. I'm living where I am now, not where I want to be be. That's the definition of presence to me. I sit with questions, really tune into my body and get curious about how potential options feel, asking myself “what's asking to be seen?”. With the right intention, you'll always be ok I believe you can choose your identity – I have new powers of adaptability now! The book I most recommend is Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. About the speaker The youngest of 6 to two working parents I learned at a young age that I had to make my own way and carve my own path. Leaving home at 16 and jumping into full time work at the same time I have never taken a back step or expected others to clear the way. From working in legal, computational and admin roles then to hospitality while my 2 beautiful kids were young I then took the leap to start my own financial services business which I still run today.   As my kids grew and started to carve out their futures I realised my marriage was well and truly over and my next chapter was about to begin, this included becoming a qualified yoga teacher and also now a health coach. Blessed to have lived most of my life on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria Australia in 2015 I moved to what many call “god's country” the beautiful rural region of Gippsland Victoria to be with my new partner.  Grateful for all the lessons, experiences and people that have been part of my journey and shaped who I am today…courageous, compassionate and connected – serving others personally through yoga and health coaching and professionally through my financial services. You can contact me at connect@youryay.com.au  

In 2005, Tamara Agnew was working as an executive assistant in a law firm in Edinburgh. It was a good job, but she knew that there was more waiting for her. She had a young daughter and a strong yearning to be a great role model, to show her daughter it was possible to choose and change to create your path the life that you want. And so Tamara went back to university as a mature age student and discovered the benefits of having lived before she chose to study. In this conversation, Tamara and I discuss her experiences and her choices for future study beyond her undergraduate degree, and the paths and opportunities this has opened up for her. We hope you enjoy this conversation.   Show Notes   My Mum worked in my Dad's business, she could not contribute to my world. I have no judgment around that, I just know I wanted something different for my kids I was carrying a hangover from school, of feeling not good enough My husband became my “Belief Buddy”, he encouraged me to just do it and balanced me with the knowledge that if I didn't like it, if it wasn't working out, I could always choose to leave, so I enrolled I realised all of the skills I had created over the years helped, that nothing we learn or experience is ever wasted The life confidence I had allowed me to hold court in tutorials and be a catalyst for others My thinking has been opened up – going back to University has been enlightening, I've learned so much about myself I started a Podcast - Podcast – careersessions.com – designed to help others find their place My next chapter is setting up a consultancy with my PhD Supervisor About the speaker   When Tamara Agnew finished school, she had no idea what she wanted to do. Riddled with angst and self-doubt, but full of energy and wanting to live my life to the full. Tamara did not want to go to university, did not want to enter into any more learning contracts. So she lived and worked in Sydney where she met her future husband, and they moved to Scotland. Tamara was working as an executive assistant in a law firm in Edinburgh, but was so unhappy. When her first daughter was born, she wanted a change, and this was driven by a strong yearning to be a strong female role model to her. Tamara knew she didn't want to be in the same place 5 years later, unhappy, bored with her job. So, she decided, at the age of 34, to go to university. Little did she know that this was the start of a long, and extremely rewarding academic journey! She now knows – it is never too late to make a big change in your life. Business – http://www.aluialtumconsultants.com.au/  

Show Notes   When our son left home I became an empty nester and wondered, who am I now? I was feeling disconnected from my life and told myself I had no right to feel that way – after all, I had a great home, son, husband and career I began to ask myself the hard questions, starting with “why am I feeling this way?” I knew I needed a significant lifestyle change– my background of all or nothing thinking was simply not sustainable I replaced mindless social media scrolling with a mindset upgrade and decided to prioritise me I needed replace the automatic stories in my head that “I couldn't change”, and that focusing on my own fitness and health “was self-absorbed”. I also needed to change my relationship with food which was very black and white – there is good food and bad food and very little in between I bought an apple watch, a bike, joined a gym, enrolled in a program that focused on mindset and gradually things began to change As my positivity and confidence reappeared, I began to question my career too – my identity was so tied to my 30-year employment, but perhaps there was something different for me now I sat and reflected on who I was, my skills, my strengths, what engaged me and I realised I wanted to be more purposeful, I wanted to make a difference in other people's lives. That's where my new business came from, this desire. I've always had self-doubt, but I don't fight it, I go with it, one step at a time About the speaker   In 2020, Tania worked on changing her life through getting her health and fitness on track. Through this process, she was able to rebuild her confidence, motivation and ask herself THE important questions about who she really wanted to be during the next chapter of her life.   After a 30-year career in higher education, Tania left the sector and has spent 2021 reinventing her professional life by adding coaching certifications to her leadership qualifications and 10+ years as a senior leader. Tania has real passion for people and her greatest satisfaction comes from helping others clarify their purpose, values and goals so they can unlock their full potential.    Through her business, Advantage Coaching and Consulting, she works with leaders to help them discover their strengths and provide the tools, skills and strategies to embed sustained change so they can confidently manage challenges and lead themselves and their team their way. The result is a more confident, approachable and influential leader who creates real change.   For more information about her work and to schedule a discovery call, head on over to www.advantagecoaching.com.au  

It was the contrast between weekdays and weekends that made such an impact on Gary and Lisa. During the week they ran a family daycare service where they took care of small children who were dearly loved, wanted and cherished. But on the weekends when they were crisis carers in the foster system, they saw a very different reality. They also saw how babies and small children were easy to find placements for, but for teenagers, happy endings were far rarer as adolescents were shifted from placement to placement, with no stable family influences. Their outcomes were bleak. Although Lisa and Gary felt overwhelmed by the size of the systematic problem, they couldn't walk away from it. And an early 2020 they began to put their plan into action step by step. Today they've established and run a foster farm home for teenagers in rural New South Wales, alongside a charity “Give them a chance”. Their young charges are flourishing in an environment of acceptance, love, and clear boundaries. This is a beautiful story of next chapters that will fill you with warmth and hope.   About the speakers   Gary and Lisa Rayner are the founders of Give Them A Chance Inc. They owned a successful child care business in Sydney's Northern Beaches, spending their weekdays with very loved pre-schoolers with dedicated parents. On the weekends, they were Foster Crisis Carers for The Department of Community Services. The disparity between the weekday children's lives and the weekend children's trajectories was heartbreaking. Lisa and Gary have fostered more than 40 children and dreamed of doing more to help foster children. They decided to live out their passion of helping as many disadvantaged children as possible by relocating to the north coast of New South Wales to open "Treehouse Farm". They have collected many pertinent, encouraging supporters along their way, and the community has grown. Supporters include school principals, psychologists, social workers, other child advocates and major supporter, Wesley Mission. Show Notes We felt overwhelmed when we looked at the size of the challenge but we're committed. We're making a difference. We're turning lives around. We'd talked about the idea for 2 years, lockdown spurred us on. Once you follow your path, it opens up for you We followed the signs, our hearts and our passion and like-minded people kept appearing to help We wanted to look after the kids who really needed our love The alternative for too many teens are group homes with often really negative outcomes – they don't have the chance to develop emotional connections because they are always being moved on Tree House Farm is a foster farm home for these teenagers who don't have a permanent placement. We provide discipline, boundaries, love and attention. We give them self-efficacy and empowerment. They become a part of our village. They've had pretty awful role models in the past – now they have the chance to learn to trust with grandparents and mentors from the community - this gives our volunteers a strong sense of purpose too We're a test model for the Foster Care system – the government are watching us to see how it works. Our vision is for more Farm homes around the state and eventually, across the country, we just need more Mum's and Dad's to choose this How did we start? We just did! Time is the most valuable asset you have – how will you use it? How long do you wait before you live the life you really want to? We had plenty of doubt, plenty of “those days” when it just didn't feel like it was going to work. Just persevere. Understands there will be ups and downs, but stay connected to your vision, your why and then change direction, try a new angle, there is always a way through Don't listen to the negative people, don't let them distract you from your dream Just be kind. Be loving. You never know what someone has gone through.

Jennifer Gwyn Jones knows what it feels like to keep pushing down a yearning for change. She knows how easy it is to become constrained by what you can do what you think you should do. How you can become easily stuck in “it's okay, it's going okay” land. But now Jan also knows what it feels like to break free, to be bold and brave and leave a 17-year career to strike out in a new direction that just kept on calling. If you've ever wanted to stop what you're doing now and begin something new, especially if you're currently in a corporate role, or other profession, you will get so much inspiration from this conversation. We talk about the vital role that self-compassion plays when you step out of your comfort zone, how to tap into your own internal wisdom, how to design a rich fulfilling business and life and so much more in this mini guide to courageous change.     Show Notes   When you ignore the thing that's calling you, that you're yearning for, eventually your health suffers If you journal, revisit what you've written in the past and you will see the same cycles repeat themselves Even if “it's” good, it might not be good for you I realised there was such a close interweaving of my identity and my work performance and that want healthy I'd spent too much time looking for external validation from people who had different agendas to my own I was living from the head up; my body was just there to walk my head around! Burnout gave me the space to consider “I could be a business owner – what might that look like?” My identify started to shift and I became open to the potential of being something other than the corporate employee Self-compassion did not come easily to me – I liked the idea intellectually, but was unsure of how to actually practice it. I've now come to understand that it's a comfort when things don't go as you planned Ask yourself in this moment, what's most important to me? There are so many choices and options available to us, but there are unique “hot tracks” that show up for each of us – get curious, tune into how things feel for you With practice, even if fear does come up, you'll still be able to feel the sweetness     About the speaker   As a Life Coach, speaker and writer, Jen has helped women all over the world break free from their “shoulds” and find ways to say YES to their yearning. Jen helps women feeling stuck or confused in their professional or work routine find their true path and tap into the magic of life in practical and meaningful ways.  She came to Life Coaching through studies with the Martha Beck Institute and also training in Acceptance Commitment Training (ACT).  Jen's focus on helping professionals find their magic is informed by her 17-year career in the Australian civil service and extensive studies including Bachelor degrees in Microbiology and Anthropology and a Masters in International Affairs from the Australian National University. https://www.jengwynnjones.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JenGwynnJonesCoaching/ https://www.instagram.com/jen_gwynn_jones/

At the end of 2020 I was all tapped out creatively. I'd finally set my book free in the world, meeting a huge personal goal and I needed to allow myself time and space to just be for a while. I did have to battle a little with an inner critic who, in her inimitable judgmental way, assured me I'd disappear into obscurity if I dared to put my pen down awhile. I chose not to listen, allowed myself space to regroup and this new 10 part interview series all about change is the result several months later. It also coincides with a fresh chapter for me – a new online home that reflects my equal focus on strategy and self-worth.   Show Notes Business change comes in evolutions.   Buckling under and following the “rules” to continually crank out content and stay visible is just not sustainable. Taking a creative break is often the best thing you can do, so give yourself permission to step back if you need too, especially in the weird world that COVID 19 has thrust upon us   Belief buddies are vital - they can help hold you to your own promises but also provide the spark of inspiration that gets you moving again. And when you recognise that spark, that thread, follow it…   So often a book can be a catalyst for growth and change, as you transform in private” – that was the case for me when I read “I thought it was just me, but it isn't by Brene Brown in 2007.   Sometimes life takes you off on a detour, but eventually you find your way back and focus once again, on becoming the person you've always been meant to be   When the desire for change emerged again, this time to close my marketing agency, it took almost 12 months of wrangling with my inner critic to reach the point where I felt solidly anchored in both my desire to change and my sense of self-worth   Sometimes the market is not ready for your message… and you might need to be patient, to evolve slowly. But the real call, the real you, will bide its time.   Don't try and convince and convert an audience that isn't right for you and don't try and contort yourself into a more agreeable shape.   That thing you're considering changing to, turning towards, bringing to life – is it awesome? Does it help? Those are the only two boxes you need to tick

Charlotte Maya was 39 with two small sons when she lost her husband to suicide. She had no idea Sam was so close to the edge and was utterly shell-shocked. “I had a plan, and this wasn't it”, said Charlotte. Since that day, she has learned so much about resilience and mental health and suicide and decided to speak out and help to release the stigma. Her Next Chapter began when she hit publish on the first post on her blog, Sushi Tuesdays, six years after she lost her husband. Show Notes Seeing something through the lens of experience and realising you have the desire to contribute is life-changing If you can help just one person with the contribution you decide to make, it really is worthwhile How we choose to treat ourselves reflects our capacity for holding our own power Take good care of yourself – I dedicated Tuesdays to Charlotte – Shabbat! We all have losses in life - you can deal with the good and the bad, even the horrifying and still find grace We can out so much pressure in ourselves – choose kindness You can live your way into a new reality Your inner critic will become more vocal when you're on the right path – she says “you're too old, you don't have the experience, people won't listen to you…”. You need to recognise her, and gently out her in her place”. All we ever need to be in is this one moment There will be an after

Canadian born, with Welsh heritage, Sara Jones came to Australia as a 14-year-old. Many years later, after years of work with indigenous communities, Sara has developed a deep, reverential relationship with the land through the practise of Wayapa Wuurk, an earth connection practice that is based on ancient Indigenous wisdom that focuses on taking care of the Earth as the starting point for creating Earth Mind Body Spirit well-being. It has changed her life and the lives of all who choose to explore it. Show Notes   Our planet is a terrarium. It is the earth that sustains us, not the Universe A daily interaction with our environment leads to an understanding of our reciprocal relationship We all have hunter gatherer ancestors who lived off the land – it’s time to honour the ancient ways of those who loved successfully in harmony with the environment Living in cities has led to our sense of disconnection from the land, and often a sense of overwhelm that can lead to emotional paralysis. When we take time to pause, to regenerate, hope and purpose rise again Ethical, conscious purchasing habits can make a big difference on an individual level. It’s also important to pause and consider intergenerational wellbeing – where will your purchase go when you are no longer here? Wayapa Wuurk is an embodiment practise with a story heart, anchored in the Creator, sun, moon, earth, lightning, rain, wind, tree, air, land animal, water, hunter, gatherer and child (the future creator) and gratitude for all that sustains us My own journey out of addiction and the disconnection that results was a journey into acceptance, total personal responsibility and love I can now go out and share this understanding with the world   About Sara   Sara Jones wants to live in a world where Indigenous Knowledge is rightfully respected. She is the co-founder of Wayapa Wuurrk®.   Having worked within the Indigenous Community for over 15 years, Sara believes life could be so much better, if only we listened to the wisdom of the world’s oldest living culture. Bringing a deep respect for Aboriginal culture, Sara combines her business experience within Community, with her passion for Energy Healing, Metaphysics and any natural wellness practices. She has experienced the deep healing and wellbeing effects of Wayapa® personally so is dedicated to sharing it with others for a better world. Together with her partner Jamie Marloo Thomas, Sara is passionate about challenging thinking and restoring connection within and between people, the Earth and Spirit. https://wayapa.com/

What do you do when you come back from a year of travelling and realise you can no longer fit into your previous corporate life? You do the thing that’s calling you, because you know you don’t want regrets. “My inspiration began with a backpack, a handful of dreams and a vision - to bring ethical and beautifully handcrafted accessories to a global market, whilst ensuring the artisans who create them are empowered to earn a dignified and sustainable income”, explains Harjit. The result? A beautiful, ethical business fashion business for stylish women that places the artisan at the heart of the story, with each and every product handmade by the artisans who are empowered by a fair and sustainable income. Show Notes   70-80 years of life – it’s such a tiny period of time, really When my Mum began to become unwell, it made me question – would I ever make my own dreams come true? When she got well, I felt I needed to make the change more than ever – I was compelled When my husband and I travelled for a year I felt more fluid and more purposeful than I ever had. I needed the freedom to think We stumbled across so many artisans and from an initial seed of an idea, an entire business eventually grew I could not slot back into “normal life” again - I used to be happy in a creative marketing role, but over the years it changed into a more traditional corporate role and it just didn’t fit me anymore. I felt trapped by commitment As I looked back, I could see the Universe was showing me signs – “this is what you love, this is what’s for you” I worked through self-doubt and imposter syndrome, again and again, it’s an ongoing thing I had so much to learn – when you work for a business, it’s all done for you, when you have to do it all for yourself, it’s hard I got a mentor to help me shape my ideas and a community for encouragement and support I have to pinch myself now, when I see how far I have come! It’s so good to have purpose, to be doing the things that lights me up   Harjit Sohotey-Khan A wanderlust seeker, changemaker and curator of ethical fashion and homewares, Harjit empowers artisans and stylish women through conscious style at Jewelled Buddha, her online boutique specialising in unique, fair trade jewellery & accessories sourced from social good around the world.   https://www.jewelledbuddha.com/

When Maria started on this entrepreneurial adventure she told herself “if in 5 years’ time I can’t make it work, I can always go and get a job”. Once she realised she needed to let go of the idea of there being a formula to follow, she was able to see that she’d been going in the wrong direction, trying to build a business based on the wrong things, overriding her own intuition. This realisation freed her and the result – a beautiful, bountiful thriving business that supports her just as much as she supports her clients all around the world.   Show Notes   You need to try, you need to know you gave IT a shot Trust your gut, you’re the only one who knows what’s right for you Let go of the opinions of others – that’s tremendously freeing! Get a Mentor to help with emotional mastery   I now know to make decisions in business and life that are based on my values – Truth, Service and more recently, Sovereignty   The most important thing you can do in business is build relationships   My philosophy is to become financially independent and time rich     Maria Doyle Maria Doyle helps passionate professionals create quality learning experiences that engage, inspire and motivate their clients to create real change. It’s her life mission to take the lack-lustre courses, workshops and presentations of this world – both virtual and live – and transform them into ‘it-changed-my-life’ experiences. Her qualifications include an MEd (TESOL), Cert IV TAA, Cert IV TESOL, CELTA, BA (Modern Languages). Maria has extensive international experience, teaching, developing and managing courses in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the UAE, the UK, Hong Kong and Kiribati. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, teacher training, project management, assessment and evaluation, and also language and communication skills. https://mariadoyle.com/

“I’ve always been drawn to the environment to indigenous culture, a connection to country” Suzy tells me. “It embodies more than just living in the country. We are connected to that land and we impact the land in what we do and how we do it”. Suzy speaks with a reverential appreciation that underpins all that she has done, is doing and will do in what she describes as a mosaic, portfolio career. In one of her core next chapter focus projects, Suzy has founded Two Green Threads, a NFP that cares for the carers of our wildlife, a significant and much-needed entity.   Show Notes   I fell into this work really. I saw wildlife hurt on the road and when I went to a country show and came across a wildlife group who rescue, rehabilitate, and release. I signed up for an orientation course on the spot. Within 3 months I was juggling my daytime work and caring for wildlife. It delivered a fair bit of stress but I loved it.   It feels like a privilege to care for animals, you need to adopt a stillness no matter what is happening around you. You detach from the frantic spinning of the human world and experience a connection with a little being.   The intense connection with the wildlife is beautiful, but there was no conversation about the demands and the personal impact of the work, a consuming and emotional experience.   It took a number of years for me to be able to recognise and articulate what the problem was. It was my personal experience with my father’s mental instability, the fragility of the mind, that finally allowed me to decide to take action.   Two Green Threads is a national registered charity that offers wildlife carers understanding and acknowledgment along with a respectful and neutral shared language. It encompasses podcasts, webinars, PDF downloads, and will soon have courses rolling out.   Even though I could see and feel and had experienced the need, I still felt like an imposter when I addressed it. I was asking myself “is this what I am supposed to be doing? Is it simply grief distraction?”.   I bought myself a set of bracelets that had the inscription “but what if I fly?”, a powerful statement to bring me back, to anchor myself if I ever felt doubt.     Suzy Nethercott-Watson Suzy is an experienced Non-Executive Director with a strong reputation for insight, strategy and value adding and the Founder of charity, Two Green Threads. She has a vision to make a positive difference in the lives of wildlife carers at a critical point in time for wildlife conservation and natural ecosystems. www.twogreenthreads.org

Kerry describes herself as being “born as a therapist”, with people coming to her for as long as she can recall with their emotional issues, eager for guidance. In this conversation, she shares many of her own emotional growth experiences, from navigating single parenthood, learning how to prioritise her own needs, escaping a poverty mindset, and gathering her courage to take the leap from full-time employment into the world of entrepreneurship where she now openly shares her journey with chronic illness with an almost 10,000 member strong online community, supporting her clients through their own challenges so they can mindfully thrive in their new lives.   Show Notes   The Louise Hay program, where I became a You Can Heal Your Life trainer was a turning point for me. I knew my Mum (who had terminal cancer and passed away whilst I was in training) regretted never having had the chance to achieve what was possible for her, so I answered my own call and quit my job This was my first experience of trust in the universe – evidence that you will be looked after I see myself as a Trailblazer – there was no one who had walked the path I was on to show me the way. That was hugely challenging, but ultimately deeply rewarding.   I rely on my lived experience to guide me – I am the expert on me   Letting go of other people’s opinions is liberating!   My diagnosis with Hashimotos, an auto-immune disease saw me physically and cognitively disabled, and my Dr told me I just had to accept this and adapt to my new normal   Instead, I doubled down in helping myself, research, research, research… I changed everything, my diet, my experience of stress, my mindset. Our bodies do heal – that’s what they are designed for.   Chronic illness does involve a great deal of grief – the present I had and the future I thought I would have were gone, and this is just one of the reasons why emotional support and resilience are absolutely vital   I was initially afraid of being vulnerable, but when I am, my people, the ones I am here to help, know they are seen, heard and understood   We can tell ourselves scary stories about what might happen in business and life – it can actually be attractive to spend time in the dark places, and even kick ourselves when we are down, but we can equally choose to talk to ourselves about the good things that can happen too   Everything I have committed to in the past readied me for my next challenge     Kerry Jeffery Kerry is a clinical hypnotherapist, counsellor and life coach who works exclusively online helping people around the world to resolve the complex emotional issues that come from being diagnosed with and living with chronic illness. Kerry knows exactly how this feels as she lives with 4 chronic autoimmune disease myself that affect her life every day.   https://www.emotionalautoimmunity.com/

Marnie Downer describes herself with self-deprecating good humour as a Generation Xer with a misspent youth, a penchant for travel and a burning desire to change the sickness model in or society. Our conversation ranged far and wide from her early days as a naturopath and teacher within her industry to a new-found passion for supporting women through the menopause journey after she experienced anxiety fear and a sense of guilt and found so little full-bodied support available. Great Dames, Embrace the change one hot flush at a time is her next chapter.   Show Notes   Starting my business was terrifying! It was easier traveling through Iraq then it was taking on this challenge.   I experienced a whole lot of “I can’t do this” and then the penny dropped after about 2-3 years in business   Marketing was a little scattergun at first and then I realised there is no magic, and that consistency is the key   Resilience, tenacity and a commitment to your why are all vital   At 48 I had a strong story, a sense of well-being, all the angst of my younger years was gone… and THEN anxiety and a sense of grief hit. I felt as though I had achieved nothing at all   I went searching for answers and realised I was in perimenopause – my memory got so bad I could plan my own surprise party!   I regrouped and started my next chapter because age is not a barrier to starting something new, learning something new, starting a business… whatever calls you!   Continue to have purpose – don’t just mark time   I’m a Great Dame, and I’m on my way to being a Grand Dame     Marnie Downer   Marnie is a naturopath, clinic nutritionist, herbalist and educator with a passion for supporting women as they transition through menopause. This was not always the case though! It wasn’t until she ran headlong into ‘the change’ herself that she realised that this period of life was often misunderstood, neglected or downright denied. It was at the point she decided to set about changing the way we view this process. She is committed to helping women achieve greatness by unlocking their true potential through acts of self-care and nourishment. Marnie believes that if you change the relationship with self, you will change the world.   https://marniedowner.com.au/

Karly practically vibrates with authenticity, honesty and purposeful energy and it’s impossible not to feel elevated after connecting with her. She has known both hard failure and delicious success and this allows her to share with an honesty that feels rare in the entrepreneurial space and quickly eradicates any pressure you might be feeling to “get it right, quickly” when you are in business for yourself. This is a conversation that will help you to see that next chapters are never final, that progress is always possible and that being true to yourself is your greatest gift, as that’s where impact always comes from.   Show Notes   The external measurements of success we’re subjected too can be the biggest catalysts for doubt and a sense of unworthiness – let them go!   Asking yourself, “how much is enough for you” and designing your activities around that truth sets you free   No censoring of yourself, don’t hold back, your business will be sustainable when you are you   A closed first can’t grasp a gift, so stay open to learning, growing and receiving   If the work you are doing is not giving you a sense of purpose and meaning, remember that you get to choose the playing field where you play and it’s moveable!   Don’t mistake contribution with a need for expertise, instead, just commit to showing up and serving   Doubt is part of the creative process, life is the art of letting go and trusting   Have you fallen prey to the idea that you need a “big following”? I don’t and I have a great business with client relationships that I am deeply committed too.     Karly Nimmo   Karly Nimmo is a No. 1 iTunes podcaster, with five hit shows over the past 5 years; Karlosophies, Keeping Good Company and Make Some Noise (both now wrapped), Humans Resourced and Rock Your Mic Right. She’s a serial entrepreneur, mad creator, born communicator and connector with a crazy knack for getting you to connect to your truth and see life from a different perspective.   Through her podcasts, retreats, events, coaching and Frequency podcasters mastermind, Karly acts as a guide to connect you back to the truth of who you really are... so that you can stop playing the role of who you think you need to be, and express who you REALLY are out into the world - even better, if that’s in the form of a podcast. Her podcasting school Radcasters has worked with over 250 podcasters since 2015.   Over the past decade Karly has dedicated herself to getting to know, like and trust herself. She has been a faithful student of the human spirit - her own, and those around her... and can help you find and live on your frequency.   www.karlynimmo.com

This is an exciting episode for me, celebrating a significant personal milestone and launching a new Podcast Series! I’ve completed my book, “Your Next Chapter – Ditch your doubt, own your worth, and build the business you really want” and it’s available for pre-order on my website here. This episode walks you through the adventure and also signifies a return to podcasting with the “Under the Radar – ordinary women doing extraordinary things” series. I trust you’ll enjoy the next 8 episodes highlighting the projects, plans and next chapter journeys and experiences of a fabulous group of women just like you. Show Notes My book notes journal says 2018, and yet I only just finished by manuscript in September 2020. Sometimes our goals and plans are waylaid by circumstance, but if it’s important enough to you, you’ll always return and manage to hit the mark. Imposter Syndrome and the Comparison Trap, two tools of the trade that your Inner Critic engages to keep you safe and small in your Familiar Zone, were challenges that almost prevented me from writing at all. I had to face these head on, many times to keep moving forward. What helped? The idea that I am a contributor, not the expert. I buy loads of books on the same subject, learn something new each time, and appreciate the different perspectives. My own book will be no different. I had a huge brain dump session with a colleague who had written a book before – we got all my ideas out of my head and onto a whiteboard. I could then appreciate that perhaps I did have enough content and experience to write a book!  It also helped enormously to have a visual model – The Next Chapter Change Model, my own IP, that I could base the book around. If you have a BIG endeavour you’re working towards, I highly recommend adopting the principles I followed -  setting trifecta, smart and HEART goals to focus your progress. HEART stands for harmonious, engaging, aspirational, refreshing, and transformative. The idea is to blend your goals so they address both sides of the achievement coin, and to ensure that you create an environment that supports the likelihood of achieving these goals. I used a blend of SMART and HEART trifecta goals to write this book, to help to create and manage my own ‘expectation environment’. SMART trifecta goal: To write a 35,000-word (acceptable), 40,000-word (stretch) or 50,000-word (unicorn) book that is ready for release by the end of 2020. HEART goal: To write a book that provides inspiration and encouragement to women and to enjoy the process by working with an author coach who can encourage, inspire and assist you to write the best book I can; creating a working environment that makes me feel good whenever I sit down to write; and recognising and appreciating both my progress as a writer and the progress of the book by rewarding myself when I reach each chapter milestone. I did not travel alone in this uncharted territory – I hired a coach. My author coach, Candice Davis has been an amazing and consistent source of support, stretching my writing and helping me navigate doubt and comparison to writers whose work I admire so much… she kept reminding this is book #1 and that no book begins brilliantly – editing is the key. I set up a routine – 6am up, short meditation, then free writing which I then read aloud, recording in the fab app Otter.ai which was then transcribed and I turned into the foundation for my chapters. I took myself away on a personal retreat to edit the book once the first draft was complete. I knew I was unlikely to manage this feat when I was immersed I my everyday commitments. The focus and flow I experienced when I was ensconced in the wee air b&b cottage I hired was fabulous. I accepted imperfect action and handed it over to my Book Production Manager, Bev Ryan to take the project reins and moved into marketing mode. And now? I’m allowing myself to get a wee bit excited and adding this achievement to my own Fabulous File! And now what? Please pop over to the Book pre-order page and share your details and we’ll send you a link to purchase a physical or kindle version just as soon as it’s available!

“We’ve been taught that thin = happy” says Leanne, “and that fads work and there is some perfect or right way to eat”. The trouble is none of this is true! Restriction is not sustainable. A punishment mindset is not sustainable. What is sustainable is trusting ourselves, following our instincts, eating for the joy and love of food!” It’s a relief to chat with Leanne, a health and wellbeing coach for women who is based in Melbourne and encourages women to redefine wellness, what it actually means for you to be a Well Woman. This is a conversation that will get you thinking, moving and eating!   Show Notes   It’s time to design your own Wellness Map – a set of ideas that fit you personally instead of you generically.   What ways of moving bring you joy? Do that. What feels nourishing to eat for you? Eat that. What role will fun play in your life? Enjoy that!   How you can lean into trusting yourself and your instincts and choices? By listening to your body and doing what it tells you! It does speak to you, regularly, it’s just that we’ve been programmed not to listen to what it has to say   Try not to label yourself as a “stress eater” or a “comfort eater” – you might find yourself living up to the label   Check in with your someone to help find your blind spots (mine was how the “go hard or go home” value I’d inherited was leading to significant self-sabotage in the health arena)   Spring clean those beliefs! Ask yourself, is it true? Is it mine? Where did it come from? A core of self-worth is important for you to prioritise self-care     Leanne Vandeligt   Leanne Vandeligt is not your everyday personal trainer or coach, with 30 years of experience helping women to feel better, to like how the feel and look.  One thing she knows is that women are amazing, strong capable, but they don’t always feel like that. She knows and understands the struggles women have around mindset and teaches women to feel happy first, so they are more likely to eat well, move their body be more motivated to take care of themselves. 

Samantha has been a performer her whole life – “I sang for 50 cents at weddings and a dollar at funerals from when I was a little girl. I sang backup for MC Hammer and with Joan Sutherland at the Australia Opera. I’ve led shows and developed my own. I’ve always been happiest on a stage but I’ve also been stuck in “people pleaser and approval” mode and that’s taken its toll. It even lead me to dropping the dream of being a performer for the “sensible” career option of accounting on the behest of my family. Over the years Sam invested so much time and energy checking, testing, showing different pieces of herself to different groups to fit in and be seen in the way she felt she needed to be. It was exhausting. And when this is your focus, you begin to lose track of who you really are. But Sam has now interrupted this cycle. She chose to shift her gaze, to weave all the pieces of her into a whole. She began to approve of herself and appreciating where she’d come from, so she would never need to fit in anywhere again. She has proactively created a new stage for her life, one where confidence and charisma intersect. She truly belongs and it’s extraordinary. Show Notes You can break free of the conditioning of your past and chose a new path forward Firmly reject the “don’t be too big for your boots” judgments that might be levelled at you. Choose to shine. Confidence is not ego. It’s about how you feel within yourself. Charisma is about your ability to influence and there are 4 types – Kindness (Dalai Lama), Visionary (Steve Jobs) Focused (Oprah) and Authority (Churchill) How do you tap into Charisma when you’re just not feeling it? Mindfulness, deep breathing, visualisation and a clear focus on those you want to help be the best they can be. Imagine yourself pulling on your coat of charisma! Perfectionism can paralyse you – perfect is the enemy of good. Let it go and embrace spontaneity (this was a core understanding that came from Sam’s “365 Days of Facebook Live when she had to quieten her internal dialogue, put aside the spreadsheet of carefully planned content went out the window and replace it with authenticity). Have the courage to discover that all you need in inside of you – you just need to take a small risk, unlock yourself for that confidence to begin to flow…because what you focus on grows   Samantha Leith Samantha Leith is a Woman on A Mission.  A successful performer, entrepreneur and single mum.  She is an inspiring business owner, having taken her business from nada to major in only a few years, as a Business Strategist, Lifestyle Enthusiast, Coach and Speaker. Samantha started her working life as a professional singer, then got side tracked down the ‘safer more practical’ business roads.  She’s gone from Sales Manager, to Financial Controller, to owning her own online retail store, to hand holding business coach, musical theatre Producer and her true love - a  blend of speaking and coaching. Samantha shares her message on how everyone can have the business (or job) and life of their dreams.  Most of the people she works with are already achieving in business and life and are now ready to go to Unleash their Extraordinary. They connect well because she brings a balance of creativity and practicality along with the ability to hold people accountable and get stuff done. Conference organisers book her to speak as Samantha guarantees to Entertain, Educate and Empower every time she takes to the stage by being expressive, emotionally intelligent, energetic, generous and inspiring. Some of the areas she speaks, coaches and run workshops include: • Creativity and use of music to connect and engage • Business Growth Coaching for Entrepreneurs • Presentation Skills for Executives • Goal setting, achievement and accountability • Communicating with Confidence and Charisma  • Finding your X Factor https://samanthaleith.com/

We’re feeling the shift. It’s time for a return, or is that actually a start, of what many have referred to as “the new normal”.  Borders are reopening. Gatherings are starting again. We’re remerging from one of the most unexpected and challenging times for business owners and individuals and you may be asking yourself, is it “business as usual? Do I simply market in the same ways I was before?”.   Kellie O’Brien and I got together to chat about the emerging trends were seeing in the market and with our own clients and would like to share our observations to add to yours.    Show Notes   Many businesses adapted their way of being, identifying new opportunities, pivoting to online – are there changes you’ll be making?   Some business owners (like me) have, on reflection, found they were previously “addicted to busy” and are now deciding on a new approach   Consistent strategy and captivating storytelling are still in style, and always will be   The most important action you can take is to listen to your clients and what they’ve been experiencing – focus on being interested, not interesting Develop full cycle relationship marketing – clearly considered and value adding steps from first connection to your offer of service   Trends we are seeing include personalisation, blended working arrangements, and increased acceptance and comfortability with online delivery       Kellie O’Brien Kellie O’Brien is a Wollongong author, speaker and consultant who specialises in online marketing and social media for consultants, service professionals and small business owners who feel they're simply throwing darts at a marketing map. Kellie empowers business owners to purposefully use storytelling, strategy and systems to build online marketing pathways that consistently move your ideal clients from discovering who you are online through to investing with you. With 16 years as a journalist, 5 years owning a PR agency and now as an online marketing consultant, Kellie lives and breathes story and strategy.  http://www.kellieobrien.com.au

You will probably have heard about the Know, Like and Trust factor, the KLT in business. All three of these things are incredibly important. But I have found there is something even more important and it needs to come first. This is the Seen, Heard and Understood factor, the SHU, if you like. I believe this is the most important thing you can focus on. It’s about getting off you and getting more into the shoes of these people that you're here to serve. And the magic is, when you focus on providing value, transparency and authenticity when you focus on being interested rather than on being interesting, when the members of your community do feel seen, heard and understood, they tend to like and trust you! This episode unpacks this approach more for you. Show Notes The SHU Factor is enhanced by:   Narrowing your focus to deepen your impact – when you focus on a particular slice of the market, you are better equipped to meet them where they are at, developing a deeper understanding of what they are experiencing   Practicing active listening and deep questions – listen more than you talk, reflect and check for understanding   Revisit your why – reconnect with the who and why you are doing what you do   Check the copy and messaging on your website, ensuring you avoid the “Three Little Pigs” syndrome of it’s all about “me, me, me”. Swap this out for inclusive, inviting and empathetic messaging instead.   Seek deeper, leisurely conversations with people in your audience - coffee dates, as I call them. Explore “what would be most useful for you”?. Take notes, check understanding, utilise their language in your copy.

All great change begins when you’re thinking is challenged – COVID 19 is a great unknown, it’s provided a non-optional pause for great slices of the world and for many of us this space has allowed contemplation – what might change as we move forward again? My own musing was significantly expanded when I was introduced to an essay by Charles Eisenstein, a graduate of Yale University with degrees in economics and philosophy (a most unusual combination, so it’s perhaps not surprising that his writing is both ground-breaking and thought-provoking in many ways). You can read The Coronation Essay here ( https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/the-coronation/) . Charles is also a social philosopher focusing on themes of human cultural evolution, economics and consciousness, and the author of many books including Climate a new story and Sacred Economics, The More Beautiful world our hearts know is possible. My good friend, author and Purpose Proponent, Carolyn Tate, was also an enthusiast reader and when we were comparing notes, we knew there was a deeper conversation to be had. And so here it is… we hope it inspires you to have a conversation about what changes are now waiting for you in Your Next Chapter too. 

“You’re an active creator”, Angela Philp tells us. “You can take the circumstances facing you and shape them for yourself”. Self-Leadership is the key – what’s the seemingly impossible you want to make possible? A dynamo of energy, fierce focus and commitment, Angela has found her passion and focus in life – “I believe that women need to make have 50% of the decision making capacity in this world”. To further that vison, Angela supports and challenges high achieving women with similarly big visions to take action on their dreams. She is remarkable. And our conversation will energise and inspire you into your own new possible. Show Notes Remember who you are – not the conditioned self, not the should and rights and wrongs There is always an inkling of an idea inside of you – be still and search for it I’ve found my soapbox – gender equality and equal leadership – what’s yours? Women are not a niche! I tempered my voice in the past – “Maybe I might not be liked” quietened me. Not anymore. The cost of keeping quiet is too high. Use your mistakes as springboards I cannot separate my work from who I am – each fuels the other When we’re focused on what we might lose from taking action, we miss what we may gain Follow your joy When you’re on a growth edge when you’re heart led, that’s when fear shows up. And that’s when you can choose to can meet it with courage. Say YES to your gifts and put them at the centre of your life and work. Your life’s work. Take a stand for something I your life that’s bigger than you, that you’d like to defend. Imagine, if I lived my life standing for that, how would my life be different? To change one’s life is a decision

How the world can change in a very short period of time! I’ve been absent from the Podcast for the past 3 weeks as I was feeling a little discombobulated. I did not want to “add to the noise” online, I wanted to contribute to the conversation instead. So, I allowed myself for these last 10 days or so, just to feel the feels” before I was ready to share with you again. I’ve now gathered some initial thoughts and would love to share the concepts of conscious choices in times of change with you. Show Notes We need to allow our emotions, all of our emotions. IN the Recover Movement we all this “feel, deal, heal”. Whatever comes up for us, we need to experience it to move through to the other side. There's nothing to be gained by pushing it down, or avoiding our emotions or anything like that, because they will come back and demand to be hear! Whatever feelings you've been experiencing, I hope you can move yourself this space where you can simply allow yourself to feel them because none of them are wrong. Brene Brown talks about the FF T's - the effing first time, and this is certainly a FFT for most of us. There isn't a rulebook, there's nothing that we can turn to that says, “here’s the way to handle this”. So all we can do is “Google inside”, I guess, to work out what this new normal means to us. If you are a solo micro small business owner, what does it mean for your business going forward? What do you need to do now, next and later? I believe as we move through and out of this situation, we're going to be connecting even more deeply to meaning and purpose going forward in response to the recognition of how deeply important connection to other people is, how deeply important being of service to others is, and how deeply important adding value to the world is. It’s time to be a Lighthouse and an Anchor for your clients, to be, as my colleague and friend Donna Brown says, a refuge for your clients, a safe space to be away from the turmoil. Many brands have tended to rely on fear to sell and position themselves, using FOMO (fear of missing out) to close sales. This never really was appropriate but now it’s not at all! It’s really important for our economy to stay as a river and not a pond and we can contribute by continuing to invest in different ways. A pond that has no movement becomes stagnant, becomes a swamp. We do not want that for our businesses or for other people's businesses as well. A river may not be possible right now, perhaps think of it as a stream. What small investments can you still make to keep things moving? It’s not business as usual, we’re not moving full speed ahead with all the same messaging and activities as we had before this pandemic. That doesn't feel right. But neither does hiding. So pause and ask yourself, what does Conscious Visibility look like for you? And then do that. Now consider Conscious Observation - the power of example. What are other people doing in your space or in the business world at the moment? What makes you go aha, there's an idea, how might that work for me? This is about looking for inspiration. And now look at Conscious Connection. How can you collaborate and co create with other people at the moment? And finally, Conscious Kindness. Wherever possible, work with kindness, kindness to yourself, and kindness to others wherever possible. In any given situation that you're facing that is difficult, or that is threatening or that is scary or, or unusual, uncertain, pause and ask yourself, what would love to do in this situation? What would love do? The discussion continues in the Your Next Chapter Community - come and join us!

In this episode, we explore how you might be self-sabotaging yourself by asking the wrong questions.  Your brain is a meaning-seeking machine and so when you pose questions, it will happily supply answers to you. If the questions you ask create disempowering answers, they become roadblocks that can keep you stuck in discontent and results that are far from delightful! Once you recognise this tendency, you can change it, asking better quality questions that are expansive and supportive and help you to move around self-sabotage and into growth. Show Notes The first step towards asking better questions is to recognise that you have a result in your business and life that is not what you desire. This self-awareness opens the door to change. Underneath the result is a behaviour, and that action, of lack of action, is created by your feelings. The questions you ask yourself can be empowering and expansive, leading to positive feelings and actions or they can be disempowering and reductive, creating roadblocks that you may not even be aware of. Debbie Ford summed this up perfectly - "Questions supply you with the wisdom you need to make what was previously unconscious, conscious so that you can choose with all the power that comes from being fully aware." If you've recognised the need for change, let''s start with the conversations you have with yourself! Try flipping your questions: "Why is this so hard" becomes "How can I make this easier?" "Why can't I work this out" becomes "What do I need to be able to tackle this?" "Why can't I show up consistently online" becomes "How can I make showing up online more enjoyable for me?" Now that you're opening up to more positive questions and answers, make and commit to the decision to change and then take a single action today in the new direction to get the ball rolling. The key example in today's episode focused on my client who wants to be more visible online for her business growth, but there is an endless selection of possibilities that you can develop better questions, and choices, for. I love the ten questions that Debbie Ford poses, and here they are for you: Will this choice propel me toward an inspiring future or will it keep me stuck in the past? Will this choice bring me long-term fulfilment or will it bring me short-term gratification? Am I standing in my power or am I trying to please another? Am I looking for what’s right or am I looking for what’s wrong? Will this choice add to my life force or will it rob me of my energy? Will I use this situation as a catalyst to grow and evolve or will I use it to beat myself up? Does this choice empower me or does it disempower me? Is this an act of self-love or is it an act of self-sabotage? Is this an act of faith or is it an act of fear? Am I choosing from my divinity or am I choosing from my humanity? The discussion continues in the Your Next Chapter Community - come and join us!

Deciding what to charge for your services can sometimes create confusion and tension! In this episode, I walk you through some of the key considerations when setting your prices to make the experience a little easier. Whilst there is no magic formula to reach an answer, as each business is so very personal, there is guidance to help you make a decision and there is always opportunity to change your pricing when you’ve had feedback from your market. Show Notes Pricing decisions should not be made in isolation – there are several factors that exert influence over your price points Don't be afraid of competition – it’s actually a good thing as it shows you that there is a market for whatever it is that you're offering. Where do you want to be positioned in the marketplace? Are you going to be really accessible, set in the middle portion of the market or sit way up high? Create a positioning matrix to map the market – investment level/price on one axis and level of service on the other. Place yourself and other key service providers/alternatives to your brand on the matrix for clarity on your own relative positioning Once you have made your positioning decision, ensure congruence across all of your marketing that reinforces that positioning Consider your own Financial goals when setting your pricing Do not make a financial decision for your clients – ensure your own money mindset does not get in the way of your being well compensated for the value you add to the world Where does this products or service sit in your Offer Staircase? How will you price it relative to what else you provide to the market? Have you created a clear Value Proposition? Your offer needs to Resonate, Differentiate and Validate to be strong Check your testimonials for key areas of similar feedback to help establish your “uniqueness” The Sweet Spot of pricing sits between the Resentment Point (where you are cranky about how much you are doing for what you are being paid) and the Snap Point (where you are so terrified by the price you’ve set that you can’t think straight)

Is the ability to handle change well to grab opportunities when they present themselves to you an inherited personality trait or is it more like a muscle, something that you can build with experience and time? My guest today, Joe Hanlon has her fair share of handling change. She's moved through careers and industries and has now landed in a place that feels really aligned with her sense of purpose in this next chapter of her life.  "Change, cultures and conversations" they've always been a part of my life, they've been woven together in many adventures!" Jo's story is one with many chapters, with forays from nursing to sales and self-employment across countries and continents. The environments may have changed, but the focus never did - "My purpose is to help people develop their own strengths, and I love to work with people who want to change and I made the leap into self-employment at 48 to embrace more impact, significance and contribution" Our conversation is anchored in the concepts of self-trust, values and our ability to empower ourselves for the changes that a full and expansive life delivers. Some of the Key Ideas discussed include: Always be intentional with what you consume - the media can affect our mood enormously Have a great network of people around you - reach out and find your tribe, you can't walk this path alone Mistakes? Who cares! We learn from every one of them, they're ok to make! There are only two states to live in - faith or fear Trust that your life is unfolding exactly as it is meant to Align with your purpose - it will help you to take control of your life, make decisions that serve you and be truly empowered Design values-driven business - that's the secret to abundance Trust your gut, your intuition, it won't lead you astray Be aware of SNIOP - that's when you're Subjected to the Negative Influence of Other People

Why you need a Fabulous File Understanding and taking control of your internal dialogue is one of the most powerful skills you can develop as a business owner. Your thinking creates your feelings and your feelings create your actions or inactions, which then lead to your results. But sometimes simply grabbing hold of your thoughts is just not enough to turn them around. I believe we often need something more tangible when self-doubt comes to visit. You need a Fabulous File. I believe this is essential for every single woman who wants to create an impact, who wants to make a difference, who has a contribution inside of her that's being channeled through the lens of business.  In this episode, I'm going to explain what a Fabulous file is, why it's so important, and how you can actually get started on creating one today.  How do you get started? Set aside some time – I guarantee you will find yourself disappearing down a rabbit hole of memory gazing... in a good way. Purchase a box that delights you – even consider decorating it if you are creatively minded Don’t restrict yourself to just testimonials – good feelings are transferable – where else have you been fabulous in life? Where have you been brave? Where have you stepped out of your comfort zone>? Where have you stepped up and reached a goal or done something you dreamed about? What can you include? Here are some suggestions: Cards from my kids telling me I’m a great Mum Photos of holidays with friends Boarding passes from overseas trips – first conferences for MY business awards night program from the network I used to run Photos from retreats Thank you cards from clients Photos of flowers I’ve been sent Screenshots of social media comments Printed out emails of thanks and appreciation The messages from Linked In connection requests Photos from Next Chapter Dinners I’ve hosted Podcast reviews Screenshots of newsletter subscribers – hitting a # you’ve been aiming for A photo of the home page of your new website just launched! A screenshot of your bank account when the funds arrived from a big project The fuel for this fire is never-ending and the lift begins to happen from the moment you begin your search for the evidence…

Late last year, I started feeling a little bit disconnected from my work. I was lacking a deep sense of purpose. I think we can have a love affair with our business. And just like with any relationship, our feelings can fluctuate. Sometimes we can disagree, and not feel quite so close. When I actually paused and had a look at why that was happening, I realised a likely reason was that I hadn’t actually articulated my purpose, my vision, my mission for my business in a really clear and tangible way. It was in my head, and it was definitely in my heart, but I hadn’t actually put it out on paper and put it in front of me where I could reconnect to it every day. We all have wobbly days in business, some really challenging times when things are not flowing the way you anticipated. You can be feeling disappointed, invisible, and wondering, is this all worth it, asking yourself why you’re actually doing this at all. It’s when you have these days that you want to be able to turn back to your purpose, your vision and your mission, to remember why it is that you're doing what you do. In this episode, I'm sharing a simple framework that will allow you to easily create your own along with three great examples from my clients. Why do you need these statements? Purpose keeps you anchored on the bad days We all have wobbly days in business, some really challenging times when things are not flowing the way you anticipated. You can be feeling disappointed, invisible, and wondering, is this all worth it, asking yourself why you’re actually doing this at all. It’s when you have these days that you want to be able to turn back to your purpose, your vision and your mission, to remember why it is that you’re doing what you do. That’s when you can re-energise, reconnect, refocus because there it is right in front of you. You can take a great big deep breath, remind yourself of the bigger picture, pull yourself up out of your funk up and keep on moving forward. Your Vision and Mission provide a filter for decision making In this context, it means that when an opportunity presents itself, you can ascertain if it actually is an opportunity, or if it’s actually a distraction, one of those bright, shiny options that’s masquerading as an opportunity. When you have your purpose, vision and mission statements right in front of you, you can look at the opportunity, you can hold it up against these and ask yourself, “does this take me closer to that vision? Is it aligned with my purpose? Does it fit with my mission, or does it not”? Having this filter so that you can make these decisions and choices more easily is invaluable. It keeps you on the path to make sure that you actually gaining traction, not just taking action. When you have clarity on your destination, it’s much easier to identify the path that takes you there. You can share how you stand for something deeper than just what you sell Standing for something bigger than just what you sell is such a core part of our next chapter businesses. At this stage of life in particular, I, and 99.9% of the women that I support, have this real desire for our businesses to have true meaning. It’s this desire to leave a legacy, a feeling that you’ve contributed something of significance to the world. My core service is Business and Life Mentoring for women in their 40’sand beyond and I deliver this through one to one programs, Masterminds, VIP Days and Retreats. That’s pretty standard in the market, I’m really not alone here. But why do I do it? What’s underneath the service itself? That’s where my purpose and vision kick in. What I really stand for and believe in sets me apart: To connect women with their self-worth so they can take consistent, confident action on their business and life goals. I stand for women truly recognising, claiming and owning their value, especially at this time in our lives when we may have lost connection with that deep worth because of how we’ve been socialised and because we’ve often focused on other people’s needs for a long time. A compelling purpose can allow people to resonate and connect with you, to want to come on the journey with you. Or conversely, it can actually help them recognise that you’re not such a good fit, and that is just as important. You don’t need to convince and convert people, rather it’s all about contributing and communicating. Purposeful Marketing Messaging Once you have this clarity, you can share your purpose, vision and mission, right through the copy on your homepage, on your about page, across your social platforms, on your podcast in your videos. Weaving in your thoughts really gives people a great sense of connection. Congruent messaging across your platforms reinforces your positioning. Now you can see the importance of having these statements, let’s look at how you actually create them. You can download the exercise here.  

We’re in the first months of a whole new decade, not just a new year, and you may have created some big goals that you want to achieve in business and life in this new chapter. When reflecting on where I’m at, I realised that the end of this decade I'll actually be in my 60s, and so I decided that now is the time to become the best version of me. That means in a business sense, I have some very clear plans for how I want to create more impact and be more supportive of my audience and my clients, and that’s going to demand sustained energy. And so this means ensuring I have the fitness and flexibility to do the things that I want to do. I was away with my family in the second week of January on holiday, and this is where I really started to recognise that changes needed to be made. I set some clear goals and then reflected on what I’d need to set myself up to achieve them and that’s what this episode is about - the core steps I believe we need to take to give any strong intention a greater chance of coming to fruition, whether it be a business or life goal. Show Notes Take time to outline and define what your intention or goal looks like in action One of my intentions was to make positive nutrition choices each day. But what does that actually look like? For me, it means no skipping meals, and to have fresh non-processed choices wherever possible. Invest in the tools or actions that will support you to reach your goals These can be specific tools or proactive actions and for me, they included gym membership, a nutrition app and, for the bigger picture, investing in a Mastermind. Utilise the power of Pre-commitment Pre-commitment is simply deciding in advance what actions or behaviours you're willing to do or not to do before you're actually confronted with the situation Behaviour and results are transferable The great news is that these behaviours, these supporting keys and tools can be used right across the board, in every area of your business and life. I certainly utilise them in my business, setting measurable goals that are both Smart and Heart. These simple tips are powerfully effective on their own, but by far the most powerful tool that you have at your disposal for anything you wanting to achieve in 2020 is to ensure that your internal dialogue is supportive and encouraging and liberally laced with self-compassion. You can read the extended blog post that compliments this Podcast and Show Notes here: https://www.angelaraspass.com/how-can-you-achieve-your-goals/  

Jodie Preiss is also a woman of resilience, compassion and vision and she has a great, big heart. I say that Next Chapters are often built on skinned knees, and Jodie is a definite example of this truth because those challenges she’s navigated, they’re actually more akin to lacerated knees. But, yes, she has come through to the other side, and as you no doubt know when we have space between the then and the now, there are valuable lessons to process and share, new insights and perspectives gained that can often form the foundations of a new vision. That’s exactly what has happened with Jodie, and her new business, Collective Ripples, is set to become a movement we can all be a part of. Some of the key ideas we discuss include Don’t compare your challenges with anyone else’s. We all have our own journey. The desire to create legacy can often grow after significant, life-changing experiences and the examples left by people we love and admire. Be a great custodian of your energy – go gently, gently and gradually build your vision so it, and you, are sustained and sustainable “Individually we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean”, is a quote to live by! We need not work alone, dream alone, take action alone. "Whenever someone has asked me about the difference I wanted to make, for years I have joked “I want to change the world”. And that dream still exists. However, I recognise, that I can also change the world, by changing myself, and by helping individuals to change themselves along the way as well. Self-doubt flares for me when I’m tired, or particularly busy with life, and don’t get to spend time with my vision for Collective Ripples. I am much more adept at recognising it these days, and so take a break. Do a meditation. Or spend time in nature. Then, I make sure that I set myself some really easily achievable small goals, so that I am able to recognise and celebrate my achievements and progress. Women in our 40’s and beyond make fabulous entrepreneurs because we have lived. And we have lost. And through all of that, we are able to discern what is truly important.  

What do you stand for? It’s an important question to ponder. Write your manifesto with an open heart and mind. Be curious. Explore what’s important to you, what you stand for, believe and want for your clients, and for the world. Keep it private to inspire and motivate yourself or share it far and wide to inspire and motivate others, to create connection to begin conversations. I’ve had a manifesto from another website up on my wall for quite some time. It feels rather fabulous to now have my own. Show notes What I believe Next Chapters are built on skinned knees, where breakdowns become breakthroughs… Allow yourself to be fully seen and put good things into the world. It’s through your story that others will find their path, and what a joy and a privilege that is. Everything you need is inside of you now. Search for it. Give yourself permission to shine. Self-belief is your superpower. Your worth is unquestionable. Stay connected to your truth and always speak to yourself with compassion and encouragement. Cultivate a circle of support. Surround yourself with people who are real and connect with them deeply through experience. Share with genuine vulnerability. Fear is only excitement without breathing. Take that breath and act confidently and with courage, even when it’s hard. Be generous. Be grateful. These are the currencies of connection and abundance. There is no ‘perfect’. There is no magic formula. There’s only the right way for you, which you’ll find through experience, failures and kindsight. Respond. Don’t react. Find the power of the pause and allow yourself time to grow. This is an evolution, not a revolution. Always stand for something bigger than your services. They are a reflection of your greater purpose and vision. Remember that growth doesn’t always mean bigger. It can mean deeper Create your own definition of success. Make meaning your mission, contribution your focus and fulfilment your reward. Know that profit is the result of the right action. Your business needs to serve you just as much as you serve your clients. Sustaining your energy and enthusiasm is the goal.  Step up and launch the ideas swirling in your head and your heart. Serve the people who need this now. They’re waiting… You’ve got this    

Trained as a classical pianist in Music College in the UK in the 1980’s, Sarah was familiar with the demands of being on stage. Although she did experience performance anxiety, her determination initially allowed her to push through the stress. But the development of a significant skin disorder took the challenge of being seen to a whole new level and Sarah lost her nerve. “Even after treatment had dramatically improved my skin, I still felt the audience was scrutinising me. I instinctively knew the only way out of this was to work on my public speaking, to address this fear. And so that’s where I placed my focus”. Over time, Sarah’s amazing expansion was noticed by other professionals who began to ask “how did you do that?” and it became a natural move to begin to open to the entrepreneurial world. Today, Sarah continues to run a very successful Speaking Consultancy and helps an enormous number of people overcome their own fears and develop their skills and, in our conversation,, she shares many of the valuable insights that helped her with her gradual transition into a very different Next Chapter.   Show Notes You need to pursue that dream you have, even if it terrifies you! You’re likely to have so much regret if you don’t You may have to consciously rearrange your values to follow those dreams – Sarah originally valued safety and security, but she recognised those values were not going to help her step into her Next Chapter. Learning and Growth were also values, so she moved these ones to the top of her list! Fear is always a companion on this journey, so remind yourself, this is what you want and just take small, consistent steps. The confidence and self-belief will come and the compound effect of small actions is significant over time Keep your vision roomy, let go of expectations of exactly how it needs to look Open and turn to the Universe – it delivers… Too often us women don’t leap until we really believe we can do it – we need to trust ourselves more to take chances Public Speaking is all about connection with the audience – choose to turn towards the audience with your heart Breathe and ground yourself, tune into what the audience is feeling and saying Have a sense of clarity about your message but then let go – you are not just conveying information Curiosity is one of your great tools as a presenter

Each year I host “Review and Renew”, an online event all about looking back at the year that was, evaluating your tangible and emotional achievements and then getting clear and planning for the year. It’s a fabulous experience that provides you with confidence and clarity no matter what stage of business you are at.  It’s coming up again next week and I’d want to make sure you have your invitation to join us! You can register at http://bit.ly/Review2019Plan2020 to join me for the live training and discussion calls, the thought-provoking workbooks and the Q&A’s and prompts in the Next Chapter Facebook Community. Show Notes I'm a big believer in double planning - I really recommend that you take some time this side of Christmas to have a look back through your year and evaluate your results and then put some thought into what you want to create. Then put that aside, give yourself some breathing space and then come back for a review in early to mid-January. You’ll likely be surprised by the changes you then feel you want to make. Single session planning doesn’t allow this essential breathing space Please realise that when you review your year, the probability is that it will not look like you intended it to look at the beginning of the year. And that’s both ok and totally normal! I like to think of planning as providing light parameters, guidance for the year. Combine these intentions with wearing “glass blinkers” – these mean you’re focused, but you're also open to other possibilities. If you keep your vision front of mind and yet hold expectations of how you will get there lightly, you’ll have the expansive thinking that allows you to discern the differences between distractions and opportunities Consider your energy levels this year. How have they been? Is burnout lingering around the edges? Do you need to make changes in the way you work? Do you need to soften your goals? Do you need to get a little bit more realistic? There is a natural ebb and flow in our businesses - we can have a really hectic month or quarter, and then we need to breathe and have a more receptive, less hustle period as well. Do you allow this for yourself? We begin with reviewing your year, looking at the tangible and emotional achievements that you've had. What went well financially, and what lit you up emotionally? We need that combination in our businesses. How did you feel about delivering each service and product? Wildly enthused or somewhat like warm? We then move to looking at your Revenue “Pie”. Ask yourself, what financial contribution did each product and service make to your overall revenue? What changes need to be considered as a result? This leads to checking your “Success Gaps”. If a service line is not delivering as you anticipated, there may be a break in the chain at several points and it’s important to address the correct one. Is it a visibility issue? A marketing issue? Copy? Pricing? Is it that you need to work on your own confidence in sales conversations? Don’t throw out a product or service that you love and you can see a need for without understanding if it has been given every opportunity to succeed first. Your Offer Staircase is next – this is your product suite, the group of services and products and experiences and events that you offer to the market. As the staircase analogy suggests, people are moving up with you over time. They may begin with consuming some of your free items, or your low investment experiences as they get to know you and find resonance between their needs and your style. Over time they move into higher levels of intimacy and commitment with you, because what we're looking for is really to build long term relationships with clients, rather than have short term transactions with customers. Once these reflective foundations have been checked we begin to move forward, and look at your communication plan. This is all about visibility, and the reassurance that it is not your job to Convince and Convert people, but it is your job to be visible, so that you can communicate and contribute to your most aligned clients. It’s really important not to spread yourself too thin, rather you choose what I call your Marketing Megaphone and your Marketing Support Acts. Choose strategies and platforms that not only meet your clients where they are, but also allow you to play to your strengths, doing what you enjoy. You’re far more likely to market consistently in that case! The final stage in Review and Renew is the development of your Business Landscape and Snapshot. This is where you put collate the key ideas covering what you want to bring into the world in 2020. This is then developed into your Business Snapshot, a succinct one page plan that lays out the implementation of your plan across the year. I encourage you to invest your time and energy in this process, and to make the most of the opportunity to ask questions and consider new ideas and approaches – I’ll be in the Facebook Community every day ready to help! And if the 9.30am AEDT does not work for your time zone, I encourage you to register anyway, as the recordings will be made available to you and when you tag me in the group with your questions, although I may be asleep at the time, I promise to reply when I wake up! I look forward to helping you Review 2019 and Renew your vision, ideas and energy for 2020! Register here: http://bit.ly/Review2019Plan2020

Post-Traumatic Stress is unfortunately, a term that many of us have heard about, but have you heard of it’s cousin, Post Traumatic Growth?  In this episode, Diane Lang observes how most of us have a story that has led us to the field of helping, just as I believe that next Chapters are often built on skinned knees. Diane has first-hand experience of overcoming emotionally challenging circumstances and thriving as a result and bringing her lessons into her work in the field of positive psychology. She has dedicated her career to helping people turn their lives around and is on a mission to help us develop a sustainable positive attitude that will have sweeping benefits to both your business and your life. Show Notes You can positively change from a traumatic event in your life – the growth comes after the healing You may experience circumstances out of your control, but you can also become a role model for others Our business and life experiences deliver so many ups and downs – and that’s how you develop empathy and emotional intelligence You can’t be happy every day! It’s far better to be self-aware and feel ALL your emotions – that’s where your growth and resilience comes from To grow, you need a support system with one key ingredient – unconditional love How do you build a Positivity Practice? With simple steps… If you feel blocked and struggling, don’t do the same old, same old. Explore something that provides flow for you – when you participate in something that combines challenge and passion you can forget your problems and new ideas arrive Get involved in sport and creativity pursuits – they will de-stress you Cultivate gratitude – over time it retrains your brain to go from negative to positive, and if you do it at night, it will also positively impact on the quality of your sleep because…. What you focus on grows Within a month you will feel the benefits in your business and your life!

We live and work in such a hyper-visible and connected online world today. The windows and front door to our competitor’s businesses are wide open to us through their websites and social media platforms. And so we can find ourselves visiting all too often, obsessing over what services and programs they’re offering, how many comments they’re getting on their blogs and FB Lives, how many people are in their groups, what marketing activities they’re implementing and so on and so on… Occasionally these surreptitious forays can be positively affirming as you benchmark yourself. But in my personal experience, and in hearing the stories of dozens of clients, it’s far more common that these forays see you tumbling headfirst into The Comparison Trap. It’s a place I’ve often fallen into and that’s why I’ve created a 4 step approach to escaping it, quickly! Show Notes There is an endless number of people you could compare yourself, your business and your achievements too, and it’s all too easy to do so, even when you innocently believe you are just in “research mode”. That can be a slippery slope, with an inevitable sense of being on the losing side because there will always be someone who has done something that you wish you could have achieved or feel you should have accomplished by now. You’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg without the bulk of facts that underpin it. How do you know if that “incredible program” is actually selling? How do you know for sure that the owner of the website is happy and fulfilled with their work? How do you know if the “amazingly engaged” Facebook Group you’re lurking in is actually delivering new clients to the founder? How do you know that the pretty average looking course is not a huge profit producer? Even if the projected successes you’re seeing are true, are you actually comparing your business beginning with their mature middle? And is that the actual business that you want? Rather than comparing yourself with others, compare yourself with whom you were last week, last month, last year. Stay connected to your vision. Measure your progress. Create more than you consume. The Escape System brings in two modalities that I’ve found really useful – Acceptance Commitment Theory and the Emotional Freedom Technique. Notice: Recognise the tension Name: Identify the thoughts you are choosing to have and the emotions they are causing Neutralise: Detach from the misbeliefs and release the emotions Nourish: Take care of yourself with a self-compassion plan  In essence, the system is about awareness (notice and name) and action (neutralise and nourish).  A strong mindset is an essential part of being in business for yourself and The Escape System is just one way that I can help you as you discover, deepen and expand in Your Next Chapter. Book a Breakthrough Session with me to discover more!      

Sometimes it doesn’t seem like we are choosing our Next Chapter. Rather, circumstances can thrust it upon you and we all can do is respond. And often, with the benefit of kindsight, we are able to see this was the best possible thing to happen for, rather then too, us!  That was Tracey’s experience when a company restructure changed the direction of her successful corporate career. She made good use of the outplacement services that were offered to her and recognised that there was a demand for her skill base, but it was the casual observation from her Dad that opened a new door “How about you start your own thing?”. Bissett Financial Fitness was the result, a business that provides Tracey with the opportunity to leverage all of her skills, make a real difference, escape her industry paradigm and control her own destiny to boot. What’s not to love about a Next Chapter like that? Show Notes It’s not easy to start and grow your own business, but you have ample evidence from your past of your ability to overcome obstacles and that same determination and resourcefulness is transferable to your new venture Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance – people are kind and want to help Start with a blank page and ask yourself – what’s important to you? How would you most like to design your new business or the next chapter of your current business? Consider what you love, what the market needs and where the intersection between them is It’s always a good idea to develop multiple streams of income opportunities – Tracey combines training and consulting, coaching and speaking Get comfortable with being in the space of not knowing – it’s ok and expected that you will spend a fair amount of time there! Understand that the actions of confidence come first and the feelings of confidence follow – take a breath, screw up your courage and leap Perfectionism can really hold you back – practice letting go Consider assembling your own small Board of Directors to turn to for advice and guidance – it’s invaluable

This week’s episode was inspired by a conversation I had where a client and I discovered the impact of what I call the Chameleon Effect. This is a phenomena that occurs when, for a variety of reasons, we have lost our own value anchors and find ourselves twisting and turning ourselves into a shape that reflects what we think the audience wants of us, whether that be in a job interview or a conversation with a potential new client.  It’s what happens when we fall into wanting to be seen and picked rather than recognised and selected and that’s not a great option for either party.  Show Notes Brene Brown shares that the desire to belong is a deeply held value of all people, so much so that we’ll settle for fitting in, Clarity on your personal brand and message – what you stand for, believe n and wants for your clients is a cornerstone of being able to be “recognised” Congruence across all platform sand touch points is important- will I equally recognise you on a Facebook post, an Instagram story, in a video, on a blog, in person? Being yourself means owning what you now and what you want to contribute to the world Your uniqueness, your individuality, your foibles, your experience, your stories, your skinned knees and honesty are your greatest offerings. They differentiate you. They allow you to be recognised by the people you are here to serve. These qualities – the qualities that reflect who we “really are” – allow us to attract our greatest allies, our most valuable clients and customers, and our most loyal colleagues. You are not here to please everyone! The World of Thirds concept tells us that 1/3 of the audience will likely actively disagree with what we have to say or offer, the next third will not really care, but the final third, your third, will resonate deeply with your message. It is not your job to convince or convert the first 2/3’s – it is simply your role to connect with, contribute to and communicate with your third When you embody who you are you will create your strongest relationships, feel anchored and authentic, connected to your integrity and perhaps most importantly, have fun! Take some time to reacquaint yourself with your values and reflect on how you are showing up – are you anchored in your story, your unique approach to the world? If you need a little adjustment, take action. You’ll be glad you did.  

This week we’ve reached a milestone on the Your Next Chapter – the 100th episode! It’s been an absolute delight to share the stories of so many wholehearted women from around the globe who have stepped into their own next chapters in business and life, to hear of their challenges and triumphs, fears and celebrations, lessons and insights. To celebrate the achievement that 100 episodes represent, I stepped to the other side of the microphone to be interviewed by one of my lovely listeners – the fabulous Dr. Becky Quicke from the UK. We had an absolute ball recording this one for you and hope you enjoy it just as much. And, of course, I look forward to sharing more stories with you as we go forward, along with more solo shows where I’m stepping up my own game to share more of my own insights, ideas, and perspectives with you. Take a moment to subscribe through the links below so you never miss an episode. Show Notes These are the questions Becky posed that I answer… You have been an inspiration for me as I stepped into my next chapter almost a year ago to the day and I know you inspire many women across the globe - who inspired you most to step into your own next chapters and what was it that inspired you? Could you talk us through your next chapters and in particular focus on what wisdom have you taken from each chapter that has led you to the chapter you are in today? So many working mums lose ourselves as we juggle our careers and being mums. Does this resonate with you and if so, would you say you have become more yourself in your next chapter or would you say you have transformed into a different person? I recently heard a wonderful woman called Kelly Diels encourage female entrepreneurs to step away from the audience numbers and followers as the metric of success but to focus on our ‘legacy metric’-what the next generation will gain from our work in the world. How would you describe the legacy that you hope to leave the world and the next generation? Like you I have ‘popcorn brain’ (one of your fab phrases), how do you respond to new inspiration and exciting business ideas whilst maintaining stability and focus? You work with women from within Australia and from all over the world, are there any cultural differences that strike you in relation to women and their next chapters? What has your podcasting journey taught you? How would you like to see your podcast evolve through the next hundred episodes?! Well, a century of podcasts!! Let’s not talk the current Ashes cricket series between England and Australia with Australia winning fair and square but there is a lovely tradition of the batsman or woman raising and pointing their bat towards special people who they would like to acknowledge and share their achievement with. Who would you like to raise your bat towards in sharing your special moment in reaching 100 podcasts?

It’s a not unfamiliar feeling, to know you’re ready for change, but not to be sure exactly what that change might be…  And it’s what Bev Ryan felt when she hit her mid-forties and found herself yearning for a new direction. The opportunity to “do her own thing” was beckoning. With a successful career as a High School Teacher in her toolkit, Bev started to explore her Next Chapter, inspired by the Barbara Sher book “I could do anything if I only knew what it was”. She dug down into her essence, identifying what she felt switched her on and excited her.  New chapters in self-publishing begun to emerge, firstly with her own magazines and then a metamorphosis into a Non-Fiction Book Coach and Publishing Consultant. Today, Bev works with professional service providers whose purpose for publishing is to highlight their expertise in a book, even when they’re not natural writers. This is a vast and deep conversation ranging from Bev’s own journey to top tips for your own publishing adventure.   Show Notes Recognise that fear is normal, but lack of support and isolation are dream killers. Get curious about your fear – what is it trying to tell you? What’s in your own rucksack? Unpack your experience and understand the value of what you can bring to the table Understand the dilemma of your clients – this is vital – don’t guess, research! Self-authorship is the ultimate form of personal development There is such credibility attached to publishing – recognition and authority. Brush past the misbeliefs – you can do this!

Your Next Chapter Podcast is brought to you by www.angelaraspass.com Like many of us, Carolyn admits to accidentally falling into her original career, rather than following a burning ambition. For over 30 years she thrived in the world of advertising agencies and even had her own successful agency in Sydney, her new home after London. Even though Carolyn grew up with a strong social conscience, courtesy of her Mum, she felt that the commercial world of advertising and marketing and her own inner world and values didn’t mix so well. So she kept her client and personal work with organisations such as Amnesty International, separate. But gradually, something began to shift, when she discovered the concept of Cause Marketing and a new opportunity emerged. Carolyn realised that she could align a brand with a cause that would deliver a positive social impact whilst also delivering commercially sound outcomes. The Cause Effect is the result. A Next Chapter Business that beautifully blends Carolyn’s expertise and heart, helping business owners to unlock the full value of a social purpose brand strategy to energise their business Show Notes Go to live events that call to you when you can – what you are exposed to their can shake you up and light your fire! If you feel there is a piece missing in your business, there most likely is. You need to dig deeply to find it, and the way to bring it in  Sometimes happenstance dictates change to us, and that can feel terrifying. But many a Phoenix rises from the ashes. You are sitting on a mountain of value that is unique to you – as Seth Godin says “if you’re not sharing your value, you are actually stealing!” Doubt will rear its head as Imposter Syndrome – you work through this by being clear on your Mission and your Vision  The more strategically aligned your contribution is with your business and brand, the more impact you can make, the more you can leverage  The more you share your vision, the more you will attract people like you, as you differentiate yourself with emotional resonance “I used to love what I do, now I do what I love” The old structures of business are becoming less relevant. There has never been a better time than now to explore and define the value you can bring and to who.

Nancy Collamer doesn’t believe in reinvention and thinks a focus on passions rather the purpose is more likely to provide the path to meaningful and fulfilling work.

Anita took a deep breath as we hit record on this episode saying, “All hail the truth!”. And hail that truth she did, sharing expansively about her career chapters from Radiographer to Project Manager to Co-owner to Sole Proprietor of an online Resort wear business to launching a Body Confidence Movement, whilst raising kids and moving 13 time as a Military Wife. “We have to define success to us because our circumstances are unique to us. My business is deliberately small – if I’d tried to make it bigger with my lifestyle that would have led to just too much extra stress” she states, a sentiment I completely align with. Too often we can be seduced by the lure of “success” showcased by others. We need to take stock of what stage we are at in our lives, what we value and what our personal goals and decide what we actually want before adopting any of those example for ourselves. Anita’s refreshingly open commitment to her own narrative opens the door for us to create our own Next Chapters exactly as we please!

Rachel has a passion, an absolute commitment to seeing women rise, to be seen, heard and valued. Her chapters of moving from Journalist to Mother to Business Owner have not been without challenges to her own confidence and visibility as she navigated the uncharted territory of role and identity transitions.

At a time when being idle is viewed negatively, and we are accustomed to filling every waking moment with activity Susan and her co-author explores why switching off, or at the very least, slowing down, is vital, if we are to live a life of fulfillment, which is what I believe we all want and deserve in our Next Chapter! Your greatest potential is unleashed when you slow down. Do Less Be More reveals the science that explains why doing less is a bonafide strategy for achieving what you really want. We need to learn how to ban busy and focus on what really matters and I’ve discovered that having Vision clarity and awareness of our values and strengths really helps us to be discerning, to say no and embrace silence, space and solitude.

Donna Brown has always been deeply committed to helping people be the best they can be in her 30+ years of work in design, media and business. By digging below the surface, she has helped individuals and business leaders lean into purpose by honouring their interests, talents and natures and having them consciously decide “what do I want my life to look like”. An upcoming milestone birthday and the contemplation that often brings, combined with a desire to integrate her spirittal practices more deeply with her work led Donna to developing The Walking Compassion Project, a personal pilgramage to the Camino Trail, carrying the collective troubles of 100,000 people in one symbolic stone, to be let go. A journey at the pure intersection of contrbution and fulfilment, she knows the ripple effect of the project, externally and internally will be profound.

Ana Kazan is a specialist in Leadership Development theory and innovation with a 20-year background in journalism. She has a Masters in Communication, a PHD in International Self-Leadership and is the co-author of Self-Leadership – how to become a more successful, efficient and effective leader from the inside out. That in and of itself is an impressive bio, but it hardly begins to scratch the surface of the deep core of Ana, a tremendously inspiring woman who has a bold story of tenacity and determination to share, as she resolutely pursued her own “Crazy Next Chapter Dream” of studying in America, writing and sending 100 letters of application before being accepted. I’m sure you’ll be energised by this episode.

I’m finally back Podcasting after a long break! I know that for me time and space for creativity, consideration and relaxation is essential so that I can contribute at the highest level, and I have so much to share with you in 2019. In this episode, I am introducing you to The Next Chapter Model of Change. I realised that within all of the interviews I have staged and in the mentoring sessions, masterminds and retreats I have facilitated there was a model of change I was seeing as women began or realigned their businesses. And so I’m outlining the model for you so you anticipate what’s coming up or understand why and what you are feeling… The model is also at the core of my book I’m in the midst of writing – perhaps you can be one of my accountability buddies for this major project!?