Podcasts about cliftonstrengths

If you lead through the CliftonStrengths talent theme of Activator, (or you know someone who does), this is the episode for you!     Today's Strength Snapshot is Activator The Activator talent theme is fueled by motion, urgency, and decisive energy. People with this strength are naturally action-oriented, dynamic, influential, and initiating. At their core, Activators are wired to start. They don't wait for perfect conditions. They create momentum by taking the first step. Their instinct is simple and powerful: act now, adjust later. Activators often describe themselves as fast, catalytic, propulsive, and impatient. What drives them most is the opportunity to turn ideas into reality. They thrive when they can initiate, instigate, and get things moving. Waiting drains them. Starting energizes them.     When This Strength Is Thriving When Activator is in its strongest state, it brings a surge of energy to people and projects. This strength delivers urgency, instant momentum, and the courage to take risks. Activators naturally step into roles like catalyst, starter, originator, and influencer. They are often the spark that turns discussion into action. While others are still evaluating options, Activators are already testing the path forward. Their willingness to move first often unlocks progress for everyone else.     To close, here's a simple 5-minute experiment to try in the next 24 hours… Choose one idea you've been thinking about but haven't started. Take a single visible action toward it today. Send the email. Draft the outline. Make the call. Notice how quickly your energy rises once movement begins. Activators often discover that action itself is their greatest source of clarity.     Well, that's a wrap for today's episode. What small action can you take to show up at your best, given where you're starting today?    

Today I'm telling you the behind the scenes stories of how I created The Dream Biz Playground and the iterations it went through. As neurodivergent humans, we are often shamed for being “not disciplined” or being “quitters” or “not following through.” But I like to think we are just really good at knowing what is for us and what isn't. You might think if you changed your offer then you're a failure or you built it wrong the first time when actually you were just doing a very necessary part of business: iterating! Listen in to this episode to learn:How my first 2 launches of my community flopped and whyHow iterated from The Dream Biz Mastermind, to The Lab, and now to The PlaygroundWhy creative play is foundational to discovering what you want from your business How my coach helped me use my CliftonStrengths to build my Most Me OfferCoaches Mentioned: Katrina WidenerMolly BalintTracy StangerFollow me on InstagramWork with Me!

Do you ever catch yourself frustrated that other people don't think or perform the way you do? In this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller reveal why that difference is actually good news. Discover how appreciating your own uniqueness frees you from comparison, deepens teamwork, and helps you recognize the countless ways other people are smart and useful. Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode:Why it's a good thing that no one else is like you.How comparing yourself to others drains your confidence and progress.Why complaining that others are different is really the same as complaining about your success.How to quickly spot the specific way another person is smart and uniquely valuable. Show Notes: Wanting to be unique while also blaming others for not being like you is a mental trap that creates frustration and resentment.​As an entrepreneur, your success comes from being usefully different in the marketplace, not from everyone else sharing your strengths or level of intelligence.​Profiles like Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, DISC, and Working Genius® make it obvious that every person is wired in a distinct way that can be incredibly valuable. The fact that other people don't see what you see or think how you think is good news because it proves your uniqueness has real marketplace value.​When you measure other people against your own personal “ideal,” you drop them into “The Gap” instead of appreciating the real progress and capability they already have. The moment you genuinely appreciate your own uniqueness, it becomes much easier and more natural to appreciate other people's uniqueness too. Better teamwork happens when collaborators don't have the same skills, instincts, and talents because each person covers gaps the others can't see or fill. A powerful question to uncover someone's intelligence is, “When it's completely up to you, what do you most like to do?” and then keep asking curious follow-up questions. You'll quickly discover that even people who don't seem “smart” in your way are often extraordinarily knowledgeable and perceptive in areas you know nothing about. Most of the useful progress in the world has come from people without formal credentials who simply applied their kind of intelligence to real-world results. Being okay with the way you're smart liberates you from constant comparison so you can focus on deepening your strengths and expanding your contribution.​Unique Ability® combines what you love doing, what you're exceptionally good at, what gives you energy, and what consistently creates value for others. When you commit to getting better and more useful with your Unique Ability, you naturally attract opportunities, collaborators, and clients who value exactly how you think.​Trying to be good at everything or match other people's strengths keeps you average, while doubling down on your Unique Ability makes you extraordinary.​Appreciating your own uniqueness removes blame, anger, and guilt from relationships and replaces them with curiosity, respect, and more strategic collaboration.​The most productive entrepreneurial communities are built around uniquely different people who share common rules and values, not around everyone being the same. Resources: The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy Unique Ability® Kolbe A™ Index Working Genius® CliftonStrengths® DISC PRINT®

n this episode, I explore a reality many professionals are experiencing right now: choosing to stay in their current role during an uncertain job market. With hiring slowing and job transitions happening less frequently, more professionals are embracing what economists call a “no hire, no fire” labor market.But staying doesn't have to mean stagnating.I walk you through how to make this season intentional and strategic. I explain the difference between strategic staying vs. fear-based staying, and share practical ways to grow, build skills, and prepare for future opportunities while remaining in your current role.You'll learn how to track your wins, identify energizing work, leverage your strengths, expand your network, and invest in professional development so that when the time comes to move, you do it with clarity and confidence not urgency or burnout.This episode is a reminder that growth doesn't always require a leap. Sometimes the most powerful move is preparing quietly and intentionally.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizcareercoaching/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lizcareercoaching/Website: Lizcareercoaching.net Email: lizcareercoaching@gmail.com40 Best Career Coach Podcasts100 Best Coaching PodcastsSupport the show

What if the key to building a high-performing team isn't fixing weaknesses, but maximizing strengths? In this episode, Cam and Otis sit down with Kathy Kersten, a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach who has spent over 15 years helping leaders at Meta, Google, and AWS unlock their teams' potential through the CliftonStrengths framework."I always joke that my Maximizer talent is a warning label, not just a t-shirt," Kathy explains, diving into the power of self-awareness and how understanding your natural talent patterns can transform both individual performance and team dynamics. From discussing the difference between specialty players and utility players to sharing practical strategies for hiring based on strengths rather than just skills, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on leadership.Whether you're an entrepreneur building your first team, a leader looking to optimize performance, or simply curious about how to leverage your own talents more effectively, Kathy's insights provide a roadmap for creating trust-based environments where everyone's unique abilities can flourish.More About Kathy:I'm Kathy Kersten, a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and a dedicated team maximizer with more than 15 years of experience unlocking the potential of individuals and teams. My journey in the world of strengths began with a focus on employee engagement at Rackspace, leading me to specialize in enhancing the dynamics within tech teams and organizations. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of collaborating with tech leaders from esteemed companies such as Meta, Google, and Amazon Web Services.My approach is rooted in creating trust-based environments where everyone's unique talents can flourish. I've facilitated strategic retreats, coached cross-functional teams, and partnered with top educational institutions like Texas A&M University and the University of Texas San Antonio on impactful projects. I also have a strong passion for supporting women's professional development, having served as a coach, facilitator, and keynote speaker for various organizations and events.Chapter Times and Titles:Introduction: Meet Kathy Kersten, the Team Maximizer [00:00 - 03:59]Welcome and the brain metaphor for strengthsKathy's background as a Gallup Certified Strengths CoachWhat is CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder)?Understanding Strengths: More Than Just Being Good at Something [03:59 - 08:30]Defining strength: talent + investment = strengthThe difference between natural patterns and developed skillsWhy is self-awareness the foundationThe Specialty Player vs. Utility Player Debate [08:30 - 19:00]Should you be known for one thing or many?The sports analogy: All-American specialists vs. versatile athletesBalancing specialization with organizational needsZooming In and Out: The Full Strengths Picture [19:00 - 28:45]Beyond the top 5: understanding your complete talent profileHow context determines which strengths to deployThe importance of knowing your bottom strengths, tooBuilding Teams Around Strengths, Not Just Skills [28:45 - 38:30]Hiring for energy and natural talentThe accountant's story: when skills drain your energyIdentifying what gives you zero energy boost vs. what energizes youPractical Application: Strengths in Action [38:30 - 48:00]How entrepreneurs can build their first team using strengthsThe finite nature of time and energyMatching people to roles that energize themThe Maximizer's Perspective on Optimization [48:00 - 56:00]Why does Kathy focus on optimization over fixingCreating trust-based environments for talents to flourishThe power of knowing your team's strengthsLessons Learned and Final Thoughts [56:00 - 59:47]Camden's takeaway on specialty vs. utility valueOtis's ref

If you lead through the CliftonStrengths talent theme of Achiever, (or you know someone who does), this is the episode for you!     Today's Strength Snapshot is Achiever The Achiever talent theme is all about drive, productivity, and forward motion. People with this strength are naturally diligent, ambitious, and self-motivated. At their core, Achievers are wired to accomplish. They're energized by doing, finishing, and progressing. Their internal engine runs on goals, tasks, and measurable movement. They don't wait for motivation. They generate it from within. Achievers often describe themselves as driven, intense, productive, independent, and diligent. What fuels them most is the opportunity to work toward something meaningful. Completion is satisfying. Progress is energizing. And the next goal is always calling their name.     When This Strength Is Thriving When Achiever is operating at full power, it brings remarkable value to any environment. This strength delivers stamina, pace, follow-through, and energy. Achievers often become the pacesetters on a team. Their natural rhythm pulls projects forward. Their diligence keeps things moving. And their consistent output builds trust because others know they'll finish what they start. They often step into roles like producer, doer, completer, or finisher. You can count on them when momentum matters. When there's work to be done, Achievers don't hesitate. They lean in.     To close, here's a simple 5-minute experiment to try in the next 24 hours… Pick one task you've been postponing. Set a five-minute timer. Work on it with full focus until the timer ends. Notice what happens internally. Does your energy rise once you begin? Do you feel momentum kick in? Achievers often unlock motivation through action, not before it.     Well, that's a wrap for today's episode. What small action can you take to show up at your best, given where you're starting today? --- PS: where are Lisa and Brea? Well, Lisa wrote this and Andy did the voiceover. Lisa is on break with her rock band, Spiral Mischief. So Andy will be hosting your CliftonStrengths 34 series.

Mark Mathia explains how to use Gallup's CliftonStrengths to shift teams from individual thinking to collaborative performance. He covers the history of CliftonStrengths, common pitfalls (like low trust or poor coaching), and practical steps to integrate strengths into communication, performance reviews, and daily teamwork. Listeners will learn concrete ways to build trust, make the leap from 'me' to 'we', and tie strengths to measurable performance for sustained growth.

Texas A&M's Bridge's Staff Team Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Learner, Connectedness, Includer, Communication & Woo Barbara shares insights about a recent workshop for the Bridges Staff Team at Texas A&M.   Each person brings their unique strengths.  She talks about some of the insights she observed with the group of five .   Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths  

Master of Multitasking? Discover the Power of the Arranger

This episode with Carrie Fabris had me in tears during the episode, the kind of tears that are quiet and calm and feel like relief because Carrie just gets it. She understands what it means to feel the deep need to make what she calls a "passion pivot" and she did it. This episode is going to inspire you, I just know it!Carrie shares more about her journey of making major career changes and choosing what's best for her. She talks about "burning the boat back" and I know one of you (probably more!) need to hear this affirmation to go all in and leave it all out there. You can literally feel Carrie's calm confidence in this episode and it feels like she's talking to the listener directly. I am beyond grateful to start our year with this interview. Listen in!Carrie Fabris is the founder of CareerFrame, a Dallas-based leadership development and executive coaching firm dedicated to transforming leaders, teams, and organizational culture. She partners with high-performance organizations, including Axios Media, Mouser Electronics, Appfolio, Boingo Wireless, and Expedia, to elevate senior leaders, strengthen leadership teams, and cultivate accountable, thriving workplace cultures.With over 20 years of corporate experience and 15+ years in leadership roles at Google, Travelocity, Sabre, and Travel Leaders Corporate, Carrie combines real-world business insight with her expertise in CliftonStrengths®, EQ-i 2.0, and Situational Leadership®. Through her signature FRAMEit Method, she delivers high-energy, actionable coaching and workshops that help leaders bridge the gap between achievement and legacy, while maintaining balance, purpose, and impact in their professional and personal lives.Carrie is also the author of ALL IN: The Working Mom's Unapologetic Quest for a Juicy Life, sharing her personal journey of navigating corporate ambition, entrepreneurship, and motherhood without compromise. She holds a degree from UT Austin and resides in Dallas with her husband and two children.Instagram: @cdfabrisLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfabris-reframe-coaching-training/ Website: https://www.carriefabris.com/Buy Carrie's Book, ALL IN: https://a.co/d/coENdEP 

In episode 239, Coffey talks with Carrie Fabris about why organizations seem to revisit the same issues repeatedly and how leaders can solve them for good through better communication, alignment, and accountability.  They discuss ineffective workplace communication and recurring problems; intuitive leadership versus inclusive decision-making; defining root causes instead of treating symptoms; creating buy-in through clarity, trust, and shared language; productive conflict and psychological safety on teams; accountability, execution, and avoiding chaos in organizations; leadership energy, burnout prevention, and sustainable performance.  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP239  Carrie's book “ALL IN: A Working Mom's Unapologetic Quest for a Juicy Life” can be found here https://www.carriefabris.com/bookstore  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Carrie Fabris is the founder and CEO of CareerFrame, a leadership development and executive coaching firm that helps high-performing leaders become energized, aligned, and execution-focused. Known for her fast trust and bold clarity, Carrie works with VPs and executive teams navigating growth, succession, and culture shifts.  She brings 20+ years of corporate experience with companies like Google, Travelocity, and Sabre—and for the past 10 years, coaches and advises leaders using her signature FRAMEit Method™, which blends CliftonStrengths®, EQ-i®, Situational Leadership and real-world leadership systems that emphasize a whole-human leadership approach to bring balance for busy people leaders. Carrie is especially passionate about helping leaders have hard conversations, build trust fast, communicate effectively and create accountability that actually energizes. She graduated from UT Austin and resides in Dallas, TX.  Carrie Fabris can be reached at  https://www.careerframe.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfabris-reframe-coaching-training https://www.carriefabris.com/bookstore https://www.instagram.com/cdfabris https://www.facebook.com/chiefreframer https://x.com/yourcareerframe hello@carriefabris.com  About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives:  Identify why unresolved communication leads to recurring organizational problems. Apply practical leadership behaviors that create alignment, buy-in, and accountability. Use frameworks and assessments to improve problem solving, execution, and team trust. 

Parker King introduced Haba Na Haba training on the Ash Said It show as a transformative approach to leadership development. The name comes from a Swahili proverb meaning little by little the pot gets filled. This philosophy drives his work by focusing on incremental growth and sustainable progress rather than instant perfection. Parker was inspired to create this program to help leaders move away from exhausting deficit based models and toward a more natural way of working. For those new to the concept CliftonStrengths is a Gallup assessment that identifies a person unique natural talents. It matters because it provides a precise language for what makes an individual productive and successful. Unlike traditional leadership training which focuses on fixing weaknesses to create well rounded employees a strengths based approach focuses on maximizing what people already do well. This leads to higher engagement and less burnout because leaders are operating in their zone of genius. A common misconception about CliftonStrengths is that it serves as an excuse to ignore weaknesses. In reality it is about managing around weaknesses so they do not hinder performance while investing time where there is the greatest potential for excellence. Leaders who engage in Haba Na Haba training typically see their teams become more collaborative and efficient. The shift occurs when team members stop judging each other for their differences and start valuing those differences as complementary assets. One small change that leads to a big shift is simply reassigning tasks based on energy rather than just job titles. When a leader aligns a project with a team member natural talent the quality of work increases while the time spent on the task decreases. This training benefits emerging leaders and high growth teams the most as it builds a foundation of trust and psychological safety. The first step for anyone curious about using strengths intentionally is to take the CliftonStrengths assessment and review the results through the lens of recent successes. A small action a leader can take this week is to ask their team members which specific tasks gave them the most energy over the last few days. For individuals seeking direct support Parker offers coaching packages ranging from introductory discovery sessions to intensive executive partnerships designed to turn raw talent into consistent performance. Web: http://habanahabatraining.com/ About: Haba Na Haba is a CliftonStrengths® and soft skills training company with over 18 years of experience helping teams harness their unique talents, communicate effectively, and build inclusive environments. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Haba Na Haba specializes in transforming workplace dynamics through strengths-based approaches. Our coaching philosophy centers on practical application—helping individuals and teams not just understand their strengths, but actively use them to achieve meaningful results. - Looking for that extra spark to level up your life? Say hello to Ash Brown—your go-to American powerhouse, motivational speaker, and the ultimate hype-woman for your personal and professional growth. Ash isn't just a voice in personal development; she's a trusted friend who brings real-talk wisdom and contagious energy to every conversation. Whether you're stuck in a rut or ready to scale your dreams, Ash is here to fuel your journey with a mix of heart and hustle.

James" Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Learner, Intellection, Developer, Context, & Input Julie's Top 5 Cliftonstrengths are: Strategic, Input, Relator, Belief & Arranger  James and Julie are both native Texans and have been married 35 years. They have been on staff with ReachGlobal (mission agency of the Evangelical Free Church of America) for 31 years. They lived and served in Kyiv, Ukraine for 15 years and Budapest, Hungary for 15 years. In August 2025 they relocated back to the USA and live in Austin, Texas. They have two wonderful children, Will (married to Courtney and father of our first grandchild) has lived in Warsaw, Poland for three years serving with International Justice Mission; and Katia (married to Luke) lives in Chicago, Illinois and is in her second year of nursing school. Julie and James both love serving in their local church (wherever they are) and are especially drawn to developing the younger generations in their walks with Jesus. Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths Interested in Barbara's Cookbook  

New photo? New name? No, you didn't click the wrong podcast. You're right where you belong—we're just shifting, growing, and stepping into our next chapter.As we celebrate five years of the podcast, we begin with this week's Transformation Tip: “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.”  - Winston ChurchillWe take time to reflect on the themes that have shaped our journey—identity, purpose, emotional intelligence, CliftonStrengths, self-leadership, rest, and growth mindset. This episode also introduces an exciting new chapter with a rebrand and new name, Transformational Leadership: From the Insight Out, along with what's ahead for the podcast. Whether or not you consider yourself a leader, this conversation reminds us that leadership is influence—and we all have it.Connect On Social: Podcast Facebook Page Steve Facebook Steve Instagram Steve LinkedIn Pete Facebook Pete Instagram Pete LinkedIn

0:07 Introduction to Called to Coach3:05 Discovering Gallup and Strengths5:02 Performance Coaching Insights6:37 The Role of Self-Awareness15:29 Managing Weaknesses in Sports19:02 The Evolution of Coaching25:58 Coaching Individual vs. Team Performance29:39 Universal Principles of Success39:23 Navigating Pressure and Fear45:02 Embracing Pressure and Nerves47:38 Pressure of the World Cup56:29 Knowing vs. Believing59:52 Cultural Nuances in Coaching1:03:38 Creating a Fertile Environment for GrowthIn this powerful episode of Gallup's Called to Coach, host Jim Collison and co-host Deepanjan Deb (DD) sit down with world-renowned performance coach Paddy Upton for a wide-ranging conversation on self-awareness, strengths, pressure, and elite performance across sports and business.Paddy shares his journey with Gallup and the CliftonStrengths assessment, first introduced to him during his second master's degree in business coaching. What began as one of many tools quickly became a cornerstone of his coaching philosophy. Drawing from positive psychology, Paddy explains how deep self-awareness—especially understanding one's strengths—creates the foundation for sustained performance. He also shares his own Top 5 strengths (Strategic, Futuristic, Ideation, Self-Assurance, and Achiever) and how they shape the way he coaches individuals and teams.The conversation explores the critical link between performance and self-awareness, with Paddy reflecting on his experience working with elite athletes and leaders across cultures. While many high performers demonstrate strong self-awareness, others struggle to reflect effectively during moments of both success and failure. Paddy emphasizes that this ability to reflect—to understand what's happening mentally in high-stakes moments—is essential for growth, learning, and long-term success.Jim and DD guide the discussion into the practical realities of coaching, especially in sport. Paddy explains how developing athletes must balance building new skills with playing to their strengths. He illustrates this with compelling examples from cricket, including Virat Kohli, whose sustained excellence comes from relentlessly refining his core strengths rather than over-investing in areas that don't naturally suit him.Pressure becomes a central theme as Paddy reframes nerves, fear, and anxiety—not as problems to eliminate, but as natural signals of importance. He explains how pressure is created by the value we place on future outcomes and how performance improves when attention returns to the present moment. These insights resonate not only in sport, but also in corporate and leadership environments where expectations and stakes are high.The episode also dives into culture and leadership, drawing from Paddy's experience coaching diverse teams across countries and disciplines. He explains why culture always starts with leadership and why self-aware leaders are better equipped to adapt their approach across different people and contexts. Using a memorable metaphor, Paddy likens leadership to tending a garden—creating the right conditions for growth rather than trying to control outcomes.Toward the end of the conversation, Paddy introduces a critical distinction between believing in strengths and knowing them. Believing, he argues, is fragile; knowing is grounded in preparation, experience, and trust. Leaders and coaches who help people truly know their strengths create environments where confidence, performance, and resilience can thrive.This episode is packed with real-world stories, practical wisdom, and hard-earned insights from one of the most respected performance coaches in the world. Whether you're a coach, leader, or high performer, you'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how self-awareness, strengths, culture, and pressure intersect to drive exceptional performance.

0:07 Introduction to Called to Coach3:05 Discovering Gallup and Strengths5:02 Performance Coaching Insights6:37 The Role of Self-Awareness15:29 Managing Weaknesses in Sports19:02 The Evolution of Coaching25:58 Coaching Individual vs. Team Performance29:39 Universal Principles of Success39:23 Navigating Pressure and Fear45:02 Embracing Pressure and Nerves47:38 Pressure of the World Cup56:29 Knowing vs. Believing59:52 Cultural Nuances in Coaching1:03:38 Creating a Fertile Environment for GrowthIn this powerful episode of Gallup's Called to Coach, host Jim Collison and co-host Deepanjan Deb (DD) sit down with world-renowned performance coach Paddy Upton for a wide-ranging conversation on self-awareness, strengths, pressure, and elite performance across sports and business.Paddy shares his journey with Gallup and the CliftonStrengths assessment, first introduced to him during his second master's degree in business coaching. What began as one of many tools quickly became a cornerstone of his coaching philosophy. Drawing from positive psychology, Paddy explains how deep self-awareness—especially understanding one's strengths—creates the foundation for sustained performance. He also shares his own Top 5 strengths (Strategic, Futuristic, Ideation, Self-Assurance, and Achiever) and how they shape the way he coaches individuals and teams.The conversation explores the critical link between performance and self-awareness, with Paddy reflecting on his experience working with elite athletes and leaders across cultures. While many high performers demonstrate strong self-awareness, others struggle to reflect effectively during moments of both success and failure. Paddy emphasizes that this ability to reflect—to understand what's happening mentally in high-stakes moments—is essential for growth, learning, and long-term success.Jim and DD guide the discussion into the practical realities of coaching, especially in sport. Paddy explains how developing athletes must balance building new skills with playing to their strengths. He illustrates this with compelling examples from cricket, including Virat Kohli, whose sustained excellence comes from relentlessly refining his core strengths rather than over-investing in areas that don't naturally suit him.Pressure becomes a central theme as Paddy reframes nerves, fear, and anxiety—not as problems to eliminate, but as natural signals of importance. He explains how pressure is created by the value we place on future outcomes and how performance improves when attention returns to the present moment. These insights resonate not only in sport, but also in corporate and leadership environments where expectations and stakes are high.The episode also dives into culture and leadership, drawing from Paddy's experience coaching diverse teams across countries and disciplines. He explains why culture always starts with leadership and why self-aware leaders are better equipped to adapt their approach across different people and contexts. Using a memorable metaphor, Paddy likens leadership to tending a garden—creating the right conditions for growth rather than trying to control outcomes.Toward the end of the conversation, Paddy introduces a critical distinction between believing in strengths and knowing them. Believing, he argues, is fragile; knowing is grounded in preparation, experience, and trust. Leaders and coaches who help people truly know their strengths create environments where confidence, performance, and resilience can thrive.This episode is packed with real-world stories, practical wisdom, and hard-earned insights from one of the most respected performance coaches in the world. Whether you're a coach, leader, or high performer, you'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how self-awareness, strengths, culture, and pressure intersect to drive exceptional performance.

Organizational consultant Jacqueline Robinson joins me for a powerful conversation on authenticity, leadership, and what it truly means to lead from within. We explore my proprietary framework, Authentic Imprint™ the alignment of strengths, core values, mission, and emotional recognition and how these elements shift depending on the season of life you're in. Jacqueline shares how her mission of elevating people and celebrating culture has served as a North Star throughout her career, even during seasons of caretaking, entrepreneurship, and personal disruption. Her reflections reinforce that authenticity isn't static it's a daily practice of self-management. We also went deep into emotional recognition and energy management, especially in a world filled with distraction, pressure, and constant task switching. Jacqueline highlightes how awareness naming emotions before they shape behavior allows leaders to respond instead of react. From leveraging CliftonStrengths intentionally, to dialing strengths up or down when needed, to redefining productivity as managing energy instead of time, this conversation is a reminder that leadership starts internally. When we lead ourselves well, alignment follows and so does impact, whether locally or globally. Top 3 Takeaways: 1. Authentic leadership starts with alignment: When strengths, values, mission, and emotional awareness work together, leadership feels more natural and sustainable. 2. Emotional recognition is a leadership skill: Pausing to notice and name emotions helps leaders stay grounded, focused, and intentional especially during stressful seasons. 3. Manage energy, not just time: True productivity comes from protecting attention, prioritizing what matters most, and honoring what fuels your well-being. Episode Minutes: Minute 3: Exploring the Authentic Imprint Assessment Minute 9: Understanding Strengths and Emotional Recognition Minute 15: Aligning Actions with Values Minute 29: Managing Energy vs. Time Links + Resources from This Episode: Learn more about Jaclynn's work at www.jaclynnrobinson.com Explore purpose-driven products at www.jaclynnrobinson.com/shop Follow Jaclynn on Instagram  Take the free 3-minute Authentic Imprint Assessment Get a copy of Dana's book, The Internal Revolution: Lead Authentically and Build Your Personal Brand from Within Learn more about The Strengths Journal

Most high performers aren't stuck because they lack discipline. They're stuck because they're trying to fix things that were never meant to be their strengths. That's not growth — that's burnout with a productivity planner. In this episode of PivotMe, April dismantles one of the most persistent myths in personal development: that success requires being "well-rounded." Drawing from strengths psychology, Gallup research, and real-world high performers, April explains why obsessing over weaknesses produces minimal return — and why leverage, not balance, is the real driver of scale. This episode is for anyone who feels exhausted trying to improve in areas that drain them, while underusing the strengths that actually move the needle. Key Takeaways The myth of being well-rounded High performers are intentionally uneven. They don't chase balance — they chase leverage. What strengths psychology proves Research from Gallup and CliftonStrengths shows that people who develop strengths are more engaged, productive, and fulfilled, while weakness-fixation yields diminishing returns. Why fixing weaknesses feels responsible Weakness work feels humble and mature — but it's often fear in disguise. Strengths create visibility, expectation, and accountability. What elite performers actually do They: Name their strengths clearly Design systems and teams around weaknesses Build leverage instead of willpower Limitations vs. liabilities A limitation is something you're not great at. A liability is something you refuse to acknowledge. Awareness neutralizes weakness. Denial weaponizes it. Quotes "High performers are not well-rounded. They are intentionally uneven." "Weaknesses rarely become strengths — they usually just become less annoying." "You don't scale by becoming more balanced. You scale by becoming more you — on purpose." "Your business doesn't grow when you fix everything. It grows when you stop asking your weaknesses to lead." The Challenge Ask yourself honestly: What am I trying to fix that I should be designing around? Which strength have I underused because it makes me visible? What would change if I trusted my strengths enough to build around them? Stop fixing. Start leveraging. Growth doesn't come from becoming well-rounded. It comes from becoming effective. Your job isn't to be everything. Your job is to be dangerously good at the things that matter most. Keep pivoting forward, Pivoter. ____________ Want help identifying and leveraging your strengths — without burning yourself out?

Olá, olá!O TPS te ajuda a conhecer melhor os seus talentos e entender como aplicá-los em diferentes situações da vida – pessoal e profissional.Até que enfim o TPS está de volta!!!! Hoje apenas para recados, status e combinados. Mas é um episódio muito importante! Semana que vem recomeçamos, ok?Ouça, aproveite para você e compartilhe para ajudar outras pessoas a entender e usar melhor os próprios talentos!FAÇA PARTE DOS APOIADORES DO TPS (Apenas R$ 15 por mês): https://apoia.se/tps LINKS CITADOS NO EPISÓDIO:Meus contatos e etc: https://www.pontosfortes.com.br/linksMeu Blog: https://www.pontosfortes.com.br/blogMinha Newsletter: https://news.pontosfortes.com.brLink para compartilhar com os amigos: https://www.podfollow.com/talentosparaosucessoLink para comprar o CliftonStrengths: https://store.gallup.com/h/pt-brLink para comprar o livro (CliftonStrengths Top 5 incluso): https://amzn.to/3KpLkY2#gallup #talentos #pontos #fortes #rodrigo #ferreira #strengths #coach #coaching #treinamentos #vendas #liderança

Qui oserait chanter un morceau des Beatles devant 150 personnes pour présenter une nouvelle organisation ?Stéphane Fezais l'a fait — et ce n'était pas un “coup”. C'était une manière d'embarquer, de créer de la cohésion, et de donner le ton : avancer ensemble.Formé à la Sorbonne en analyse des politiques économiques et passionné de tech, Stéphane a construit un parcours atypique jusqu'à devenir Directeur des Services et Infrastructures Numériques chez Klee Group.Dans cet épisode, il partage une conviction forte : être DSI, c'est avant tout manager des personnes — avec tout ce que cela implique de relationnel, d'émotionnel et de confiance.Depuis près de 10 ans, il s'appuie sur l'approche CliftonStrengths pour cultiver ses forces, faire grandir ses équipes et renforcer l'esprit collectif.Ses 5 talents dominants : Woo, Communication, Arranger, Positivity, Context.Un épisode rafraîchissant, concret et profondément humain — sur la manière dont capitaliser sur ses forces naturelles peut faire grandir tout un collectif.--- Culture Talents est un podcast proposé par Le Labo des Talents.Animation : Florence HardyRéalisation : César Defoort | Natif.

In this episode of The Audit, co-hosts Eric Brown and Nick Mellem dive deep into organizational psychology and team dynamics with a refreshingly honest look at how IT Audit Labs is using assessments like CliftonStrengths, Kolbe, and PRINT to decode their team. This isn't fluffy HR talk—it's strategic workforce optimization that directly impacts how security teams respond to threats, collaborate under pressure, and execute on complex projects.Eric and Nick discuss why understanding your team's natural strengths, motivators, and triggers is just as critical as deploying the right tech stack. From reducing meeting bloat to being more intentional with time and resources, they share real-world lessons on building a culture where people operate in their zone of genius. Plus, they tackle the "what tool would you deploy first" scenario—spoiler: it's not what you think.

Mark Mathia breaks down Gallup's report on growing manager spans of control and rising burnout, answering listener questions about root causes and practical fixes. He covers how misaligned incentives, low engagement, and overloaded to-do lists drive burnout, and shares his PSE coaching framework (Psychology, Strategy, Energy), plus strength-based tools like CliftonStrengths and Gallup Q12 to restore momentum, profit, time, and teamwork.

Welcome to the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about how to effectively manage your stress and recover from burnout so that you can thrive as your authentic self.Jennifer Bassman is a relatable, engaging and humorous keynote speaker, writer, and business owner. She has dedicated over 15 years to researching stress and burnout to provide women with practical solutions using psychology and neuroscience background.Jennifer's expertise lies in addressing significant stress contributors, including societal expectations, hormonal changes, and the pervasive belief that women must shoulder all responsibilities. Her effective Triumphs Toolkit has been used by hundreds of women to build mental strength, while getting rid of the mental load and burdens that have been obstacles.As the author of “Unshakable: A Woman's Guide to Political Burnout,” "Unstuck & Unstressed," "Stop Being a Doormat," and "The Burnout Recovery Method," she offers invaluable insights and realistic strategies for stress management and burnout recovery. Certified as a CliftonStrengths coach, Jennifer has coached hundreds of business professionals through burnout recovery since 2012. Her passion for supporting female entrepreneurs is evident in her personalized coaching and speaking engagements. Jennifer's journey began in Des Moines, Iowa, where she grew up as a people-pleasing perfectionist with a love for dogs, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and fresh sweet corn. In her early 20s, she founded her first business, navigating the challenges with Diet Dr Pepper and sheer determination.Today, she resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and four high-maintenance rescue dogs, drawing on her 24 years of pet care industry experience to enrich her work. Her relatable approach and deep understanding of burnout make her a sought-after speaker, empowering women to manage stress and reclaim their lives with resilience and humor.Connect with Jennifer Here: https://triumphstoolkit.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbassman/https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferbassmanhttps://www.instagram.com/jennifer_bassmanhttps://www.pinterest.com/Jennifer_Bassman/https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferbassmanhttps://jenniferbassman.com/Grab the freebie here: https://jennifer-jenniferbassman-com.kit.com/mental-load-detox-sign-up===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

Welcome back to The Ripple Effect Podcast. Today's conversation is one of those interviews that sticks with you long after it ends. Meet Jen Newbill. Jen brings over 25 years of HR experience across talent acquisition, leadership development, learning and development, and HR operations. She has coached leaders and executives in both startup and large enterprise environments and completed the Awaken Coach Institute, an ICF-accredited coaching program. Throughout her career, Jen has led large, complex programs and teams of more than 50 employees, with a deep passion for feedback, coaching, and leadership growth. Most recently, Jen served as Global Director of Emerging Talent Recruiting at Dell Technologies, where she led employer branding efforts for students and early-career talent. Over her 21-year tenure at Dell, she held multiple leadership roles across recruiting, leadership development, HR operations, and employment branding, including launching and growing Dell's global talent-attraction and employment brand team. Her work emphasized engagement, collaboration, trust, and data-driven decision-making. A strong advocate for workplace transparency, Jen was named a Glassdoor Top Talent Warrior and has served on advisory boards for CareerXRoads, Glassdoor, and Universum. She has been featured in major publications and is a frequent podcast guest and conference speaker. Jen is also a certified CliftonStrengths coach, a 200-hour certified yoga teacher, and a certified meditation teacher, bringing a whole-person, strengths-based approach to her leadership and team coaching. If you are a leader, executive, or people manager who feels like performance reviews miss the mark, employee engagement is slipping, or burnout is quietly taking over your team, listen until the end. Jen brings a strengths-based leadership lens to everything she does as a CliftonStrengths certified coach, and she breaks down how you can use tools like Gallup StrengthsFinder to build high-performing teams, improve leadership communication, and create a strengths-based culture that lasts. We talk about why so many employees feel uninvested at work, how leaders can become better listeners, and why relationship-building at work is more important than ever in today's corporate environment. This conversation is honest, practical, and grounded in real corporate experience. If you are looking for a better way to lead, inspire, and perform without burning yourself or your people out, you are in the right place. Connect with Jen Newbill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjonesnewbill/ Website: https://newday-coaching.com/ Ripple with Steve Harper Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon X: https://twitter.com/rippleon Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

Discover how personality assessments like StrengthsFinder and Working Genius help church leaders hire the right staff and build stronger teams. Learn practical ways to use personality profiles for team development, understand your staff's wiring, and create a healthy church culture. Perfect for pastors and ministry leaders looking to improve hiring, reduce staff conflict, and maximize team strengths. Topics include: when to use assessments, how to apply them in hiring, team communication strategies, and balancing pragmatic leadership tools with Biblical principles.Here's a few that we've used:- Clifton Strengths: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx- DISC: https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc- APEST: https://www.alanhirsch.org/tests- Working Genius: https://www.workinggenius.com/

Strategic thinkers see patterns others miss

Few things sharpen a coach's skills more than listening in on a real coaching session guided by MCC-level insight. In this episode, you'll hear an actual recording from Bryan Brown, MCC, a session that was part of the portfolio he submitted for his Master Certified Coach credential. His calm presence, precise questions, and steady partnership offer a rare look at coaching mastery in real time. Along the way, Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC, provides thoughtful commentary that highlights what's happening beneath the surface. She draws attention to the subtle skills Bryan uses to evoke awareness, empower choice, and hold space for deep transformation. Whether you're an experienced coach or still growing your confidence, this combination of live coaching and expert reflection will equip, inspire, and expand your understanding of what truly excellent coaching can sound like. About Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC Cindy has a passion for supporting coaches in personal and professional development journeys. Having lived internationally in leadership roles for 27 years, she's energized by diverse cultures and human experiences. These experiences enhance her coaching interactions significantly. Cindy holds her ICF MCC credential and is a certified Mentor Coach and Coach Supervisor. Additionally, she's a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach with an MA in Counseling. She serves as Director of Education at Professional Christian Coaching Institute, an ICF accredited level 1 and level 2 provider. In her private practice, she offers life coaching, CliftonStrengths coaching, ICF mentor coaching and coach supervision. Learn more at: https://coachingwithcindy.com -- About Bryan Brown Bryan Brown, MDiv, PCCis the President and Founder of Coaching To Lead, LLC. With 25 years experience in developing leaders, Bryan enjoys increasing the capacity and confidence of emerging leaders as well as coaching established leaders to maximize their influence. Bryan also enjoys using his experience to work with teams on strategic planning and team development. Bryan studied Human Resource Management at Samford University then received his M.Div. from Birmingham Theological Seminary. As a missionary, pastor, entrepreneur, husband and father, he has learned to apply the principles of Biblical leadership and team development in multiple contexts. Bryan currently serves as the International Leadership Director at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, working with pastors and church leaders who seek to ignite movements of Life on Life Missional Discipleship around the world. In this role, he has the privilege to regularly train and coach leaders in Australia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. Bryan also engages leaders through his private coaching practice, www.coachingtolead.com, to clarify and intentionally pursue their callings. His passion and experience is coming alongside leaders to accelerate their growth and influence, while at the same time maintaining their personal health and enjoying the opportunities before them. Bryan is also the developer of Trusted Leader 360 °a  Christ-centered 360° tool designed to help leaders grow in emotional intelligence, relational trust, and lasting impact The Coaching Process diagram: www.professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle    --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

Dawn's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Activator, Woo, Empathy, Connecetness and Restorative  Dawn lives in Dallas. TX. She recently made the move to East-West ministries from Cru where she helps mobilize the next generation to go to the spiritual darkest places of the world. She enjoys all things outdoors, a good cup of coffee with good conversation.  Prayer in the Night: For those who Work, or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren is one of the books that has ministered to her in her journey.  Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths  

In this empowering episode, Carrie Fabris, Founder of CareerFrame, shares how to elevate manager engagement for lasting profitability and legacy. If you struggle with a weak leadership bench eroding your gains, you won't want to miss itYou will discover:- How to use Frame It for frequent, accountable leadership growth- Why high engagement boosts profitability by 21% in top quartiles- What ongoing practice turns insights into real behavioral changeThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 5 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizWith over 20 years of corporate experience and 15+ years in leadership roles at Google, Travelocity, Sabre, and Travel Leaders Corporate, Carrie combines real-world business insight with her expertise in CliftonStrengths®, EQ-i 2.0, and Situational Leadership®. Through her signature FRAMEit Method, she delivers high-energy, actionable coaching and workshops that help leaders bridge the gap between achievement and legacy, while maintaining balance, purpose, and impact in their professional and personal lives. Carrie is also the author of ALL IN: The Working Mom's Unapologetic Quest for a Juicy Life, sharing her personal journey of navigating corporate ambition, entrepreneurship, and motherhood without compromise.Want to learn more about Carrie Fabris's work at CareerFrame? Check out her website at https://www.carriefabris.com/Get a copy of her book All In: A Working Mom's Unapologetic Quest for a Juicy Life at https://www.amazon.com/All-Working-Unapologetic-Quest-Juicy/dp/1945587776Check her The FRAMEit™ Method Flyer at https://www.scalearchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FrameIt_Flyer_Final.pdf Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you're a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you're doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's QuizTake the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you're a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you're doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Host, Mark Mathia. In this episode Mark explains how to use your CliftonStrengths to increase profit across your business by focusing on small, high-impact actions in areas like pricing, upsells/cross-sells, and cost reduction. He shares the history of strength-based psychology, practical examples from his top five strengths, and simple steps to integrate strengths into daily decisions to achieve greater margins, time freedom, and better teamwork.

Barbara's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Harmony, Adaptabilty, Empathy, Connectedness and Maximizer  Maximizer is one of Barbara's top strengths and as she thinks about 2026 it gives her some intentionality in areas of her life that she wants to maximize!  Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths     

In Episode 304 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Ryan Crittenden, a strength-based coach, Army veteran, and founder of XL Coaching and Development, to kick off the new year with a powerful reframe on growth, leadership, and self-belief. Ryan breaks down why coaching is not about fixing what's wrong, but about drawing out what's already there, helping people understand and use their natural strengths instead of fighting against them. Through stories from his military service and his transition into leadership coaching, Ryan explains how belonging, clarity, and self-awareness are often the missing pieces for leaders who feel stuck, burned out, or out of control.This conversation is especially timely for anyone heading into a new year feeling pressure to reinvent themselves or overhaul their entire life or business. Kelly and Ryan explore how real growth starts with one small step, not massive overcorrection, and how understanding your strengths can unlock better decision-making, stronger leadership, healthier relationships, and more sustainable success. Whether you're a founder, sales leader, entrepreneur, or emerging professional, this episode offers a grounded, practical way to reset your mindset and build the year ahead around who you actually are, not who you think you're supposed to be.Key Takeaways:1. Coaching works best when it draws out what is already inside you instead of trying to fix you.2. Great leaders create belonging in simple moments and those moments can change everything for someone.3. When life feels out of control the first move is not a massive overhaul it is one small step toward clarity.4. You do not need someone to fix you you often need someone to listen so you can think clearly again.5. Strengths based development starts with what is right with you and turns that into repeatable performance.6. CliftonStrengths reveals natural talent patterns and your job is to build them into real strengths through awareness and action.7. Knowing who you are not is just as valuable as knowing what you are good at because it helps you partner build systems or delegate.8. Most people perform better when they feel part of creating the solution so keep asking better questions instead of forcing answers.9. Big goals can overwhelm you into doing nothing so shrink the focus to the next step and let momentum do the rest.10. When teams share a common language for strengths and energy they collaborate faster trust more and stop misreading each other.2026 Title Sponsor

Larry Dodd is an executive coach and founder of Open Playbook with more than 35 years of experience helping leaders and teams reconnect to what drives real performance. His journey includes navigating career choices that were initially misaligned with his natural strengths, an experience that forced him to work harder than necessary and ultimately sparked deeper self-examination. Through setbacks, reflection, and disciplined personal growth, he developed a strengths-based methodology rooted in understanding innate talents, building confidence, and turning self-awareness into effective leadership. His career includes high-impact roles such as working with the San Francisco Giants, where a pivotal opportunity reinforced the importance of confidence, preparation, and offering value without fear of failure. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Larry Dodd explains how Open Playbook helps individuals and organizations rebuild connection in a disconnected, post-pandemic world. His work centers on three core concepts: the playbook you are given, the playbook you develop, and the playbook you give away. By using tools such as CliftonStrengths alongside deep, human-centered coaching, he helps people align roles with strengths, build engaged teams, and create cultures where leaders invest in others rather than operate in isolation. Key takeaways include the importance of connection over convenience, confidence built through repetition and guided reflection, and viewing setbacks as catalysts for growth. His current work focuses on developing strengths-based leaders who create lasting impact by sharing their experiences, mentoring others, and building teams that thrive rather than merely perform. Quotes: “Everybody has inherent talents, but if we never stop to understand what we actually have, we end up working twice as hard just to play even.” “Nothing replaces connection. You can get information faster than ever, but developing people still requires time, trust, and human presence.” “As you do the work, you build confidence. As you build confidence, you take risks. And when you repeat that cycle enough times, people start asking how you got there.” “Success is not a straight line. It is a series of setbacks and breakthroughs, and those setbacks are often where the real strength is built.” Resources: Connect with Larry Dodd on LinkedIn Discover Larry Dodd's strengths-based approach to leadership and performance.

Another year ends, and once more, it's time to reflect on our creative goals. I hope you can take the time to review your goals and you're welcome to leave a comment below about how the year went. Did you achieve everything you wanted to? Let me know in the comments. It's always interesting looking back at my goals from a year ago, because I don't even look at them in the months between, so sometimes it's a real surprise how much they've changed! You can read my 2025 goals here and I go through how things went below. In the intro, Written Word Media 2025 Indie Author Survey Results, TikTok deal goes through [BBC]; 2025 review [Wish I'd Known Then; Two Authors], Kickstarter year in review; Plus, Anthropic settlement, the continued rise of AI-narrated audiobooks, and thinking/reasoning models (plus my 2019 AI disruption episode). My Bones of the Deep thriller, pics here, and Business for Authors webinars, coming soon. If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) a month. Join us at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. J.F. Penn books — Death Valley, The Buried and the Drowned, Blood Vintage Joanna Penn books — Successful Self-Publishing, 4th Edition The Creative Penn Podcast and my community on Patreon/thecreativepenn Unexpected addition: Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester Book marketing. Not quite a fail but definitely lacklustre. Reflections on my 50th year Double down on being human. Travel and health. You can find all my books as J.F. Penn and Joanna Penn on your favourite online store in all the usual formats, or order from your local library or bookstore. You can also buy direct from me at CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com. I'm not really active on social media, but you can always see my photos at Instagram @jfpennauthor. J.F. Penn — Death Valley. A Thriller. This was my ‘desert' book, partially inspired by visiting Death Valley, California in 2024. It's a stand-alone, high stakes survival thriller, with no supernatural elements, although there are ancient bones and a hidden crypt, as it wouldn't be me otherwise! The Kickstarter campaign in April had 231 Backers pledging £10,794 (~US$14,400) and the hardback is a gorgeous foiled edition with custom end papers and research photos as well as a ribbon. As an AI-Assisted Artisan Author, I used AI tools to help with the creative and business processes, including the background image of the cover design, the custom end papers, and the Death Valley book trailer, which I made with Midjourney and Runway ML. The audiobook is also narrated by my J.F. Penn voice clone, which took a while to get used to, but now I love it! You can listen to a sample here. I published Death Valley wide a few months later over the summer, so it is now out on all platforms. J.F. Penn — Blood Vintage. A Folk Horror Novel, and Catacomb audiobook I did a Kickstarter for the hardback edition of Blood Vintage in late 2024, and then in 2025, worked with a US agent to see if we could get a deal for it. That didn't happen, and although there were some nice rejections, mostly it was silence, and the waiting around really was a pain in the proverbial. So, after a year on submission, I published Blood Vintage wide, so it's available everywhere now. My voice clone narrated the audiobook, listen to a sample here. I also finally produced the audiobook for Catacomb, which is a stand-alone thriller inspired by the movie Taken and the legend of Beowulf set in the catacombs under Edinburgh. I used a male voice from ElevenLabs, and you can listen to a sample here. The book is also available everywhere in all formats. J.F. Penn — The Buried and the Drowned Short Story Collection One of my goals for 2025 was to get my existing short stories into print, mainly because they exist only as digital ebook and audiobook files, which in a way, feels like they almost don't exist! Plus, I wanted to write an extra two exclusive stories and launch the special edition collection on Kickstarter Collection and then publish wide. I wrote the two stories, The Black Church, inspired by my Iceland trip in March, and also Between Two Breaths, inspired by an experience scuba diving at the Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand almost two decades ago. There are personal author's notes accompanying every story, so it's part-short story fiction, part-memoir, and I human-narrated the audiobook. I achieved this goal with a Kickstarter in September, 2025, with 206 Backers pledging almost £8000 (~US$10,600) for the various editions. I also did my first patterned sprayed edges and I love the hardback. It has head and tail bands which make the hardback really strong, gorgeous paper, foiling, a ribbon, colour photos, and custom end papers. The Buried and the Drowned is now out everywhere in all editions. As ever, if you enjoy the stories, a review would be much appreciated! Joanna Penn Books for Authors Early in the year, How to Write Non-Fiction Second Edition launched wide as I only sold it through my store in 2024, so it's available everywhere in all formats including a special hardback and workbook at CreativePennBooks.com. While I didn't write it in 2025, I made the money on it this year, which is important! I also unexpectedly wrote the Fourth Edition of Successful Self-Publishing, mainly because I saw so much misinformation and hype around selling direct, and I also wanted to write about how many options there are for indie authors now. The ebook and audiobook (narrated by human me) are free on my store, CreativePennBooks.com and also available in print, in all the usual places. If you haven't revisited options for indie authors for a while, please have a read/listen, as the industry moves fast! All my fiction and non-fiction audiobooks are now on YouTube After an inspiring episode with Derek Slaton, I put all my audiobooks and short stories on YouTube. Firstly, my non-fiction channel is monetised so I get some income from that. It's not much, but it's something. More importantly, it's marketing for my books, and many audiobook listeners go on to buy other editions especially non-fiction listeners who will often buy print as well. I'm one of those listeners! It's also doubling down on being human, since I human narrate most of my audiobooks, including almost all of my non-fiction, as well as the memoir, and short stories. This helps bring people into my ecosystem and they may listen to the podcast as well and end up buying other books or joining the Patreon. Finally, in an age of generative AI assisted search recommendations, I want my books and content inside Gemini, which is Google's AI. I want my books surfaced in recommendations and YouTube is owned by Google, and their AI overviews often point to videos. Only you can decide what you want to do with your audiobooks, but if you want to listen to mine, they are on YouTube @thecreativepenn for non-fiction or YouTube @jfpennauthor for fiction and memoir. The Creative Penn Podcast and my Patreon Community It's been another full year of The Creative Penn Podcast and this is episode 842, which is kind of crazy. If you don't know the back story, I started podcasting in March 2009 on a sporadic schedule and then went to weekly about a decade ago in 2015 when I committed to making it a core part of my author business. Thanks to our wonderful corporate sponsors for the year, all services I personally use and recommend — ProWritingAid, Draft2Digital, Kobo Writing Life, Bookfunnel, Written Word Media, Publisher Rocket and Atticus. It's also been a fantastic year inside my Patreon Community at patreon.com/thecreativepenn so thanks to all Patrons! I love the community we have as I am able to share my unfiltered thoughts in a way that I have stopped doing in the wider community. Even a tiny paywall makes a big difference in keeping out the haters. I've done monthly audio Q&As which are extra solo shows answering patron questions. I've also done several live office hours on video, and shared content every week on AI tools, writing and author business tips. Patrons also get discounts on my webinars. I did two webinars on The AI-Assisted Artisan Author, which I am planning to run again sometime in 2026 as they were a lot of fun and so much continues to change. If you get value from the show and you want more, come on over and join us at patreon.com/thecreativepenn We have almost 1400 paying members now which is wonderful. Thanks for being part of the Community! Unexpected goal of the year: Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester During the summer as I did my gothic research, I realised that I was feeling quite jaded about the publishing world and sick of the drama in the author community over AI. My top 5 Clifton Strengths are Learner, Intellection, Strategic, Input, and Futuristic — and I needed more Input and Learning. I usually get that from travel and book research, but I wasn't getting enough of that since Jonathan is busy finishing his MBA. So I decided to lean into the learning and asked ChatGPT to research some courses I could do that would suit me. It found the Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester, which I could do full-time and online. It would be a year of reading quite different things, writing academic essays which is something I haven't done for decades, and hanging out with a new group of people who were just as fascinated with macabre topics as I am. I started in September and have now finished the first term, tackling topics around thanatology and death studies, hell and the afterlife in the Christian tradition, and the ethics of using human remains to inspire fiction, amongst other interesting things. It was a challenge to get back into the style of academic essay writing, but I'm enjoying the rigour of the research and the citations, which is something that the indie author community needs more of, a topic I will revisit in 2026. I have found the topics fascinating, and the degree is a great way to expand my mind in a new direction, and distract me from the dramas of the author community. I'll be back into it in mid-January and will finish in September 2026. Book marketing. Not quite a fail but definitely lacklustre. I said I would “Do a monthly book marketing plan and organise paid ad campaigns per month for revolving first books in series and my main earners.” I didn't do this! I also said I would organise my Shopify stores, CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com into more collections to make it easier for readers to find things they might want to buy. While I did change the theme of CreativePennBooks.com over to Impulse to make it easier to find collections, I haven't done much to reorganise or add new pathways through the books. I'm rolling this part of the goal into 2026. I said I would reinvigorate my content marketing for JFPenn, and make more of BooksAndTravel.page with links back to my stores, and do fiction specific content marketing with the aim of surfacing more in the LLMs as generative search expands. I did a number of episodes on Books and Travel in 2025, but once I started the Masters, I had to leave that aside, and although I have started some extra content on JFPennBooks.com, I am not overly enthusiastic about it! I also said I would “Leverage AI tools to achieve more as a one-person business.” I use AI tools (mainly ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini) every day for different things but as ever, I am pretty scatter gun about what I do. I lean into intuition and I love research so I am more likely to ask the AI tools to do a deep research report on south Pacific merfolk mythology, or how gothic architecture impacted sacred music, or geology and deep time, rather than asking for marketing hooks. I intended to use more AI for book marketing, but as ever, I was too optimistic about the timeline of what might be possible. There's lots you can do with prompting, finessing things and then posting on various platforms, but I'm not interested in spending time doing that. My gold standard for an AI assistant is to feed it the finished book and then say, “Here's a budget. Go market this,” and not have to connect lots of things together into some Frankenstein-workflow. That's not available yet. Maybe in 2026 … Of course, I still do book marketing. I have to in order to sell any books and make money from book sales. We all have to do some kind of book marketing! I have my Kickstarter launches which I put effort into, as well as consistent backlist sales fed by the podcast, and my email newsletter (my combined list is around 60K). I have auto campaigns running on Amazon Ads, and I have used Written Word Media campaigns as well as BookBub throughout the year. This is basically the minimum, so as usual, must do better! I'm pretty sure I'm not the only author saying this! However, my business has multiple streams of income, and I have the podcast sponsorship revenue as well as the Patreon, plus sporadic webinars, which add to my bottom line and don't require paid advertising at all. Reflections on my 50th year I woke up on my 50th birthday in March in Iceland, by the Black Church of Budir out on the Skaefellsnes peninsula. As seals played in the sea and we walked in the snow over the ancient lava field under the gaze of the volcano that inspired Jules Verne Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and my short story, The Black Church, which you can find in my collection, The Buried and the Drowned. On that trip, we also saw the northern lights and had a memorable trip that marked a real shift for me. I've been told by lots of people that 50 is a ‘proper' birthday, as in one of those that makes you stop and reconsider things, and it has indeed been that, although I have also found the last few years of perimenopause to be a large part of the change as well. A big shift is around priorities and not caring so much what other people think, which is a relief in many ways. Also, I don't have the patience to do things that I don't think are worth doing for the longer term, and I am appreciating a quieter life. I'd rather lie in a sunbeam and read with Cashew and Noisette next to me then create marketing assets or spend time on social media. I'd rather go for a walk with Jonathan than go to a conference or networking event. In my Pilgrimage memoir, I quote an anonymous source, “Pilgrim, pass by that which you do not love.” It's a powerful message, and I take it to mean, stop listening to people who tell you what is important. Listen to yourself more and only pay attention to that which you feel drawn to explore. On pilgrimage, it might be turning away from the supposedly important shrine of a saint to go and sit in nature and feel closer to God that way. In our author lives, it might be turning away from the things that just feel wrong for us, and leaning into what is enjoyable, that which feels worthwhile, that which we want to keep doing for the long term. Let's face it, as always, that is the writing, the thinking, the imagination. As ever, I have this mantra on my wall: “Measure your life by what you create.” It's the creation side of things that we love and that's what we need to remember when everything else gets a little much. Many authors left social media in 2025, and while I haven't left it altogether, I don't use it much. I post pictures proving I am human on Instagram @jfpennauthor which automatically post to Facebook. I barely check my pages on Facebook though. I'm also still on X with a carefully curated feed that I mainly use to learn new cool AI things which I share with my Patreon Community. Double down on being human. Travel and health. Yes, I am a human author, and yes, I continue to age! When you've been publishing a while, you need to update your author photos periodically and I finally had a photoshoot I loved with Betty Bhandari Photography, which means I can add the new pics to my websites and the back of my books. Are you up to date with your author photos? (or at least within a decade of the last photoshoot?!) Here are a few of the pictures on Instagram @jfpennauthor. Healthwise, I gave up calisthenics as it was too much on top of the powerlifting and the amount of walking I do. I did another British Powerlifting competition in September in the M2 category (based on age) and 63kgs category (based on weight). Deadlift: 95kgs. Squat: 60kgs. BenchPress: 37.5kgs. While this is less overall than last year, I also weigh less, so I'm actually stronger based on lift to body weight percentage. I have also done a few pull-ups in the last week with no band, which I am thrilled with! On the travel side, Iceland was the big trip, and I also had a weekend in Berlin for the film festival, where I met up with a producer and a director around an adaptation of my Day of the Vikings thriller. That didn't pan out, as most of these things don't, but I certainly learned a lot about the industry — and why it doesn't suit me! Once again, I dipped my toe into screenwriting and then ran away, as has happened multiple times over the years. When will I learn? … Over the summer of 2025, I visited lots of gothic cathedrals including Lichfield, Rochester, Durham, York, and revisiting Canterbury, as part of my book research for the Gothic Cathedral book. I have tens of thousands of words on this project, but it isn't ready yet, so this is carried over into 2026 as it might happen then, depending on the Masters. I spoke at Author Nation in Las Vegas in November 2025, and before it started, I visited (Lower) Antelope Canyon, one of the places on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. What a special place and no doubt it will appear in a story at some point! How did your 2025 go? I hope your 2025 had some wonderful times as well as no doubt some challenges — and that you have time for reflection as the year turns once more. Let me know in the comments whether you achieved your creative goals and any other reflections you'd like to share.The post Review Of My 2025 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

In this special season finale, we're closing out Season 10 with a fun, reflective conversation inspired by a few of our favorite things. As we take a short pause from the podcast, we share some of our favorite strengths-based questions, hands-on tools, and learning approaches that actually stick. This episode is full of ideas you can use right away, whether you're a coach, leader, or strengths enthusiast.

« Je travaille beaucoup avec des dirigeants. Ce sont des gens qui ne sont pas là par hasard. Le contrat qu'on a ensemble, c'est de dénouer des noeuds éventuels et de permettre d'élargir leur champ de vision pour prendre des bonnes décisions. »Florence Hardy est consultante auprès d'équipes et de dirigeants.Fondatrice du Labo des Talents, elle intervient auprès des leaders, managers de managers, pour faire travailler les équipes ensemble de façon différente, en mobilisant les atouts de chacun.« Dans un quotidien hyper chargé, on a tous tendance à se laisser phagocyter par l'opérationnel. Ma force, c'est de permettre aux gens de s'occuper aussi des projets d'avenir et de faire de la place à du nouveau. C'est pour ça qu'on fait appel à moi. »Son top 5 : Input, Positivity, Connectedness, Includer et Ideation.Quand elle a découvert ses talents, Florence s'est tout d'abord étonnée de découvrir que la positivité pouvait être un talent. « Je savais que j'avais le sourire, mais je n'avais jamais pensé en faire une force professionnelle. Le propre des talents, c'est qu'on vit chacun dans notre bocal, et qu'on ne perçoit pas l'intérêt de nos atouts. Toute l'idée, c'est de comprendre leur puissance et de la mettre au service de ses projets. »Profondément altruiste dans le leadership de son équipe de coachs indépendants, Florence se caractérise par son aisance dans le domaine des idées autant que dans la relation interpersonnelle. « J'apprécie aller chercher ce qu'il y a de meilleur chez chacun. Ce que j'observe, c'est que les équipes les plus engagées le sont quand la relation à l'autre fait qu'on a envie de contribuer à quelque chose d'un peu plus grand. Cultiver la relation, ça permet de nourrir chacun avec les missions dont il a besoin pour se sentir épanoui au travail. »Culture Talents est un podcast proposé par Le Labo des TalentsAnimation : Florence HardyRéalisation : César Defoort | Natif.Florence Hardy et les coachs du Labo des Talents sont certifiés par Gallup, cependant nous précisons que Le Labo des Talents n'est pas affilié à ni ne représente Gallup. Les idées que nous partageons ici ne sont pas officiellement contrôlées, approuvées ou soutenues par Gallup Inc. Gallup®, CliftonStrengths® et les 34 noms de thèmes de CliftonStrengths® sont la propriété de Gallup, Inc. Pour plus d'informations, rdv sur www.gallup.com.Envie d'en savoir plus ? Au Labo on est toujours ravis d'échanger, faites-nous signe sur LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lelabodestalents/ou sur www.labodestalents.frHébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

In this episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai, I welcome Hendrik, a friend and professional contact since 2019, to discuss talents and strengths. We reconnect after several years and reflect on how their collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic was crucial for Jennifer's business survival. Hendrik shares his experience working at Manulife Japan, emphasizing the importance of cultural diversity and the positive energy at the Indonesian Pavilion Expo. We delve into Hendrik's journey to Japan, his struggles and learnings in a different culture, and his newfound passion for Gallup's CliftonStrengths assessment. Hendrik highlights the importance of knowing one's talents and leveraging them to live a fulfilled life, aligning this with the concept of Ikigai. We also discuss the potential pitfalls of overusing strengths and the paradigm shift required in corporate environments to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. In this episode you'll hear:How Hendrik discovered his passion and Ikigai through the CliftonStrengths assessment, including his journey from Indonesia to Japan and his unique experiences in the Japanese workplaceThe importance of focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses, and how a strengths-based approach differs from trying to fix weaknessesHow leveraging individual strengths can boost workplace morale, enhance engagement, and improve overall quality of lifePractical steps to uncover and use your hidden talents in daily lifeThe crucial role that connections and community play in achieving professional success and finding purposeThings mentioned in the episode:CliftonStrengths: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253676/how-cliftonstrengths-works.aspx32 CliftonStrengths team synergy sessions, 498 people over the last 2 years (Jan 2024 – Dec 2025)About Hendrik:Hendrik joined Manulife in January 2023 as Global Learning Partner, reporting into Asia Learning Lead and rolled up to Katherine MacNaughton`s organization. While sitting in the global team, Hendrik`s role is to build a learning culture in the Japan market. Hendrik ensures Japan programs are aligned with Manulife strategies & priorities while meeting the Japan market needs. Prior to joining Manulife, Hendrik had similar roles and responsibilities in companies such as Philip Morris International and Bridgestone. Hendrik also performed an APAC regional role during his time in Bridgestone where he led regional talent management related projects covering 11 countries working in the Regional HQ of Bridgestone in Singapore. Hendrik`s background is in talent management and development areas. Hendrik was awarded an MBA from Murdoch University in Singapore in 2018 and graduated with a Bachelor of Business from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.Outside of work, Hendrik is a father of 2 daughters.Connect with Hendrik:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-kwee-2512474b/Contact: https://www.gallup.com/learning/certification/en/10644108/profile.aspxConnect with Jennifer:Linked In:

Diane Hoskins, global co-chair of Gensler, shares how she focuses on growth, governance and global strategy for the firm's 6,000+ people serving 3,500 clients in over 100 countries. Guided by her top CliftonStrengths — Strategic®, Maximizer®, Connectedness®, Learner® and Ideation® — Hoskins is a visionary and hands-on leader, championing organizational excellence and innovation. Learn how she cultivates a culture of creativity and why listening, learning and leading with strengths changes everything. The world needs great leaders who know their strengths and use them to create lasting impact. Leading With Strengths, Gallup's global leadership study, explores how the world's most influential leaders use their strengths to change the world. Subscribe to receive new Leading With Strengths interviews and learn more at www.gallup.com/leading-with-strengths. 

What does it really take to build a multi-six-figure author business with no advertising? Is running your own warehouse really necessary for direct sales success — or is there a simpler path using print-on-demand that works just as well? In this conversation, Sacha Black and I compare our very different approaches to selling direct, from print on demand to pallets of books, and explore why the right model depends entirely on who you are and what your goals are for your author business. In the intro, Memoir Examples and interviews [Reedsy, The Creative Penn memoir tips]; Written Word Media annual indie author survey results; Successful Self-Publishing Fourth Edition; Business for Authors webinars; Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant; Camino Portuguese Coastal on My Camino Podcast; Creating while Caring Community with Donn King; The Buried and the Drowned by J.F. Penn Today's show is sponsored by Bookfunnel, the essential tool for your author business. Whether it's delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Check it out at bookfunnel.com/thecreativepenn This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Sacha Black is the author of YA and non-fiction for authors and previously hosted The Rebel Author Podcast. As Ruby Roe, she is a multi-six-figure author of sapphic romantasy. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Two models for selling direct: print on demand vs running your own warehouse. Plus, check out Sacha's solo Rebel Author episode about the details of the warehouse. Cashflow management Kickstarter lessons: pre-launch followers, fulfillment time, and realistic timelines How Sacha built a multi-six-figure business through TikTok with zero ad spend Matching your business model to your personality and skill set Building resilience: staff salaries, SOPs, and planning for when things change You can find Ruby at RubyRoe.co.uk and on TikTok @rubyroeauthor and on Instagram @sachablackauthor Transcript of the interview Joanna: Sacha Black is the author of YA and nonfiction for authors, and previously hosted the Rebel Author podcast. As Ruby Roe, she is a multi-six-figure author of sapphic romance. So welcome back to the show, Sacha. Sacha: Hello. Thank you for having me. It's always a pleasure to be here. Joanna: I'm excited to talk to you today. Now, just for context, for everybody listening, Sacha has a solo episode on her Rebel Author podcast, last week as we record this, which goes into specific lessons around the warehouse in more detail, including financials. So we are going to come at this from a slightly different angle in our discussion today, which is really about two different ways of doing selling direct. I want us to start though, Sacha, in case people don't know your background, in case they've missed out. Can you just give us a quick recap of your indie author journey, because you haven't just come out of nowhere and jumped into this business and done incredibly well? Sacha's Indie Author Journey Sacha: No, I really haven't. Okay. So 2013, I started writing. So 12 years ago I started writing with the intention to publish, because I was writing before, but not with the intention. 2017 I first self-published and then two years after that, in 2019, I quit the day job. But let me be clear, it wasn't because I was rolling in self-published royalties or commissions or whatever you want to call them. I was barely scraping by. And so those are what I like to call my hustle years because I mean, I still hustle, but it was a different kind. It was grind and hustle. So I did a lot of freelance work. I did a lot of VA work for other authors. I did speaking, I was podcasting, teaching courses, and so on and so forth. 2022, in the summer, I made a realisation that I'd created another job for myself rather than a business that I wanted to grow and thrive in and was loving life and all of that stuff. And so I took a huge risk and I slowed down everything, and I do mean everything. I slowed down the speaking, I slowed down the courses, I slowed down the nonfiction, and — I poured everything into writing what became the first Ruby Roe book. I published that in February 2023. In August/September 2023, I stopped all freelance work. And to be clear, at that point, I also wasn't entirely sure if I was going to be able to pay my bills with Ruby, but I could see that she had the potential there and I was making enough to scrape by. And there's nothing if not a little bit of pressure to make you work hard. So that is when I stopped the freelance. And then in November 2023, so two months later, I started TikTok in earnest. And then a month after that, December the eighth, I went viral. And then what's relevant to this is that two days after that, on December the 10th, I had whipped up my minimum viable Shopify, and that went live. Then roll on, I did more of the same, published more Ruby Roe books. I made a big change to my Shopify. So at that point it was still print on demand Shopify, and then February 2025, I took control and took the reins and rented a warehouse and started fulfilling distribution myself. The Ten-Year Overnight Success Joanna: So great. So really good for people to realise that 2013, you started writing with the intention, like, seriously, I want this to be what I do. And it was 2019 when you quit the day job, but really it was 2023 when you actually started making decent money, right? Sacha: Almost like we all need 10 years. Joanna: Yeah. I mean, it definitely takes time. So I wanted just to set that scene there. And also that you did at least a year of print on demand Shopify before getting your own warehouse. Sacha: Yeah, maybe 14 months. Joanna: Yeah, 14 months. Okay. So we are going to revisit some of these, but I also just want as context, what was your day job so people know? Sacha: So I was a project manager in a local government, quite corporate, quite conservative place. And I played the villain. It was great. I would helicopter into departments and fix them up and look at processes that were failing and restructure things and bring in new software and bits and bobs like that. The Importance of Business Skills Joanna: Yeah. So I think that's important too, because your job was fixing things and looking at processes, and I feel like that is a lot of what you've done and we'll revisit that. Sacha: How did I not realise that?! Joanna: I thought you did know that. No. Well, oh my goodness. And let's just put my business background in context. I'm sure most people have heard it before, but I was an IT consultant for about 13 years, but much of my job was going into businesses and doing process mapping and then doing software to fix that. And also I worked, I'm not an accountant, but I worked in financial accounting departments. So I think this is really important context for people to realise that learning the craft is one thing, but learning business is a completely different game, right? Sacha: Oh, it is. I have learnt — it's wild because I always feel like there's no way you can learn more than in your first year of publishing because everything is brand new. But I genuinely feel like this past 18 months I have learnt as much, if not more, because of the business, because of money, because of all of the other legal regulation type changes in the last 18 months. It's just been exhausting in terms of learning. It's great, but also it is a lot to learn. There is just so much to business. Joanna's Attempts to Talk Sacha Out of the Warehouse Joanna: So that's one thing. Now, I also want to say for context, when you decided to start a warehouse, how much effort did I put into trying to persuade you not to do this? Sacha: Oh my goodness, me. I mean a lot. There were probably two dinners, several coffees, a Zoom. It was like, don't do it. Don't do it. You got me halfway there. So for everybody listening, I went big and I was like, oh, I'm going to buy shipping containers and convert them and put them on a plot of land and all of this stuff. And Joanna very sensibly turned around and was like, hmm, why don't you rent somewhere that you can bail out of if it doesn't work? And I was like, oh yeah, that does sound like a good idea. Joanna: Try it, try it before you really commit. Okay. So let's just again take a step back because the whole point of doing this discussion for me is because you are doing really well and it is amazing what you are doing and what some other people are doing with warehouses. But I also sell direct and in the same way as you used to, which is I use Bookfunnel for ebooks and audiobooks and I use BookVault for print on demand books, and people can also use Lulu. That's another option for people. So you don't have to do direct sales in the way that you've done it. And part of the reason to do this episode was to show people that there are gradations of selling direct. Why Sell Direct? Joanna: But I wanted to go back to the basics around this. Why might people consider selling direct, even in a really simple way, for example, just ebooks from their website, or what might be reasons to sell direct rather than just sending everything to Amazon or other stores? Sacha: I think, well, first of all, it depends on what you want as a business model. For me, I have a similar background to you in that I was very vulnerable when I was in corporate because of redundancies, and so that bred a bit of control freakness inside me. And having control of my customers was really important to me. We don't get any data from Amazon or Kobo really, or anywhere, even though all of these distributors are incredible for us in our careers. We don't actually have direct access to readers, and you do with Shopify. You know everything about your reader, and that is priceless. Because once you have that data and you have delivered a product, a book, merchandise, something that that reader values and appreciates, you can then sell to them again and again and again. I have some readers who have been on my website who have spent almost four figures now. I mean, that is just — one person's done that and I have thousands of people who are coming to the website on a regular basis. So definitely that control and access to readers is a huge reason for doing it. Customising the Reader Relationship Sacha: And also I think that you can, depending on how you do this model, there are ways to do some of the things I'm going to talk about digitally as well. But for me, I really like the physical aspect of it. We are able to customise the relationship with our customers. We can give them more because we are in control of delivery. And so by that I mean we could give art prints, which lots of my readers really value. We can do — you could send those digitally if you wanted to, but we can add in extra freebies like our romance pop sockets, that makes them feel like they are part of my reader group. They're part of a community. It creates this belonging. So I think there is just so much more that you can do when you are in control of that relationship and in control of the access to it. Joanna: Yeah. And on that, I mean, one of the reasons we can do really cool print books — and again, we're going to come back to print on demand, but I use print on demand. You don't have to buy pallets of books as Sacha does. You can just do print on demand. Obviously the financials are different, but I can still do foiling and custom end papers and ribbons and all this with print on demand through BookVault custom printing and bespoke printing. The Speed of Money Joanna: But also, I think the other thing with the money — I don't know if you even remember this, because it's very different when you are selling direct — you can set up your system so you get paid like every single day, right? Or every week? Sacha: Yes. Joanna: So the money is faster because with Amazon, with any of these other systems, it can take 30, 60, 90 days for the money to get to you. So faster money, you are in more control of the money. And you can also do a lot more things like bundling and like you mentioned, much higher value that you could offer, but you can also make higher income. Average order value per customer because you have so many things, right? So that speed of money is very different. Sacha: It is, but it's also very dangerous. I know we might talk about cashflow more later, but— Joanna: Let's talk about it now. Managing Cashflow With Multiple Bank Accounts Sacha: Okay, cool. So one of the things that I think is the most valuable thing that I've ever done is, someone who is really clever told me that you're allowed more than one business account. Joanna: Just to be clear, bank accounts? Sacha: Yes, sorry. Yeah. Bank accounts. And one of my banks in particular enables you to have mini banks inside it, mini pots they call it. And what I do with pre-orders is I treat it a bit like Amazon. So that money will come in — you know, I do get paid daily pretty much — but I then siphon it off every week into a pot. So let's just say I've got one book on pre-order. Every week the team tells me how much we've got in pre-orders for that one product and all the shipping money, and I put it into an account and I leave it there. And I do not touch it unless it is to pay for the print run of that book or to pay for the shipping. Because one of the benefits of coming direct to me is that I promise to ship all pre-orders early, so we have to pay the shipping costs before necessarily Amazon might pay for its shipping costs because they only release on the actual release day. But that has enabled me to have a little savings scheme, but also guarantee that I can pay for the print run in advance because I haven't accidentally spent that money on something else or invested it. I've kept it aside and it also helps you track numbers as well, so you know how well that pre-order is doing financially. Understanding Cashflow as an Author Joanna: Yeah. And this cashflow, if people don't really know it, is the difference between when money comes in and when it goes out. So another example, common to many authors, is paying for advertising. So for example, if you run some ads one month, you're going to have to pay, let's say Facebook or BookBub or whoever, that month. You might not get the money from the sale of those books if it's from a store until two months later. In that case, the cash flows the other way. The money is sitting with the store, sitting on Amazon until they pay you later. This idea of cashflow is so important for authors to think about. Another, I guess even more basic example is you are writing your first book and you pay for an editor. Money goes out of your bank account and then hopefully you're going to sell some books, but that might take, let's say six months, and then some money will come back into your bank account. I think this understanding cashflow is so important at a small level because as it gets bigger and bigger — and you are doing these very big print runs now, aren't you? Talk a bit about that. The Risks of Print Runs Sacha: Yeah. So one of the things I was going to say, one of the benefits of your sell direct model is that you don't have to deal with mistakes like this one. So in my recent book, Architecti, that we launched at the end of September, we did a print run of a thousand books, maybe about 3,000 pounds, something like that, 2,000 pounds. And basically we ended up selling all thousand and more. So the pre-orders breached a thousand and we didn't have enough books. But what made that worse is that 20% of the books that arrived were damaged because there had been massive rain. So we then had to do a second print run, which is bad for two reasons. The first reason is that one, that space, two, the time it's going to take to get to you — it's not instant, it's not printed on demand. But also three, I then had to spend the same amount of money again. And actually if we had ordered 2,000 originally, we would've saved a bit more money on it per book. So you don't — if you are doing selling direct with a print on demand model, the number of pre-orders you get is irrelevant because they'll just keep printing, and you just get charged per copy. So there are benefits and disadvantages to doing it each way. Obviously, I'm getting a cheaper price per copy printed, but not if I mess up the order numbers. Is Running a Warehouse Just Another Job? Joanna: So I'm going to come back on something you said earlier, which was in 2022 you said, “I realised I made a job for myself.” Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: And I mean, I've been to your store. You obviously have people to help you. But one of my reservations about this kind of model is that even if you have people to help you, taking on physical book — even though you are not printing them yourself, you're still shipping them all and you're signing them all. And to me it feels like a job. So maybe talk about why you have continued — you have pretty much decided to continue with your warehouse. So why is this not a job? What makes this fun for you? The Joy of Physical Product Creation Sacha: I wish that listeners could see my face because I'm literally glittering. I love it. I literally love it. I love us being able to create cool and wacky things. We can make a decision and we can create that physical product really quickly. We can do all of these quirky things. We can experiment. We can do book boxes. So first of all, it's the creativity in the physical product creation. I had no idea how much I love physical product creation, but there is something extremely satisfying about us coming up with an idea that's so integrated in the book. So for example, one of my characters uses, has a coin, a yes/no coin. She's an assassin and she flips it to decide whether or not she's going to assassinate somebody. We've actually designed and had that coin made, and it's my favourite item in the warehouse. It's such a small little thing, but I love it. And so there is a lot of joy that I derive from us being able to create these items. Sending Book Mail and Building Community Sacha: I think the second thing is I really love book mail. There is no better gift somebody can give me than a book. And so I do get a lot of satisfaction from knowing we're sending out lots and lots of book presents to people and we get to add more to it. So some of the promises that we make are: I sign every book and we give gifts. We have character art and, like I've mentioned before, pop sockets and all these kinds of things. And I get tagged daily in unboxings and stories and things like this where people are like, oh my gosh, I didn't realise I was going to get this, this, and this. And I just — it's like crack to me. I get high off of it. So I can't — this is not for everybody. This is a logistical nightmare. There are so many problems inherent in this business model. I love it. Discovering a Love of Team Building Sacha: And I think the other thing, which is very much not for a lot of authors — I did not realise that I actually really like having a team. And that has been a recent realisation. I really was told that I'm not a team player when I was in corporate, that I work alone, all of this nonsense. And I believed that and taken it on. But finding the right team, the right people who love the jobs that they do inside your business and they're all as passionate as you, is just life changing. And so that also helps me continue because I have a really great team. Joanna: I do have to ask you, what is a pop socket? Sacha: It's a little round disc that has a mechanism that you can pull out and then you — and it has a sticky command strip back and you can pop it on the back of your phone or on the back of a Kindle and it helps you to hold it. I don't know how else to describe it. It just helps you to hold the device easier. Joanna: Okay. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was confused. I'm like, why are you doing electrical socket products? Know What Kind of Person You Are Joanna: But I think this actually does demonstrate another point, and I hope people listening — I hope you can sort of — why we are doing this partly is to help you figure out what kind of person you are as well. Because I can't think of anything worse than having lots of little boxes! And I've been in Sacha's thing and there's all these little stickers and there's lots of boxes of little things that they put in people's packages, which make people happy. And I'm like, oh, I just don't like packages of things. And I mean, you geek out on packaging, don't you as well? Sacha: Oh my goodness. Yeah. One of the first things I did when we got the warehouse was I actually went to a packaging expo in Birmingham. It was like this giant conference place and I just nerded out there. It was so fun. And one of the things that I'm booked to do is an advent calendar. And that was what drove me there in the first place. I was looking for a manufacturer that could create an advent calendar for us. I have two. I'm not — I have two advent calendars this year because I love them so much. But yeah, the other thing that I was going to say to you is I often think that as adults, we can find what we're supposed to do rooted in our childhood. And I was talking the other day and someone said to me, what toy do you remember from your youth? And I was like, oh yeah. The only one that I can remember is that I had a sticker maker. I like — that makes sense. You do like stickers. And I do. Yeah. Digital Minimalism vs Physical Products Joanna: Yeah, I do. And I think this is so important because I love books. I buy a lot of books. I love books, but I also get rid of a lot of books. I know people hate this, but I will just get rid of bags and bags of books. So I value books more for what's inside them than the physical product as such. I mean, I have some big expensive, beautiful books, but mostly I want what's in them. So it's really interesting to me. And I think there's a big difference between us is just how much you like all that stuff. So if you are listening, if you are like a digital minimalist and you don't want to have stuff around your house, you definitely don't want a warehouse. You don't want all the shipping bits and bobs. You are not interested in all that. Or even if you are, you can still do a lot of this print on demand. Then I think that's just so important, isn't it? I mean, did you look at the print on demand merch? Did you find anything you liked? The Draw of Customisation Sacha: Yeah, we did, but I think for me it was that customisation. We are now moving towards — I've just put an order in this morning for 10,000 customised boxes. We've got our own branding on them. We've got a little naughty, cheeky message when they flip up the flap. And it's little things like that that you can't — you know, we wouldn't have control over what was sent. So much of what I wanted, and some of the reasons for me doing it, is that I wanted to be able to sign the books. I was being asked on a daily basis if people could buy signed books from me, and it was driving me bonkers not being able to say yes. But also being able to send a website mailing list sign-up in the box, or being able to give them a discount in the box. I mean, I know you do that, but yeah, there was just a lot more customisation and things that we could do if we were controlling the shipping. Also, I wanted to pack the boxes, the books better. So we wanted to be able to bubble wrap things or we wanted to be able to waterproof things because we had various different issues with deliveries and so we wanted a bit more control over that. So yeah, there were just so many reasons for us to do it. Print on Demand Is Still Fantastic Sacha: Look, don't get me wrong, if I suddenly wanted to go off travelling for a year, then maybe I would shut down the warehouse and go back to print on demand. I think print on demand is fantastic. I did it for 14 months before I decided to open a warehouse. It is the foundation of most authors' models. So it's fantastic. I just want to do more. Joanna: Yeah. You want to do more of it. Life Stage Matters Joanna: We should also, I also wanted to mention your life stage. Because when we did talk about it, your son is just going to secondary school, so we knew that you would be in the same area, right? Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: Because I said to you, you can't just do this and — well, you can, you could ditch it all. But the better decision is to do this for a certain number of years. If you're going to do it, it needs time, right? So you are at that point in your life. Sacha: Yeah, absolutely. We — I mean, we are going to move house, I think, but not that far away. We'll still be in reachable distance of the warehouse. And yeah, the staying power is so important because it's also about raising awareness. You have to train readers to come to you. You have to show them why it's beneficial for them to order directly from you. Growing the Business Year Over Year Sacha: And then you also have to be able to iterate and add more products. Like you were talking earlier about increasing that average order value. And that does come from having more products, but more products does create other issues like space, which may or may not be suffering issues with now. But yeah, so for example, 2024, which was the first real year, I did about 73 and a half thousand British pounds. And then this year, where — as we record this, it's actually the 1st of December — and I'm on 232,000. So from year one to year two, it's a huge difference. And that I do think is about the number of products and the number of things that we have on there. Joanna: And the number of customers. I guess you've also grown your customer base as well. And one of the rules, I guess, in inverted commas, of publishing is that the money is in the backlist. And every time you add to your backlist and every launch, you are selling a lot more of your backlist as well. So I think as time goes on, yeah, you get more books. Kickstarter as an Alternative Joanna: But let's also talk about Kickstarter because I do signed books for my Kickstarters and to me the Kickstarter is like a short-term ability to do the things you are doing regularly. So for example, if you want to do book boxes, you could just do them for a Kickstarter. You don't have to run a warehouse and do it every single day. For example, your last Kickstarter for Ruby Roe made around 150,000 US dollars, which is amazing. Like really fantastic. So just maybe talk about that, any lessons from the Kickstarter specifically, because I feel like most people, for most people listening, they are far more likely to do a Kickstarter than they are to start a warehouse. Pre-Launch Followers Are Critical Sacha: Yeah, so the first thing is even before you start your Kickstarter, the pre-launch follow accounts are critical. So a lot of people think — well, I guess there's a lot of loud noise about all these big numbers about how much people can make on Kickstarter, but actually a lot of it is driven by you, the author, pushing your audience to Kickstarter. So we actually have a formula now. Somebody more intelligent gave this to me, but essentially, based on my own personal campaign data — so this wouldn't necessarily be the same for other people — but based on my campaign data, each pre-launch follower is worth 75 pounds. And then we add on seven grand, for example. So on campaign three, which was the most recent one, I had 1,501 pre-launch followers. And when you times that by 75 and you add on seven grand, it makes more or less exactly what we made on the campaign. And the same formula can be applied to the others. So you need more pre-launch followers than you think you do. And lots of people don't put enough impetus on the marketing beforehand. Almost all of our Kickstarter marketing is beforehand because we drive so many people to that follow button. Early Bird Pricing and Fulfillment Time Sacha: And then the other thing that we do is that we do early bird pricing. So we get the majority of our income on a campaign on day one. I think it was something wild, like 80% this time was on day one, so that's really important. The second thing is it takes so, so very much longer than you think it does to fulfil a campaign, and you must factor in that cost. Because if it's not you fulfilling, you are paying somebody else to fulfil it. And if it is you fulfilling it, you must account for your own time in the pricing of your campaign. And the other thing is that the amount of time it takes to fulfil is directly proportionate to the size of the campaign. That's one thing I did not even compute — the fact that we went from about 56,000 British pounds up to double that, and the time was exponentially more than double. So you do have to think about that. Overseas Printing and Timelines Sacha: The other lesson that we have learned is that overseas printing will drag your timelines out far longer than you think it does. So whatever you think it's going to take you to fulfil, add several months more onto that and put that information in your campaign. And thankfully, we are now only going to be a month delayed, whereas lots of campaigns get up to a year delayed because they don't consider that. Reinvesting Kickstarter Profits Sacha: And then the last thing I think, which was really key for us, is that if you have some profit in the Kickstarter — because not all Kickstarters are actually massively profitable because they either don't account enough for shipping or they don't account enough in the pricing. Thankfully, ours have been profitable, but we've actually reinvested that profit back into buying more stock and more merchandise, which not everybody would want to do if they don't have a warehouse. However, we are stockpiling merchandise and books so that we can do mystery boxes later on down the line. It's probably a year away, but we are buying extra of everything so that we have that in the warehouse. So yeah, depending on what you want to do with your profit, for us it was all about buying more books, basically. Offering Something Exclusive Sacha: I think the other thing to think about is what is it that you are doing that's exclusive to Kickstarter? Because you will get backers on Kickstarter who want that quirky, unique thing that they're not going to be able to get anywhere else. But what about you? Because you've done more Kickstarters than me. What do you think is the biggest lesson you've learned? Reward Tiers and Bundling Joanna: Oh, well I think all of mine together add up to the one you just did. Although I will comment on — you said something like 75 pounds per pre-launch backer. That is obviously dependent on your tiers for the rewards, so most authors won't have that amount. So my average order value, which I know is slightly different, but I don't offer things like book boxes like you have. So a lot of it will depend on the tiers. Some people will do a Kickstarter just with an ebook, just with one ebook and maybe a bundle of ebooks. So you are never going to make it up to that kind of value. So I think this is important too, is have a look at what people offer on their different levels of Kickstarter. And in fact, here's my AI tip for the day. What you can do — what I did with my Buried and the Drowned campaign recently — is I uploaded my book to ChatGPT and said, tell me, what are some ideas for the different reward tiers that I can do on Kickstarter? And it will give you some ideas for what you can do, what kind of bundles you might want to do. So I think bundling your backlist is another thing you can do as upsells, or you can just, for example, for me, when I did Blood Vintage, I did a horror bundle when it was four standalone horror books in one of the upper tiers. So I think bundling is a good way. Also upselling your backlist is a really good way to up things. And also if you do it digitally, so for ebooks and audiobooks, there's a lot less time in fulfillment. Focus on Digital Products Too Joanna: So again, yours — well, you make things hard, but also more fun according to you, because most of it's physical, right? In fact, this is one of the things you haven't done so well, really, is concentrate on the digital side of things. Is that something you are thinking about now? Sacha: Yeah, it is. I mean, we do have our books digitally on the website. So the last — I only had one series in Kindle Unlimited, and I took those out in January. But so we do have all of the digital products on the website, and the novellas that we do, we have in all formats because I narrate the audio for them. So that is something that we're looking at. And since somebody very smart told me to have upsell apps on my website, we now have a full “get the everything bundle” in physical and digital and we are now selling them as well. Surprising. Definitely not you. So yeah, we are looking at it and that's something that we could look at next year as well for advertising because I haven't really done any advertising. I think I've spent about 200 pounds in ads in the last four months or something. It's very, very low level. So that is a way to make a huge amount of profit because the cost is so low. So your return, if you're doing a 40 or 50 pound bundle of ebooks and you are spending, I don't know, four pounds in advertising to get that sale, your return on that investment is enormous for ads. So that is something that we are looking at for next year, but it just hasn't been something that we've done a huge amount of. A Multi-Six-Figure Author With No Ads Joanna: Yeah. Well, just quoting from your solo episode where you say, “I don't have any advertising costs, customers are from my mailing list, TikTok and Instagram.” Now, being as you are a multi-six-figure author with no ads, this is mostly unthinkable for many authors. And so I wonder if, maybe talk about that. How do you think you have done that and can other people potentially emulate it, or do you think it's luck? It's Not Luck, It's Skill Set Sacha: Do you know, this is okay. So I don't think it's luck. I don't believe in luck. I get quite aggressive about people flinging luck around. I know some people are huge supporters of luck. I'm like, no. Do I think anybody can do it? Do you know, I swing so hard on this. Sometimes I say yes, and sometimes I think no. And I think the brutal truth of it is that I know where my skill set lies and I lean extremely heavily into it. So what do I mean by that? TikTok and Instagram are both very visual mediums. It is video footage. It is static images. I am extremely comfortable on camera. I am an ex-theatre kid. I was on TV as a kid. I did voiceover work when I was younger. This is my wheelhouse. So acting a bit like a tit on TikTok on a video, I am very comfortable at doing that, and I think that is reflected in the results. Consistency Without Burnout Sacha: And the other part of it is because I am comfortable at doing it, I enjoy it. It makes me laugh. And therefore it feels easy. And I think because it feels easy, I can do it over and over and over again without burning out. I started posting on TikTok on November the 19th, 2023, and I have posted three times a day every day since. Every single day without stopping, and I do not feel burnt out. And I definitely feel like that is because it's easy for me because I am good at it. Reading the Algorithm Sacha: The other thing that I think goes in here is that I'm very good at reading what's working. So sorry to talk Clifton Strengths, but my number one Clifton Strength is competition. And one of the skills that has is understanding the market. We're very good at having a wide view. So not only do I read the market on Amazon or in bookstores or wherever I can, it's the same skill set but applied to the algorithm. So I am very good at dissecting viral videos and understanding what made it work, in the same way somebody that spends 20,000 pounds a month on Facebook advertising is very good at doing analytics and looking at those numbers. I am useless at that. I just can't do it. I just get complete shutdown. My brain just says no, and I'm incapable of running ads. That's why I don't do it. Not Everyone Can Do This Sacha: So can anybody do this? Maybe. If you are comfortable on camera, if you enjoy it. It's like we've got a mutual friend, Adam Beswick. We call him the QVC Book Bitch because he is a phenomenon on live videos on TikTok and Instagram and wherever he can sell. Anything on those lives. It is astonishing to watch the sales pop in as he's on these lives. I can't think of anything worse. I will do a live, but I'll be signing books and having a good old chitchat. Not like it's — like that hand selling. Another author, Willow Winters, has done like 18 in-person events this year. I literally die on the inside hearing that. But that's what works for them and that's what's helping grow their business models. So ah, honestly, no. I actually don't think anybody can do what I've done. I think if you have a similar skill set to me, then yes you can. But no, and I know that I don't want to crush anybody listening. Do you like social media? I like social media. Do you like being on camera? Then yeah, you can do it. But if you don't, then I just think it's a waste of your time. Find out what you are good at, find out where your skill set is, and then lean in very, very hard. Writing to Your Strengths and Passion Joanna: I also think, because let's be brutal, you had books before and they didn't sell like this. Sacha: Yep. Joanna: So I also think that you leaned into — yes, of course, sapphic romance is a big sub-genre, but you love it. And also it's your lived experience with the sapphic sub-genre. This is not you chasing a trend, right? I think that's important too because too many people are like, oh, well maybe this is the latest trend. And is TikTok a trend? And then try and force them together, whereas I feel like you haven't done that. Sacha: No, and actually I spoke to lots of people who were very knowledgeable on the market and they all said, don't do it. And the reason for this is that there were no adult lesbian sapphic romance books that were selling when I looked at the market and decided that this was what I wanted to write. And I was like, cool, I'm going to do it then. And rightly so, everyone was like, well, there's no evidence to suggest that this is going to make any money. You are taking a huge risk. And I was like, yeah, but I will. I knew from the outset before I even put a word to the page how I was going to market it. And I think that feeling of coming home is what I — I created a home for myself in my books and that is why it's just felt so easy to market. Lean Into What You're Good At Sacha: It's like you, with your podcasting. Nobody can get anywhere near your podcast because you are so good at it. You've got such a history. You are so natural with your podcasting that you are just unbeatable, you know? So it's a natural way for you to market it. Joanna: Many have tried, but no, you're right. It's because I like this. And what's so funny — I'm sure I've mentioned it on the show — but I did call you one day and say, okay, all right, show me how to do this TikTok thing. And you spent like two hours on the phone with me and then I basically said no. Okay. I almost tried and then I just went, no, this is definitely not for me. And I think that this has to be one of the most important things as an author. Maybe some people listening are just geeking out over packaging like you are, and maybe they're the people who might look at this potential business model. Whereas some people are like me and don't want to go anywhere near it. And then other people like you want to do video and maybe other people like me want to do audio. So yeah, it's so important to find, well, like you said, what does not work for you? What is fun for you and when are you having a good time? Because otherwise you would have a job. Like to me, it looks like a job, you having a warehouse. But to you, it's not the same as when you were grinding it out back in 2022. Packing Videos Are Peak Content Sacha: Completely. And I think if you look at my social media feeds, they are disproportionately full of packing videos, which I think tells you something. Joanna: Oh dear. I just literally — I'm just like, oh my, if I never see any more packaging, I'll be happy. Sacha: Yeah. That's good. The One Time Sacha Nearly Burnt It All Down Sacha: I have to say, there was one moment where I doubted everything. And that was at the end — but basically, in about, of really poor timing. I ended up having to fulfil every single pre-order of my latest release and hand packing about a thousand books in two weeks. And I nearly burnt it all to the ground. Joanna: Because you didn't have enough staffing, right? And your mum was sick or something? Sacha: Yeah, exactly that. And I had to do it all by myself, and I was alone in the warehouse and it was just horrendous. So never again. But hey, I learned the lessons and now I'm like, yay, let's do it again. Things Change: Building Resilience Into Your Business Joanna: Yeah. And make sure there's more staffing. Yes, I've talked a lot on this show — things change, right? Things change. And in fact, the episode that just went out today as we record this with Jennifer Probst, which she talked about hitting massive bestseller lists and doing just incredibly well, and then it just dropped off and she had to pivot and change things. And I'm not like Debbie Downer, but I do say things will change. So what are you putting in place to make sure, for example, TikTok finally does disappear or get banned, or that sapphic romance suddenly drops off a cliff? What are you doing to make sure that you can keep going in the future? Managing Cash Flow and Salaries Sacha: Yeah, so I think there's a few things. The first big one is managing cash flow and ensuring that I have three to six months' worth of staff salaries, for want of a better word, in an account. So if the worst thing happens and sales drop off — because I am responsible for other people's income now — that I'm not about to shaft a load of people. So that really helps give you that risk reassurance. Mailing Lists and Marketing Funnels Sacha: The second thing is making sure that we are cultivating our mailing lists, making sure that we are putting in infrastructure, like things like upsell apps. And, okay, so here's a ridiculous lesson that I learned in 2025: an automation sequence, an onboarding automation sequence, is not what people mean when they say you need a marketing funnel. I learned this in Vegas. A marketing funnel will sell your products to your existing readers. So when a customer signs up to your mailing list because they've purchased something, they will be tagged and then your email flow system will then send them a 5% discount on this, or “did you know you could bundle up and get blah?” So putting that kind of stuff in place will mean that we can take more advantage of the customers that we've already got. Standard Operating Procedures Sacha: It's also things like organisational knowledge. My team is big enough now that there are things in my business I don't know how to do. That's quite daunting for somebody who is a control freak. So I visited Vegas in 2025 and I sat in a session all on — this sounds so sexy — but standard operating procedures. And now I've given my team the job of creating a process instruction manual on how they do each of their tasks so that if anybody's sick, somebody else can pick it up. If somebody leaves, we've got that infrastructure in place. And even things down to things like passwords — who, if I unfortunately got hit by a car, who can access my Amazon account? Stuff like that, unfortunately. Joanna: Yeah, I know. Well, I mean, that would be tragic, wouldn't it? Sacha: But it's stuff like that. Building Longer Timelines Sacha: But then also more day-to-day things is putting in infrastructure that pulls me out. So looking more at staffing responsibilities for staffing so that I don't always have to be there, and creating longer timelines. That is probably the most important thing that we can do because we've got a book box launching next summer. And we both had the realisation — I say we, me and my operations manager — had the realisation that actually we ought to be commissioning the cover and the artwork now because of how long those processes take. So I'm a little bit shortsighted on timelines, I think. So putting a bit more rigour in what we do and when. We now have a team-wide heat map where we know when the warehouse is going to be really, really full, when staff are off, when deliveries are coming, and that's projected out a year in advance. So lots and lots of things that are changing. And then I guess also eventually we will do advertising as well. But that is a few months down the line. Personal Financial Resilience Sacha: And then on the more personal side, it's looking at things like not just how you keep the business running, but how do you keep yourself running? How do you make sure that, let's say you have a bad sales month, but you still have to pay your team? How are you going to get paid? So I, as well as having put staff salaries away, I also have my own salary. I've got a few months of my own salary put away. And then investing as well. I know, I am not a financial advisor, but I do invest money. I serve money that I pay myself. You can also do things like having investment vehicles inside your business if you want to deal with extra cash. And then I am taking advice from my accountant and my financial advisor on do I put more money into my pension — because did I say that I also have a pension? So I invest in my future as well. Or do I set up another company and have a property portfolio? Or how do I essentially make the money that is inside the business make more money rather than reinvesting it, spending it, and reinvesting it on things that don't become assets or don't become money generating? What can I do with the cash that's inside the company in order to then make it make more for the long term? Because then if you do have a down six months or worse, a down year, for example, you've got enough cash and equity inside the business to cover you during those lower months or years or weeks — or hopefully just a day. Different Business Models for Different Authors Joanna: Yes, of course. And we all hope it just carries on up and to the right, but sometimes it doesn't work that way. So it's really great that you are doing all those things. And I think what's lovely and why we started off with you giving us that potted history was it hasn't always been this way. So if you are listening to this and you are like, well, I've only got one ebook for sale on Amazon, well that might be all you ever want to do, which is fine. Or you can come to where my business model is, which is mostly even — I use print on demand, but it's mostly digital. It's mostly online. It's got no packaging that I deal with. Or you can go even further like Sacha and Adam Beswick and Willow Winters. But because that is being talked about a lot in the community, that's why we wanted to do this — to really show you that there's different people doing different things and you need to choose what's best for you. What Are You Excited About for 2026? Joanna: But just as we finish, just tell us what are you excited about for 2026? Sacha: Oh my goodness me. I am excited to iterate my craft. And this is completely not related to the warehouse, but I have gotten myself into a position where I get to play with words again. So I'm really excited for the things that I'm going to write. But also in terms of the warehouse, we've got the new packaging, so getting to see those on social media. We are also looking at things like book boxes. So we are doing a set of three book boxes and these are going to be new and bigger and better than anything that we've done before. And custom tailored. Oh, without giving too much away, but items that go inside and also the artwork. I love working with artists and commissioning different art projects. But yeah, basically more of the same, hopefully world domination. Joanna: World domination. Fantastic. So basically more creativity. Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: And also a bigger business. Because I know you are ambitious and I love that. I think it's really good for people to be ambitious. Joanna: Oh, I do have another question. Do you have more sympathy for traditional publishing at this point? Sacha: How dare you? Unfortunately, yeah. I really have learnt the hard way why traditional publishers need the timelines that they need. This latest release was probably the biggest that — so this latest release, which was called Architecting, is the reason that I did the podcast episode, because I learned so many lessons. And in particular about timelines and how tight things get, and it's just not realistic when you are doing this physical business. So that's another thing if you are listening and you are like, oh no, no, no, I like the immediacy of being able to finish, get it back from the editor and hit publish — this ain't for you, honey. This is not for you. Joanna: Yeah. No, that's fantastic. Where to Find Sacha and Ruby Roe Joanna: So where can people find you and your books online? Sacha: For the Ruby Empire, it's RubyRoe.co.uk and RubyRoeAuthor on TikTok if you'd like to see me dancing like a wally. And then Instagram, I'm back as @SachaBlackAuthor on Instagram. Joanna: Brilliant. Thanks so much for your time, Sacha. That was great. Sacha: Thank you for having me.The post Two Different Approaches To Selling Books Direct With Sacha Black And Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Josue's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Restoraive Connectedness, Woo, Communication and Context Nicole's Top 5 Clfitonstrengths are:  Maximizer, Empathy, Harmony, Futuristic  and Developer Nicole and Daniel (Mambo) make their home in Denver, Colorado, though they originally from Wisconsin and Mexico City. Nicole is a dedicated career coach who thrives on helping people discover their purpose and professional direction. Daniel works as a financial broker helping people to understand how the financial industry works so they can develop their own investment strategies.   Together, they enjoy an active and adventurous lifestyle—hiking, mountain biking, traveling, and exploring new foods. Nicole especially loves rollerblading, while both cherish spending time with family and friends. Above all, they are passionate about sharing the message of Jesus and serving others through their local church. Their lives are marked by a love for community, faith, and meaningful connection. Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths    

It's a stressful time of year. If you're in Higher Ed, you're wrapping up the fall term and planning for the spring. Plus, you're smack dab in the middle of the holiday season. That's a ton of expectations and stress for you and your team, so it's perhaps the perfect season to discuss boundaries. In this episode, you'll learn the difference between boundaries and rules. And you'll discover how you can set both around your unique Talent Themes. If you'd like to be more productive and less stressed during the end of the year, you'll want to check out this episode.   We're thrilled to announce our newest program, the Strengths Accelerator Academy! If you've wanted to dive deeper into your own Strengths or implement a Strengths-based culture with your team or organization, this Academy is for you. Join us for the Spring 2026 Cohort starting Thursday, January 22nd! We know it's early, but register NOW to take advantage of early bird pricing! It EXPIRES Friday, December 5th, so act now! You'll get eight weeks of powerful online content, designed to help you better understand yourself, your talents, and how to better manage your team. This program combines online learning with weekly cohort calls to discuss the content. Plus, you get one individual coaching call to let you focus on the things that matter to you the most. Get more information about the Academy and Register here -https://learn.strengthsuniversity.org/acceleratoracademy Oh and we're also enrolling for the Spring Cohort of the Supervisor Strengths Institute. Get more information about the Institute and Register here - https://learn.strengthsuniversity.org/Institute Have questions? Email Anne at anne@strengthsuniversity.org or set up a meeting with her HERE. Want more information about Strength...

Why do some romance authors build decades-long careers while others vanish after one breakout book? What really separates a throwaway pen name and rapid release strategy from a legacy brand and a body of work you're proud of? How can you diversify with trad, indie, non-fiction, and Kickstarter without burning out—or selling out your creative freedom? With Jennifer Probst. In the intro, digital ebook signing [BookFunnel]; how to check terms and conditions; Business for Authors 2026 webinars; Music industry and AI music [BBC; The New Publishing Standard]; The Golden Age of Weird. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jennifer Probst is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 60 books across different kinds of romance as well as non-fiction for writers. Her latest book is Write Free. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How Jennifer started writing at age 12, fell in love with romance, and persisted through decades of rejection A breakout success — and what happened when it moved to a traditional publisher Traditional vs indie publishing, diversification, and building a long-term, legacy-focused writing career Rapid-release pen names vs slow-burn author brands, and why Jennifer chooses quality and longevity Inspirational non-fiction for writers (Write Naked, Write True, Write Free) Using Kickstarter for special editions, re-releases, courses, and what she's learned from both successes and mistakes – plus what “writing free” really means in practice How can you ‘write free'? You can find Jennifer at JenniferProbst.com. Transcript of interview with Jennifer Probst Jo: Jennifer Probst is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 60 books across different kinds of romance as well as non-fiction for writers. Her latest book is Write Free. So welcome, Jennifer. Jennifer: Thanks so much, Joanna. I am kind of fangirling. I'm really excited to be on The Creative Penn podcast. It's kind of a bucket list. Jo: Aw, that's exciting. I reached out to you after your recent Kickstarter, and we are going to come back to that in a minute. First up, take us back in time. Tell us a bit more about how you got into writing and publishing. Jennifer: This one is easy for me. I am one of those rarities. I think that I knew when I was seven that I was going to write. I just didn't know what I was going to write. At 12 years old, and now this will kind of date me in dinosaur era here, there was no internet, no information on how to be a writer, no connections out there. The only game in town was Writer's Digest. I would go to my library and pore over Writer's Digest to learn how to be a writer. At 12 years old, all I knew was, “Oh, if I want to be a famous writer, I have to write a book.” So I literally sat down at 12 and wrote my first young adult romance. Of course, I was the star, as we all are when we're young, and I have not stopped since. I always knew, since my dad came home from a library with a box of romance novels and got in trouble with my mum and said, basically, “She's reading everything anyway, just let her read these,” I was gone. From that moment on, I knew that my entire life was going to be about that. So for me, it wasn't the writing. I have written non-stop since I was 12 years old. For me, it was more about making this a career where I can make money, because I think there was a good 30 years where I wrote without a penny to my name. So it was more of a different journey for me. It was more about trying to find my way in the writing world, where everybody said it should be just a hobby, and I believed that it should be something more. Jo: I was literally just going back in my head there to the library I used to go to on my way home from school. Similar, probably early teens, maybe age 14. Going to that section and… I think it was Shirley Conran. Was that Lace? Yes, Lace books. That's literally how we all learned about sex back in the day. Jennifer: All from books. You didn't need parents, you didn't need friends. Amazing. Jo: Oh, those were the days. That must have been the eighties, right? Jennifer: It was the eighties. Yes. Seventies, eighties, but mostly right around in the eighties. Oh, it was so… Jo: I got lost about then because I was reminiscing. I was also the same one in the library, and people didn't really see what you were reading in the corner of the library. So I think that's quite funny. Tell us how you got into being an indie. Jennifer: What had happened is I had this manuscript and it had been shopped around New York for agents and for a bunch of publishers. I kept getting the same exact thing: “I love your voice.” I mean, Joanna, when you talk about papering your wall with rejections, I lived that. The only thing I can say is that when I got my first rejection, I looked at it as a rite of passage that created me as a writer, rather than taking the perspective that it meant I failed. To me, perspective is a really big thing in this career, how you look at things. So that really helped me. But after you get like 75 of them, you're like, “I don't know how much longer I can take of this.” What happened is, it was an interesting story, because I had gone to an RWA conference and I had shopped this everywhere, this book that I just kept coming back to. I kept saying, “I feel like this book could be big.” There was an indie publisher there. They had just started out, it was an indie publisher called Entangled. A lot of my friends were like, “What about Entangled? Why don't you try more digital things or more indie publishers coming up rather than the big traditional ones?” Lo and behold, I sent it out. They loved the book. They decided, in February of 2012, to launch it. It was their big debut. They were kind of competing with Harlequin, but it was going to be a new digital line. It was this new cutting-edge thing. The book went crazy. It went viral. The book was called The Marriage Bargain, and it put me on the map. All of a sudden I was inundated with agents, and the traditional publishers came knocking and they wanted to buy the series. It was everywhere. Then it hit USA Today, and then it spent 26 weeks on The New York Times. Everybody was like, “Wow, you're this overnight sensation.” And I'm like, “Not really!” That was kind of my leeway into everything. We ended up selling that series to Simon & Schuster because that was the smart move for then, because it kind of blew up and an indie publisher at that time knew it was a lot to take on. From then on, my goal was always to do both: to have a traditional contract, to work with indie publishers, and to do my own self-pub. I felt, even back then, the more diversified I am, the more control I have. If one bucket goes bad, I have two other buckets. Jo: Yes, I mean, I always say multiple streams of income. It's so surprising to me that people think that whatever it is that hits big is going to continue. So you obviously experienced there a massive high point, but it doesn't continue. You had all those weeks that were amazing, but then it drops off, right? Jennifer: Oh my goodness, yes. Great story about what happened. So 26 weeks on The New York Times, and it was selling like hotcakes. Then Simon & Schuster took it over and they bumped the price to their usual ebook price, which was, what, $12.99 or something? So it's going from $2.99. The day that they did it, I slid off all the bestseller lists. They were gone, and I lost a lot of control too. With indies, you have a little bit more control. But again, that kind of funnels me into a completely different kind of setup. Traditional is very different from indie. What you touched on, I think, is the biggest thing in the industry right now. When things are hot, it feels like forever. I learned a valuable lesson: it doesn't continue. It just doesn't. Maybe someone like Danielle Steel or some of the other big ones never had to pivot, but I feel like in romance it's very fluid. You have genres hitting big, you have niches hitting big, authors hitting big. Yes, I see some of them stay. I see Emily Henry still staying—maybe that will never pause—but I think for the majority, they find themselves saying, “Okay, that's done now. What's next?” It can either hit or not hit. Does that make sense to you? Do you feel the same? Jo: Yes, and I guess it's not just about the book. It's more about the tactic. You mentioned genres, and they do switch a lot in romance, a lot faster than other genres. In terms of how we do marketing… Now, as we record this, TikTok is still a thing, and we can see maybe generative AI search coming on the horizon and agentic buying. A decade ago it might have been different, more Facebook ads or whatever. Then before that it might have been something else. So there's always things changing along the way. Jennifer: Yes, there definitely is. It is a very oversaturated market. They talk about, I don't know, 2010 to 2016 maybe, as the gold rush, because that was where you could make a lot of money as an indie. Then we saw the total fallout of so many different things. I feel like I've gone through so many ups and downs in the industry. I do love it because the longer you're around, the more you learn how to pivot. If you want this career, you learn how to write differently or do whatever you need to do to keep going, in different aspects, with the changes. To me, that makes the industry exciting. Again, perspective is a big thing. But I have had to take a year to kind of rebuild when I was out of contract with a lot of things. I've had to say, “Okay, what do you see on the horizon now? Where is the new foundation? Where do you wanna restart?” Sometimes it takes a year or two of, “Maybe I won't be making big income and I cut back,” but then you're back in it, because it takes a while to write a few new books, or write under a pen name, or however you want to pivot your way back into the industry. Or, like you were saying, diversifying. I did a lot of non-fiction stuff because that's a big calling for me, so I put that into the primary for a while. I think it's important for authors to maybe not just have one thing. When that one thing goes away, you're scrambling. It's good to have a couple of different things like, “Well, okay, this genre is dead or this thing is dead or this isn't making money. Let me go to this for a little while until I see new things on the horizon.” Jo: Yes. There's a couple of things I want to come back to. You mentioned a pen name there, and one of the things I'm seeing a lot right now—I mean, it's always gone on, but it seems to be on overdrive—is people doing rapid-release, throwaway pen names. So there's a new sub-genre, they write the books really fast, they put them up under whatever pen name, and then when that goes away, they ditch that pen name altogether. Versus growing a name brand more slowly, like I think you and I have done. Under my J.F. Penn fiction brand, I put lots of different sub-genres. What are your thoughts on this throwaway pen name versus growing a name brand more slowly? Jennifer: Well, okay, the first thing I'm goign to say is: if that lights people up, if you love the idea of rapid release and just kind of shedding your skin and going on to the next one, I say go for it. As long as you're not pumping it out with AI so it's a complete AI book, but that's a different topic. I'm not saying using AI tools; I mean a completely AI-written book. That's the difference. If we're talking about an author going in and, every four weeks, writing a book and stuff like that, I do eventually think that anything in life that disturbs you, you're going to burn out eventually. That is a limited-time kind of thing, I believe. I don't know how long you can keep doing that and create decent enough books or make a living on it. But again, I really try not to judge, because I am very open to: if that gives you joy and that's working and it brings your family money, go for it. I have always wanted to be a writer for the long term. I want my work to be my legacy. I don't just pump out books. Every single book is my history. It's a marking of what I thought, what I put out in the world, what my beliefs are, what my story is. It marks different things, and I'm very proud of that. So I want a legacy of quality. As I got older, in my twenties and thirties, I was able to write books a lot faster. Then I had a family with two kids and I had to slow down a little bit. I also think life sometimes drives your career, and that's okay. If you're taking care of a sick parent or there's illness or whatever, maybe you need to slow down. I like the idea of a long-term backlist supporting me when I need to take a back seat and not do frontlist things. So that's how I feel. I will always say: choose a long, organic-growth type of career that will be there for you, where your backlist can support you. I also don't want to trash people who do it differently. If that is how you can do it, if you can write a book in a month and keep doing it and keep it quality, go for it. Jo: I do have the word “legacy” on my board next to me, but I also have “create a body of work I'm proud of.” I have that next to me, and I have “Have you made art today?” So I think about these things too. As you say, people feel differently about work, and I will do other work to make faster cash rather than do that with books. But as we said, that's all good. Interestingly, you mentioned non-fiction there. Write Free is your latest one, but you've got some other writing books. So maybe— Talk about the difference between non-fiction book income and marketing compared to fiction, and why you added that in. Jennifer: Yes, it's completely different. I mean, it's two new dinosaurs. I came to writing non-fiction in a very strange way. Literally, I woke up on New Year's Day and I was on a romance book deadline. I could not do it. I'll tell you, my brain was filled with passages of teaching writing, of things I wanted to share in my writing career. Because again, I've been writing since I was 12, I've been a non-stop writer for over 30 years. I got to my computer and I wrote like three chapters of Write Naked (which was the first book). It was just pouring out of me. So I contacted my agent and I said, “Look, I don't know, this is what I want to do. I want to write this non-fiction book.” She's like, “What are you talking about? You're a romance author. You're on a romance deadline. What do you want me to do with this?” She was so confused. I said, “Yes, how do you write a non-fiction book proposal?” And she was just like, “This is not good, Jen. What are you doing?” Anyway, the funny story was, she said, “Just send me chapters.” I mean, God bless her, she's this wonderful agent, but I know she didn't get it. So I sent her like four chapters of what I was writing and she called me. I'll never forget it. She called me on the phone and she goes, “This is some of the best stuff I have ever read in my life. It's raw and it's truthful, and we've got to find a publisher for this.” And I was like, “Yay.” What happened was, I believe this was one of the most beautiful full circles in my life: Writer's Digest actually made me an offer. It was not about the money. I found that non-fiction for me had a much lower advance and a different type of sales. For me, when I was a kid, that is exactly what I was reading in the library, Writer's Digest. I would save my allowance to get the magazine. I would say to myself, “One day, maybe I will have a book with Writer's Digest.” So for me, it was one of the biggest full-circle moments. I will never forget it. Being published by them was amazing. Then I thought I was one-and-done, but the book just completely touched so many writers. I have never gotten so many emails: “Thank you for saying the truth,” or “Thank you for being vulnerable.” Right before it published, I had a panic attack. I told my husband, “Now everybody's going to know that I am a mess and I'm not fabulous and the world is going to know my craziness.” By being vulnerable about the career, and also that it was specifically for romance authors, it caused a bond. I think it caused some trust. I had been writing about writing for years. After that, I thought it was one-and-done. Then two or three years later I was like, “No, I have more to say.” So I leaned into my non-fiction. It also gives my fiction brain a rest, because when you're doing non-fiction, you're using a different part of your brain. It's a way for me to cleanse my palate. I gather more experiences about what I want to share, and then that goes into the next book. Jo: Yes, I also use the phrase “palate cleanser” for non-fiction versus fiction. I feel like you write one and then you feel like, “Oh, I really need to write the other now.” Jennifer: Yes! Isn't it wonderful? I love that. I love having the two brains and just giving one a break and totally leaning into it. Again, it's another way of income. It's another way. I also believe that this industry has given me so much that it is automatic that I want to give back. I just want to give as much as possible back because I'm so passionate about writing and the industry field. Jo: Well, interestingly though, Writer's Digest—the publisher who published that magazine and other things—went bankrupt in 2019. You've been in publishing a long time. It is not uncommon for publishers to go out of business or to get bought. Things happen with publishers, right? Jennifer: Yes. Jo: So what then happened? Jennifer: So Penguin Random House bought it. All the Writer's Digest authors did not know what they were going to do. Then Penguin Random House bought it and kept Writer's Digest completely separate, as an imprint under the umbrella. So Writer's Digest really hasn't changed. They still have the magazine, they still have books. So it ended up being okay. But what I did do is—because I sold Write Naked and I have no regrets about that, it was the best thing for me to do, to go that route—the second and the third books were self-published. I decided I'm going to self-publish. That way I have the rights for audio, I have the rights for myself, I can do a whole bunch of different things. So Write True, the second one, was self-published. Writers Inspiring Writers I paired up with somebody, so we self-published that. And Write Free, my newest one, is self-published. So I've decided to go that route now with my non-fiction. Jo: Well, as I said, I noticed your Kickstarter. I don't write romance, so I'm not really in that community. I had kind of heard your name before, but then I bought the book and joined the Kickstarter. Then I discovered that you've been doing so much and I was like, “Oh, how, why haven't we connected before?” It's very cool. So tell us about the Kickstarters you've done and what you know, because you've done, I think, a fiction one as well. What are your thoughts and tips around Kickstarter? Jennifer: Yes. When I was taking that year, I found myself kind of… let's just say fired from a lot of different publishers at the time. That was okay because I had contracts that ran out, and when I looked to see, “Okay, do we want to go back?” it just wasn't looking good. I was like, “Well, I don't want to spend a year if I'm not gonna be making the money anyway.” So I looked at the landscape and I said, “It's time to really pull in and do a lot more things on my own, but I've got to build foundations.” Kickstarter was one of them. I took a course with Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle. They did a big course for Kickstarter, and they were really the ones going around to all the conferences and basically saying, “Hey guys, you're missing out on a lot of publishing opportunities here,” because Kickstarter publishing was getting good. I took the course because I like to dive into things, but I also want to know the foundation of it. I want to know what I'm doing. I'm not one to just wing it when it comes to tech. So what happened is, the first one, I had rights coming back from a book. After 10 years, my rights came back. It was an older book and I said, “You know what? I am going to dip my foot in and see what kind of base I can grow there. What can I do?” I was going to get a new cover, add new scenes, re-release it anyway, right? So I said, “Let's do a Kickstarter for it, because then I can get paid for all of that work.” It worked out so fantastically. It made just enough for my goal. I knew I didn't want to make a killing; I knew I wanted to make a fund. I made my $5,000, which I thought was wonderful, and I was able to re-release it with a new cover, a large print hardback, and I added some scenes. I did a 10-year anniversary re-release for my fans. So I made it very fan-friendly, grew my audience, and I was like, “This was great.” The next year, I did something completely different. I was doing Kindle Vella back in the day. That was where you dropped a chapter at a time. I said, “I want to do this completely different kind of thing.” It was very not my brand at all. It was very reality TV-ish: young college students living in the city, very sexy, very angsty, love triangles, messy—everything I was not known for. Again, I was like, “I'm not doing a pen name because this is just me,” and I funnelled my audience. I said, “What I'm going to do is I'm going to start doing a chapter a week through Kindle Vella and make money there. Then when it's done, I'm going to bundle it all up and make a book out of it.” So I did a year of Kindle Vella. It was the best decision I made because I just did two chapters a week, which I was able to do. By one year I had like 180,000 words. I had two to three books in there. I did it as a hardback deluxe—the only place you could get it in print. Then Vella closed, or at least it went way down. So I was like, “Great, I'm going to do this Kickstarter for this entire new thing.” I partnered with a company that helps with special editions, because that was a whole other… oh Joanna, that was a whole other thing you have to go into. Getting the books, getting the art, getting the swag. I felt like I needed some help for that. Again, I went in, I funded. I did not make a killing on that, but that was okay. I learned some things that I would have changed with my Kickstarter and I also built a new audience for that. I had a lot of extra books that I then sold in my store, and it was another place to make money. The third Kickstarter I used specifically because I had always wanted to do a writing course. I go all over the world, I do keynotes, I do workshops, I've done books, and I wanted to reach new writers, but I don't travel a lot anymore. So I came up with the concept that I was going to do my very first course, and it was going to be very personal, kind of like me talking to them almost like in a keynote, like you're in a room with me. I gathered a whole bunch of stuff and I used Kickstarter to help me A) fund it and B) make myself do it, because it was two years in the making and I always had, “Oh, I've got this other thing to do,” you know how we do that, right? We have big projects. So I used Kickstarter as a deadline and I decided to launch it in the summer. In addition to that, I took years of my posts from all over. I copied and pasted, did new posts, and I created Write Free, which was a very personal, essay-driven book. I took it all together. I took a couple of months to do this, filmed the course, and the Kickstarter did better than I had ever imagined. I got quadruple what I wanted, and it literally financed all the video editing, the books, everything that I needed, plus extra. I feel like I'm growing in Kickstarter. I hope I'm not ranting. I'm trying to go over things that can help people. Jo: Oh no, that is super useful. Jennifer: So you don't have to go all in and say, “If it doesn't fund it's over,” or “I need to make $20,000.” There are people making so much money, and there are people that will do a project a year or two projects a year and just get enough to fund a new thing that they want to do. So that's how I've done it. Jo: I've done quite a few now, and my non-fiction ones have been a lot bigger—I have a big audience there—and my fiction have been all over the place. What I like about Kickstarter is that you can do these different things. We can do these special editions. I've just done a sprayed-edge short story collection. Short story collections are not the biggest genre. Jennifer: Yes. I love short stories too. I've always wanted to do an anthology of all my short stories. Jo: There you go. Jennifer: Yes, I love that for your Kickstarter. Love it. Jo: When I turned 50 earlier this year, I realised the thing that isn't in print is my short stories. They are out there digitally, and that's why I wanted to do it. I feel like Kickstarter is a really good way to do these creative projects. As you say, you don't have to make a ton of money, but at the end of the day, the definition of success for us, I think for both of us, is just being able to continue doing this, right? Jennifer: Absolutely. This is funding a creative full-time career, and every single thing that you do with your content is like a funnel. The more funnels that you have, the bigger your base. Especially if you love it. It would be different if I was struggling and thinking, “Do I get an editor job?” I would hate being an editor. But if you look at something else like, “Oh yes, I could do this and that would light me up, like doing a course—wow, that sounds amazing,” then that's different. It's kind of finding your alternates that also light you up. Jo: Hmm. So were there any mistakes in your Kickstarters that you think are worth sharing? In case people are thinking about it. Jennifer: Oh my God, yes. So many. One big thing was that I felt like I was a failure if I didn't make a certain amount of money because my name is pretty well known. It's not like I'm brand new and looking. One of the big things was that I could not understand and I felt like I was banging my head against the wall about why my newsletter subscribers wouldn't support the Kickstarter. I'm like, “Why aren't you doing this? I'm supposed to have thousands of people that just back.” Your expectations can really mess with you. Then I started to learn, “Oh my God, my newsletter audience wants nothing to do with my Kickstarter.” Maybe I had a handful. So then I learned that I needed longer tails, like putting it up for pre-order way ahead of time, and also that you can't just announce it in your newsletter and feel like everybody's going to go there. You need to find your streams, your Kickstarter audience, which includes ads. I had never done ads either and I didn't know how to do that, so I did that all wrong. I joined the Facebook group for Kickstarter authors. I didn't do that for the first one and then I learned about it. You share backer updates, so every time you go into your audience with a backer update, there's this whole community where you can share with like-minded people with their projects, and you post it under your updates. It does cross-networking and sharing with a lot of authors in their newsletters. For the Write Free one, I leaned into my networking a lot, using my connections. I used other authors' newsletters and people in the industry to share my Kickstarter. That was better for me than just relying on my own fanbase. So definitely more networking, more sharing, getting it out on different platforms rather than just doing your own narrow channel. Because a lot of the time, you think your audience will follow you into certain things and they don't, and that needs to be okay. The other thing was the time and the backend. I think a lot of authors can get super excited about swag. I love that, but I learned that I could have pulled back a little bit and been smarter with my financials. I did things I was passionate about, but I probably spent much more money on swag than I needed to. So looking at different aspects to make it more efficient. I think each time you do one, you learn what works best. As usual, I try to be patient with myself. I don't get mad at myself for trying things and failing. I think failing is spectacular because I learn something. I know: do I want to do this again? Do I want to do it differently? If we weren't so afraid of failingqu “in public”, I think we would do more things. I'm not saying I never think, “Oh my God, that was so embarrassing, I barely funded and this person is getting a hundred thousand.” We're human. We compare. I have my own reset that I do, but I really try to say, “But no, for me, maybe I'll do this, and if it doesn't work, that's okay.” Jo: I really like that you shared about the email list there because I feel like too many people have spent years driving people to Kindle or KU, and they have built an email list of readers who like a particular format at a particular price. Then we are saying, “Oh, now come over here and buy a beautiful hardback that's like ten times the price.” And we're surprised when nobody does it. Is that what happened? Jennifer: Exactly. Also, that list was for a non-fiction project. So I had to funnel where my writers were in my newsletter, and I have mostly readers. So I was like, “Okay…” But I think you're exactly right. First of all, it's the platform. When you ask anybody to go off a platform, whether it's buy direct at your Shopify store or go to Kickstarter, you are going to lose the majority right there. People are like, “No, I want to click a button from your newsletter and go to a site that I know.” So you've got that, and you've got to train them. That can take some time. Then you've got this project where people are like, “I don't understand.” Even my mum was like, “I would love to support you, honey, but what the heck is this? Where's the buy button and where's my book?” My women's fiction books tend to have some older readers who are like, “Hell no, I don't know what this is.” So you have to know your audience. If it's not translating, train them. I did a couple of videos where I said, “Look, I want to show you how easy this is,” and I showed them directly how to go in and how to back. I did that with Kindle Vella too. I did a video from my newsletter and on social: “Hey, do you not know how to read this chapter? Here's how.” Sometimes there's a barrier. Like you said, Joanna, if I have a majority that just want sexy contemporary, and I'm dropping angsty, cheating, forbidden love, they're like, “Oh no, that's not for me.” So you have to know whether there's a crossover. I go into my business with that already baked into my expectations. I don't go in thinking I'm going to make a killing. Then I'm more surprised when it does well, and then I can build it. Jo: Yes, exactly. Also if you are, like both of us, writing across genres, then you are always going to split your audience. People do not necessarily buy everything because they have their preferences. So I think that's great. Now we are almost out of time, but this latest book is Write Free. I wondered if you would maybe say— What does Write Free mean to you, and what might it help the listeners with? Jennifer: Write Free is an extremely personal book for me, and the title was really important because it goes with Write Naked, Write True, and Write Free. These are the ways that I believe a writer should always show up to the page. Freedom is being able to write your truth in whatever day that is. You're going to be a different writer when you're young and maybe hormonal and passionate and having love affairs. You're going to write differently when you're a mum with kids in nappies. You're going to write differently when you are maybe in your forties and you're killing your career. Your perspective changes, your life changes. Write Free is literally a collection of essays all through my 30 years of life. It's very personal. There are essays like, “I'm writing my 53rd book right now,” and essays like, “My kids are in front of SpongeBob and I'm trying to write right now,” and “I got another rejection letter and I don't know how to survive.” It is literally an imprint of essays that you can dip in and dip out of. It's easy, short, inspirational, and it's just me showing up for my writing life. That's what I wish for everybody: that they can show up for their writing life in the best way that they can at the time, because that changes all the time. Jo: We can say “write free” because we've got a lot of experience at writing. I feel like when I started writing—I was an IT consultant—I literally couldn't write anything creative. I didn't believe I could. There'll be people listening who are just like, “Well, Jennifer, I can't write free. I'm not free. My mind is shackled by all these expectations and everything.” How can they release that and aim for more freedom? Jennifer: I love that question so much. The thing is, I've spent so many years working on that part. That doesn't come overnight. I think sometimes when you have more clarification of, “Okay, this is really limiting me,” then when you can see where something is limiting you, at least you can look for answers. My answers came in the form of meditation. Meditation is a very big thing in my life. Changing my perspective. Learning life mottos to help me deal with those kinds of limitations. Learning that when I write a sex scene, I can't care about my elderly aunt who tells my mother, “Dear God, she ruined the family name.” It is your responsibility to figure out where these limitations are, and then slowly see how you can remove them. I've been in therapy. I have read hundreds of self-help books. I take meditation courses. I take workshop courses. I've done CliftonStrengths with Becca Syme. I don't even know if that's therapy, but it feels like therapy to me as a writer. Knowing my personality traits. I've done Enneagram work with Claire Taylor, which has been huge. The more you know yourself and how your brain is showing up for yourself, the more you can grab tools to use. I wish I could say, “Yes, if everybody meditates 30 minutes a day, you're going to have all blocks removed,” but it's so personal that it's a trick question. If everybody started today and said, “Where is my biggest limitation?” and be real with yourself, there are answers out there. You just have to go slowly and find them, and then the writing more free will come. I hope that wasn't one of those woo-woo answers, but I really do believe it. Jo: I agree. It just takes time. Like our writing career, it just takes time. Keep working on it, keep writing. Jennifer: Yes. And bravery, right? A lot of bravery. Just show up for yourself however you can. If “write free” feels too big, journal for yourself and put it in a locked drawer. Any kind of writing, I think, is therapeutic too. Jo: Brilliant. So where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Jennifer: The best place to go is my website. I treat it like my home. It's www.JenniferProbst.com. There is so much on it. Not just books, not just free content and free stories. There's an entire section just for writers. There are videos on there. There are a lot of resources. I keep it up to date and it is the place where you can find me. Of course I'm everywhere on social media as Author Jennifer Probst. You can find me anywhere. I always tell everybody: I answer my messages, I answer my emails. That is really important to me. So if you heard this podcast and you want to reach out on anything, please do. I will answer. Jo: Fantastic. Well, thanks so much for your time, Jennifer. That was great. Jennifer: Thanks for having me, Joanna.The post Writing Free: Romance Author Jennifer Probst On A Long-Term Author Career first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Heather McDowell Macleod's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Positivity, Empathy, Developer, Communication & Includer  Heather lives in Southern California with her husband, David, and their kids. Having grown up on CRU staff as the daughter of the McDowells, ministry has always been close to her heart. After six years of working directly with young adults, she recently stepped into the role of Director of Development at OC United. OC United is committed to keeping families together, preventing kids from entering foster care, and helping communities thrive through both prevention and intervention services. Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment   Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths  

What if the next step in your calling isn't about finding a new job—but uncovering who God designed you to be?  In this episode, we hear from Sheri Miter, author of Discovering Your Calling, Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach™, and visionary strategist, to explore how understanding your natural strengths can help you discern your next step with clarity and confidence. After leaving a 25-year career at the top of her industry, Sheri now helps ambitious mid-career women uncover their purpose, reignite their passion, and create meaningful work they love.She shares a framework she created to help women uncover their calling in a fraction of the time it took her. You'll learn:How to identify and apply your CliftonStrengths to your God-given purposeThe difference between talents and strengths—and how to grow them intentionallyHow to recognize the “little nudges” that signal it's time for changeWhy rest, reflection, and listening to your body are key parts of discernmentHow to overcome fear and self-doubt when stepping into your next chapterYou'll walk away with practical tools and spiritual insight to help you align your work with your divine design—and finally step into the purpose you were created for.

Mark interviews Becca Syme about her latest project, about the journey she has been on since she launched her first Dear Writer, You Need to Quit book, and the various fiction titles she has written. Prior to the interview, Mark explains that he is at Author Nation in Vegas and that his introduction and post interview reflection were generated by ElevenLabs. Then his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Becca talk about: How it has been an extremely long year since Becca was last on the Stark Reflections Podcast Becca's long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach it The Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stops The prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their name How Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episode Mark's idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn't an option The limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca's Kickstarter How the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca's first "Dear Writer, You Need to Quit" book came out The cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletive How long Becca's Kickstarter will be running Trying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writers The positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing done How Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writer The two other pen names that Becca writes under for different series and genres. Mystery written as R.L. Syme. Paranormal Romance (written with a co-author) written as Cameron Reece. Urban fantasy under the name: Macy Dixon The recent "work vacation" that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writing Becca's reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voice The specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing each The comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicion How Becca is a real "sense of place" writer who connects emotionally with the physical space and the connection to the earth, the mountains, etc After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of wanting to help writers, and how that often leads to one's own writing taking a back seat.   Links of Interest: Becca Syme's Better-Faster Academy Better-Faster Academcy LINKS Better Faster Academy TOUR STOP GAME - Enter that you listened to Becca's interview on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    

In this Be It Till You See It recap, Lesley and Brad reflect on Danielle Droitsch's journey from environmental law to leadership coaching and the mindset shifts that helped her uncover her real strengths. They share how Danielle's simple but powerful approach reframes fulfillment, challenges perfectionism, and inspires action through alignment. Tune in to explore how small, intentional changes can help you lead and live with more clarity.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:What it means to uncover your true superpower and use it to create impact.How following your energy reveals where you're most aligned and fulfilled.Why you only need 20% of your week focused on what energizes you to feel more balanced.How confidence grows by acting, reflecting, correcting, and continuing forward.Episode References/Links:OPC Winter Tour - https://opc.me/tourPilates Journal Expo - https://xxll.co/pilatesjournalCambodia Retreat Waitlist - https://crowsnestretreats.comAgency Mini - https://prfit.biz/miniContrology Pilates Conference in Poland - https://xxll.co/polandContrology Pilates Conference in Brussels - https://xxll.co/brusselsSubmit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questionsTime For Well-Being Website - https://www.time4wellbeing.comStop Second Guessing Your Next Career Move (Free Training) - https://exclusive.time4wellbeing.comDanielle Droitsch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielledroitschCareer Clarity Journey: Define Your Career Path - https://mailchi.mp/7b47af821797/3jwkmtvr4yEpisode 27: Kareen Walsh - https://beitpod.com/ep27Episode 397: Kareen Walsh - https://beitpod.com/ep397 If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00  She defined superpowers as your innate ability to create impact. I love that. Your innate ability to create impact. You guys, if you aren't hearing a theme about today, it is, are you using your inner compass? Are you taking time to understand yourself? Are you talking yourself up? Lesley Logan 0:16  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:55  Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the flourishing convo I have with Danielle Droitsch in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that interview, feel free to pause this now and go back and listen to that one, and then come back and join us. She's a fucking badass.Brad Crowell 1:13  She's pretty amazing. I really enjoyed that conversation. Lesley Logan 1:15  I mean, I don't even know how, she's been listening to our pod for a while. Then she pitched herself. We talked to her. You came up and talked to her. I want to be friends with her. I wish she lived closer. She's doing great work. And also, like, I don't even know how she did what she did for a living, because, like, as we talked about in the podcast, you're an environmental attorney, which means you're constantly fighting for the environment, and the environment is constantly getting hotter. Brad Crowell 1:38  I didn't know she was an environmental attorney. Lesley Logan 1:38  I'm pretty sure. Brad Crowell 1:38  No, she just described her work as an attorney, but it's possible you guys have that you talked to her beforehand. Lesley Logan 1:50  Yeah, no, she was an environment policy world attorney, like she was a fucking badass in DC. And I remember talking to her offline, like, Oh my God. So every day you're trying to say, the Earth is hot. I'm fighting for the earth. And every day they're like, you know, like, it's just, I don't know, like, that would be a hard that'd be a long hard, but we need people like her in this world. Brad Crowell 2:13  Well, she quit, so.Lesley Logan 2:17  She still fights for it. She still does her she still does her work. She didn't quit. Brad, what makes it sound like she gave up? She did not, you know it.Brad Crowell 2:31  No, she has moved on to bigger and better task. Lesley Logan 2:33  She had to leave DC for other reasons, and it's pretty hard to fight for the environment on a world level outside of DC. So anyways, she's still badass. Brad Crowell 2:43  Yeah. Actually, she said she's she's bringing a little bit of liberal vibes to Salt Lake City, so. Lesley Logan 2:49  We love that. You know, it's really because we have a friend who's a federal defense attorney, and I, like, think about her going to work every day, right? And, like, the federal defense attorneys, like, what's the average win? It's like 2% or something like that. And she's like 4% and that's like, fucking badass, right? And you're just like, and she's like, fighting. Brad Crowell 3:11  I think she had six. Lesley Logan 3:05  I think she had six, you're right. Yeah, she got, like, defense attorney of the year. Hi, Amelia. Anyways, she like, I think about people like that, and Danielle and like these other people like, talk about having to figure out a different way of understanding how to celebrate your wins, because, like, it could take years to move, to get a date, for something to be heard. Years, and we're over here being it until we see it, going, oh, that thing didn't happen yesterday. I had to wait six months.Brad Crowell 3:35  Yeah, it's true. I mean, especially with environmental law. I mean, you could be working on something for, you know, five to 10 years before it actually comes together, so.Lesley Logan 3:43  Yeah, well, we'll get into her in a second. Hold on. Just so you're clear, I actually have no idea what day Brad chooses until we open up the script, unless I choose a day. And so I have no idea what I'm about to read. And I feel like it's gonna be weird, because today is November 6th 2025 and it's Marooned Without A Compass Day, which would, is the story of my life, I think I would be marooned without a compass for sure. If I had my phone, and it was working, we'd be okay, but truth be told, I don't have a charger ever on me, which means my compass would be leaving us quickly. This day is celebrated annually to put a spotlight on the direction of our lives or the lack of it. Oh, well, that's interesting. On this day, we ask ourselves the hard question, where is my life going? Am I happy? In a rather literal sense, maroon means being trapped alone in a place, yeah. But in a mindful sense, it describes the ecstatic gloom and thank you, Brad for highlighting. I see ecstatic gloom is a paradoxical or oxymoronic phrase that describes the feeling that being simultaneously overwhelmed with happiness and sadness is not a standard English idiom, but a descriptive pairing of two contradictory emotions, wonderful. I feel like ecstatic gloom is how I live every day in this administration. That comes with being lost in our life.Brad Crowell 5:04  So ecstatic gloom. So in a rather little literal sense, marooned means being trapped alone in a place, but in a mindful sense, that describes the ecstatic gloom that comes from being lost in our own life. Lives, right? So. Lesley Logan 5:07  Well, this is people who are not being it until we see it, Brad. Brad Crowell 5:11  That's what I'm saying. Lesley Logan 5:13  Our listeners do not mean marooned without a compass. Brad Crowell 5:21  That's why today is exactly the right day to celebrate. Oh, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. Today is all about climbing up from the rock bottom of our lives and becoming our own compass. But that's what we do here every single day at the Be It Pod. So, you know, I thought this was a great day, because what this actually really made me think about was the reset button that Covid was, you know.Lesley Logan 5:47  Yeah if people took advantage of it, which I feel like.Brad Crowell 5:49  I mean, whether or not you took advantage of it, it became a very real it was a mirror to our own lives. Each and every one of us had this, this really, I'm sure we all had the internal conversation, this ecstatic gloom of like, oh, this is what my life is. Is this what I want my life to be? (inaudible)Lesley Logan 5:49  And oh, my God, I get to lay on the couch. That's the ecstatic part. You have to have ecstatic part of the gloom.Brad Crowell 6:13  Yeah. I mean, I don't, I don't know how many people like I think the I think there was this weird perception that we can learn another language, but that never happened for us. Lesley Logan 6:21  People did make sourdough, Brad, not us, we weren't those people. Brad Crowell 6:25  We were not those people, but people did make sourdough. Lesley Logan 6:28  Our dog got walked fucking 12 fucking miles a day. That's right.Brad Crowell 6:33  But, but I, you know, I think that, you know, we're already five years past Covid, and I think this is a good time to check in and be like, Hey, I had this realization back then. You know, I made changes in my life, the changes that I made. Am I happy with them still? So, yeah. So today is Marooned Without A Compass Day. Lesley Logan 6:55  Yeah, but you don't have to go on an island and get a volleyball and name it Wilson. You can just use Hey, I just studied the Hermit card today. That was my hermit and my Tarot reading, because my new hobby, okay, and it's about taking time to be alone and do some self-reflection and some inner like looking in your inner wisdom. Brad Crowell 7:13  How poignant. Lesley Logan 7:14  How poignant. But not well, because this is on November 6th, and I'm doing it today, but it is poignant that we're recording this today, and one of the things you have to ask yourself is, like, what, what does like self-reflection look like to you? How do you understand what your inner guidance is? And like, I really do think that a lot of us are very busy, and even some of us are really good at time by ourselves and even time with our self-care. But how often are we actually using our inner wisdom versus our outer wisdom? And this is something I work with, like, eLevate members when they're like, Okay, so what next? And I'm like, You got to go inside and, like, juice out what you learned already. Brad Crowell 7:52  Gotta go inside. Lesley Logan 7:53  Anyways. Well, that's cool. Like it. I like a good compass. I don't know how to use one, but I think about it all the time. Brad Crowell 8:01  It's okay. Lesley Logan 8:03  Don't download the free compass on your phone, because there is already a compass on your phone. Brad Crowell 8:08  Yeah, there's already a compass. You don't need to get another app. Lesley Logan 8:12  You actually, that's and that is also poignant, you already have a compass. It's already inside you. You guys.Brad Crowell 8:17  We're gonna blast through these, because there's a whole list now. So we're gonna move real fast, are you ready? Lesley Logan 8:22  I am ready. Brad Crowell 8:23  Here's what's happening in November. OPC is gonna have a Black Friday sale. Black Friday Cyber Monday sale is only gonna happen during the actual holiday weekend. We're not doing it before or after. Lesley Logan 8:32  No, we're not those weirdos who start on November 1st. Brad Crowell 8:34  Okay, so that's November. December, we're gonna be on the road doing our Winter Tour. Which tickets are already on sale. In fact, hopefully the tickets are sold out at this point. HoweverLesley Logan 8:43  Let me tell you, we are recording this before they go on sale, and people have already bought tickets. I'm not sure how, but they did. So that's how quick the tickets go. Brad Crowell 8:50  If you are trying to find out more about that, go to opc.me/tour, opc.me/tour. Lesley Logan 8:57  Just, can we go back to November? I just want to be very specific, because I don't think it was very specific. We are only doing a Black Friday, Cyber Monday for OPC. So if you are, we're excited for a Profitable Pilates discount. We are not doing that. We will have more information. In fact, if you were on our email list, you would already know this and have more information. But we are.Brad Crowell 9:15  Cool. So the next thing on our list is, in December, we're going to have a Profitable Pilates sale. And that's a secret that we're giving to you here on the pod. Y'all listeners, if you ever wanted to try Agency out for, you know, a short time. Lesley Logan 9:29  Like a little mini. Brad Crowell 9:33  Like, a little month. Lesley Logan 9:36  Not a month, but a little mini. Brad Crowell 9:38  No, I think it's gonna be a month of Agency. Lesley Logan 9:35  Oh, we're doing something fun. Brad Crowell 9:36  Yeah, we're doing something new and fun. We're trying out Agency, so. Lesley Logan 9:39  I know, you guys, I do know about this, and I forgot. Brad Crowell 9:42  While we're not doing a Black Friday, Cyber Monday for Profitable Pilates, we're going to give you all the opportunity to hop in for a brief time, to get to know us, to see, kick the tires as it were. But stay tuned for the end of December, after Christmas, before the new year. Okay. Lesley Logan 9:57  Oh, guys, there's so much more ready. Can I take over? January, my birthday month, you're welcome to send gifts. Pilates Journal Expo in Huntington Beach. Go to xxLL.co/pilatesjournal, I am teaching some great workshops, a world premiere of a workshop, by the way, why your clients don't get it? I'm super excited about that and some other good stuff. And then also, in January, you want to make sure you're already on the waitlist. So don't get on the waitlist in January, go on the waitlist now for Cambodia, because in January is the early bird discount, and only those on the waitlist get that invite. In February, the month of love.Brad Crowell 10:29  Wait. Go to crowsnestretreats.com to get yourself on the waitlist.Lesley Logan 10:33  Thank God for Brad. Okay, February, Agency Mini is happening in February, so you want to get on the waitlist for that. Do you hear how we have waitlist? Why do you have waitlists? Because you get all the good stuff, including somehow people buying tickets early for the tour. So prfit.biz/mini. That's profit without the O dot biz slash mini. It's three days of epicness for your business. I promise you it will light a fire on your ass. You will not feel marooned without a compass. That is for fucking sure. Brad Crowell 10:59  That's for sure. Lesley Logan 11:00  And then in March, we are in Poland at the Contrology Pilates conference with Karen Frischmann on all the Contrology equipment. It's gonna be so fun. That's xxLL.co/poland also in March, we're in Brussels at Els Studio. It's really amazing with Karen Frischmann and, Brad, did I tell you, Ignacio is gonna be there. Brad Crowell 11:00  Oh, I thought it was Miguel. Lesley Logan 11:02  No, that's for something else I'm doing. No, Ignacio. Brad Crowell 11:15  That's so great. Lesley Logan 11:15  I know I'm so excited. I found out when.Brad Crowell 11:15  I saw some photos, but I. Lesley Logan 11:15  Yeah, I know I'm so excited. It's a Vintage and Friends Program at Els Studio in Brussels. We are teaching different workshops in Poland and Brussels, so you can actually go to both, or you can pick which weekend you want, but it's Karen and I, and Ignacio is only in Poland, and Brad's coming along. xxLL.co/brussels, and then in April, P.O.T. London. Okay, we're, that's a lot, guys,Brad Crowell 11:59  That's a whole lot. Lesley Logan 12:02  We're not doing anything else the rest of the year, all right, before. Brad Crowell 12:11  That's not true at all. Lesley Logan 12:02  That's not true at all. But we're, well, we're not doing a lot of international stuff besides the retreat. Anyways, let's get into the question. We have to talk about Danielle still. What's the question? Brad Crowell 12:12  Let's do it. All right. So this is regarding Swan Dive on the Wunda Chair @DeniseBraunStargazer on YouTube asks, What spring tension would you recommend for this movement tips for swan dive on the Wunda Chair on an Exo chair. So an EXO ChairLesley Logan 12:27  So, an EXO chair is still a Wunda chair. Here, it's, I appreciate that it has its own name, because it is different than a traditional Wunda Chair. But the thing that makes it different is the angle of the pedal, the weight of the chair. I'm sure Ken will tell me a bunch of other things that are different. And also, but to the eye and to the use, and also, the cactus thing on the back has four springs. But they have other things that have four four hooks, I should say, two springs, four hooks. So if you're using my flash cards, you'll see that there's a how to use this deck card, and that card actually will tell you that on a chair that has four hooks, so that'd be an Exo chair or anything else that has four hooks. I ignore the fourth hook on an Exo chair unless you absolutely need it. And the person who edits our flash cards actually only has an Exo chair, so she edited these cards with the Exo chair in mind, so without seeing you do The Swan, my guess is you should start with one spring on a two. So the cactus on an Exo chair has numbers one spring on the two. Now that being said, you could be fun sized and you need a one. You could be in a more of a body abundance or chest abundance bodies. You have a little bit more weight going on the pedal. So then you might need a three. You might be super advanced and only need a one. You might be a beginner and need a three. So the thing about the Wunda Chair that people don't understand this goes with EXO Chair as well, is that the springs are like pirate rules guidelines get to choose them, do you remember what was the line in the Pirate movie? Their pirate rules are just like thoughts, things to do. You know the line of the movie. Brad Crowell 14:07  What are you talking about? Lesley Logan 14:08  Johnny Depp's movie of the Pirates. They're like guidelines. Everyone is knows what I'm talking about. if they watched this movie, I'm gonna look it up later. Anyways, on the Chair. So another example on a Wunda Chair is on the flash cards. I say that a pull up is often done on a one, one spring on a one and one spring on a three. That would be (inaudible).Brad Crowell 14:30  Okay it's about the pirate rules, they'e more like guidelines. Lesley Logan 14:31  Correct. That's how the Wunda Chair.Brad Crowell 14:31  Parlay, I think it's parlay. Lesley Logan 14:33  Parlay, parlay. So that's exactly how a Wunda Chair works in an Exo chair. So if we ignore the fourth hook on the Exo chair, then you have a one, two and a three, or what we'll often say in classical Pilates, a top and a bottom. One is a bottom and a three is a top, and then a middle spring is a two. So if the traditional parlay on a pull up is a top and a bottom, so a Wunda, three on an Exo chair, that would be the guideline. However, right now I'm doing pull up on a one top. That's pretty impressive, Brad, you should be impressed. It's impressive.Brad Crowell 15:08  I'm so impressed right now, it's one on top. Lesley Logan 15:11  And then the other thing to go off of, guys is, is the spring working with you, meaning the spring should never be pushing you around, nor you bossing it around. It's your dance partner. So today it might be a two. Tomorrow might be a three. I know, this is annoying because you just want to know, but that means you're trying to be a perfectionist and not someone who is using their inner compass. That's all I have to say about that. All right, if you have questions, send them to beitpod.com/questions or you can text us at 310-905-5534, if it's international, you gotta do a plus one. All right, Brad, let's talk about Danielle. Brad Crowell 15:44  Or just use the website. Go to beitpod.com/questions. Stick around. We'll be right back. We're gonna dig into all this amazing stuff we learned from Danielle Droitsch. Brad Crowell 15:55  All right, let's talk about Danielle Droitsch. Danielle spent decades as a lawyer in the environmental policy world. Oh, that's where we learned it, leading teams and. Lesley Logan 16:05  Leaving it. Leaving it. Brad Crowell 16:07  Leading teams and directing big projects. But after 25 years, she hit a wall and realized the traditional path of titles and skills was not bringing her fulfillment. That turning point led her into coaching, where she now helps mid to senior leaders uncover their superpowers, the natural strengths that create meaning, energy and impact. Instead of piling on more certifications or chasing someone else's version of success, she shows people how to tap into what already is inside of them. Lesley Logan 16:35  Sounds like a lot of our listeners need to hear that because I remember Erika Quest and I did a whole wealthy mindset weekend about like imposter syndrome. And one of the things, sign of you imposter syndrome is that you continually acquire more certifications. And look, I think Danielle would agree with me, learning is cool. You got to keep learning. But if you keep thinking that the next certification is going to make you happy, that is the wrong motivation. So she defined superpowers as your innate ability to create impact. I love that. Your innate ability to create impact. You guys, if you aren't hearing a theme about today, it is, are you using your inner compass? Are you taking time to understand yourself? Are you talking yourself up? She states that these are often hidden to you, and unless you've gone through the exercise of actually figuring out your superpowers, you do not likely know them. This is so true. I think when we coach people, the often thing is like, oh, my god, that's amazing, right? We talk about you're the only person who can do what you do the way you do it. And people like, it's come so easy to me, it's like, yeah, it comes not easy to everyone else, like, no one else gets it. And we do need a mirror. We need some way. We need a Danielle to tell us, like, oh, this is the thing that you do really well. Also it's often the thing that people keep asking you questions about, which is why I should go into being a skincare influencer.Brad Crowell 18:00  The thing that I thought was really neat about her talking about your innate abilities is she said people will often describe their quote, unquote superpowers to her, and she would disagree with them, right? So they're, they're like, you know, I'm really good at I don't know whatever organizing or they think it always revolves around work. I think that's ultimately what her point was, that they always apply it around work. And she's saying that's not necessarily the case. For example, for her, she said, of course, I was a competent attorney, but what I was really doing around the office was making sure that everybody was feeling part of the team, feeling included, and being, you know, like, encouraging and uplifting. And she said, Actually, I never pegged that as my superpower until way after I was always just, like, actually, she said she literally thought it was her weakness. I'm being too kind. I'm so kind. I need to be less kind. I need to be more more, ruthless, you know. And she said that's because I was applying my kindness to my execution of my job. But I was, I was imagining that that's a weakness, when really it was my strength, you know. And so it was really, it was really interesting. And she said they're often hidden to you and but she's she did talk a lot about energy and what, what makes you, what feeds you, what lights you up.Lesley Logan 19:26  She said a way to figure it out is you need to follow the energy, because when engaging activities align with what your superpowers, the time flies by. So episode 400 Your Genius Zone. Alternatively, tasks that are draining to you indicate a lack of alignment. If we go back to Kareen Walsh and her, like, Drain Joy list, right? Like so and I think what happens is we're all like, Oh my God, I need to get better at this. Like, I would like, often if you have like, I need to be more detailed, and I need to work on being more detailed. But being more detailed was, like, nailed on a chalkboard because I'm like, well, how much more detailed do I need to be? Like, this seems quite obvious to me. No, I'm just not a detailed person, period. Guess why? Everyone on the team has detailed in their fucking strengths? Because I don't. I don't have it. That was my elbow. If you heard that on the podcast. Anyways, it's fine, don't worry. Didn't hit a funny bone. But I just really like what she said about that. I think it's a great way to think about things. And I also love that she shared what she thought, that she thought her strength was a weakness, like I think, I think that's very relatable. What did you love?Brad Crowell 20:31  Just for those of you who are wondering, Kareen's episode was number 27 and she had a follow up episode, which was episode 397, so. Lesley Logan 20:42  Whoa, already that many episodes behind? (inaudible) I feel like that just happened. Okay. Well, here we are. You know what? I'm clearly in my my fucking like. Brad Crowell 20:56  You're detailing it away here, babe. Lesley Logan 20:58  No, I'm not detailing anymore, because we added those FYFs, so I don't know what the numbers are anyway, but I just want to say I'm clearly following my energy, because time is flying by. Brad Crowell 21:07  Flying by. What I really loved is when she was talking about, we have this. I mean, all right, y'all have heard me talk about strengths finders and CliftonStrengths and all that stuff like, for years. Lesley Logan 21:20  For years. Brad Crowell 21:21  For years. But she said we have this societally reinforced tendency to focus on our weaknesses. Lesley Logan 21:29  Oh, my whole, my ex's biggest thing, and we talked about this on the podcast that we used to do about dating, my ex's biggest thing is, like, you're not this, you're not this, you're not this. And I'm like, okay, I got to be one of those things. And no, no one liked me for those things. So here we are.Brad Crowell 21:46  Yeah, also, that's so annoying. I mean, you know, like, I think about it. And she was laughing because she said, we have kids. And the kids, you know, if they came home from school with a D, I would be like, you need to be doing better, right? Even if they even if they were like, well, that's not my strength, she still would say, no, you need to do better. Because I think that there's a time and a place for in in the typical world of learning. The way that we educate people here in the United States, you know, it's based on test results. And now that may be changing over time, but our generation that was all that mattered was the grade at the end of it. So if you didn't get a grade, then you did not pass, right? And so this pass-fail concept, you know, it drives us to thinking that that applies in life, right? It applies at our job, it applies in our personal lives. And that's not actually the way that it functions in the rest of the world, education is different than the rest of the world, right? And so what we do, though, is, because that's how we were taught, we take that and we apply it. And so we think that we need to be better. We just need to be better at all the things, even if that's not the thing we should be focusing on. Lesley Logan 22:54  All the things. All the time. Brad Crowell 22:54  Right? And so what do we do? We get in our job, and we're like, wow, I'm really not good at numbers. I guess I need to be better at numbers. So I'll go take a course at numbers, and then you end up hating it, and you're like, oh, I hate everything I'm doing now because I just have to do numbers, you know? And instead, if we were focusing or leaning into our strengths, and this is what Danielle was saying, you know, it will, it'll change our attitude around our it'll change our our vigor, our excitement, our our mindset completely around the thing that we're doing, and probably give us a whole lot more joy. She advised paying attention to what energizes you, right? And you know, there are cases where you have to, you know, do something that you don't want to do, but eventually you want to outsource those kinds of things, you know? And we've talke about. Lesley Logan 23:40  Also, we've done this on the retreat, if you want to know why you should come on the retreat, sometimes people are doing things that they think they have to do. Brad Crowell 23:49  That's, yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying. Lesley Logan 23:52  And like you and and outsourcing, like people like outsourcing can be expensive. Sometimes you can just delete it. You don't even have to do it. We live in a world with some amazing technology, robots, subscriptions, like you. If you hate the grocery store, you can put things on auto ship. You just can.Brad Crowell 24:10  Yeah, that's, that's exactly, that's exactly right. Like, what if you hate grocery shopping? Great. Put it on repeat. You don't have to actually go do any of that. You know, the way that we live today, it's amazing. But anyway, you know, she said, what energizes you often correlates with the things that you're really good at, and you know it gives you joy. And you know that will change your excitement about life. You know, around the horn, so.Lesley Logan 24:38  So in Pilates, Jay always told us, like, whatever you don't like, you have to do twice, because like your body, your body needs it. This is very different than like, how you do work and and your strengths, right? So when it comes to like, balancing your balances. And today, this is, I don't know if that has anything to do with this episode, but I want to share this with you. Okay, so today we had to do. frog in in class, frog, which is your fucking favorite, and I hate everything everything about it. I hate everything about it. And I don't think we were in frog one minute, but it felt like 17 years. But when we were in pigeon, which probably is only one minute, if I just was like, I think we're in pigeon, for like, three minutes, it went by so it just flew by, because I love pigeon so much, and I just like, I'm like, pigeon feels so good in my body, but frog doesn't feel good at all. And if I could avoid, if I was in charge, we would never frog.Brad Crowell 25:37  We would never frog. If Lesley was in charge we would never frog. Lesley Logan 25:41  But I did tell Anthony, I said, I said, you know how we don't like what we need? And he said, yeah, I'm like, I really hate that. Anyways, you got to (inaudible) energizes you, because what doesn't energize me is frog and yoga. Brad Crowell 26:00  Well, maybe in your body, it's kind of like educating. You need to be balancing things out, or your body will break. Lesley Logan 26:05  Yeah, I don't think you should. Here's the thing, because there's a woman named Joanna who I'm trying to get on the pod guys, I really am. She's got the Unlearn IG and we're close. We got close. We got we're getting closer. Stay tuned on that. But she said in her TED talk, she said, like, kids should fail at things because they need to learn how to fail, right? Like, on a low level thing, however, like, there's a difference between not trying and like not understanding and like not being a skill. And I do agree, like, we don't want kids to not know how to balance their budget, so like, you got to learn how to add and subtract. But like, also, I think what happens is we put up, like you said already, we put this pressure you that has to be your focus, as opposed to like, just get like, decent at it, and that way you can enjoy the English class that you love, or the Shakespeare class that you love, or whatever it is. Yeah, I'm in. It makes sense in my brain, Brad.Brad Crowell 27:05  Great, I love it. Okay, stick around. We'll be right back. We're going to dig into those Be It Actions that we got from Danielle Droitsch. Brad Crowell 27:05  All right, let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Danielle Droitsch? I'm gonna jump in right away. She emphasized that you don't need your entire day to be quote, unquote fulfilling. Lesley Logan 27:27  I agree. Brad Crowell 27:28  This is interesting, right? You don't need your entire day to be fulfilling. Even a relatively small portion dedicated to your strengths can significantly increase your job satisfaction. What was really interesting is she is backing this up with statistics. It wasn't just like this, this like thing that she's winging it here. She said, hey, observe for the last for at least one week, observe what activities give you energy. Aim to dedicate at least 20% of your day or your week to these energizing superpowers. Act these superpower activities to significantly boost fulfillment. So. Lesley Logan 28:03  2% of your day is 30 minutes. What's 20% of your day? How many hours? How many?Brad Crowell 28:08  Well, we're hold on 20 so 20% of eight hours would be one and a half hours. So if you were like in the zone as it were, for an hour and a half.Lesley Logan 28:20  You're in your superpower for an hour and a half a day. Brad Crowell 28:23  A day. Lesley Logan 28:23  But you don't have to do it all at once. You could do it, but. Brad Crowell 28:26  No, but probably, if you're like, if time has disappeared, you've cranked through an hour and a half.Lesley Logan 28:31  And some of your strength. Yeah, yeah. It's probably true. But also, just for my perfectionist listening, it's okay. It's gonna probably be okay if it's 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes in the afternoon, 30.Brad Crowell 28:40  It might be, it might be teaching time for you, because that's when things like, you know, go and that's okay, and that's good, yeah, you know, like when I was working for somebody else. And even now, what I often like to do is I sit down for, you know, a work block in my head. I'm like, okay, this will be my morning work block before I get up and go to lunch or whatever. And I usually try to give myself, like a three hour, like two to three hour like hard work block. And my hope is that in that time I do hit the zone, I'm in that zone, you know. And if I can do two a day of these work blocks, I have had an effective day. Now, what often happens for me is I'll do probably one in the late morning, and then I'll do another one at like, nine o'clock at night,you know or.Brad Crowell 28:40  You feel like you're in your strength to Danielle's point, not just like those. You feel like you're.Brad Crowell 28:57  Well, usually when you're in the zone, as it were. Lesley Logan 28:57  Time is just flying by. Brad Crowell 28:57  Yeah, you're doing you're using your strength, because time is going and you're not realizing it, and you know it's okay. You're, you know, you're, you're effectively using your superpower.Brad Crowell 28:57  When I'm doing Pilates, time flies by. Oh, my God, it flies by. I looked at the clock. It was like 44 minutes. I was like, whoa, where did the hour ago? Brad Crowell 29:49  You're just gonna do Pilates all day, every day?Lesley Logan 29:50  Apparently, only do an hour and a half, then I'd like, I'm gonna significantly save my life. I'm just saying. Anyway, mine.Brad Crowell 29:58  I don't think that's what I was saying, but we'll go with it.Lesley Logan 30:00  That's my takeaway, because she said, just follow your energy. That's where your superpower is lived. Brad Crowell 30:01  We're not talking about work. We're not talking about play, but. Lesley Logan 30:09  My job is Pilates. Brad Crowell 30:11  Yeah, but the point is teaching. That's not talking about doing.Lesley Logan 30:16  I understand, I understand. I understand. Brad Crowell 30:18  Okay, just making sure that we're clear. Lesley Logan 30:20  We're clear. I am going to spend more time with myself. She explained that confidence also doesn't come from faking it. Duh. That's why we call it the Be It Till You See It podcast. That's why she's on. That's why she's on. But in activating what is true about you, and it's not built through the mindset, rather, is built through action and failure and success and getting right back up. So you're gonna you're gonna fail, you're gonna reflect, you're gonna correct, and you're gonna continue. That's right to do, and you're gonna get better at it. You don't have to do it perfectly the first time. Brad Crowell 30:52  Yeah, you do not. Lesley Logan 30:53  So follow your energy. And if you're like, oh, that was the wrong energy, great. You now, now tomorrow, you won't follow that one. You have your new inner compass that's gonna tell you the right direction. I'm Lesley Logan.Brad Crowell 31:03  Well before we sign off, I actually just got off a coaching call with a client, and we were talking about rolling out a program, and she said, I just don't think I have she said, what lights me up is educating educators. So she likes to teach teachers. We're talking about Pilates here. And she said, I have my own clients, and I do really enjoy teaching them, but what really lights me up is teaching teachers. She said, the problem I have is that I I can't stop teaching to take on more educating teachers. And she said she's feeling really stuck. And what she said in her like offhand, she was like, and to do like, you know, I got to roll it out, and it's got to be perfect, and I got to do this thing, and I got to do that. And I was like, hold up. Hold up. You know and we had a conversation about this idea of introducing a new product or introducing a new service, and it having to be perfect. I said it has taken us, for our retreats, for example, the very first retreat, I worked on it for a year, I put my my heart and soul into organizing this thing, right. And I was like, we got this and we went and we executed it. And afterwards, we were like, we already have things we want to change. In fact, we did not really totally lock in the flow of events, the schedule of this retreat for like, 10 retreats. It was maybe after the eighth or 10th retreat where we were, like, we're done swapping days around. We've decided these are the days of things running. These are when lunches should be. These are the activity blocks. This is the free time blocks, like we. Lesley Logan 32:42  They were, by the way, they're all amazing. We just, we. Brad Crowell 32:44  That's not, not, not what I'm saying. Each experience was different, but afterwards, we were like, we want to make another change. We want to make another change. We we were all really tired after this one experience because we pushed it too hard. Okay, how do we tweak it? Lesley Logan 32:58  I also got rid of February because we realized we just love October.Brad Crowell 33:00  Whatever the point is, we, it wasn't until us, having done the experience, like, almost 10 times, that we were like, oh my God, it's amazing. We have it dialed in, right? So the point is, no perfectionism. Perfection is not real. It's never going to be real. It will never be perfect. We will always have something that we want to adjust after the fact.Lesley Logan 33:22  Yes, always. That's why, in the show, we say, take messy action. Make messy action. Wow, guys, it is late for us on this recording date. So I'm Lesley Logan. Brad Crowell 33:32  And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 33:33  We love you. Use your inner compass. Go follow the energy. Tell Danielle how you did it. Reach out to her. She's got some great stuff going on and share this with a friend who needs to hear it, the friend who's like focusing on all the shit that drives them crazy and drains them. Oh my God, that's annoying to be around. Brad Crowell 33:49  Send them this episode. Lesley Logan 33:51  Yes, they'll find out now why you did it. Anyways, until next time, Be It Till You See It.Lesley Logan 33:51  Bye for now. Lesley Logan 33:57  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 34:41  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 34:46  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 34:50  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 34:57  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 35:00  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tawny's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Belief, Activator, Responsibiility, Achiever and Connectedness  Tawny has been with Cru almost 30 years having served  in Baton Rouge, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colorado, and Orlando. She currently has the privilege of working with the Cru Coaching Center team as a launching specialist.  Being able to help students start ministries across the U.S. and world where there currently are none is what she loves doing.  She's married to Ryan and has two seniors, Sutton in high school, and Holden, at UF.  Best day for her would be one at the beach with her family, eating her homemade cookies, and cheering on the LSU Tigers.     Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment   Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths    

Michelle's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Harmony, Activator, Relator, individualization and Responsbility   Michelle lives in Austin Texas with  her  husband Austin and two girls Katherine and Margo. She  attended the University of Oklahoma and worked in campus ministry post college at SMU in Dallas. Most recently she has been  a part of the team at Generous Giving doing follow up for their retreats that happen all over the country. Her favorite things to do include being active and being outside (running and walking), eating good food (gluten free) and spending time with her wonderful family and friends! She also enjoys dabbling in pop culture as an outlet from mom life :) Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment   Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths        

In this episode, we dive into the often-overwhelming world of building a tech stack for your coaching business! We know the thought of sorting through all the technology options can make your eyes glaze over, but fear not! We break it down into manageable pieces, discussing everything from accounting software to payment processors, calendaring systems, and even email marketing tools. Adding tech to your process should save you time and money, not cause you headaches and cost you cash. Our goal is to help you streamline your processes so you can focus on what you do best – coaching! Are you ready to take your coaching business to the next level? Listen in as we share our personal experiences with different tools and provide recommendations that can help you build a solid tech foundation for a thriving coaching practice.