Shock Your Potential

End of Life Ceremonies - Louise Crooks and Vicki Lichtman

“Most of us can't choose how we're going to die but we can choose our choices then within that we can prepare for them.” Louise J. Crooks
Loss is an integral part of the existence of humanity. By understanding and acknowledging this fact, we get to have a different perception and attitude to towards grieving. Victoria Lichtman and Louise J. Crooks believe that no one deserves to die alone. They have taken the path of supporting people facing death and loss with an aim of easing their experience. They do this by creating an environment that enables sharing of the experiences of death and bereavement.  
When Victoria developed a ceremony for her beloved friend that was passing…gathering all who loved him to pave his path with love while he left this world, something magical happened. People gathered from around the world on an online platform. It was an amazing experience...humbling in its beauty and an honour to be present to. Her close friend, fellow healer and marketing guru, Louise, was deeply touched and together they decided they should do this for others.
Suddenly, all Victoria’s life’s work pulled together and End of Life Ceremonies was created. Victoria has always deeply understood there are only three things we can share with people in this world; their birth, their life and all that happens in it, and their death. To her, all are sacred. She has had the privilege and honour to be with people that are entering transition, both with those passing and with the loved ones left behind.
According to Victoria, these are the moments when the pretences of life are left behind and only truth is left…the desire for identifying and delving into our spiritual beliefs, facing our emotions, asking how to let go and experiencing the truth of love and true forgiveness…which is where true healing lies. Connecting with others on such a deep level brings Victoria great joy and fulfillment and the craving to do so has been a driving force in her lifelong work in her private practice, her public speaking and her dynamic workshops on emotional awareness, forgiveness, spirituality and healing.
Victoria teaches how to feel emotion and live life to its fullest no matter what events are happening in their lives. With the gift of being able to create a safe and sacred space, she helps others on their healing path emotionally, physically and spiritually. She has been a force in the human potential movement and healing arts for more than 40 years. She is a Senior Practitioner and Presenter for the global organization, The Journey, a transformational cellular level healing modality. She has an MPS in Counseling, 2ce certified in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), is an International certified Life Coach, a Conscious Leadership Coach and international speaker.
For Louise Crooks, after experiencing the transitioning ceremony Victoria held for their friend, she was deeply moved. So much so, the next day they decided wholeheartedly that they needed to do this for people in a bigger way - they knew it was so needed. That was the beginning of End of Life Ceremonies. Louise and Victoria met over a decade ago through an organization called The Journey. Having learnt ways to hold space for those in need, this felt like the perfect next step.
Louise had been thinking about death and what it meant, especially during the Covid pandemic. So many people were dying alone. This was one of her greatest fears - dying alone. Her concern previously had been that she had no children - so who was going to look after her, and be at her bedside when the time came. Seeing how people transitioning could be held with love through the ceremony Victoria performed for their friend, was the spark that lit this fire. And after being at the bedside of two family members - and seeing the life spark leave their body, Louise knew that that spark couldn’t just disappear, and has a long-held belief since then that our loved ones are still with us beyond death.
Holding the space for the passing not just while they are here but into the beyond is something she believes is important - our love ‘paves the path home’. Louise Crooks has been a holistic marketing and visibility coach for the healing and coaching community for the past 15 years. She’s been on a lifelong healing journey herself and knows the importance of healing work in the world - driving the passion she has for serving her clients through her foundational marketing work and in turn helping more people heal. Her extensive marketing experience in this community lends itself well to End of Life Ceremonies and she is not only a co-founder but the Marketing Director too.
Ultimately Louise is here in this life to serve, to heal, and to be here for those going through the struggles of life and help them grow and feel supported - even in death. Louise has an Arts Degree, is a fully qualified Life Coach (ICF recognized) and Business Coach, and has immersed herself in programs such as The Journey, The Enneagram, Access Consciousness and Human Design.
In this episode, our guests will talk about the birth of their business and the importance of being present in all the events that happen in our lives. They will also discuss on why seeking support is important when experiencing loss.
Listen in!
Links:
Facebook group: http://fb.me/groups/endoflifeconversations
Facebook page: http://fb.me/pavethepathhome  
Website: www.endoflifeceremonies.com  
(Offering) Grief Meditation webpage: www.healingthroughlossmeditation.com
I've been an entrepreneur for my whole working life and for years when someone passes on, I would take my crystal singing bowl and I would play it and sing their soul home. [3:09]
I told what I did to a friend who was such a beautiful teacher and healer and he said he wanted this for himself. [3:36]
At his passing time, people from around the world gathered and it was so engrossing where we gave him final wishes. [4:00]
I've done this for years and years and I've studied death and dying my whole life and what happens to us when we die and our belief systems. [4:40]
This was a turning point for me being able to start this and Louise called me the next day because she also loved Bodhi dearly. [
She suggested the we bring this to the world together and that's how this [5:27]
I've always known that there's only three times we can be present for another and I had been present in every one of them; birth, life and all that happens in it, and death. [5:45]
It's the moments we truly come together that we witness and connect and when we do the important transitions in our lives when present they all become sacred. [6:02]
It's such an honor for us to be able to hold the space for people going through this experience. [6:45]
So many people reached out to us sharing how wowed over they were by the experience and how deeply they felt it. [6:58]
Death happens, but in many cultures, this is avoided and it is rarely a shared experience and so we don't really give death, the same recognition and importance as other life events. [7:18]
Whether it's us in the dying process or it is the people that we're leaving behind, it's all an emotional experience, and most of the time, we suppress and try to block it [7:57]
This is an opportunity for us to really embrace the dying process and, and recognize the beauty in it. [8:11]
We have made this so that it is available for adults and children. [10:38]
It's recognizing that live spark has to energetically go somewhere and from that point of view, we really do feel that we want to sing souls home, even beyond death. [11:55]
We have three ceremonies that we do, and one of them is after they die to pave that path for them even beyond death. [12:10]
Part of what we're doing, not only with the ceremonies, but with the work that we do with individuals and in groups is to help them to let go and to have peace with the whole process. [13:02]
We were about giving people choice in how they die, and giving their loved one’s choice in how they support their loved ones. [15:45]
Most of us can't choose how we're going to die but we can choose our choices then within that we can prepare for them. [16:06]
Commercial break. [17:11]
We have the celebration of life ceremony, pave the path home ceremony and the end-of-life ceremony. [15:58]
The celebration of life ceremony before you go is about being able to connect with all your loved ones and not leave without saying goodbye. [19:22]
The pave the path home ceremony is done to support you through the experience of leaving this physical plane. [19:49]
The end of life ceremony happens after you pass and is for your loved ones to offer comfort and give you wings of love and prayer as your soul transitions on to the next plane. [20:47]
Our mission is we don't want anybody to have to be alone but to leave knowing that there are loved ones paving the path. [22:57]
I am not scared of death or what happens after death but I'm scared of dying alone which is so what happened with COVID. [23:42]
This brought up some beautiful opportunities for some beautiful ways of thinking and created for us an opportunity to do a phenomenal grief meditation. [24:09]
There are so many people that are scared of dying alone go and are asking if they can buy one of these ceremonies. [25:16]
It is our mission that we grow this business and get this out there to the world and get more people involved. [25:44]
The bereavement is part of the deeper work we do and it's about helping people to move through that grief as well and heal. [26:53]
There's so much that can be supported through this experience and we do all of that through one on one work and through our bereavement groups. [29:01]
One of the biggest things that we work with is emotion and to feel emotion in a healthy way. [30:51]
Don’t let grief to ruin your life as it hinders you from living a full life. You are not dishonoring your loved one by allowing yourself to let go. [31:00]
Vicki does a beautiful meditation helping people through that process in this grief meditation. [33:36]
No matter what is happening, be totally present in the here and now and don't miss one moment of what's happening in your life. [35:52]
Be honest about what's really in your heart, and be who you are for you are so precious. [36:08]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.

Speak Faithfully for Greater Justice - Rev. Dr. Marcia Ledford

“It's up to us to fully self-actualize, and one of the greatest ways to do that is to be engaged in social justice action.”   Dr. Marcia Ledford
Now more than ever, a wider and deeper understanding of the church’s role in social and political life is needed. Many church leaders continue to work towards providing important platforms from which people can deal with political, social and economic matters, as well as the relations between the state and wider society. Our guest today, Rev. Dr. Marcia Ledford, has been working towards greater social justice by empowering people to act on social injustices faced by different groups.
The Rev. Dr. Marcia Ledford’s ministry is in Southwest Detroit’s Latinx population—an international port with an aggressive regional ICE director. Dr. Ledford is a civil rights attorney representing society’s most marginalized. An Episcopal priest, she holds a Master of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. She earned her Doctor of Ministry in political theology from Pacific School of Religion.
Dr. Ledford founded Political Theology Matters, LLC, to help the faithful develop public theology mission and broadcast messaging for greater social justice. She is trained for community organizing through the Industrial Areas Foundation and volunteers with Michigan United. PTM is a for profit company but is also an altruistic or philanthropic enterprise.
Dr. Ledford want to inspire people to do good--to shock their potential for justice. She believes that she needs to make a living ethically and via positive contributions to society. Engaging in political theology, speaking faithfully in public, for social justice, represents the culmination of her life's work and experiences.
She is passionate about achieving greater social justice in American society. Her message's foundation in progressive Christian theology intersects with the US Constitution, especially the First Amendment. She brings humor, poignant stories, and inspiration in her conversations. She sparks dynamic, vital conversations about the most important issues of our time--protecting civil rights and our beloved constitution and democracy.
In today’s episode, our guest will talk about her journey towards advocating for social injustices. She will also elaborate more about spiritual resistance and what it entails.
Social media handles:
http://www.politicaltheologymatters.com/  
https://www.facebook.com/politicaltheologymatters  
https://linkedin/marcialedford  
https://www.instagram.com/docledford  
https://www.twitter.com/docledford
 
I write, speak, teach and preach to help people get better equipped to be faith based advocates in the public square for social justice. [3:32]
Political theology is taking your faith formation and using that as a basis for calling out injustice and demanding greater equality across our social spectrum. [3:49]
My mission came to be after my being absolutely appalled at what our archaic immigration laws are doing to Latino families in southwest Detroit. [4:43]
We want to be sure and get our demands in with respect to pathways to citizenship. [5:45]
Spanish, like the romance languages are all inflected, meaning that nouns can have a gender assigned to them. [6:51]
The practice has been adapted to start saying Latin x, which is neutral, and is intended to include everybody. [7:07]
This has been an ongoing effort to be more inclusive when terms from this inflected language are used. [7:30]
When I was coming of age in the late 70s and early 80s, I came out as a lesbian. [10:09]
I had been very involved in my church growing up and so I had a really difficult coming out process, at least, with my own personal struggle. [10:20]
I felt like I had to choose between my faith and being who I was and this is very true even today. [10:44]
I had to navigate the society as a lesbian which means that I couldn’t access some things. [11:14]
I recognize that my white privilege affords me certain benefits and give me opportunities that I wouldn't ordinarily have as a person of color. [11:56]
I still was a second class citizen in many of the fundamental ways that we regard being an American. [12:14]
Over time, I became more sensitive to the call to ministry that I had experienced from when I was a teenager. [12:32]
I wasn't seeing women and I certainly wasn't seeing lesbians up at the pulpit in the altar but I finally agreed to go do this and be ordained and asked for help from the holy spirit. [12:44]
I became ordained in the Episcopal Church, where I serve the Latin x community. [13:06]
It was a combination of my love of the gospel, and my experience as a civil rights attorney, that really fueled this mission. [13:16]
Even though I don't know exactly what it's like to be a person of color, I decided that if we didn't do anything about the ills, it wasn’t going to stop. [14:06]
I think sometimes people think that when a law is made that it's carved into stone. [15:35]
Our Congress has the power to change those laws, and if they won't change them, then we need to put people in there who will. [16:27]
The fact that all these voter suppression bills are pending throughout the country is an indicator that elected people know that they are in danger of being voted out for not doing the will of the people. [17:18]
What I advocate for is the First Amendment which gives us a place to go where everybody can talk and not have to worry about slandering the crown. [19:03]
I wanted to create a place for us to work stuff out and that means that our best chance of doing that is when as many voices come together as possible to say their piece. [19:52]
By talking about it, we identify the problems and the issues, and we try to work out a solution that serves the majority of the people. [20:12]
Once people realize that they can do it, then we have to instill confidence and provide tools and resources to get people basically off their doffs and go advocate for justice. [20:47]
Commercial break. [21:17]
The immigration issues affect our country on a national basis and so if immigration is something that you want to work on, you certainly can. [23:32]
I really believe in what's called the spirituality of resistance. [23:48]
Things bother us, but we feel like they are such big complex problems and I don't really know what to do about it. [24:01]
We're all human beings and have a human connection to one another and therefore we got to have everybody. [24:29]
The spirituality of resistance involves two things which are digging deep into yourself to determine what issues really bothers you, and finding a group that works on these issues to work with them. [25:23]
It is one of the most empowering things I have ever experienced in my life, which is why I work with Michigan united. [26:19]
If you feel like your representatives in the Congress are not doing what you want them to do, then you need to be in touch. [28:09]
There's lots of ways to be involved even if you're super busy and feels overwhelming. [29:14]
One of the mottos I try to live by is we don't get a dress rehearsal and it's up to us to fully self-actualize, and one of the greatest ways to do that is to be engaged in social justice action. [30:27]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.

Day of Dignity - Lissa Zanville

“It is important to listen as well as give your opinion on things because it's important both ways.” Lisa Zanville
Effective community work requires bringing together the expertise and skills of different people to focus towards common goals. This collaboration is important for community outreach and engagement. Our guest today, Lisa Zanville has been working with various organizations that focus on community service and says that much more is achieved when there are organized efforts towards helping the community.
Lissa Mozur Zanville has more than 30 years of experience in the non-profit, public, and private sectors, including government affairs, media relations, crisis management, community relations, strategic planning, spokesperson training, and stakeholder management. A graduate of UCLA, Zanville worked for the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., the California Democratic Party, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, the California State Assembly, and Pacific Bell (now AT&T) where she was Director of Media Relations and primary spokesperson.
Lissa started LMZ Communications in 1990. The company provided spokesperson training to corporate, sports, entertainment, and political clients such as Toyota, Microsoft, City of Los Angeles, Knott’s Berry Farm, IBM, Claritin, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the United States Equestrian Federation. Immediately before joining Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities in 2016, Zanville was with the PHASE ONE Foundation, a non-profit that supports early cancer research and clinical trials. For nine years she has served as the sole staff and Executive Director of this $16 million foundation. Zanville lives in Los Angeles with her husband Stuart.
In today’s episode, Lissa will be telling us about Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities and the different ways in which they give back to the community.
Listen in!
Contacts:
Website: https://www.latlc.org 
We started about 15 years ago and it was started by a small group of plaintiff attorneys who felt together they could do so much more than they were as individuals. [3:22]
We supported organizations that were in Los Angeles, and there were a few volunteer projects and over the years, it has developed into a large group, making a difference. [4:25]
We believe in helping the community in five areas which are children, education, survivors of abuse, persons with disabilities, and homelessness. [4:43]
The first way we help is that we raise money, and over the years, we've given over $5 million in both grants, goods, and gifts to the community. [4:59]
We also do it in volunteer projects where we've done over 6000 volunteer hours working in projects that make a difference. [5:58]
We also have signature events where we give out all kinds of things to make individual families a little better by making a difference for them. [6:31]
We also have the great trike giveaway where we give out adaptive tricycles to children with disabilities. [7:21]
We also started something called the day of dignity for the homeless where we provide them services that they want to feel the kind of love and dignity that we want them to feel. [8:05]
Some of our favourite volunteer projects are the ones where we talk to and deal with people. [10:24]
During the pandemic, we decided to do a St. Patrick's Day zoom event where we had interaction and felt face to face with people. [10:33]
In every community, some organizations try to make a change. [14:42]
Commercial Break. [16:05]
Our event has evolved because we try to identify the individual needs by listening as well as projecting what we think people want so that we could make things happen. [18:15]
It is important to listen as well as give your opinion on things because it's important both ways. [22:08]
We want to help other plaintiffs, attorneys and local organizations mixed where they'll be able to help their local charities. [23:09]
We've learned in the last year and a half that we all have to pivot, think outside the box and do what needs to be done to help the [25:03]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

The Power of Reconomics - Storm Cunningham

“What we restore restores us, what we revitalize revitalizes us.” Storm Cunningham
For communities to remain stable and thrive, effort needs to be directed towards strengthening and diversifying the existing elements. However, most communities struggle with community development projects due to a lack of understanding of and failure to integrate processes in their implementation. Our guest today, Storm Cunningham has decades of experience working in community development initiatives across the world and reiterates the importance of creating processes that guide these initiatives as well as having people who can facilitate the processes.
Based in Washington DC for the past 30 years, Storm primarily focuses on the three areas which include  Community renewal, nature restoration and climate resilience. He is also an author of three books his latest release being ‘Reconomics,’ and does inspirational talks and how-to workshops for non-profits & governments worldwide.
 A former Green Beret, his hard-hitting, humorous, silo-busting talks can focus on multiple areas including water, housing, job growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, downtowns, brownfields, heritage, climate, social justice or education.
In today’s episode, Storm will talk about what makes sustainable communities especially the initiatives that ensure resilience and revitalization. He will also highlight the principles that ensure the minimum viable process when carrying out community initiatives.
 
Listen in!
 
 Social Media:
https://reconomics.org/   
https://www.linkedin.com/in/restorm  
https://twitter.com/restorm  
https://www.facebook.com/storm.cunningham  
https://www.patreon.com/stormcunningham  
https://stormcunningham.com/
One thing I've learned is that most communities need to be shocked big time everywhere you go. [3:32]
Communities have revitalization and resilience initiatives underway but hardly anybody is accomplishing anywhere near what they're hoping to accomplish. [3:46]
One of the most common reasons is that most communities suffer from perpetual planning syndrome. [4:41]
Some communities have dedicated leaders who are honestly trying to revitalize or become more resilient but don't know how since they've gotten no training in this. [6:18]
They're no real degrees and how to revitalize but you can more reliably manage emergent complexities if you have an actual process. [6:32]
The world knows you need a process to reliably produce anything but the people who run communities don't seem to know that. [7:10]
The focus of my most recent book, ‘Reconomics,’ is that process. [7:24]
I've spent the last 20 years tracking down exactly what is the minimum viable process that needs to be in place in a community to reliably produce revitalization or resilience? [7:29]
Most places are good at projects and most do succeed but the trouble is the projects don't produce revitalization. [9:03]
Projects are the last step of the revitalization process where before you get to that kind of action, you need to lay the groundwork to make sure that the momentum from each successful project is captured. [9:42]
The end goal that you're shooting for at least amongst their goals is increasing the confidence in their future. [10:01]
By not increasing the confidence in the future of a place, you're going to continue losing residents, employers and investors, and you're not going to be attracting new ones. [10:22]
You need to have an ongoing program because revitalization and regeneration is something that needs to be happening every moment of every day. [10:36]
As I describe in Reconomics, the home for this ongoing program should not be a government agency, it should not be subject to the vicissitudes of changes of administration. [11:57]
Some projects do this is a strategy, I call the three re strategy, which is repurpose, renew, reconnect and when that's put into effect, real magic can happen. [16:02]
If a project is big enough, ambitious enough, and uses the right strategy, it can revitalize, but the best thing is to have a complete process. [16:17]
Commercial break. [20:32]
The easiest way to overcome the credibility factor in terms of can we revitalize is to tell stories and showing communities that had similar problems who overcame them. [22:45]
Two sources for the credibility problem include genuine skepticism arising from false promises and failed projects and people seeing revitalization as a mystery that probably cannot be successfully engineered. [23:03]
Our focus at economics Institute economics.org is on certifying revitalization and resilience facilitators. [24:31]
The first step to help communities create these processes is having somebody who knows what the process i. [24:52]
The facilitators basically can take a look at what the community is currently doing and do a gap analysis and fill in until they get that minimum viable process, which just has six parts. [25:14]
The six elements make the minimum viable process so you can add to it but can't take away as this is the minimum that's necessary to have a reliable process to produce revitalization and resilience. [25:54]
The first job of that ongoing program is to create a shared vision of the future. [26:16]
The next step is to have a strategy to overcome the primary obstacles to achieving that vision. [26:26]
The next is taking a look at the policies and find out what policies are going to get in the way of achieving that strategy and vision. [26:46]
The fourth step is going ahead and putting together some partnerships. [27:01]
The last step is using the resources that the partnerships bring to the table to do the actual projects. [27:08]
It's not enough just to have a program vision strategy, policies, partnerships and projects, each one of them has to be regenerative to produce revitalization and resilience
Both revitalization and resilience are based on repurposing, renewing and reconnecting and are natural and built-in socio-economic environments.
By combining them, now, you've got the short term benefits of revitalization with the long term benefits of resilience, which helps fund and build public support for both of them.
This doesn't have to be done as a profession, we've got people who are becoming certified revitalization resilience facilitators because they want to be more effective volunteers.
What we restore restores us, what we revitalize revitalizes us.
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

Reach the Best Version of Yourself - Hina Siddiqui

“Stop making goals and instead have a vision for your life because goals are future based which stops us from living in the present moment.” Hina Siddiqui
Learning to consciously live in the present will allow you to not only apply the lessons and knowledge from your past but also give you the space to bring into perspective your vision for the future. This means that you will be able to recognize what makes you happy and fulfilled and focus on making it a part of your daily life.  According to our guest today, Hina Siddiqui, being present in the moment helps people to truly appreciate little but important things that often go unnoticed.
Hina Siddiqui, is an Indian woman with wings and is the author of Five Non-fiction Books, including Road To Riches Of Life; https://amzn.to/3kvoB04. Design A Career you Love and Secrets of the 6 Figure Employee with Zero Stress; https://amzn.to/3kwmWaE. If there’s one thing she can change in the world, it would be how working professionals live and do their jobs. No surprise, she keeps on learning, creating and refining the transformation strategies that people can instantly use for gorgeous and quick results.
Hina teaches and writes about creating a life vision, and personal mastery to achieve that. She is a lover of yoga, guitars, trees, wind and the food that her mom cooks. When she’s not working on her passion projects, Hina spends her time reading, taking solo trips, chitchatting with strangers, and cooking for her favourite kids -her niece and nephew.
In today’s episode, Hina will discuss the importance of living in the present moment and the work she does to help people settle in careers that are aligned with their personalities.
Listen in!
Social Media handles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorhina/  
https://twitter.com/hina_2016  
https://www.facebook.com/authorhina
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRoCRQfpWcdtCxETZH1YDzQ
https://www.pinterest.com.au/author_hina/
 https://medium.com/@authorhina  
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15203992.Hina_Siddiqui
https://www.instagram.com/authorhina/  
https://www.authorhina.com/
  Resources
https://amzn.to/2U1oNty
 https://amzn.to/3Ctvt5d
https://amzn.to/3jA5tMJ
 
My journey started when I wrote my first book which was published in 2016 and it was the road to riches of life. [2:45]
Before that, I was in the corporate sector working with various corporate jobs and I was also struggling like most people who are incorporate. [2:55]
I had some natural talents that I had forgotten about that I call the side effects of growing up. [3:13]
Luckily, I have been one of those fortunate few people who figure out that we are sent into this world for a specific purpose. [3:43]
In my childhood days, it was mostly writing short stories for kids and coaching them in my imperfect ways. [4:12]
After a long time, I remembered that this is what I wanted to do when I was a child and started paying attention to it. [4:40]
I learned some perfect ways where I did my certification courses and did my lots of lots of study around being a life coach. [5:02]
I have written five books and my latest book is Secrets of the Six Figure Employees with zero stress where I have mentioned a lot about my experiences of working with corporate houses. [5:20]
My mission is to help people incorporate who feel stuck in their jobs and don't feel [5:43]
I come in to picture and help them to choose a job, which goes with their personality and one that resonates with them. [6:11]
Most of the people who have approached me are usually confused and don't know what to do. [8:04]
I always say that there's not a single ideal job that is ideal but there is a perfect one for you. [8:42]
Switching a career is difficult for people but like me, I always tell them to trust that everything is going to fall into place if they follow their passion and heart. [9:54]
Being in the moment helps a lot because most of the problems are created in minds. [11:59]
By thinking about what's going on currently and doing the best in that present moment, things automatically get solved. [12:36]
Commercial break. [12:55]
It's very important to be present at the moment and definitely when we are ourselves. We are better equipped to help you People and help our communities to show up their potential. [14:50]
I believe everyone has limitless potential and no matter what position a person has reached there's still something more that they can do. [15:04]
I believe it is the responsibility of every single person in the community to reach the best version of themselves. [16:25]
We don't have control over the world and cannot change the people around but when we change ourselves, then lots of things around us change. [18:03]
Stop making goals and instead have a vision for your life because goals are the future based which stops us from living in the present moment. [19:30]
Make systems of achieving it and start living that vision just right away because there are lots of things that we can do. [19:55]
It is very important to live in the present moment as it makes life way easier because I'm not getting attached to the results. [20:35]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.

Find Your Career Sweet Spot - Dr. Benjamin Ritter

“The reason why a job is a right job is that there's a multitude of factors that come together to create some level of satisfaction.” Benjamin Ritter
One of the most recognized and effective ways to giving back to society is providing mentorship. It is an important development and learning experience that enhances the lives of people both professionally and personally.  Our guest today, Benjamin Ritter, has been providing career mentorship at different levels and capacities and says that it is about encouraging people to find roles that bring satisfaction and fulfilment.
Dr. Benjamin Ritter, is a leadership and career coach, values geek, regional learning manager for YPO, national speaker, podcaster, author, mentor, and passionate about guiding others in finding, creating, and sustaining a career they love. With over 10 years of experience coaching and a background in organizational leadership and learning theory, Ben understands how to navigate any career path you decide you want to travel.
Since launching his coaching practice he has guided hundreds of professionals toward creating the career they love and has impacted thousands through his events and media content. From empowering young professionals to get unstuck, to guiding senior leadership on how to stand out from the competition and develop executive presence, Ben is an expert in his field and will guide you toward truly living for yourself at work and in life. Ben received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a focus on value congruence and job satisfaction and earned an MBA in entrepreneurial management and an MPH in health policy administration.
In today’s episode, our guest will talk to us about ways in which we can find fulfilment in our careers. He will also touch on how he gives back to society and the best way to get into offering service in the community.
 
Listen in!
 
Social media Handles:
https://instagram.com/ritterbenj  
https://linkedin.com/in/ritterbenj  
https://youtube.com/c/benjaminritter
I work with senior leaders on discovering what that career is, something they can say that they love. [4:21]
I also work with organizations to help them create an environment that people can feel that way in because I believe in personal accountability and empowerment when it comes to your career. [4:33]
Most of the time organizations are not built in a way where people can come in and have a conversation with their leader that then helps them create a professional plan to create the career they love. [4:49]
People tend to hop from thing to thing, ultimately, always feeling stuck, but having about a six-month window in each job where they feel like they are in the right place. [5:00]
We are often promised the perfect job which then leads us in our decisions. [6:39]
We can shock some people's potential today, by helping them realize that your perfect job is going to change as you change and learn. [6:58]
There's the career sweet spot which is where your skills overlap with what you want to grow towards. [7:09
As you grow professionally, where you are supposed to be in your job, career, or organization is going to change. [7:31]
People used to go to work, take their paycheck and go home and there wasn’t a plethora of options or the ability to compare themselves to the rest of the world. [9:21]
Our communities used to be where we worked and who we worked with were also strong relationships. [10:09]
The environment and culture of work have changed and we don't have those immediate close relationships. [10:40]
We don't often feel like we're giving back to our community because we're working within such a small little bubble. [10:55]
It is normal to feel like you want meaningful work. [11:03]
When it comes to job satisfaction, it is just highlighting what job satisfaction is. [12:17]
The reason why a job is the right job is that there's a multitude of factors that come together to create some level of satisfaction for you. [12:26]
The big one is relationships and the other pieces the actual work that you do and whether you find your work meaningful. [12:35]
You have to somehow connect meaning to your work and feel that what you're doing is purposeful. [13:51]
If you feel like you're wasting your time, that's going to lend itself to you also feeling stuck again and less fulfilled. [13:54]
A lot of times people try to make things hard for themselves when it comes to improving their careers. [18:05
A lot of our negativity is usually just attached to the stories that we've been telling ourselves. [18:16]
Commercial break [19:48]
Your career is a combination of jobs, and job experiences and the challenge is asking whether the thing you're doing now is what you thought were going to do 10 years ago. [22:11]
It is better to get started working towards the things you're interested in, light you up and get you excited, and continuously learn what lights you up and what you enjoy. [22:29]
Where I spend a lot of my extra time is through mentorship programs in three of my past universities and three different incubators. [23:52]
When we want to give back to our communities, I would suggest that everyone take some time and look around for organizations within your community that are trying to help develop people. [24:19]
A lot of times someone just needs someone to talk to who has a little bit more experience that isn't going to judge them and will be there to help them. [24:54]
When you're talking to someone at a completely different stage of life who are looking at you for advice and you're not looking to gain anything from them, it's a beautiful space to be in. [25:53]
People do sometimes need to hear the voice in their head and reaffirm from some people that they respect and that they trust. [27:45]
Most people tend to regret decisions they have not made, not decisions that they did. [28:58]
When it comes to your career if you have an inkling that you're interested in something go get a taste of it. [29:07]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

Hello Gorgeous! - Kim Becker

“There's something so fulfilling about being able to help other people.” Kim Becker
Most business leaders find that helping others in whichever capacity comes as a natural extension of their responsibilities. Similarly, studies and history show that giving back and helping others has a common positive outcome for people. Our guest today, Kim Becker, is a businesswoman who found her passion in community service, and she says it is all about finding that one thing that you feel you ought to do and incorporating it into your daily routine.
Kim Becker is a motivational and inspirational speaker and an award-winning author of two books about beauty, cancer and the amazing scope of the human spirit. Kim is a dynamic communicator with an incredible story of faith, hope and service to others, and the founder of Hello Gorgeous! of HOPE, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides Red-Carpet Experiences for women battling all cancers across the United State.
Kim has been a business owner and national educator for more than 30 years. Through her many experiences in the for-profit and non-profit business worlds, Kim has become a businesswoman, fundraiser, event planner, educator, public speaker, author and the face of Hello Gorgeous! Kim received the Mom`s Choice Award for her first book, “Hello Gorgeous!: A Journey of Faith, Love and Hope”. Kim received the 2011 Spirit of Women Award, an American Cancer Society 2014 Coaches Versus Cancer Inspirational Award, she received the prestigious George H. W. Bush, Points of Light award in 2015 and in 2019 Kim received the Shero Award from Zeta Phi Beta Society.
In today’s episode, Kim will talk about her journey that led to the birth of Hello Gorgeous! and the impact it is making in the community.
Listen in!
Social media handles:
https://www.facebook.com/kim.scanlanbecker
https://www.facebook.com/HelloGorgeousIN/?ref=pages_you_manage
https://www.facebook.com/Kim-Becker-Inspires-2039277739522480/?ref=pages_you_manage
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kibecker/
 
I am a hairdresser and owned a salon and my late husband had a degree in pre-Columbian archaeology from Purdue University. [4:25]
In the beginning, I was a hairdresser and my dream was always to open a salon. [4:38]
When we started talking about opening a salon, my husband suggested that call the salon ‘Hello gorgeous,’ and I said that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. [4:45]
We opened a salon and owned it for 10 years and did not call it ‘Hello gorgeous’ but ‘Cheveu,’ which meant hair in French. [5:07]
The whole time that I own the salon, I always felt that there was just something that was missing. [5:13]
I remodeled the salon and we grew from one station to seven stations and outgrew from 1000 square feet and went to 3000 square feet with 17 stylists and massage therapists and receptionists. [5:33]
That still didn't fulfil that emptiness I was feeling and I thought what maybe I needed was to work on myself. [5:45]
I started training at all these places and there was still this emptiness that I was feeling. [5:51]
Mike and I had the conversations about something more we should be doing and one day all of a sudden it felt in my heart. [6:02]
We needed to have a mobile Day Spa that caters to cancer patients to treat them during a time where they don't feel very special. [6:23]
I pitched this idea to him about this beautiful mobile Day Spa and that we were going to it for free and suggested to call it ‘Hello gorgeous.’ [6:58]
Part of the program that we do is in-person makeovers and considering that most women are often selfless, we try to make sure that we surprise them. [10:20]
It is usually a nomination process where each of the women is nominated by family and friends and then we show up unannounced and give a head to toe makeover. [10:55]
I never promise to make them look like Miss America, but I try to make her look normal and so that they can participate in your everyday life [12:04]
We've been doing this almost 16 years and so I don't know whether I ever realize the impact and the ripple effect. [12:44]
When she's smiling, everybody else smiles around her and so it's not just her that we help. It's all the other people that surround her. [13:05]
I've had to change my verbiage to how can I support you because when you ask a different question, you elicit a different response. [14:38]
Commercial break. [16:46]
There is a ripple effect as far as the work that we do with the women. [19:07]
I worked with a life coach for a really long time and she always talks about your areas of genius and that I can't be good at everything but I can be good at some things. [19:20]
There are things that other people are really good at that I'm not good at but I can use those talents and their time to help me further my mission. [19:29]
I've had to kind of narrow down to my areas of genius and had people come forward and help because they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. [19:37]
One of the things that we do is we have a salon affiliate program where I found salon owners to train them to create the ‘Hello Gorgeous’ experience. [20:06]
I like to tell business owners and business people that one of the things that they should do is team up with nonprofits. [21:12]
I did find that as soon as we open the salon affiliates across the United States, that's what made them stand out in their community. [21:54]
If you could do anything in the whole wide world that you wanted to do, and you didn't have to get paid to do it, what would it be? [22:38]
Find out what that is and if you're not doing it in your daily work, find out what would feed that in you and find a nonprofit that's already doing that and go help them. [22:45]
There's something so fulfilling about being able to help other people. [24:25]
If you have a something that you feel like you're supposed to be doing, even if you don't feel like you're qualified to do it, go ahead and do it. [24:32]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 
 
 

Grow Through What You Go Through - Stacey Sassine

“The loss of a parent or sibling is the number one biggest derailer of development in young people. “Stacey Sassine
Bereavement is a difficult part of life and for young people, it may cause significant disruption of their lives. Considering their limited knowledge and life experience, young people often find it difficult to understand grief and loss situations. This means that they need professional assistance to support them during this process. Our guest today, Stacy Sassine, finds purpose in working with young people who have encountered loss to keep them on track.
Stacey Sassine, Certified Grief Coach and founder of Epic Reboot, understand the depths of grief and loss and has created a safe space to allow those navigating their grief journey to unplug, reset, recharge, and reboot. Stacey’s programs are built upon its signature framework to help individuals not just navigate grief but transform through the process. This framework was the foundation for Stacey’s personal growth and has proven to be life-changing for others who utilize it as well.
When you invite Stacey on your grief journey, she will customize her three steps to meet your needs right where you are. By supporting you in changing your mindset and habits, she guides you to heal your body, mind, and soul allowing you the freedom to live a beautiful, more fulfilling life. Grief doesn’t have to hold you back; it can be a catalyst to help you see life in new and more purposeful ways.
Stacey is also the Founder and President of One Million Monarchs, a nonprofit organization that supports the complex needs of bereaved teens who are grieving the death of a parent, sibling or close friend. Having been a bereaved teen herself, she understands what is truly needed to support a grieving teen. Her book, “Caterpillars Can’t Talk; A Children’s Story About Love, Loss and Transformation” https://amzn.to/2XO8bHH, which was written by her mother before her death was published to assist children in their grief journey. Stacey has dedicated her life to helping others heal after a devastating loss.
In today’s episode, Stacey will discuss her journey and the events that led her to her current passion.
 
Listen in!
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/1MMonarchs  
https://www.facebook.com/myepicreboot  
https://www.facebook.com/CaterpillarsCantTalk  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-sassine-94b64a5/
 Websites:
https://epic-reboot.com/  
https://www.onemillionmonarchs.org/
My early career centred around nonprofit leadership until I had a friend who was in sales who showed me her paycheck. [4:02]
It prompted me to get into sales because I wanted an income like that, which led to sales leadership. [4:18]
I spent the last 20 years of my life leading sales teams for large corporations. [4:27]
In late 2019, I decided to take on a little project of having a book published that my mom wrote back in the early 80s. [4:44]
She wrote it to help a little boy who had lost his dad and it was a children's book about the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. [4:54]
That story was really around what happens to us when we die and trying to help a young child understand what happened. [5:08]
My mum had tried to get the book published back in the early 80s but it wasn't as easy to get a book published at all. [5:16]
Not too long later after she had written the book, she passed away, and so I was 16 years old when she passed. [5:32]
In late 2019, the book, ‘Caterpillars Can't Talk’ was published and it's just beautiful. [5:44]
I started looking around for children's grief organizations that I could potentially talk to about this book but there weren't any in my area. [6:10]
The book prompted me to start up my nonprofit organization called 1 million monarchs. [6:49]
We support teams who are grieving the loss of a parent or sibling and then continuing to grow and morphing. [6:51]
I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to helping people who had lost a close loved one. [7:11]
I work full time now with 1 million monarchs. An epic reboot is sort of my offering to support people along their grief journey which I find fulfilling. [7:17]
The potential for a teen to derail a little bit after a loss is great and so it is critical to support them. [9:00]
The loss of a friend can have a very profound effect on a peer group in general. [10:06]
Educators need help in understanding how to support grieving children and teenagers and so working with educators is another part of my schedule. [10:40]
I've noticed that people are extremely judgmental about other people's grief and loss and if I could do one thing, it would be to help people understand that they can’t assess another person's loss. [11:31]
My mother was an artist and was fascinated by butterflies so she would paint them all the time. [12:35]
Butterflies were always a symbol to me that my mom was near. [12:47]
When I heard the statistic that there are 1.5 million bereaved children in the country today, I hoped every single one of them had that sense that their loved one is nearby. [13:02]
The loss of a parent or sibling is the number one biggest derailer of development in young people yet it's not something we think about unless it hits close to home. [14:10]
It is important that we do something about it, that we look at it as an opportunity to intervene and to help keep those kids on track. [14:50]
Commercial break. [15:08]
I think about the intervention that we're providing teenagers who are going through the hardest time in their life and the whole end game for me is to help them reach their full potential. [17:01]
My healing came when I started doing something about the grief and started addressing it and helping others with it. [19:20]
Our motto at 1 million monarchs is ‘Go through what you go through and we try to practice that and try to help others through what we've experienced ourselves. [19:58]
Our educators and our support staff at our schools are so overwhelmed because their caseloads are huge. [20:58]
To be somebody that can partner with the schools to help them support their students is important to me. [21:33]
I'm always getting feedback from the schools that they appreciate the help and being able to still support their students but not have to be as hands-on. [21:45]
I want to encourage people to volunteer and support organizations that they believe in and it will make the world a better place to live in. [23:09]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.

Be Fearful and Do It Anyway! - Daralyse Lyons

"Be curious about learning from differences as opposed to rejecting differences." Daralyse Lyons
Creating environments that are all-inclusive goes beyond the narrow distinctions already in existence. This is because social constructs and spaces are always evolving and efforts need to focus on research, data, and continuous training to achieve desirable impacts. Daralyse Lyons has been in this space for a while and insists that it all starts from identifying and acknowledging the multiple identities that characterize an individual, then extending the same understanding to others.
Daralyse Lyons is a journalist, an actor, and an activist. She has written more than two dozen full-length books, a handful of short stories, and countless articles, performed in various plays and in improve comedy shows. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and a summa cum laude graduate of NYU, with a double-major in English and Religious Studies and a minor in History.
After writing an award-winning children's book (I'm Mixed!) about embracing her multiethnic heritage, Daralyse found her passion and purpose in educating others about the need to embrace all aspects of themselves. She then went on to create the Demystifying Diversity Podcast and to write the book Demystifying Diversity: Embracing Our Shared Humanity https://amzn.to/2XssIS9. She works tirelessly as a full-time DEI expert and inclusivity strategist.
In today's episode, our guest will dive deeper ,/ into the concept of diversity and how she facilitates conversations around being different and inclusivity.
Listen in!
Social media:
https://www.demystifyingdiversitypodcast.com/  
https://www.daralyselyons.com/  
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAEPNoJUSd3Nfoq0MXtfdg  
https://www.facebook.com/The-Transformational-Storyteller1056439807729364/
https://twitter.com/daralyselyons  
https://www.instagram.com/daralyselyons/
https://www.amazon.com/Daralyse
Lyons/e/B00J9NBV9S/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1512953330&sr=1-1
I do a lot of work on the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, which entails interviewing people on topics about diversity, equity, and inclusion. [4:04]
I also do a lot of writing that brings stories and voices to the forefront that I think sometimes are silenced and unheard and share those stories with my audience. [4:49]
I feel like the work that I do is deeply individual. It occurs within the context of the individual and society and the various communities we're members of. [5:35]
We are all part of various communal ecosystems, and there's no way for those ecosystems to thrive without supporting the individuals to thrive in the fullness of their identity. [5:56]
One of the problems with lack of diversity is that it makes it so that we don't question the paradigms that we're operating in. [7:12]
Exposure to the fluidity of interpretation of experience has allowed more freedom for people of all genders to question their circumstances. [8:04]
The more exposure we gain to difference, the more it allows us to question real beliefs and value systems. [8:07]
So many people feel limited by certain rules and cultural norms, but sometimes it takes one person to be courageous enough to step outside the box to motivate others. [13:01]
I encourage people to create safety in your community and be willing to ask questions. [14:47]
Being an independent thinker and not just falling into the status quo is probably the greatest asset. [17:50]
Fear is a natural human response, and fear of being different and going against the grain is something that most of us will experience even while we're being different and going against the grain. [19:24]
I have a bigger sense of purpose, meaning, and connection to other people and a desire to pave the way for a better tomorrow that I'm willing to take that step. [19:42]
I would encourage people to be fearful, not fearless, because if you're courageous, the chances are you're probably operating within your same old comfort zone. [20:36]
Commercial break. [20:59]
My book amplifies stories of people who have experienced a vast array of what it is to be human,. [22:44]
Most of us have several different identities and belong to a number of different communities. This opens us up to the richness of our complex and interconnected social matrix. [24:12]
This awareness that we can belong to multiple communities and want to feel embraced in the fullness of who we are, in and of itself, can be hugely empowering for people. [25:08]
There's always something that is different between you and someone else, and there's always something that is there that is similar or overlapping. [27:25]
I would just encourage people to look at us all as these beautiful, unique human fingerprints, but all very similar at the end of the day. [27:34]
Most people have an experience of being misjudged, and it's always painful to be on the receiving end of that, yet most of us are walking around judging people all the time. [28:56]
The most meaningful human interactions I have had have been with people who think very differently than I think or have been through different experiences than me. [29:27]
I encourage people to be curious about learning from difference as opposed to rejecting difference. [31:37]
Be yourself and then also create opportunities for others to be themselves. It is not a one-day event but a daily practice. [33:17]
Find what you need to change within yourself to create that safety where you lead with listening and love; the world would be a much better place. [33:59]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 
 

Providence Heights - Christine Soule

"We are all unqualified, and that is a beautiful place to be. Just keep learning and growing." Christine Soule
In the course of life, we go through different experiences that largely shape our present selves. Some of these we have control of and some we don't, yet they all prepare us for a greater purpose ahead. Our guest today, Christine Soule, has been through the most challenging moments in her life. Yet, she overcame them and now uses her experiences to provide life changing opportunities for women undergoing similar circumstances as she did in her community.
Christine Soule's parents were divorced when she was only five years old. For the remainder of her childhood, she only saw her dad a handful of times. Her mom was married four times, and she considers her to be her absolute hero. All her mum's marriages except the last were filled with adultery, abuse, neglect, and addiction. Christine has three biological siblings, of which two of her brothers were raised by her dad, whereas her sister bounced back and forth. She met another fifteen of them at her dad's funeral. Her sister ended up having an affair with her adopted father, which made her sister become her stepmom and her dad her brother-in-law. This made her begin to spiral out of control.
 Christine began doing drugs and alcohol at thirteen, and by the time she was seventeen, she was pregnant with her first baby girl. Less than two years later, she had identical twin boys. While living a gay lifestyle, Christine was also a drug addict and an alcoholic being abused and trafficked. She then realized she can't live like this any longer and that her babies deserved more.
One day, Christine fell to her knees, and I cried out to God, "if you are real, take my life - it's yours!" Right then, she tangibly felt the power and presence of God, and she knew He was real. She knew He could change her life and that she needed to put her trust in Him. She ended up throwing away all of the drugs and alcohol and never had a desire, temptation or withdrawal since! She was completely set free and has never turned back since.  Today, she is married to the most amazing man on planet earth, and they have five children and two grandbabies. They have followed hard after God, and as a result, feel so abundantly blessed in every way.
In today's episode, Christine will talk about her passion for helping women on the verge of being homeless and her motivation to bring out the potential of people around her.
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My parents were divorced when I was five years old, started doing drugs at the age of 10, got pregnant with my first child at 17 years, and less than two years later, I had identical twin boys. [2:49]
I hated the world, and one day at 21, I fell to my knees, cried out to God to take my life, and I so tangibly felt the power and presence of God. [3:15]
My experience set me out on this journey of figuring out who this Jesus guy is and how to survive with my three babies. [3:42]
I wrote a check to the only person I knew who went to a Christian church and is also the person I've been married to for 24 years. [4:15]
I went from extreme poverty to marrying what I believe is the most generous man in the world who allowed me to live a life of philanthropy. [4:37]
For many years, I had the opportunity to pour into people's lives working with other organizations to have an impact. [5:46]
One day I was driving down the road and encountered a homeless woman sitting on the side of the road. [6:00]
At that moment in my car, I knew that I needed to go and make an impact, and that's where providence heights began. [6:42]
There are so many amazing organizations that work with the homeless, and for us, we target to get them before they end up with all of the trauma of being homeless. [7:02]
All of us, at some point in our lives have been at the edge of the cliff and the next critical steps that we take determines whether we start to fall off that cliff. [7:54]
We are all about prevention, and when we bring them in, we offer entrepreneurial skills where we discover who they are and let them run with it. [8:40]
We are in the Red Lion Hotel in Bellevue, Washington, with 88 rooms available to us in the first year and a plan to expand to 138 rooms in the second year. [13:24]
We are focused on having a spirit of excellence in everything that we do so that when we bring our next group of ladies in, the original ones will be training the next group. [14:11]
We partner with Union gospel mission and other shelters in the area, so we're like step two for the women or preventive before they end up homeless. [15:34]
We have amazing structures where we ask that they focus on programs working on their collective or life coaching. [16:44]
Commercial break. [19:52]
We have a vision that we're going to have apartment complexes with retail space, office space, and apartment complexes for everyday people to live in and women in need. [21:51]
Everything we make at Providence heights 100% rolls right back into caring for people in need. [22:43]
The objective is to create more and more buildings to house more and more people, set them free, and launch them into their destiny. [23:06]
Amazing donors, friends, and partners that we have are how we're funding this. [24:04]
Sustainability has been a real focus from the very beginning, and it is critical, not only for us but also for the ladies. [25:53]
Believe in yourself, go for it, and go big. There's so much potential and purpose in a person's life. [28:06]
So many people get stuck in the career they started in, yet they have zero desire to do it, so start to pursue your passion and be creative. [28:14]
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