Afleveringen
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336 Personal Brands Just Got More Personal
In life there is a point we all must choose how we want to be perceived and how we want people to feel around us, and we need to make the conscious effort to keep the energy we want to be known for not just in our private life but in our work lives as well, so that through living each day aware of our impact we can grow and help others to do the same.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Portia Obeng discuss the importance of our personal brand and how they affect others, while reflecting thoughtfully on how other peopleâs personal brands have affected them.
Highlights
Be yourself proudly and unafraid, and you will thrive in your environment. You will get in what you give out.
What are the tests you put people through to learn about them?
Be conscious of how you treat people so that they will want to return to you and your organization.
We keep learning lessons through life so be sure to be aware of those lessons and take them to heart.
Quotes
âThatâs a good way for me to weed out if a company is good for me or not, is by showing up exactly as myself.â
âYou should have said no but when I operate in fear things donât go my way. I got to get out of that state of fear and just operate in abundance, in that if I say no to one person a greater opportunity will come.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What are you going to be doing differently now that youâve heard this conversation? Are you thinking about what it feels like to be welcomed into your home or your office space or your business, how do you want people to feel when they walk in? Itâs not just the location, what energy are you giving off? Are you as a person sensing judgment as they walk in? Or are they sensing belonging? How do you want this to look because your personal brand is what people are experiencing of you, not what you think youâre putting out there.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Portia
Portia Obeng is a social media strategist and LinkedIn coach with over 10 years of experience in social media strategy and content management.
She helps people level up on LinkedIn, gain clarity, and make more money. She also helps organizations turn their employees into LinkedIn superstars who advocate for the company, amplify brand messaging, and attract the best talent
Be sure to check out her LinkedIn! As well as her website Portia Obeng!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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335 Seasons of Life
Regret and wondering what could have been is one of the most universal human experiences, itâs normal to feel guilt and regret over not achieving something or making mistakes, but itâs how you learn from these experiences and move into the future that defines you.
In todayâs episode Sarah Elkins and Hope Marshall discuss regret, healing, and allowing life to move on especially when itâs hard to do so.
Highlights
Part of what makes people interesting is when they try things they arenât necessarily good at.
You need to take time to heal from pain, reschedule if you cannot be fully present with somebody.
Itâs okay for seasons of life to pass.
Quotes
âSometimes your season is up with people, and you just have to accept that. And itâs not bad blood, theyâre not being mean to you, maybe you met the need and thatâs it.â
âThe older you get the more you realize people arenât really thinking about you as much as you think. Theyâre not sitting around like; âI really want to figure out how to hurt this person.â Theyâre not. Some people are but theyâre crazy, thatâs pretty rare though, but most people are just trying to get through their own lives and meet their own personal goals. Sometimes weâre a part of that and sometimes weâre a priority and sometimes weâre not, but either way it has nothing to do with us.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What part of your path are you thinking of in terms of regret that you can reframe to better understand that that part of your path is a big important aspect of who you are today. And if you hadnât experienced exactly that path you would not be the same person you are today bringing the joy and the wisdom and the experience every single day now and into your future to wherever you sit.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Hope
My name is Hope Marshall: author, facilitator, and contentment hub cultivator for quirky women over 40.
As a child, I loved reading and writing. This was further confirmed after Iâd come across my old diary from middle school that said I wanted to be an English teacher.
By day, I am a learning and development strategist, with over 10 yearsâ experience designing and facilitating training within an array of industries - not too far from my childhood aspirations.
My flagship book Corny Girl Chronicles and, Affirmations for Women cards were born out of my early childhood aspirations, coupled with a genuine passion for leveraging and sharing my triumphs, lessons, and insights with others who are like me: looking to make the most of our 3rd act of life.
Be sure to check out her LinkedIn and Instagram! As well as A Hope Inspired!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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334 Growth Is Never Ending
Finding awe as you grow and change in life can be challenging, it can feel impossible to reclaim that childlike wonder at times, but through hard work and dedication one can find wonder and awe again.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Demetrius Fassas discuss the importance of taking risks to fuel your awe, as well as healing and continuing on despite our lived experiences.
Highlights
You need to take risks to enjoy life.
Be aware of signs that you are on the right path.
Life keeps going even during chaos and heartbreak. So You have to as well.
Donât take yourself too seriously.
Quotes
âAnytime I get that three confirmations for something I feel very directed.â
âI think control is a function of fear. Because really weâre not in control of very much, I canât even control my first thought, but itâs the second thought, the actions that follow thatâs the only thing that I really have control over.â
âItâs my responsibility to change, nobody is going to make different choices for you.â
Mentioned in this podcast
Marly and The Pocket Facebook
Marly and The Pocket Youtube
710 Ashbury
Awe by Dacher Keltner
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
The first thing that maybe would be helpful to you is to find the activity that brings out your inner 6 year old. Think about what it was at 6 or 8 years old made you question everything. That made you stop and get super curious about what was going to come next. What was that thing? Was it going into a cave? Was it hearing somebody perform on an instrument or singing? Was it riding your bike for the first time? What was it that brought you to that inner 6 year old and what can you bring back into your life to experience that wonder and awes? Whether itâs in watching somebody else experience it or finding it in small details yourself. And next, what are you contributing to your communities of choice. Think about how you participate because when you are part of a community and you contribute like that thatâs when really good things happen.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Demetrius
Demetrius Fassas was born and raised in Richmond, Kentucky. After attaining a degree in Biology from Butler University in 2012, Demetrius Fassas moved to Montana where he has spent the past 10 years working in the non-profit sector. Initially, his work was within the Ennis School District, managing their school garden program. This grew into a position in Butte with NCAT. After leaving employment with NCAT in 2018, Demetrius worked with other members of Butte's recovery community to found Butte SPIRIT Homes, which operates clinically licensed recovery residences for people in early recovery from Substance Use Disorder. Now, delving into his long-held passion for the performance art, Demetrius has stepped into the role of Director for Covellite Presents and owner of the Covellite Theatre in uptown Butte, America.
Be sure to check out his LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as The Covellite Theater, Butte Spirit, and Dam Holdings!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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332 The Indomitable Human Spirit
Trials and tribulations are as common on the path of life as sand is on a beach, but like the sand you can make something beautiful out of what youâve gone through, even if itâs only for a moment. It is our indomitable human spirit that has gotten our species to where we are now, sometimes it can be easy to forget but we are capable of amazing things, all it takes is that first step towards growth and healing.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Sarah Lines discuss how the trials in our lives -though shaping us- do not define us, that despite our stories not always having a happy beginning it is the rest of our story and how we choose to move through chaos that defines us.
Highlights
The power of our senses and how they tie to our memories.
Itâs never too late to heal and start over.
Support and care from others can change the trajectory of our lives.
Caring for our fellow person, especially in times of hardship, is the most vital thing you can do for another.
Quotes
âMy heart felt like it was exploding for this woman, because you know we can work with hundreds or thousands of people in a year, and the facts are just not everyone is going to create that outcome depending on their life experience, their current experience and all the things. And I so want to see women succeed.â
âI almost canât describe the feeling, like I said it felt like my heart exploded, thatâs how it feels when I get to witness women create what they want to create, because we are so powerful.â
âItâs definitely the energetics of success. Success is an inside job, everything is energy, and my firm belief is that any strategy is going to work if youâve got the energy aligned and youâre constantly moving through those ebbs and flows. Keep releasing, keep moving forward.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What resonated with you about this conversation? What part of your life havenât you healed yet that you can still see the joy and the beauty in the world around you despite that hard edge that remains. Everyone has one of those.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Sarah Lines
Sarah Lines, founder of the globally recognised New Earth School, has built a soulful, award-winning 6 Figure business & co-created 6 best selling books around spirituality & entrepreneurship. With lifetimes of experience, she has mentored hundreds of mission-driven entrepreneurs to ascend spiritually & financially as they triple their income, in support of expanding their mission. When she is not running her company, you can find her reading, researching and studying metaphysical sciences or cuddling up to her cats.
Be sure to check out Sarah Linesâs LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as New Earth School!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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Episode 333 Communal Growth
In life we all put aside something when life becomes to busy, maybe it was a hobby you used to enjoy, or a new project you swear youâre going to get to you just need to finish this other thing first, or maybe itâs a skill from your childhood like playing the flute that you decided to put away because of limitations or self intimidation. But thatâs the great thing about life, we have all the time in the world to pick back up those things and enjoy them again.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and DâVaughn Hayes discuss the importance of giving yourself grace when you are trying to pick up something new, the importance and value of encouraging another to do the same, and how through these experiences we grow into stronger and happier individuals.
Highlights
The universe brings us together in strange and amazing ways.
The importance of music in our lives and how it comes back during times in our life when we need it most.
Itâs okay if it takes time for you to pick up something you want to do or if you arenât good at it immediately. It takes time.
The self-fulfillment of helping another grow.
Quotes
âThe sales just makes sense because itâs âHey you have this issue or this problem with your organization, Iâve got this really great solution and makes sense, letâs move forward. Everybodyâs happy.â of course it benefits me and my bottom line and the income I bring into my family, so you get some warm and fuzzies there but the real impact for me is what I do to help other people get to where they want to be, to help them share their stories, or to watch them grow right in front of my eyes. To the person that they didnât think they could be when we first met and just to watch that process is incredible.â
âThatâs not a good thing, as a community for your youth to grow up thinking that and believing that (There are no options or opportunities in the place you grew up) and just having this sense that they need to leave. If your community is to grow and thrive it needs to retain young people, they need to believe that this is a place where things happen where they can envision a bright future for themselves.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
I want to know what youâre going to pick up that you put aside years before? What is one of those ideas that youâve had in your head that maybe you started in the past and gave up too soon. I want to know about this and DâVaughn wants to hear about it so we can support you in reaching that goal or sharing that idea so you feel compelled to complete it.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About DâVaughn
DâVaughn LaSean Hayes is a seasoned professional with a proven track record in sales, marketing, and leadership. Currently serving as the Field Marketing Manager for Billings at TDS Telecommunications, DâVaughn has consistently driven impressive results. His innovative strategies led to an exceptional $2 Million ROI in his first year, exceeding company standards. In 2023, he achieved an NPV of $1.5 million and an IRR of 83%, earning a well-deserved promotion to the role of Commercial Sales Manager for all of Montana, set to commence on 12/04/2023.
Beyond his corporate success, DâVaughn actively contributes to community service. As the Director and Lead Organizer of TEDxBillings, Incoming Chair of Billings NextGEN, and a Member of the Board of Directors for United Way of Yellowstone County, he thrives on driving positive change.
DâVaughn is a social media influencer, running @406media with 11.5k followers, sharing content about the great state of Montana. He serves as the Marketing Director and Project Manager for Beartooth Mountain Saloon, a Bitcoin mining operation set to launch in early 2024. DâVaughn has diverse experience in the crypto community, primarily on the Cardano blockchain.
Recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the 2021 NextGEN Exceptional Emerging Leader Business Excellence Award from The Billings Chamber of Commerce, 40 under Forty Honoree of the 2022 class by the Billings Gazette, and the 2014 Market Manager of the Year Award from Smart Circle International, as well as an Outstanding Achievement Award from Smart Circle International, Consumer Electronics Partner of the Year Award from DirecTV, and recognition as one of the Top 5 salespersons in the whole country by DirecTV and Smart Circle International, DâVaughn is celebrated for his outstanding contributions.
Be sure to check out his LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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331 Are You Ready For Change?
Change is inevitable however it is up to you on how well you deal with that change and if your preconceived biases will influence you in the future.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Divya Ramachandran discuss change, biases, and how important approaching change with curiosity.
Highlights
Acknowledging the differences between yourself and others and approaching those differences with curiosity and kindness.
Taking accountability for what has shaped you and learning to move forward in the best way possible.
Being is the hardest thing to do, itâs okay to struggle but remember to take time to just be.
Learn from kids, enjoy the journey and just try to have fun.
Quotes
âYouâve got biases, we all do, and thatâs okay but weâre not going to act on them in a way thatâs unkind, we are going to be respectful, weâre going to be curious, weâre going to be open. Be conscious of your biases and choose your actions appropriately. And I think this is a conversation that we are struggling to have today, everyone is just struggling to call it out and say âHey youâre different. Youâre different from me, I notice and itâs okay for me to notice, But Iâm not going to hold that against you.â
âUnderstanding what are some of those experiences, thoughts, beliefs that have really shaped us. And I say us because I got to do the work as much as they do.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Have you worked with a coach? Have you really understood what the expectations are, what your expectations are? Have you ever worked with someone you didnât quite jive with and then you just gave up instead of finding somebody else that might have served you better in that relationship? Iâm curious to hear your experiences and whether you were looking for an advisor or coach, were you clear internally about what you needed in that moment? And are you being fair to the coach or therapist that youâve been working with? In terms of knowing that youâre ready to develop and self reflect and get to a different point in your life. Are you ready for change, because change can be very scary.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Divya
Divya Ramachandran, Ph.D., P.C.C., is a distinguished leadership coach, transitioning from a successful career in tech to empowering leaders at tech startups. Born to South Asian immigrants in Salt Lake City, Utah, Divya navigated the complexities of identity and excellence from a young age. Her academic journey led her from computer engineering to a profound discovery at UC Berkeley, where she realized her passion for using technology to address human needs. This epiphany, coupled with a transformative experience in executive coaching, redirected her path toward leadership coaching. Divya specializes in guiding tech startup leaders, leveraging her expertise in energy awareness, cognitive behavioral coaching, and emotional intelligence to foster trust, connection, and effective communication within teams. Her work focuses on helping leaders achieve clarity, resolve conflicts, and enhance productivity, fundamentally believing in the power of understanding oneself to lead others effectively.
Be sure to check out Divyaâs LinkedIn! As well as her free guide âHow To Do Hard Things: Itâs About Clarity, Not Time.â!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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330 How Trials Facilitate Growth
It is a normal and natural part of life to encounter obstacles and challenges on our way to success and fulfillment, it is our choice for it to either overwhelm us and destroy us or for us to learn from these instances and grow with grace.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Sarah Russell discuss the importance of growth and self actualization through hard work and dedication, especially through hard times.
Highlights
Random acts of kindness can create life long friendships.
Everyone is different and it is incredibly important to make people feel welcome and included. Our differences make us stronger together.
Life is unpredictable and wild, so find joy and fulfillment where you can.
We are all pushed out of the nest at some point, either in our personal lives or our careers. Which is why it is so important to have faith in yourself and what you were taught.
Quotes
âYou take life as you can.â
âYou find the people that youâre supposed to find, good and bad. I was just talking to someone else about this and I think you and I were talking about this in the beginning. Those difficult situations, those difficult people, really start to write our story too.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Wherever you are in life, what have you found, what experience did you have recently, maybe in the last five months or five years, that was really hard for you that you can now own and embrace as positive learning lessons, something that happened; you were kicked out of the nest uncomfortably or you had a boss that was cruel to you and all those lessons that we can learn from those experiences. What is your lesson now that you can take into the next part of your life in gratitude and grace for that difficult obstacle or challenge that you experienced.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Sarah Russel
Sarah is, first and foremost, a student of yoga, which has informed her holistic business approach and sets her apart in the business world. She has been insanely successful and a total failure along her career path â both of which have taught her many lessons in consistency, perseverance and entrepreneurship. Sarah has consulted for over 60 organizations, founded seven start-ups, five brands, two-non-profits, and co-founded four start-ups in her professional career. Currently she is a senior consultant in talent management at a government consulting firm and top voice in Training and Development (HR) on LinkedIn and shares content regularly.
Sarah lives in the mountain West of the US, splitting her time between the Mile High city of Denver and the quiet pace of a rural mountain town in Montana. She spends her days away from the computer enjoying the outdoors, volunteering her time with animal rescue groups and traveling. If youâre looking to take the leap into self-employment, land the job of your dreams you donât even know exists yet, or expand your business portfolio, contact Sarah to get the nudge you need and the tools to help you make that career transition in your life.
Be sure to check out Sarahâs LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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329 Hello Fellow Storyteller
The art of telling stories is something that unites us, but it is also something that can tell us so much about the person after they tell their story, especially if the story is awkward or funny, or if itâs about another person.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Karen Eber discuss the art of storytelling and how there are opportunities to collect and tell stories everyday.
Highlights
Awkward questions are unavoidable, one day you will look back on them fondly.
Actively listening to the people who are telling you their story.
If you want to learn about someoneâs stories, ask questions.
Quotes
âThat was my intro into storytelling that recognizing itâs not just a way to convey meaning or persuade, itâs a way to create connection, even change energy in what can be the most artificial of circumstances.â
âThrough conversation we just uncover magical things.â
Mentioned in this podcast
Happier Hour With Einstein
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What will you do today that you will pay attention to and build a story out of? Maybe youâre picking up kids from school while youâre listening to this, what are you experiencing as you are waiting for your kids to come out of the school? Maybe youâre on your way home from work, or maybe youâre going for a walk with your dog, what are you paying attention to that you could turn into a story that you could collect and share to connect with people in an authentic and personal way.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Karen
Karen Eber is an author, leadership consultant, and keynote speaker. Her TED Talk on how your brain responds to stories continues to inspire millions. Her book, The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories That Inform, Influence, and Inspire, is a Porchlight Books Bestseller and was selected as a Next Big Ideas Club must-read. It was published with HarperCollins this October.
As the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group, Karen helps Fortune 500 companies like GE and Microsoft build leaders, teams, and culture, one story at a time. She guest lectures at universities including MIT, and Stanford. She is a former Head of Culture, Learning, and Leadership Development at GE and Deloitte. Karen frequently contributes and is featured in Fast Company, Quartz, Entrepreneur, MSN, Forbes, Inc, and Business Insider.
Be sure to check out Karenâs Instagram and LinkedIn! As well as her book and her website where you will find a free download of common storytelling mistakes!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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328 What Is Soul In A Business?
Serving your clients, team members, and the community you live in is vital to the health and wellbeing of not just your company but to yourself and those you serve. In serving others and your community you will find that you will be more fulfilled and enjoying your life and work even more than before.
In todays episode Sarah Elkins and Steve Ramona discuss servant leadership and the life and soul brought to your business and life.
Highlights
Remember peopleâs names so you can begin to build meaningful relationships with new people.
Leave room in your life for personal growth.
Even what you perceive as a failure can still help others. Sometimes good enough is perfect.
Quotes
âItâs a skillset like gratitude, I think servitude or servant hearts, you need to practice. People ask âWell how do I do it? I donât have money.â Well the best part is you donât need money, just go to a soup kitchen, go to a homeless shelter and feed. So many ways you can do it.â
âWhat is Soul in a business?â
âSo it started at the worst it could be as you know until we ended up okay. It wasnât the greatest show but it was okay. But here is what I want people to hear, this is so important: Iâm still going to put her on my youtube channel, Iâm still going to put her on my podcast. âCause itâs the universe. You have somebody with a bad show, or not so good show? Put it out there, because you donât know if somebody could resonate with that because we donât know everybody.â
Mentioned in this podcast
God Doesnât Waste A Thing
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Who are you going to be the next time you see somebody needs just simply to be seen and heard? Will you be that person? Will you stand up and just see that person and offer that just very brief moment of kindness? Because that is what a servant leader does.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Steve
Steve Ramona discovered his calling at a young age and is now on a mission to share his secret sauce for success. He thrives on forging meaningful connections, sharing referrals, and watching people flourish.
His contagious passion for the Law of Increase makes his podcast "Doing Business with a Servant's Heart" so successful. This show is chock-full of inspiring stories about overcoming challenges and serving others.
Steve has a knack for spreading good vibes and elevating those around him. He learned from his dad that the entrepreneurial spirit is a great way to make money. I can share stories of how people serve, struggle, and win. We must overcome something, so why not learn to serve and overcome it much faster? I learned early in our Health Club the importance of customer service. I knew the more I served, the more it was a win-win for everyone. I enjoy working with people, referring people, and helping people grow. The Law of Increase is my mission when I network around the world.
I love to mentor businesspeople and offer all the resources I have. To win, you must grow yourself first; then, you can share this with others! I am an avid reader.
Be sure to check out Steveâs LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his podcast show Serving In Business
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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327 The Company We Keep
Itâs a fact of life that we will make poor decisions, sometimes in the form of negative influences like people, often times repeatedly when weâre young. Itâs normal and completely natural to make mistakes, as human beings we are allowed and expected to grow and change, rarely we are ever the same moment to moment, which is why it is vital to choose actively everyday to do your best and put your best foot forward despite all previous hardships.
In todayâs episode Sarah Elkins and Ricky Birkenstock discuss the importance of self awareness, growth, and taking responsibility for yourself when things are bleakest.
Highlights
The past does not define you. You can use the negative experiences of your past as fuel to change your life for the better.
No matter how dark things seem you can always find or make a better place to be.
Taking responsibility for your own actions, thoughts, and wellbeing.
Ditch the âShouldsâ
Surround yourself with people who will help you grow.
Quotes
âI often like to say that life gives us lots of signs when weâre going down a wrong path. And Iâm not kidding, I probably had fifteen to twenty signs before this incident so this was like the climax, the universe said; âHey man, youâve made your bed. Itâs time to go.â.â
âThe first thing that happened, I was kind of grasping in the cell as I just laid there thinking about how I had created this and how I could create something better. So I was already emotionally processing these things, the big piece was actually taking responsibility for my situation. Instead of blaming anything because thatâs easy to do I just finally said, âAlright man, this is me. This is my behavioral track record has lead to a conclusion so letâs find some new behaviors to create new realities.â.â
âI think itâs a whole bunch of bullshit when people say awareness is everything. we have to define it and awareness is so important because it then gives us the ability to choose. Because before youâre aware youâre just going on the unconscious programming, youâre just going through the motions, youâve got the software system in your head that says, âHey I do this thing.â. But now youâre aware of it and you can catch yourself.â
Mentioned in this episode
Podcastify.meDear Listeners it is now your turn,
Who do you have in your circle, youâve been asked this many times on this podcast, I want to know who your going to shed out of your circle, who are the people that are holding you back, and that doesnât necessarily mean cutting them completely out of your life but it does mean making sure they arenât influencing you in a negative way. Who will you shed from your circle, so you have room for the right people?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Ricky
Hey there! My name is Ricky Birkenstock! I've lived several lives in my short time on this Earth. In general, I've gone from the depths of personal pain to helping my clients explore their highest potential and achieve the level of life quality they desire. I've dubbed myself "The Life Quality Engineer."
Be sure to check out his LinkedIn and website at Ricky Birkenstock!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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326 Giving What You Get
Skills and talents -our âmagicâ- manifest differently in everyone, but what matters is how we use these abilities to achieve our dreams and to lift up others around us. In helping others we will often find ourselves more fulfilled and happy in our daily lives.
In todayâs episode Sarah Elkins and Alicia Branham discuss the importance of loving what you do and giving yourself the same grace you give others while also continuing to strive for the future you want.
Highlights
See every facet of an individual, do not pigeonhole them.
Take a chance on others and let others take a chance on you.
Give back to your team.
Itâs normal to doubt yourself, imposter syndrome is very real.
Quotes
âThat is one thing that I do with the people that I serve is that I try to be that sounding board, and that support system that you typically wouldnât find in a marketing firm. Because I really, really care about people and I care about peopleâs happiness, and if I know youâre frustrated or stressed out about something and thereâs something I can shed light on for you to help you see things more clearly, then Iâm going to do it. Because thatâs what Iâm compelled to do, thatâs how I serve. I want everyone to be happy and be at their best, so itâs important to me that I actually give back in that way to the people that I work with.â
âI canât be the only woman on the planet who doesnât see our worth.â
Mentioned in this Podcast
SCORE
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What is your magic? Maybe itâs time to ask somebody who knows you, that you trust, that really sees the best in you. Ask them what you bring to the table thatâs different from other people, find a way to use that every single day. Because the more you work on that the more that gift, biologically, environmentally, psychologically, that was given to you becomes an actual talent. Thatâs where you find the most meaning and purpose in your days is by using them.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Alicia
Meet Alicia Branham, the marketing powerhouse with a story beyond business savvy.
Her journey reflects adaptability and determination, traits cultivated during her formative
years when her parents uprooted her to Uruguay.
Navigating the challenges of a new language and culture, Alicia not only embraced the
unfamiliar but thrived in it. This early experience laid the foundation for her ability to
connect with diverse audiences and approach marketing from a truly global perspective.
Alicia's journey from navigating the streets of Uruguay to conquering the digital
landscapes of marketing is a saga of resilience and cultural fluency.
It's this unique blend of personal growth and professional triumph that sets her apart in
the marketing world. As a speaker and influencer, Alicia not only shares groundbreaking
marketing strategies but also imparts the invaluable lessons learned from her multicultural
upbringing. Prepare to be captivated not just by her marketing prowess, but by the
remarkable journey that shaped Alicia Branham into the visionary marketer she is today.
Be sure to check out her LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as her website Alicia Branham!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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325 Writing Our Own Stories
Although hard work and dedication can get you quite far in life, it helps immeasurably to have someone at your back who believes in you and inspires you to strive towards your goals and future. Our stories, though valuable, do not define us and should be used as kindling for the fires of ambition.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and KĂŻrsten Blake discuss the importance of how our stories shape our paths in life but most importantly how the people involved in our stories inspire and guide us to success.
Highlights
Sometimes you need to trust people to know you and perceive you in their own unique way.
The people who help you through your struggles help to define you and inspire you to grow and change, especially when dealing with an othering experience.
We donât know where we are going until we look backwards.
We need to experience so many different things
Quotes
âI think belonging is such an important aspect of my work, and so itâs not surprising that that story was what came to mind the more I think about it because, I think it informs so much of what I do, who I became, whatâs important to me. I think also having a lot of compassion for little people, you know we donât tend to see them as little humans but they are. Theyâre experiencing things, theyâre going through things, thereâs alot going on in their head, and I think as adults itâs really important for us to remember that.â
âIt all makes sense when you look backwards, but when youâre in it sometimes it doesnât.â
âWe have to be in it. And I think sometimes we avoid being in it because it can feel hard and not great, and I think we as humans want to feel good and happy and joyful. But a mantra I try to live by. I'm not always great at it, being a recovering perfectionist is âLife is in the messy.â and so we have to let things be messy sometimes in order to get to that point where we are able to look backwards.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What stories can you look back on as early as 6, 7, 8, years old that might inform what youâre doing today? Might help you uncover a pattern, or a reason about how you feel the way you do about something, or the passion you have for something else. I am so curious, please send me a message.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About KĂŻrsten
KĂŻrsten Blake is a certified Narrative Coach, facilitator, speaker, and creator & founder of Chapter BE. She works with individuals, teams, and organizations to develop a deeper sense of self-awareness in service of transformation and connection. The work includes examining internal stories in order to better connect with themselves and others, so they can tap into a more mindful, authentic state of being. Her coaching, workshops and programs have provided leaders and individuals with the opportunity, support, and space to design more connected teams, workplaces, and lives.
Be sure to check out KĂŻrstenâs LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as her website Chapter Be and The Being Of A Nation!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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324 Facets of Value
Valuing every facet of where you work, especially if you work with other people, is vital to the survival and prosperity of any company. From treating your customers with integrity and respect, to rewarding the hard work and dedication of loyal and valuable employees, in order to thrive in the world as a business you must value every facet of that business.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Blake Hutchison discuss the importance of appreciating the skills and abilities of everyone in a company, while also giving the absolute best to customers and the public.
Highlights
How are others receiving your story? Why are you sharing particular stories?
Discovering your identity and learning new experiences through travel.
You learn a lot about individuals through time observing their behaviors and attributes.
You never know how helpful, loyal, and incredibly valuable an individual can be unless you give them a chance.
You never know how many opportunities you can have if you show care for your job and how you present yourself.
The first interaction a customer should have with your company should be with someone who cares.
Quotes
âYou change as a person when you go and you travel.â
âYou develop an empathy for customers because you are so close to them through the retail and hospitality context.â
âIt was a function of, first Iâll think about how much time Iâve put in versus what that customer needs from me right now. And that little bit of extra care and empathy ends up giving you a bit more willingness and want to help a customer too, and that can be missing sometimes but when itâs there itâs really powerful.â
âI think the difference is related to whether you put yourself in somebody elseâs shoes, or you only ever walk in your own. Walking in your own creates for a very narrow minded approach to doing work or living a fulfilled life, and walking in other peopleâs shoes gives you agility and flexibility and understanding and ultimately gives you empathy. And so part of it is do you work for yourself, do you work for the team, do you work for the company, or do you work for the customer?â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What did you take from this conversation? Was it something about wanting to travel, do you have the travel bug again? Was it something about a new business or an idea you have that maybe you need to make that next step because thinking about it isnât going to start it. And who are you going to surround yourself with, because if you are a thinker and not necessarily a doer, you need some doers in your circle.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Blake
BLAKE HUTCHISON - CEO OF FLIPPA
Blake Hutchison is the CEO of Flippa, the world's largest marketplace to buy & sell online businesses. Blake leads the team as they build out a product empowering exit and ownership for business owners and entrepreneurs globally. Prior to running Flippa, Blake held leadership roles across multiple fast-growth tech businesses across E-commerce and SaaS.
Be sure to check out Blakeâs LinkedIn as well as Flippa, Flippaâs Referral Program, and Flippaâs Online Business Valuation!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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323 Authentic Connections
Authentic connections can be difficult to find, whether it be from not being taught the skills to form these connections or simply losing touch with former acquaintances, it can be difficult but not impossible and with the proper tools and a heartfelt message, authentic connections can be found anywhere.
In todayâs episode Sarah Elkins and Amy Daughters discuss the importance of authentic connections and how having meaningful conversations with individuals can lead to long term relationships.
Highlights
Youâll never know how profound a connection can be unless you reach out.
It only takes a thoughtful act to change not just the person receiving, but the person giving.
In the age of social media itâs more important than ever to treat people like individuals with their own stories and burdens they carry.
Act with love in your heart, and encourage others to do the same.
Quotes
âItâs generally accepted that if you write me and tell me that you care about me and value me, that Iâm the one that walks away the person most changed. But the reality, and I learned this 580 times, Youâre the person whoâs the most changed. The person who is releasing that thank you, that congratulations. Because I went from saying âWhat am I going to even say in these letters?â to once I looked at their profile and once I realized who they were to me, all of a sudden I had so much stuff to say; Thank you, Iâm sorry, Congratulations, I support you. And I started to see all these things that were going on in peopleâs lives that I couldnât see in the news feed that I had to treat people one person at a time.â
âThe handwriting is somebodyâs personality but itâs also the physical manifestation of how somebody feels about you and how it made you feel.â
âI think what we try do is we try to put everyone else in our own little box, you know whatever it is that you feel like youâre inspired to do. I was inspired to do that, but everyone is inspired to do something, they have a moment in their heart where theyâre like, âOh thatâs what I want to do.â We got to encourage each other to do that.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Remember that title; Your Stories Donât Define You But How You Tell Them Will. What are the stories that people can tell about you based on what you take from this conversation? Think about the stories people are telling about Dana and Parker, and about Amy, that theyâll never know and yet continue to create this ripple effect of connecting beyond the keyboard. Connecting authentically in a way that makes people feel seen and heard. What will you do? What is your next step?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Amy
Amy Weinland Daughters, Award-Winning Author and Keynote Speaker, believes in a world where what makes us different is the very thing that connects us, instead of separates us. She brings that world to life by helping people reconnect to each other through the power of hand-written letters. She brings her wit, humor, and having written 580 handwritten letters to every single one of her Facebook friends, to show you how you can find deep connections in some of the most unexpected places.
Be sure to check out Amyâs LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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322 Give Yourself Grace
To give yourself grace for mistakes youâve made or for expectations that seem unattainable is something that can be more daunting than many of us want to admit. As difficult as it can be to be gracious with ourselves in order for us to grow and thrive as human beings, it is vital that we do be patient with ourselves and own our mistakes or failed expectations so that we can grow.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Nikki Campbell discuss the importance of resilience, growth, and grace with ourselves because everything we do starts with us and if we arenât at our best we cannot give our best. Nikki Campbell brings warmth, understanding, and resilience to the discussion, telling many stories from her own life and how through her own strength and the love of those around her she was able to grow into who she is today.
Highlights
We canât always explain why certain things in our past happen, but what we can do is use these things to give us the strength to follow our dreams.
âYou can either let it dissolve you or you can let it evolve you.â
Our experiences are all relative.
Parts of your story may not be so happy, but that doesnât make you who you are. It is how you reframe your thoughts and choose a sustainable way of life that determines the rest of your story.
Youâre not living if you donât have gremlins, or a similarly named thing trying to stop you from achieving your goals.
Quotes
âAfter sustaining any sort of type of trauma, whether itâs; psychological, physical, whatever. There are things that you can have as a secondary characteristic, maybe itâs some anxiety, maybe itâs memories that trigger you, or things of that nature, and you can either let it dissolve you or you can let it evolve you.â
âItâs through her very gentle yet, Iâll say firm, way of speaking my thoughts back to me. It wasnât until I had a therapist who did that did I realize; wow thatâs not true. Itâs the thought of like, if someone were to say to you what you say to yourself, what would your reaction be?â
âIâm not going to apologize for how I am or who I am because it got me to where I am today.â
âYou need to have grace with yourself and know that youâre not always going to do things right. It took me a long time to do that for myself is to give myself grace. That, âOkay I said that, I did that, I got to give myself a break but I also need to learn how to move forward. Instead of sitting in it.â.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Were you sitting here in the living room with us and drinking some hot tea or coffee? When you think about the things you need to give yourself grace for? What are the gremlins you can shoo from your consciousness? Which are the gremlins that are really stopping you from moving forward? And how can you manage when you do do something wrong, manage that so that it doesnât occur again. What lessons can you learn from it? And who do you know that you contribute to, to their learning and their growth as a result of claiming your own?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Nikki
Nikki Campbell
MS, NASM-CPT, BCS, CNC, ACSM-CIFT
Nikki is a long-standing fitness and wellness professional with 15+ years of industry experience: She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Behavior Change Specialist, and Nutrition Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and a Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. Nikki holds a Bachelorâs Degree in Recreation Therapy and a Masterâs Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with an emphasis on Sports Performance and Injury Prevention. She has seven years of experience working as a Wellness Coach at Mayo Clinic, and has held various programmatic positions within the disabled sports industry. Nikkiâs passion for assisting in the improvement of oneâs physical and mental health has spanned throughout her career and in her work with individuals of all ages and ability levels in and out of the gym. Additionally, Nikki is a certified kettlebell sport coach and rank 1 kettlebell sport athlete working towards obtaining her Master of Sport in late 2024. She most enjoys her time outside of her profession creating jewelry for her small business, spending time with her awesome family, and enjoying the Montana outdoors.
Be sure to check out Nikkiâs Facebook and Instagram! As well as her TedX Limitless Beyond Limitation, The Bar - Private Training Facility, and Nikkiâs website for handmade jewelry NikkiBean Designs!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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321 Your Innate Worth
Throughout life we are told from an early age what to do, what jobs would be best for us, and what society expects of us. Quite often this leaves us in a job that doesnât bring us fulfillment, so we end up looking for that fulfillment and sense of worth by exploring other career paths as well as life paths, and exploring what makes us feel our innate worth.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Corree Roofener discuss how labels impact us and our skill sets from an early age, and how through hard work and dedication to oneâs self you often find yourself in a fulfilling position in life.
Highlights
Are you labeling someone despite seeing them through only one lens?
What labels were you given that you still think about? Do you define yourself or do others?
What is your natural skill that you do exceptionally well and what can you do to nurture that skill?
Asking for help is one of the first steps in growth. Bringing in others with different skills who can help you, can make you thrive.
Build a diverse board of personal directors.
Quotes
âYou learn about people as you are exposed, like you said having connection. Whether that be in a live event or just having a written connection like you said on LinkedIn. Someone responds to something you say and thereâs this immediate conversation happening, or almost immediate conversation happening, and that feels so different.â
âI think, I donât think I actually know, I feel that when we begin to kind of unravel or open up those petals of that flower, we come back to what we innately know about ourselves, and we know it we just put it aside, because itâs, One: Not comfortable. Two: Not Successful. Three: Not a career. It can be a hundred different things, but what we do is we walk away from what we innately do so well or we cover it up. When we can start to own that, take value in that, we begin to find that âThis is what Iâm supposed to be doing.â but in that, what do we have to do? We have to ask for help. Which is so hard.â
âAnd just connecting with that fact that, those side hustles, weâre gonna go right back to the beginning, typically are going back to who we are innately. We crave that as humans, we crave what we were created to do innately and we tend to change what that looks like because âSuccess says you should do X, Y, and Z.â Or, âMom said I should do this.â Or, âDad said I was good at this.â and so we stop and we donât go back to that thing. One of the things for me that I had to really own, Iâve always been good with numbers but keeping synced âOh Iâm living that!â But what I had to realize is that my worth, my value as a mother was the message that had to be shared.â
âItâs just so scary because again youâre speaking this dream out loud to the universe, to your peers, whoever it is, and you have no idea what itâs going to look like. And we so adamantly connect the word failure if it looks different than how we originally envisioned.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What is that side hustle youâve been considering? What could you go back to from your younger days when you had an idea of what you were really good at. That you donât necessarily need to make income at it, but you would like to explore again. Jot it down in the comments, share it with me privately, I am your audience for that.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Corree
Corree Roofener; teaching resilience, compassion, and the strength of the human spirit through actions and support. Corree is a living embodiment of the adage that life begins at the end of one's comfort zone. Her remarkable journey is a testament to the extraordinary achievements that are possible when one chooses to live life with curiosity and courage. With every role she takes on, Corree continues to make a positive impact, helping individuals discover their inner strength and unlock their true potential with a mission to empower individuals to live boldly and authentically!
Be sure to check out Correeâs LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as Correeâs website Bee Authentically U!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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320 Anchored in Time
Labels and judgment are an unfortunate symptom of society, more often than not people will be framed in a particular light without any chance to defend themselves or for a full explanation to be given. Because of one person saying something, one bad interaction, or one misinterpretation a person can be frozen in time under whatever label was given to them.
In todayâs episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on enlightening experiences that have recently occurred that have helped continue to shape her perspective on the damage of labels and unfair judgment.
Highlights
Art imitates life and more often than not, not for the better.
Labels and keeping someone frozen in time can warp our perceptions of others and ourselves.
Work on strategies to help yourself avoid judging another and labeling them unjustly.
Quotes
âTheir spouses, families, and friends are all shocked of course, and they say things like âMy whole life with you is a lie!â I desperately wanted to ask those family and friends, Did you feel loved and cared for all those years you were together? Are you going to ignore all that you know to be true about this person because of something they did over twenty years ago?! I want to shake them!â
âLabels are a form of judgment and no one likes to be judged, especially from someone elseâs limited information about us.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Do you have cringey moments you look back on, times that when you do look back on them realize they werenât too great? When have you been labeled and judged unfairly? Are their stories about people in your past that maybe itâs time to reconsider before sharing?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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319 Cultures, Conversations, and Community
The beauty of humanity is that we all share different cultures, from the differences in our food to whether we take our shoes off in the house, culture shapes how we interact with our community and our career which is why it is vital we have conversations about culture, so that we may find our community, teach others, and learn about another personâs beliefs and values, in doing so we will all be stronger together as a community.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kevin Hamm discuss the importance of community, culture, and the conversations that need to happen in order for us all to have a better understanding and respect for one another. Kevin offers valuable insight, intelligent conversation, and a healthy dose of humor, approaching this difficult topic with humanity and dignity.
Highlights
A love for new and exciting things starts early and fosters growth and admiration for other cultures and ideas.
What memories from your past impact your decisions to this day?
Everyone sees the world through different lenses, be sure to encourage the growth and curiosity to see outside of your current lens.
Being yourself is vital to your survival and to being able to thrive as a human being.
Fostering community through compassion and pride. Making sure the whole world knows you and your community exist.
Understand the cultural differences between yourself and other places, and understand that these differences can foster growth and connection between yourself and those of a different culture.
What access to other cultures do you have in your own community that you can explore right now.
Ask questions! There is no harm in wanting to know more.
Quotes
âAt the time Governor Schwinden- I think it was Governor Schwinden, God I hope it was Governor Schwinden. Had just started the Sister State program with Kumamoto in Japan and so I joined a choir and discovered my love of sushi because we ended up going to Japan when I was a kid. And itâs really fun to think about being an ambassador for the state of Montana going over when youâre 12 years old or 11 years old, however old I was. Going over and being in front of the aristocracy, the Imperial Family, and all that in Japan, you know performing and being a soloist and homestays and meeting all these people, and having this incredibly intense, delightful introduction to how vast and different our world is, how diverse things are. When youâre a kid and finding out some of those things that are common in other cultures we never even hear of, like at the time we didnât have a sushi restaurant in the state of Montana.â
âThe truth of the matter is I found a thriving and robust queer community up there as well and it was really interesting to see that this community that I knew existed in major metropolitan areas because Portland and Phoenix had given me that, also exists in these little tiny towns where people on a regular basis are like, âIâm going to move to the big city because I canât be here!â and then they move away. But there were some that were still there and wanted to live there and really loved it, and that was part of the realization that I was like, âOh my community, the queer community, crosses every other boundary, whether itâs racial or societal or economic, weâre everywhere. And because we are everywhere we have community everywhere.â And that took me a little bit to figure out, but once I figured it out I was like âOh I can move back to Montana because my community exists!â.â
âItâs not only that you donât want to be insulting in a lot of cases. I don't know that it would be insulting. They would just look at you like, âOh youâre not trying to be like us.â And I want to try to be like them. When Iâm on their lands, in their place, in their house, I want to fit in, I want to belong, I donât just want to be there.â
âThe one thing I would tell anybody going into a new culture is donât be afraid to ask everything, ask the question that seems a little weird that youâre like, âOh I canât ask that.â You absolutely can.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Are you going to go explore a culture that you havenât explored before as a result of hearing this conversation? I know Iâm going to and it could be just down the street, I have friends who own a Cuban restaurant here in town they are originally from Cuba. I have met them, Iâve spent time with them, but Iâm not sure I explored their culture quite enough yet. I could even go to one of the upcoming Pow Wow adventures, I would love to do that with one of my friends from the tribes. Iâm going to do that this year and I hope Listeners that you will find a culture youâre not familiar with, somewhere within a few hours of your home and go explore it. Your mind and your heart will be better for it.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Kevin
Kevin Hamm, 50, is a small business owner, battle-tested community organizer, fearless activist, and lifelong advocate for the rights and dignity of all Montanans.
He has had the privilege of calling Montana his home state from the age of five; thatâs 45 years, for anyone counting. Armed with an appreciation for the importance of community investment that can only come from a childhood in a rural state, Kevin has spent his adult life investing in ways to give back to the place that built him. He has served on the boards of Queen City Ballet and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, and founded the Happiness & Joy Foundation, a 501(c)3 that puts on Montana Pride â Montanaâs statewide Pride celebration, which Kevin has run for the last nine years.
In addition to his deep commitment to community investment, Kevin is a skilled businessman with a strong track record in tapping into economic potential. Through his marketing work, he assisted in ATXâs transition from a $5 million company to a $20 million company and later capitalized on the skills he learned there to start two small businesses from scratch that continue to thrive today. Through Studio 19, his first company founded in 2010, he took on the responsibility of managing live production for the athletics departments at all Frontier Conference schools in the state; he continues to work with Carroll College leading their stream team to this day. By 2018, his reputation as a skilled problem solver had grown his customer base to such a degree that he was able to start Auxilyum, a second company that lightens the tech support load.
Most importantly, though, Kevinâs background is that of a typical working Montanan. He has firsthand experience doing the real work that powers our state as a matter of necessity, not just as a hobby or a means of making friends with the neighbors. He knows what it's like to sacrifice sleep working alongside good people in hot kitchens, and to give up sleeping entirely while turning a dream into a business.
Kevin also knows this place in a way that everyone with a Montana childhood will understand; he grew up alongside people who valued character over politics, and formed lifelong friendships with people who disagreed with him on issues that might raise some people's hackles. He attended his first day of kindergarten on Four Georgians Elementary Schoolâs first day of operation, and found community in the halls of public schools and community theaters that gifted him with an education of which he is deeply proud.
These experiences shaped Kevin into the man he is, but they are not unique to him â most Montanans will recognize these stories, and have their own versions to share. In Kevin, Montanans will find a candidate able to stand in a kind of solidarity shared only by those who know the value of hard work done on their own, without a trust fund to fall back on. So while he may not have unlimited funds with which to pay for billboards advertising his name or lobbyists on speed dial ready to pull strings on his behalf, Kevin does have something that matters more: a lifetime of solidarity with working Montanans, and decades of experience advocating for all of them in every way that he possibly can.
Be sure to check out Kevinâs LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his website KevinHamm!
Interested in the Former Felonâs Ball this year? Click Here! Interested in learning about Montana Pride and how to help? Click Here!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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318 Cultivation Of The Self
Change and growth are seen everywhere in life, from caterpillars becoming butterflies, to saplings becoming towering trees, it is a normal and expected part of life that should be encouraged and embraced, especially when seen in ourselves. Change can be frightening but if you keep pressing on and contributing with the best of your ability, you will come to a better place.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kristopher Lopez discuss the importance of appreciating the version of yourself from the past and cultivating the person you want to be now. Kristopher Lopez is an intelligent, respectful, and emotionally intelligent individual who brings a unique insight to the quandaries posed in todayâs episode.
Highlights
The paths that lead us to wherever we are now sometimes seem contradictory.
Resilience is like a ball, persistence is bouncing that ball so that it goes higher and higher each time.
Mutual respect goes both ways and is invaluable to all relationships.
Your contribution is valuable, and being consistent in that contribution is irreplaceable.
Growth and change can be intimidating, and just because you do get intimidated by it doesnât mean youâre failing.
Quotes
âItâs a mutual respect, right? Like, I get to know things about so many people that are public people that I donât have to get to share and I will not share, just so they can understand that even though we donât meet an expectation, or we have a falling out sometimes, that youâre still safe to come back to us and weâre not going to put you on social media, weâre not going to react in a way that is going to be detrimental to you or your career, and a lot of the mutual respect we have for each other circles back around.â
âThe situations in my life I was able to overcome those things because those are struggles and things I was dealing with and able to navigate. Iâve done so many things that have never been the best, Iâve always been that 7 or 8 but Iâve done a lot of 7 or 8 things.â
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What are you thinking about when you think about difference in who you were ten years ago, twenty years ago, and who you are now? How would people say that they experienced you then and is it the same? I kinda doubt it. So the next question is are you holding on to somebody elseâs older version of their authentic self or are you seeing their changes for what they are? Their attempts to be different, to be better, to surround themselves with people that bring them up so they can return the favor for the next generation? Where are those sticking points, what are the questions you need to ask, and what will you do next to change your story?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Kristopher
Retired Chief Warrant Officer III
Founder:
StayRoman (Inc 5000/Vet100 Awards)
StayRoman Realty
Curated by Roman
Be sure to check out Kristopherâs LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his website StayRoman and StayRoman Realty!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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317 How Our Stories Frame Us
Taking the time to reflect on our stories and consider how they frame us and others is a uniquely powerful tool for storytellers. When we take a step back to look at how and why we are telling our stories we can see the lessons and the messages that are built into our stories and we can see just how important our stories are.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Amanda Edgar discuss how important our stories are, how they shape us, and how through time they are subject to change. Amanda brings intelligence, kindness, and humor to the conversation, which brings life and warmth to the episode.
Highlights
Things happen when we least expect them to.
Your stories matter, you just need to tell them.
Be mindful of how you describe people and events in your stories.
If there is an inkling of revenge or blame when you're writing your story, you need to take a step back and ask yourself why you want to tell it.
Quotes
âOne of the things I hear people say so often is, 'Well who am I to tell my story? No one cares who I am. Iâm not Britney Spears or Michelle Obama, nobody cares about my story.' And I always tell them they donât care about your story because they donât know it yet.â
âTo me there is also such a powerful mindset piece, that hitting and exceeding that then suddenly so many more things are possible than you had ever imagined. Because you get so in your head about this goal you want to hit and I think it can be really counterproductive, thereâs something to me about having that extra tool or that extra boost that people then get a little second wind and they hit these goals they hadnât imagined.â
Dear listeners, now it's your turn:
What is it that youâre holding onto that maybe a little space can get you to the place of learning and sharing lessons so that other people donât have to learn the hard way? What are you going to write down, your story, that you can observe differently and reframe it so you can learn the lesson you need to learn from it? And which of your family members are you going to reach out to with a cellphone and a record button to hear some of their stories?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
Mentioned in this episode
The Ignorant Manâs Son by Victor James Hill
About Amanda
Amanda is an award-winning author and the CEO of Page and Podium Press, a publishing house that offers coaching, writing, and publishing services to self-defined leaders of all types--political leaders, industry thought leaders, community leaders, and leadership consultants. Her company focuses on projects that inspire readers to take action to build their communities and to fearlessly shape society for a better tomorrow. In addition to her two award-winning books, she will shortly release a new book she co-authored, Summer of 2020: George Floyd and the Resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Be sure to check out Amandaâs LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Also check out Page and Podium, as well as the Memoir Strategy Quiz!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
Don't miss the opportunity to take our online Job Interview Storytelling course for just $99!
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What Iâve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people donât realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people theyâre sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Donât Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
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