Your Stories Dont Define You, How You Tell Them Will

343 Incremental Improvements Our environments influence how we function and how we are able to deal with the things in our life mentally and emotionally so that we can choose to rearrange or shed the stories or things that no longer serve us.  In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Mark Ainley discuss the importance of giving everything our own style, facing the parts of ourselves we hold onto that need to be reframed or allowed to rest, and finally how we all collect little trophies of our adventures and that these “imperfections” should be treasured.   Highlights Give your own style to whatever you do. Make it unique, make it You. What part of your story that you aren’t dealing with needs to be reframed so that you can move on? How your environment shifts your roles. What are your adventure dimples?   Quotes “When we have that resistant, usually there’s something behind that resistance. There’s a reason for that, And if we cannot push but follow through with shall we say gentle persistence, we can ge

342 The Best Teacher Is Life   Throughout life we all have to learn some difficult lessons, some lessons are harder than others, but if you persist and remember your core values you will succeed with more knowledge of yourself and your capabilities than you started with.  In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Gail Harris discuss the importance of learning the harder lessons in life and coming out the other side to share these experiences with others.   Highlights Loss strengthens us by how we move through it.  Turn your sorrow into art, so that others will know they aren’t alone. Divine timing, even if you can’t see the full plan in the moment, some things are meant to be. Life is your teacher.   Quotes “I’m more than my human self.” “I just let myself feel it, because I did believe that that was a forked road. Because if you don’t feel it and you become numb to it, then you hang onto it forever. It’s not that we ever don’t feel the grief -feel the loss- you will always feel the loss but the grief I t

341 Cycles of Relationships Growth, change, and accepting that sometimes we are just as much at fault as anyone else, are vital to the health and longevity of the relationships we build. It is only through growth, change, and acceptance that we become the best version of ourselves. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Hope Marshall discuss the natural courses of relationships and how they affect us even after they’ve ended.    Highlights It’s okay to pick up something to try and then leave it behind. It’s part of what makes people interesting. You need to work towards a goal and take measures towards that goal actively to achieve it. Miscommunication is a killer for any and all relationships.   Quotes “I’m kind of like the Jane of some trades. Not all, just some. ” “Most people are just trying to get through their own lives, meet their own personal goals and sometimes we’re a part of that, sometimes we’re a priority, and sometimes we’re not but either way it has nothing to do with us. In people’s growth s

340 Unity in Connectedness    How we present ourselves with our intentions and energy is as important as a freshly pressed suit when building community and connection in both our work and personal lives. In helping others and accepting help, by being positive and allowing positivity to thrive, in accepting ourselves and others we can build true connectedness. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Sophie Lechner discuss the importance of connectedness in our lives and how building true meaningful relationships can shape our lives.    Highlights Connectedness unites us. Real connectedness can’t be found online.  Don’t forget to take time for your business and connection when you worry about others.  If you keep yourself in a positive mindset you are bound to enjoy whatever you do.   Quotes “We need to plant seeds for potential relationships, and harvest whatever ones come out.” “It’s better to have a little bit of a pause, think it through. Thoughtfulness is one of the things I want to be known for so I need

339 Help Is Not A One Way Street   Our personal narratives and clutter can take up a lot of mental bandwidth, often leading us to hold on to the stories and labels that no longer serve us and keep us living in the past with a version of ourselves that has changed drastically. It’s incredibly important to take time to assess what in your life no longer serves you, thanking it for the time it did serve you, and letting go.  In this episode Sarah Elkins reminisces on her backpacking trip to Utah and how it inspired her to give and accept help, as well as how organizing her family’s collection of books inspired her to take a long hard look at the other stories she still carries with her.    Highlights Less clutter, more calm. Offering and accepting help does not change how mighty you are.  You have to share vulnerability with people you trust in order to build and strengthen relationships.   Quotes “We all need to declutter, especially our stories that no longer serve us.” “When we say yes to someone that

337 Invest In Yourself   Life is complicated. Just like Frank Sinatra’s song That’s Life, we could be on top of the world one moment and the next we could be pushing boulders up an endless hill, however these moments do not define us. It is how we choose to tell our stories about these experiences that shows us and the entire world who we truly are.  In this episode Sarah Elkins and John Henry discuss the importance of investing time and energy into yourself, as well as how events from our formative years shape us into who we are today.   Highlights Your origins do not dictate how your story unfolds. Learning from the mistakes of the past to work towards a better future. Invest in yourself, take time to pause, analyze what stresses and drains you and focus on yourself.   Quotes “Committing to doing something uncomfortable, like running a marathon or climbing a mountain. I encourage your listeners to commit to something like that, and what results from that is a story. And it’s these kinds of stories t

338 Potential Prospect Throughout our lives as we work towards our goals, whether that be in a company or in our own personal pursuits, we often need to reflect on whether or not what we are doing is in alignment with our values and what we want to do in the future. Then we take the steps to ensure that our actions are in alignment and working in tandem without desire for a better future. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Bryce Arii discuss the importance of self reflection, legacy, and staying in alignment with your values as you work towards your future. Highlights What legacy are you leaving behind? Finding what matters to you, your team, and keeping that in alignment. Use your words, people cannot read your mind.  Self reflect on the reasons you are doing things, is it in alignment.    Quotes “You know what matters to you, you know what matters to the business, and you know what matters to your team, and you’re in perfect alignment.” “Well why do I want it? And that kicked off this whole series

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 people’s 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 “That’s a go

335 Seasons of Life   Regret and wondering what could have been is one of the most universal human experiences, it’s normal to feel guilt and regret over not achieving something or making mistakes, but it’s how you learn from these experiences and move into the future that defines you. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Hope Marshall discuss regret, healing, and allowing life to move on especially when it’s hard to do so.   Highlights Part of what makes people interesting is when they try things they aren’t necessarily good at. You need to take time to heal from pain, reschedule if you cannot be fully present with somebody. It’s okay for seasons of life to pass.   Quotes “Sometimes your season is up with people, and you just have to accept that. And it’s not bad blood, they’re not being mean to you, maybe you met the need and that’s it.” “The older you get the more you realize people aren’t really thinking about you as much as you think. They’re not sitting around like; “I really want to figure out h

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. Don’t take yourself too seriously.   Quotes “Anytime I get that three confirmations for something I feel very directed.” “I think control is a function of fear. Because really we’re not in control of very much, I can’t even control my first thought, but it’s the second thought, the actions that follow that’s the only thing that I really have control over.” “It’s my responsibility to change, nobody is going to make different choice

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 you’ve gone through, even if it’s 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. It’s 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.   

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 you’re going to get to you just need to finish this other thing first, or maybe it’s a skill from your childhood like playing the flute that you decided to put away because of limitations or self intimidation. But that’s 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 D’Vaughn 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. It’s okay if it takes time for you to pick up something y

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, it’s okay to struggle but remember to take time to just be. Learn from kids, enjoy the journey and just try to have fun.    Quotes “You’ve got biases, we all do, and that’s okay but we’re not going to act on them in a way that’s unkind, we are going to be respectful, we’re going to be curious, we’re going to be open. Be conscious of your biases and choose your actions appropriately. And I think this is a conversation that we are st

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 “You take life as you can.” “You find the people that you’re supposed to find, good and bad. I was

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 it’s 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 someone’s stories, ask questions.   Quotes “That was my intro into storytelling that recognizing it’s not just a way to convey meaning or persuade, it’s a way to create connection, even change energy in what can be the most artificial of circumstances.” “Through conversation we just uncover magical things.” Mentioned in this podcast    Happier Hour With Einstein   Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What will you do t

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 people’s 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 “It’s a skillset like gratitude, I think servitude or servant hearts, you need to practice. People ask “Well how do I do it? I don’t have money.” Well the best part is you don’t need money, just go to a soup kitchen, go to a homeless shelter and feed. So many ways you can do it.” “What is Sou

327 The Company We Keep   It’s a fact of life that we will make poor decisions, sometimes in the form of negative influences like people, often times repeatedly when we’re young. It’s 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 today’s 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 “Shoulds” Surround yourself with people who will help you grow.   Qu

326 Giving What You Get   Skills and talents -our “magic”- 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 today’s 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. It’s normal to doubt yourself, imposter syndrome is very real.   Quotes “That 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 wouldn’t find in a marketing firm. Because I really, really care about people and I care about people’s happiness, and if I know you’re frustrated or str

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 Kïrsten 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 don’t know where we are going until we look backwards.  We need to experience so many different things   Quotes “I think belonging is such an important aspect of my work, and so it’s not surprising that that story was

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