Alive With Purpose

Why is it so hard to ask for what you want sometimes? Even the most confident leaders get tripped up with this one. It's because asking for what you want makes you vulnerable. You show other people how you need them. And that can be a scary thing. But it also empowers you by inviting others to contribute, and frees you from pretending you can do it all yourself.  In this episode you will discover: How to overcome the hesitation of asking for what you want and make clear requests instead Why it's okay to benefit personally when you ask for something, and how not to back away from it How to get through feeling out of control or weak, and emerge even stronger on the other side For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/301-learning-to-ask-for-what-you-want

Change is one of the hardest things there is for a person to do. Just look at how many people out there feel stuck, or might actually be stuck without even knowing it.   And even if you may know what to do in order to change, actually doing it is often another story. And a much rarer one.   But after 300 podcast episodes and over 5 years running a coaching business, Erin has some thoughts on the topic. She and Steve discuss what they’ve learned over the years helping people make real changes in their lives.   You will discover: Why you don’t have to become a totally different person to make the most important changes in your life How to use internal static or “negative energy” to help you make shifts in behavior What inner ingredient is necessary before you can make any outward changes that last, and how to get it For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/300-what-it-takes-to-truly-change-your-life

You may not think you have a problem with goals, but if you find yourself: Feeling low on energy or motivation Dreading Mondays Reaching milestones but not feeling fulfilled  Working on things without knowing why Chances are you might be in what we call the Goal Swamp. This is where you're working hard but not getting anywhere you're super proud of.  The good news is that you're not the problem (you never are, btw). The issues is in how society teaches us to think about goals. In this episode, you will discover: Why we set goals that don't fulfill us and how to change that habit How to tap into your emotions to create lanterns—or goals with soul Why self-awareness is the starting point for escaping the goal swamp, and how to build it  For the full show notes and transcript visit: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/299-get-out-of-the-goal-swamp

As a leader you've no doubt experienced being bulldozed. You know, those times when a colleague is:  Talking over you Making decisions that affect you without checking in Boxing you out of a situation Or any number of ways that we can feel not seen and not important. It's painful. But the good news is that there are ways to respond to this that lead to you being more empowered as a leader. In this episode, you will discover: How to respond in the moment when you feel misunderstood or angry How to create a safe space for when people just need to vent, and when to jump in with support How to set and share boundaries that make it harder for others to bulldoze you For the full show notes and transcript visit: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/298-when-you're-being-bulldozed

If you procrastinate on work... If you find yourself dreading certain meetings or conversations... If you experience self-doubt that blocks you from making progress on your dreams... ...you're probably using pressure as a major source of fuel for your work.  The thing is, pressure can be effective at times. Deadlines focus the mind and many people rise to their best when there's an audience present. But to access your most creative ideas and solutions, you need a different source of fuel. One that doesn't deplete you when you use it. Listen and explore: How to create a container for your work that virtually guarantees that inspiration or playfulness will be your fuel instead of pressure Why swapping out "goals" for "lanterns" allows you to shift your inner state away from tension towards one of ease How to set up your day for the best chance of finding a state of flow while working Magic, wonder, and creativity is always just a breath away. This episode will help you tap into yours. For the full show notes

Trust. It's the key ingredient for any good relationship. And creating it in your team is how you grow. Trust in your team allows you to delegate, to communicate, to mentor and inspire them. Building trust is not just how you win, but it's the best way to win. Trust always feels good. But it isn't easy to create, since there are so many ways people (including ourselves) can fall short and break that trust. In this week's episode, Erin and Steve explore: Which actions build trust in your leadership, and which erode it How to make a mistake and still build trust How to make it easier for people to ask for help, admit mistakes, and trust each other Other topics include: the power of a sincere apology, leading by example in creating culture, practicing transparency to create trust, the role of values and vision in trust, the trust quilt, when it's okay to micro-manage, and more. For the full show notes and transcript of the episode visit: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/296-building-a-culture-of-trust

Do you ever feel stuck in fire-fighting mode in your business? Or like the feeling of overwhelm is a too-frequent companion? These may be early signs of burnout.  And if you've listened to this podcast for a while, you've probably heard Erin's burnout story. But we haven't spoken much about Steve's.  This week's episode includes a sneak peek into the upcoming Superabound book, sharing the story of Steve's journey down the path to burnout, and what you can learn from it to protect your own energy and wellbeing. The fact is, most people don't often realize they're close to burning out until it's too late. And yes, this includes coaches, yoga teachers, and even people you consider to be great leaders. To help you assess and prevent burnout in your own life, we explore: How to recognize burnout signs early and turn them around The impact of "static" on your mindset and relationships, and how to shift gently shift it Where to find your best sources of unbiased support and perspective Other topics include: burnou

If you want to grow your business, one of the best ways to do that is by selling to bigger, more sophisticated—or what we call "high impact"—customers. It is something we've helped our clients do, and done ourselves both in our own business and in the corporate high-tech roles we've had. But the path to selling to high impact clients isn't always easy or straightforward. It's not as simple as updating your LinkedIn profile and doubling your rates. You need to establish trust and credibility in that new market, all without alienating your existing clients and revenue streams. In this episode, we explore some of the ways to make that leap successfully.  You will discover: How to increase your income and impact while maintaining your integrity and values The role of continuing education (i.e. product improvement) in confidently charging more How to use the vision for your business to fuel your shift towards higher impact clients We also explore: creating premium products and packages, using client feedback to

What do you do with the more, shall we say, unresponsive people on your team? Just let them be? Get on their case about changing? Show them the door? All of these options can be tempting as a leader with a tough cookie manage. But there are ways that this difficult person can actually transform your approach to leadership and team development. Listen to this week's podcast to explore: Why most "uncoachable" people really can change, and how to help them discover their own leverage points The power of accepting your own role in a team member's resistance, and what changes you can make to your own leadership and team culture as a whole How to set a high standard of performance while being curious about why someone may not be thriving Other topics from the show include: transformative coaching, embracing individuals where they're at, how leadership is like jazz improvisation, unleashing creativity through coaching, the role of different personality types in miscommunication, why someone being a tough cookie ma

There's a reason a lot of people don't like the word "manifestation": it's usually a trick.  Stripped of its roots in esoteric practices and disciplines, it gets sold as a cosmic piggy bank just waiting for your withdrawal. But just because its most common form is shallow doesn't mean it isn't real and can't work for you. In today's episode we explore what's wrong with the usual approach to manifestation and how to use it instead. And yes, it takes work, but maybe not the kind you're used to. You will discover: How to tell where you're blocking your ability to manifest How to attune yourself to the energy of what you want to manifest Why you don't need to be someone fundamentally different to manifest what you want Get the full show notes and transcript at: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/292-does-manifestation-work

Your business needs content to grow. And you don't have to train your own AI for it to flow, you may just need to learn how to channel your content. Whether you believe in spirits or not, we can all learn to connect with deeper levels of ourselves and  the ideas that matter to our customers. That's what we dive into on this week's episode of the podcast. You will discover: An exercise that will help you get past self-judgment and procrastination and actually create content that matters Why meditation helps you go deeper in business, and how to be open to creative prompting from within How to build trust in your ability to channel content—and why it makes life as a whole that much more enjoyable For the full show notes and transcript visit https://besuperabound.com/podcast/291-how-to-channel-content-for-your-business

If you've ever had a deep spiritual experience, then you know how disorienting it can sometimes be to return to "the real world" of business and meetings and money.  How are we supposed to reconcile these seemingly distant parts of our lives, where one feels so sublime, inspired, and loving and the other can seem so harsh and cold at times? We dive into this important question and more on this week's episode of the podcast. You will discover: Why you don't have to leave your spiritual beliefs at the door and how to connect with them in a way that works for any situation A question that can make your business more of a spiritual practice without needing to talk directly about spiritual things at work How to use your company's vision and values to connect with your deepest convictions about life and the impact you want to have For a full transcript and show notes visit: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/290-does-spirituality-belong-at-work

It's one of the hottest topics of our day—no, not AI: leading remote and hybrid teams. Businesses that get this right have access to high-performing talent around the globe. And businesses that don't find themselves in a world of hurt.  When it comes down to it, the key ingredient to building a great team that spends some or all of its time working remotely is trust. In this week's episode of the Superabound Podcast we share an in-depth conversation with learning and development expert Kerry O'Brien that will help you lead your remote employees even more effectively.  You will discover: What are the 3 ingredients required to build trust, no matter where your team is working How to communicate differently to prevent unneeded conflict in a remote team How to grow quickly as a leader of remote employees so you can be as impactful as possible Get the full show notes with transcript and video at https://besuperabound.com/podcast/289-building-trust-with-your-remote-team

Being alone does not mean being lonely. It can be an experience of peace, power, creativity, healing, and more. But for it to be any of those things—and not just annoying—you sometimes need to know why you're doing it and get some guidance on what to do. Otherwise your time alone may not be as fruitful as it could be. That's why we developed a practice we like to call "Solo Soul Time." It's a way of being alone intentionally, focused on where you need nourishment, growth, or just some space. In this episode you will discover: How alone time can lead to personal growth and success in your business How to escape the need for approval from others in order to feel worthy A question that brings you to a deeper part of yourself almost instantly For a full transcript and show notes, visit https://besuperabound.com/podcast/288-the-power-of-being-alone

If you want to win new business, you have to stand out in your industry. Unfortunately there are many ways to do this that don't serve your longterm interests. Too many business owners opt for paths that include polluting the internet with AI junk, selling in an inauthentic way, or simply leveling up their skills without translating that into a message that their customers resonate with. If you've done the work to deliver a great product, you need to find a way to let your audience know about it. In this week's episode you will discover: What it means to be "the best in the world" and how to occupy that position in the minds of your ideal customers The role of social media and online marketing in standing out in your industry and how best to leverage them How to take a strong stand that gets the attention of your best audience without being divisive or obnoxious to do so For the full show notes and transcript, visit https://besuperabound.com/podcast/287-how-to-stand-out-in-your-industry

If you want to do more than just create a successful organization but live a life of true success, this episode is for you. Because what good is it to make a pile of money if you're alone and exhausted when you get there? In this week's episode of the Superabound podcast you will discover: How to create time for what matters most in your life, no matter how busy you are right now How to get over the judgmental voices, both from inside yourself and from the world around you, that block your deeper self-investment Why integrity is your secret power for protecting your time and energy and how to build it over time For full podcast show notes and transcript, visit https://besuperabound.com/podcast/286-protect-your-time-and-energy

Few things are as fulfilling as creating an impactful, lucrative business with people you truly love, i.e. family.  Talk about work/life harmony! When you get it right, there's really no feeling quite like it. But it's not enough just to know each other well and get along great most of the time. Running a successful business with family requires a little extra thoughtfulness and, yes, structure to keep things flowing.  In this episode you will discover: Why your company's vision and values need to be more explicit and clear when working with family, and how to do it How to create boundaries so your business doesn't take over your family life How to give feedback that moves the business forward without pointing fingers or getting overly personal—and how to take that feedback and grow Structures that can help keep you on track without being overly rigid or micromanaging one another The importance of clear roles for performing at a high level and making sure important details don't slip through the cracks This

Succeeding in business can be boiled down to two things: making great decisions and following through on them. We're going to focus on the first one, noticing how great decisions are more than just the choice you make, but also the speed and confidence with which you make it. The fact is, many business owners move too slowly with their decisions, falsely thinking that if they just wait a little longer to decide then they will have a better chance of making "the right decision."  But as with so many other aspects of leadership, making good decisions is a skill that you can improve at, which will help you overcome the analysis paralysis that many leaders experience. In this episode you will discover: The foundation for confident decision making, and how to build it for yourself A question that will help you avoid beating yourself up over decisions that don't turn out well The hidden resources for your business and life that lie untapped while you mull over a decision For the full show notes and transcript vis

If you've ever wondered how to create a more diverse—not to mention profitable and fulfilling—team, this episode is for you. Malia Lazu is the visionary founder of The Lazu Group, and has spent her life supporting diversity and urban entrepreneurship everywhere from the streets of Boston as a community organizer to the C-suite at Berkshire Bank. In this wide-ranging podcast, Steve and Malia discuss key points found in her new book, From Intention to Impact, published by MIT Press. You will discover: Where to begin with DEI work at your business, even if you are a lean team, so you can both make more money and create a more just world What are the 3Ls and how they can help you authentically connect with any community you want to see reflected in your team How to navigate the pushback that emerges with real change, i.e. cries of reverse discrimination or lowering the bar, so you can create real impact while growing your business For the full show notes and transcript visit https://besuperabound.com/podcast/2

What do Marcus Aurelius, Lady Gaga, and Arianna Huffington all have in common? Regular journaling. We're not saying that writing in a notebook will help you become the next emperor, grammy winner, or media mogul. But there is power in the practice of self-reflection and discovery that journaling offers. Today we dive deep into the world of journaling with entrepreneur sisters Andrea and Trish Drynan, who recently released their own guide called The Journal Project: Weaving Wellness Into Everyday Living You will discover: Easy practices that will help you clear your mind and get a new perspective on your experience How journaling can help you achieve the results you want in your business and personal life, even if you're not a "journaling person" How to use journaling to move through difficult situations and the emotions that come with them How to have a fun and productive work relationship with family For a full transcript and show notes visit: https://besuperabound.com/podcast/282-the-journal-project