Did I hear that right???


Reader, last week I got to do what I love twice!

I delivered talks at two conferences β€” one in Texas and one in Louisville.

I know that interactive learning is the best, so my presentations include some type of "pair and share" element whenever possible.

In Texas, I invited the participants to reflect on their happiest and least happy job experiences, then share the stories with their partners.

Here was the punchline from the debrief: Was the experience you shared about compensation, tasks, or people?

What's your guess, Reader?

Here's a hint. It was the same whether a happy or unhappy job, and the talk centered around this equation: belonging + connection = success.

Reader, you are right! It was about the relationships with people, not the money or job duties. And what sealed the "aha!" moment for the participants was the similarities in their experiences.

Three days later, at the beautiful Gheen's Center in Beckley Creek Park, I asked participants to share their most meaningful work experiences with a partner. Once again, during the debrief, the group noted the commonalities of passion and joy in the stories they exchanged.

Even though the questions were different, the point was the same.

You carry the wisdom of your experiences within you, and you can access that wisdom at any time.

Reader, I want you to really hear that and take it in.

You can trust yourself to provide a solid starting place for connection, understanding, and empathy.

The trick is to ensure you are accessing your inner sage, not your judge, by asking questions that tap into the wisdom within your experiences rather than focusing on complaints.

So hear me, Reader. Stop constantly looking outside yourself for answers. Start tapping into and trusting your knowing, and allow it to guide you toward additional resources beyond your own.

If you are interested in cultivating the power and wisdom of the lived experiences in yourself and your team, I'd love to share more with you about my Star TreatmentπŸ’« approach to moden leadership.

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The 5-point System applies the latest insights from neuroscience and psychology to deliver:

LONG-TERM RETENTION: Retain the best people without the added cost of perks.

COST SAVINGS: Retain institutional knowledge and reduce the expense of talent replacement.

PERFORMANCE: Full discretionary effort from employees and resilience in the face of any challenge.

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Thank you in advance for your generous support of my efforts to disrupt the way we work and make it better.

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I'm Celebrating

I have a new speaker reel. Check it out!

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Catch Up on 'the story i'm telling myself' podcast

Give us a 5-star review and share an episode with a friend: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music​

​Episode 1 with Karen Laos: Are You Enough? Finding your inner power

​Episode 2 with Gail Kraft: Is Your Fear of Abandonment Running the Show?

​Episode 3 with Sandra Adeyeye Bello: Am I Worth It? A question too many are afraid to answer

​Episode 4 with Leslie Minchin: Are You Busy or Just Avoiding Your Life?

​Episode 5 with Srivatsan Aravamudan: Broken, Dirty, Not Enough? The journey to self-acceptance

​Episode 6 with Vivian Blade: How Do I Say "I Lost My Job?"

​Episode 7 with Angie Redmon: Who Am I Letting Down? The hidden cost

​Episode 8 with Debbie Potts: I Refuse to Settle: Rewriting my story after a life-changing diagnosis

​Episode 9 with Tandra Price: Can I Do That? Unleashing your inner power

​Episode 10 with Ronda Berns: Am I the Prey? Overcoming fear and mastering sales

​Episode 11 with Carmen Alvarez: Can Joy and Grief Really Co-exist?

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The Story I’m Telling Myself is for anyone who wants to overcome the limitations of self-doubt and live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Through candid conversations, you'll discover:

  • The hidden costs of listening to your inner critic: How fear and doubt sabotage your confidence, happiness, and success.
  • Transformational strategies for silencing the negative voice: Learn how to overcome self-doubt, embrace vulnerability, and step into your true potential.
  • The power of a mindset shift: Discover how changing your internal dialogue can lead to extraordinary results.

Real-life stories of courage and resilience: Gain inspiration from everyday people who overcame their negative self-talk to live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music.

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Rita Ernst, Positivity Influencer

My weekly emails are for you if you want a transformational SHOT OF POSITIVITY that makes you think, gets you laughing, and sparks a positive change. Start each week inspired.

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