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10 surprising lessons learned in my first two years of podcasting

STARTING A PODCAST * TOP LESSONS * ENTREPRENEURSHIP * CAREERS * CREATIVITY

What do food blogs, lawyers, and sleep all have in common? You’re gonna find out!

It is Episode 51, y’all, and I’m sharing some behind the scenes of what you might not know about me. And I’m getting super honest about the lessons I knew were true and that I ignored (and how you’re probably doing the same in your own life), and I’m pretty sure you’re going to find a handful here that resonate with you, too, because they’re not just lessons about podcasting – they’re lessons about LIFE.

As always, I leave you with a bit of fun reflection homework.

I’ll also let you know what’s next on the horizon for this podcast, and invite you into some fun spaces that are not normally open to the public.


Resources from the Show 

>>> My mission is to help service-based professionals figure out how they got into the mess they’re in, and then help them figure out exactly what they want. Whatever it is, my experience has shown that what they want is always within reach, and I’m honored to help them create a simple, actionable plan that will get them there. I’d love to support you, too! Here are some additional ways you can start creating your joyful life today!

FREE RESOURCES

LOW-COST RESOURCES

Tag me, follow me, and DM me with your thoughts and questions:

Rate this podcast/episode on Apple Podcasts here

  • Not on Apple Podcasts? No worries! Rate and Review on our site and make sure to leave a question for a future episode!
  • Or, if you’re listening on Spotify, go back to the main profile page on our Podcast and rate us there!

Learn more about me here: https://sheilawilkinson.com

Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Links & More: https://sheilawilkinson.com/links

Extra Credit

As you go about your day, consider YOUR Top 10 Lessons from the last two years – what resource, skill, habit, or tool has helped you grow and learn about yourself, to show up the way you want to in your world? And maybe it’s this podcast, maybe it’s one of my workshops – whatever it is, reflect on it.

And if you’re worried that nothing’s coming to you right away, that’s okay – take a beat, sit on it, drive out to a nearby body of water – the lake, the river, the estuary, the reservoir – take some time to just think, give yourself the space to see just how far you’ve come.

And if you realize you  haven’t come as far as you like, or maybe you realize that you want to go somewhere new and don’t know how to get there, I’m your girl – I would be honored to be your partner in success, so let’s chat about it.

Next Steps

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YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

Owning & Loving Your Creative Business: Being Willing to Leap! A Guest Chat with Dustin Woehrmann

LGBTQ CREATIVE CAREERS * ENTREPRENEURSHIP * SELLING YOUR BUSINESS * CREATIVITY * AN ODE TO PRIDE MONTH 🏳‍🌈

It’s episode 50 and today, I’m excited to introduce you to someone who has had an amazingly cool journey in the creative space! And, because we’re wrapping up Pride Month, I thought I’d bring on someone who has done some seriously huge and amazing work in the LGBTQ community for over 20 years: Dustin Woehrmann.

Dustin is currently the creative director at Boombox. I will include his full bio below the show notes, but for now I just wanna share some highlights with you.

Originally, Dustin’s from Utah and he has a pretty unique background in design, in experimental animation, and in illustration – all of which shapes his unique style and his approach. He started out with owning his own business with a ton of obstacles and joys, and we’re gonna talk about what it meant to merge with another company in 2021, and to shift out of being a business owner and back in-house.

Dustin’s also going to speak to helping you keep your own creative juices flowing in different ways, and I know you’re going to laugh and have some lovely aha moments in this episode. Be sure to tag us in your shares on IG and LinkedIn!

Resources from the Show 

Let’s Connect: Get Weekly Strategies for how to thrive in your world – for free

>>> 

My mission is to help service-based professionals figure out exactly what they want, realize it’s 100% within reach, and create a simple, actionable plan that will get them there. I’d love to support you, too! Here are some ways you can start creating your rich, happy life today!

FREE RESOURCES

LOW-COST RESOURCES

Tag me, follow me, and DM me with your thoughts and questions:

Rate this podcast/episode on Apple Podcasts here

  • Not on Apple Podcasts? No worries! Rate and Review on our site and make sure to leave a question for a future episode!
  • Or, if you’re listening on Spotify, go back to the main profile page on our Podcast and rate us there!

Learn more about me here: https://sheilawilkinson.com

Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Links & More: https://sheilawilkinson.com/links

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

Why your Values mean everything to your Career and Business

Have you ever thought about who you want to be and what impact you want to have on the world?

Like, what are the things that REALLY matter to you? In other words, what are your values?

Because a mission and vision statement are great, but without values, they mean absolutely nothing. Here’s a hint:

Your mission is about your decisions. Your vision is about your direction. Your values become your “why.”

If you’re shrugging your shoulders thinking, “I don’t know, Sheila,” don’t panic. You actually know the answer:

  • You just have to tap in.
  • You have to listen.
  • You have to give yourself time.

So before you start that new business or change the direction of your career, take some time for self-reflection. 

Determine your “why,” who you are, what you want and why you want it. Once you know that, your mission and vision will follow. 

As long as you’re unclear about what you want your impact to be on others and what you want them to take away from working with you, you will always find yourself with a less than desirable result. Period.

But once you get clarity and attach all of this to your values, you *can* have the people, projects, and pay that you want.

To learn how to figure out your values in a super easy way, scroll back up and hit PLAY!

Extra Credit

Ask yourself the following three questions to help you get started determining your own values:

  1. Think about the one thing that pisses you off and/or annoys the HELL out of you when you think about the world today. 
  2. Now flip it – think about the opposite of whatever that annoyance or nuisance is. And voila – that’s like a value. For example:
    1. Do you hate lying? Even little white lies? Then, integrity is probably your value. 
    2. Do you hate it when people who are not helpless feign their helplessness, or think that they’re weak when you know that they are powerful AF? Empowerment just might be your value.
    3. Do you hate it when people try to tell you what to do with your body? (Hello, welcome to ‘Murica.) Then, bodily autonomy is probably your value.
    4. Do you hate it when someone will not admit when they’re wrong or even could have been wrong? Accountability might be that value and humility, maybe, right? 
    5. Do you hate it when people skip the line at the grocery or just pretend that they don’t see you while you’re lined up first for the plane? Then, maybe equity or equality or fairness is your value.

Next Steps

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YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

Transforming Your Life: The Art of Being Still

The art of being still has the potential to transform your life.

Today, we’re talking about embracing the power of stillness.

I sent out an email this past Monday, and I got so many responses from people about how it resonated and also not just how it resonated, but how they actually wanted to apply the information. It was because of this huge response that I wanted to share it with all of you. And, if it resonates with you, I encourage you to make sure we’re connected via email so that you can get next week’s baby steps – https://sheilawilkinson.com/connect. 

So, find your favorite chair and your comfiest blanket, press play above, and settle in for some really easy, baby steps towards learning how to be still.

It’s your chance to tune into what’s going on inside your brain and body with intention, and to experiment and pay attention to how you experience life through the lens of being still.

The art of being still has the potential to transform your life.

And as always, I leave you with a bit of homework to start taking action today. 

Extra Credit

As you go about your day, think about these five ways that you can begin to BE STILL – and while these just tell you WHAT to do, listen to the episode for more details about HOW to implement each one:

  1. Make Time. ​
  2. Disconnect to Reconnect. ​
  3. Embrace Solitude. ​
  4. Practice Mindfulness. ​
  5. Embody Self-Compassion.

Resources from the Show 

>>> 

My mission is to help service-based professionals figure out exactly what they want, realize it’s 100% within reach, and create a simple, actionable plan that will get them there. I’d love to support you, too! Here are some ways you can start creating your rich, happy life today!

FREE RESOURCES

LOW-COST RESOURCES

Tag me, follow me, and DM me with your thoughts and questions:

Rate this podcast/episode on Apple Podcasts here

Learn more about me here: https://sheilawilkinson.com

Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Links & More: https://sheilawilkinson.com/links

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

Your Vision vs Your Mission Statement: Know the difference

Do you cringe in fear at the mere thought of selling your services or making that sales call?

If so, that’s most likely because you’re missing three things: clarity, a real mission, and a real vision.

Most people are just trying to sort through all of the messages they’ve heard and internalized all of their life, doing what they THINK they’re supposed to be doing. 

When you don’t know how to let go, or  know when enough is enough, you end up wasting time and energy, trying to prove yourself to get approval, acceptance, validation, love and respect.

Well, it’s time to tune out all of the outside noise. When it comes to your business, career and life, YOU are the one who has to decide. You. Do. You.

Because, guess who holds the special recipe – YOU DO.

That’s right – you are your own secret sauce.

And while your mission tells people who you are and what you want, your vision tells them WHY this matters to you. Of course, you probably already know this, but maybe you just never thought of it in this way.

Your vision statement – your “why” – is what gets people to trust you, because they connect with you, understand you, and want to be in your circle or support network.

In other words, your vision is what motivates you, and your mission is how you activate the vision.

And when you show up as yourself with your mission and vision – whether that’s personal, professional, business, or whatever – that’s what will make people want to be around you, work with you, and partner with you.

To learn how to find your secret sauce, scroll back up and hit PLAY!

Extra Credit

Ask yourself the following three questions to help you get started developing your own vision:

  1. “What is my mission?” You can always go back and change your mission anytime, for any reason. How you help or who you help can change and that’s OK.
  2. “Why do I do what I do? Why do I help who I help?” Don’t forget the four types of expectations – these will give you a clear indication of whether the thing you’re doing is because someone else told you you should or not.
  3. “How does my mission help make my vision a reality?” Can it? Does it? Do you need to change the way you do what you do or who you help?

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

Why your mission statement REALLY matters

Does your mission statement make people walk away from you? I hope so!

If your mission statement doesn’t scare people off, that means you’re not doing something right. 

Your mission statement is who you are, what you want and why you want it. And I know that can be scary because it’s the part where you fear that if you tell people the truth about yourself and what you will and will not stand for, they’re going to just walk away.

But that’s the whole point!

Your mission statement is your guiding light, your beacon of “Hey, this is who I am and if you don’t like it, suck it. Look the other way. Keep walking. Keep going. This is not for you.”

I know we’ve always been told to keep the peace, don’t rock the boat, be nice to people even when they’re hateful or abusive toward us. We’ve been socialized not to stand up for ourselves and to maintain the status quo. However…

  • You will never find fulfillment in work, life, relationships or yourself… 
  • You will never ever reach the level of achievement, self-esteem and competence that you want… 
  • You will never have the courage to really live your life the way you want to… 

… UNLESS you scare some people off. 

We’re all different, raised differently with different genetic codes, experiences, education, and expectations. You have to do YOU.

So when it comes to navigating your career or business in the way that feels most aligned for you, do the exact opposite of what you think you should do:

When you feel doubt, don’t push through it.

Instead, stop, pause, ask and listen – because that’s your body and soul’s way of telling you you’re on the wrong path.

That’s why it’s so important to be yourself. When you show up in the world as you, the right people, projects and pay will come.

To hear more tips and get the full scoop on how to become more like the REAL you, scroll back up and hit PLAY!

Extra Credit

As you go about your day, ask yourself the following three questions to help you start on your path to developing your mission:

  1. When you’re feeling all the feels, listen for the messages you’re getting and ask yourself, “What am I thinking right now? How does that make me feel?” 
  2. Sort through the ones that matter to you, the ones you want to feel and think, and ask yourself, “Why do these matter to me?” The four types of expectations are going to be very important for this step.
  3. Determine where your values fall in all of the things that you were feeling and thinking. Consider whether the situation at hand is leading to the people, projects and pay that align with your values…the real you that’s whispering, screaming for you to listen.

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

In Tandem: How to Run a Business While Married, with Robert & Kay Lee Fukui

What do entrepreneurship, business partnerships, marriage, and communication all have in common? It’s not what you think! I have an amazing episode for you today! Scroll up to hit play!

Waves of navy blue on a square image, with coral pink at the top, with two white framed circular photos of Sheila, Robert and Kay Lee - What Would Sheila Say - title says Podcast Episode 48, In Tandem: How to Run a Business While Married - Guest Chat with Robert + Kay Lee Fukui

We’ve got Robert and Kay Lee Fukui on the show today! Last September, they released a book called Tandem, the Married Entrepreneur’s Guide for Greater Work-Life Balance.

This conversation will help you in all sort of ways – from relationships with people, to how you take care of yourself, to setting clear expectations, and to understanding what you have control over and don’t.

One of my favorite moments in this episode was a story Kay Lee told about asking Robert for something in the middle of a heated discussion – something so incredibly simple you’re going to smack your forehead that you didn’t think of it sooner! Hear the ONE key question that Robert and Kay Lee ask each other to resolve conflict. Don’t miss it!

One of the things I love about Robert and Kay Lee is that they’re not just looking at the business as a business. They’re looking at the business as a living, breathing extension of you as a person, and if you own a business with a partner, a business partner, or your spouse, that extra extension also includes the extension of who you are as people. 

So, grab your pen and paper (especially if you own a business with somebody else, or you run someone’s business) – or maybe go grab that person, hand them a cup of coffee or something stronger! – sit down, listen, and catch those aha moments that I know you’re gonna have.

Make a list of things you want to dig deeper into for yourself – to help you be better, and for the business and structures to be stronger. You got this!

✨ Resources from the Show 

>>> 

My mission is to help service-based professionals figure out exactly what they want, realize it’s 100% within reach, and create a simple, actionable plan that will get them there. I’d love to support you, too! Here are some ways you can start creating your rich, happy life today!

FREE RESOURCES

LOW-COST RESOURCES

Tag me, follow me, and DM me with your thoughts and questions:

Rate this podcast/episode on Apple Podcasts here

Learn more about me here: https://sheilawilkinson.com

Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Links & More: https://sheilawilkinson.com/links

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

The best advice before you start a business

Did you know that at least 20% of businesses fail within their first year?👀

And sadly, the ones that fail are most likely minority-owned, veteran-owned, women-owned businesses … 👀👀

As an indigenous female business owner for more than 20 years, I realize firsthand the real, societal barriers that can make the entrepreneurial journey especially difficult, from racism, homophobia and discrimination, to sexism, ableism and fatphobia.

However, there’s another hurdle I’ve seen among so many clients – they hold themselves back in some of the following ways:

  • They sabotage themselves and believe the lies society has told them – directly and indirectly… lessons learned over time from family, friends, colleagues, clergy, media.
  • They believe they’re not “enough” – good, smart, savvy or quick enough… but try to convince everyone they know all the answers.
  • They’re looking for love or direction – holding onto things that aren’t good for them… in a hurry to get free of the pressure. So they just go, do and check it all off the list, like a robot.
  • They avoid confrontation and truth… and they never know when enough *is* enough.

Sadly, they’re just trying to prove themselves to themselves. The truth is, they want approval, acceptance, validation, love – respect – from others, but hold on.

Here’s the truth: You will never find real, true fulfillment in your life and work that way.

For true success, you MUST show up as YOU every single day.

It’s time to get CLARITY, and by that, I mean: 

  • Brutal, radical honesty… 
  • Transparency with every single person you come into contact with… 
  • Identifying who you are, what you want and why you want it…
  • Identifying the kinds of people, pay and projects you want, for the real reasons you want them…

Why does this matter? Because when it comes to your business, career, and  life – YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS TO DECIDE.

So just be your own unique self, because when show up in the world as YOU, the right people will come, the right projects will come and the right PAY will come.

To hear more tips and get the full scoop on how to start getting clarity, scroll back up and hit PLAY!

Extra Credit

As you go about your day, think about these questions:

  1. Who am I?
  2. What do I want?
  3. And this is the doozy, which will help you start to parse it all out – WHY do I want what I say I want?
  4. If you get stuck, go back and listen to this episode later before you sit down to do this, and if you haven’t already, revisit the Expectations (i.e. episodes 3, 4, 5 and 6.)

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

How to stop getting clients and work that you hate

Have you ever hit that sweet spot where the work is flowing non-stop, but then you realize you hate the actual work? 🤦🏽‍♀️

Or, maybe you find yourself dealing with client after client after client that you just don’t like.

It’s time to stop getting clients that you resent and work that you hate.

It is completely normal to have expectations and to be frustrated, but your job is to not stew in the frustrations. Instead, take some time to reflect on what is frustrating you and why.

Even as an entrepreneur or professional, you can be creative – and that can make it especially tough to have these expectations since so much of our identities can be tied up in our services.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

But when I discovered the secret to managing my expectations and my client’s expectations, my stress level was virtually gone. Yes, GONE PECAN!

I was able to start moving forward in my life and my business, despite what was going on with the client or with my coworkers or my colleagues or opposing counsel or whomever.

And I was able to grow and evolve and scale in a way that I was not able to do before. 

So think about how you want to handle yourself – do you want to stop getting clients that you don’t like and stop getting work that you don’t like? What does that look like for you?

To hear more tips and get the full scoop on how to stop getting clients and work that you hate, scroll back up and hit PLAY!

Extra Credit

As you go about your day, think about these questions:

  1. When was the last time you wanted to say “no” to someone and didn’t?  Explain why you didn’t say “no.”
  2. When was the last time you said “no” to someone and felt badly about it? Explain why you felt badly about it.
  3. When was the last time you said “yes” to someone and wished that you had not? Why did you say “yes” when you really wanted to say “no”?  
  4. When was the last time you said “yes” to someone and were so glad that you did, that you were just happy to do it? 
  5. Now, look at your responses to each of those questions and then you’re going to see it clear as day – the patterns. What’s similar? Is it a communication issue? A relationship issue?

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!

Three ways NOT to get sued

Did you know that every legal dispute doesn’t have to land in court to be resolved?

That’s right, instead of a knockout, drag down fight, you have another option. 

It’s called alternative dispute resolution and it exists to help people resolve disputes in a private and confidential way that, ultimately, can make the resolution go smoother.

This option isn’t just for business owners, but anyone who wants to resolve a dispute in a way that allows you to stay out of the public eye in a confidential, private way. And it can be used for literally anything such as:

  • Family law
  • Property law
  • Successions
  • Divorces
  • Collaborative divorce
  • Just about anything you can think of!

Here are the top three types of alternative dispute resolution and how they differ:

  • Negotiation: private, but not necessarily confidential.
  • Mediation: private and confidential, but you make the decision to come to an agreement.
  • Arbitration: private and confidential, but someone else (the arbitrator) decides the outcome. 

Why does any of this even matter? YOU are your brand, the one who makes agreements with clients, gets a new job, quits your job, etc.

Your reputation is everything. Alternative Dispute Resolution can help you protect your reputation.

And whether you can ask for an alternative dispute resolution, depends on a two things:

  • Do you have a contract? If yes, put it in there. If not, go to the next question.
  • Does at least one of the parties want a private and confidential resolution? If yes, ask for a negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. The worst they can say is no.

This is exactly why it’s so important to have the right lawyer on your power team who is behind you, defending and protecting you and is aligned with you in the way that they believe is the right way to make decisions. Feel free to reach out if you need help getting the right resources.

Extra Credit

As you go about your day, think about these questions:

  1. What do the following have in common with each other? 
    • Your credit card agreement 
    • An employee handbook from your job
    • The business contract you drew up 
    • Your pin number when you buy your groceries

ANSWER: They all include a form of alternative dispute resolution.

Next Steps

Take the plunge. 💦 Sign up for my email list to get notifications on new podcast episodes, free resources, behind the scenes activities, VIP Pre-Public Access, discounts, and more!

YES, I want to improve my life and be empowered!