Beyond Pro Podcast: Leadership Insights For Women In Business

As we come to the end of the year, let’s all take a collective moment to pause, look backward and reflect on all the ground we’ve covered and lessons we’ve learned. It’s easy to want blow past the past and focus only on what’s ahead, but we do so at our own peril. When we take the time and flex our courage muscles to get honest about what’s transpired, we can learn and grow. We can use what we now know (that we didn’t know before) to shape how we proceed and what perspective we hold about the future ahead. In today’s episode, I walk you through the 10 questions to ask yourself to close out this year. I’ll be asking myself the very same questions and sharing my answers on Instagram and LinkedIn if you want to follow along. Enjoy the episode! 

Yes I’m an overnight success – 11 years in the making. ~Chris Brogan, author and speaker My husband and I were watching TV last week after a very long day. As I searched the PVR for something to watch, I saw that Modern Family had just started taping. Awesome I thought, we love this show. And so I hit play. And all was well until a commercial began and I realized because it was taping live, we didn’t have the luxury of hitting that little 15 seconds button a few times until we got back to the show. Can I tell you how annoyed we both were? We looked at each other in bewilderment like, “what is happening here? Do we actually have to watch a commercial? This is so wrong!” We were so used to having easy, on-demand access to the exact thing we wanted to watch when we wanted to watch it that it felt totally alien to have to wait. Ah waiting. Something we’re not so good at doing. Because for the most part, we don’t have to... Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources: The Leadership League Mastermind  Nothing is ev

Shownotes >> https://stephaniepollock.com/rwc072 A bird sitting in a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not in the branch but in its wings. ~Unknown Spring has sprung, quarter two is ahead of us and I’m taking a moment to pause, catch my breath and regroup. In reality, that’s meant putting a few exciting opportunities on the backburner and easing up my work processes a bit. I’m not always good at parking projects – I want to do them all right now, thank you very much. But after 11 years in business, I know that when I try to do it all, I end up doing none of it well. And I’m actively working to break that pattern. In today’s episode, I share what’s going on for quarter two, what I decided to put in an Evernote folder for later and why it’s important for you to do a Q2 check-in too. And then I share three reminders to help you navigate these next months with ease and joy. Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources: The Leadership League Mastermind Team Steph Book Updates ACE Clas

The willingness to show up changes us. It makes us a little braver each time. ~Brené Brown You may remember that I chose the words “show up” as my focus for 2019. I wanted to show up in all areas of my life – from my work to my health to my friends and family, to myself. Today I thought I’d give you a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at how that’s going and what’s been getting in the way. My goal with this episode isn’t to make it all about me, but rather use my progress as an example to speak to how hard it can be for many of us to show up and be seen. I don’t have 5 quick tips in today’s episode either – this one is a little rawer than it is strategic. But sometimes we have to show up and tell the truth over another listicle, right? Listen in for a vulnerable, honest take about what it looks like when I lean into “showing up” as my mandate for 2019. Enjoy today’s episode. Recommended Resources: FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Instagram post about my Word of the Year Instagram post about showing up The Leadership Leag

Enjoy this short clip of my interview with Victoria Smith in celebration of her 100th episode of the Girl Tries Life podcast.  You can listen to the full episode here or by searching for Girl Tries Life in your podcast player of choice.  In this interview, we talk about the critical difference between self-care and self-comfort, how to avoid burnout and how to find a personalized plan to feel more like yourself.  Enjoy!    Self-Care vs Self-Comfort with Stephanie Pollock     

SHOWNOTES >> https://stephaniepollock.com/rwc070 Love your work, then you will find pleasure in mastering it. ~H. Jackson Brown Jr. Happy Valentine’s Day!  Today I wanted to use Valentine’s Day as a jumping off point to talk about ways you can love your work again – whether that’s your professional career or your business. And given that today is my 70th episode, I’ve come up with seven specific strategies you can try to get there. It may be Valentine’s Day, but it’s also mid-February. Which means that for most of us, we’re knee deep into winter with the polar vortex sweeping much of Canada and the United States. The new year energy is behind us, spring is still far away and it’s easy to feel slow, sluggish and perhaps even a bit discontented about our life and work. That’s why I wanted to bring these seven ideas to you today – so that you can intentionally find ways to make your work feel better, more fulfilling and perhaps even joyful. You don’t need to try all these strategies of course, but even if you

>>Show notes: https://stephaniepollock.com/rwc069 With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ~Eleanor Roosevelt Rise and shine Ever since I began my (very) early morning routine some nine months ago, I’ve received a lot of questions about it. Some people look at me, mouth agape wondering what on earth I’m thinking of waking up before the sun. Others are curious, questioning if they too could rise in the wee hours to make time for themselves. Mostly, people want to know the answers to four questions: Why I decided to get up so early What I do during my morning hours What time I go to bed Is it worth it? In this episode of the Rise without Compromise podcast, I answer all four questions in detail and give you a behind-the-scenes look at what mornings look like for me. Before you listen, a couple caveats: This is not prescriptive. Early mornings aren’t for everyone and I don’t think getting up early makes me any more successful than the next person who works hard but gets up at 9am. It’s nothing

Habits are the invisible architecture of daily life. We repeat about 40 percent of our behaviour almost daily, so our habits shape our existence, and our future. ~Gretchen Rubin >> SHOW NOTES: http://stephaniepollock.com/rwc068 Let’s talk habits. There’s a lot of talk at this time of year about resolutions, goal-setting and forming better habits. Because we all want to live better and work better, right? But what does it actually take to build a habit that sticks – one that goes from being hard to keep up into one that’s as easy as brushing your teeth? One you no longer have to decide if you’re going to do, you just do it. In this episode, I break down my own habit-building process – looking at why I was able to make two big habits stick in 2018 (reading 60 books and getting up most mornings at 4:30 am) while two other habits (working out and showing up regularly on social media) didn’t stick at all. If you’d like to find a different approach to habit-building, specifically one that doesn’t require high deg

May all that is unforgiven in you Be released. May your fears yield Their deepest tranquilities. May all that is unlived in you Blossom into a future Graced with love. *Blessing by John O'Donohue Hello and welcome back! It’s been a while and I’m happy to be back in your earbuds. First, let me wish you a very Happy New Year. Welcome to 2019! Speaking of the new year, this is the time when everyone is talking about goal-setting, words of the year, intentions, resolutions, planning and more, either because they love it and are having fun putting big plans on paper, OR because they hate it and totally resist all forms of it. Whatever camp you fall into, I have some insights to share around how to find a path forward that works best for you. In today’s episode, we’re going to kick off the new year by talking about the tension between sustainability and striving. You’ll also get to hear about my plans for 2019, how I’m approaching them and what my words of the year are. Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources:

When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.  ~Audre Lorde Today we’re continuing with our Amplify Your Voice series. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode with Nikki Groom, I highly encourage you to go check that out. I want to pick up where Nikki left off in a short riff today. Using our voices has been on my mind a lot lately, particularly in the wake our current political and cultural climate right now. Last week I had a great conversation with a potential client about where she’s headed in the next few years. This smart, ambitious woman declared to me her desire to step into the political arena and run for local office. She’s worked on campaigns before and is very civic-minded, but this will be the first time it’s moved from behind-the-scenes support to centre stage spotlight. My immediate thoughts when she told me were, “I am so damn excited for her” and “this is a brave woman.” Enjoy the episode! R

It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent. ~Madeleine Albright Today I’m happy to have storyteller and entrepreneurial rockstar, Nikki Groom on the podcast to kick-off a series of episodes around amplifying our voices. Now, more than ever, we need more women speaking up, sharing their ideas and being change agents for good. And that’s where Nikki comes in. We talk about why speaking it up is so important and what gets in the way of us using our voice and showing up. Nikki is the host of Movement Makers, a podcast featuring in-depth conversations and unfiltered stories from business leaders and entrepreneurs who are making a difference on the planet, and founder of The 100 Stories Worth Telling Project, which seeks to amplify the voices of underrepresented entrepreneurs all over the world. Nikki is passionate about the power of storytelling as a way for thought leaders to humanize their businesses, build relationships with the people they most want t

In celebration of both the name change for the podcast and my 10 years in business, I’ll be sharing the top 10 lessons I’ve learned in 10 years. Missed the first six lessons? Scroll back and listen to episodes: 061, 062 and 063.  Today’s episode is where the rubber meets the road. We’re talking about two lessons that are vital if you’re going to make any forward motion. We need to get you out of your head, and into action and these two lessons are crucial to make it happen. If you’ve ever wondered why things seem to be taking so damn long, or are unsure how to make you big dreams a reality, today’s episode will help. And if you want even more insights, I’m sharing an entire year’s worth of lessons over on my Instagram feed. Yep, that’s 365 leadership lessons hard learned by me. You can follow me over on Instagram via my handle @stephaniepollockinc. Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources: #365LeadershipLessons on Instagram What I wish I knew when (part 01) What I wish I knew when (part 02) What I wish I knew

In celebration of both the name change for the podcast and my 10 years in business, I’ll be sharing the top 10 lessons I’ve learned in 10 years. Missed part one? Catch up on part one here and part two here. Today I’m sharing lessons five and six. These lessons are big ones and never really one-and-done. You’ll be coming back to them again and again. And if you want even more insights, I’m sharing an entire year’s worth of lessons over on my Instagram feed. Yep, that’s 365 leadership lessons hard learned by me. You can follow me over on Instagram via my handle @stephaniepollockinc. Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources: #365LeadershipLessons on Instagram What I wish I knew when (part 01) What I wish I knew when (part 02) Killing it! An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Head Without Losing Your Heart by Sheryl O’Loughlin

Perfection is a 20-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it's the thing that's really preventing us from being seen and taking flight. ~Brené Brown This month, in celebration of both the name change for the podcast and my 10 years in business, I’ll be sharing the top 10 lessons I’ve learned in 10 years. I’ll be sharing two every week in May. Missed the part one? Catch up on the first two lessons here. And if you want even more insights, I’m sharing an entire year’s worth of lessons over on my Instagram feed. Yep, that’s 365 leadership lessons hard learned by me. You can follow me over on Instagram via my handle @stephaniepollockinc. Today I'm sharing two lessons that I see at least 95% of my clients get stuck around, a likely carry-over from our school days where we feared the red pen and crammed for tests in hopes of getting all the right answers. Unfortunately, in business, our school-girl ways no longer serve us or our growth. Tune in to today's episode to learn why. En

Ten years come and gone so fast I might as well be dreaming Sunny days have burned a path Across another season A fortune rises to the sky Ten years come and gone so fast ~Paul Simon, 10 Years This month, in celebration of both the name change for the podcast and my 10 years in business, I’ll be sharing the top 10 lessons I’ve learned in 10 years. I’ll be sharing two every Thursday in May. And if you want even more insights, I’m sharing an entire year’s worth of lessons over on my Instagram feed. Yep, that’s 365 leadership lessons hard learned by me. You can follow me over on Instagram via my handle @stephaniepollockinc. So, without further ado, lets dive in as I share two of my favourite leadership lessons. The lessons that made the top 10 list are those that have informed my business over the long-haul, not just at one point in time. They reflect business truths that when embraced, allow our work to work better - and when we forget them, things start to feel so much harder. As you listen to these, conside

Today's a BIG day for the podcast. Say goodbye to the Beyond PRO Podcast, and hello to the Rise without Compromise Podcast. This change has been in the works for a while, and I'm thrilled it's finally live. Here's what you need to know: other than the name and artwork, not much else has changed. Because the heart of why I started this show is the same - to help women (and a few good men) step up and claim their place as the leader of their business. What has changed is a tighter focus on how to do that without compromising yourself in the process. Because it's one thing to grow and it's another to do it while keeping your sanity, wellness, relationships and values intact.  I hope you enjoy this fresh approach to the show and thank you as always for listening.  Enjoy the episode!

What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while. ~Gretchen Rubin Welcome to our final episode, part five, in this month’s theme of “do more brave things.” Today we’re going to dive into steps nine and 10 in an effort to help you be braver this year and take on a bold-ass move. Today’s steps are the fun ones. Here we start to see growth and traction, and we get to celebrate how far we’ve come. It’s easy to gloss over our wins because they aren’t “big enough” but in this episode, we’ll talk about why the smallest of small moves matter more than the big leaps, and how we can begin to celebrate them to build our confidence to go after even bigger moves in the future. Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources: How to do more brave things (part 01) How to do more brave things (part 02) How to do more brave things (part 03) How to do more brave things (part 04) Why your BFF is keeping you from being brave with Nancy Jane Smith Why Victoria Smith is pursuing 100 courageous moments

Creativity is a path for the brave, yes, but it is not a path for the fearless, and it’s important to recognize the distinction. ~Elizabeth Gilbert, Author, Big Magic Welcome to part four in this month’s theme of “do more brave things.” Today we’re going to dive into steps seven and eight in an effort to help you be braver this year and take on a bold-ass move. Today’s steps move beyond practicality and taking action, and ask us to look fear right in the face and say, “I see you, I hear you, and I’m doing it anyway.” Because here’s the thing we all need to remember: there will never be bravery and courage without fear. They are traveling companions, playing the roles of both the gas (bravery) and brakes (fear). We need both, but if we lay on the brakes too hard, we’ll never get anywhere. In today’s episode, I’m going to help you make friends with fear and see it for what it is, without letting it sabotage your brave moves. Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources: How to do more brave things (part 01) How t

Small things matter. What may look like a small act of courage is courage nevertheless. The important thing is to be willing to take a step forward. ~Daisaku Ikeda Today on the podcast I'm talking with my friend and fellow podcaster, Victoria Smith. We talk about her quest to take on 100 courageous moments in 2018 including why she's doing it and what she's learned so far. Victoria has many passions, but at the heart of it they all boil down to encouraging women to lead their most vibrant lives. A communicator, podcaster, blogger, and newly certified health and life coach, Victoria is on a mission to show women that they can achieve their dreams, be it to start their own business, write a book or run a marathon. She abides by the philosophy that small hinges swing big doors. Enjoy the episode! Recommended Resources: 100 Acts of Bravery Tracker (PDF download) Girl Tries Life Podcast: 100 Courageous Moments Girl Tries Life Podcast: Stephanie Pollock on Launching a Business, Productivity & Preparing Our K

Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers; but most of all, surround yourself with those that see the greatness within you. ~Unknown Welcome to part three in this month’s theme of “do more brave things.” Today we’re going to dive into steps five and six in an effort to help you be braver this year and take on a bold-ass move. Ever wonder why you're struggling to sustain any real action? Chances are good you haven't incorporated these two steps into your execution plan. They may seem like nice-to-haves, but when the work gets hard and you're wondering if you've got it in you to continue, you'll be grateful you set them in place ahead of time. Trust me. Enjoy the episode. Recommended Resources: The Leadership League Mastermind Don’t go to the hardware store for milk How to do more brave things (part 01) How to do more brave things (part 02) Why your BFF is keeping you from being brave with Nancy Jane Smith Boost your chances with a set of these