Dr. Christiane Schroeter [00:00:00]: Well, hello there, and welcome back to the Happy Healthy Hustle! Can you believe it? This episode is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Happy Healthy Hustle podcast, which launched on March 23, 2023—3/23/2023. And this is our 32nd episode! Yes, I’m clearly vibing with the 3s and the 2s here. Today, we’re going three times two and diving into six tips to help you become a better collaborator. I'm sharing some of my best-kept secrets—so stay tuned! Dr. Christiane Schroeter [00:00:38]: This is going to be such a fun episode, so let’s dive in. People often ask me, “Why did you get into podcasting?” One thing people don’t always see is what’s happening behind the scenes. So today, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing a few secrets. Here’s the truth: the amazing guests you’ve heard on my podcast are actually some of my closest friends. What I love is that I meet incredible people from all over the world—yes, globally! We connect as if we’re in the same room, and then I get to share their stories to inspire you. The heart of this podcast is to show you that you can hustle, yes—but you can also pursue health and happiness at the same time. Whatever crossroads you’re standing at, I want you to feel empowered to choose your dreams—even if they scare you. Don't just stick to the “safe” road because you’re curious about what’s behind door number two. Tip #1: Connect Whether you’re starting a podcast, networking at work, or just reaching out to colleagues—connection is key. At the end of your life, it won’t be the money or the cars that mattered most. It’ll be the relationships. Studies show this over and over. You don’t need to connect with hundreds of people—but focus on building quality relationships. That’s one thing my podcast allows me to do: spend intentional, meaningful time with someone. So when you meet someone, really be present. Make them feel like they’re the most important person in the room. And—listen. Like, really listen. One of my episodes was titled: “Listen First, Speak Second.” That’s the vibe. Tune in to what someone says and how they say it. That’s how you make people feel truly seen. Tip #2: Collaborate Once you’ve built that connection, look for ways to collaborate. There’s this famous game, “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” The idea is, within six people, you can find someone who’s worked with him. Now, we may not all be Kevin Bacon, but this concept still applies. When you meet someone, you likely already have shared connections—or shared passions. Even something as simple as ordering the same drink at a coffee shop can spark a conversation. You ask, “Oh, do you like that?” and suddenly you’re talking about your mutual love of decaf or your go-to morning routine. So when you meet someone, think: What do we have in common? Connection leads to collaboration, and collaboration builds momentum. Tip #3: Community From that collaboration, the next step is building community. And I want to be clear: this doesn’t have to be “business community.” It can be based on joy, hobbies, shared energy. It can be a hiking group, a coffee club, a book circle—whatever lights you up. It’s about being around people who make you feel alive. Community might start in person or online. You meet someone, discover they’re part of a hiking club, and next thing you know—you’ve joined and met ten more amazing people who share your passion. Tip #4: Consistency Once you’ve built that connection and found your community, the key is consistency. For me, Mondays are my meeting days—intentionally set aside for connection. Sometimes business. Sometimes leisure. Sometimes just a self-care check-in. Because here’s what happens: life gets busy. We meet someone amazing, say, “Let’s grab coffee,” and then...we don’t. So the trick is to schedule it. Right there in the moment. Pull out your calendar and lock it in. I’m an action taker. One of my superpowers. I might not do things perfectly, but I do them. That’s how this podcast started—totally scrappy, but consistent. Every two weeks, rain or shine, there’s an episode. Tip #5: Create Now that you’ve built your network, how can you use it to bring your dreams to life? Here’s the deal: when you speak your dream aloud to your community, you start to manifest it. Don’t hide it. Don’t be embarrassed. Don’t laugh it off. Own your dream. Share it. That’s how you start making it real. And here’s the truth: it might not look exactly how you imagined—but that’s okay. Every “failure” along the way teaches you what you don’t want—and that’s powerful. Maybe you hired a coach, joined a program, or invested in something that didn’t work out. That’s fine. You learned. You clarified. You moved closer to what’s right for you. Your community? They’re the ones who will say: “You’ve got this. Keep going.” Tip #6: Chic Factor (a.k.a. Be YOU) This last one might be the most important: own your unique flair. As you can hear—I have a German accent. And I embrace it. It’s part of me. It’s part of my story. Your background, your culture, your quirks—that’s your secret sauce. That’s what draws people to you. I don’t want to buy from someone because they have a “perfect” system. I want to learn from someone because I feel connected to them. That’s why I share petite practices rooted in my European experiences—habits that help people take small steps with big intention. So ask yourself: What makes me, me? Tap into it. Embrace it. That’s where your confidence comes from. And it’s that confidence that inspires others. Dr. Christiane Schroeter [00:16:06]: So here’s the recap—your six steps to better collaboration, deeper joy, and empowered growth: Connect Collaborate Build Community Be Consistent Create Your Vision Own Your Chic Factor A year ago, I didn’t know I’d have a global podcast ranked in the top 1.5%. I didn’t plan the metrics. I just followed my heart and trusted that showing up consistently would lead somewhere meaningful. And it has. I’ve shared stories. I’ve shared struggles. I’ve shared superpowers. And I hope it’s inspired you. Let’s keep hustling—with heart. Let’s stay healthy, stay happy, and keep going for our dreams. 🎉 Grab one of my birthday freebies to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Happy Healthy Hustle! And let me know—which of the six steps spoke to you most today? Until next time—keep hustling forward. I’m cheering you on.