Hey everybody, welcome back to another episode
of Vision Pros Live. I'm your host and coach,
Fletcher Ellings. And today on the show, we're
talking with author, speaker, Dr. Cynthia Benson
Mercer. And she also has the title of a human
capital strategist, which is new to me, might
be new to you. So Dr. Cynthia, welcome to the
show. It's so good to be here, Fletcher. Thank
you for having me. Yeah. So let's dive right
into it. Well, actually, before we dive right
into it, start us off with a win. We, you know,
there's a lot of upset and suffering in the world.
It's easy to focus on what's not going well.
And sometimes we forget that things are going
well. So give us something that feels good, either
professionally or personally. Thinking about
that this morning, one of the things that I've
been working really hard on and the person listening
that is the entrepreneur, the solopreneur will
appreciate this is really getting my branding
and my messaging down to simplify. So often you
can do so many things. And so it's like, but
what's the thing? What's the one thing you're
doing? And I feel like I'm finally making some
traction is that people are starting to understand
who I am, what I do, what I can offer. And then
I feel like I'm adding more value. Right. Because
because there's I felt a little bit. living in
two worlds for a while. So I feel like my branding
is starting to really make sense. I connected
with a couple of folks on LinkedIn recently that,
you know, have 10 times my followership. And
I feel like that's a sign that, you know, I'm
building some credibility. So as a solopreneur,
that feels really good. Right on. So if I was
to recap what you're saying, you're getting clarity
on branding and messaging. Is that accurate?
Absolutely. Yes. And that feels really good,
doesn't it? It does. It really does. And it takes
time. I mean. And I don't know how long you've
been doing this, but I've been in this space
for a while. And I'm telling you, it takes time
to hone that through a lot of trial and error.
Yeah, it does. It does. I've only been in the
solo space for about two years after a long,
long time in the corporate world where that was
done for me. Right. You work for brands. And
so it's a very different situation when you're
trying to create your own. So, yeah, take some
time. And I feel like we're having some wins.
Yeah, right on. Glad to hear it. So human capital
strategist, that's, you know, that's, that's
new to me. So educate me. Okay. Yeah, absolutely.
You know, it's a big fancy word, right? But at
the end of the day, I do two things. I help women
in particular, ambitious professional women overcome.
career restlessness because a lot of research
that I've conducted has suggested that women
reach points of restlessness or stuck or stagnant.
And I do that through helping them self -actualize
and remove the barriers to getting ahead and
aspiring. And the other side of that is I help
organizations and leaders to avoid the hidden
risks associated with their people. and their
people strategy. So for me, it's working both
sides of the equation and it's all about talent.
So specifically I work with women and men, but
a lot of women who are really sort of getting
in their own way. And then I help the leaders,
men and women to remove the barriers so that
they can create a space for talent to flourish
and their bottom line to see the, see the results.
Cool. A couple of things you said in there. I
want to bring a spotlight to, okay? The reason
I'm doing this is because some of the language
that we use is ambiguous. And I want people out
there who might be your ideal client to really
hear this. So when we talk about restlessness,
and by the way, let's just say this, it's okay
to be restless. Yes. Yes. Right? Yeah. Because
help me understand, like, what might be a positive
thing that comes out of being restless? Yeah.
So I think about restlessness as there's a knocking
at the door. Right. It's a signal that you're
growing and you're you're ready to do more. I've
been there. A few times, I would tell you over
my career, you know, it's that I have more to
give. I have more talent to offer. I have more
to bring to the world than what my current circumstance
allows. And so it's not an indictment of the
boss, the company, the job, the situation. It's
more of a reflection of you've graduated. Yes.
I like that. Thanks for putting it so succinctly
and and framing it so positively, because when
somebody feels restless, it could be like, what's
wrong with me? Right. And it's nothing wrong
with you. Like it may be signaling you that you're
ready for the next thing, the next evolution.
Right. Exactly. So I love that. Then you said
some a phrase that that many of us use, especially
people in this industry, like I help people get.
out of their own way so what i want to invite
you to to address is what does it look like if
somebody has this notion of like maybe i'm in
my own way i'm not sure because how do i know
like what are some telltale signs of somebody
getting in their own way right i'll tell you
it relates back to what we just talked about
one of the biggest signals is you're stuck and
you see it as a detriment you're stuck and you
don't know how to get unstuck right so when i
don't know how to get unstuck there's more that
we need to unpack there when i feel restless
in this calling but i don't know what to do with
that i was on a coaching call with a with a person
earlier today and they're so concerned about
what the alternative could bring negatively well
what if it's worse What if it's not? What if
it's volatile? And three months later, I'm let
go. What if? Right. And and so it's sort of like,
let's pause for a moment. What if it's amazing?
What if it's the best thing that ever happened
to you? What if it opens doors for so much more?
So some of the times we get in our own way because
fear and other times. And this this client had
the same this other reaction as well is. while
they can on one hand say, I know I'm ready, I've
done all these things, they then self -doubt
and they say, well, I mean, I think I'm ready.
I think I could do that, but I haven't really.
So there's so much self -doubt. And the first
thing is, how do we change the narrative and
create your highlight reel, right? What is your
highlight reel that everybody else is seeing
that you're not necessarily owning and showing
up with? Yeah. Thanks for saying all of that.
That last piece especially. What if we began
to focus on the highlight reel? Because when
we use that phrase, getting in my own way, and
then you started talking about doubt and fear.
I love getting curious and I love defining words
and everything. I want to get curious. What is,
what's at the core of doubt? What's at the center
of doubt? What's at the core of that fear? What's,
what is my concern? And a hundred percent of
the time, what it always is, is there's a story,
right? There's a story that's fear -based or
doubt -based. That story for me, and I'll just
talk for myself, for me, the story is what's
always getting in my way, right? And so I love
what you just said. Hey, let's change the narrative.
In other words, let's change the story. And you
specifically said, let's start focusing on the
highlight reel of what might be possible if we
took action, right? Right, right. And that automatically
is whenever I start focusing on the highlight
reel, man, that changes the chemistry in my body.
Yeah. It puts me into a place of being ready
to take new actions. Is that accurate? 1000%.
And one of the frameworks I... just rolled out
within the last 90 days is the seven minute pivot
and the person listening can absolutely adopt
this today right it basically is seven minutes
that's all it takes it's not meditation it's
not um it's not your daily devotional because
this it can be additive to those things but it's
put seven minutes on the clock get out a piece
of paper and a pen what feeling in this moment
is holding me back from this aspiration right
but what's what's important about it in the seven
minutes is oftentimes fletcher to your point
we start with well i'm afraid and we leave it
at that yes but the seven minute pivot prompts
you to say why three times minimum why because
when we ask ourselves why at least three times
and we're honest and vulnerable and open right
We start to get under the thing that's under
the thing. And then we realize, well, it's that
time I was rejected. It was when I failed on
that similar situation. It was, I didn't like
the way that felt, right? And then the point
of the seven minute pivot is you choose one small
thing, small, that you can do today to slightly
change your course. Just to slightly change your
course. And to your point, when we do that every
day, 2 ,555 minutes in a year, imagine the different
destination that you end up, right? The most
important thing is you're picking an action that's
doable, that's actionable, and that you're not
trying to solve the entire equation in seven
minutes. Yes. But you can get a long way in seven
minutes because neurologically, right, we're
focused, there's clarity. If we don't love sitting
in that feeling, there's an end in sight. Right.
There's only it's only seven minutes I have to
sit there. And if we tend to dwell on things,
we have seven minutes to sort of get through
the process and pick a pick an action. Right.
So it moves us into out of our heads, onto paper
and then move forward. Yeah. So I signed up for
your seven minute. uh pivot on your website um
earlier today so i'm thank you for getting that
yeah yeah and you gave me the nutshell version
of it um for those of you listening and or watching
this go to her website sign up for the seven
minute pivot because this is such a valuable
practice it really is i love the um the part
of it of getting curious about the why and then
going the next level why and then the next level
why Oh, that's so beneficial. And it's such a
great practice. And by the way, it's a practice.
Yes. It might feel cumbersome at first. It might
feel awkward. It might even feel really uncomfortable.
But that's because you're digging, right? That's
right. You're digging and you're having to look
at stuff that you don't want to look at. That's
right. But that's going to get you to the place
of being able to take that new action. So sign
up for seven minute pivot. This is it's going
to provide value. It sounds simple. It is simple.
And it's going to unload a ton of value for you.
So thanks for sharing that. So absolutely. This
show is called Vision Pros. So we're always curious.
What is your vision? Share it with us, please.
Yeah, my vision is to create. a place an environment
where every person is able to unleash and actualize
their full potential and get paid to do it right
and get paid to do it um because what an amazing
what an amazing universe we would live in right
if everybody really so here's the thing every
single human being has talent every single human
being has the question is talent for what and
so often We chase the shiny object that may not
be a great fit for us. And like I like to say,
like a beautiful pair of shoes that lures you
in. If they don't fit, the blisters and the discomfort
are real. So for the person listening that says,
you know, I'm launching this new business and
it's my passion. Awesome. Like do that. If you're
moving in a lane that just feels. out of alignment
that you're having to steer really hard to keep
things going down the track it's likely that
it's not coming from a place of your core gifts
and talents and it's not bringing you that level
of joy so i i want every person who i interact
with in the grocery store in the at the gas station
on the podcast to feel seen feel significant
and know that they have such tremendous talent
Go find the thing that allows you to do that.
Yes. And I like that you just gave a variety
of occupations because it's not, you know, that
thing for everybody. It's not going to be the
same thing. And it's not going to be like I'm
going to be the rock star. I'm going to be the
president. I'm going to be the top of that. You
know, there's a my wife and I watched a movie
sometime last year ago. I wish I could recall
the name. It was something like something to
do with happiness. And it was a Japanese or maybe
it was Korean movie, but I can't remember which.
But it was about a gentleman who cleaned toilets.
Yeah. Public toilets. And I think it was in Japan.
And this whole movie was about him cleaning these
toilets. And what was most people think, like,
what a terrible job. But this guy. It was his
passion. Like he was the best toilet cleaner
ever. Yes. He took it so seriously. Exactly.
Right. And, and it was just such a beautiful
thing to watch. It was a beautiful artistic movie
and I highly recommend it. But it, right. We
don't know what that talent is and we don't know
what your passion or your draw is. That's right.
Get curious about it. Right. Get curious. And
I was going to give you the example that I've
watched housekeepers when I was in hospitality
or when I was in health care that will mop themselves
out of a room and just lit up, right? They know
that that room is clean, sparkling, disinfected.
It has their signature on it and it feels so
good, right? So find the curiosity. I'll give
you a very quick framework. yeah to get curious
right so for the person listening i use the aces
model it it helps me keep track of the four things
when you're executing in an area of talent your
natural dna it's affirming so it feels good when
you're doing it it's not the thing you can do
it's the thing that when you do it at the end
of the day you're like that was a really great
day right i i solved a big problem i got to be
creative I coach somebody. I landed a big deal.
Whatever it is, it feels really, really good.
So it's affirming. The other thing is it's consistent.
I always do it. It's always affirming and I always
do it. I can't help myself. It's just how I show
up. It's spontaneous. So if the person that walks
into a chaotic room and goes, wow, if they had
changed the way the stanchions are and added
one person, this would be so much more organized.
versus the person that just assumes the chaos,
right? And you do it with excellence. People
seek you out for this thing because you're known
for delivering with excellence. And you deliver
with excellence all the time. Again, it's all
four things together. It's always affirming.
It's always consistent. It's always spontaneous.
And I always deliver with excellence. That's
when you know it's a talent. So it's an easy
little curious self -assessment. So good. Thanks
for sharing. So I'm just going to repeat this
because I'm a big believer in repetition. Yeah.
So it's always affirming. It's what was the second
one? Consistent. Sorry. Consistent. Always. And
it can be always spontaneous and always excellent.
Yes. And I think I spelled aces. I inverted the
E and the S. So it does spell aces when you put
the acronym in the right order. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
OK. So, yeah. Aces versus bases. Right. Yes.
OK. Got it. Yeah. So good. And so, yes, we again
get curious about what does feel good. What brings
you that reward of feeling like a pride. Right.
Again, and it could be it could be anything and
there's no. One of the biggest misconceptions
in our country is that we all have to be superstars.
Right. And there's a lot of ways of living life,
right? Well, at the end of the day, we just want
to feel good. Yes, absolutely. And so find that
thing that feels good to you and then become
the person that excels at it, right? That's right.
That's right. You move into the law of attraction
versus chasing. And I think as an entrepreneur
now, one of the biggest things I had to learn
when I moved from a corporate environment into
running my own business is I was out chasing.
Chasing, chasing, chasing. And what I what I
learned in those quiet moments and in my seven
minute pivot is when I can settle into what am
I really here to do? What is my true talent,
my true purpose? Right. Which are aligned. Now,
all of a sudden, I'm attracting because people
want to show up for the talent that you have
to offer and that you can give them. They're
attracted to that. You don't have to chase it
if you're living into your natural gifts. And
so it's it's a win on both sides of that equation.
Yeah. Yeah. Really, really good. Yeah. Because
it's easy to get caught up in the chase. Right.
Sure. Absolutely. Especially when you're new
and you're like, I need to get some deals so
that I can pay the bills. And then you get into
that and then you're accepting anything and everything.
And suddenly you're like, this doesn't feel as
this doesn't feel as good as I was hoping it
would. Doing all of these myriad of things and
you're not staying in the lane that really allows
you to excel. Exponential success versus, you
know, slight adjustments of getting better. Yeah.
Yeah. Good. Good differentiation there. Last
question for you, because we're coming up against
our time here. If there's something you would.
want our listeners to take away from you, from
your experience of this transition into kind
of working for yourself or building your brand?
What would that be? So I'll offer two things.
One to the individual and one as a leader or
entrepreneur, someone who's building a business
that affects more than just themselves. The first
thing I would offer to you based on a lot of
research is start working on your future today.
And what I mean by that is even if you are sitting
in the perfect time of your life, the business
is going well. You love what you're doing. Things
are awesome. What is your next? And how are you
still always working toward your future today?
Do your day job with excellence, but always know
what's next and build upon that. Because that's
how we make certain that, you know, life's messy.
Sometimes what we think is going to happen falls
through the cracks, right? And if you've not
been, and I say this specifically to women and
people of color, because they tend to put their
head down, work hard and wait to get tapped.
Some men as well. But I want to steal a page
out of most men's playbook, which is they're
looking up, they're looking forward and they're
moving forward. So if that isn't you, start working
on your future today. And for those that the
person that is listening, that is building a
team, that is building an organization with other
people, that ACEs model applies to every single
person in your human capital portfolio. So when
you surround yourself with individuals that can't
help themselves but show up leaning into their
talent because they are so well placed in the
role, it is a force multiplier. You will do so
much more with so many fewer people and they'll
have joy doing it. So drink your own champagne,
as I like to say, but also apply that to the
people that you are surrounding yourself with
as you're building out your business. Yeah, great
advice. Thank you for that. Before we wrap up,
you've got a new book coming out in February,
but it is available currently for presale. Tell
us the name of the book, where to get it. And
also, please share with us your web domain. So
if there are people listening and they want to
connect with you or or get some of your books.
Share that information with us, please. Thank
you, Fletcher. Thank you for that. So the website
is Cynthia Benson Mercer dot com. You know, it'll
be in the show notes because my last name's unique
spelling. You can get my new book, which is coming
out, as you mentioned, February 3rd, 26, but
it's available right now with a whole lot of
bonuses. It's called Human Capital Investment
Strategy, Six Steps to Cultivate Potential and.
yields competitive advantage. So for anyone who
is running a business or in a leadership position,
I highly recommend it. And there's a lot of free
resources as well on the website, CynthiaBensonMercer
.com. My social handle is Dr. Cynthia Benson
Mercer. So on all of the socials, LinkedIn, YouTube.
et cetera. So Instagram would love to support
those who are looking for a leadership meeting,
an executive coach, or a human capital strategist,
since we've now defined what that means. Right
on. Very good. Very good. So thank you so much
for your time. Appreciate you being on the show
and wishing you all the best going forward. Thank
you. Thank you. Yeah, and now you know what it's
time to do. It's time to get out there, be a
source of kindness, be a source of contribution.
You do have something to offer this world, and
I believe in you. Thank you for being here today.
I'm really happy that you tuned in to Vision
Pros Live. I'm looking forward to seeing your
reactions as these episodes continue to move
forward. This is going to get more and more fun.
We'll have more and more engagement as well.
We'll invite people to participate in the show.
And thank you for giving us your time and attention.
Have an excellent time building out your vision
and becoming a vision pro yourself.