WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.080 Welcome to Milestone Moments, the show where 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:05.960 we explore the journeys that lead to success. 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:10.199 I'm Sheila Slick, your host and founder of Five 00:00:10.199 --> 00:00:13.859 Milestones. In every episode, we will bring you 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:17.079 insights from the minds of entrepreneurs, leaders 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:20.800 and experts who will share not just their expertise, 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:24.120 but the milestone moments that have reshaped 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:27.039 their journeys and led to significant achievements. 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.379 So if you're looking for motivation, you're in 00:00:30.379 --> 00:00:33.560 the right place. Subscribe now and discover the 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:40.859 milestones that mark the path to success. Welcome 00:00:40.859 --> 00:00:44.039 to another episode of Milestone Moments in Business 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.200 and Leadership. I'm Sheila Slick, your host. 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:51.520 And today, my special guest is Lenore Cantor. 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:55.960 Lenore is a transformational coach, author, mentor. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:00.759 career advisor, and inspirational speaker. She 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:03.840 guides smart high achievers to greater personal 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:07.260 growth, professional fulfillment, and higher 00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:10.579 income by overcoming their blocks to creating 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:15.180 soul -aligned work. She is the author of So What 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:18.659 Do You Do? The Authentic Alchemy Path to Find 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:22.180 Who You Are, an unconventional guidebook and 00:01:22.180 --> 00:01:26.109 eight -step path for conscious leaders to discover 00:01:26.109 --> 00:01:29.430 their work in the world. Welcome to the show, 00:01:29.510 --> 00:01:32.409 Lenore. Thank you, Sheila. It's such a pleasure 00:01:32.409 --> 00:01:35.670 to be here. Let's start talking about your book. 00:01:35.849 --> 00:01:40.069 So what do you do? I'd love for you to share 00:01:40.069 --> 00:01:43.170 a pivotal moment from your own life, your own 00:01:43.170 --> 00:01:46.469 journey that led you to develop this framework 00:01:46.469 --> 00:01:50.709 and perhaps an example of how it has led to a 00:01:50.709 --> 00:01:54.909 transformation. Yeah, I'm happy to share. So 00:01:54.909 --> 00:01:58.230 I spent about 20 years in the corporate world 00:01:58.230 --> 00:02:03.230 as a financial marketing executive, and I was 00:02:03.230 --> 00:02:06.629 a high achiever. I didn't start that way. I originally 00:02:06.629 --> 00:02:09.150 went to business school hoping to work in nonprofit, 00:02:09.270 --> 00:02:12.569 and then as things happen, you get exposed to 00:02:12.569 --> 00:02:15.270 new avenues, and I went in a completely different 00:02:15.270 --> 00:02:19.550 direction. And I had helped take a company public. 00:02:19.650 --> 00:02:23.330 And shortly thereafter, we were acquired by a 00:02:23.330 --> 00:02:26.710 much larger organization. And I had been working 00:02:26.710 --> 00:02:29.090 in an entrepreneurial environment. So we went 00:02:29.090 --> 00:02:34.189 from 150 people to 300 to 50 ,000. So a few months 00:02:34.189 --> 00:02:37.110 into working through that corporate integration 00:02:37.110 --> 00:02:41.210 process, I left the meeting, went into the bathroom 00:02:41.210 --> 00:02:45.919 and started. bawling my eyes out. I knew I just 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.680 couldn't keep working in the environment where 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.759 I was doing work that didn't align with what 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:55.479 I cared most about. I think I'd been working 00:02:55.479 --> 00:02:58.099 on some brand strategy and I just knew like it 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:02.340 wasn't really going anywhere. And I call that 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:05.560 a tower moment for those who are familiar with 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:09.229 the tarot, which talks about our life journey 00:03:09.229 --> 00:03:13.090 and archetypes, the towers when your world falls 00:03:13.090 --> 00:03:15.949 apart, the building is burning, people are jumping 00:03:15.949 --> 00:03:18.870 out, it's been built on an unstable foundation. 00:03:19.210 --> 00:03:22.969 And this happens to so many people with different 00:03:22.969 --> 00:03:26.289 experiences in their life. And for me, it was 00:03:26.289 --> 00:03:29.250 this emotional breakdown that led to a breakthrough 00:03:29.250 --> 00:03:33.610 where I realized I needed to really live much 00:03:33.610 --> 00:03:37.169 more in alignment, not just with my head. but 00:03:37.169 --> 00:03:41.330 also my heart and my soul. And I had been training 00:03:41.330 --> 00:03:44.050 as a life coach. I was actually doing that as 00:03:44.050 --> 00:03:48.150 a side hustle for a few years. And I knew I needed 00:03:48.150 --> 00:03:50.169 to leave the corporate world. And I thought, 00:03:50.169 --> 00:03:52.909 you know, if I hate it, I'll go back. But once 00:03:52.909 --> 00:03:55.729 I went on the path of starting my own business, 00:03:55.849 --> 00:03:59.289 I just, you know, loved it. Once I learned how 00:03:59.289 --> 00:04:01.810 to ride the uncertainty of it, right, because 00:04:01.810 --> 00:04:04.719 there's a lot of unpredictability. It took me 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:08.599 a few years to detox. I call that PTSD, like, 00:04:08.659 --> 00:04:12.180 you know, getting it out of your system and feeling 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:15.539 like you can do it on your own. But essentially, 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:21.779 I was working as an outsourced chief marketing 00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:25.180 officer and doing coaching work with leaders, 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:30.180 executives, and founders. And I kept getting 00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:33.319 more training in somatic practices and other 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:38.040 areas. And about two years ago, after I'd finished 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:41.439 my energy medicine training, I decided it was 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.259 time for me to write the book. I had had about 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:48.720 eight drafts in my folder that were waiting to 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:51.620 be written, and I just never pulled the trigger. 00:04:51.779 --> 00:04:55.220 And finally, it felt like it was time. And it 00:04:55.220 --> 00:04:59.120 was really... process of going through all the 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:01.379 things that I've learned in my work with over 00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:05.980 a thousand leaders to identify really what were 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:08.920 the key elements that needed to be addressed. 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:12.680 And long story short, what I've seen is there's 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:16.259 a lot of focus on the external, right? Our resume, 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.339 our LinkedIn profile, networking, those are all 00:05:20.339 --> 00:05:25.240 important. However, only looking outside ourselves, 00:05:26.029 --> 00:05:29.310 doesn't address the inner work. What do we most 00:05:29.310 --> 00:05:31.930 care about? Who do we want to be? What's the 00:05:31.930 --> 00:05:34.189 impact we want to make on the world? What do 00:05:34.189 --> 00:05:37.930 we want to be known for? And so that's really 00:05:37.930 --> 00:05:41.269 the work that I feel is most important is helping 00:05:41.269 --> 00:05:44.810 people understand what they want to create, where 00:05:44.810 --> 00:05:47.750 they are now, and what is getting in the way. 00:05:47.810 --> 00:05:51.029 And usually there are things that come up from 00:05:51.029 --> 00:05:54.509 the past that keep us from realizing our future 00:05:54.509 --> 00:05:58.519 vision. And so that's really a lot of the work 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.500 that I guide people through in the authentic 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:06.100 alchemy path is how they can understand where 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:09.120 they may be blocking themselves or how they may 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.959 be prevented from moving forward and how they 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.860 can clear and release those things to step into 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:18.740 the vision they want to create. I've been focusing 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:22.180 a lot on self -leadership because, you know, 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:25.300 it all begins from within. And for me, that self 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:28.120 -awareness that I told you about before I practice 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:32.019 often, it often reveals certain things. And so 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:35.660 I love that you went through the process as well 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:40.560 while you then turned it into a program. And 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:42.800 I'm glad to hear that you did the switch and 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:44.339 you're happy with that. And that's part of your 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:49.620 purpose. Yes, absolutely. So you integrate multiple 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:53.240 modalities in your coaching approach. You use 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:56.240 business strategy and somatic practices, even 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:59.899 energy work. How do you determine which tools 00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:04.600 to use with different clients? And do you receive 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:07.699 any kind of resistance when you're introducing 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:11.019 more spiritual elements to high achieving professionals? 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.920 Yeah, this is such a great question because, 00:07:15.019 --> 00:07:17.879 you know, having come out of the corporate world, 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.470 I would. was in my head a lot, right? And a lot 00:07:20.470 --> 00:07:22.709 of us, we want the answers, like tell me what 00:07:22.709 --> 00:07:26.170 to do. So I used to do strategy sessions and 00:07:26.170 --> 00:07:28.670 I was very happy to tell people, well, you should 00:07:28.670 --> 00:07:31.110 do this, this, and this. But what I realized 00:07:31.110 --> 00:07:33.730 is I don't want to give people the answers. They 00:07:33.730 --> 00:07:39.350 know for themselves what is true, but fear and 00:07:39.350 --> 00:07:43.449 resistance and other things get in the way. and 00:07:43.449 --> 00:07:47.069 prevent us from connecting with our heart, right? 00:07:47.209 --> 00:07:50.670 So if we're worried about money and we have scarcity 00:07:50.670 --> 00:07:54.370 issues or we have a family and obligations, all 00:07:54.370 --> 00:08:00.129 these other things, they can keep us from wanting 00:08:00.129 --> 00:08:04.209 to do what we're drawn to because we feel like 00:08:04.209 --> 00:08:06.050 we have to be practical. I mean, there are so 00:08:06.050 --> 00:08:10.230 many different reasons. So what I try to do is 00:08:10.230 --> 00:08:14.279 create a space. where people feel safe to connect 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:18.319 with their truth. And for everyone, it's a little 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:22.120 different. I mean, I do find a lot of, you know, 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:24.300 I came out of the financial technology space. 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:27.259 So technologists, finance folks, they're very 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:29.600 quantitative oriented. You know, give me the 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:33.240 numbers, show me the money. And there's a place 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:37.120 for that. But I do try and get underneath that. 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:41.549 Is that really all that's important? And if someone 00:08:41.549 --> 00:08:44.409 is really focused there, I'm probably not the 00:08:44.409 --> 00:08:47.870 right coach for them because I try and take this 00:08:47.870 --> 00:08:51.889 holistic view that we're more than just our utility, 00:08:52.190 --> 00:08:55.850 right? So I think our society defines us in terms 00:08:55.850 --> 00:08:58.549 of our value, our productivity, our performance. 00:08:58.629 --> 00:09:02.289 It's very quantitative. But in fact, there is 00:09:02.289 --> 00:09:05.549 this whole qualitative element, which is what 00:09:05.549 --> 00:09:08.169 are our values? What do we care about? So I really 00:09:08.169 --> 00:09:12.399 want people to. recognize how that is important 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:16.759 for them and that does come back to a willingness 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:20.379 to feel like to connect with our emotions right 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:23.799 what is authenticity it's when our words our 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:27.080 thoughts our actions our emotions our energy 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:31.379 and our environment are all aligned So we can't 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:35.940 only be in our head. So I do usually try and 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:38.639 introduce some embodiment practices because I 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.240 find that's a good way. And if I notice someone 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.759 is feeling tense, I'll be like, oh, do you feel 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:48.960 tightness in your head, your head, your shoulders? 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:52.860 Can you bring your energy down? And some of them 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:55.299 struggle with that. Maybe they can't feel it. 00:09:56.190 --> 00:10:00.090 We really try to engage and I like to meet people 00:10:00.090 --> 00:10:04.350 wherever they're at. However, I have found that 00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:07.549 many people do have an interest in connecting 00:10:07.549 --> 00:10:10.409 more spiritually. Anyone who's a little creative, 00:10:10.429 --> 00:10:13.570 once you open that up, I'll sometimes bring in 00:10:13.570 --> 00:10:16.289 tarot and oracle cards or we do storytelling 00:10:16.289 --> 00:10:19.769 or other exercises like that, creating personal 00:10:19.769 --> 00:10:22.570 rituals. I mean, I'll give you a perfect example. 00:10:22.730 --> 00:10:26.320 I worked with one. financial executive and this 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.519 guy had had a very bad experience we did a lot 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:33.299 of release work around that letting go of something 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:36.200 that he'd been literally carrying for years and 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:40.000 it was holding him back and so we talked about 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:43.440 how do you let go of something that's not serving 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:46.460 you and then we did a ritual and he loved the 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:49.620 water and I told him to go down to the ocean 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:53.360 take stones throw it in the water and use that 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.899 to release it. And so, you know, I think there 00:10:55.899 --> 00:11:00.019 are many ways that you can find a connection 00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:04.279 for people that resonates with them. And that's 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.419 really what I believe. Everything is unique. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:08.820 I don't feel there are any cookie cutter approaches. 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:15.710 You brought me back. When I had a similar experience, 00:11:15.830 --> 00:11:18.429 I picked up seashells and I started thanking 00:11:18.429 --> 00:11:21.230 them and releasing them into the ocean. And right 00:11:21.230 --> 00:11:23.470 now that you said that, it's like, wait, maybe 00:11:23.470 --> 00:11:26.350 I was practicing some kind of release in my subconscious 00:11:26.350 --> 00:11:28.830 because I didn't do it with that intention, but 00:11:28.830 --> 00:11:32.250 it felt good. Yeah, yeah, it's so beautiful. 00:11:33.129 --> 00:11:35.750 You know, I think there is, when we're conscious 00:11:35.750 --> 00:11:38.750 and intentional in whatever we're doing, we bring 00:11:38.750 --> 00:11:42.139 a different level of... energy and focus that 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:47.240 gives it more so It must be a challenge, too, 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:49.899 because you're in a major city. You're surrounded 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:53.059 by the stock market, financial. I mean, that's 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:56.480 a high -stress environment. This is where you 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.679 would imagine they're going 24 -7, and they don't 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.299 know when to stop. There's a really high burnout 00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:06.259 rate in that area and industry, as fast -paced 00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:09.200 as we get in the United States of America. So 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.019 I can only imagine that transformation when you're 00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:15.240 able to. put them in that different space to 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:17.779 really look outside and beyond the financial 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:20.480 market, right? It's not all about the finances. 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:23.600 Like you said, it is for some, but I think that's 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.279 great work and you're in the perfect place to 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:29.200 help. Yeah. You know, what I would say is I don't 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:32.279 think everybody is really ready to step away, 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:35.659 right? There are such a thing as golden handcuffs 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:39.000 for a reason. People get paid a lot of money 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:43.539 to continue doing what they're doing. Unfortunately, 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:46.259 I think for some people it takes a wake -up call. 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:50.460 So I had a classmate from college died of a brain 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:54.360 aneurysm. Now, maybe he had health issues in 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.159 his family. But my observation, because I had 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:01.299 spoken with him at a reunion, was that this guy 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:04.840 was working in a job that he hated and he felt 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:08.340 an obligation to maintain his lifestyle. And 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:10.580 that kind of stress and pressure, it takes its 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:14.149 toll. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but 00:13:14.149 --> 00:13:18.769 I know many people do suffer health scares or 00:13:18.769 --> 00:13:22.750 divorce or family crisis or other things that, 00:13:22.750 --> 00:13:25.129 you know, that I don't want to say they bring 00:13:25.129 --> 00:13:28.509 upon themselves, but that become a byproduct 00:13:28.509 --> 00:13:32.669 of not looking at ways that they're out of balance. 00:13:32.850 --> 00:13:35.570 I've worked with many clients who have found 00:13:35.570 --> 00:13:39.519 it hard to set boundaries. They answer. email 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:42.580 messages and phone calls and text at all hours 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:45.080 of the night and then wonder why they burn out. 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:49.419 So part of this is helping people develop strategies. 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:52.980 We were talking about self -awareness to see 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:57.720 what is their part in perpetuating patterns and 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:04.360 habits that no longer serve them. So many of 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:06.960 your clients are seeking greater purpose and 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.830 meaning in their work. What patterns have you 00:14:09.830 --> 00:14:13.350 observed about why smart, successful people often 00:14:13.350 --> 00:14:17.350 feel disconnected from their soul -aligned work? 00:14:17.870 --> 00:14:21.610 And what's that first step you recommend to begin 00:14:21.610 --> 00:14:25.809 that reconnection process? Yeah, you know, I 00:14:25.809 --> 00:14:29.970 like to listen to what is unsaid. But what I 00:14:29.970 --> 00:14:35.029 most often find is people have a longing, right? 00:14:35.169 --> 00:14:37.779 They're passionate about something. but they 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:40.799 don't believe they can make money at it. Or they 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:44.799 were shamed for whatever they cared about. Oh, 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:47.720 you were too sensitive. That was my story, right? 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.679 Oh, you know, you care too much or whatever. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:53.379 Why are you over, you know, because I used to 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:56.480 read all of this stuff, you know, in people and 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:00.340 the energy. And so that was frowned upon, right? 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:03.200 And then I went into an industry where emotions 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:08.950 were not allowed. And so. What I try to create 00:15:08.950 --> 00:15:13.009 space for is for people to really connect with 00:15:13.009 --> 00:15:17.970 the parts of themselves that are their deepest 00:15:17.970 --> 00:15:22.429 desire and longing. And so one woman I worked 00:15:22.429 --> 00:15:26.769 with, she really wanted to create films around 00:15:26.769 --> 00:15:30.529 saving the environment, for example, or sustainable 00:15:30.529 --> 00:15:34.419 change. She was used to getting a steady paycheck 00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:36.679 and working in a corporate environment. And I 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:39.539 was like, that's not calling you anymore. So 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:44.360 it's about helping people see that maybe there's 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:47.720 a path forward for them to do what they want. 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:51.720 It may not look the way they expected, but that 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:54.080 doesn't mean it's not possible. They need to 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.820 find a creative path to make it happen. Worked 00:15:57.820 --> 00:16:00.120 with another. She was a corporate salesperson. 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:03.139 She wanted to be a nutritionist. She was a mom. 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:06.139 She wanted more time for kids. And we worked 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:09.299 with her around helping her believe she really 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:14.379 could work with other mothers to give them, you 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:18.279 know, healthy food and exercise tips. And once 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:22.000 you kind of open up for people. that their dream 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.500 is a possibility and they can see that, oh my 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.700 God, what if I really could do this? And they 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:31.639 can feel like, oh, it's possible. It's like you 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:34.700 remove this weight off their shoulders and the 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:38.620 fear and then the desire to step into what they 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:41.919 want becomes greater than the resistance to deny 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:44.740 it. You know, it's like you can't keep pushing 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:48.460 the... the ball under the water, right? And it's 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:51.980 going to pop up eventually. And so I think that's 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.980 really the question for people is, are you going 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:57.820 to wait for the ball to pop up and hit you in 00:16:57.820 --> 00:17:00.039 the face because you have some, you know, big 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:03.419 event? Or are you going to sort of look at, oh 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:06.700 gosh, what is it that I really want? And how 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:10.119 can I move towards having or creating an environment 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:14.480 where I can have that in my life? So you're an 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:17.220 author? You're a speaker and you're a coach. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.160 What's your next milestone? That's a wonderful 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:26.819 question. So I love the writing. And I don't, 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:30.380 you know, many of us write. I had a newsletter 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:33.960 for a number of years. And the impetus that got 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.559 me to write my book was that a friend responded 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:40.400 to my newsletter. She's like, this was so powerful. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:43.880 You should write a book. And somehow I needed 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:46.559 that external validation to give me permission. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:51.059 And that was really what caused me to, you know, 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:53.259 started me on my journey for the last year and 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:56.079 a half. And then in writing the book itself, 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:59.640 I discovered so much about that creative process 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:03.480 of uncovering and discovering. I have four more 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:06.359 books at the top of my head that I'm going to 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:09.759 be writing. Three fiction, probably one more 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:15.160 nonfiction. That is really the path that I see 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:19.119 becoming, you know, a deeply fulfilling aspect 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:22.180 of my work. I'm going to continue my coaching 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:25.039 work. I would say what I let go of was some of 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.420 the organizational change work I used to do because 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:32.599 I was finding that it really came down to the 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:35.819 leaders. Changing an organization when you have 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:39.319 an executive in charge who's unwilling to change. 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:44.099 is a recipe for frustration. And I just found 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:48.880 that I really wanted to work with the leaders 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:53.500 who were willing to do the work needed to change 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:56.660 because it's not easy and they need to be prepared 00:18:56.660 --> 00:19:00.640 to face it and step into it. And I'm sure you've 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:05.039 seen that in the work that you do as well. Absolutely. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:09.500 And that's why I'm focusing on self -leadership 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:13.259 before you think of leading others. The person 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:16.160 you can change is yourself and lead yourself 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:20.180 first. Yeah, you know, it's funny. I was just 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:22.480 reading an article. I don't remember the guy's 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:27.200 name, but it was a CEO who was forcing all of 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:31.740 his employees to sign nondisclosure and confidentiality 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:34.619 agreements so he could protect himself from bad 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:38.630 behavior. And it finally started getting out 00:19:38.630 --> 00:19:42.410 because people were tired of being suppressed. 00:19:43.069 --> 00:19:47.509 And hopefully there will start to be more accountability 00:19:47.509 --> 00:19:52.309 for leaders that really don't take responsibility 00:19:52.309 --> 00:19:56.549 for the impact of their actions on others. And 00:19:56.549 --> 00:20:00.450 I think this is an area where clearly the work 00:20:00.450 --> 00:20:04.390 that you're doing and what I think we both hope 00:20:04.390 --> 00:20:07.980 for is that as more and more conscious leaders 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:12.240 step into their purpose and live with their values 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:15.059 and meeting, it's going to create a different 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:17.500 environment for everybody. That's certainly my 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:21.319 desire. Yes. And I love sharing perspectives 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:24.940 because when it comes down to, you know, doing 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:28.119 things and how it should be done or your experience 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:30.859 is different than mine, it only compliments each 00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:34.220 other when you have all of these different ways 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:38.720 to. get to that same spot. So I've really enjoyed 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:42.160 today's conversation. I look forward to reading 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.900 more of your books. It does get addicting because 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:48.380 I started writing a lot to keep changing the 00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:51.539 version, like rereading it. And so you inspired 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:53.640 me today. All right. So I'm going to give you 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:58.440 one big tip is that I do think that for lack 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:01.630 of a better expression. you're birthing a book 00:21:01.630 --> 00:21:05.289 and you don't know what the end form is going 00:21:05.289 --> 00:21:10.029 to be. And you can go in with a concept, but 00:21:10.029 --> 00:21:14.009 in the writing and the research, the analysis, 00:21:14.190 --> 00:21:17.970 it may emerge in a completely different way. 00:21:18.069 --> 00:21:21.829 And that's really the journey is to let it unfold 00:21:21.829 --> 00:21:25.869 in the way that it's meant to. Because I'll just 00:21:25.869 --> 00:21:28.329 share with you, I originally had a three -step 00:21:28.329 --> 00:21:30.950 process. And then it was a five -step process 00:21:30.950 --> 00:21:33.789 and it became an eight -step process. And that 00:21:33.789 --> 00:21:37.650 was only as I went through it and I really came 00:21:37.650 --> 00:21:42.269 up with the framework and kind of conceptualized 00:21:42.269 --> 00:21:46.190 everything and made sure that it came together 00:21:46.190 --> 00:21:49.750 in a way that was really solid and substantial 00:21:49.750 --> 00:21:54.309 that I felt complete. And so I just share that 00:21:54.309 --> 00:21:57.390 with you that you can't know. where it's going 00:21:57.390 --> 00:22:00.309 to take you, and you sort of need to let it lead 00:22:00.309 --> 00:22:03.410 you on the journey to evolve the way that it's 00:22:03.410 --> 00:22:06.329 meant to. And I think that is the process. That's 00:22:06.329 --> 00:22:11.109 the creative process and what makes the experience 00:22:11.109 --> 00:22:14.970 frustrating, but ultimately deeply satisfying 00:22:14.970 --> 00:22:19.250 and enjoyable. I appreciate that. Thank you. 00:22:20.490 --> 00:22:24.210 I will leave Lenore's contact information and 00:22:24.210 --> 00:22:27.650 website information. And a link so that you can 00:22:27.650 --> 00:22:30.730 learn more about her book in the notes of the 00:22:30.730 --> 00:22:34.009 episode. So thank you very much for joining me 00:22:34.009 --> 00:22:37.029 today. Thank you, Sheila. This was such a pleasure. 00:22:37.630 --> 00:22:40.529 And thank you to all who tuned in to another 00:22:40.529 --> 00:22:43.230 episode of Milestone Moments in Business and 00:22:43.230 --> 00:22:45.029 Leadership. Until next time.