Amberly Lago, bestselling author of "True Grit and Grace: Turning Tragedy into Triumph," podcast host, peak performance coach, and founder of the Unstoppable Life Mastermind, describes her inspiring transformation from a backup dancer to a renowned thought leader, focusing on resilience and self-acceptance. She overcame a severe motorcycle accident and a debilitating nerve disease and introduced the concept of "pacing" to build resilience, emphasizing the importance of gratitude, community, and perseverance. She advises against lingering on regrets and stresses the importance of setting boundaries in the entrepreneurial journey. Her story illustrates a shift from seeking external validation to recognizing her intrinsic self-worth, contributing to the rapid success of her podcast and book.
Key Takeaways:
[01:50] Amberly shares that she had a breakthrough as a backup dancer in an MC Hammer music video, realizing her dream in her early career. She mentions that her experience instilled qualities of grit and resilience, and she developed deep admiration for accomplished dancers. Collaborating with choreographers she respected brought immense joy and fulfillment. Despite changes in the dance industry, her passion for learning from and working with inspiring individuals remains unwavering in her current role in thought leadership and self-development.
[06:34] She mentions that she never discussed grace until experiencing a severe motorcycle accident and undergoing numerous surgeries to save her leg. As a former dancer and athlete, she was accustomed to pushing through pain, emphasizing grit and toughness. After finding out she had a nerve disease, she struggled to hide the pain and ended up feeling really upset, even turning to alcohol. Eventually, she learned to be kind to herself and handle the pain better. This made her want to talk about being emotionally strong, even to tough crowds, and encourage people to deal with and understand pain in different parts of life.
[08:21] Amberly shares her journey of resilience, stemming from a nerve disease, and introduces the concept of "pacing." Pacer, an acronym, includes Perspective, Acceptance, Community, Endurance, and Rest. She emphasizes gratitude, self-acceptance, and the transformative power of community for resilience. She also speaks about the significance of endurance, aligning passion with perseverance, and prioritizing rest in the entrepreneurial journey. Amberly then encourages unplugging, finding joy, and strategic recovery for fostering creativity and overall well-being.
[14:26] She shares her excitement about rebranding her podcast after five years. She acknowledges the challenges but emphasizes the meaningful connections and opportunities it has brought to her business. The podcast has allowed her to interview notable guests, including May Musk and Jamie Kern Lima, and create a community that resonates with her audience. The joy she derives from making a positive impact on people's lives through the podcast is a driving force behind her commitment to it.
[16:28] Amberly shares not to dwell on regrets or negative thoughts about her past challenges. She acknowledges the difficulties she faced after a life-changing accident that impacted her career and family dynamic. She mentions that despite a six-year journey of hospital visits, therapy, and overcoming depression, she found strength through gratitude. Expressing that gratitude has been her medicine, she recounts a moment in the hospital when focusing on the positive aspects of her life shifted her perspective.
[20:13] She shares the importance of grit in the entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the need for boundaries to prevent overworking. Drawing on personal experiences, she distinguishes between grit and resilience, stating that grit, while involving work ethic and perseverance, becomes resilience when combined with community and connection. Resilience, in her view, is the ability to choose joy and happiness despite setbacks, to repeatedly get back up, and to adapt to challenges. She metaphorically links resilience to navigating curves, underlining the importance of slowing down when needed.
[24:23] Amberly reflects on her journey of self-discovery, noting that her self-worth was initially tied to her career success and appearance. When these were stripped away due to the accident, she had to dig deep and humble herself, eventually realizing that intrinsic worth isn't determined by external achievements. The experience taught her to
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