January 2, 2025 • 32 mins
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Reflecting on 2024 and Setting Intentions for 2025
In this solo episode, Erin reflects on the accomplishments and challenges of 2024, discussing important questions to evaluate personal growth and set intentions for the upcoming year. She emphasizes the significance of intentionality, overcoming imposter syndrome, and being clear about one's message and audience. Erin shares her journey as an entrepreneur, the importance of resilience, and the value of consistency. She encourages listeners to embrace change, learn from past experiences, and set clear goals for 2025, while valuing the process over outcomes.
00:00 Introduction and New Year Reflections
01:15 The Importance of Reflection and Intentionality
03:10 Embracing the Entrepreneurial Journey
05:20 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
09:29 Defining Your Audience and Message
11:59 Learning from Rejection and Acceptance
15:54 Consistency and Long-Term Goals
22:40 Time Blocking and Productivity Tips
25:41 Resiliency and Personal Growth
30:37 Conclusion and Future Plans
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo M (00:00):
Howdy folks.
(00:00):
Happy New Year.
Erin here.
thank you for joining me foranother year of aspiring for
more for you and for me and forour residents inside of our
community and the people weserve.
As promised, this episode isgoing to be about answering
specific questions for lookingback at the year that 2024 was
(00:26):
and looking towards the yearthat 2025, what you want it to
be, which is really important.
Although Look, a turn of theyear, it's just another day,
right?
We went from Tuesday toWednesday, and the only thing
that changed was the year,right?
A month, a year.
(00:47):
But there is something reallysymbolic about being able to
turn the page of a big event inour life, which is one year.
I think it's okay to celebrateit.
And I also think it's okay tosay it's just another day.
But in the interest of Year overyear growth, being intentional
(01:08):
about what we want andcelebrating small wins and
acknowledging our losses andlessons learned.
I think it's a great opportunityfor us to look back and think
ahead about what we can createfor ourselves this year.
In my weekly email, that I sendout every Saturday morning,
there were about nine to tenquestions.
(01:30):
That I said that we would answeron today's episode and I want to
be the example of what Thiscould be for you because I like
being the example.
I think it's important as amentor to people that I use my
(01:51):
experience to give youpermission to succeed or fail,
to give you permission to thinkthe way that you think, to give
you permission to say, I don'twant to think this way anymore,
or I'm going to continue tothink this way because it's
helping me.
And to give you permission tochange, because I believe it's
very important to not allow whoyou used to be to get in the way
(02:16):
of who you want to become.
So you have to become veryintentional about what is
getting in your way.
And I think reflection, takingthe minute to answer some
questions and really have somehard truths with yourself.
whether that's a good thing,okay.
(02:36):
Or a bad thing, right?
Whether you're succeeding in allthe right ways, or you could be
doing better, right?
We have to do this exercise forourselves, because we want to
control the narrative in ourlife.
We want to control the storythat we tell ourselves, and we
have to look at the facts tofigure out if the story is true.
(02:58):
I will tell you a funny story ofhow real that, Last statement of
understanding what's true andwhat's not is very important.
I am an entrepreneur.
I obviously do no longer work ina community anymore, and I own a
business.
I own Aspire for More with Erin.
(03:19):
It's a leadership, development,training, mentoring, strategic
advisor for senior livingleaders and also operators,
small operators, regionaloperators that want to create
mentoring programs for theircompanies, for their leaders.
And I sometimes I get in a frameof thinking, like most people
(03:47):
do, that, I'm not doing all thatI can do, or that it's never
going to be the success that Iknow that it can be, or that
maybe this is a hobby and not areal business well, in your 1st,
year of business, especiallymine, as I am an executive
director by trade and notnecessarily an entrepreneur or a
(04:10):
quote unquote business woman.
An understanding of all thebusiness principles, I would get
into these really deep ruts ofthinking.
And so finally, I sat down and Iactually looked at the finances.
I looked at what I had broughtin, what revenue I had
generated, what expenses that Ihad spent.
(04:33):
And I realized, hey, This is nota hobby.
I actually am generating somerevenue, right?
For those who don't know, havinga startup company sometimes
takes a long time to get off theground.
And if you want my honestopinion, I have just been
uncomfortable about being anentrepreneur.
(04:54):
Just the word itself, I've justhad to come to terms with what
that meant.
And a mindset that.
what that means in my lifearound.
So in my first year, I wasreally hard on myself until I
saw the numbers.
And so this year I had the samekind of deep, dark rut
throughout 2024, certain times,and I did the numbers again and
(05:18):
it turns out.
I made more the 2nd year than Idid the 1st year, and there's a
question that we have to answer.
What do you need to stop doingin 2025 and my most authentic
and vulnerable answer.
Of what I need to stop doing in2025 is to stop being scared of
(05:41):
being a business owner to stopnot wanting to say I'm an
entrepreneur.
I have a new identity and thatis being a business owner and an
entrepreneur.
And I think for so long, I havehad imposter syndrome about it.
I don't know how to explain it.
But for 2025, that is theidentity I am assuming.
(06:06):
I am a business owner.
I offer services to help people,to consult people, to help train
people, and to mentor people.
That is a business.
I am a businesswoman.
So that is the first questionthat I will start with today.
(06:28):
What do you need to stop doingin 2025 so you can reach the
potential and the goals that youwant?
What is the mindset shift thatyou have to take?
Are you afraid of beingsuccessful?
do you have imposter syndromeabout something and so therefore
(06:49):
you are literally not eventrying?
I think one of the reasons why Iam scared of the word
entrepreneur and saying I'm abusinesswoman is because I don't
have 20 years of experience inbusiness as I do inside of the
community.
My comfort zone is inside of thecommunity.
And so if I don't succeed as abusiness owner, that's scary to
(07:14):
me.
And I don't want to fail.
And so therefore by being in themiddle, being a lukewarm person,
I'm stuck because I haven'tcommitted.
And so I'm going to stop notcommitting.
And I'm going to tell people Iam a business owner and this is
what I do.
And in fact, I, finishedrecording a course for new
(07:36):
executive directors or actuallystarted and finished part of it,
yesterday.
And I'm feeling very confidentabout what 2025 will bring.
I have to own where I'm going ifI want anybody else to believe
that I can solve problems forthem.
(07:57):
So what are you doing thinking?
Avoiding because you haveimposter syndrome around it,
stop doing that, whatever thatis, stop doing that and start
owning who you are, thesuccesses that you have and put
yourself out there regardless,right?
(08:19):
Once you can own it and thenclarify and be very intentional
about the goals and not assignworth and value to the outcome.
which is probably inherentlywhat I have been doing, it
becomes freeing.
Because what does it matter if Idon't succeed to the way that a
(08:45):
million dollar, five milliondollar business man or woman?
My value is not determined bythe amount of money that I make
per year, Or whether or not I amsuccessful or not as a
businesswoman.
My goal is the impact that I cangive to people with the
experience that I have.
(09:08):
I have to become more clearabout what that looks like for
2025.
So I'm going to stop being Noncommittal and start clarifying
my message and creating amindset that allows me to fail
forward.
or, and be successful.
(09:29):
So in that vein, what do I wantto start doing in 2025?
I want to start clarifying mymessage a little bit more.
I want to get very specificabout what I want, but that also
ties into what I need to stopdoing.
and this will actually tie intoa reflection, but 1 thing that I
(09:55):
learned as a senior livingleader inside of a community is
that we think that we are foreverybody and so therefore our
marketing message inside of acommunity.
Or for senior living, we want totake anybody and everybody who
needs a place for senior livingor who needs a place to live
(10:18):
that offers activities of dailyliving.
So I learned inside of thecommunity that the stories that
we tell, the roadblocks that wemay have.
If our community has smallapartments, or if it's in memory
care, or if it's, a communitythat has two stories, or three
(10:38):
stories, or ten stories, and thepeople don't like elevators, you
learn very quickly that you'renot for everybody.
Because if a resident comes intours and is scared to death of
elevators, and you have one, andthey have to ride it to get to
their apartment, the odds arethat resident is not for you.
And so we have to craft amessage inside of a community to
try to attract the people thatwe know our community can serve.
(11:03):
And if you have an elevator,you're not going to serve people
who are scared of elevators.
it's the same way for a businesswoman.
It's the same way for you insideof your community.
Who are you for?
One of the things that I'm goingto stop doing in 2025 is to
believe that I am for everybody.
(11:26):
And have a very open messageabout who benefits from my
services.
And I'm going to start beingvery clear about who my services
are for.
Because then I can speak to thepeople that I can impact the
most.
They can actually hear me.
They can see me.
And they can benefit from mymentorship.
(11:47):
And the same goes for you.
Who is your community for?
Who are you for?
This kind of ties back to thereflections part of the
questions.
The question is, of all thepeople who have entered and
exited your life, whatperspective did you gain from
them?
I believe this question is a,reminds me of rejection.
(12:12):
And I have learned be thankfulfor people who leave your life.
Because when people leave yourlife, you are left with the
people who will add value toyour life.
And I think that's important forus to understand.
Rejection is a redirection.
(12:32):
Rejection is a clarifying momentin your life where you are no
longer around people, or workingwith people, or Working for
people that don't value you,that don't need the services
that you offer.
(12:53):
I believe on the other side ofevery rejection is acceptance.
Once you take the accountabilityfor your part, or if you say, I
don't have to keep trying tomake somebody see me, to make
somebody value me, to makesomebody love me love me.
Anymore, I'm free because thetruth is you're never going to
(13:16):
be enough for the wrong peopleand you will be more than enough
for the right people.
when people leave your life, letthem, listen to them, be okay
with it and look for the silverlining because there is one.
Don't hold on to people who donot want to be held on to.
(13:38):
And don't think of yourself asless than because they've left.
Take with you what you gain, andlearn from it, and move forward.
And always have grace if andwhen people get to enter back
into your life.
Cause, Because this world is toosmall and life is too long to
(14:01):
think that we're never going tosee people again or run into
people or grow into differentroles and see those people
again.
So it's really important to notview loss as something that
devalues you.
In fact, loss can actuallycreate more value for you.
(14:26):
When you find yourself withpeople who bring out the best in
you instead of you constantlyhaving to work to feel valuable
in their presence.
it's taken a long time to beable to let people leave and not
feel like I need to try to winthem back, earn their love back,
(14:52):
earn their respect.
the difference has been for methat I have valued my time, my
energy, and my goals more than Iever have.
understanding.
What I want, who I am, who Iwant influencing my life, and
(15:13):
who I, as a business, am forgives me clarity, it gives me
freedom, and it gives meconfidence.
So, I'm stopping thinking that Iam for everybody, and I am
starting to be very clear.
And intentional with my time andenergy and appreciating people
(15:35):
for the time they are in my lifeand valuing and learning from
the experience as a whole,moving forward in the future.
The next question is, what did Ilearn about me in 2024 that I'm
going to take forward into 2025?
think one of the things thatI've always known about myself
(15:56):
is that my consistency is one ofmy strengths.
And I have also learned, this iskind of funny, I'm probably the
best volunteer there is outthere.
I love what I do so much that Igive away my time a lot for free
because I want to learn, becauseI want to be better at my craft,
(16:18):
because I love helping people.
It's just something that bringsme energy and joy and it's very
fulfilling and I have learnedthrough my own mentors that the
goal of being a business owneris a long term game and I would
(16:39):
say it's the same way as asenior living leader, especially
if you're in a community that isis struggling and needs to be
turned around.
It's a long game.
It's not necessarily a shortgame.
And what you're going to need isto be consistent and to be
consistent even when it lookslike nothing is happening that
your long term goals, yourvalues, and the reason why
(16:59):
you're doing what you're doingis really important.
And that you can only get betterby doing more reps.
I'm consistent.
Even when nothing is happening,because when the time comes, I'm
going to be ready.
I learned that from being insideof a community.
And it's something that we needto do as humans to realize the
(17:23):
goal.
in order for me to be ready tobe at that goal, I have got to
start the process, baby steps,not give up.
I gotta put more reps in becauseas more reps I put in, the
better I'm gonna be.
to not put a lot of value in theprocess, In people's opinions,
(17:47):
or their lack of understandingof what you're doing, for
example, I have spoken at a lotof different associations in
2024 and I have, quite a fewbooked for 2025 if you don't
know, most of these associationbreakout sessions, you do not
(18:07):
get paid for.
I think I got paid for onepresentation last year.
I am getting paid for a few morethis year, but most of these
breakout sessions that you go toat state associations, they
don't get paid.
And typically I've had to pay tofly to get there, the hotel, the
whole thing.
as supportive as the people inmy life are, like my parents and
(18:28):
different friends, the firstthing they ask me when I tell
them I was selected to speak ata so and so's association is are
you getting paid?
Well, the answer to thatquestion is no, and instantly
you go from being super excitedto being completely, brought
down to earth and say, this isfor the experience.
(18:53):
This is to put the reps in thisis, to get the work to do a
presentation and learn how todeliver it in a very powerful
and impactful way.
And they don't understand.
And a lot of people don't, andhonestly, you can't keep doing
this forever for free, but ifyour goal is a long term goal,
you have to sacrifice to becomegood at a craft that you want to
(19:19):
be good at.
It's just like being a beginnerin a senior living leadership
role.
Your first six months.
are awful.
You are doing everything you canto keep your head above water
because you're walking in as anew leader and everybody's
expecting you to know exactlywhat to do on day three.
(19:39):
And you don't.
And you don't know the patternsin the community and you're
trying to figure it out andyou're trying to learn people's
names and all the things.
There is a time where it seemsIt's hard and it's never going
to get better.
But when you are consistent andyou know what your long term
goals are and you're puttingvalue in the growth through the
(20:00):
process.
One day, it's going to justclick and you will be ready for
the opportunities that come yourway.
But if you're not consistent,you're probably never going to
get those opportunities and youcertainly won't be ready.
it's really important tounderstand and that's what I
learned most about me this year,is being consistent and being
(20:21):
able to think bigger picture andconnect the dots together of
where I want to be.
And what I want to do and what Ihave to do in order to be ready
for opportunities that come myway.
write down what you feel likeyou learned about yourself.
Resiliency, being able to do iteven though it may not feel
(20:42):
great, right?
Being able to get yourself backup off the floor after you gave
it everything you had and it washard.
It didn't quite hit the mark.
These are important thingsyou've got to give yourself
credit for to figure out whatyou learned.
And so now, next time somethinglike this comes up, you already
have the skills.
You already have the mindset toget you to keep going and doing
(21:06):
better.
What experiences brought you themost joy?
I will tell you some of thebiggest, most joyful experiences
I had were meeting people wholistened to the podcast, meeting
podcast guests, meaningfulrelationships that are built,
and meeting them in real life.
That honestly is so fulfillingto me because I am a people
(21:28):
person.
I ran a community that was 124residents, 110 associates, lots
of family members, and most daysI'm alone in a house talking to
myself on a Zoom video or, otherpeople on Zoom videos and I
really miss the interaction.
And so being at conferencesaround my people and meeting
(21:48):
people that I just respect.
is something that is veryfulfilling for me.
it gives me energy, it gives melife, and I love every minute of
it.
My coaching clients, meetingthem and helping them find their
own voice.
voice their own way, helpingthem identify the stories they
(22:10):
tell themselves and how it's nottrue and helping them gain the
success that they want.
That brings me joy.
And speaking, the webinars thatwe do, the opportunities to go
and create presentations thatBring value to people in a very
(22:33):
specific way is something thatcreates a lot of energy and
fulfillment for me.
I love that.
Some of the habits and practicesthat I want to continue, I think
this is something that each ofus could actually work on.
I'm thinking of like the formerversion of myself inside of a
(22:54):
community.
I did okay with this, and then Idid really awful with this on my
own, and I'm starting to getbetter at it.
It's time blocking.
If you literally give yourselfan hour every day where you shut
your door in your office and yousay I'm going to work on these
three projects withoutinterruption.
There are some of us inside ofthe community that leave the
(23:15):
door open and go solveeverybody's problems and we
still have a list a mile longthat we have to do.
That's not good.
We cannot solve other people'sproblems if we're not solving
our own first.
And that was something that Icame to realize as a leader in
the community that I need to getdone what I need to get done
first, what can only be done byme, and then I can start helping
(23:38):
other people solve theirproblems.
Now, obviously there are daysand emergencies where, nothing
goes as planned, and we have tojust You know, submit to the day
and go to sleep and come backand try it again the next day.
But I would say that I havelearned this year, specifically,
(24:00):
waking up early and gettingstuff done is one of the most
peaceful and exciting times forme.
And that is not something that Icould ever tell you before.
So if you woke up And exercisedor wrote the emails or looked at
the spreadsheets or drank yourcup of coffee and read a book
(24:23):
that, changes your life.
Those things are reallyimportant and make you feel a
little bit more balanced and incontrol of your day.
that gives me a lot of Joy.
Structure.
Head start.
Almost.
And it's something that I wantto continue to do.
In the community, I felt like anhour before stand up was
(24:45):
something, it was a quiet timethat I felt like I had a little
bit to myself.
And also the hour between 5 and6 felt as if, I could get a lot
of things done to set myself upfor the next day.
So time blocking is reallyimportant for me.
Time blocking is making sure Ihave the time to write my
emails, do my social mediacontent, just different ideas,
(25:06):
presentations to where I set atimer and I'm like, okay, I'm
going to work on this for thenext hour.
without interruption.
That's what time blocking wouldbe.
So if you have a financialreview or if you have to get
ready for a care plan meeting,to say, I need this 30 minute
window to really focus and beprepared for these meetings is
something is what you have to doto be prepared and ensure that
(25:30):
you are leading in anappropriate and impactful way.
let's look at a reflection from2024.
With all the challenges youfaced this year, how did you
keep your head above the water?
What did you learn about yourresiliency and what have you
(25:50):
noticed are your strength areas?
I kept my head above waterbecause I kept connecting to
people who would keep me going,who would tell me to keep going,
who sees potential, who can makeme aware of what I'm doing wrong
(26:14):
and what I'm doing right.
and help me adjust the balance.
And I, again, did not assignworth to dollar amounts or
outcomes.
It is about growth.
And I think what I now know morethan anything of what kept me
feeling so stuck for so long wasgrowth is my responsibility, and
(26:36):
it's uncomfortable, and it'srequired.
You can't be stuck if you'relearning how to create
opportunities to become unstuck.
And that growth is ourresponsibility.
It's not our company'sresponsibility.
It's our responsibility.
I don't want to be the sameforever.
I want to change and yet I wantto remain who I am.
(27:00):
Which sounds like an oxymoron,but it's not.
It's I want to be authenticallyme.
I want to be true to what mycore values are and I want to
continually improve and changeand become different versions of
what those values are outsideinto the professional world and
(27:20):
also in my personal world.
I want to level up to the nextlevel of What an Aspire for More
leader is.
What I want to be as a coach,what I want to be as a speaker,
who I want to be as a podcasthost.
That's really important.
And I've noticed my strength iswhat's mine will be mine when
(27:41):
it's expected.
What's mine will be mine whenit's the perfect time for me.
I know that and I want to beready and that's what resiliency
means for me.
I'm going to continue to addmore growth and value to myself.
I'm going to continue to beconsistent with all the things
that I promised.
I'm going to continue to give inorder to receive and not to
(28:03):
expect anything.
I'm going to continue to addvalue and in webinars and in
value to myself.
And I'm going to, and I'm goingto do what it takes to remain as
consistent as possible.
With the number one consistentthing that I can do is to not
(28:26):
assign my worth to an outcome ora dollar amount, but to the
process of growing.
I understand today more thanever that my purpose
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mic (28:38):
the guiding lights in my life, are
kindness, creativity, and innerharmony.
the fact that I know that and Iget to use those three guiding
lights in my life in a way thathelps other people is really
(28:59):
important.
Gosh, I don't like to talk aboutmyself for, 30 plus minutes, but
I do think it's important foryou to see what the exercise is
like, asking yourself thesequestions and feeling vulnerable
(29:20):
and strong at the same time.
Clarity is priceless.
Intentionality is growth life isworth living when you're
becoming who you were made tobe.
Get your mind right.
Set your boundaries, protectwhat's important to you, and
(29:41):
allow what isn't needed to falloff without picking it up.
And give to be kind and not toreceive.
And watch how it's given back toyou in such amazing ways.
(30:03):
And don't assign your worth toothers.
To an outcome, be happy, andgrow through the process, even
when it's tough, because stormsare not of rain, who you are,
who you want to be on the otherside of the tough times is worth
(30:24):
fighting for.
Let the people go that need togo, and welcome the people in,
who can impact your world Insuch a positive impactful way.
Thank you for listening today.
I am scheduling.
amazing guests for you for therest of the year.
(30:44):
I am going to do more soloepisodes like this, a lot of
mentoring stuff coming up.
If there is a topic you want tohear, then please message me,
email me, find me on LinkedIn.
If you want my mentoring emailsevery Saturday morning around
8am, in the show notes, therewill be a link for you to join.
(31:06):
Until then, and take care.
If you want to be a part of mynew executive director, aspiring
leaders, go ahead and send me anemail because we're going to be
doing a lot of growing togetherand I'm excited about that.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
I hope that you aspire for morefor you.
(31:28):
I hope that you ask thesequestions to get real with
yourself and I hope you getintentional about making
yourself more valuable this yearso you can add value to others.
Have a great first week of theyear.
Howdy folks.
(00:00):
Happy New Year.
Erin here.
thank you for joining me foranother year of aspiring for
more for you and for me and forour residents inside of our
community and the people weserve.
As promised, this episode isgoing to be about answering
specific questions for lookingback at the year that 2024 was
(00:26):
and looking towards the yearthat 2025, what you want it to
be, which is really important.
Although Look, a turn of theyear, it's just another day,
right?
We went from Tuesday toWednesday, and the only thing
that changed was the year,right?
A month, a year.
(00:47):
But there is something reallysymbolic about being able to
turn the page of a big event inour life, which is one year.
I think it's okay to celebrateit.
And I also think it's okay tosay it's just another day.
But in the interest of Year overyear growth, being intentional
(01:08):
about what we want andcelebrating small wins and
acknowledging our losses andlessons learned.
I think it's a great opportunityfor us to look back and think
ahead about what we can createfor ourselves this year.
In my weekly email, that I sendout every Saturday morning,
there were about nine to tenquestions.
(01:30):
That I said that we would answeron today's episode and I want to
be the example of what Thiscould be for you because I like
being the example.
I think it's important as amentor to people that I use my
(01:51):
experience to give youpermission to succeed or fail,
to give you permission to thinkthe way that you think, to give
you permission to say, I don'twant to think this way anymore,
or I'm going to continue tothink this way because it's
helping me.
And to give you permission tochange, because I believe it's
very important to not allow whoyou used to be to get in the way
(02:16):
of who you want to become.
So you have to become veryintentional about what is
getting in your way.
And I think reflection, takingthe minute to answer some
questions and really have somehard truths with yourself.
whether that's a good thing,okay.
(02:36):
Or a bad thing, right?
Whether you're succeeding in allthe right ways, or you could be
doing better, right?
We have to do this exercise forourselves, because we want to
control the narrative in ourlife.
We want to control the storythat we tell ourselves, and we
have to look at the facts tofigure out if the story is true.
(02:58):
I will tell you a funny story ofhow real that, Last statement of
understanding what's true andwhat's not is very important.
I am an entrepreneur.
I obviously do no longer work ina community anymore, and I own a
business.
I own Aspire for More with Erin.
(03:19):
It's a leadership, development,training, mentoring, strategic
advisor for senior livingleaders and also operators,
small operators, regionaloperators that want to create
mentoring programs for theircompanies, for their leaders.
And I sometimes I get in a frameof thinking, like most people
(03:47):
do, that, I'm not doing all thatI can do, or that it's never
going to be the success that Iknow that it can be, or that
maybe this is a hobby and not areal business well, in your 1st,
year of business, especiallymine, as I am an executive
director by trade and notnecessarily an entrepreneur or a
(04:10):
quote unquote business woman.
An understanding of all thebusiness principles, I would get
into these really deep ruts ofthinking.
And so finally, I sat down and Iactually looked at the finances.
I looked at what I had broughtin, what revenue I had
generated, what expenses that Ihad spent.
(04:33):
And I realized, hey, This is nota hobby.
I actually am generating somerevenue, right?
For those who don't know, havinga startup company sometimes
takes a long time to get off theground.
And if you want my honestopinion, I have just been
uncomfortable about being anentrepreneur.
(04:54):
Just the word itself, I've justhad to come to terms with what
that meant.
And a mindset that.
what that means in my lifearound.
So in my first year, I wasreally hard on myself until I
saw the numbers.
And so this year I had the samekind of deep, dark rut
throughout 2024, certain times,and I did the numbers again and
(05:18):
it turns out.
I made more the 2nd year than Idid the 1st year, and there's a
question that we have to answer.
What do you need to stop doingin 2025 and my most authentic
and vulnerable answer.
Of what I need to stop doing in2025 is to stop being scared of
(05:41):
being a business owner to stopnot wanting to say I'm an
entrepreneur.
I have a new identity and thatis being a business owner and an
entrepreneur.
And I think for so long, I havehad imposter syndrome about it.
I don't know how to explain it.
But for 2025, that is theidentity I am assuming.
(06:06):
I am a business owner.
I offer services to help people,to consult people, to help train
people, and to mentor people.
That is a business.
I am a businesswoman.
So that is the first questionthat I will start with today.
(06:28):
What do you need to stop doingin 2025 so you can reach the
potential and the goals that youwant?
What is the mindset shift thatyou have to take?
Are you afraid of beingsuccessful?
do you have imposter syndromeabout something and so therefore
(06:49):
you are literally not eventrying?
I think one of the reasons why Iam scared of the word
entrepreneur and saying I'm abusinesswoman is because I don't
have 20 years of experience inbusiness as I do inside of the
community.
My comfort zone is inside of thecommunity.
And so if I don't succeed as abusiness owner, that's scary to
(07:14):
me.
And I don't want to fail.
And so therefore by being in themiddle, being a lukewarm person,
I'm stuck because I haven'tcommitted.
And so I'm going to stop notcommitting.
And I'm going to tell people Iam a business owner and this is
what I do.
And in fact, I, finishedrecording a course for new
(07:36):
executive directors or actuallystarted and finished part of it,
yesterday.
And I'm feeling very confidentabout what 2025 will bring.
I have to own where I'm going ifI want anybody else to believe
that I can solve problems forthem.
(07:57):
So what are you doing thinking?
Avoiding because you haveimposter syndrome around it,
stop doing that, whatever thatis, stop doing that and start
owning who you are, thesuccesses that you have and put
yourself out there regardless,right?
(08:19):
Once you can own it and thenclarify and be very intentional
about the goals and not assignworth and value to the outcome.
which is probably inherentlywhat I have been doing, it
becomes freeing.
Because what does it matter if Idon't succeed to the way that a
(08:45):
million dollar, five milliondollar business man or woman?
My value is not determined bythe amount of money that I make
per year, Or whether or not I amsuccessful or not as a
businesswoman.
My goal is the impact that I cangive to people with the
experience that I have.
(09:08):
I have to become more clearabout what that looks like for
2025.
So I'm going to stop being Noncommittal and start clarifying
my message and creating amindset that allows me to fail
forward.
or, and be successful.
(09:29):
So in that vein, what do I wantto start doing in 2025?
I want to start clarifying mymessage a little bit more.
I want to get very specificabout what I want, but that also
ties into what I need to stopdoing.
and this will actually tie intoa reflection, but 1 thing that I
(09:55):
learned as a senior livingleader inside of a community is
that we think that we are foreverybody and so therefore our
marketing message inside of acommunity.
Or for senior living, we want totake anybody and everybody who
needs a place for senior livingor who needs a place to live
(10:18):
that offers activities of dailyliving.
So I learned inside of thecommunity that the stories that
we tell, the roadblocks that wemay have.
If our community has smallapartments, or if it's in memory
care, or if it's, a communitythat has two stories, or three
(10:38):
stories, or ten stories, and thepeople don't like elevators, you
learn very quickly that you'renot for everybody.
Because if a resident comes intours and is scared to death of
elevators, and you have one, andthey have to ride it to get to
their apartment, the odds arethat resident is not for you.
And so we have to craft amessage inside of a community to
try to attract the people thatwe know our community can serve.
(11:03):
And if you have an elevator,you're not going to serve people
who are scared of elevators.
it's the same way for a businesswoman.
It's the same way for you insideof your community.
Who are you for?
One of the things that I'm goingto stop doing in 2025 is to
believe that I am for everybody.
(11:26):
And have a very open messageabout who benefits from my
services.
And I'm going to start beingvery clear about who my services
are for.
Because then I can speak to thepeople that I can impact the
most.
They can actually hear me.
They can see me.
And they can benefit from mymentorship.
(11:47):
And the same goes for you.
Who is your community for?
Who are you for?
This kind of ties back to thereflections part of the
questions.
The question is, of all thepeople who have entered and
exited your life, whatperspective did you gain from
them?
I believe this question is a,reminds me of rejection.
(12:12):
And I have learned be thankfulfor people who leave your life.
Because when people leave yourlife, you are left with the
people who will add value toyour life.
And I think that's important forus to understand.
Rejection is a redirection.
(12:32):
Rejection is a clarifying momentin your life where you are no
longer around people, or workingwith people, or Working for
people that don't value you,that don't need the services
that you offer.
(12:53):
I believe on the other side ofevery rejection is acceptance.
Once you take the accountabilityfor your part, or if you say, I
don't have to keep trying tomake somebody see me, to make
somebody value me, to makesomebody love me love me.
Anymore, I'm free because thetruth is you're never going to
(13:16):
be enough for the wrong peopleand you will be more than enough
for the right people.
when people leave your life, letthem, listen to them, be okay
with it and look for the silverlining because there is one.
Don't hold on to people who donot want to be held on to.
(13:38):
And don't think of yourself asless than because they've left.
Take with you what you gain, andlearn from it, and move forward.
And always have grace if andwhen people get to enter back
into your life.
Cause, Because this world is toosmall and life is too long to
(14:01):
think that we're never going tosee people again or run into
people or grow into differentroles and see those people
again.
So it's really important to notview loss as something that
devalues you.
In fact, loss can actuallycreate more value for you.
(14:26):
When you find yourself withpeople who bring out the best in
you instead of you constantlyhaving to work to feel valuable
in their presence.
it's taken a long time to beable to let people leave and not
feel like I need to try to winthem back, earn their love back,
(14:52):
earn their respect.
the difference has been for methat I have valued my time, my
energy, and my goals more than Iever have.
understanding.
What I want, who I am, who Iwant influencing my life, and
(15:13):
who I, as a business, am forgives me clarity, it gives me
freedom, and it gives meconfidence.
So, I'm stopping thinking that Iam for everybody, and I am
starting to be very clear.
And intentional with my time andenergy and appreciating people
(15:35):
for the time they are in my lifeand valuing and learning from
the experience as a whole,moving forward in the future.
The next question is, what did Ilearn about me in 2024 that I'm
going to take forward into 2025?
think one of the things thatI've always known about myself
(15:56):
is that my consistency is one ofmy strengths.
And I have also learned, this iskind of funny, I'm probably the
best volunteer there is outthere.
I love what I do so much that Igive away my time a lot for free
because I want to learn, becauseI want to be better at my craft,
(16:18):
because I love helping people.
It's just something that bringsme energy and joy and it's very
fulfilling and I have learnedthrough my own mentors that the
goal of being a business owneris a long term game and I would
(16:39):
say it's the same way as asenior living leader, especially
if you're in a community that isis struggling and needs to be
turned around.
It's a long game.
It's not necessarily a shortgame.
And what you're going to need isto be consistent and to be
consistent even when it lookslike nothing is happening that
your long term goals, yourvalues, and the reason why
(16:59):
you're doing what you're doingis really important.
And that you can only get betterby doing more reps.
I'm consistent.
Even when nothing is happening,because when the time comes, I'm
going to be ready.
I learned that from being insideof a community.
And it's something that we needto do as humans to realize the
(17:23):
goal.
in order for me to be ready tobe at that goal, I have got to
start the process, baby steps,not give up.
I gotta put more reps in becauseas more reps I put in, the
better I'm gonna be.
to not put a lot of value in theprocess, In people's opinions,
(17:47):
or their lack of understandingof what you're doing, for
example, I have spoken at a lotof different associations in
2024 and I have, quite a fewbooked for 2025 if you don't
know, most of these associationbreakout sessions, you do not
(18:07):
get paid for.
I think I got paid for onepresentation last year.
I am getting paid for a few morethis year, but most of these
breakout sessions that you go toat state associations, they
don't get paid.
And typically I've had to pay tofly to get there, the hotel, the
whole thing.
as supportive as the people inmy life are, like my parents and
(18:28):
different friends, the firstthing they ask me when I tell
them I was selected to speak ata so and so's association is are
you getting paid?
Well, the answer to thatquestion is no, and instantly
you go from being super excitedto being completely, brought
down to earth and say, this isfor the experience.
(18:53):
This is to put the reps in thisis, to get the work to do a
presentation and learn how todeliver it in a very powerful
and impactful way.
And they don't understand.
And a lot of people don't, andhonestly, you can't keep doing
this forever for free, but ifyour goal is a long term goal,
you have to sacrifice to becomegood at a craft that you want to
(19:19):
be good at.
It's just like being a beginnerin a senior living leadership
role.
Your first six months.
are awful.
You are doing everything you canto keep your head above water
because you're walking in as anew leader and everybody's
expecting you to know exactlywhat to do on day three.
(19:39):
And you don't.
And you don't know the patternsin the community and you're
trying to figure it out andyou're trying to learn people's
names and all the things.
There is a time where it seemsIt's hard and it's never going
to get better.
But when you are consistent andyou know what your long term
goals are and you're puttingvalue in the growth through the
(20:00):
process.
One day, it's going to justclick and you will be ready for
the opportunities that come yourway.
But if you're not consistent,you're probably never going to
get those opportunities and youcertainly won't be ready.
it's really important tounderstand and that's what I
learned most about me this year,is being consistent and being
(20:21):
able to think bigger picture andconnect the dots together of
where I want to be.
And what I want to do and what Ihave to do in order to be ready
for opportunities that come myway.
write down what you feel likeyou learned about yourself.
Resiliency, being able to do iteven though it may not feel
(20:42):
great, right?
Being able to get yourself backup off the floor after you gave
it everything you had and it washard.
It didn't quite hit the mark.
These are important thingsyou've got to give yourself
credit for to figure out whatyou learned.
And so now, next time somethinglike this comes up, you already
have the skills.
You already have the mindset toget you to keep going and doing
(21:06):
better.
What experiences brought you themost joy?
I will tell you some of thebiggest, most joyful experiences
I had were meeting people wholistened to the podcast, meeting
podcast guests, meaningfulrelationships that are built,
and meeting them in real life.
That honestly is so fulfillingto me because I am a people
(21:28):
person.
I ran a community that was 124residents, 110 associates, lots
of family members, and most daysI'm alone in a house talking to
myself on a Zoom video or, otherpeople on Zoom videos and I
really miss the interaction.
And so being at conferencesaround my people and meeting
(21:48):
people that I just respect.
is something that is veryfulfilling for me.
it gives me energy, it gives melife, and I love every minute of
it.
My coaching clients, meetingthem and helping them find their
own voice.
voice their own way, helpingthem identify the stories they
(22:10):
tell themselves and how it's nottrue and helping them gain the
success that they want.
That brings me joy.
And speaking, the webinars thatwe do, the opportunities to go
and create presentations thatBring value to people in a very
(22:33):
specific way is something thatcreates a lot of energy and
fulfillment for me.
I love that.
Some of the habits and practicesthat I want to continue, I think
this is something that each ofus could actually work on.
I'm thinking of like the formerversion of myself inside of a
(22:54):
community.
I did okay with this, and then Idid really awful with this on my
own, and I'm starting to getbetter at it.
It's time blocking.
If you literally give yourselfan hour every day where you shut
your door in your office and yousay I'm going to work on these
three projects withoutinterruption.
There are some of us inside ofthe community that leave the
(23:15):
door open and go solveeverybody's problems and we
still have a list a mile longthat we have to do.
That's not good.
We cannot solve other people'sproblems if we're not solving
our own first.
And that was something that Icame to realize as a leader in
the community that I need to getdone what I need to get done
first, what can only be done byme, and then I can start helping
(23:38):
other people solve theirproblems.
Now, obviously there are daysand emergencies where, nothing
goes as planned, and we have tojust You know, submit to the day
and go to sleep and come backand try it again the next day.
But I would say that I havelearned this year, specifically,
(24:00):
waking up early and gettingstuff done is one of the most
peaceful and exciting times forme.
And that is not something that Icould ever tell you before.
So if you woke up And exercisedor wrote the emails or looked at
the spreadsheets or drank yourcup of coffee and read a book
(24:23):
that, changes your life.
Those things are reallyimportant and make you feel a
little bit more balanced and incontrol of your day.
that gives me a lot of Joy.
Structure.
Head start.
Almost.
And it's something that I wantto continue to do.
In the community, I felt like anhour before stand up was
(24:45):
something, it was a quiet timethat I felt like I had a little
bit to myself.
And also the hour between 5 and6 felt as if, I could get a lot
of things done to set myself upfor the next day.
So time blocking is reallyimportant for me.
Time blocking is making sure Ihave the time to write my
emails, do my social mediacontent, just different ideas,
(25:06):
presentations to where I set atimer and I'm like, okay, I'm
going to work on this for thenext hour.
without interruption.
That's what time blocking wouldbe.
So if you have a financialreview or if you have to get
ready for a care plan meeting,to say, I need this 30 minute
window to really focus and beprepared for these meetings is
something is what you have to doto be prepared and ensure that
(25:30):
you are leading in anappropriate and impactful way.
let's look at a reflection from2024.
With all the challenges youfaced this year, how did you
keep your head above the water?
What did you learn about yourresiliency and what have you
(25:50):
noticed are your strength areas?
I kept my head above waterbecause I kept connecting to
people who would keep me going,who would tell me to keep going,
who sees potential, who can makeme aware of what I'm doing wrong
(26:14):
and what I'm doing right.
and help me adjust the balance.
And I, again, did not assignworth to dollar amounts or
outcomes.
It is about growth.
And I think what I now know morethan anything of what kept me
feeling so stuck for so long wasgrowth is my responsibility, and
(26:36):
it's uncomfortable, and it'srequired.
You can't be stuck if you'relearning how to create
opportunities to become unstuck.
And that growth is ourresponsibility.
It's not our company'sresponsibility.
It's our responsibility.
I don't want to be the sameforever.
I want to change and yet I wantto remain who I am.
(27:00):
Which sounds like an oxymoron,but it's not.
It's I want to be authenticallyme.
I want to be true to what mycore values are and I want to
continually improve and changeand become different versions of
what those values are outsideinto the professional world and
(27:20):
also in my personal world.
I want to level up to the nextlevel of What an Aspire for More
leader is.
What I want to be as a coach,what I want to be as a speaker,
who I want to be as a podcasthost.
That's really important.
And I've noticed my strength iswhat's mine will be mine when
(27:41):
it's expected.
What's mine will be mine whenit's the perfect time for me.
I know that and I want to beready and that's what resiliency
means for me.
I'm going to continue to addmore growth and value to myself.
I'm going to continue to beconsistent with all the things
that I promised.
I'm going to continue to give inorder to receive and not to
(28:03):
expect anything.
I'm going to continue to addvalue and in webinars and in
value to myself.
And I'm going to, and I'm goingto do what it takes to remain as
consistent as possible.
With the number one consistentthing that I can do is to not
(28:26):
assign my worth to an outcome ora dollar amount, but to the
process of growing.
I understand today more thanever that my purpose
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mic (28:38):
the guiding lights in my life, are
kindness, creativity, and innerharmony.
the fact that I know that and Iget to use those three guiding
lights in my life in a way thathelps other people is really
(28:59):
important.
Gosh, I don't like to talk aboutmyself for, 30 plus minutes, but
I do think it's important foryou to see what the exercise is
like, asking yourself thesequestions and feeling vulnerable
(29:20):
and strong at the same time.
Clarity is priceless.
Intentionality is growth life isworth living when you're
becoming who you were made tobe.
Get your mind right.
Set your boundaries, protectwhat's important to you, and
(29:41):
allow what isn't needed to falloff without picking it up.
And give to be kind and not toreceive.
And watch how it's given back toyou in such amazing ways.
(30:03):
And don't assign your worth toothers.
To an outcome, be happy, andgrow through the process, even
when it's tough, because stormsare not of rain, who you are,
who you want to be on the otherside of the tough times is worth
(30:24):
fighting for.
Let the people go that need togo, and welcome the people in,
who can impact your world Insuch a positive impactful way.
Thank you for listening today.
I am scheduling.
amazing guests for you for therest of the year.
(30:44):
I am going to do more soloepisodes like this, a lot of
mentoring stuff coming up.
If there is a topic you want tohear, then please message me,
email me, find me on LinkedIn.
If you want my mentoring emailsevery Saturday morning around
8am, in the show notes, therewill be a link for you to join.
(31:06):
Until then, and take care.
If you want to be a part of mynew executive director, aspiring
leaders, go ahead and send me anemail because we're going to be
doing a lot of growing togetherand I'm excited about that.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
I hope that you aspire for morefor you.
(31:28):
I hope that you ask thesequestions to get real with
yourself and I hope you getintentional about making
yourself more valuable this yearso you can add value to others.
Have a great first week of theyear.
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