Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to
the Realized Empath Podcast,
where we get real about lovingand stumbling through our
sensitive lives with your hostand holistic counselor, Kristin
Schwartz, who helps redefinewhat's possible for an empath
who embraces a path ofself-healing.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hey wonderful souls,
welcome back to the Realized
Empath Podcast.
I'm Kristin Schwartz and I'mthrilled to be here, and I think
you should be too, becausetoday's episode is jam-packed
with insights that will rockyour entrepreneurship world.
The spotlight is on empathicentrepreneurship and how we, as
(00:46):
highly sensitive people, canabsolutely thrive in the
business realm.
Are you curious?
I bet you are, so make sureyou're comfy, because this is
going to be a wild ride.
Let's start out by busting afew myths.
So you've heard that empathsand businesses don't mix.
Yeah, me too, but it's hogwash.
(01:09):
So listen, we empaths can sensenuances in moods and
environments, which is likehaving business ESP, even
walking into a room andinstantly knowing how to align
your pitch or product or evenyour demeanor.
We're basically like humanSwiss army knives.
(01:33):
But hold up, let's not justrest on that.
Our sensitivity allows us todetect when something's not
quite right in the workenvironment.
It could be an employeestruggling silently, or maybe a
project is missing that magicingredient.
(01:55):
We can feel it and we can acton it.
I call it empathictroubleshooting.
Who needs a business consultantwhen you have an empath on
board?
Now, culture I'm talking aboutthe work culture that thrives on
(02:16):
empathy.
Forget about the cutthroat.
Every person for themselvesmindset, an empathic work
culture values every singleindividual.
We're talking inclusivity,kindness and, yeah, emotional
smarts and don't think I'm justa dreamer here, because hard
(02:40):
data really does back this up.
It is that sideline empathy arelike sinking ships.
Sure, they might float for abit, but eventually they're
going to go down.
Empathy is more than just asoft skill.
It's a critical business asset.
(03:00):
Studies have shown that abusiness who shows empathy and
kindness towards their employeeshave employees that are
considerably happier and moreproductive than their
counterparts.
And last but not least, let'stalk about the ripple effect.
(03:20):
When you incorporate empathyinto your business, you're also
encouraging other businesses tofollow suit.
This has a ripple effect acrossindustries, lifting everyone up
.
You're not just in business,you're in the business of making
the world a better place.
(03:40):
Okay, so we did a really goodjob of laying down the
foundation, so now let's delveinto why empaths make
exceptional leaders.
Emotional intelligence, or EQ,isn't just a buzzword, it's your
secret weapon.
Really.
With high EQ, you don't justmanage people, you're empowering
(04:04):
them.
And, side note, you don't haveto be a therapist to improve
teen dynamics, you just needempathy and awareness.
So let's move into employeewell-being, because this is huge
.
A happy employee, like I saidearlier, is a productive
employee.
When you genuinely care foryour team, their job
(04:28):
satisfaction shoots through theroof.
This not only reduces turnover,but it amplifies creativity and
collaboration.
It's a win-win.
So what about the long-termvision?
Why believe that empaths havethat?
Because we can see beyond thequarterly reports and focus on
(04:52):
the bigger picture.
When you're shaping yourbusiness strategy, you do it
with with a 5, 10, or even20-year vision right.
Your long-term perspectivehelps you navigate the ebbs and
flows of business with finesse.
And let's not forget the powerof authentic communication.
(05:15):
This is the real deal, folks.
When you speak from the heart,your team listens, and this
builds trust, and trust.
Well, that's the glue thatholds any successful enterprise
together.
And for the cherry on top,mentorship.
As an empathic leader, you'renaturally inclined to mentor
(05:37):
others.
You don't hoard knowledge, youshare it, and this creates a
continuous learning and growthculture, making your business a
hub of innovation.
So that was a lot of good stuff, and what I want to cover next
is how we can learn to leverageour empathic traits to actually
(05:59):
build a brand.
First off, let's talk about thesoul of your brand.
So a brand is more than acatchy name or a sleek logo.
It's basically the sum total ofthe experiences you provide.
Your empathic insights can helpcreate a brand that resonates
(06:21):
deeply with people, hitting themright in the feels.
And part of building a brand isyour customer relationships,
and with your empathicsuperpowers you can understand
customers needs more deeply.
And this isn't abouttransactions, you know.
It's about relationships.
(06:42):
Treating your customers likefamily makes them more likely to
stick around.
And remember, retention ischeaper and more effective than
acquisition.
Now let's talk community,because over time, when you
build your customer base, you'rebuilding a community.
So no business is an island.
You operate within a largerecosystem and this ecosystem is
(07:08):
your tribe.
They're not just spectators butparticipants.
When your community feelsinvested in your journey,
they'll support you and they'lladvocate for you.
And finally, partnerships.
Why would any of us want towalk a path alone when we can do
it with others who share ourvalues and vision?
(07:31):
Strategic alliances can elevateyour business from a startup to
a movement, so you want to lookfor collaborations that can
deliver mutual benefits whileupholding your principles.
Okay, let's switch gears for alittle bit.
Let's talk about self-care.
For the empathic entrepreneur,self-care is essential,
(07:54):
especially for us impasse.
So first up is settingboundaries.
So it's tempting to give yourall all the time, but without
boundaries you risk emotionaland physical burnout.
So you want to set thoseboundaries and be un-pollegetic
about it, and you want to guardyour time and energy and
(08:18):
remember that you need to haveboundaries for yourself too.
A lot of entrepreneurs, theycan overwork because they're
striving to get and meetdifferent milestones, but you
want to set boundaries foryourself and honor your limits.
So let's go mystical for amoment.
Let's talk about energyshielding.
(08:38):
Imagine surrounding yourselfwith a protective energy field
that keeps negativity at bay.
Think of it as your personalemotional firewall, keeping the
bad stuff out and letting thegood vibes in Energy shielding.
It can be great for thosemeetings where you're feeling
(09:00):
overwhelmed or coming off of abad night's sleep.
It's a great tool that you cankeep in your toolbox to bring
out to support you whenever youneed it.
And never underestimate eitherthe power of the pause.
So the world glorifies hustle,but hustle without pause is a
(09:21):
recipe for disaster.
Sometimes doing nothing isdoing something.
I always say rest is action,it's part of action.
During these moments of pause,clarity, energies and solutions
reveal themselves.
And last but not least, there'sthe grounding power of nature.
(09:44):
So our lives are so digitizedand we often forget that we're
part of something bigger, motherEarth.
You want to spend time outdoors, whether it's on a walk in a
park or a weekend getaway.
Reconnecting with naturerevitalizes you in ways that the
smartphone simply cannot.
(10:05):
So are you still with me?
I hope so, because next we'retackling the power of intuition
and decision making.
First off, let's demystifyintuition.
It's not just some woo-wooconcept.
It's your brain, processinginformation at lightning speed,
(10:26):
often below your consciousawareness.
That gut feeling tells you togo for it or to hold back.
It's your inner compass andimpasse.
Have it fine-tuned to an artform.
Have you ever heard of intuitivebusiness strategies?
Well, they exist.
These strategies aren't purelydata-driven, but inspired by
(10:50):
your innate sense of what feelsright.
And guess what?
They often yield some of themost innovative solutions.
So you want to pay attention toyour hunches.
Sometimes they're the key tounlocking new opportunities.
So we've all been there right.
The paralyzed by analysis, orlike paralyzed by overthinking
(11:13):
Analysis.
Paralysis can grind decisionmaking to a halt.
So your intuition can help youbreak the deadlock.
So, when in doubt, tune in tohow different options make you
feel.
Your emotional response oftenpoints the way.
Finally, let's talk risks.
All entrepreneurs need to takerisks, but intuitive risks are a
(11:40):
different ballgame.
There are the risks you takenot because the numbers add up,
but because something deepwithin tells you it's the right
thing to do.
And you know what?
Sometimes these are the risksthat pay off big time.
Okay, so get ready to bringthis all together, because what
I want to dive into next isempathic marketing, and, trust
(12:03):
me, you'll want to take notesfor this one.
Empathic marketing isn't aboutselling.
It's about connecting.
Traditional marketing focuseson what you offer, but empathic
marketing focuses on why itmatters.
So your product or serviceisn't just an item.
It's a solution, a feeling, alifestyle.
(12:24):
Dive deep into the emotionalbenefits and watch your customer
base grow.
So let's then talk about content.
Here's where you can reallyshine.
You want to create content thatresonates with your audience's
struggles and their dreams andtheir desires.
(12:45):
It's not just about showcasingyour product.
It's about storytelling.
You want to share testimonials,case studies and narratives
that make people feel seen andheard.
And we wouldn't be able to talkabout marketing unless we
brought up social media.
Ah, social media the blessingand the curse right.
(13:08):
The trick is to use itmindfully.
Your online presence should bean extension of your brand's
soul.
You want to engage with youraudience by responding in
comments.
You want to ask questions andinitiate meaningful
conversations.
And, most importantly,transparency is key.
(13:29):
No one likes to feel likethey're being manipulated or
tricked.
So be honest.
If you make a mistake, own it.
If you make a promise, keep it.
Authenticity isn't just avirtue, it's good business.
Alright, so now we're going toshift gears to talk about
something super practical, whichis time management for us
(13:54):
empathic entrepreneurs.
First off, batching tasks.
So listen for a second.
Jumping from one task toanother can be super draining
for anyone, but especially forempaths.
So batching similar workstogether allows you to flow
better, and when you're in theflow, you're unstoppable.
(14:16):
So segment your day into blocksof time dedicated to specific
tasks.
Trust me, your energy willthank you.
Next, let's talk about me time.
So, as impasse, our energiesare often focused outward.
We forget that we also need torecharge.
(14:38):
So you want to schedule pocketsof me time throughout your week
, whether it's reading ormeditating or simply doing
nothing.
You want to make it anon-negotiable, so you want to
embrace the Pomodoro technique,and this is a lifesaver.
Folks, you want to work insprints of 25 minutes with 5
(15:02):
minute breaks in between.
It's simple, but game-changing.
Those short breaks give you amoment to realign and breathe,
and they make a world ofdifference in your productivity.
Lastly, you don't want tounderestimate the power of
saying no.
In business, opportunities willcome flooding in, but not all
of them are going to be alignedwith your vision, so you want to
(15:25):
be selective.
Saying no to something thatisn't quite right means saying
yes to something that is trulyamazing.
So if you're an empath who'salso an entrepreneur, or you're
thinking of being anentrepreneur, I hope you're
feeling empowered, because we'reabout to dive into the
(15:46):
wonderful world of empathicnetworking, and this is where
relationships become yourstrongest asset.
So, firstly, we have activelistening, which is your
superpower.
In a world where everyone isshouting to be heard, the art of
listening becomes invaluable.
(16:07):
When you listen more than youspeak, you gather nuances and
insights that others miss, andthis sets the stage for deeper,
more meaningful connections.
And make sure that theseconnections are balanced and
that you have someone who isopen to listening to you too,
(16:29):
and that's a great segue,because now I want to talk about
reciprocation.
Networking isn't a one-waystreet.
You need to give as much as youtake, if not more, and for a
lot of highly sensitive people,you need to allow other people
to give to you too.
You want to offer help andprovide valuable resources or
(16:49):
make introductions withoutexpecting anything in return.
The goodwill you generate willeventually circle back to you.
And don't forget aboutpersonalization, folks.
When you connect with someone,you want to avoid canned
responses and generalizations.
You want to take a moment topersonalize your messages.
Mention something specific youadmire about their work or
(17:12):
common interest, because thissimple act makes you memorable
and forms stronger bonds.
And don't forget that vibesdon't lie.
Sometimes you'll meet someoneand instantly click, while other
times something feels off.
You wanna trust your intuition.
In these situations, yourinternal radar can save you from
(17:33):
potential pitfalls or guide youtoward fruitful relationships.
Okay, so for this segment, youmay need to fashion your
seatbelts, because we're gettinginto some real talk.
We're gonna dive into the notso glamorous side of social
media and business.
So first up, the energy drain.
(17:55):
So we empaths absorb emotionslike sponges.
And social media can be aquagmire of negativity and if
you're not careful, you can endup feeling drained and anxious
and overwhelmed.
So what's the solution?
You wanna limit your time onthe platform and you wanna make
sure you curate your feed toinclude only uplifting and
(18:21):
constructive content.
And comparison is a trap oh boy, is it a huge trap.
So seeing competitors highlightreels can make you question
your own journey, can make youquestion what you're creating.
So you wanna stop that as soonas you see yourself doing it.
(18:41):
Remember that social media is acurated reality.
Your worth isn't tied to likesand follows or someone else's
journey, and I know that's hardwhen you're trying to build a
business, and we can think thatif people aren't seeing our
posts, then we're not reallybuilding a business.
So let's talk about the timesuck that is social media.
(19:06):
Yes, social media can beessential for marketing, but
it's so easy to fall down therabbit hole and lose hours of
productive time.
So you wanna set specific goalsand a time limit for each
social media session.
Trust me, your to-do list willthank you.
(19:27):
And finally, roi, or return oninvestment.
If you're investing tons oftime and energy into social
media without measurable returns, it's time to rethink your
strategy.
Social media should be the tool, not the task master.
(19:49):
Okay, so this is our lastsegment of this episode and it
may seem like it's out of order,but it really isn't.
I wanted to end today's episodewith crafting a purpose-led
business as an empath.
First, the why.
(20:09):
What's your mission?
What change do you wanna see inthe world?
Before you can build apurpose-led business, you've
gotta know your why.
The why becomes your North Starguiding every business decision
you make.
And once you've got your why,it's time for alignment.
(20:33):
So every aspect of yourbusiness, your brand, your
product, your team, everythingshould align with your core
mission, and anything thatdoesn't align is dead weight.
You wanna cut it loose?
Then we have social impact.
(20:54):
As an empath, this is where youcan truly shine.
Partner with causes that alignwith your mission, volunteer,
donate, run awareness campaigns.
Your business can be a forcefor good, and that can be more
rewarding than any profit margin.
I know many years ago, when Iwas running my organic clothing
(21:18):
company, I gave back to theWorld Wildlife Fund.
So you don't want to forgetabout sustainability, whether
it's ecological, social oreconomic sustainability.
This is the long game.
And guess what?
Customers love supportingbusinesses that take
sustainability seriously.
(21:39):
Plus, it's good for the planet,and us empaths love nature.
Well, we did it, guys.
Today we've covered a lot ofground, from busting myths about
empaths in business to the fineart of empathic marketing.
Remember your empathic traitsaren't just perks, they're your
(22:00):
superpowers in the businessworld.
Next week, come back and we'regoing to discuss empaths and
building deep and lastingrelationships.
If you like this episode, don'tkeep it a secret, share it,
rate it and don't forget to dropa review.
Let's make this journey onethat we can walk together, step
(22:22):
by step.
Thank you everyone for tuningin, and I will see you next time
.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Thanks for listening
to the Realized Empath podcast.
Revisit past episodes orcontact Kristen at Realized
Empathcom.
Did you love this episode?
Please share it with a friend.
Thanks for tuning in, Untilnext time.
Sensitive souls.