Ep. 34: Beyond Business - Real Stories from ACTivate Vitality Members - The Brave OT Podcast

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
the difference withACTivate vitality is that.

(00:03):
in our program, we're really workingon where it is the internal stuff is
driving the habits, stuckness, fear,all of those things that are influencing
how we're engaging in our businesses.
And so we're working on that outsidekind of product of the business, but
also a lot more on the inside stuff.

(00:24):
you're listening to the BraveOT Podcast with me, Carlyn Neek.
This podcast is all about empoweringoccupational therapists to step up,
level up, blaze some trails, and maybeengage in a little conscious rebellion.
In service of our profession, ourclients, our work, our businesses,
and living our mission wholeheartedly.
We are all about keepingit real, doing hard things.

(00:46):
Things unhustling, being curious,exploring, growing through our
challenges, and finding joy,fulfillment, and vitality as we do so.
Really, we're OT ingourselves, and each other.
I hope you love this episode!
I'm excited to share somethingreally special today.
I've interviewed a number of ACTivateVitality participants on the BRAVE OT

(01:06):
Podcast and this short episode is a remixof sorts where we're bringing in some of
their honest reflections about what it'slike to move from over functioning and
burnout to building lives and businessesthat feel aligned and fulfilling.
These are the voices of occupationaltherapists who've joined our community,
initially skeptical perhaps abouta group coaching format, yet they

(01:29):
found that the magic lies in thesupport, accountability, and growth
That they share with each other.
so if you've ever felt stuck in the cycleof overworking or wondered how to build
a business that supports your life ratherthan draining it, this episode is for you,
Today's episode is sponsored by Jane,a clinic management software and EMR.
The Jane team knows that when yourworkday is spent providing care to your

(01:50):
patients or clients, it can feel likethere aren't enough hours in the day for
the rest of your admin This can mean thatscheduling appointments becomes an after
hours task, turning What should be restfulevenings into extra long work days.
That's why Jane designeduser friendly online booking.
So you can give your patients thefreedom to book their appointments
at their own convenience, whetherthat's after hours or on weekends.

(02:14):
Patients can also manage theirappointments, fill out intake forms, and
enable text messaging and email remindersfrom their secure online portal, which
saves you from having to do it manually.
To see how Jane can help you reclaimyour evenings and weekends, head
to the show notes for the linkand book your personalized demo.
Or if you're ready to get started,you can use the code VITALITY at the

(02:36):
time of signup for a one month graceperiod applied to your new account.
the biggest thing for me was that backthen I was also trying to force myself
to do something that wasn't natural.
And I was trying to force myself towork a Monday through Friday gig.
And prior I had worked Tuesday throughSaturday, and I was just trying to force

(02:59):
myself to kind of conform to what the normis of, you know, Monday through Friday.
So, Allowing for more space betweenclients and shifting my schedule to
something that feels more comfortablehas allowed things to get better.
And that was a huge step.
since 2021, August.

(03:22):
it brings me comfort knowing thatI can just come in, come out,
but I've learned along the way.
Just I needed to hit walls for me becausethat's just the style I'm learning
from kind of thing But it's good.
Like it's making me grow kind of thing.
So
yeah
I'm so grateful and then all theparticipants that are in there because
there's some people I still haven'tmet because I come at different Times.

(03:42):
my initial intent was like,I just need to talk to you.
I need to pick your brain.
You need to help me here because Iwas in survival mode kind of thing.
I wasn't necessarily looking fora group at the time, but I knew
that's where you were headingand it made sense kind of thing.
And then I would slowly branch out andthrow, but I think it helps being on the
calls because then I was like, Oh, okay.
Listening to, what they're going through.
I was like, Oh yeah, I couldtotally relate to that.

(04:04):
I might not speak up rightaway or I'm just here to.
Watch and learn thing.
But I've been doing this since 2021.
I show up and I don't need,I don't know new people.
I like it because I'm like, Oh,okay, where's this person from?
And what are they doing?
And how did that, howdoes that work in the UK?
Or, like kind of thing.
So I enjoy it and whenever I'm talking,I'm like, gosh, are they, Is this helpful

(04:24):
for anyone or is this purely for me?
Because I just need to like bounce, throwthis out there and just even DMing some
of the members just one on one sometimes.
I'm being like, Hey, I know youdo peds, like I want to pick
your brain for a quick sec.
So that's good.
it's just, I feel like there's just acommon ground because I know those people
sought you out for such and such reason.
people like me when Isaw the go, go and yes.

(04:47):
And I was like, oh yeah, that's, thatlines up perfectly with me kind of thing.
So then, yeah, it just felt likeyour own little tribe and people
that you knew coming around.
there's no judgment.
That's the neat, the nicest thing.
Yeah.
Because you can go, there's, Imean, you can go social media,
it's all full of judgment.
But once you enter this kind ofworld, it's like a little protected
We need to not be alone.

(05:08):
We need connection.
And that creates the safety from which wecan be creative and do innovative things.
And, it just hit me like a lightbulb too, because when I was
at West, I had an amazing team.
this is who I wasconnected with every day.
It was in person.
It was just my people, kind of thing.
And it was all from different backgrounds,different trades, But Those people
made me feel so regulated and that'swhere like I could be creative.

(05:28):
I had no judgment and it's just,free to provide a service and
you want to focus on quality.
And then as I moved I had to losemy trusted community every time.
Like I'd find one and thenI'd have to let it go.
And then I'd find one and let it go.
So the fact that I came here and thepandemic always made it different,
but I think that's what made it forthe program was like, I found it.

(05:51):
It's just a differentformat, but I found it
the difference withACTivate vitality is that.
in our program, we're really workingon where it is the internal stuff
is driving the habits, stuckness,fear, like all of those things that
are influences, influencing howwe're engaging in our businesses.
And so we're working on that outsidekind of product of the business, but

(06:15):
also a lot more on the inside stuff.
where that sort of, there was acouple, a few years of that hustle
it was in a group and multiple peoplehad like a similar business idea.
That sort of like conversation and so thatwas something I just wanted to talk with
you about the old me would have just beenlike this is uncomfortable and I'm just
gonna kind of walk away from that but Iknew that you would be so I trusted that

(06:40):
you like open and you want to understandmy perspective and that you care.
I love the prompt and it's thereevery week so I can reflect back.
But so for that case, like one pieceof it is being able to trust our bodies
that our bodies know, but you were justtalking about sometimes we don't, many

(07:02):
of us grew up learning not to trust ourbodies and our feelings are scary and
overwhelming and we don't feel safe.
And so in the ACT module, when you'reasking us to feel our feelings,
well, if we literally don't have thetools to, and it doesn't feel safe,
how can we create more safety andgrounding and know that we're okay?
Our body is here for us and the feelingswill come and go, but we are safe

(07:26):
so that we can tap into that wisdom
when I signed up for Activate Vitality,what I wanted was one on one coaching.
What I thought I wantedwas one on one coaching.
And then the modules felt safe.
I was like, okay, I know I'mgoing to get something of value.
I feel like I can see itand I can go at my own pace.
And as an introvert, I hadlike, I could do that on my own.

(07:47):
And it was the group calls thatI was like, do I really, I don't
really know if I want that.
Like, okay, we're going to givethis a go because I really like
the other two really lined up.
And you know, fast forward a yearlater, it was like, oh, the modules were
lovely, but it's the community, like I,it was completely reversed, but you're
just saying, like, you just made itaccessible for people where group calls.

(08:08):
You're just like, oh, what's I don'tknow about this, but that was the magic.
And you helped us.
You help us get there by the other parts.
Right.
And honestly, when I created ActivateVitality, I couldn't have foreseen what
the community would be because it wasblank screens in my mind at that point.
Right.
That I never envisioned the magic ofthe, these beautiful people, that all

(08:35):
showed up and created a community.
Cause I didn't create a community.
Like certainly I do things to set a tone.
I do things to, you know, by beingme, they're the people who are
somewhat like me in one way oranother show up and therefore they're
somewhat like each other, but that
community members make community andI couldn't have planned for that.

(08:55):
Like, how does one set out to createthis soft place for beautiful people,
like these gentle souls to land and havesafety and support each other where it
doesn't need to be me running everything.
It's so often on a group coachingcall, like I don't even call it
like, it doesn't seem like coaching.
It's it's a community call.
Everybody's just supporting each other.

(09:16):
And sometimes I just sit there and havegoosebumps and smile, do your thing.
the community and theculture of Activate Vitality.
It's such a common desire tosomehow truly unlearn that, because
OTs are overachievers by nature.
Like we had to get super high GPAsto even get in and like, we're super
good at mastering everything andgetting more certifications, but

(09:39):
it was funny.
And of course, in the beginning.
I thought I needed more certificationand you, part of one of your modules
is like, if you think you need morecertifications, I was like, damn it.
Are you reading my mind?
So the productivity, because we tend tobe high achievers, we have been rewarded
our lifetime for high achievement.
Therefore our value is in ourproductivity and what we can

(10:01):
produce and what we can achieve.
And the thought of slowing downactually feels scary because
what am I worth if I'm not
achieving, producing, and we knowwe actually want to take breaks.
We know we actually want to have abusiness so that maybe we could go, you
know, to the park in the afternoon insteadof working sometimes or volunteer at our

(10:24):
kid's school or go for coffee or go forlunch or like we want that flexibility.
But when we go to try and do it.
And we go, no, like I should,I've got this to do list.
My to do list isn't done.
Like I can't have dessert before my meal.
Right?
And so it's really just weaving inand part of it comes from, like it

(10:45):
pulls from lots of different places.
So the practice, the it's an embodimentpractice, that we come together in
community, we do a check in and thenwe, um, I offer just an embodiment
practice and I guide us through that.
And then we kind of come together.
Our body is designed to alert us whenwe're about to do something scary,
alert, alert, this is new, this is scary,this is vulnerable, this has risk, and

(11:06):
before Activate Vitality, I just tookthat off it and was like, okay, yeah,
my body's telling me not to do that.
So, okay.
Not that, find something else.
And it was like, couldn't move throughthat fear because it was just like, oh,
that's telling me to, that's telling meit's dangerous and I shouldn't do it.
And you just framed that differentlyfrom the growth mindset that now when

(11:28):
I feel that fear and that tightness,and this is what's so nuanced, right?
And so then we can like talk withit, give it a little bit more space.
And oh, I'm about to do this scary thing.
That's totally normal.
Of course, my body doesn't want me to dothis thing that has risk or fear to it.
But I'm choosing it because it'sin alignment with my values now.

(11:48):
Through Activate Vitality,it's like this long journey of
understanding what our values are.
And it's like, is this inalignment with my value?
Yes, okay, then I'm going to dothis really uncomfortable thing.
And how do we have, like, howdo you do really uncomfortable
things that are against the norm?
It's like a huge way is having a communityof other people doing really hard things

(12:09):
that are against the norm that are inservice of themselves and their values.
And so you're like naming the stepsactively as we, and talking us through it.
And it's like, oh, that's what itmeans to move towards something, even
when you're feeling uncomfortable.
And the other piece Ilove is there is no shame
in
our group..
We've all been there.
If anything, you're like,yeah, I know it's super hard.

(12:30):
And now we get anotherchance to do a towards move.
So I love that you don't have shame.
Yeah, To have a community of peoplebehind you, like cheering you on.
For that way of being in your life,like lets you keep stepping into scary
and uncomfortable things that hasbrought me so much freedom and happiness

(12:52):
it's true.
And so often that away move wasactually a bit of wisdom that
we needed a bit of a break.
Or we needed to not always bepursuing or that the pause is okay
I joined your program and learnedlots in terms of self reflection and
just taking those steps back and whatis it and how do you manage that?
How do you manage those things?

(13:13):
And yeah, and I just feel likeI've come such a long way and my
business is very nearly where Iwant it to get to, which is great.
And for me, coaching was one-to-one.
That was how I saw it.
coaching is one-to-one, andthen you have this community.
And I thought, dunno,how that's gonna work.
I'm quite a shy person.
That's gonna be a bit like,oh, I dunno if that's for me.

(13:35):
And you said something along the linesof most people think it's the one to
one, but actually it's the community.
And if you engage fully in thecommunity, then that's, that's
the whole idea of a program and Ithought, okay, we'll give it a go.
I was at a point where I needed a change.
So join the community.
And I think probably the firstmaybe one I was quiet, but then
actually everyone is just so lovely.

(13:56):
And really open.
And everybody's there for their ownreasons, but on a similar theme,
we're all there looking to eitherredirect or find the next step
it was just, everyonewas so welcoming to me.
And I just feel like over time, I've gotthe confidence to share and with others

(14:20):
how, I found like setting my boundariesand how I found those things helped
But in the spirit of the community andhaving that curiosity and that open to
try things and to try something different.
Yeah, I feel like the community gaveme the, not just the confidence,
the courage to just do it and then.

(14:43):
Almost like what's theworst that can happen?
I joined your program in the Septemberand I was in a very much misbalance
of all so much had gone in life.
Everything was a lot.
And I was having to deal with all of theaftermath of her passing away, sorting
out the boys, sorting out the house,and all the emotions that go with.

(15:05):
And joining your program, I wantedto get on my, back on my boat
and I wanted to be the captain.
And I wanted to take that time.
I wanted to get through what I had toget through because things needed done.
But then I wanted to spend thattime to find out who I was again
I think it came through one of yourmodules that I'd done is that actually

(15:26):
I was spending a lot of time doing toavoid feeling and to avoid having to
deal with those really tricky emotions.
it was I guess probably about amonth ago, and one of the members
said, okay, so you need to.
you need, you did that this week,you need to do it again next week.

(15:46):
I was like, oh, Yeah.
Okay.
I need to do it again next week.
And as Monday was approaching throughoutthe week, I had her voice in my head
saying, you've gotta do it again.
And so Monday, she's in theuk so I'm sure you heard
her accent, right?
I did.
She put it in your diary . And so I did.
And that Sunday night I'm like,OK, tomorrow morning, it's
for me, what am I gonna do?

(16:07):
What am I gonna plan?
And it felt so good comingto the call on Wednesday that
week and saying, Hey, I did it.
And she was there to cheer me on.
and it's, it just, I don't know,it's been really beautiful Having
that place to share and also thatplace to have accountability.
I'll be honest, I was skepticalabout the group setting and

(16:28):
what that was gonna feel like.
I know you were And Yes, I was likeI'm all for coaching and counseling.
I just, it's changed my life.
It is really helped me to learn so much.
I was really skeptical about thegroup and what that was gonna be like.
And it.
. It's so beautiful.
The group is so beautiful becausewe're all there honoring each other and

(16:53):
helping keep each other accountable.
and you learn from other people'sstories and what they're going through.
And I do think it's alsothis reminder that there's so
many layers to us as humans
like I've learned in your course tooand just learned through my own self
development and all the courses I'vetaken and the therapy I've done right
and continue to do in terms of Tiny,consistent steps day by day, so that's how

(17:17):
right now, and it evolves, every new selfhelp book I'm learning for myself, I am
integrating into my mentorship for someoneelse because it might resonate, and maybe
they don't have time to read that wholebook, so here's my bite sized chunk of
what I learned in this book, let's try it.
, I remember like folding laundry inthe laundry room and like listening to
your coursework and being like, Oh mygosh, I got to pause that and rewind.

(17:39):
it was like, I was so investedin it because it had all
those aspects too, right?
Like you have the community and thetime to meet and discuss with you.
So I was, way more investedin the coursework because I
knew, not that I had to, right?
But I was committing to coming tothose sessions and then discussing

(17:59):
okay, what's going on for you now?
Thank you so much for listeningto this glimpse into the
ACTIVATE VITALITY community.
If you're feeling inspired and readyto create a sustainable values aligned
business where you don't have togo it alone, I'd love to invite you
to join us in ACTIVATE VITALITY.
This isn't the one sizefits all coaching program.

(18:22):
We dive into what's driving your habits,the fears or patterns that might be
holding you back and how to build a lifeand business that supports you fully.
one of the most powerfulparts is the community itself.
being surrounded by other OTson the same journey toward
living and working differently.
Together, we create the space to grow,connect, and hold each other accountable.

(18:44):
Enrollment in ACTivate Vitality isopen now just till October 31st, so
if you're ready to take that nextstep, book a Clarity Call with me
today and let's see how ACTivateVitality could support your journey.
You'll find a link to bookthat call in the show notes.
And if you are listening pastthat date, send me a message.
I'll put my email down below andmaybe you can get on the list for the

(19:07):
next time I launch ACTivate Vitality.
Thanks for listening.
And as always, be brave, OTs.

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Ep. 34: Beyond Business - Real Stories from ACTivate Vitality Members

Episode Transcript

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Ep. 34: Beyond Business - Real Stories from ACTivate Vitality Members