November 25, 2025 • 30 mins
Today, we dive into the inspiring journey of Vicki Noethling who transitioned from a corporate career to becoming a leader in public speaking and coaching. Vicki emphasizes the importance of leading with authenticity and heart, advocating for a blend of emotional intelligence and practical skills. She shares her belief that failure is not the end, but rather a valuable lesson, and highlights the significance of community support in achieving unstoppable success. Throughout our conversation, we explore how trusting your instincts can significantly impact your leadership style and personal growth. Join us as we uncover Vicki's insights and tips on navigating the path to confidence and success.
Vicki Noethling joins Unstoppable Success to share her inspiring journey from corporate life to becoming a renowned public speaker and coach. At first, she envisioned retirement filled with family time, specifically cherishing her role as a grandmother. However, after observing a gap in mentorship and guidance in her community, she felt compelled to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with others. Vicki emphasizes the importance of leading with authenticity and compassion, illustrating how her own personal growth and failures shaped her leadership style. She discusses the significance of trusting one’s gut and staying true to oneself, particularly in public speaking and coaching. Through her experiences, Vicki encourages listeners to embrace their unique paths and the lessons that come from both success and failure. Her approach, which integrates the heart, head, and hands, inspires others to lead with empathy while achieving their own unstoppable success.
Takeaways:
- Vicki transitioned from a corporate career to public speaking and coaching later in life, proving it's never too late to follow your passion.
- The importance of mentorship is highlighted, as Vicki emphasizes that guidance can significantly impact one's journey to success.
- Trusting your gut is essential in leadership; if something feels off, it probably is, so listen to that inner voice.
- Authenticity in speech and leadership allows for genuine connections, enhancing the impact you have on others.
- Vicki's journey showcases that failure is a learning opportunity, not the end of the road, and each setback can teach valuable lessons.
- Community support is crucial for leaders; having a reliable tribe can make the difference between success and failure.
Links referenced in this episode:
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:41):
Well, hello everybody andwelcome to another amazing episode
of Unstoppable Success.
This is the podcast where wehelp you have unstoppable success.
And we hear from amazingguests who share their stories, their
tips, their impact, and howthey can help you be that unstoppable
human in your life and yourliberty and your pursuit of all happiness.
(01:02):
So today I have the immensepleasure of having Vicki nestling
on my podcast.
I hope I got it said it rightbecause, you know, we were talking
beforehand all about thenames, you know, because names are
so important.
But let me tell you a littlebit about Vicki because she is truly
remarkable.
She's a speaker, she's atrainer and a coach and she focuses
(01:24):
on public speaking and leadership.
She also has an anti agingwellness business.
But she really, you know, oneof the key things that she really
loves sharing is, is all aboutleading with her heart.
That the head, the heart andthe hand.
And let me tell you, she'struly a remarkable person about when
(01:45):
it comes to leading andhelping people, you know, lead with
the confidence that they needto today and how that helps you also
have unstoppable success.
So welcome Vicki.
Thank you so much, Jacqueline.
It's a pleasure to finally beon your show.
We were back and forth and sharing.
So, Vicki, you have hadlooking at your career, you've done
(02:10):
some amazing things and you'veworked at a lot of different places.
You worked in corporate.
So how did you go from thatcorporate life to the unstoppable
success you've had now beingin public speaking and coaching?
(02:33):
Well, that's an interestingthing because I had no vision of
doing this whenever I turned60 and decided I was going to retire.
I thought the reason I waswanting to retire is I was going
to be a grandmother and Iwanted to be able to do all things
(02:54):
with my grandchild because forme, my grandparents were the son
in my life.
They were so wonderful andthey were always present.
And so I wanted to be that person.
And so that's also why Istarted working with an anti aging
multi level marketing groupbecause I wanted to be healthy.
I wanted to be able to chaseafter those grand boys.
(03:18):
And so that it turned out thatthe business, the products, everything
are so wonderful that it was abonus for me.
But I spent about two yearsjust watching television and catching
up and doing gardening andgoing on some trips.
(03:38):
And I just noticed that insome of my associations with other
groups that people just werelacking mentors, they, they were
lacking, you know, thosepeople that I was fortunate to have
that were there to share abouttheir journey and what really works
(03:59):
and maybe kind of guide youfrom things that you should maybe
avoid or understand thatfailure isn't the end of the world.
It's really just the lesson.
And I just, after two years, Isaid, you know what?
I need to start to give back.
That's.
To me, that was what mypurpose was, that I have all these
(04:21):
four decades of experience,and you just shouldn't sit back and
have people not be able tounderstand the different options.
You and I talked before westarted, and I knew how impactful
it was when I finally realizedthat 50 that I led in a different
(04:43):
way, a different way that wasimpactful, that really built trust,
and it was an authenticitybehind it that you didn't ever feel
like you were not being whoyou were.
And people appreciate that.
And so that led me to start my business.
(05:05):
And I first started just.
I thought I'm just going to dosome courses online.
And then I thought, well, youknow, I need to talk about it, so
I, I should do some speaking.
And then the more that I didthe speaking and the, the online,
I had people that reallywanted to sit.
And so that's where thecoaching came in.
(05:27):
But the podcast was just atoastmaster project.
I love that.
And it was, you know, justaround Covid and I had, during COVID
worked with some of the olderParish FAM members, I guess, and
I didn't want them to be alone.
(05:49):
And so I said, well, we'lljust talk online and have like tea
online and things.
And they told me their stories.
And eventually I'm going tohave another podcast that's just,
it's just a conversation withVicki where I just have you tell
their stories because it's sofabulous that people have these lives
(06:14):
and they don't even realizehow special they are.
And I think that they shouldbe captured and so that.
That I own the URL.
It's just a conversation.
That's great.
I love that.
So, you know, so let's, youknow, success and having that.
I mean, you, you said youdidn't have a vision, but you, but
(06:35):
you had more, I would say thepassion and the heart rate, you know,
and so how do you feel thatthat plays a role and has played
a role in both, you know, thecorporate success that you did have.
Right.
And because you, you had agreat career in corporate to, to
(06:58):
where you are now in the.
With the great success thatyou're having also in, you know,
in speaking and sharing your,your leadership with.
And trainings with others.
You know, I think it's why Icall my podcast Find you'd leadership
confidence.
(07:19):
Because I just saw so manytimes even in myself as I was growing
up.
I was one of seven, the secondin line and my older sister was very
a personality strong and myyounger brother was like a go along
with kind of person.
And I was always the middlechild type of thing until others
(07:42):
came along and then you had tobe a leader for these others that
came along.
So I, I guess that's kind ofstarted it.
But I never thought I wassmart enough.
I never went to college untilI was 47 or 45 and, and so I always
thought I had to do more, Ihad to do personal development, I
(08:02):
had to prove myself.
And in doing so I think Ilearned that I did have things to
contribute.
And when you see people, whenyou give advice or whenever you give,
(08:24):
suggest how they might trythings and it works and this, the
joy in their faces when thingsgo well and the appreciation that
they have, it makes me feel wonderful.
And I've almost, I always sayleadership, the hands part is the
(08:46):
service.
And I found that the directionthat gave me that I got the most,
I guess learning from besidesmy failures was when I volunteered
and I volunteered hundreds ofhours and I was so fortunate to volunteer
next to CEOs and other C suitepeople, pastors, people who were
(09:10):
from all works of light walksof life.
And it was so in, I guessimpressive on me that it was okay
to not be the smartest person,that that is the person in the room
that learns the most.
Because now you are theobserver, you really take in the
(09:34):
world and see what do you likeand what do you think you should
never do.
And I think that's whatstarted to form my leadership style.
But I also realized that itwas important for me those mentors
that I had that listened tome, not to judge, not to talk, every,
(10:02):
you know, just continue totell me what I should do, how I should
do it.
But they truly let me expressmyself and that just built confidence
over time to say, okay, thatidea is a good idea, that idea is
a crazy idea.
And then you just start to change.
(10:26):
And I think that's the otherpart of leadership that we have to
understand that when we get tobe good at one thing, it's time to
push to that part.
That's the scary part.
So it was totally differentfor me to go from corporates, project
management, everythingscheduled and to being an entrepreneur.
(10:49):
Surely the, the timemanagement skills I learned over
the over years helps when youWork on your own.
But it really is to have thecourage to say, okay, you don't know
everything.
You should reach out to peoplewho can be your coaches.
(11:09):
And I guess ultimately thelesson that I always, always have
to go back to is you have tolearn to trust your gut.
And, and I think that's alesson that even when you know it,
there are going to be timeswhen you question it.
(11:32):
Yeah, self doubt comes in,self sabotage.
And that's, you know, the nextlesson when you don't trust your
gut, what happens happens fora reason.
Right.
So I think that's somethingthat I try as I coach people is to,
you know, as we're even aswe're working on their talk or presentation,
(11:58):
does that, do those words feelright to you?
Like, as you're saying them, Isee you struggling because if it
doesn't resonate with you, ifit doesn't feel right, then you shouldn't
say them.
Right?
Yeah, it has to, it has toring true with your, with who you
are and the values that you have.
You know, you've said, yousaid a couple things that I just,
(12:20):
I want to remind and they're,they're really key points for listeners,
which is, you know, you beingable to have people that, in your
life, in your career, thathelped you without judgment or that
didn't pass judgment andexpress yourself.
(12:45):
And that's, and that'ssomething that I really truly believe
that we want to make sure thatour listeners understand is that
as, as you are leading peopleand also if you find yourself in
a position where you feel youare being judged and this comes to
where you, I think your pointwhere the gut, where your gut tells
(13:08):
you if you're feeling that inyour gut and you're feeling that
you're being judged and you'renot able to express yourself, that
might be a really a goodtelltale sign for you to either make
a shift, either maybe it's notthe right place for you to be working,
or maybe that person is notthe right partner for you to have.
(13:28):
So being able to use that as asign so that, you know, that's like
that sign that says, oh, youknow what, we need to do different.
Right?
Yeah.
I recently had a, a big lesson learned.
And again, at 67, I still getthem all the time.
(13:50):
And, and even though, andmaybe you can appreciate this too.
Even though I coach this, Iteach this, we're human, we're not
perfect.
And so there will be those times.
So I recently was going for aelected position and I was doing
(14:10):
wonderfully and you have to doa two minute speech at the election
time so that the voters canfinally decide whether or not you
are the right person.
And my coaches and my teamwere telling me I needed to be more
global and all this and I wasstruggling with that.
(14:32):
I thought well, it's peopleand I talk about leadership and things.
So I was really struggling andI did something that I never do and
I asked the coach, I saidwell, well tell me what I should
say.
I, and, and to give me someguidance, you know, what, what, where
(14:53):
should I go with this?
I'm.
I'm not finding the words.
And so they wrote down awonderful speech and it was inspiring
and a motivational speech andas I was practicing it I was struggling.
And I never struggle to do a talk.
(15:16):
I never do.
I just.
Because I always talk aboutwhat I know.
I always share what isauthentic to me and therefore it's
not a speech.
I always teach that.
It's just a conversation thatyou're having with people, whether
it's a thousand people or twopeople or whatever.
(15:38):
And so I am sitting in theaudience and two people that were
in the race with me got up anddid their talk and I sat there thinking
the speech is not right, thespeech is not right, you should just,
just get rid of it and just goup and speak from your heart.
(15:58):
And I walked up the stairs andI started the speech, but it wasn't
the right speech.
I didn't listen to my gut.
I didn't.
And I knew as I was speakingit that the audience was like, what
is she?
I don't understand why she'sdoing this.
(16:19):
She was so great yesterday.
What is happening today?
And so I sat down after thetwo minutes and again it was a great
speech.
It just wasn't the right speech.
And I knew it wasn't the rightspeech and I knew I lost the race
at that moment.
And it was a great lesson forme to learn that I, no matter what,
(16:39):
no matter who is telling meand as a coach it's really important
for me to remember this that Ihave to make sure that I pull out
the best in the people that Icoach and I don't try to make them
mini me's because it won'tresonate with their audience.
They will not be themselves.
(17:01):
So I thought that was atremendous lesson for me to be reminded
again, trust my gut and don'tbe afraid to change at the last minute.
And I've done that before.
I'm sure you have too.
I'VE got it looked at theaudience that I thought, oh, no,
they don't need what I got tosay today.
They need to hear somethingdifferent and.
(17:22):
And changed.
But it was fine.
It was great.
That one pivotal moment, I didnot listen to myself.
Yeah.
You know, being authentic toourselves is so important for our
unstoppable success.
And you have just re statedthat really and, and enhance that
(17:47):
because it's.
Because in order for us to gofrom A to B, we have to, again, we
have to trust our gut.
We have to know and it has toresonate with our values.
And you know what?
I'm really surprised the coachthat you were working with didn't
say to you, Vicki, I see thatyou're struggling with this.
(18:07):
So obviously something is not right.
Let's, you know, if it's notauthentic to you as a coach too,
it's like we have to, we haveto pull out the things that are authentic
our clients and also to helpthem know where to go with that authenticity.
Because, because, you know,you giving a speech, we, you know,
(18:32):
there's a lot of great waysthat you could probably have done
something that probably felt alittle bit better to you.
And, And I, I feel bad thatyour coach did not pull that out.
So.
But listeners, I think, yeah,really important, like understand
that that's also somethingthat's really.
I mean, we.
You need to stick to thevalues and the things that matter
both.
And if it doesn't, if it's notsitting well with you, again, that's
(18:58):
a sign.
It's not a bad sign.
It's a sign for you to take apause a minute and say, oh, this
is something I need to changeor I need to go a different direction.
Yeah.
And I think too, a couple things.
One of the, as anentrepreneur, as a leader, you really
(19:21):
have to embrace community.
There were people that justmoments before I sat in my seat,
I had an empty seat beside me,and I had passed a few people that
I have been on this leadershippath for 20 years that would tell
(19:43):
me, you know, your face is notlooking right, your.
Your makeup's wrong, your.
You just are messing up.
They.
They just tell you like it is.
You know, I need that.
That kind of person.
And I didn't have.
Yeah, that's right.
Not to gross out of it.
I used at my last company, Ihad a guy who was a southern sweet
(20:08):
guy.
He was probably in his 60s,and he said, you need ogre.
You need something when yournose is not clean and you do.
You just need that And I knowthat if I would have asked any of
those people, hey, this is agiant job.
What do you think they wouldhave told me?
(20:29):
That is a WTF speech.
You should not do that.
But I didn't.
So that, you know, and that'swhy I don't really blow my coach
at all, because they weretrying to give me a different perspective
and it just wasn't right.
(20:50):
And maybe that.
Maybe that was a telltale signthat maybe it wasn't the right time
for me to do that, you know,to be in that race.
But, you know, as I said, youneed that community and you need
those people to be able totell you the way it is.
But then again, when thingsdon't go right, it's important for
(21:15):
me and hopefully for everyoneto know that I recognize that it
wasn't the right thing and Ididn't act.
And part of being a confidentleader, that leading with the head
part is that you know when toact and went to change.
(21:36):
And so that makes it, youknow, my failures are my failures
and nobody else.
Yeah, right.
And.
And that's actually a reallygreat thing.
It's.
You know, we have to.
We.
We make our beds and we arethe ones that direct the things that
we do.
It's not anybody else's fault.
(21:57):
It's.
We do need to take theownership and understand that.
And that is something that Ithink also helps us get to that unstoppable
success because we can look atwhat we've done and we can measure,
monitor, and adjust what we'vedone and then move and pivot along
that.
And something that you said.
I also really want to bringout, Vicki, that I think is something
(22:19):
that maybe people don't realize.
The other key element that issuper important with.
With success, and that is the community.
Your tribe.
Your tribe is so important tosurround yourself with a group of
people that you.
That.
That will be the booger buddythat will help you, you know, with
(22:44):
the good, the bad and the ugly.
And having that board ofdirectors, so to speak, you know,
who is that tribe that you canrely on, you know, that you want
to bring into the fold?
Yeah, it is truly.
And I.
And I think, you know, that'swhere people.
(23:04):
Leaders kind of fail too,where they think, well, I have to
do it all myself.
I can't delegate becausenobody can do it as quick, as fast,
as good as I do.
But for me, it was always,well, my role is to teach you how
to do it, but also learn fromyou different ways.
(23:26):
I often talk about GPs in ourlives where we may have a way to
get to that end goal, butsomeone else may have a different
way.
They still get to the end goal.
It's just different.
It's not wrong.
And so I think as leaders, wehave to remember that that's part
(23:47):
of the, the, I guess,education that I had to change the
way that I lead is because Ihad so many leaders that told me,
this is how you do it, A, B,C, D. And if you stray from ABC or
D, it's not right and you haveto do it over again.
And I was that person thatalways said, but F will get there.
(24:12):
And, and, and, you know, butwhat if I'm that what if.
And you know, that's a part ofwhere my speech should the.
The other day is.
I'm that what if, like, whatif we did it differently?
You know, what would.
What would it change?
How, how could it be possiblybetter if we did it completely different
(24:36):
than we always have done it?
And, you know, that's pushingpeople outside of their comfort level.
You know, I think that's why Ilove AI, because AI to be really
effective with it, you have tolearn how to ask good questions so
that the answers you get fromAI are more exacting to what you
(24:57):
really need.
Yeah, that's so true.
You know, Vicki, I love whatyou're doing.
I love the fact that you'rehelping people lead and teaching
them, having their head, theheart in their hand.
It is so important to leadwith that authenticity and have the
emotional intelligence in that.
It does change.
I think it's such a hugechange to leadership.
(25:20):
It's not the end, as youshared, it's not the loudest person
in the room, but it's a personwho's listening and somebody who's
compassionate and understandsand brings out the best in others.
Tell our listeners how theycan learn more about you, the courses
that you offer, and where theycan hear you speak.
(25:44):
Well, I am actually going tobe speaking next week in Miami at
a convention, the IDAS Women Convention.
And.
And then you can see me everyweek, several times during the Week
on YouTube as well as Spotify,all of those places at my Find your
(26:09):
leadership confidence podcast,my YouTube channel is Vicky Nethling.
So simple as that.
You can have over 600 episodesor almost 700 now episodes recorded
in the last three years andthere's about five, 76 out there
right now, so tons of content.
(26:32):
But all my content is toconnect people with the experts that
can help them be moreconfident to grow Their business,
to scale their business torealize that they don't have to do
this alone.
You can find me on Facebook.
I can't add any more people though.
I'm at the Max, but it'sVictoria Neathling and I'm on Instagram
(26:58):
as Victoria as well.
And then LinkedIn is alsoVictoria, so you can find me all
those places.
I love to put content outabout leadership, about confidence.
And I hope to do some morecourses on how AI is helping me save
(27:22):
40 hours as I do my podcastproduction so that I can concentrate
on other things.
But I speak on.
It's just a conversation toteach people how to be able to not
worry over a pitch orpresentation, memorize things.
(27:44):
Again, being authentic,speaking from the heart, just having
a conversation and thenleading from the head.
The heart.
I'm sorry, from the heart, thehead and the hands.
The heart is the.
The heart is the empathy, theemotional intelligence that allows
(28:04):
you to build relationships, toreally connect with people, to understand
them.
And then once you have thatconnection, then it's easy for you
to get that head connection,to be able to share vision, share
how they can help with themission and the goals and, and how
important they are to those things.
(28:25):
And then they've hands is theservant leadership.
I truly believe that you haveto give back more than you get.
Yeah, yeah, that's.
That's so true.
Well, Vicki, I've loved havingyou on this, on the podcast listeners.
I will have all of those linksin the show notes so you can connect
with her.
And please do connect with Vicki.
(28:47):
Learn more about what she is doing.
She is truly a remarkable human.
And do me the favor of notonly hitting subscribe, but also
sharing this episode ofUnstoppable Success with your friends,
your colleagues and peoplethat you know and love, because there
is great wisdom here and Vickihas a lot to share.
So thank you again, Vicki, forbeing an amazing guest and thank
(29:10):
you listeners for being partof the Unstoppable Success journey.
I'm Jacqueline Schrominger,your host, and until next time, be
unstoppable.
Well, hello everybody andwelcome to another amazing episode
of Unstoppable Success.
This is the podcast where wehelp you have unstoppable success.
And we hear from amazingguests who share their stories, their
tips, their impact, and howthey can help you be that unstoppable
human in your life and yourliberty and your pursuit of all happiness.
(01:02):
So today I have the immensepleasure of having Vicki nestling
on my podcast.
I hope I got it said it rightbecause, you know, we were talking
beforehand all about thenames, you know, because names are
so important.
But let me tell you a littlebit about Vicki because she is truly
remarkable.
She's a speaker, she's atrainer and a coach and she focuses
(01:24):
on public speaking and leadership.
She also has an anti agingwellness business.
But she really, you know, oneof the key things that she really
loves sharing is, is all aboutleading with her heart.
That the head, the heart andthe hand.
And let me tell you, she'struly a remarkable person about when
(01:45):
it comes to leading andhelping people, you know, lead with
the confidence that they needto today and how that helps you also
have unstoppable success.
So welcome Vicki.
Thank you so much, Jacqueline.
It's a pleasure to finally beon your show.
We were back and forth and sharing.
So, Vicki, you have hadlooking at your career, you've done
(02:10):
some amazing things and you'veworked at a lot of different places.
You worked in corporate.
So how did you go from thatcorporate life to the unstoppable
success you've had now beingin public speaking and coaching?
(02:33):
Well, that's an interestingthing because I had no vision of
doing this whenever I turned60 and decided I was going to retire.
I thought the reason I waswanting to retire is I was going
to be a grandmother and Iwanted to be able to do all things
(02:54):
with my grandchild because forme, my grandparents were the son
in my life.
They were so wonderful andthey were always present.
And so I wanted to be that person.
And so that's also why Istarted working with an anti aging
multi level marketing groupbecause I wanted to be healthy.
I wanted to be able to chaseafter those grand boys.
(03:18):
And so that it turned out thatthe business, the products, everything
are so wonderful that it was abonus for me.
But I spent about two yearsjust watching television and catching
up and doing gardening andgoing on some trips.
(03:38):
And I just noticed that insome of my associations with other
groups that people just werelacking mentors, they, they were
lacking, you know, thosepeople that I was fortunate to have
that were there to share abouttheir journey and what really works
(03:59):
and maybe kind of guide youfrom things that you should maybe
avoid or understand thatfailure isn't the end of the world.
It's really just the lesson.
And I just, after two years, Isaid, you know what?
I need to start to give back.
That's.
To me, that was what mypurpose was, that I have all these
(04:21):
four decades of experience,and you just shouldn't sit back and
have people not be able tounderstand the different options.
You and I talked before westarted, and I knew how impactful
it was when I finally realizedthat 50 that I led in a different
(04:43):
way, a different way that wasimpactful, that really built trust,
and it was an authenticitybehind it that you didn't ever feel
like you were not being whoyou were.
And people appreciate that.
And so that led me to start my business.
(05:05):
And I first started just.
I thought I'm just going to dosome courses online.
And then I thought, well, youknow, I need to talk about it, so
I, I should do some speaking.
And then the more that I didthe speaking and the, the online,
I had people that reallywanted to sit.
And so that's where thecoaching came in.
(05:27):
But the podcast was just atoastmaster project.
I love that.
And it was, you know, justaround Covid and I had, during COVID
worked with some of the olderParish FAM members, I guess, and
I didn't want them to be alone.
(05:49):
And so I said, well, we'lljust talk online and have like tea
online and things.
And they told me their stories.
And eventually I'm going tohave another podcast that's just,
it's just a conversation withVicki where I just have you tell
their stories because it's sofabulous that people have these lives
(06:14):
and they don't even realizehow special they are.
And I think that they shouldbe captured and so that.
That I own the URL.
It's just a conversation.
That's great.
I love that.
So, you know, so let's, youknow, success and having that.
I mean, you, you said youdidn't have a vision, but you, but
(06:35):
you had more, I would say thepassion and the heart rate, you know,
and so how do you feel thatthat plays a role and has played
a role in both, you know, thecorporate success that you did have.
Right.
And because you, you had agreat career in corporate to, to
(06:58):
where you are now in the.
With the great success thatyou're having also in, you know,
in speaking and sharing your,your leadership with.
And trainings with others.
You know, I think it's why Icall my podcast Find you'd leadership
confidence.
(07:19):
Because I just saw so manytimes even in myself as I was growing
up.
I was one of seven, the secondin line and my older sister was very
a personality strong and myyounger brother was like a go along
with kind of person.
And I was always the middlechild type of thing until others
(07:42):
came along and then you had tobe a leader for these others that
came along.
So I, I guess that's kind ofstarted it.
But I never thought I wassmart enough.
I never went to college untilI was 47 or 45 and, and so I always
thought I had to do more, Ihad to do personal development, I
(08:02):
had to prove myself.
And in doing so I think Ilearned that I did have things to
contribute.
And when you see people, whenyou give advice or whenever you give,
(08:24):
suggest how they might trythings and it works and this, the
joy in their faces when thingsgo well and the appreciation that
they have, it makes me feel wonderful.
And I've almost, I always sayleadership, the hands part is the
(08:46):
service.
And I found that the directionthat gave me that I got the most,
I guess learning from besidesmy failures was when I volunteered
and I volunteered hundreds ofhours and I was so fortunate to volunteer
next to CEOs and other C suitepeople, pastors, people who were
(09:10):
from all works of light walksof life.
And it was so in, I guessimpressive on me that it was okay
to not be the smartest person,that that is the person in the room
that learns the most.
Because now you are theobserver, you really take in the
(09:34):
world and see what do you likeand what do you think you should
never do.
And I think that's whatstarted to form my leadership style.
But I also realized that itwas important for me those mentors
that I had that listened tome, not to judge, not to talk, every,
(10:02):
you know, just continue totell me what I should do, how I should
do it.
But they truly let me expressmyself and that just built confidence
over time to say, okay, thatidea is a good idea, that idea is
a crazy idea.
And then you just start to change.
(10:26):
And I think that's the otherpart of leadership that we have to
understand that when we get tobe good at one thing, it's time to
push to that part.
That's the scary part.
So it was totally differentfor me to go from corporates, project
management, everythingscheduled and to being an entrepreneur.
(10:49):
Surely the, the timemanagement skills I learned over
the over years helps when youWork on your own.
But it really is to have thecourage to say, okay, you don't know
everything.
You should reach out to peoplewho can be your coaches.
(11:09):
And I guess ultimately thelesson that I always, always have
to go back to is you have tolearn to trust your gut.
And, and I think that's alesson that even when you know it,
there are going to be timeswhen you question it.
(11:32):
Yeah, self doubt comes in,self sabotage.
And that's, you know, the nextlesson when you don't trust your
gut, what happens happens fora reason.
Right.
So I think that's somethingthat I try as I coach people is to,
you know, as we're even aswe're working on their talk or presentation,
(11:58):
does that, do those words feelright to you?
Like, as you're saying them, Isee you struggling because if it
doesn't resonate with you, ifit doesn't feel right, then you shouldn't
say them.
Right?
Yeah, it has to, it has toring true with your, with who you
are and the values that you have.
You know, you've said, yousaid a couple things that I just,
(12:20):
I want to remind and they're,they're really key points for listeners,
which is, you know, you beingable to have people that, in your
life, in your career, thathelped you without judgment or that
didn't pass judgment andexpress yourself.
(12:45):
And that's, and that'ssomething that I really truly believe
that we want to make sure thatour listeners understand is that
as, as you are leading peopleand also if you find yourself in
a position where you feel youare being judged and this comes to
where you, I think your pointwhere the gut, where your gut tells
(13:08):
you if you're feeling that inyour gut and you're feeling that
you're being judged and you'renot able to express yourself, that
might be a really a goodtelltale sign for you to either make
a shift, either maybe it's notthe right place for you to be working,
or maybe that person is notthe right partner for you to have.
(13:28):
So being able to use that as asign so that, you know, that's like
that sign that says, oh, youknow what, we need to do different.
Right?
Yeah.
I recently had a, a big lesson learned.
And again, at 67, I still getthem all the time.
(13:50):
And, and even though, andmaybe you can appreciate this too.
Even though I coach this, Iteach this, we're human, we're not
perfect.
And so there will be those times.
So I recently was going for aelected position and I was doing
(14:10):
wonderfully and you have to doa two minute speech at the election
time so that the voters canfinally decide whether or not you
are the right person.
And my coaches and my teamwere telling me I needed to be more
global and all this and I wasstruggling with that.
(14:32):
I thought well, it's peopleand I talk about leadership and things.
So I was really struggling andI did something that I never do and
I asked the coach, I saidwell, well tell me what I should
say.
I, and, and to give me someguidance, you know, what, what, where
(14:53):
should I go with this?
I'm.
I'm not finding the words.
And so they wrote down awonderful speech and it was inspiring
and a motivational speech andas I was practicing it I was struggling.
And I never struggle to do a talk.
(15:16):
I never do.
I just.
Because I always talk aboutwhat I know.
I always share what isauthentic to me and therefore it's
not a speech.
I always teach that.
It's just a conversation thatyou're having with people, whether
it's a thousand people or twopeople or whatever.
(15:38):
And so I am sitting in theaudience and two people that were
in the race with me got up anddid their talk and I sat there thinking
the speech is not right, thespeech is not right, you should just,
just get rid of it and just goup and speak from your heart.
(15:58):
And I walked up the stairs andI started the speech, but it wasn't
the right speech.
I didn't listen to my gut.
I didn't.
And I knew as I was speakingit that the audience was like, what
is she?
I don't understand why she'sdoing this.
(16:19):
She was so great yesterday.
What is happening today?
And so I sat down after thetwo minutes and again it was a great
speech.
It just wasn't the right speech.
And I knew it wasn't the rightspeech and I knew I lost the race
at that moment.
And it was a great lesson forme to learn that I, no matter what,
(16:39):
no matter who is telling meand as a coach it's really important
for me to remember this that Ihave to make sure that I pull out
the best in the people that Icoach and I don't try to make them
mini me's because it won'tresonate with their audience.
They will not be themselves.
(17:01):
So I thought that was atremendous lesson for me to be reminded
again, trust my gut and don'tbe afraid to change at the last minute.
And I've done that before.
I'm sure you have too.
I'VE got it looked at theaudience that I thought, oh, no,
they don't need what I got tosay today.
They need to hear somethingdifferent and.
(17:22):
And changed.
But it was fine.
It was great.
That one pivotal moment, I didnot listen to myself.
Yeah.
You know, being authentic toourselves is so important for our
unstoppable success.
And you have just re statedthat really and, and enhance that
(17:47):
because it's.
Because in order for us to gofrom A to B, we have to, again, we
have to trust our gut.
We have to know and it has toresonate with our values.
And you know what?
I'm really surprised the coachthat you were working with didn't
say to you, Vicki, I see thatyou're struggling with this.
(18:07):
So obviously something is not right.
Let's, you know, if it's notauthentic to you as a coach too,
it's like we have to, we haveto pull out the things that are authentic
our clients and also to helpthem know where to go with that authenticity.
Because, because, you know,you giving a speech, we, you know,
(18:32):
there's a lot of great waysthat you could probably have done
something that probably felt alittle bit better to you.
And, And I, I feel bad thatyour coach did not pull that out.
So.
But listeners, I think, yeah,really important, like understand
that that's also somethingthat's really.
I mean, we.
You need to stick to thevalues and the things that matter
both.
And if it doesn't, if it's notsitting well with you, again, that's
(18:58):
a sign.
It's not a bad sign.
It's a sign for you to take apause a minute and say, oh, this
is something I need to changeor I need to go a different direction.
Yeah.
And I think too, a couple things.
One of the, as anentrepreneur, as a leader, you really
(19:21):
have to embrace community.
There were people that justmoments before I sat in my seat,
I had an empty seat beside me,and I had passed a few people that
I have been on this leadershippath for 20 years that would tell
(19:43):
me, you know, your face is notlooking right, your.
Your makeup's wrong, your.
You just are messing up.
They.
They just tell you like it is.
You know, I need that.
That kind of person.
And I didn't have.
Yeah, that's right.
Not to gross out of it.
I used at my last company, Ihad a guy who was a southern sweet
(20:08):
guy.
He was probably in his 60s,and he said, you need ogre.
You need something when yournose is not clean and you do.
You just need that And I knowthat if I would have asked any of
those people, hey, this is agiant job.
What do you think they wouldhave told me?
(20:29):
That is a WTF speech.
You should not do that.
But I didn't.
So that, you know, and that'swhy I don't really blow my coach
at all, because they weretrying to give me a different perspective
and it just wasn't right.
(20:50):
And maybe that.
Maybe that was a telltale signthat maybe it wasn't the right time
for me to do that, you know,to be in that race.
But, you know, as I said, youneed that community and you need
those people to be able totell you the way it is.
But then again, when thingsdon't go right, it's important for
(21:15):
me and hopefully for everyoneto know that I recognize that it
wasn't the right thing and Ididn't act.
And part of being a confidentleader, that leading with the head
part is that you know when toact and went to change.
(21:36):
And so that makes it, youknow, my failures are my failures
and nobody else.
Yeah, right.
And.
And that's actually a reallygreat thing.
It's.
You know, we have to.
We.
We make our beds and we arethe ones that direct the things that
we do.
It's not anybody else's fault.
(21:57):
It's.
We do need to take theownership and understand that.
And that is something that Ithink also helps us get to that unstoppable
success because we can look atwhat we've done and we can measure,
monitor, and adjust what we'vedone and then move and pivot along
that.
And something that you said.
I also really want to bringout, Vicki, that I think is something
(22:19):
that maybe people don't realize.
The other key element that issuper important with.
With success, and that is the community.
Your tribe.
Your tribe is so important tosurround yourself with a group of
people that you.
That.
That will be the booger buddythat will help you, you know, with
(22:44):
the good, the bad and the ugly.
And having that board ofdirectors, so to speak, you know,
who is that tribe that you canrely on, you know, that you want
to bring into the fold?
Yeah, it is truly.
And I.
And I think, you know, that'swhere people.
(23:04):
Leaders kind of fail too,where they think, well, I have to
do it all myself.
I can't delegate becausenobody can do it as quick, as fast,
as good as I do.
But for me, it was always,well, my role is to teach you how
to do it, but also learn fromyou different ways.
(23:26):
I often talk about GPs in ourlives where we may have a way to
get to that end goal, butsomeone else may have a different
way.
They still get to the end goal.
It's just different.
It's not wrong.
And so I think as leaders, wehave to remember that that's part
(23:47):
of the, the, I guess,education that I had to change the
way that I lead is because Ihad so many leaders that told me,
this is how you do it, A, B,C, D. And if you stray from ABC or
D, it's not right and you haveto do it over again.
And I was that person thatalways said, but F will get there.
(24:12):
And, and, and, you know, butwhat if I'm that what if.
And you know, that's a part ofwhere my speech should the.
The other day is.
I'm that what if, like, whatif we did it differently?
You know, what would.
What would it change?
How, how could it be possiblybetter if we did it completely different
(24:36):
than we always have done it?
And, you know, that's pushingpeople outside of their comfort level.
You know, I think that's why Ilove AI, because AI to be really
effective with it, you have tolearn how to ask good questions so
that the answers you get fromAI are more exacting to what you
(24:57):
really need.
Yeah, that's so true.
You know, Vicki, I love whatyou're doing.
I love the fact that you'rehelping people lead and teaching
them, having their head, theheart in their hand.
It is so important to leadwith that authenticity and have the
emotional intelligence in that.
It does change.
I think it's such a hugechange to leadership.
(25:20):
It's not the end, as youshared, it's not the loudest person
in the room, but it's a personwho's listening and somebody who's
compassionate and understandsand brings out the best in others.
Tell our listeners how theycan learn more about you, the courses
that you offer, and where theycan hear you speak.
(25:44):
Well, I am actually going tobe speaking next week in Miami at
a convention, the IDAS Women Convention.
And.
And then you can see me everyweek, several times during the Week
on YouTube as well as Spotify,all of those places at my Find your
(26:09):
leadership confidence podcast,my YouTube channel is Vicky Nethling.
So simple as that.
You can have over 600 episodesor almost 700 now episodes recorded
in the last three years andthere's about five, 76 out there
right now, so tons of content.
(26:32):
But all my content is toconnect people with the experts that
can help them be moreconfident to grow Their business,
to scale their business torealize that they don't have to do
this alone.
You can find me on Facebook.
I can't add any more people though.
I'm at the Max, but it'sVictoria Neathling and I'm on Instagram
(26:58):
as Victoria as well.
And then LinkedIn is alsoVictoria, so you can find me all
those places.
I love to put content outabout leadership, about confidence.
And I hope to do some morecourses on how AI is helping me save
(27:22):
40 hours as I do my podcastproduction so that I can concentrate
on other things.
But I speak on.
It's just a conversation toteach people how to be able to not
worry over a pitch orpresentation, memorize things.
(27:44):
Again, being authentic,speaking from the heart, just having
a conversation and thenleading from the head.
The heart.
I'm sorry, from the heart, thehead and the hands.
The heart is the.
The heart is the empathy, theemotional intelligence that allows
(28:04):
you to build relationships, toreally connect with people, to understand
them.
And then once you have thatconnection, then it's easy for you
to get that head connection,to be able to share vision, share
how they can help with themission and the goals and, and how
important they are to those things.
(28:25):
And then they've hands is theservant leadership.
I truly believe that you haveto give back more than you get.
Yeah, yeah, that's.
That's so true.
Well, Vicki, I've loved havingyou on this, on the podcast listeners.
I will have all of those linksin the show notes so you can connect
with her.
And please do connect with Vicki.
(28:47):
Learn more about what she is doing.
She is truly a remarkable human.
And do me the favor of notonly hitting subscribe, but also
sharing this episode ofUnstoppable Success with your friends,
your colleagues and peoplethat you know and love, because there
is great wisdom here and Vickihas a lot to share.
So thank you again, Vicki, forbeing an amazing guest and thank
(29:10):
you listeners for being partof the Unstoppable Success journey.
I'm Jacqueline Schrominger,your host, and until next time, be
unstoppable.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.