Prepare to Emerge

12/16/2023

Sage advice ❤️👊🏻

Almost 9 years ago, I had the honor of being an on-air commentator on CNN. It was one of the most challenging and intellectually stimulating jobs I’ve ever had.

You want to know what the hardest part was? It was dealing with all of the comments and criticism people hurled at me online. If someone didn’t like my opinion or my legal analysis of some issue, the trash talk was brutal.

“Your neck is saggy just like your opinions.”

“You should go back to the hole you crawled out of.”

“Why is someone so ugly on television?”

“How does a moron like you have a law degree?”

For the first year, this criticism was devastating. It made me second guess myself and it made me nervous when the cameras were rolling and I was about to talk… and it made me wear a lot of high-neck blouses to hide my saggy neck.

I don’t remember how I had this breakthrough or who I have to credit for it, I just know at some point I made this switch in my mind and everything changed…

If I didn’t want to trade my life with someone who had nothing better to do than to sound off insults on Twitter while they watched TV, why the f*ck do I care what they think?! 🤯

This same mindset applies to the people that criticize you in real life.

If the person doesn’t have what you want in life, why are you listening to their opinion? Most people can’t even cheer themselves on, which is why they’re having a hard time cheering you on.

Look for people who are living the kind of life or building the kind of company or creating the kind of relationship that YOU want.

Those are the people whose opinions you should trust. Everyone else is entitled to their opinion but you shouldn’t listen to it.

07/04/2023

Happy Birthday America! ❤️🤍💙 We celebrate our beloved home country today and are thankful for the freedoms many armed service members have fought for over the years. Now more than ever we see the importance of never giving up on our nation truly being the land of the free, a place where all Americans are free from discrimination and treated equally in the eyes of our government. The work for freedom for all must continue 💯

06/06/2023

I’ve learned that when you have your own business you must set boundaries and have a routine that serves you to keep your energy up for yourself and your clients. This means I must be intentional about recharging to have what I need to show up fully and bring my best thinking to my business and those I work with. Part of my routine involves making time for a quarterly solo retreat. As a natural introvert a couple of days alone to think and rest is exactly what works for me. So I am currently at my fave private, quiet spot and deciding between two napping options at the moment. The weather is gorgeous. Relax on a chaise by the pool or take a snooze on the swing bed in the screened-in porch? Tough decisions must be made often when you run your own biz but today I’m up for the challenge of this one 😎 How do you like to recharge!? I’m always looking for new ideas for myself and my clients!

05/30/2023

I hope our summer will include lots of time spent doing the things we love, growing our skills, and having fun. We are off to a good start! Nico joined Jr. PGA and he is gaining so much confidence and having a great time while learning self-control, humility, and the spirit of teamwork 😎

02/07/2023

I’m exploring some stateside Leadership Fuel retreat destinations where busy leaders can slow down and immerse themselves in relaxing, recharging, and resetting priorities! This locale is at the top of my list at the moment. Any guesses on where we might end up? Be sure to get on our retreat wait list for priority notifications! Just head on over to our Prepare to Emerge homepage! 😎

02/07/2023

The messages we hear and the things we tell ourselves can influence our thoughts on whether or not we are “right” for leadership or if leadership is right for us. How can you know for sure? Head over to our Prepare to Emerge website and check out our thoughts on this topic in our Leadership Fuel blog!

02/07/2023

A new favorite I recommend to my leadership coaching clients who want and need to develop deeper connections and more productive relationships with those they work with. If you listen to the Audible version it’s like having a front row seat in the wildly popular MBA course the authors have been teaching at Stanford!

06/23/2020

Only when diverse perspectives are included, respected, and valued can we start to get a full picture of the world: who we serve, what they need, and how to successfully meet people where they are.

Daring leaders fight for the inclusion of all people, opinions, and perspectives because that makes us all better and stronger. That means having the courage to acknowledge our own privilege, and staying open to learning about our biases and blind spots. It is also listening, centering, and honoring stories that reflect experiences that are different than our own.

Courage is listening, learning, unlearning, knowing when to lead, and knowing when to let others lead.

06/01/2020

One thing I’m observing in my coaching practice is that now more than ever, rising leaders feel called to show up authentically... and the world is counting on this. I was excited to read up on a fantastic example of authentic leadership - that of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Just wow!

I encourage you to explore and discover your own unique ways of showing up authentically and imagine how this can fuel your ability to inspire and really impact others. It takes courage and confidence and an intentional practice to show up authentically. That said, these are things you can absolutely grow so don’t let a lack of these things today prevent you from envisioning and planning for what’s next for you.

Authentic leadership doesn’t just mean 'being true to yourself'. It requires self-awareness, a moral compass, understanding your own internal biases and vulnerability.

05/28/2020

This is what I’m reading at the moment. Lots of tools, prompts, and mindset tips packed into a brief 91 pages! Even a section on how to boost your optimism (never a better time for that!). If you’re feeling like you might benefit from some added mental fortitude these days you might find this quick read helpful... 🤓 What are you reading at the moment?

12/22/2019

Interesting read I stumbled upon... I’ve always believed leadership is indeed learned. Apparently the learning starts early and begins at home.

Have you taught your kids to be more persuasive? You should, because that will make them more successful.