After hitting record for over two years, I’ve decided to end this show. In this episode I’m joined live for a conversation on why I decided this, how I came to the decision, and what it’s taught me about how others react when hearing about big life and business decisions. We talk about: How important it is to get quiet, Getting over the fear of losing connection when you’re not pumping out content, The push and pull between relevancy and authenticity, Separating what you want from what you think you should want, and LIstening to — what Oprah calls — the whispers of the universe. Stay connected long after this show has ended by signing up to receive emails from me: www.patternofpurpose.com.

Business growth can, at times, feel like you’re on a roller coaster — anticipating the unknown is scary and invigorating. Before you know it you’ve become addicted to the act of climbing and bottoming out — so addicted, in fact, that you feel you have to steer the cart at all times. Aside from not being a very effective way to run a business, this makes stepping away and trusting a team quite difficult. As my final interviewee, Karen Sergeant, helps us to understand how to prevent bottleneck behaviors and bridge the gap between good ideas and good execution. Working in the CIA, she cut her teeth in what she calls “the hardest parts of the world” and is using those skills to help small businesses. A pro at surfing ambiguity and uncertainty, Karen has great tips for delegation, creating systematic frameworks, and keeping business fun while also effective.  In this episode we talk about: Walking away from a dream job; The differences in operating as a freelancer and a business owner; What boring money is and why we overlook it; How you know if you need a COO, a project manager, or an integrator; Deciding what ideas to pursue; and The switch from time-based pricing to value-based pricing.

Earlecia Richelle never had a roadmap for her career. While fashion has always been her north star, it’s been integrated in her work in unexpected ways, taking her across the globe as a stylist, mixologist, and national brand ambassador. On today’s episode Earlecia shares what top brands are doing well that corporate and personal brands skip over—connecting your brand to your consumer’s lifestyle, narrowing in, and creating an aspirational aesthetic. With a personality as bold as her wardrobe (you must follow her on IG), Earlecia shares: How she followed her internal spark even when there was no model for what her varied interests could lead to, Being unapologetic about pricing, Why luxury isn’t as much about price as we think it is, and How you must experience life fully if you’re going to inspire others through your work. Be sure to sign up to attend the final podcast recording. Bring your questions and experiences moving through transitions and turning points.

All business owners reach a point where they want to pursue opportunities outside of their current focus. Sometimes that’s writing a book. For others it’s sharing their personal story.  So what happens when that desire looks different from the outside than what you’re doing right now? How do you convey all sides of who you are and what you do when these parts aren’t necessarily tied to your marketing goals? My answer: personal branding.  In this episode I talk about,  The top reasons you might need a personal brand, Tackling the most common objections to personal branding, Taking a summer sabbatical, and A BIG announcement about the future of this show. Sign up for the final podcast recording.

Those numbers on your balance sheet - they have no meaning. We’ve been conditioned to believe that growing our revenue is the goal. But what today’s guest, Josh Greenbaum, wants you to think about is why you’re growing in the first place. Josh has been an Advisory CFO for over a decade and what he’ll willingly tell you is that his work isn’t always easy to grasp. Like many of us who use our training and experience in multi-dimensional roles, Josh has had to explain why his services are different from those you can get with a low monthly fee.  As we explore commoditization we talk about the human experience of what you sell. Once you can capture that in your messaging, it’s much easier to stand out. In this episode we also cover,  Why numbers alone have no meaning,  The reason “do what you love” messaging impacts what we charge, Getting addicted to the process of growing, and Why profit first isn’t always the goal. Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

I recently took a trip to Palm Springs for a photoshoot. This photoshoot was the big one—the one that would take down all photoshoots. So you can imagine my confusion, angst, and sadness when the results didn’t come back as imagined.   This episode is all about what it looks like to be in the middle of change. While everyone loves to say that change is messy, we rarely accept it as such. The desire to push through it and have it figured out is real. But what would happen if we can roll through these disappointments and setbacks rather than labeling them as a waste of time, money, and energy?   That’s the question I’m considering as I take the mic solo and unscripted in the midst of a season of great expectations.

We cheer for our healthcare heros. But do we actually understand what they’re going through?   Today’s guest, Dr. Hisla Bates, does. An Ivy-league trained, board certified psychiatrist, who also happened to have a career as a fashion designer, Dr. Bates coaches women physicians who are experiencing burnout.   Even if you’re not a healthcare professional, you probably understand the toll it can take when you wear busyness as a badge of honor. Dr. Bates brings a firsthand account of the fast-paced lifestyle we’re convinced we need and why normalizing stress is dangerous.   In this episode we cover: Why female physicians are at the highest risk for burnout, The health scare Dr. Bates faced in her 30s and how that changed her life perspective, How to create conditions for creativity, Making the distinction between your personal interests and your professional calling, and Why “just one more thing” leads to burnout.   This episode is dedicated to those of us who think we can (and should) do it all—as parents, partners, managers, and visionaries.

If you’re in business you’re in sales. And every salesperson has to expect negotiation.    When you’re in charge of making decisions you also have the freedom to name your price, availability, and timeline. This is great because as you evolve you can shift your prices, start a waiting list, and let a prospect know when you’re not a good fit.    And still there will always be someone who wants it all and wants it THEIR WAY.   Knowing what you can promise -- good, fast, or cheap -- (hint: it’s never all three) will help you navigate these conversations and uphold the boundaries you need to deliver your highest level of service.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

We all know that social media isn’t everything—it’s a snapshot. Swap that out for newsletters, podcasts, or however you stay connected. We see flashes of success and think, “They’re killing it.”   Some of us are saddled with home responsibilities we’ve never had before — kids being at home 24/7, dishes and cleaning, schooling during the day and working until midnight. Others have had tremendous space to create as the world loosened up on its hurried expectations. But we’ve all experienced envy.   Despite what you’ve heard, envy isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In this episode I’m sharing: Why we need to pay more attention to what we’re envious of, Important questions to ask yourself to assess whether envy is helpful or harmful, A surprising action I took when I was recently feeling jealous, and Keeping your sights on the life you want your business to afford you.

How do you decide which pieces of your story to share and where to share them? How do you know when you’re even ready to do so? Today’s guest, Shawnta Jackson, is a master at using storytelling to leave a lasting impression. No matter the arena, this successful leader, social entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and single mother commits to showing up as the highest expression of her authentic self. That kind of exposure isn’t easy; even a calculated risk comes with a high degree of anxiety. For Shawnta, however, the rewards of repeatedly stretching beyond her comfort zone - and modeling that lived experience for her audience - continues to inform her life choices. Shawnta and I discuss leveraging our overlapping personal and professional identities, when appropriate, in the stories we share and journaling as a creative tool for self-assessment. We also talk about sorting through the shame that often keeps us from crafting more compelling narratives. Please note: We discuss sensitive topics, including domestic abuse. Listen with caution and, if you need to step away, I’ll be back next week with a solo episode. In this episode, we cover: Navigating the in-between stages of life, where we no longer quite identify with the way we once did, but haven't fully stepped into our future identity, Journaling as a therapeutic activity and planning device, Taking action outside our comfort zones, Overcoming the shame associated with sharing difficult life experiences in the content we create, The evergreen wisdom of acclaimed mentors, and Deciding which of our personas show up where.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.