In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I’m so excited to welcome Heather Hall, a transformative Leadership Coach, strategic Executive Coach, and evocative Spiritual Director whom I met through CLCC. She’s also the author of Step Up and Stand Out: 20 Tips for Aspiring Introverted Leaders. Heather helps aspiring introverted leaders, and their managers, connect with their voices and values to bring their ideas and vision to life.  I hope that you enjoy this episode about stepping up and standing out for introverts with Heather Hall.

In this episode, Heather and I discuss:

• What is an introvert, extrovert, and ambivert? What goes on inside the mind of an introvert?
• How discussions around “following your passions” puts pressure on introverts to prove themselves or go for something seemingly larger than life.
• The corporate world was created by extroverts for extroverts. So, how do you navigate leadership as an introvert?
• Why Heather wrote Step Up and Stand Out and the lessons she’s learned throughout her corporate career.
• How workplace boundaries can improve your quality of life, your relationships with co-workers, and even prevent burnout.
• The power of saying “tell me more” before accepting opportunities or new commitments.
• Tips and advice for transitioning from a specialist role to a leadership-focused management role.
• How introverts give away their power at work and how to fully own your introverted skillset without people-pleasing or perfectionism.
• Networking, collaborating, and creating effective partnerships with extroverts.
• How to cultivate more joy in life.

Resources:

Heather Hall’s website: Discover with Heather

Step Up and Stand Out: 20 Tips for Aspiring Introverted Leaders by Heather Hall

Connect with Heather on LinkedIn

ClaimPodParity List and Website

Love the show, and what to show your support?

Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.

10 Things That Will Inspire More Passion and Joy in Your Work and Life

1. Introspection - Using the tools above, or working with a coach, a mentor, or a journal can provide a lot of insight for you. It's also important that you take time to heal any sort of past trauma or issues that might be making it hard for you to define or get in touch with your passions.
2. Just start moving and working on things. Lots of times people think that they need to have everything all figured out before they can take the first step. Instead, think of the first logical step and give it a try.
3. Let your passion stand on it's own. If you're interested in something, give it a try. Sometimes, instead of taking a first step, you may think that you need to have a plan to monetize a hobby, or have an end goal in mind for why you'd begin working on it. Passion and creativity are often most joyful when they are done for the sake of being fun and playful. You don't need an end "result" on the horizon to begin.
4. It's OK to make bold moves. You often learn the most when you try something that is out of your comfort zone. Many people worry that they will "fail" when they try something they haven't done before. What if you removed that idea from the equation, and decided that there was no such thing as failure when it comes to following your passion?
5. It's OK to "go back" to something if your first try doesn't work the way you'd planned. If you are working on building a business, and it doesn't work the way you'd envisioned the first time, it's OK to go back to work that supports you and your family. There's no shame, and nothing lost in continuing your quest as a side hustle, or starting over with a new focus.
6. Notice if you've had "enough." You might discover that something that once brought you joy no longer does. Or, you might realize that you've had enough at a job that isn't serving you, or that you're no longer interested in continuing a hobby or a business that you once enjoyed. This is natural and part of being human.
7. Look for the pivot points. I also call this being "well planned and loosely held," but notice when you see something shifting before your eyes in your plans. Often times, as you begin to build something your focus changes. You can also shift your business or your hobby or your interests to match those changes.
8. Follow what feels right. If you've grown tired of doing something, stop. If something else feels interesting or bring you joy, do that. Resist staying with something just because you "should."
9. The universe will give you opportunities to show you that you can do it. As you begin to grow your hobby or your passion or business, you'll see that the universe will show you that you're very capable of doing something. Looking back, you'll be able to see that you overcame challenges to get to where you are. Stop to celebrate those wins. You grow and change as your interests do, and it's always good to notice that you did something you once thought might be impossible.
10. You'll get more of something when you're ready. This may have to do with manifesting, or with growth. You'll see that once you've got a grasp of how to do something, you'll often be faced with opportunities that allow you to grow. Be intentional about the growth. You might find that old versions of what you thought you wanted resurface. It's OK to say no to things that don't fit you, anymore

Resources

Brene Brown’s “Living Our Values” Exercise

ClaimPodParity List and Website

Jen Edds of Brassy Broadcasting Company (she created the #ClaimPodParity song)

Heather Hall, Coach for Introverts

Interview with Lauren Artress about Labyrinth

Love the show, and what to show your support?

Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.

In this interview, I'm excited to be joined by Scott Leftwich. Scott originally started collecting console video games, and then began collecting early arcade games. He now owns 125 video games, and has the largest privately held collection of video games on the East Coast. Once a month, he opens the arcade for "Wieners and Losers," where people can play games for three hours and enjoy hot dogs and other food. He also has a band named Scott Leftwich and The Atarians, and in 2021 he opened an 80s themed Airbnb in his home. I hope you enjoy this conversation celebrating the 80s! 

Read the full show notes on my website.

In this episode, Scott Leftwich and I talk about:

• the 1980s, and how as kids we had so much fun
• his love of early 1980s arcade games (1984 and earlier)
• how his collection of early 1980s arcade games grew, and how he learned to work on them
• Wieners and Losers, his monthly arcade event
• that he has 9 games of which there are 10 or less remaining in the world
• his band, Scott Leftwich and the Atarians
• the inspiration for his 80s themed Airbnb that opened in 2021
• the joy that the arcade brings the community

Resources

Long Live the 80s! Wieners and Losers Website (find out more about the arcade)

Scott Leftwich and The Atarians

Scott's 1980s themed Airbnb in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Scott and Wieners and Losers on The Daily Woo

Love the show, and what to show your support?

Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.