The Intentional Greatness Podcast

We have recorded almost 150 episodes of the Intentional Greatness Podcast, and we are beyond grateful for your continued support, enthusiasm, and feedback. During this special announcement episode, Sue discusses what to expect from the show in the coming weeks, as well as changes that you will hear in our upcoming spring episodes.   What You Will Learn: What can you expect from the show in the next few weeks The exciting changes coming later this year Why you should continue to share your feedback and thoughts about the podcast Where you can find continued support and resources from Sue Resources: Chasing Perfection Book 2-Day Intentional Greatness® Immersive Experience: https://suehawkes.lpages.co/smart-start-2-day-8-31-21 Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS

"Clarity is the elimination of mental clutter, agility is the elimination of physical clutter, and tranquility is the elimination of spiritual clutter," says author James Clear. In this episode of the podcast Sue and her daughter, Ali Stieglbauer, discuss decluttering to create mental, spiritual, and physical space. During their conversation, Sue and Ali share thoughts about why we tend to declutter during transitional periods and how saying no allows us to create more space. What you'll learn about in this episode: The importance of removing mental, physical, and spiritual clutter You must declutter your mind, not just your physical space Why you must declutter your calendar to create mental space How to restore order in chaos What inner tranquility means Why you must say "no" more often in order to create space Why how you dress impacts how you show up internally How to declutter to remain engaged online How to have an elimination diet for your life Resources: Chasing Perfection Book 2-Day Intentional Greatness® Immersive Experience: https://suehawkes.lpages.co/smart-start-2-day-8-31-21 Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS Decluttering for Clarity Clarity is the elimination of mental clutter, agility is the elimination of physical clutter. and tranquility is the elimination of spiritual clutter, says author James Clear. My daughter, Ali Stieglbauer, is joining us again to discuss decluttering to create mental, spiritual, and physical space. During our conversation, Ali and I share thoughts about why we tend to declutter during transitional periods. We also explain how saying no allows us to create more space. Showing Up to Level Up As our work culture has changed throughout the pandemic, many people believe that the rules have changed regarding physical appearance and showing up. However, not showing up in a professional wardrobe or with your physical presence on screen, does not allow for a level playing field. This may be an old school belief system, but you have to dress for the game you want to play. Knowing When to Say No When you're pondering what things to eliminate — it's really about knowing when to say no. Decluttering your life is about saying no to things, in order to elevate and level up. It can be difficult to say no, but it's an essential part of being a leader. Ultimately saying no allows you to reach an ideal state of tranquility, agility, and clarity.

As a bestselling author, keynote speaker, Expert EOS Implementer, Certified Business Coach, WPO Chapter Chair, and globally recognized, award-winning seminar leader, Sue brings over twenty-five years of experience to her clients. She is the CEO of YESS! and has designed and delivered dynamic, transformational programs for thousands of people. Sue has received numerous awards including the Dream Keeper award recognized by the Governor's Council for her leadership program, the Regional U.S. Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion of the Year award, the Exemplary Woman of the Community award, WomenVenture's Unsung Hero award, Women Who Lead from Minnesota Business Magazine, NAWBO Minnesota's Achieve! Vision Award and named a 2018 Enterprising Woman of the Year. Sue has been featured in publications including Inc., Entrepreneur, Thrive Global and The New York Daily News. What you'll learn about in this episode: Why you must change your mindset in order to combat burnout Why you need to pause and remember you are in control How to form effective, lasting habits How to determine your recipe for success Why this is the year to do what makes you happy Why you should take five quiet minutes in the morning to be present Resources: Learnworlds Online Learning Community: https://yess.learnworlds.com/ Unf♥https://www.sayyess.com/shop/ Whole Life Challenge: https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/ Daily Blog Sign-Up: https://www.sayyess.com/blog-signup Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Collective Burnout As we continue battling a pandemic we are finding that more and more people are beginning to experience a feeling of burnout. People are just tired. Tired of their current circumstances and mentally exhausted. While there have been many discussions surrounding burnout - there has not been a lot of talk focused on ways to combat it. During our conversation, my daughter, Ali, and I share insights into what we really need when we're experiencing burnout and how to avoid it altogether. Habits Create Success If you're experiencing burnout due to overexertion or being overworked, one of the first things you should do is take better care of yourself. It may feel impossible to dedicate time to things like movement or meditation - but it's necessary. You have to choose what you say "yes" and "no" to in order to experience positive change. When forming habits it's important to look back and think about how you've felt doing this in the past. Healthy habits are not about instant gratification. The Power of Mindset When you feel burned out, it's likely because you are sick of doing the same things that don't fuel you or fulfill you. When you feel this way, it's important to remember that you are in control. You have the power to change your behavior, surroundings, or anything else that does not serve you. We put too much emphasis on what we think we should be doing, instead of what we need. In order to truly exile burnout - we must start paying attention to the things that make us feel good and do more of that.

As a bestselling author, keynote speaker, Certified EOS Implementer, Certified Business Coach, WPO Chapter Chair, and globally recognized, award-winning seminar leader, Sue brings over twenty-five years of experience to her clients. She is the CEO of YESS! and has designed and delivered dynamic, transformational programs for thousands of people. Sue has received numerous awards including the Dream Keeper award recognized by the Governor's Council for her leadership program, the Regional U.S. Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion of the Year award, the Exemplary Woman of the Community award, WomenVenture's Unsung Hero award, Women Who Lead from Minnesota Business Magazine, NAWBO Minnesota's Achieve! Vision Award and named a 2018 Enterprising Woman of the Year. Sue has been featured in publications including Inc., Entrepreneur, Thrive Global and The New York Daily News. What you'll learn about in this episode: Why you must hire with Core Values How to effectively hire over a screen How to manage a hybrid workforce What employee capacity really means How to determine who your right employees are in a hybrid world The 3 questions to prepare for tough workplace conversations How to have tough conversations with superiors when you are the employee Resources: Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS YESS! Online learning community: yess.learnworlds.com Results Guaranteed communication course (if you loved the communication information, learn more here!): https://www.sayyess.com/results-guaranteed/ Core Values Cards: https://www.amazon.com/Values-Cards-John-Veeken/dp/0980517532/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NWXEOTSEZW5W&dchild=1&keywords=core+values+cards&qid=1611804572&sprefix=core+values+car%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1 Getting Messy The challenging part of business isn't business at all - it's people. Business is easy, people are challenging. During this week's episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, my daughter Ali and I share our insights on communication best practices in the workplace. In 2022 things are going to get a lot messier before they get cleaner. It's important to know what employees really want right now and what they're willing to trade to have those things. Throughout our conversation, we discuss core values and how to make sure that someone is a right fit during the hiring process. Finding A Core Value Match Hiring new employees is difficult, but finding the right fit virtually is an entirely new challenge. While many companies work with teams they have never met in person - it can feel impossible to spot the wrong person in a mobile world. Unfortunately, if you don't have the right practices in place - it is a lot easier for someone to fake it. When analyzing if a potential hire aligns with your company's core values, implement core values cards during the hiring process to get a better understanding of where your prospect lies. Not Going Anywhere When you feel attacked in the workplace or are experiencing criticism, it's natural to want to retreat or get defensive. But, there are better and more effective ways to respond. It's important to make sure that everyone involved knows that their concerns were heard, are valid, and most importantly you are not going anywhere. We all have a choice to continue to stay in the circumstance or not. If you're the employee in this situation and are dealing with a superior - you should come to the conversation armed with data. Spend time role-playing the conversation, to eliminate the element of fear. Don't let the conversation be the first time you've talked it through.

Small businesses, ranging from 10 to 200 employees realize that a wrong person can change the course and trajectory of your business. This makes it critical to find the right person for your company. During this solo episode, Sue shares her thoughts about the importance of raising our standards and hiring the ideal talent for a business. What you'll learn about in this episode: What does right person, right seat mean Why outsourcing work may be the best fit when looking for new talent Why you should not lower the bar when hiring Why all businesses should slow down How employers should handle in-office vs remote employees Resources: Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS Share the Goodness: yess.learnworlds.com Changing the Course Small businesses, ranging from 10 to 200 employees realize that a wrong person can change the course and trajectory of your business. This makes it critical to find the right person for your company. During this solo episode, I share thoughts about the importance of raising our standards and hiring the ideal talent for a business. Finding the Right Person It's common to struggle in the hiring department in most businesses. The key is to find the right person and the right seat. This means having an employee that is not only good at performing the required skills, but also a good fit within the company culture. It's good business to raise your standards and take the proper amount of time needed to locate the best employee. While searching — outsource work to contractors to meet short-term needs. The Ideal Balance Some businesses are set up to thrive as an online company, while others, myself included, have some level of our business in person. The workplace in 2021 has been disrupted with some employees wanting to work from home, others wanting higher compensation for commuting to the office, and some are looking for a hybrid work solution. Businesses must find a healthy intersection between the well-being of employees and the well-being of the company. In this episode of the Intentional Greatness Podcast, I explain why I think remote employees need to operate at a 25% higher productivity rate and how businesses should consider adjusting benefits for their employees.

Often people see others who they deem successful, and they think, "of course, it happened for them." The truth is that success doesn't come without hard work and intention. Intentionality is like a math equation. You set an intention of certain results and then determine what practices you need to reach it. In this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue shares her thoughts on what it means to be intentional, how intentionality shows up in your life, and how to design an intentionally great life. What you'll learn about in this episode: What does intentionality mean and how does it show up for you Why you need to redefine who you are to become what you intend Why you should reassess when things are working well and not working How often you should evaluate what's important in your life How to find an accountability partner to help you achieve success Resources: Chasing Perfection Book 2-Day Intentional Greatness® Immersive Experience: https://suehawkes.lpages.co/smart-start-2-day-8-31-21 Online Learning Community: https://yess.learnworlds.com/ Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS Showing Up Intentionally Often people see others who they deem successful, and they think, "of course, it happened for them." The truth is that success doesn't come without hard work and intention. Intentionality is like a math equation. You set an intention of certain results and then determine what practices you need to reach it. In this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue shares her thoughts on what it means to be intentional, how intentionality shows up in your life, and how to design an intentionally great life. Remaining Patient In our current world, we are used to instant gratification. Whether that's getting groceries delivered within hours or merchandise shipped to our home in days–we are used to the immediacy of things. Overall, the persistence and patience to be intentional about something over time is a somewhat lost art. Achieving Intentional Greatness requires intention and a lot of hard work. Sue shares how her upbringing taught her to work hard and remain persistent and patient on this episode of the Intentional Greatness podcast. Assessing and Evaluating When designing your life, it's important to exaggerate your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. However, it can be difficult to even understand what those are when you are never taking the time to look closely. Re-evaluate and reassess your life when things are not working, and also when things are working very well. Doing this process regularly allows you to course-correct your life and reach the intentions you set.

In this special episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast with the City Girl Empower Hour podcast, Sue speaks with host Alyza Bohbot James about how to use the principles of EOS to become successful in both your professional and personal life. During the conversation, she discusses how important remaining disciplined is to reach your ultimate level of success. Also, Sue shares tactics to combat the feelings of burnout by saying no more often, and how committing to small, incremental daily improvements have helped her achieve more success. What you'll learn about in this episode: What does it mean to live the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)® life How does discipline and being intentional impact your level of success Why is it important to say no to maintain clarity and intentionality What does work-life balance actually mean to most people How business owners often think that they cannot take breaks if they want to be successful How can business owners achieve their vision and what they want in their business Why the healthiest business owners are those that are detached How business owners can stop searching for perfection, and instead strive for excellence or greatness Why entrepreneurs need to have a group of confidants outside of their business and personal life What are the benefits of working on incremental, consistent improvements daily Resources: Chasing Perfection Book 2-Day Intentional Greatness® Immersive Experience: https://suehawkes.lpages.co/smart-start-2-day-8-31-21 Online Learning Community: https://yess.learnworlds.com/ Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS Combating Burnout In this special episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast with the City Girl Empower Hour podcast, Sue speaks with host Alyza Bohbot James about how to use the principles of EOS to become successful in both your professional and personal life. During the conversation, she discusses how important remaining disciplined is to reach your ultimate level of success. Also, Sue shares tactics to combat the feelings of burnout by saying no more often, and how committing to small, incremental daily improvements have helped her achieve more success. Remaining Disciplined Sue learned in her 20s that discipline is the key to all success. While she naturally tends to overfill her life and do things last minute, she found that the people she met who were intensely successful, all had one thing in common — discipline. Eventually, Sue learned from both mentors and experience, if you don't develop discipline and practices you will eventually burn out and run yourself down. Incremental Improvement At 42 years old, Sue committed herself that she would get better incrementally each year, moving forward. She decided that by age 50, she would be on the road to being in the best shape of her life. Sue kept that promise to herself, and she was able to by remaining consistent and committed to improving incrementally each day. She started from her worst, most vulnerable place in life, and was able to move forward by always remaining hopeful.

The world gives us what we need, but unfortunately, it's not always what we want. When we are forced to learn a lesson or go through things that are not what we expected, how do we remain resilient enough to learn? During this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue and Ali discuss remaining open and keeping a positive mindset during challenging times. Sue also explains what your negative emotions and thoughts mean, and what she does to shift her mindset. What you'll learn about in this episode: How to remain resilient and receptive enough to remain open and learn lessons Why you should set intentions and efforts only on the things you can control How to change your mindset when you are thinking negative thoughts Why your negative feelings are about being disappointed in yourself, not reality The question to ask yourself when you are feeling down or sad How to avoid arguing with the reality of situations and outcomes Resources: Chasing Perfection Book 2-Day Intentional Greatness® Immersive Experience: https://suehawkes.lpages.co/smart-start-2-day-8-31-21 Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS Remaining Resilient The world gives us what we need, but unfortunately, it's not always what we want. When we are forced to learn a lesson or go through things that are not what we expected, how do we remain resilient enough to learn? During this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue and Ali discuss remaining open and keeping a positive mindset during challenging times. Sue also explains what your negative emotions and thoughts mean, and what she does to shift her mindset. Losing Expectations If you were to look back on your life and ask yourself, how often have things turned out exactly as you expected, the answer would likely be close to never. Sometimes we miss the mark, while other times we exceed it. We tend to live in a false hope that we know what the future holds when in truth we do not. This allows us to feel liberated and free, knowing that we are not responsible for the outcome. We are only responsible for our efforts. Setting Intentions Byron Katie says, "when I argue with reality I lose 100% of the time." When life offers circumstances that are neither for or against you, you can choose to become irritated and blame others or you can look for the opportunity of what this situation is offering you. Arguing with reality does not serve you. Focus on where you put your efforts and only put your emotions into where you set your intentions.

How do you find the ever-elusive work-life balance, in whatever way balance looks for you? During this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue and Ali discuss chapter 2 of Chasing Perfection: Shatter the Illusion, Minimize Self-Doubt and Maximize Success, titled "Balance is Bullshit." During the holiday season, it can be difficult to integrate your work priorities along with your personal priorities. Sue shares how to prioritize your needs during busy and stressful times. What you'll learn about in this episode: Practices to prioritize ourselves amid professional and personal conflicts Why creating boundaries is critical for managing stress and setting short term priorities How planning for the things that are important to you can help you reduce resentment and increase enjoyment Why it's important to take the time to get clear on what makes you your best self How to observe yourself and discover what you need at the moment Three things you can do to reflect and gain more clarity Resources: Chasing Perfection Book 2-Day Intentional Greatness® Immersive Experience: https://suehawkes.lpages.co/smart-start-2-day-8-31-21 Online Learning Community: https://yess.learnworlds.com/ Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS Finding Balance How do you find the ever-elusive work-life balance, in whatever way balance looks for you? During this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue and Ali discuss chapter 2 of Chasing Perfection: Shatter the Illusion, Minimize Self-Doubt and Maximize Success, titled Balance is Bullshit. During the holiday season, it can be difficult to integrate your work priorities along with your personal priorities. Sue shares how to prioritize your needs during busy and stressful times. Setting Boundaries During stressful times, like the holiday season, you have to become crystal clear on what you need and factor that into your decision-making. When choosing what events to go to, or what additional responsibilities to take on, it's all about boundaries and stepping back to see what actually works for you. You have to be disciplined enough to plan for the things that matter most to you. Become a student of what makes you awesome, and focus on doing those things. Do not allow yourself to get distracted by busyness and saying yes to things that will eventually lead to resentment. Getting Clarity You need the space to be able to evaluate and observe yourself, to ask "why did I behave this way?" When you begin to ask yourself what you need, you will discover that it always comes back to you. You can blame others, but you won't get anywhere. Take the time to pause, reflect, and get clarity on what you need right now, and figure out how to get that. Sue shares the three things she does to get more clarity on what she needs.

We all experience moments in life when we feel down or in a bad mood, and we may typically step back during those times. However, this week Sue chooses to be vulnerable and share some of the challenges she has been facing in life recently. During this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue also explains how to move forward when you are feeling bad, and the importance of evaluating the things you say yes and no to in life. What you'll learn about in this episode: The first thing that Sue does when she is in a bad mood How to hack yourself when you are feeling down or not your best self How to do the things you love without making it a bad experience or becoming resentful Why saying yes to one thing often includes several additional yesses What an inauthentic yes is and why we shouldn't do it Why it's important to weigh and evaluate your yeses and nos Resources: Chasing Perfection Book 2-Day Intentional Greatness® Immersive Experience: https://suehawkes.lpages.co/smart-start-2-day-8-31-21 Website: https://www.sayyess.com/ Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS Feeling Down We all experience moments in life when we feel down or in a bad mood, and we may typically step back during those times. However, this week Sue chooses to be vulnerable and share some of the challenges she has been facing in life recently. During this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue also explains how to move forward when you are feeling bad, and the importance of evaluating the things you say yes and no to in life. Hacking Yourself Sometimes it's okay to resent that the world isn't happening on your terms. It's okay to be sad and upset about the circumstances or struggles that you are facing. When you feel this way, you can hack yourself into feeling better by giving more of what you need. If you want a hug, go give one, acknowledge or appreciate someone when you don't feel appreciated. Once you put that energy out into the world, you often start to see it return to you. Evaluating Yes Do not be too quick to say yes. Pause long enough to evaluate, and then negotiate. If the answer is no, give yourself permission to say so. During the short term, you might feel a little bit of hurt or sadness, but you don't want to give an inauthentic yes because you gave a yes that at the moment seemed like the right thing to do, and then the day of may not. Evaluate your yesses and nos and learn to say no and stick with it.