034: The Transformative Power of Journaling

In the closing episode of season one of 'Creating the Vision,' I reflect on the journey of the past 43 episodes, discussing varied topics and connecting with entrepreneurs and corporate individuals.  We highlight the importance of taking a break for personal rejuvenation and planning for an exciting season two centered around storytelling and impactful guests. Key lessons shared include the importance of starting regardless of the outcome, dedicating time to dream and write down goals, and understanding that success paths are non-linear.  The episode also features a personal story to motivate listeners to think about what they truly want in life and how to show up for it. It ends with an announcement of a sabbatical to recharge and hints at future projects and an event in September for South Florida locals.   We talk about: 00:00 Intro 01:11 Taking a Summer Sabbatical: The Importance of Breaks 02:09 Exciting Sneak Peek: What to Expect in Season Two 03:06 Life Lessons from Starting a Podcast 04:48 A Personal Story: Finding Direction and the Power of Pausing 09:08 The Ski Trip Epiphany: Lessons on Life and Momentum 17:05 Planning for a Productive Sabbatical and Season Two Teasers 21:36 A Heartfelt Thank You and Looking Forward Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Event link: Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/    

In this episode of 'Creating the Vision', I welcome guest Carl Staib, owner of SOP Guide, who shares his insights into developing effective Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both corporate entities and entrepreneurs.  Carl emphasizes the importance of SOPs in saving time and money, streamlining processes, and reducing friction in business operations. He explains how simple, focused SOPs can empower team members by providing clear expectations and guidelines, leading to improved business outcomes and personal growth.  Our discussion covers topics from the significance of habits and systems in achieving goals, to the benefits of setting clear communication standards within teams. He also touches on his personal journey from running a consulting company to becoming an advocate for systematic improvement in businesses through his work with SOPs. Additionally, the episode explores the broader implications of implementing SOPs in personal life management and overall leadership effectiveness.   We talk about: 00:00 Intro 00:22 The Importance of SOPs in Business Success 02:44 Carl's Journey: From Work Happy Now to SOP Guy 04:23 The Power of One-Page Documents for New Employees 08:17 Implementing SOPs for Efficiency and Growth 12:50 The Role of Appreciation in Leadership and Productivity 14:53 Creating Systems for Regular Employee Appreciation 21:17 The Challenge of Habit Formation and Goal Setting 22:28 Simplifying Goals: The Key to Achieving More 24:48 Navigating Friction in Business and Personal Dynamics 25:13 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Overcoming Challenges 26:52 Experimenting with SOPs for Better Sales Handoffs 28:57 Creating a Roadmap for Business Improvement 34:07 The Power of Planning, Time Management, and Communication 35:58 Introducing the Friction Assessment Tool 40:40 Do the Dang Goal Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with Carl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sop.guide?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sopwritingguide https://sopguide.com/   Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/    

In this Mental Health Month episode of 'Creating the Vision', I welcome guest Wendy Pomerantz, the founder and personal stylist behind Antidote Styles, who has dedicated her career to helping women revolutionize their image and self-confidence through fashion.  Wendy, with a degree in fashion merchandising from Florida State University, discusses her transition from retail merchandising to personal styling, emphasizing her passion for empowering women through their wardrobe. She explains her comprehensive process that includes an initial consultation, closet edit, personal shopping, and styling sessions designed to create functional, confidence-boosting wardrobes tailored to each client's lifestyle, body type, and budget.  Wendy shares her evolution into entrepreneurship, the upcoming launch of her styling suite, and the transformative power of personal styling. The conversation also touches on balancing current fashion trends with personal style, the psychological aspects of styling, and the importance of building a versatile wardrobe. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 01:52 How she got started in fashion 04:30 Forming a personalized style vision 10:35 Balancing current fashion trends while incorporating sentimental pieces 13:46 Investing in the essentials 16:02 Styling challenges she has faced 21:59 Her entrepreneurship journey 24:19 Who are the brands she gravitates towards and why 26:49 Editing your own closet 28:15 Do the dang goal Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with Wendy Instagram: ​​https://www.instagram.com/antidote_styles/?hl=en https://bio.site/Antidotestyles   Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/  

In this Mental Health Month episode of 'Creating the Vision', I welcome guest Mitzi Ocasio, founder of Let's Think LLC and a children's book author, to share her insights on mental health, the importance of controlling overthinking, and leveraging personal stories for healing and empowerment.  Mitzi discusses her journey of exploring her mental health through her podcast, 'Let's Think with Mitzi', and emphasizes the power of filtering thoughts, the impact of internal dialogue, and finding peace through spirituality. She also touches on societal pressures, the significance of self-talk, and practical strategies for improving mental health, such as the exercise of saying 'Silencio, Bruno!' to silence intrusive thoughts, inspired by the movie 'Luca'.  The conversation explores themes of consistency, discipline, embracing our dark sides, and using words powerfully. Mitzi's story highlights the complexity of mental health and the continuous effort required to maintain it while encouraging listeners to discover personal methods that work for them. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 03:21 Filtering your thoughts 05:42 Emotional plate being full for women, causing stress 09:03 Equating birthdays with milestones and only feeling achievement if you've hit these arbitrary accomplishments 11:21 Lies you've told yourself about you, what you deserve, about your worthiness 14:54 How often have we ignored something because "it couldn't possibly be for me" 19:32 What does it look like to care for your mental health 27:59 Do the dang goal Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with Mitzi Instagram: ​​https://www.instagram.com/mitzithinkinc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzi-ocasio-3a343a24b/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/letstalkmitzi/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitziThinkInc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Ikzi7cb9AbwA8CbVt3ihw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064244280126 https://mitzithinkinc.com/   Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/    

In this episode of 'Creating the Vision', we kick off Mental Health Month by inviting Dr. Andre Caruso, a psychologist and personal trainer for the brain, to discuss the importance of mindset and behavior for mental health.  We explore the concept of mental fitness similar to physical training and delve into Dr. Andre's background from hospitality to psychology, emphasizing his work in melding mental wellness with business. The discussion covers topics like the impact of COVID-19 on work habits, the significance of leadership and soft skills in corporate culture, and the evolution of workplace dynamics post-pandemic.  We touch upon personal experiences and the importance of maintaining mental health through various strategies, including setting boundaries, acknowledging emotions, and the adaptability of human behavior toward achieving personal and professional goals. Dr. Andre promotes a message of trying new things, embracing change, and allowing oneself permission to pursue personal awesomeness. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 02:35 Ivolve 05:36 Building trust in the workplace, crossing generations 11:28 The idea of balance for different people 14:22 Seasons or stages of business, the importance of taking breaks 19:48 Thoughts on self care 27:38 Debunking the idea of needing x amount of days to make a habit, his 3 Rs 34:24 Our experiences affect everything we engage with and color our interpretations 44:22 Giving yourself permission to dream and set goals 50:51 More than one thing can be true 53:39 Do the dang goal Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with Dr. Andre Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrecaruso/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drandrecaruso/   Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/  

This episode of 'Creating the Vision' focuses on the importance of setting boundaries around our goals to enhance productivity and maintain peace of mind.  We talk about the need for clear boundaries and highlight the challenges many face with saying 'no' and the potential consequences, such as burnout and stress, and the episode explores strategies for setting hard and soft boundaries across various aspects of life.  Practical tools and resources for goal setting, time management, and boundary setting, including the host's workbook and the Eisenhower matrix, are shared. I also discuss the necessity of clear communication when setting boundaries and the benefits of having a 'boundary buddy' for accountability. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 01:07 Join my monthly workshops 02:33 The topic of being a recovering people pleaser 04:06 Why do we find it difficult to set boundaries 05:31 Why do we need boundaries and where should we set them 07:18 The effect on our health of not supporting boundaries 10:23 Hard and soft boundaries 16:52 Protecting your personal time/peace 18:34 How to communicate our boundaries 20:51 Establish a boundary buddy 22:29 Clear and direct communication 23:31 Wrap-up tools and resources Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/  

In this episode of Creating the Vision, I sit down with Richard Woo, founder and wealth advisor at Catalyst Planning Partners, to discuss the intertwining aspects of money, purpose, power, and relationships.  Richard, who oversees over 600 million in client assets, shares his life mission and the impact he aims to make on the world through financial advising. The conversation delves into Richard's upcoming book, 'The Relationship Recession,' tackling the loneliness epidemic and ways to foster deeper connections. Our discussion further explores the significance of understanding one's relationship with money, the misleading fears surrounding it, and the importance of aligning money management with personal goals.  Richard shares his personal journey into wealth advising, influenced by a family tragedy, and emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful work that transcends financial gain. He also highlights the power of asking the right questions to unveil one's relationship with money, stressing the value of experiences over material wealth. The episode also covers intentional living, the societal taboo around discussing finances, and the critical role of relationships in achieving a fulfilling life. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 02:37 What led him to working with wealth and advising 06:20 Money is neutral 08:03 How would he advise someone who is trying to work on having a relationship with money 11:40 Family dynamics of teaching money 16:13 You don't have to do it alone 17:40 How did the book come together 27:26 The importance of timing 32:58 What is an experience you are working towards having 35:20 His 'do the dang goal' Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with Richard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalyst-planning-partners https://catalyst.nm.com/   Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/  

In this episode of Creating the Vision, I sit down with Carroll Van Hook Weaver, the Director of Leasing and Marketing for Kenect, a revolutionary living space concept. The discussion revolves around Carroll's extensive background in hospitality, customer service, and housing development, shedding light on her journey with Kenect since its inception in Nashville and Phoenix.  Carroll shares details about Kenect's mission, its distinctive approach to living spaces that cater to busy professionals, and exciting plans for future expansion. The episode also talks about our upcoming collaborative event geared towards creating community and reassessing our goals to date. Personally, I love staying at the Kenect property when I'm traveling, because they really do have everything you need. It's like your own home away from home! We talk about: 00:00 Intro 01:48 The Evolution and Impact of Kenect: From Hospitality to Housing 04:44 Exploring the Brand Pillars of Kenect 06:15 The Unique Lifestyle and Community of Kenect 11:48 The Future of Kenect: Expanding Corporate Partnerships 17:49 More Than Just an Apartment 23:02 Exploring Innovative Programming and Digital Engagement 23:52 The Evolution of Event Planning and Member Engagement 25:30 Creating a Unique Living and Working Experience 26:51 The Vision Behind Kenect: Revolutionizing Multifamily Living 30:39 Expanding the Connect Experience: Local and International Growth 33:28 Vision Boarding and Empowerment: Upcoming Event Highlights 35:44 Setting Professional Goals and Enhancing Corporate Partnerships 37:58 Upcoming Event Details Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with Carroll https://www.kenectnashville.com/ https://www.facebook.com/KenectNashville https://www.instagram.com/kenectnashville https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnYWbUP5PTdBKb9pYO0OPqg   Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/  

In this episode of Creating the Vision, I sit down with Daniel Wakefield, a former high school teacher turned renowned photographer. Daniel shares his journey from wildlife photography in Canada to becoming an influential headshot photographer under the mentorship of Peter Hurley.  He founded TopTier Headshots, combining his passion for genuine human expression with photography to boost people's confidence through their headshots. Daniel discusses the importance of presenting oneself authentically to the world and how he utilizes expression coaching to elicit natural, confident looks from his clients, which has profound impacts on their professional and personal lives.  The conversation covers the transformative power of headshots, Daniel's approach to photography as a confidence-building tool, and his upcoming book aimed at creative entrepreneurs. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 02:24 The evolution of self 09:42 His process creating genuine moments of human expression 17:01 What mentorship has meant to him 25:03 Helping his clients achieve their best results every time 35:40 His 'do the dang goal' Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with Daniel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toptier_headshots/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toptierheadshotsfl Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/top-tier-headshots/ https://www.toptierheadshots.com/   Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/  

In this episode of Creating the Vision, I discuss the importance of journaling for personal growth and well-being.  Sharing personal anecdotes and scientific evidence, the episode explores journaling's benefits, including stress reduction, improvement in mood, and increased memory strength. I also share about overcoming a traumatic experience through journaling, emphasizing its healing power.  Additionally, the episode offers practical tips for starting a journaling practice, such as writing daily, making it easy to write anytime, and using the journal as one sees fit. We talk about: 0:00 Intro 00:20 My history with journaling 02:02 Friday Five 03:33 Benefits of journaling to reduce stress 06:33 Tracking goal progress 07:13 Boosting mood 12:37 Improve immune function and memory boost 13:54 You find inspiration 15:37 Her journal that's coming out 16:13 Four ways how to journal Resources: Workbook: https://a.co/d/9GpwurV Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamaldonadosmith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confessionsofacorporatemom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-maldonado-smith-a506805/ Website: https://mmsconsultingfirm.com/