An Ordinary Tuesday

Welcome to An Ordinary Tuesday, the podcast for people who want to create a life and future that feels like theirs. I’m Helen Collard, and each week I’ll be sharing thoughts, ideas and conversations to help you get clearer on what you want, build your confidence, and take practical steps towards the life, business and future you want to create. We’ll talk about the things that matter, the things that get in the way, and the small shifts in thinking and action that can lead to real transformation. Sometimes we’ll get into the practicalities of building a business. Other times, we’ll explore the questions we need to ask ourselves, the beliefs we need to challenge, and what it means to create a life on our own terms. My hope is that you’ll find something here that makes you stop and think, see something differently, or feel ready to take that next step. Make yourself a coffee, get comfortable, and join me for an ordinary Tuesday.   Come and find me My website: www.helencollard.com   The Next Chapter Pathway: Practical lessons, tools and support to help you create the life, build the business and become the person you want to be. www.helencollard.com/pathway     Free resources: Explore my free workbooks and guides to help you get clearer on what you want and start putting it into practice. [www.helencollard.com/free   Free Authenticity Audit Workbook: The Authenticity Audit is a guided workbook to help you uncover the labels and expectations you’ve been carrying, work out which ones genuinely belong to you, and reconnect with what matters most. You’ll explore where you might be performing to please others, what you’re afraid they’ll see when you show up as yourself, and how to navigate other people’s reactions as you start making choices that feel more true to who you are.  https://www.helencollard.com/Authenticity-audit-sign-up   Free Find Your Place Workbook: Find Your Place - A Guided Workbook to help you get clear on your skills, your passions, what you can do, who you can help and to help you identify ways you can earn income through your strengths and interests. https://www.helencollard.com/find-your-place-signup   Instagram: Come and join the conversation.https://www.instagram.com/helen_collard/   Get in touch: Have a question, an idea for an episode, or something you’d like me to explore? I’d love to hear from you.  Email me: [email protected] A little favour If you enjoy An Ordinary Tuesday, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen. If an episode makes you think of someone who might enjoy it, share it with them.   It really does help more people find the podcast, and I appreciate it. Thanks for being here. I’ll see you on an ordinary Tuesday. This Weeks Episode: Where Has Your Mojo Gone? And How Do You Get It Back? Have you ever felt as though somebody has turned the volume down on your enthusiasm? You're getting through the days, doing what needs to be done, but the spark just isn't there. Things that used to excite you feel like hard work, motivation seems to have disappeared, and you find yourself wondering where your mojo has gone. With the darker mornings, shorter days and the long run towards Christmas, November can be a challenging time of year. Add work, family responsibilities and the ever-present cost of living pressures, and it's easy to find yourself feeling a little stuck. In this episode, I'm exploring what happens when we lose our mojo, why waiting to feel motivated might not be the answer, and how we can start to get that sense of energy, curiosity and enthusiasm back. It all starts with Freddie, my dachshund, and an encounter with some very unbothered swans. Freddie spent an extraordinary amount of energy barking at them, while the echo of his own voice seemed to wind him up even more. Eventually, he moved on and discovered some enormous piles of autumn leaves. Suddenly, he was exploring, sniffing, investigating and having the time of his life. Same dog. Same park. Same autumn day. A completely different experience. It got me thinking about how much of our own energy we spend barking at the swans: trying to convince people who aren't listening, worrying about things we can't control, comparing ourselves with others, or continuing to push at doors that simply aren't opening. Perhaps getting your mojo back isn't about finding more energy. Perhaps it's about finding something better to spend your energy on. We'll look at the science of daylight, sleep and seasonal mood; why taking action can sometimes come before motivation; how to recognise the things that are draining your energy; and why having something to look forward to matters. I'll also share some practical ways to make winter work for you, even when money is tight, and explore how reconnecting with curiosity, creativity and the things you enjoy can help you feel more like yourself again. There's a practical Mojo Reset at the end, with five questions to help you work out what needs your attention and where your energy might be better spent. You don't need to reinvent yourself or embark on a grand life overhaul. Sometimes a small change of direction is enough. Perhaps it's time to stop barking at the swans and go and find the leaves. A question to take away What would you do differently if you were genuinely on your own side? Thanks for spending some of your time with me. I hope this episode gives you a little inspiration to make more room for the things that make life enjoyable. Helen x An Ordinary Tuesday  

 Welcome to An Ordinary Tuesday, the podcast for people who want to create a life and future that feels like theirs. I’m Helen Collard, and each week I’ll be sharing thoughts, ideas and conversations to help you get clearer on what you want, build your confidence, and take practical steps towards the life, business and future you want to create. We’ll talk about the things that matter, the things that get in the way, and the small shifts in thinking and action that can lead to real transformation. Sometimes we’ll get into the practicalities of building a business. Other times, we’ll explore the questions we need to ask ourselves, the beliefs we need to challenge, and what it means to create a life on our own terms. My hope is that you’ll find something here that makes you stop and think, see something differently, or feel ready to take that next step. Make yourself a coffee, get comfortable, and join me for an ordinary Tuesday. Come and find me My website: www.helencollard.com The Next Chapter Pathway: Practical lessons, tools and support to help you create the life, build the business and become the person you want to be. www.helencollard.com/pathway Free resources: Explore my free workbooks and guides to help you get clearer on what you want and start putting it into practice. [www.helencollard.com/free Free Authenticity Audit Workbook: The Authenticity Audit is a guided workbook to help you uncover the labels and expectations you’ve been carrying, work out which ones genuinely belong to you, and reconnect with what matters most. You’ll explore where you might be performing to please others, what you’re afraid they’ll see when you show up as yourself, and how to navigate other people’s reactions as you start making choices that feel more true to who you are.  https://www.helencollard.com/Authenticity-audit-sign-up Free Find Your Place Workbook: Find Your Place - A Guided Workbook to help you get clear on your skills, your passions, what you can do, who you can help and to help you identify ways you can earn income through your strengths and interests. https://www.helencollard.com/find-your-place-signup Instagram: Come and join the conversation.https://www.instagram.com/helen_collard/ Get in touch: Have a question, an idea for an episode, or something you’d like me to explore? I’d love to hear from you.  Email me: [email protected] A little favour If you enjoy An Ordinary Tuesday, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen. If an episode makes you think of someone who might enjoy it, share it with them.   It really does help more people find the podcast, and I appreciate it.   Helen x What's Stopping You From Creating the Life You Really Want? 7 Reasons I've Seen Again and Again We all have things we'd love to do. A business we'd like to start, a career we'd like to change, somewhere we'd love to live, a skill we'd like to develop, or perhaps we simply want life to feel a little different. So why do so many of us start out full of enthusiasm, only to quietly abandon those dreams somewhere along the way? Through years of working with business owners, mentoring people, teaching, and my own experiences of making some fairly significant life changes, I've noticed some recurring patterns. It's rarely a lack of talent or ability. More often, it's a combination of confidence, mindset, money, time and not knowing where to start. In this episode, I'm sharing seven reasons I've seen people give up on the things they really want to do, along with some thoughts on what we can do differently. We'll explore: Lack of vision: Why knowing what you want, and understanding your own values, matters before you start. Relying on talent alone: Why ability is only part of the picture, and why consistent action matters. Confidence and opportunity: How our experiences, upbringing and the messages we've received can influence what we believe we're capable of. Money: Why having a realistic financial plan and allowing for the unexpected can make the difference between a dream and a workable plan. Mindset: The impact of old beliefs, imposter syndrome and the stories we tell ourselves about what is and isn't possible. Capacity: Finding the time and energy to make changes, setting boundaries and learning to say no. Practical know-how: Why not knowing how to do something shouldn't stop you from getting started. I also share some personal experiences, including winning an art competition as a child, being discouraged from pursuing art, returning to university in my forties to study illustration, and learning to speak more confidently about my own work. There's a lot we can learn from looking at the people a few steps ahead of us, but it's just as important to recognise that we're already a few steps ahead of someone else. You don't need to know everything, have unlimited money or wait until the perfect moment. You need a direction, a willingness to learn and a way of keeping yourself moving forward. Your Next Chapter This is at the heart of why I created The Next Chapter Pathway. It's a place to work through what you want from life, develop your confidence, learn practical skills and make progress towards the things that matter to you. With four pillars covering your foundations, personal development, business and life, you'll find resources, exercises, guidance and a community of people working on their own next chapters. If you're ready to stop putting things off and start making some changes, come and take a look. Explore The Next Chapter Pathway: [Insert your website link] A question to leave you with Which of these seven things do you recognise in yourself? And if you could change just one of them, which would make the biggest difference to your life? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for spending some of your Tuesday with me. Helen x An Ordinary Tuesday

  Welcome to An Ordinary Tuesday, the podcast for people who want to create a life and future that feels like theirs. I’m Helen Collard, and each week I’ll be sharing thoughts, ideas and conversations to help you get clearer on what you want, build your confidence, and take practical steps towards the life, business and future you want to create. We’ll talk about the things that matter, the things that get in the way, and the small shifts in thinking and action that can lead to real transformation. Sometimes we’ll get into the practicalities of building a business. Other times, we’ll explore the questions we need to ask ourselves, the beliefs we need to challenge, and what it means to create a life on our own terms. My hope is that you’ll find something here that makes you stop and think, see something differently, or feel ready to take that next step. Make yourself a coffee, get comfortable, and join me for an ordinary Tuesday.   Come and find me My website: www.helencollard.com   The Next Chapter Pathway: Practical lessons, tools and support to help you create the life, build the business and become the person you want to be. www.helencollard.com/pathway     Free resources: Explore my free workbooks and guides to help you get clearer on what you want and start putting it into practice. [www.helencollard.com/free   Free Authenticity Audit Workbook: The Authenticity Audit is a guided workbook to help you uncover the labels and expectations you’ve been carrying, work out which ones genuinely belong to you, and reconnect with what matters most. You’ll explore where you might be performing to please others, what you’re afraid they’ll see when you show up as yourself, and how to navigate other people’s reactions as you start making choices that feel more true to who you are.  https://www.helencollard.com/Authenticity-audit-sign-up   Free Find Your Place Workbook: Find Your Place - A Guided Workbook to help you get clear on your skills, your passions, what you can do, who you can help and to help you identify ways you can earn income through your strengths and interests. https://www.helencollard.com/find-your-place-signup   Instagram: Come and join the conversation. [Add your Instagram link] Get in touch: Have a question, an idea for an episode, or something you’d like me to explore? I’d love to hear from you.  https://www.instagram.com/helen_collard/   A little favour If you enjoy An Ordinary Tuesday, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen. If an episode makes you think of someone who might enjoy it, share it with them.   It really does help more people find the podcast, and I appreciate it. Thanks for being here. I’ll see you on an ordinary Tuesday.   This Weeks Episode: Are You So Busy Getting Somewhere That You’ve Forgotten to Live? Have you ever been so busy trying to get somewhere that you’ve forgotten to enjoy the life you’re living on the way? In this episode of An Ordinary Tuesday, I’m thinking about the balance between having a destination and enjoying the journey. How do we keep moving towards the things we want without turning every day into a list of things to fix, learn, achieve or improve? A spontaneous weekend trip to the Yorkshire Dales gave me plenty to think about. Between the winding roads, the autumn colours, dramatic skies and a rather large tree blocking our route, I was reminded that sometimes we need to change direction, sometimes we need to let go of what we can’t control, and sometimes we simply need to look up and notice what’s around us. I also share how overthinking nearly stopped me making decisions about moving house, and how fear of getting things wrong or being judged can keep us stuck for far longer than necessary. It’s something I recognise in myself, particularly when I’m building my business and putting my work out into the world. This isn’t about abandoning your ambitions or pretending everything is wonderful. It’s about being intentional about where you’re going, recognising when thinking things through has turned into going round in circles, and remembering that you don’t have to solve everything before you’re allowed to enjoy today. We also explore how the different seasons of our lives call for different things from us. You might be building something, caring for someone, starting again or simply finding your feet. You don’t have to have the same energy, priorities or ambitions in every season. In this episode, we explore: Why having a destination matters, but so does noticing the scenery along the way. How overthinking and decision fatigue can leave us feeling stuck. What a tree blocking the road taught me about control, flexibility and finding another way. Why we sometimes need to stop asking everyone else for permission to make our own choices. The difference between useful reflection and endlessly analysing the same problem. A simple journalling exercise to help you get out of your head and decide what to do next. How to embrace the season of life you’re in, rather than constantly waiting for the next one. A thought to take away Have a destination. Be intentional. Don’t forget to look at the scenery. You can care deeply about where you’re going without making every moment between here and there a problem to solve. You can feel uncertain and still take the next step. And you can change your mind, change your route or decide that the destination itself no longer fits. A few questions to reflect on Where are you so focused on getting to the next thing that you might be missing something good about where you are now? Is there a decision you’re making harder than it needs to be? And what might happen if you stopped trying to work out the entire journey and simply chose your next step? You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep living along the way. Thanks for listening. Helen x

Welcome to An Ordinary Tuesday, the podcast for people who want to create a life and future that feels like theirs. I’m Helen Collard, and each week I’ll be sharing thoughts, ideas and conversations to help you get clearer on what you want, build your confidence, and take practical steps towards the life, business and future you want to create. We’ll talk about the things that matter, the things that get in the way, and the small shifts in thinking and action that can lead to real transformation. Sometimes we’ll get into the practicalities of building a business. Other times, we’ll explore the questions we need to ask ourselves, the beliefs we need to challenge, and what it means to create a life on our own terms. My hope is that you’ll find something here that makes you stop and think, see something differently, or feel ready to take that next step. Make yourself a coffee, get comfortable, and join me for an ordinary Tuesday. Come and find me My website: www.helencollard.com The Next Chapter Pathway: Practical lessons, tools and support to help you create the life, build the business and become the person you want to be. www.helencollard.com/pathway Free Authenticity Audit Workbook: The Authenticity Audit is a guided workbook to help you uncover the labels and expectations you’ve been carrying, work out which ones genuinely belong to you, and reconnect with what matters most. You’ll explore where you might be performing to please others, what you’re afraid they’ll see when you show up as yourself, and how to navigate other people’s reactions as you start making choices that feel more true to who you are. Free Authenticity Audit Download Free Find Your Place Workbook: Find Your Place - A Guided Workbook to help you get clear on your skills, your passions, what you can do, who you can help and to help you identify ways you can earn income through your strengths and interests. Free Find Your Place Workbook Free resources: Find all of my free resources in one place: All of Helen's Free Stuff Instagram: Come and join the conversation.  Helen's Instagram Get in touch: Have a question, an idea for an episode, or something you’d like me to explore? I’d love to hear from you. Whatsapp me  A little favour If you enjoy An Ordinary Tuesday, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen. If an episode makes you think of someone who might enjoy it, share it with them. It really does help more people find the podcast, and I appreciate it. Thanks for being here. I’ll see you on an ordinary Tuesday. Helen xShow Notes for This Episode Have you ever woken up and, before your feet have even touched the floor, started worrying about everything that could go wrong? One thought leads to another, and before you know it, you’ve mentally lived through an entire day of problems that haven’t even happened. Our minds are remarkably good at anticipating the worst. We prepare for disappointment, imagine difficult conversations and worry about the future. Yet when it comes to imagining what might go well, we’re often much more reluctant. In this episode of An Ordinary Tuesday, I’m exploring how we can interrupt that pattern and begin to experience more joy in everyday life, even when things aren’t going exactly as we’d like. A recent Buddhist meditation left me thinking about the idea that happiness doesn’t always have to wait for our circumstances to improve. I also share something I discovered last winter, when getting up, making a coffee and spending a few minutes journaling at the kitchen table helped me break the cycle of anxious thoughts and start my mornings differently. We’ll look at how we direct our attention, why it’s worth questioning the stories we tell ourselves about the future, and how small habits and practical actions can help us build momentum. I’ll also share a simple challenge to help you notice more of what you enjoy, give yourself things to look forward to and start making room for better possibilities. This isn’t about pretending everything is wonderful or ignoring the things that need to be dealt with. It’s about recognising that the worst-case scenario isn’t the only possible outcome, and that we have more influence over our everyday experience than we sometimes realise. In this episode, we explore: Why our minds are so quick to anticipate problems and disappointment. How a simple morning routine can help interrupt unhelpful thought patterns. The difference between realistic thinking and automatically expecting the worst. Why we should give our imagination permission to consider good outcomes, too. How small pleasures, manageable actions and useful habits can help us build momentum. Practical ways to bring more enjoyment into an ordinary day. A little challenge for this week: Notice when your mind starts predicting everything that could go wrong. Ask yourself, What if this goes better than I expect? Then choose one small action that could help you move towards a good outcome. You might be surprised by what happens when you stop rehearsing the worst and start making room for what’s possible. If this episode has you thinking about your own next chapter, you can find out more about The Next Chapter Pathway at helencollard.com. If you enjoyed this episode, follow An Ordinary Tuesday and share it with someone who might appreciate a little inspiration this week. Because sometimes, a different way of approaching life begins with nothing more dramatic than a cup of coffee, a notebook and a better question.

Welcome to An Ordinary Tuesday, the podcast for people who want to create a life and future that feels like theirs. I’m Helen Collard, and each week I’ll be sharing thoughts, ideas and conversations to help you get clearer on what you want, build your confidence, and take practical steps towards the life, business and future you want to create. We’ll talk about the things that matter, the things that get in the way, and the small shifts in thinking and action that can lead to real transformation. Sometimes we’ll get into the practicalities of building a business. Other times, we’ll explore the questions we need to ask ourselves, the beliefs we need to challenge, and what it means to create a life on our own terms. My hope is that you’ll find something here that makes you stop and think, see something differently, or feel ready to take that next step. Make yourself a coffee, get comfortable, and join me for an ordinary Tuesday. Come and find me My website: www.helencollard.com The Next Chapter Pathway: Practical lessons, tools and support to help you create the life, build the business and become the person you want to be. www.helencollard.com/pathway Free Authenticity Audit Workbook: The Authenticity Audit is a guided workbook to help you uncover the labels and expectations you’ve been carrying, work out which ones genuinely belong to you, and reconnect with what matters most. You’ll explore where you might be performing to please others, what you’re afraid they’ll see when you show up as yourself, and how to navigate other people’s reactions as you start making choices that feel more true to who you are.  Free Authenticity Audit Download Free Find Your Place Workbook: Find Your Place - A Guided Workbook to help you get clear on your skills, your passions, what you can do, who you can help and to help you identify ways you can earn income through your strengths and interests. Free Find Your Place Workbook Free resources: Find all of my free resources in one place: All of Helen's Free Stuff Instagram: Come and join the conversation.  Helen's Instagram Get in touch: Have a question, an idea for an episode, or something you’d like me to explore? I’d love to hear from you.  Whatsapp me  A little favour If you enjoy An Ordinary Tuesday, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen. If an episode makes you think of someone who might enjoy it, share it with them. It really does help more people find the podcast, and I appreciate it. Thanks for being here. I’ll see you on an ordinary Tuesday. Helen x Shownotes for this episode:   Podcast 12: The Authenticity Trap and How to Avoid It Authenticity. It’s everywhere on social media. We’re told to show up authentically, build an authentic brand and be unapologetically ourselves. But what does that really mean? In this episode of An Ordinary Tuesday, I’m exploring the authenticity trap: the idea that we can present ourselves as authentic without ever doing the work to discover who we really are. How much of the person you show the world is genuinely you, and how much is shaped by the expectations of other people? The labels you’ve carried for years, the roles you play, the opinions you’ve absorbed and the picture you have in your head of what a successful person or a good life should look like can all influence the way you show up. I talk about the WAGOLL test — What A Good One Looks Like — and how easy it is to look at someone else's life or business and decide that their version of success is the one we should be aiming for. We can end up copying somebody else's style, ideas and ambitions while convincing ourselves we're being authentic. We explore what it means to reconnect with your values, question what you really think, recognise where you're performing for other people, and get honest about what you're afraid they might see if you let your guard down. I'll also talk about why your authentic self won't be everyone's cup of tea, why that's not necessarily a problem, and what happens when we stop trying to make ourselves acceptable to everybody. Whether you're building a business, looking for a new job or simply trying to work out what you want from your next chapter, this matters. Because you can't build a life that feels like yours if you're too busy trying to be somebody you think you ought to be. In this episode, we explore What it really means to be authentic, why it takes more than copying the people we admire, how to recognise the labels and expectations we've inherited, and how to start making choices that reflect who we are and what matters to us. We also look at the fear of being judged, the discomfort that can come when we change, and how to stop making other people's approval the measure of our success. Your next step I've created The Authenticity Audit, a free workbook to help you explore the labels you're carrying, reconnect with what matters to you, recognise where you might be performing, and find the confidence to show up more like yourself. It's a chance to pause, ask yourself some honest questions and start working out which parts of the person you've become genuinely belong to you. Download your free copy here:  https://www.helencollard.com/Authenticity-audit-sign-up  You can also explore The Next Chapter Pathway, where we work on building a strong foundation, developing confidence and habits, creating a business that fits, and designing a life that feels meaningful and genuinely yours. Thanks for listening to An Ordinary Tuesday. I hope this episode gives you something to think about, and perhaps the permission to stop trying to be everything to everybody.

Come and check out The Next Chapter Pathway and Community: https://www.helencollard.com/pathway Want help finding your ideal way to make money? Free Workbook https://www.helencollard.com/find-your-place-signup How Much Money Do You Want? Money is such an emotive subject. How much we earn. How much we spend. What we were taught about money growing up. The things we're frightened of. The things we dream about. And yet, particularly online, we're constantly being told that we should want more. £10k months. Six-figure businesses. Financial freedom. The dream lifestyle. But how much money do you actually want? And perhaps more importantly, what do you actually want it for? This week, I’ve been asking people that question on social media, expecting answers like "a million pounds", "£10k a month" or "I want to win the lottery". And while I got some of those answers, I was much more interested in the people who said they wanted enough to pay their bills and look after their dogs, enough to sort out the car, enough to treat their grandchildren – or, in one particularly memorable answer, enough for horses. Obviously. Because those answers weren't really about money. They were about what people wanted their money to make possible. In this episode, I explore our relationship with money, the beliefs we inherit about it, the financial goals we set for ourselves and the danger of adopting somebody else's definition of success. I talk about why £10,000 a month might be exactly the right goal for you – but why I would still ask you why. I share my own picture of financial success and what my ideal ordinary Tuesday would actually look like. And, perhaps more importantly, why my vision has very little to do with being impressive and much more to do with connection, space, comfort, caring and having enough freedom to live the life I want. We also get into some of the ideas in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, including definite purpose, desire, self-belief, planning and action. And then I ask a slightly different question: What would your life actually look like if you won £20 million tomorrow? Because money can give you choice and comfort, but it doesn't necessarily give you purpose. So perhaps the question isn't simply how much money you want. Perhaps it's: What do you want your life to feel like? And what are you prepared to do to create it? Grab a coffee and come and think this one through with me. I'd love to know: how much money do you want – and what do you actually want it for?

Free download for this episode: Find Your Place Workbook Your Business Is Not Your Therapy What if the thing you’re building your business around is something you haven’t finished working through yourself? Your experience can be the reason you start a business. It can give you insight, empathy and a deep understanding of a problem that other people are struggling with. But there’s a difference between using your experience to help someone and using other people to keep processing your own experience. Your clients aren't there to validate your story. They aren't there to prove that your way of doing things is right. And they certainly aren't there to become versions of you. In this episode, I’m exploring where that line sits — and why I think your business has to be about the value you can genuinely offer, rather than what you still need from the people you’re trying to help. I’m also asking a question that I think we should all ask ourselves from time to time: Whose need is this? Why do you need your client to change? Why do you need your audience to approve? Why do you need somebody else to succeed? And, perhaps most importantly, are you trying to solve somebody else's problems before you've worked through your own? I believe that if you have a genuine skill or talent that can benefit other people, you have a responsibility to use it. Your experience may have led you to that skill, but your job is to turn what you've learned into something useful. That's where purpose comes in. If you want transformation — whether that's in your life, your career, a side hustle or a business — change alone isn't enough. Transformation requires action, and purpose gives that action somewhere meaningful to go. Your story might be the reason you start. Your purpose gives you direction. Your skill gives you something valuable to offer. But the transformation belongs to the person you're helping. Finding Your Place If you're thinking about starting a business, a side hustle, changing direction or finding work that feels more aligned with who you are, I've created a free Finding Your Place workbook. It's a guided exercise to help you get clear on what you do, who you help and where you fit — so you can create a business or find a role that feels aligned, fulfilling and purposeful. Download it here And if you're ready to take those ideas further, you'll find The Next Chapter Pathway at www.helencollard.com Follow An Ordinary Tuesday If you're enjoying An Ordinary Tuesday, follow the podcast wherever you're listening so you don't miss the next episode. And if this episode makes you think of somebody who is trying to build something from their own experience, share it with them. Because sometimes the question isn't “How can I change them?” It's: “What have I got to give, and how can I use it?”

  https://www.helencollard.com/pathway I use AI most days. I use it to help me think things through, organise my ideas, write things, create things, troubleshoot things and, occasionally, to tell me where the bloody button is in Kajabi.  But I’ve also learned that you have to be very careful about how much you let it take over. In this episode, I’m talking about how I actually use AI in my business — including some of the times ChatGPT has been brilliant, some of the times it has been spectacularly wrong, and some of the times I’ve had to say, “No. That isn’t what I said.” I talk about using ChatGPT as a thinking partner and a kind of mirror: something that can reflect patterns back to you, challenge your assumptions and help you see what you’re repeatedly talking about. That was part of the process that helped me articulate what eventually became The Next Chapter Pathway. But there’s a big difference between using AI to help you think and asking it to do the thinking for you. I also share what I’ve learned about AI making assumptions, hanging onto outdated information, being far too confident when it doesn't actually know the answer, producing content that sounds unmistakably AI-generated, and even completely losing the plot when I ask it to make a tiny change to an image. And there’s a serious point underneath all the stories and the swearing. AI can be incredibly useful. But it doesn't know what you want from your life. It doesn't know which direction is right for you. And it doesn't get to make the decisions. Use AI as a mirror, not a map. Let it help you explore, question, organise and create. But keep your own voice, your own judgement and your own ideas firmly in the driving seat. Because otherwise, before you know it, you're asking a chatbot what you should do next with your life. And frankly, that's a job for you. In this episode I talk about: How I use ChatGPT in my business Why I started using AI as a thinking partner How AI helped me spot patterns in my own thinking The danger of AI making assumptions about you What happens when AI confidently tells you how to do something it can't actually do Why you shouldn't settle for the first AI-generated piece of content Using AI to speed up the boring jobs Why AI can be useful for getting thoughts out of your head The difference between using AI to support your thinking and letting it replace your thinking Why keeping your own voice and judgement matters The big takeaway:Use AI as a mirror, not a map. Let AI hold up the mirror. Don't let it take the wheel.

Join The Next Chapter Pathway Join the Free Facebook Group Sometimes we don't need to completely overhaul our lives. We don't need a new routine, a five-year plan or to become a completely different person. Sometimes we just need to do one small thing that makes today feel a little bit better. In this episode of An Ordinary Tuesday, I'm sharing 10 simple life hacks I've picked up from books, experience and the work I do inside The Next Chapter Pathway. They're practical things you can try today to clear your head, make a decision, change your environment, look after your future self and feel a little more in control. And because I couldn't quite stop at 10, I've added a bonus tip at the end — one of my favourites. In this episode 1. Choose your one thing Ask yourself: What's the one thing I could do today that would make the biggest difference? 2. Do a 10-minute life dump Get everything that's occupying your brain out onto paper — and then identify some things you can stop carrying. 3. Change one thing in your physical environment You don't need to declutter your entire house. Just fix one small thing that's annoying you. 4. Change the way you talk to yourself Notice the stories you tell yourself and start changing the language you use when you talk about yourself. 5. Make one decision you've been avoiding An undecided decision can take up an enormous amount of mental space. Sometimes you just need to choose the next small step. 6. Do a More Of / Less Of audit Identify five things you want more of and five things you want less of — then take one action from each list. 7. Find one thing you're spending money on that isn't making your life better Look at where your money is going and ask yourself whether it's actually buying you the life you want. 8. Create one tiny habit that makes tomorrow easier Do something today that your future self will thank you for. 9. Do something your future self will thank you for Think about the person you'll be tomorrow and make one choice today that makes their life a little easier. 10. Stop for five minutes and actually be where you are Put the phone down. Don't make it productive. Don't turn it into content. Just be there. And then there's the bonus tip... Stop looking at how far you have to go — and look at how far you've come. Inspired by The Gap and the Gain, I talk about the difference between measuring yourself against where you want to be and recognising the progress you've already made. Ask yourself: Where was I 12 months ago? What have you learned? What have you achieved? What have you survived? What have you started? What have you stopped? What are you better at? What's changed that you barely even notice? Then write down 10 things you're proud of from the last year. They don't have to be impressive. They just have to be yours. Books mentioned in this episode The One Thing — Gary Keller & Jay Papasan The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen Covey Take Control of Your Life — Mel Robbins Atomic Habits — James Clear The Power of Your Subconscious Mind — Joseph Murphy Be Your Future Self Now — Benjamin Hardy The Art of Spending Money — Morgan Housel The Power of Now — Eckhart Tolle Flow — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi The Gap and the Gain — Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy One thing to take away You don't have to do all 10. Choose one. Pick the one that would make the biggest difference to how you feel today — and go and do it. Because creating a better life doesn't always require a massive change. Sometimes it's just one tiny action taken on an Ordinary Tuesday.

Sometimes we don't get to choose the next chapter. Sometimes it arrives anyway. In this episode of An Ordinary Tuesday, I'm talking about what happens when life changes in ways we didn't expect — and what we do when the life we thought we wanted no longer feels like it fits. Over the last few episodes, I've talked about change, new chapters, asking ourselves what we really want, paying attention to where our lives are going and making choices, even when we're scared. But there are some changes we don't choose. A diagnosis. The end of a relationship. The loss of a job. Financial difficulties. Children leaving home. Having to move. Or simply waking up one day and realising that something you once wanted desperately is no longer right for you. In this episode, I share some of my own experience of navigating unexpected change. I talk about becoming an empty nester, leaving a house that I once thought was my dream home, and the gradual realisation that sometimes a life can look right on the outside but stop feeling right on the inside. This isn't an episode about having all the answers. It's about recognising when something has changed. It's about allowing yourself to acknowledge that what once worked might not work anymore. And it's about understanding that you don't always have to make one huge, dramatic decision. Sometimes the next chapter begins with one small movement in a different direction. In this episode, I talk about: What happens when life changes in ways we didn't choose The experience of becoming an empty nester When a dream can slowly stop feeling like a dream Recognising when something in your life no longer fits The difference between choosing change and adapting to change Why you don't need to have the whole plan figured out How small movements can eventually lead to much bigger changes Learning to navigate uncertainty when you don't yet know what comes next A question to think about: What has changed in your life that you might still be trying to make fit, even though it no longer feels right? You don't have to know what to do about it yet. You don't need to have a five-year plan. But sometimes the first step is simply being honest enough to notice it. The Next Chapter Pathway If you're at a point in your life where you know something needs to change — but you're not entirely sure what comes next — I've created The Next Chapter Pathway to help you work through it. It's a space for building the foundations for whatever comes next, working on yourself, your work or business, and the life you want to create. Find out more about The Next Chapter Pathway here: THE NEXT CHAPTER FREE DOWNLOADS - you'll find all my free downloads HERE If you'd like to connect with me on Instagram, you'll find me @Helen__Collard — The Next Chapter. And if this episode resonated with you, I'd love it if you followed the podcast and shared it with someone who might need to hear it. Let's walk this journey together.