1 00:00:00,105 --> 00:00:00,145 - 2 00:00:06,935 --> 00:00:10,225 - Welcome to Balancing Life's Issues, the podcast. 3 00:00:10,805 --> 00:00:12,145 Uh, my name is Kai, your host, 4 00:00:12,145 --> 00:00:13,905 and I'm here with CEO of BLI, 5 00:00:13,905 --> 00:00:15,225 Wendy Woolner. How are you today? 6 00:00:16,125 --> 00:00:19,945 - I'm great. Excited for today's conversation, Kai. 7 00:00:20,455 --> 00:00:21,945 - Yeah. You know, it's gonna be a fun one 8 00:00:21,945 --> 00:00:24,465 because I know you've been on webinars, 9 00:00:24,465 --> 00:00:27,505 you've been traveling, delivering this topic, living 10 00:00:27,605 --> 00:00:29,385 and leading in uncertain times. 11 00:00:29,525 --> 00:00:31,865 Can you just like, give us a little bit of the, 12 00:00:31,965 --> 00:00:34,385 why do you think people have been requesting 13 00:00:34,385 --> 00:00:36,225 this for you to speak on this topic? Yeah, 14 00:00:36,305 --> 00:00:39,105 - I mean, I, I just, I think it's literally every day we 15 00:00:39,105 --> 00:00:43,065 turn on, and it's not just that we see a new protest 16 00:00:43,485 --> 00:00:47,025 or unfortunately, wars that are not ending hostages 17 00:00:47,575 --> 00:00:50,425 that are, are, are still not safe, um, 18 00:00:51,005 --> 00:00:53,545 and horrible exiles, like it's literally every day. 19 00:00:53,545 --> 00:00:55,705 Right? Um, so I think that, 20 00:00:55,705 --> 00:00:58,345 and part of it is that it just seems, it's coming fast 21 00:00:58,365 --> 00:00:59,985 and furiously, number one, 22 00:01:00,525 --> 00:01:03,705 but number two, I, I, I think why I'm so passionate 23 00:01:03,705 --> 00:01:06,465 to be here today is we are looking for leadership 24 00:01:06,645 --> 00:01:07,825 and we're ousting the 25 00:01:07,825 --> 00:01:08,985 ones that don't know what they're doing. 26 00:01:09,605 --> 00:01:13,585 So we need some real tips on how do we lead 27 00:01:14,045 --> 00:01:16,705 during the times when we don't even know what's gonna happen 28 00:01:16,725 --> 00:01:17,905 by four o'clock in a day. 29 00:01:18,605 --> 00:01:21,065 - Has the talk been well received by most, do you feel? 30 00:01:21,065 --> 00:01:22,185 - Yeah, it's interesting. We, uh, 31 00:01:22,185 --> 00:01:23,665 we did our largest one the other day. 32 00:01:23,725 --> 00:01:25,345 We tapped over 7,000, 33 00:01:25,965 --> 00:01:26,965 - Oh my gosh. 34 00:01:26,965 --> 00:01:28,945 7,000 people tuned into Wendy Warner 35 00:01:29,495 --> 00:01:30,495 - Talk. 36 00:01:30,805 --> 00:01:31,865 And, and interesting enough, 37 00:01:31,865 --> 00:01:34,465 we had just about 1800 questions. 38 00:01:35,045 --> 00:01:36,985 Wow. So I think that shows the engagement, 39 00:01:36,985 --> 00:01:38,585 which I always think is really interesting. 40 00:01:38,585 --> 00:01:41,265 It's not just listen only mode. Mm-Hmm. . 41 00:01:41,265 --> 00:01:44,305 It's, it's, it's really, um, okay. I understand. 42 00:01:44,385 --> 00:01:46,185 I, I need a new skillset now. Right? 43 00:01:46,455 --> 00:01:48,265 - Yeah. And, and that's the perfect segue 44 00:01:48,265 --> 00:01:52,105 because what we did is we went through the chat history of, 45 00:01:52,325 --> 00:01:54,905 of some of those, um, webinars, 46 00:01:54,925 --> 00:01:57,625 and we polled the most frequently asked questions. 47 00:01:57,645 --> 00:01:59,945 So I was gonna catch you off guard here, 48 00:01:59,945 --> 00:02:01,305 and I was gonna ask you some of those questions. 49 00:02:01,305 --> 00:02:02,345 Does that sound okay? Yeah. 50 00:02:02,385 --> 00:02:04,785 - I love it because you're living in uncertain times, 51 00:02:05,165 --> 00:02:06,665 Kai. We're practicing it. 52 00:02:07,085 --> 00:02:10,545 - That's right. . We really are. Uh, okay. 53 00:02:10,725 --> 00:02:12,665 So what are the best tools 54 00:02:12,765 --> 00:02:15,745 to utilize when an uninspected world event occurs? 55 00:02:15,805 --> 00:02:17,465 - So, first of all, why that question is 56 00:02:17,465 --> 00:02:19,385 so brilliant is the answers in it. 57 00:02:19,885 --> 00:02:24,025 So we aren't winging it. We need tools. Mm-Hmm. 58 00:02:24,065 --> 00:02:26,545 . Um, and I'm gonna, I I, I, I love it 59 00:02:26,545 --> 00:02:28,705 because I often use you as an example. 60 00:02:29,605 --> 00:02:31,185 Um, you recently, 61 00:02:31,675 --> 00:02:35,505 still pretty recently had this new person come into the 62 00:02:35,505 --> 00:02:39,065 world and we've been lucky enough to, to talk about, um, 63 00:02:39,215 --> 00:02:41,265 baby Kai without using his name Baby 64 00:02:41,365 --> 00:02:43,425 Kai, to come into the world. And his 65 00:02:43,425 --> 00:02:44,425 - Name's Miles. 66 00:02:44,425 --> 00:02:45,025 That's okay. . Alright, baby 67 00:02:45,025 --> 00:02:46,025 - Miles. 68 00:02:46,025 --> 00:02:48,705 So, if I said to you, you know, Kai, just wing it. 69 00:02:48,705 --> 00:02:49,705 You don't need to prepare. 70 00:02:50,695 --> 00:02:52,955 - Oh - God, ni will just come right in. You'll be good. 71 00:02:52,955 --> 00:02:55,395 Right? Nope. No, you don't need a crib 72 00:02:55,535 --> 00:02:57,435 and you don't need any equipment. 73 00:02:57,435 --> 00:02:58,635 You're, you're fine. Right? 74 00:02:59,435 --> 00:03:00,765 - Yeah, yeah. No, we, we were, 75 00:03:00,825 --> 00:03:02,965 we basically built a doomsday bunker in 76 00:03:02,965 --> 00:03:05,125 the backyard, . That's how prepared 77 00:03:05,125 --> 00:03:06,125 - We were. 78 00:03:06,125 --> 00:03:07,325 And, and, and, and everybody would laugh 79 00:03:07,325 --> 00:03:09,085 and say, oh my gosh, of course they need. 80 00:03:09,585 --> 00:03:11,405 So I lead an organization and, 81 00:03:11,425 --> 00:03:14,125 and the first thing I do every morning is to say, what needs 82 00:03:14,125 --> 00:03:15,365 to go in my toolbox today? 83 00:03:16,505 --> 00:03:20,205 And I have to say, um, for me, of course, well, not 84 00:03:20,205 --> 00:03:22,085 of course, but one of the pivotal moments was 85 00:03:22,285 --> 00:03:25,765 September 11th, because I wasn't prepared with a toolbox. 86 00:03:27,115 --> 00:03:31,115 I didn't understand how life changed on a dime at nine 87 00:03:31,175 --> 00:03:32,395 10 on a Tuesday morning. 88 00:03:33,135 --> 00:03:36,155 And when the phone calls happen, what should I do? 89 00:03:37,015 --> 00:03:40,155 Um, you have a nanosecond to have a tool. 90 00:03:40,895 --> 00:03:43,115 So we've been through, for me, we've been through 91 00:03:44,155 --> 00:03:45,795 horrible things and we know what tools. 92 00:03:45,855 --> 00:03:49,515 So what are tools? Number one, we have to be very educated. 93 00:03:49,775 --> 00:03:52,235 We can no longer ever be an ostrich. 94 00:03:52,695 --> 00:03:54,075 So yes, I get up in the morning 95 00:03:54,255 --> 00:03:58,035 and my responsibility is to get as many news sources and, 96 00:03:58,055 --> 00:03:59,715 and I mean as many mm-Hmm. 97 00:03:59,755 --> 00:04:01,875 , if you're a Fox News, you watch CNN. 98 00:04:01,895 --> 00:04:03,635 If you're a CNN, you watch Fox. 99 00:04:03,835 --> 00:04:07,635 I mean, you, if you are an NPR, I mean, you just continue 100 00:04:07,655 --> 00:04:10,915 to grow Warren Buffett, 60 books a year in resources, 101 00:04:11,485 --> 00:04:14,195 shoot high, become smart, 102 00:04:14,605 --> 00:04:17,355 learn what's going on in the world, on the local level 103 00:04:17,535 --> 00:04:19,635 and on a global level, tip number one. 104 00:04:19,745 --> 00:04:21,755 - Yeah. And, you know, just to follow up there a little bit, 105 00:04:22,135 --> 00:04:24,795 the idea of going to so many places is 106 00:04:24,795 --> 00:04:26,995 because you're exposing yourself to other ideas, 107 00:04:27,045 --> 00:04:28,835 other thoughts and misinformation, 108 00:04:28,835 --> 00:04:31,315 which we all know is rampant. Oh, 109 00:04:31,315 --> 00:04:32,315 - Yeah. 110 00:04:32,315 --> 00:04:33,395 I mean, there's a, you know, example was, 111 00:04:33,595 --> 00:04:36,435 I was teaching in Times Square, uh, a few years ago, 112 00:04:36,455 --> 00:04:38,395 and I got a frantic call saying, oh my gosh, 113 00:04:38,395 --> 00:04:40,235 there's a huge protest going on. 114 00:04:40,255 --> 00:04:41,715 Be careful. I was like, really? 115 00:04:41,895 --> 00:04:44,035 And I went out at lunch and there are two people in the 116 00:04:44,035 --> 00:04:46,195 corner with a po, you know, a a a sign. 117 00:04:46,195 --> 00:04:48,795 Yeah. And so yeah, you wanna get accurate information, 118 00:04:48,895 --> 00:04:52,755 but the way you get accurate information is to glean, right. 119 00:04:52,815 --> 00:04:54,555 The, the farmers glean. Yeah. 120 00:04:54,735 --> 00:04:58,035 So you glean, glean, glean until you become the trusted 121 00:04:58,555 --> 00:05:02,115 resource, till you become the person that says, yes, 122 00:05:02,265 --> 00:05:04,115 this is what I do know. Yeah. 123 00:05:04,235 --> 00:05:06,275 - I remember getting some texts from back home when we were 124 00:05:06,275 --> 00:05:09,835 living in Brooklyn during the social justice, uh, protests, 125 00:05:09,855 --> 00:05:11,875 uh, the summer of 2020, I believe. 126 00:05:11,875 --> 00:05:15,845 Yeah. Um, and people checking like, are you on fire? 127 00:05:15,915 --> 00:05:16,925 Like, are you okay? 128 00:05:16,995 --> 00:05:19,805 It's, and it's like, yeah, everything's fine over here, 129 00:05:20,165 --> 00:05:23,205 , you know, so again, like getting information from 130 00:05:23,205 --> 00:05:24,605 much resources as possible. 131 00:05:24,835 --> 00:05:26,165 Okay. Tip number two. So tip 132 00:05:26,165 --> 00:05:28,725 - Number two is, you know, now we're, 133 00:05:28,725 --> 00:05:30,605 we're learned, we're knowledgeable. 134 00:05:31,065 --> 00:05:33,925 Tip number two is, and I'm not saying they have to go linear 135 00:05:33,925 --> 00:05:35,485 because I think it's a neutral bullet. 136 00:05:35,505 --> 00:05:36,645 We put them in a neutral bullet 137 00:05:36,745 --> 00:05:39,925 and not to shut out NutriBullet or, you know, something, 138 00:05:40,385 --> 00:05:41,685 - Hey, hashtag NutriBullet. 139 00:05:41,685 --> 00:05:42,885 Yeah. You go, let's get that advertising revenue. 140 00:05:43,265 --> 00:05:44,525 - But the next thing is we have 141 00:05:44,525 --> 00:05:46,045 to really build our confidence. 142 00:05:46,305 --> 00:05:48,325 Um, I I, you know, um, Mm-Hmm. 143 00:05:48,365 --> 00:05:50,805 , I, no one is born feeling like I've got this, 144 00:05:51,145 --> 00:05:53,565 um, during times of uns, you know, the first time 145 00:05:53,565 --> 00:05:56,205 that Miles gets sick again, go back to the baby example, 146 00:05:56,225 --> 00:05:58,285 and you're bringing him, uh, you know, 147 00:05:58,285 --> 00:06:00,245 to the pediatrician, you're learning. 148 00:06:00,825 --> 00:06:02,925 Um, and so the confidence, yeah. 149 00:06:03,055 --> 00:06:05,965 Piece of being a, a leader is, um, 150 00:06:06,665 --> 00:06:08,365 how do I learn to be confident? 151 00:06:08,585 --> 00:06:11,005 And it would be subtitles about, you know, 152 00:06:11,025 --> 00:06:12,525 what's the imposter syndrome 153 00:06:12,665 --> 00:06:15,285 and is there a gender conversation? 154 00:06:15,295 --> 00:06:17,245 There? Are men more confident than women? 155 00:06:17,315 --> 00:06:20,485 Well, we know, you know, men talk, you know, many, many, 156 00:06:20,485 --> 00:06:21,725 many percent more than women. 157 00:06:21,825 --> 00:06:24,285 So women don't even get a chance necessarily to talk. 158 00:06:24,825 --> 00:06:27,685 So I would ask, what are you doing to build your confidence? 159 00:06:28,315 --> 00:06:30,725 What role has confidence played in your life? 160 00:06:30,905 --> 00:06:33,325 Is it something about affirmations, 161 00:06:33,375 --> 00:06:35,005 which works for many, many people? 162 00:06:35,005 --> 00:06:36,725 Mm-Hmm. , is it journaling which works 163 00:06:36,725 --> 00:06:37,805 for many, many other people? 164 00:06:38,345 --> 00:06:40,845 Or is it, I use a DIG file? Um, 165 00:06:41,605 --> 00:06:43,445 - DIG - Darn, um, good file 166 00:06:44,365 --> 00:06:44,765 - . Um, 167 00:06:45,325 --> 00:06:46,445 - I need my booster shots. 168 00:06:46,785 --> 00:06:48,765 Uh, yeah. Yeah. I need read back things 169 00:06:48,765 --> 00:06:51,445 that I've done in my life that people have said, 170 00:06:51,455 --> 00:06:52,765 thank you, Wendy, for this. 171 00:06:53,115 --> 00:06:55,325 Yeah. And I remind myself like, you know, 172 00:06:55,325 --> 00:06:56,725 it's been a really challenging time, 173 00:06:57,185 --> 00:06:59,565 but this is the impact my leadership has made. 174 00:06:59,945 --> 00:07:01,285 So my DIG file, 175 00:07:01,465 --> 00:07:03,965 my darn I good file goes back to my first speech. 176 00:07:04,275 --> 00:07:07,045 - Yeah. And I feel like there's an element of, uh, 177 00:07:07,485 --> 00:07:08,885 I don't know if bravery is the word, 178 00:07:09,105 --> 00:07:11,765 but willingness to live, live experience 179 00:07:11,985 --> 00:07:13,485 and learn from that experience. 180 00:07:13,485 --> 00:07:15,885 Right. Um, it, it does. That's 181 00:07:15,885 --> 00:07:17,285 - Number, that's three. 182 00:07:17,545 --> 00:07:20,205 Did I segue us? You did segue. Nice. 183 00:07:20,785 --> 00:07:22,765 Um, and that is have an opinion. Okay. 184 00:07:22,865 --> 00:07:25,045 You know, you, you don't have to be right or wrong, 185 00:07:25,065 --> 00:07:27,245 but leadership is influencing 186 00:07:27,245 --> 00:07:28,925 and inspiring people to turn right? 187 00:07:29,425 --> 00:07:31,645 Mm-Hmm. . And in my situation, 188 00:07:32,365 --> 00:07:35,525 I focus on the best of humanity and how I define that. 189 00:07:36,295 --> 00:07:38,595 Um, and so if I looked at an example 190 00:07:38,895 --> 00:07:41,755 of being critical about every word that comes out 191 00:07:41,755 --> 00:07:44,595 of our trainers, our facilitator's, mouse, um, 192 00:07:45,055 --> 00:07:46,675 tip number three is having, you know, 193 00:07:46,675 --> 00:07:47,755 it's a combination, right? 194 00:07:47,915 --> 00:07:49,795 I, I, I know the topic well. 195 00:07:50,215 --> 00:07:52,315 Um, I'm confident to be able to give advice, 196 00:07:52,575 --> 00:07:54,355 but I also have a very strong opinion. 197 00:07:54,895 --> 00:07:57,995 Mm-Hmm. . Um, there's no wishy-washy. Right. 198 00:07:57,995 --> 00:08:00,515 You know, uh, let me do a shout out to Ronald Reagan. 199 00:08:00,905 --> 00:08:05,465 When the Challenger blew up that night, he said, um, 200 00:08:05,685 --> 00:08:07,625 all, everyone remember was one of the worst. 201 00:08:08,015 --> 00:08:09,545 We'd watched people die, including, 202 00:08:09,605 --> 00:08:10,905 of course, the teacher in space. 203 00:08:11,405 --> 00:08:13,665 And at the end of eight minutes, Ronald Reagan says, 204 00:08:14,035 --> 00:08:15,825 there will be more explorations. 205 00:08:16,405 --> 00:08:17,585 Mm-Hmm. . And I was like, wow. 206 00:08:17,585 --> 00:08:19,025 That is a courageous thing to say 207 00:08:19,025 --> 00:08:20,545 after we just watched people die. 208 00:08:20,835 --> 00:08:22,985 Right. We're, we're having a discussion about leadership. 209 00:08:24,175 --> 00:08:25,565 We're not talking about managers, 210 00:08:25,625 --> 00:08:27,525 and we're not talking about worker bees. 211 00:08:27,525 --> 00:08:28,965 We're talking about true leadership. 212 00:08:29,905 --> 00:08:34,005 And leadership is the ability to inspire people to turn 213 00:08:34,005 --> 00:08:36,655 around, um, and to, 214 00:08:36,875 --> 00:08:40,415 and to inspire people to say, I, I, I didn't think 215 00:08:40,415 --> 00:08:43,535 that was possible, but now I, I can see Wendy's vision. 216 00:08:44,255 --> 00:08:46,255 I understand that. I get it. 217 00:08:46,395 --> 00:08:47,575 And because of that, 218 00:08:47,805 --> 00:08:49,855 because of that ability to see something, 219 00:08:49,995 --> 00:08:51,135 I'm gonna make a right turn. 220 00:08:51,785 --> 00:08:54,895 Right. Um, and there's so many examples of politicians 221 00:08:54,995 --> 00:08:57,405 that have been able to inspire people to do things that, 222 00:08:57,505 --> 00:08:59,165 you know, they never thought they could do. 223 00:08:59,675 --> 00:09:01,325 - Yeah. All right. So is there a tip for 224 00:09:01,425 --> 00:09:02,425 - Yes. 225 00:09:02,425 --> 00:09:05,245 So I think tip four has gotten, um, messed up. 226 00:09:05,905 --> 00:09:10,275 Um, and I, I, I know that, um, it's gonna be a little bit 227 00:09:10,275 --> 00:09:11,475 of the more like Hmm. 228 00:09:11,695 --> 00:09:15,635 Tip, but we also are looking for leadership that knows how 229 00:09:15,635 --> 00:09:16,995 to take it down a notch. 230 00:09:17,975 --> 00:09:22,055 So we're not perfect, we're perfectly imperfect, 231 00:09:22,755 --> 00:09:25,775 but what we're not perfect on is the, is the stuff 232 00:09:25,775 --> 00:09:27,015 that doesn't matter as much. 233 00:09:28,125 --> 00:09:30,785 And some people I know can be a little perfectionist, 234 00:09:30,885 --> 00:09:32,185 you know, anyone who fits that role. 235 00:09:32,615 --> 00:09:35,465 - Yeah. And it's me. That's me. 236 00:09:35,725 --> 00:09:37,745 - Yes. Perfection. And I can imagine, um, 237 00:09:38,005 --> 00:09:40,505 for those listening, how many hours go into editing, 238 00:09:40,565 --> 00:09:42,625 and I've been coaching and coaching and mentoring 239 00:09:42,625 --> 00:09:45,745 and pleading and inspiring Kai to create podcasts 240 00:09:45,745 --> 00:09:47,905 that the message is really good, right? 241 00:09:47,925 --> 00:09:51,545 The words are good, but maybe the pauses and the ugh. 242 00:09:51,725 --> 00:09:54,185 Uh, maybe we'll leave those in once in a while. 243 00:09:54,735 --> 00:09:56,385 - Yeah. May maybe it's okay. Yeah. 244 00:09:56,385 --> 00:09:57,545 - Nothing is okay. Absolutely. 245 00:09:57,745 --> 00:09:59,905 I think it's what we want to inspire people to do. 246 00:10:00,445 --> 00:10:02,305 And so I really think tip number four is 247 00:10:02,305 --> 00:10:04,865 to absolutely be perfectly imperfect. 248 00:10:05,285 --> 00:10:06,625 - All right. I love it. All right. 249 00:10:06,625 --> 00:10:07,905 Are we going on to tip five? We're 250 00:10:07,905 --> 00:10:08,905 - Doing one more. 251 00:10:08,905 --> 00:10:11,785 Okay. So one thing that's very important, um, 252 00:10:11,965 --> 00:10:13,065 and I put it last 253 00:10:13,065 --> 00:10:15,825 because I do think many of us just instinctively do it, 254 00:10:16,125 --> 00:10:17,865 but I think it's, it, it comes up 255 00:10:17,885 --> 00:10:19,905 and that is leaders are very competent, 256 00:10:20,405 --> 00:10:23,505 so they're reliable, they show up. 257 00:10:24,495 --> 00:10:26,185 - Yeah. - You don't have to worry about it. 258 00:10:26,415 --> 00:10:27,505 They return emails 259 00:10:27,885 --> 00:10:30,545 and they almost always return an email the same business 260 00:10:30,565 --> 00:10:32,305 day, even if it's just Mm-Hmm. 261 00:10:32,345 --> 00:10:35,305 to say, Nope, no answer yet pending. Sure. 262 00:10:35,365 --> 00:10:37,105 Um, but you never have 263 00:10:37,105 --> 00:10:40,425 to worry about if the leader's gonna get back to you or not. 264 00:10:40,965 --> 00:10:43,265 - Got - It. You never, it's a reliability 265 00:10:43,295 --> 00:10:45,345 that is just like, they've got this Mm-Hmm. 266 00:10:45,385 --> 00:10:47,345 . Um, and there's a running joke that, 267 00:10:47,445 --> 00:10:49,025 you know, they sort of say, in my world, 268 00:10:49,045 --> 00:10:51,425 if Wendy didn't return an email, they would, 269 00:10:51,575 --> 00:10:52,945 that was the day I was in the hospital. 270 00:10:53,055 --> 00:10:54,265 Like, they would have some thought 271 00:10:54,265 --> 00:10:55,665 of there's something, something wrong. 272 00:10:55,665 --> 00:10:59,465 Yeah. Sure. Um, so I think reliability, it, it, it kind 273 00:10:59,465 --> 00:11:00,585 of goes without saying, 274 00:11:01,045 --> 00:11:02,425 but I know we've seen some leaders 275 00:11:02,425 --> 00:11:04,105 that have let it go a little bit. 276 00:11:04,495 --> 00:11:06,945 - Yeah. - I think we need to bring it back. 277 00:11:07,535 --> 00:11:09,625 - Okay. So what would you say though, about, 278 00:11:09,645 --> 00:11:11,025 as a leader with that mindset? 279 00:11:11,435 --> 00:11:15,065 Imprinting, uh, oh, water pump. 280 00:11:16,105 --> 00:11:18,765 No, imperfections. Love it. We're gonna keep going. . 281 00:11:18,765 --> 00:11:21,485 Good. Perfect. Uh, what would you say, you know, in terms 282 00:11:21,485 --> 00:11:25,725 of imprinting your expectations around, you know, that kind 283 00:11:25,725 --> 00:11:29,685 of, um, communication style onto an em an employee 284 00:11:29,705 --> 00:11:31,085 or someone in a management position? 285 00:11:31,085 --> 00:11:33,205 Like how do you, how do you balance that as a leader? 286 00:11:33,505 --> 00:11:37,365 - You know, I, I think we're pretty good on being a 287 00:11:37,365 --> 00:11:38,765 direct communicator, right? 288 00:11:38,795 --> 00:11:41,485 This is what I need. Um, I, I think 289 00:11:42,095 --> 00:11:43,845 we've seen tremendous improvement. 290 00:11:43,845 --> 00:11:47,525 Most leaders are able to articulate what the needs are. 291 00:11:48,205 --> 00:11:52,525 I think the, the next part of directness though is the part 292 00:11:52,525 --> 00:11:54,885 that I'd like to see is more inspiration. 293 00:11:55,035 --> 00:11:56,405 What, why am I doing this? 294 00:11:56,595 --> 00:11:58,645 Like, what does it matter? Yeah. Um, 295 00:11:59,365 --> 00:12:01,085 - Inspired to act Yeah. Versus told to 296 00:12:01,085 --> 00:12:02,085 - Act. 297 00:12:02,085 --> 00:12:03,925 I think that's the piece where we've got 298 00:12:03,925 --> 00:12:06,525 to take the time, um, to stop. 299 00:12:06,625 --> 00:12:09,205 And, and, and I really try to say, you know, 300 00:12:10,635 --> 00:12:11,935 and as the team gets bigger, 301 00:12:12,055 --> 00:12:13,615 I recognize it gets more challenging, 302 00:12:13,675 --> 00:12:15,535 but, you know, are you okay? 303 00:12:15,635 --> 00:12:17,455 What's going on? What else do you need? 304 00:12:17,915 --> 00:12:19,495 Um, and it doesn't always work out. 305 00:12:19,555 --> 00:12:21,855 It doesn't mean that a company can always give people 306 00:12:21,855 --> 00:12:22,935 what they need or want, 307 00:12:23,315 --> 00:12:26,335 but they can validate the fact that it matters. 308 00:12:27,495 --> 00:12:29,095 I think the inspiration piece, 309 00:12:29,275 --> 00:12:32,575 or I feel that the inspiration piece has gotten overlooked 310 00:12:32,635 --> 00:12:33,815 in many situations. 311 00:12:34,755 --> 00:12:38,535 Um, yeah. And the other thing I'll say is I think we need 312 00:12:38,535 --> 00:12:41,295 to take a step back and, and really celebrate the wins. 313 00:12:41,845 --> 00:12:44,415 - Yeah. Yeah. So as a leader in uncertain times, especially 314 00:12:44,975 --> 00:12:49,135 checking in just on empathetic level, uh, could, 315 00:12:49,225 --> 00:12:52,135 could pay off big time down the road when it comes 316 00:12:52,135 --> 00:12:53,935 to things like communication and inspiration. 317 00:12:53,935 --> 00:12:55,295 Yeah. All right. 318 00:12:55,295 --> 00:12:57,495 Well, thank you for all that wonderful wisdom. 319 00:12:57,955 --> 00:13:00,895 Um, but this is our last recording of 2023. 320 00:13:01,815 --> 00:13:03,375 I just like, off the top of your head, 321 00:13:03,685 --> 00:13:05,055 what did this year feel like to you, 322 00:13:05,275 --> 00:13:08,575 and what do you feel like 2024 is looking like? 323 00:13:08,635 --> 00:13:10,095 - You know, I think one thing I'd like 324 00:13:10,095 --> 00:13:14,135 to say about 20 23, 1 do over that I learned from is 325 00:13:15,075 --> 00:13:18,095 we went back to normal or back to work. 326 00:13:18,395 --> 00:13:20,215 And I don't feel like we paused. 327 00:13:20,435 --> 00:13:22,095 Um, I don't think anybody ever acknowledged 328 00:13:22,125 --> 00:13:23,615 that, oh, we're back. 329 00:13:24,765 --> 00:13:25,775 - Yeah. - Um, 330 00:13:26,235 --> 00:13:28,295 and so I, I think what I'm gonna focus on 331 00:13:28,315 --> 00:13:30,775 for 2024 is a little bit more exhaling. 332 00:13:31,195 --> 00:13:32,055 Mm-Hmm. , um, a little bit 333 00:13:32,055 --> 00:13:33,135 more like regrouping. 334 00:13:33,165 --> 00:13:35,535 What do we wanna do? Let's do some more check-ins. 335 00:13:36,155 --> 00:13:40,335 Um, because I do think that we thought we just would go back 336 00:13:40,635 --> 00:13:42,695 and now what we're learning is 337 00:13:43,075 --> 00:13:45,455 how much the pandemic affected our brains. 338 00:13:46,535 --> 00:13:50,085 Right. And how truly exhausted, um, we are. Mm-Hmm. 339 00:13:50,125 --> 00:13:52,445 . And yeah, I, I really, 340 00:13:52,645 --> 00:13:55,885 I hope people use some time, whatever the time is 341 00:13:56,505 --> 00:13:57,605 to validate. 342 00:13:57,705 --> 00:14:00,085 Um, one of the things that I do when I, 343 00:14:00,155 --> 00:14:01,525 when I was a therapist and, 344 00:14:01,525 --> 00:14:04,485 and when I do coaching is I'll have people write down, 345 00:14:04,725 --> 00:14:06,165 I know Kai, if you've ever done this, 346 00:14:06,305 --> 00:14:09,685 but if you write down a typical day on one piece 347 00:14:09,745 --> 00:14:12,285 and then you write down just events that you've been 348 00:14:12,285 --> 00:14:15,325 through, I think we sometimes truly do forget 349 00:14:15,505 --> 00:14:18,205 how incredibly awesome we are. I think we 350 00:14:19,125 --> 00:14:20,125 - Resilient. 351 00:14:20,125 --> 00:14:21,165 - Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'll sometimes write down 352 00:14:21,165 --> 00:14:24,325 what I do in a day and I'm like, I did that 353 00:14:24,545 --> 00:14:26,285 and that was way more than I realized. 354 00:14:26,785 --> 00:14:29,285 So I think one of the things I wanna focus on is 355 00:14:29,285 --> 00:14:32,845 that true sense of pride for 2024. Sure. 356 00:14:33,425 --> 00:14:35,625 - I love that. And I'll, I'll, I'll piggyback on that too. 357 00:14:35,785 --> 00:14:39,225 'cause I know it's, there are gonna be challenges, um, 358 00:14:39,325 --> 00:14:42,185 you know, presidential election aside in 2024. 359 00:14:42,185 --> 00:14:44,905 Mm-Hmm. . Um, but I think the more we can have 360 00:14:44,905 --> 00:14:49,305 the humility to be better, um, to dig deep 361 00:14:49,405 --> 00:14:50,665 for the best version of self 362 00:14:51,465 --> 00:14:55,365 and to shake it off when literally moments before you 363 00:14:55,365 --> 00:14:57,245 and I started recording, I'm walking up the stairs 364 00:14:57,245 --> 00:14:58,885 with a cup of coffee and I slipped, 365 00:14:58,985 --> 00:15:01,845 and that coffee went straight into my face, . 366 00:15:02,465 --> 00:15:05,165 And what did I have to do? I couldn't sit there and pout. 367 00:15:05,205 --> 00:15:07,605 I had to shake it off and uh, and get downstairs. 368 00:15:07,605 --> 00:15:08,725 So maybe that's the metaphor for, 369 00:15:09,205 --> 00:15:10,645 I think it's great for 2024. Think it's 370 00:15:10,645 --> 00:15:11,845 - A great way to laugh it off. 371 00:15:11,955 --> 00:15:15,645 Yeah. No, and you also did teams me need one minute please. 372 00:15:16,305 --> 00:15:18,245 - That's because I was wiping coffee 373 00:15:18,625 --> 00:15:19,845 off of my face and glasses. 374 00:15:19,875 --> 00:15:22,485 Like my world was brown from coffee on my glasses. 375 00:15:23,045 --> 00:15:24,125 I love it. It was absolutely silly. 376 00:15:25,065 --> 00:15:26,525 All right, well thanks and happy 377 00:15:26,805 --> 00:15:28,325 holidays, everybody out there. 378 00:15:28,745 --> 00:15:32,045 Um, and, uh, we'll see you in 2024. Take care 379 00:15:32,215 --> 00:15:33,215 - Again. 380 00:15:33,215 --> 00:15:33,705 Bye everybody. 381 00:15:44,085 --> 00:15:46,415 - This has been a production of balancing Life's issues 382 00:15:46,415 --> 00:15:48,335 with your hosts, Kai Sorenson 383 00:15:48,335 --> 00:15:51,655 and Wendy Wallner, produced by me Kai Rate. 384 00:15:51,665 --> 00:15:53,575 Leave a review and subscribe to the podcast 385 00:15:54,215 --> 00:15:55,935 wherever you listen so you can get brand new 386 00:15:55,935 --> 00:15:57,095 episodes as they drop. 387 00:15:57,515 --> 00:15:58,575 Got an idea for the show. 388 00:15:59,025 --> 00:16:02,135 Email me, KI at balancing life's issues.com. 389 00:16:02,895 --> 00:16:03,495 Anything to add? Miles.