Episode 11 | Questions to Determine Your Purpose in Life
On today’s episode of Braving Business, I am talking about a question that a lot of people bring to me which is, “How do I figure out what to do with my life?” which is always followed by, “Where do I start?” I am going to walk you through the exercises and questions that I put my clients through to get them from “I don’t know where to begin,” to a place of clarity and forward momentum so they can actually build a business or build a life that is purposeful.
Listen to the full episode here.
So what are the questions?
Tell me about an experience where you felt a lot of joy and where you also felt valued? It could be a project you worked on, a conversation you had with someone, a contest you won, a dinner you hosted, a conflict you solved, etc. Really the defining factor is that you felt you were doing it well or solving it well and you enjoyed it.
List 4 people you admire in the world for what they contribute or do. Tell me in one sentence what it is about them that you admire.
List 1-4 people who you wish you could help. Are there similarities between them? Do you help them with something similar? It’s ok if not.
If money was no issue and you could spend your time doing WHATEVER you wanted (travel, writing, painting, building a homeless shelter, cooking, etc.) what would it be?
Pro tips:
You MUST be in a positive/hopeful mindset when you complete these questions
You shouldn’t try to force any answers but really let your heart answer them with joy and hope
You shouldn’t kill these answers with logistics or answer in a way that you think someone will want to hear them
The task at hand is to tap into what’s unique and authentic inside of you, not find some correct answer.
Do you want me to interpret the answers for you? There are two ways you can do that:
Book a one-hour coaching session using this link and we will talk it through one on one.
We can do it via email! Click here to purchase this option. Upon payment, a link will be sent to you with the questions and within 48 hours I will email you with my feedback.
Let’s connect outside of the podcast! You can follow me on Instagram @stephanie_sheldon and @clevelandflea. You can also shoot me a note with any questions or topics you’d like to hear on the podcast at stephanie@theclevelandflea.com!
If you resonated with this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review! All of these things are the best way to support the podcast because it lets Apple know that these conversations are worth hearing and in turn, more people can join in! Click here to subscribe, rate, and review. I so appreciate your support!
Thank you so much for listening and I can’t wait to talk to you next week!
Episode 10 | What's Going On With the Cleveland Flea?
On Episode 10 of Braving Business, I am telling you what's going on with my business, the Cleveland Flea. If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that we're going through some pretty drastic changes. Well, we are taking a year off from markets! Tune in to find out why I made this decision, and what you can expect from the Cleveland Flea in 2020!
Listen to the full episode here.
In this episode I am talking:
What it was like in the beginning of Cleveland Flea
Why I needed to hold monthly markets
Why we switched from monthly to quarterly markets in 2019
What having a quarterly scheduled allowed us to do
How our operational budget exceeded what shoppers and vendors were giving us
and so much more!
Resources:
For more info on why I decided to take a break from markets, read this blog post.
Find out about the courses, classes, and coaching I’m offering here.
Connect with me on Instagram @stephanie_sheldon.
If you love this episode and want more content like this, please consider leaving a review! Here’s why:
It lets Apple know that these episodes are conversations worth listening to.
It gives us the feedback we need to make the podcast a better resource that YOU can learn from.
It gives potential listeners the gentle nudge they need to tune in.
And basically it’s like a virtual hug for podcasters!
Did that convince you? If so, head over to Apple Podcasts to write your review. Thank you so much for your support!
Thank you so much for tuning in, and I’ll talk to you next week!
Episode 8 | Inner Wisdom
Today’s episode is all about cultivating inner wisdom through a lot of the difficult experiences that we’ve had. I will be talking through examples in my own life and the lessons four I have learned along the way. I hope this episode resonates you and makes you feel less alone. Enjoy!
Listen to the full episode here.
There have been many experiences in my life where I have decided to take the blame and not listen to my inner wisdom. After reflecting on these past experiences (divorce, a horrible relationship, being shamed, etc), I noticed a few themes emerging. I would ignore my inner wisdom and deny what would have been right for me, in order to preserve a certain relationship. I wanted to avoid conflict. I thought keeping the peace was more important than listening to the wisdom inside of me.
Why wasn’t I listening to these thoughts? I wasn’t sure so of course, I set out to learn more. As I did so, I realized four major things that could help me down the road if I start listening to the voice that has my best intentions in mind.
So what did I learn? Read on, or listen to the episode here.
Lesson #1: People’s thoughts and feelings are their own
Instead of having my own back, I take ownership of people’s thoughts and feelings. I don’t advocate for myself.
When I was being criticized I often would then believe that I needed to improve or change myself instead of improving my ability to stand up for myself.
Lesson #2: In intense situations, my brain tends to shut down
When I encountered these situations (my ex-husband telling me I can’t be trusted with money, an old employee telling me that I didn’t know what I was doing, etc), my mind would go blank.
Because of the interrogation (rather than constructive conversations), my brain shuts down. I lose energy and my ability to process information in a neutral way.
Lesson #3: Rules of conduct apply to even tough conversations
The way feedback is delivered is important. Feedback is crucial but if it is delivered with the intention to shame or humiliate, it is not constructive.
I recognized that it is okay to remove myself from these situations and come back to the conversation when tensions are lower.
Lesson #4: Love yourself no matter what
This is the ultimate lesson.
If someone else believes that I am the root of their discomfort, it doesn’t mean that I need to turn against myself.
I can love myself when someone is interrogating or attacking me.
My goal has been to listen to the voice inside me that says things like, “It’s okay if they're disappointed in you.” Or, “Cancel your meetings and take a day off.”
Sometimes we quite the voice inside of us. When we do tune into our voice it might require us to change or take a risk. Our brain doesn’t like that. But I’m telling you that this kind of work is required if you want to make a true change in your life. Are you willing to listen to your inner voice?
Did this episode resonate with you? If so will you please take a second to leave a review on Apple podcasts? It is a great way to support the podcast helps these conversations get into the ears that need them.
Want to connect more? Follow me on Instagram @stephanie_sheldon. I’d love to connect!
Interested in learning more about how to change your life and/or business? Check out my coaching offerings here.
Thank you for listening! I can’t wait to chat again next week.
Episode 6 | Thinking on Purpose
Today on Braving Business I am sharing my method of "thinking on purpose." I believe that if you want to become successful, this method needs to be the foundation of your action. Overthinking is a tactic that many of use when we are trying to complete a project or task that is really important. However, it usually leaves you exhausted, feeling powerless and is a stand-in for real, production action and thinking. So tune into Episode Six of Braving Business to learn the difference between thinking on purpose and overthinking, and how you can use this method to get further in your life, business, and creative projects.
What is thinking on purpose?
Happens at a set time, for a set amount of time.
Is very helpful to begin any new week or project.
Is not catastrophizing (ie, obsessing about the worst-case scenario)
Allows you to tap into a calm, courageous and confident mind.
Can be done when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Is productive even if your brain tells you you don’t have time.
Is necessary if you’re going to evolve or grow your business or life into something different.
Allows your brain to stop Overthinking because you can tell it that you’re getting to it so it doesn’t have to worry.
What is overthinking?
something our brain does when we’re worried
a habit we practice over and over and over
a buffer- something our brain goes to to deal with emotions that we don’t want to feel
inaction that masks itself as productive action
exhaustingCome hang out with me on Instagram! You can find me posting daily on my personal page @stephanie_sheldon or on the business page, @clevelandflea.
How I do thinking on purpose:
I put time on my calendar (usually 1-2 hours)
I don’t do any other work- it’s really hard because I have so much to do and during this practice, my mind really wants to go to all the stuff I have to do
I decide at the beginning what I want to emerge with after an hour or so. What would be really good to walk away with AFTER my time of Thinking on Purpose? A blog post? A plan? Clarity? A podcast outline? A decision?
I coach myself through spending time right here, right now doing this one thing
I ask myself what’s most important about the problem / project I’m working on
Why is it important to my life or business that I’m taking time doing this anyway?
What feels scary or worrisome about the project / problem?
What’s my ideal outcome of the project?
What’s truly the worst-case scenario?
And then I get into the thinking about the actual project / problem. I try to understand it from all angles. What do I need to answer that I don’t know yet? What is holding me back from getting answers?
My tips for trading overthinking for thinking on purpose:
Keep a running list of stuff that you want to get answers to or think about but then let it out of your mind
When you’re focused on one thing, stay focused on that one thing for the time you decided you would
Decide at the beginning what success looks like in that thinking session
If other stuff comes up, just note it in your Later category on a piece of paper or wherever you take notes
If you get overwhelmed, pause for a minute for a quick walk or stretch or breathing. If you’re new to this you might experience anxiety at changing how your brain works. And THIS is the magical part. Reassuring your brain that this way makes more sense and is better for you anyway.
Stick with it but don’t be mad at yourself if you don’t always walk away doing it perfectly. Done is better than perfect anyway.
If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share on your IG stories! Just take a screenshot of the episode, upload to your stories and tag me at @stephanie_sheldon. This is such a great way to show your support and helps more people find Braving Business.
Thank you for listening and I'll see you next Thursday for a new episode!
Episode 5 | Demystifying Content Creation
So there is this buzzword, called “content” and I know it can be daunting so I am going to talk to you about what it is and how you can do it well. I want to help you understand how to use your content to love your life and business more, but also make more money. Let’s dive in!
Episode 4 | Coaching 101
In this episode we are chatting about coaching. What is it? Why do you need it? How can it change your life? If you’ve ever been curious about hiring a coach, this episode will help you learn all about what it is and what types of coaches are out there to help you live your best life!
Episode 3 | Ask Steph Series #1
Today the questions that I am answering:
I would say that I am slightly introverted. How do I make a name for myself and make my brand known?
What tips do you have for balancing a full-time job with an inconsistent schedule and trying to grow your own brand at the same time?
Episode 2 | Steph Answers All of Your Questions About The Cleveland Flea!
In this episode of Braving Business, I am giving you a peek into my very own business, The Cleveland Flea. If you don’t already know me, I am the Creative CEO and Founder of a fast-growth startup that helps creative business owners through real-life interactions with shoppers. I get questions all of the time about my business so here are my answers to all of those questions!
Episode 1 | The 3 Most Fundamental Habits You Need to Change Your Life
Welcome to the FIRST episode Braving Business. In this episode, I am introducing the three fundamental habits that can help you change your life.