My career's story is not straight forward, and started with both ambition, and confusion. I'm here to share guidance and insight into your truth; rarely do I give advice, I'd rather ask you some questions and share an anecdote or two that gives you new perspective on what YOU know is your right path. When I started my major in Psychology at NYU, I knew I wanted to help people. Once it became clear that I'd need a Doctorate or higher to make a difference... I froze and regrouped. I held 4 jobs at once, and worked for a school with children on the Autistic spectrum while also teaching pilates, yoga, and working as a Manager at a Free People store. Needless to say, I burnt out, quit all 4 jobs, and went to work in a coffee shop. In that shop, two girls came in one day talking about opening a lululemon store in the mall. I knew that was my calling. I quit the coffee shop, joined lululemon, and eventually moved to San Diego to work in a store where I was promoted. Two years later, that role had played its course, and I started working in a Yoga Studio/Restaurant as a Manager while consulting for a CEO with dreams of building a Bone Broth Bar. Once all of THAT dried up, I moved back east, started a job in HR, hated it, two years later, left and finally found my stride. My point? No experience is wasted, and every step is a valuable insight into what you want and what you don't want. I wouldn't trade it for anything, because all my experience lead me to be incredibly empathetic and understanding towards my buyer, no matter the industry or line of business.
My Mentoring Topics
- Business
- Project Management
- Career Path
- Indecision
- Sales
- Leadership
- Getting hired
- Interviewing
- Networking
- Time Management
- Negotiation
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Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth
Key Insights from "Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance" Grit is a combination of passion and perseverance, and it is a significant predictor of success. The power of continuous effort can often outstrip natural talent. Interest, practice, purpose, and hope are the four essential components of grit. Developing a fascination and deep interest in what you do is crucial to developing grit. Grit involves deliberate practice - a consistent effort to improve one's skills over time. Having a purpose or a meaningful reason to work hard is a significant part of grit. Cultivating hope and resilience is vital to sustain perseverance and maintain passion. Grit can be developed and is not just an innate trait. Creating a 'culture of grit' can have a significant impact on a group's overall performance. The grittier a person is, the less likely they are to give up. In-Depth Analysis "Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth is a compelling exploration of the concept of 'grit' and its role in achieving success. As an experienced professor who has delved into these topics for years, I find Duckworth's insights to be profound and highly relevant. Her work provides a crucial understanding of how continuous effort, often more than raw talent, contributes to one's accomplishments. The heart of Duckworth's thesis is that grit, a combination of passion and perseverance, is a significant predictor of success. This contradicts the common assumption that innate talent is the major determinant of one's achievements. Through years of research, she has found that the power of continuous effort, or 'grit,' can often outstrip natural talent. Angela Duckworth identifies four essential components of grit: interest, practice, purpose, and hope. Developing a deep, enduring interest in what you do is a cornerstone of grit. This is not about fleeting passions but about maintaining a consistent fascination with one's work. Deliberate practice is another crucial aspect. Gritty individuals do not just work hard; they work hard to continually improve their skills. This involves setting specific goals, seeking feedback, and focusing on technique. It is about going beyond your comfort zone and learning from your mistakes. Having a purpose or a meaningful reason to work hard is also a significant part of grit. It is about connecting your work to something larger than yourself. This gives your efforts a sense of significance and helps sustain your passion and perseverance. Hope and resilience are also vital to grit. The ability to bounce back from setbacks and keep going, even in the face of adversity, is a key characteristic of grit. Gritty individuals are not deterred by failures; instead, they view them as opportunities to learn and grow. One of the most empowering insights from Duckworth's work is that grit can be developed. It is not just an innate trait that some people are born with. This means that everyone, regardless of their current level of grit, can cultivate more of it. Duckworth also discusses the concept of a 'culture of grit'. When a group of people – whether it's a family, a team, or an organization – collectively values grit and supports its development, it can significantly impact the group's overall performance. Finally, Duckworth emphasizes that the grittier a person is, the less likely they are to give up. This underlines the crucial role of perseverance in achieving long-term goals. In conclusion, Angela Duckworth's "Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance" provides a powerful framework for understanding and developing the qualities that contribute to success. The concept of grit, with its emphasis on passion, perseverance, and resilience, offers a valuable perspective for those seeking to achieve their goals and fulfill their potential.
ViewDare to Lead - Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
Brené Brown
Key Facts from "Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts" Leadership is not about titles or power, but about the courage to lead with vulnerability. Embracing vulnerability is crucial for courageous leadership, contrary to the common belief that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. Trust is built in small moments and is the backbone of connection and leadership. Clear and honest communication is key to successful leadership, and this includes having difficult conversations. The concept of “rumbling with vulnerability” is introduced as a method to face fear and uncertainty. There is a difference between being a knower and being a learner, and a good leader should be a learner. Leaders should always operate from a place of values, and ensure their team does the same. Effective leaders do not avoid tough conversations, they lean into them with empathy and understanding. Leadership requires a constant commitment to personal and professional growth. Leaders must be willing to give feedback and be open to receiving it as well. Understanding and addressing shame and empathy is vital for healthy team dynamics. Detailed Summary and Analysis "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be a courageous leader. The book challenges many conventional notions about leadership, such as the association of leadership with power and authority. Instead, Brown emphasizes that leadership is not about titles or power but about the courage to lead with vulnerability. This vulnerability, she insists, is not a sign of weakness but a necessary ingredient for courageous leadership. A crucial insight from the book is the importance of embracing vulnerability. In a society that often views vulnerability as a flaw, Brown's emphasis on its importance is a significant shift. She introduces the concept of “rumbling with vulnerability”, which she defines as having the courage to face our fear and uncertainty, to lean into our discomfort, and to have difficult conversations. This concept encourages leaders to show up and be seen, even when there are no guarantees, which is a testament to true bravery. Another significant aspect of the book is the emphasis on trust-building. Brown argues that trust is built in small moments and is the backbone of connection and leadership. The acronym BRAVING, introduced in the book, stands for Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment, and Generosity, and outlines the elements of trust. Understanding and implementing these elements can significantly enhance the trust within a team. Communication is another key theme in "Dare to Lead". Brown stresses the importance of clear and honest communication in leadership, including having difficult conversations. According to her, effective leaders do not avoid tough conversations; instead, they lean into them with empathy and understanding. This can be a daunting task, but it is essential for maintaining transparency and trust within the team. "Dare to Lead" also emphasizes the importance of being a learner, not a knower. Brown elaborates on the difference between the two, explaining that knowers feel the need to provide answers, while learners ask questions. According to her, a good leader should always be a learner, constantly seeking knowledge and understanding. This insight challenges the traditional notion of leadership as being the one with all the answers, and instead promotes a more collaborative and inquisitive approach to leading. Furthermore, Brown emphasizes that leaders should always operate from a place of values. Leaders should identify their core values and ensure that their actions align with these values. Additionally, they should also encourage their team members to identify and align with their values, fostering a value-driven work environment. Lastly, the book explores the concept of shame and empathy, and how understanding and addressing these can contribute to healthier team dynamics. Brown argues that empathy is the antidote to shame and encourages leaders to foster an empathetic environment. In conclusion, "Dare to Lead" provides a comprehensive guide on how to be a more courageous, empathetic, and effective leader. By embracing vulnerability, building trust, communicating clearly, being a learner, operating from a place of values, and understanding shame and empathy, one can truly lead with their whole heart.
ViewThe Power of Habit - Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change
Charles Duhigg
Key Facts from "The Power of Habit" Habits are ingrained behaviours that occur almost automatically and they significantly influence our lives. Every habit consists of three elements: a cue, a routine, and a reward. The brain, in an effort to save effort, will try to turn any routine into a habit because habits allow our minds to ramp down more often. Identifying and understanding the cue and reward of a habit is the key to changing it. Changing one 'keystone habit' can cause a chain reaction effect, changing other habits as well. Willpower is a crucial element in habit formation and it can be strengthened over time. Organizations and societies also have habits, which can be identified and changed. Crises can provide opportunities to change organizational habits. The habit loop is a powerful framework for understanding how habits work and how to change them. The Golden Rule of Habit Change: You can't extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it. In-depth Analysis and Summary "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg is a compelling exploration into the science of habit and how our habits shape our personal and professional lives. The book is divided into three parts: The Habits of Individuals, The Habits of Successful Organizations, and The Habits of Societies. In the first part, Duhigg introduces the concept of the habit loop, which consists of three elements: a cue, a routine, and a reward. This loop is a pattern that our brains latch onto and repeat whenever possible. For instance, if a person feels stressed (cue), they might go for a run (routine), resulting in the feeling of relaxation (reward). This loop becomes automatic over time, making the habit difficult to break. Duhigg emphasizes that the key to changing a habit is understanding its cues and rewards. This aligns with the concept of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a well-established psychological treatment that helps people understand and change their behaviour by identifying the thoughts and emotions that trigger it. In the second part, Duhigg discusses organizational habits. He argues that corporations and other organizations have habits that dictate their functioning and success. By identifying and changing these habits, organizations can dramatically improve their effectiveness. This concept is reminiscent of organizational behaviour studies, which examine how individuals and groups behave within organizations and how these behaviours affect the organization's performance. The third part of the book extends the discussion to the habits of societies. Duhigg suggests that societal habits can be changed during times of crisis, providing an opportunity for societal reform. This concept echoes the theory of 'critical junctures' in political science, which suggests that major crises can lead to a long-term redirection of societal norms and behaviours. Duhigg's Golden Rule of Habit Change, states that you can't extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it. This principle is supported by behavioural psychology, which suggests that it's easier to replace a bad habit with a new one than to simply stop the bad habit. One of the key insights from the book is the concept of 'keystone habits'. Duhigg argues that some habits are more important than others because they can trigger a chain reaction of other habit changes. An example of a keystone habit might be regular exercise, which can lead to healthier eating and better sleep. Willpower, according to Duhigg, is like a muscle that can be strengthened over time. This idea is supported by research in psychology, which suggests that regular practice of self-control can improve our overall willpower. In conclusion, "The Power of Habit" provides a fascinating and scientifically-grounded exploration into the nature of habits. By understanding the habit loop and the key principles of habit change, we can gain control over our personal habits, influence the habits of organizations, and even enact societal change.
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