995: Christina Guthier -Joyfully Exhausted: The Bright Side of Giving Your All
The Self-Employed Life
In this episode of The Self-Employed Life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with occupational health psychologist Dr. Christina Guthier, author of Joyfully Exhausted, about the often misunderstood concept of burnout. We discuss the idea that not all exhaustion is bad, explore the difference between joyful and harmful exhaustion, and examine the effort-reward imbalance that many self-employed people face. Christina emphasizes the importance of managing our energy and recovering from hidden efforts we may not even realize are draining us. Our conversation is a refreshing reminder that...
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994: The Power of Paradox in Business and Life
The Self-Employed Life
People are typically very uncomfortable exisitning in what appears to be a paradox. I think where we often get tripped up is when we believe we have to resolve these tensions—pick one truth and discard the other. But what if wisdom and life comes from learning to stand in the paradox? To hold both truths at once. Sell to the Rich: The Insiders Handbook to Selling Luxury – Contact Jeffrey – Valuable Resources – You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where...
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993: Katie Keller Wood - Busting the Myth of Work-Life Balance
The Self-Employed Life
In this episode of The Self-Employed Life, I had the pleasure of speaking with Katie Keller Wood, Montessori educator, TEDx speaker, and author of the upcoming book Alignment: A Montessori Approach to Reimagining Work-Life Balance. We challenge the myth of work-life balance and instead explore the powerful metaphor of a life mosaic—how different aspects of our life can align without rigid separation. Katie shares how purpose-driven work, often viewed with guilt or skepticism, can actually be a vital source of personal meaning and fulfillment. She draws from Montessori principles in order to...
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992: Julia Phelan - Understand the Science of Learning to Truly Change Lives
The Self-Employed Life
In this episode of The Self-Employed Life podcast, I had the great pleasure of speaking with learning scientist, curriculum expert, and the “Workshop Whisperer”, Julia Phelan. In this episode we explore how well-intended coaches, consultants, and course creators can unknowingly do harm when they don’t understand how people actually learn. Julia shares insights into why oversimplified advice discourages learners and how to design effective experiences for people at all levels. We also dig into the myth of learning styles, the difference between good content and good delivery, and...
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991: Overwhelm is Aliveness in Disguise
The Self-Employed Life
Do you suffer from feelings of overwhelm? Too much going on, too much to do, too much of whatever? I know I do and it's always been a source of wasted energy. In this episode I offer a whole reframing of overwhelm, a shifting of how you might think about it with hopefully positive results. Give it a try! Sell to the Rich: The Insiders Handbook to Selling Luxury – Contact Jeffrey – Valuable Resources – You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business...
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990: Emily Paul - Unlock the Power of Alchemy in Your Business
The Self-Employed Life
In this episode of The Self-Employed Life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Emily Paul, a member of my High Achievers year-long coaching group. We explored the concept of alchemy—what it really means and why it's essential for entrepreneurs. Emily shares how she helps high-achieving individuals dissolve old patterns, tap into deeper intuition, and reconnect with their authentic selves through the transformative power of alchemy. She also explains how her work goes beyond traditional coaching, why energy healing can be just as powerful remotely, and why now is the time for...
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989: The Art of Living Well
The Self-Employed Life
I've spent the past five weeks in Paris with one week left. When I left the U.S., I had some very clear intentions. One of them was to explore all the aspects of #TheArtOfLivingWell. I'd like to share what I learned so that you can consider these "luxuries" in your own life. Sell to the Rich: The Insiders Handbook to Selling Luxury – Contact Jeffrey – Valuable Resources – You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common...
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988: Nesha Pai - Courageous Dreamers Win
The Self-Employed Life
In this episode of the Self-Employed Life, I had the great privilege of speaking with Nesha Pai, author of the book “Overcoming Ordinary Obstacles”. Nesha shared how she transitioned from running a fully remote accounting firm to empowering others to pursue their boldest dreams. She further explains how personal tragedies deepened her mission. We explored the difference between courage and bravery, the “Four C’s” framework she uses to guide dreamers into bold action, and how cultivating personal style and daily confidence practices can help us show up as the person we’re...
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987: Annette Mason -The Power of Intentional Sabbaticals
The Self-Employed Life
In this episode of The Self-Employed Life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Annette Mason, sabbaticalist and Succession Architect at Trilogy Design Works. Annette shared how intentional sabbaticals can be powerful tools for self-employed individuals to regain clarity, spark creativity, and build sustainable success. We discussed the difference between a vacation and a sabbatical, how to structure one even while running a business, and the importance of designing time away with intention. Annette also introduced her framework of Compass, Maps, and Constellations to help people align...
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986: Heather Holloway - Stress Less Serve More
The Self-Employed Life
In this episode of the Self Employed Life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Heather Holloway, founder of Holloway Media Services. Heather shared her journey of personal and professional emergence, emphasizing the importance of stress reduction and serving more. We further discussed her social media strategy, focusing on the significance of LinkedIn for business networking and personal branding. Heather highlighted the need to set boundaries on social media consumption. She also touched on the evolving role of social media in business and the importance of having a support system...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Self-Employed Life, I had the privilege of speaking with Angela Chee, author of The Power of the Only: Own Your Voice, Thrive in Any Environment. Angela shared her inspiring perspective on how being "the only one" can be a powerful advantage. She emphasized that stepping into your greatness doesn't require the world to change—it's about embracing your unique strengths. Together, we explored five guiding principles for thriving as "the only," including the importance of owning your opportunities and more. This conversation is full of insights for anyone looking to harness their individuality and create meaningful impact.
Angela Chee is a keynote speaker/emcee, media/communication coach, author, and host of “The Power Of The Only” podcast. She helps leaders be YOU, Amplfied!®-clear, confident and connected on-camera and off. Her book, The Power Of The Only-Own Your Voice, Thrive In Any Environment launches on March 4, 2025. She believes,”Being “The Only” is not a weakness, it is your greatest strength.”
A former TV news anchor and reporter with more than 25 years of media experience, she’s worked with top TV stations from KCBS-TV and KNBC-TV in Los Angeles to Fox 6 in San Diego, hosted shows for networks from E! Entertainment to HGTV and helped launch Entertainment Tonight China. She was the media mentor/expert on Lifetime’s “The Pop Game” and has made a variety of appearances from The Today Show to the film Blades of Glory and more. Through one on one coaching, group workshops and online programs she helps her clients break through barriers, own their voice and power, and step into their brilliance.
Her speaking career started at 15, when she was the first Asian American woman to win the title of Miss California National Teenager. Now, Angela emcees events, presents keynotes and leads corporate training for companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, JP Morgan, Freddie Mac, Roche, and more on topics related to leadership, communication, women’s empowerment, diversity and media.
She is a mother to two teenagers, a healthy foodie, who is driven by soul, loves yoga and all things inspirational. You can find her @AngelaCheeTV. on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and at www.AngelaChee.com.
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The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!
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Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.
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Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO!
Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.