375 Practicing What You Preach
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
Release Date: 04/01/2025
Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will
398 Everything We Do Can Create A Story Every living breathing moment, we contribute to our own story. Every job, every interaction with another soul, every moment we reflect, we write a significant line in our story and oftentimes we must take time to truly consider what we truly want to have in our story. Do we want exhaustion or loneliness to rule our narrative? Or do we want to forge our own community based on that which brings us joy and cherish the light within us? These are the questions we must ask ourselves. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Tracy MacDonald discuss the...
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When you first take the Strengths Finder quiz, we often feel like those skills and talents are what you can use to guide and influence others, however if we forget to take time for ourselves, to turn our talents inward and focus on ourselves, we are failing ourselves by not acknowledging what we bring to the table. In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Lindsey Van Gorp discuss the importance of introspection, fostering and growing our strengths, as well as how we need to wield our talents and skills in order to be the best version of ourselves, not just for others but for ourselves...
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396 Curiosity and Authenticity It is in human nature to be curious, to ask questions, and seek out insight in an attempt to make sense of the world we are thrust into. It is when we craft our own personal board of directors do we get the opportunity to finally seek the answers we crave and in doing so find our own purpose. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Cole Mannix discuss how curiosity led them to find their authentic selves as well as the many paths their hunger for answers took them on. Highlights Curiosity and the questions it makes us ask often shape how we...
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395 Carpe Diem It’s easy to think we have all the time in the world to do something we’re putting off. Whether it’s changing jobs, or finishing your novel, or finally folding the laundry, we always think we’ll have more time. However time is a finite resource, and one day it too will run out. So we carry with us reminders of that which matters most to us and in doing so we remind ourselves to seize the day and to not take time for granted. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and George Schunk discuss their own collections of sentimental items, their own art they have...
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394 The Driver of Innovation is Curiosity Curiosity is in our nature as human beings, we crave knowledge and the answers to the how’s and why’s. Whether it be from a scientific standpoint, raising a child, or to work more cohesively with our coworkers, we must always stay curious so that we can always be growing. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Jeff Ikler discuss not just their vital work, but how they have maintained healthy relationships, and a positive mental state by always staying curious. Highlights Avoiding the after conference hangover by having a...
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393 Being Direct and Intentional in Conversations It can be far too easy to let yourself be passive in conversations, whether it be to let another person make a decision or to avoid conflict. However in doing so we rob ourselves and others of deep meaningful connection, which is why it is so important to be direct and intentional with your words. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins talks about these points while also bringing up times in her life where she was passive and direct in conversation, and why it is so important to her to be direct and intentional. Highlights Be direct...
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392 Intention and Mindfulness In Conversation Inevitably we will have to confront the reality of how certain comments, remarks, and individuals make us feel, especially when it is in a negative way. Unspoken expectations lead to resentment, and if we do not have the hard conversations and practice curiosity and active listening we not only do a disservice to them but to ourselves as well. In this episode Sarah Elkins takes us on a hike with her dog Jocko, while teaching us the importance of mindfulness and intention in conversations, and how important it is we talk to and listen to...
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391 Stories and Connection It is vital to our own communities that we remember our stories and share them with one another, not to dwell on regrets and what ifs, but to reach out and connect with one another so that we all can learn and grow together, and hopefully create more grand stories on the paths we walk together. In this revisited episode, Sarah Elkins and Lee Keylock discuss their own stories and how they have healed through sharing stories and listening to the stories that others share with us. Highlights Connecting with people through sharing stories. Healing from trauma...
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390 Good Service Goes Both Ways Anyone who has ever worked in customer service has at some point or another dealt with that one customer. You know the type, the huffy, irritable, “My issues are more important than your wellbeing and rules” that insist and demand everything, while demeaning you in the process. Unfortunately, these people will always exist, however what we can change is how we allow these types of interactions to affect us. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins tells the story of one of her own unruly customer moments, as well as how she chose to learn and grow from the...
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389 Identifying and Acting On Problems You Can Solve We are surrounded by problems everyday of our lives, some manageable and others seeming too monumental to handle alone. Which is why it is so important to build a community of like minded individuals with the same goal of making a true difference. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Tessa Clarke discuss the relationship people have with stuff, food waste, and how Tessa’s company Olio have been making a real difference in the face of the climate crisis. Highlights Our relationship with objects, like...
info_outline375 Practicing What You Preach
It’s important in life, whether you are running your own business or in your daily life, to practice what you preach. Not only do you avoid being seen as hypocritical but often the best person to give you advice is you. Consult with other coaches and counselors, ask the opinions of those you love and value, do whatever you need to in order to put yourself on the path to fulfillment and success.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Mike Trugman discuss practicing their own advice, as well as the importance of doing what you will say you will in order to put yourself in a better environment that will help you grow and thrive.
Highlights
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How do you approach your own self learning and self development?
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What do you need to do more of to bring yourself more fulfillment?
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Are you in a place that lets you grow and thrive? Or do you need to find somewhere new to grow?
Quotes
“We think we’re really sneaky, or really good at hiding these aspects of ourselves but there is no separate ‘I’m playful over here’ ‘I’m not playful over here.’ you are who you are.”
“In some capacity we have helped people with public speaking, each of us.”
“We’ve been conditioned for the most part in our society that to be successful you need to be relentlessly hard on yourself, and give up a lot of aspects of your life. And I love to work with people who are doing the courageous work of: What if I were really kind to myself? What could life look like if I was kinder and gentler to myself? And almost in a way, allowed my success to unfold, rather than something I need to grasp and control and attain. And if I lived that way, how would that make my personal relationships and the rest of my life better?”
“You can have everything you want in your life and also feel good about yourself at the same time, and it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Which is what I think a lot of us are taught and believe.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
I would love for you to think about a time when something went sideways for you. I know we all have episodes that went a little sideways. But when was a time where things really went sideways for you and someone showed up to be your guide? It might’ve been in a negative way, it might’ve been somebody who did something so bad that you chose a different path in spite or to spite this person. But more than likely, you hit a point where things went so sideways that only somebody who loves you could help guide you out of that. Think about that moment, write it down, collect that story because as Mike said; it’s not all about I did this and now I’m here, it’s what obstacles did you overcome to get here? Because that’s the story that inspires.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Mike
Mike Trugman is a Professional Life and Career Coach who helps his clients move from fear to thriving with purpose, passion and fulfillment. He hosts a top 3% podcast, Mike's Search for Meaning, dedicated to mastering what it means to be human. As someone who used to sweat and shake at the prospect of speaking up in a small meeting, he knows that we can all achieve beyond our wildest dreams with consistency and hard work.
Before coaching and podcast hosting, Mike's background was in public accounting. He has over 10 years of public accounting experience, with a focus on financial services (hedge fund and private equity) clients.
Mike currently lives in the greater New York City area with his wife and son. He loves reading, learning, cooking, spending lots of time outdoors, watching his beloved but usually struggling Knicks and Jets, and connecting with his friends and family.
Be sure to check out Mike’s LinkedIn and Instagram! As well as his website Mike Trugman Coaching, and Calendly to schedule an appointment!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!