Stand Taller

When The Unexpected Shows Up

Episode 71 – When the Unexpected Shows Up I Am Self-ish Podcast In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright sits down with certified financial planner Ross Levine for an important conversation about financial security, preparation, and what it means to protect yourself when life takes an unexpected turn. Ross shares practical insights into why financial planning is about more than investing. It is about creating a strategy that supports your life through uncertainty. Whether it is job loss, illness, disability, or unexpected life changes, Ross explains why having a plan in place before something happens can make all the difference. Will and Ross explore the difference between investment advisors and comprehensive financial planners, highlighting why a written financial plan matters more than simply watching numbers in an account. The conversation also breaks down common misconceptions around insurance and why protecting your income through disability and life insurance is often overlooked until it becomes urgent. The discussion touches on how financial priorities shift during different stages of life, from young couples and growing families to retirement planning and divorce. Ross also shares insights into his work as a financial planner and the importance of helping clients make decisions rooted in clarity rather than fear. What stands out throughout the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: preparation creates peace of mind. Financial planning is not about predicting every outcome. It is about building enough protection and flexibility so the unexpected does not completely derail your future. At its core, this episode is a reminder that financial confidence begins with awareness, education, and taking action before you think you need to. About Ross Levine Ross Levine is a Financial Advisor and Certified Financial Planner® professional with Northwestern Mutual. His mission is to build lasting relationships by helping clients create a path toward financial security and long-term independence. Inspired by watching his father help families prepare for the unexpected, Ross combines practical planning with education to support clients through every stage of life. His specialties include retirement planning, insurance analysis, education planning, divorce planning, and helping young couples and families build strong financial foundations. Connect with Ross Levine Website: https://www.insightfinancial.nm.com [https://www.insightfinancial.nm.com/] Email: ross.levine@nm.comFinancial Planning Resource: https://www.letsmakeaplan.org [https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/] Financial Planning Specialties Include: ✔️ Retirement Planning ✔️ Insurance Analysis & Planning ✔️ IRA / 401(k) Rollovers ✔️ Advisory Services through Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company ✔️ Young Couples & Families ✔️ Education Planning ✔️ Divorce Planning ✔️ Long-Term Care Planning Connect with Ross Levine https://tinyurl.com/RossPlanningCall 🌐 Website: https://www.insightfinancial.nm.com 📧 Email: ross.levine@nm.com 📚 CFP Resource Website: https://www.letsmakeaplan.org A great resource for financial planning topics and education. Produced and Edited by Will WrightCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method📧 will@iamself-ish.com🌐 iamself-ish.com📸 Instagram: @selfish.will💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.Less stress. More choice.

Stop Guessing. Start Dressing.

Episode 70 – Stop Guessing. Start Dressing. I Am Self-ish Podcast In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright sits down with wardrobe therapist and stylist Alma Vicencio for a conversation about confidence, identity, and the impact of dressing in a way that truly reflects who you are. Alma shares how style goes far beyond clothes and explains why the right wardrobe can reduce decision fatigue, increase confidence, and support both personal and professional growth. Through her Wardrobe Workshop Framework, she helps clients move away from guesswork and toward intentional choices that align with their lifestyle, personality, and goals. Will and Alma explore how color analysis, body type understanding, and personalized style statements can help people feel more confident in what they wear. They also discuss why so many people feel stuck in front of their closets and how shopping without strategy often creates more frustration instead of clarity. The conversation touches on the emotional side of style, including the attachment we have to clothing, the pressure to dress for who we think we should be, and the importance of honoring who we are right now. Alma explains how wardrobe confidence influences visibility, self-expression, and even the way people show up in important moments of life and work. Alma also shares details about her upcoming group program, Co-Heart, a community-centered experience designed to help participants build confidence and transform the way they approach style. At its core, this episode is about using fashion as support rather than pressure. Your wardrobe should work for your life, reflect your personality, and help you feel more like yourself, not less. About Alma Vicencio Alma Vicencio has spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry, building a career rooted in helping people feel confident in their personal style. After graduating from FIDM in 2003, she began as a fashion designer in Los Angeles before moving into personal shopping for luxury brands including Neiman Marcus, John Varvatos, and Prada. In 2020, she founded Alma Styles, combining her expertise with a passion for helping people feel confident and aligned in how they show up. Based in Brooklyn with her family, Alma works with clients internationally through personalized styling services. Connect with Alma VicencioWebsite: https://almastyles.com [https://almastyles.com]Instagram: https://instagram.com/almasaurus_stylesWardrobe Workshop Framework: https://www.almastyles.com/wwframework [https://www.almastyles.com/wwframework] Produced and Edited by Will WrightCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method📧 will@iamself-ish.com🌐 iamself-ish.com📸 Instagram: @selfish.will💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.Less stress. More choice.

Notice The Difference

Episode 69 – Notice The Difference I Am Self-ish Podcast In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright sits down with entrepreneur and business owner Ardon Daley for a conversation about authenticity, relationships, and building a business rooted in trust. Through Ardon’s journey in the cleaning industry, the conversation becomes much bigger than cleaning. It explores freedom, purpose, and what it means to build something on your own terms. Ardon shares how becoming a husband at a young age shifted his mindset and inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship. Wanting more control over his future, he built a business focused on creating financial freedom while staying true to his values. One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is the difference between transactional relationships and genuine connection, and why trust matters more than a quick sale. Will and Ardon also discuss the importance of educating clients and helping them understand the value behind a service. Ardon explains the difference between a quick clean and a deep reset, emphasizing how understanding the needs of a space allows for better results and long-term satisfaction. The conversation also touches on the realities of entrepreneurship, including difficult jobs, lessons learned through setbacks, and the importance of staying adaptable while continuing to grow. At its core, this episode is about noticing the difference. The difference between doing just enough and doing things with intention. Between chasing someone else’s dream and building your own. About Ardon DaleyArdon Daley is a Jamaican entrepreneur, investor, husband, and owner of DailyCleans Commercial & Residential Cleaning. His work is rooted in authenticity, education, and helping clients understand the value of high-quality service while building a business that creates freedom and opportunity. Connect with Ardon DaleyWebsite: https://dailycleansservice.com/ [https://dailycleansservice.com/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailycleansservice [https://www.instagram.com/dailycleansservice]Phone: 516-462-4249 Quote from Ardon:“Chase your own dream or chase someone else’s dream.” Produced and Edited by Will Wright Creator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method 📧 will@iamself-ish.com🌐 iamself-ish.com📸 Instagram: @selfish.will💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.Less stress. More choice.

Ready. Set. Action.

Episode 68 – Ready. Set. Action.I Am Self-ish Podcast In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright sits down with Megan Quick for a conversation that bridges the gap between creativity and professional growth. Megan shares how her background in theater has shaped the way she communicates, collaborates, and navigates challenges in both creative and corporate spaces. The discussion highlights how skills developed through acting extend far beyond the stage. Preparation, discipline, and the ability to stay present under pressure become essential tools in any environment. Megan reflects on how being trained to listen, respond in the moment, and connect emotionally has strengthened her ability to work with others and communicate clearly in professional settings. Will and Megan also explore the balance between creativity and financial stability. Pursuing a creative path often comes with uncertainty, and learning how to navigate that reality without losing your sense of purpose becomes part of the journey. Megan shares how she has approached that balance while staying connected to her identity as a creative. The conversation touches on fear and rejection, two experiences that are deeply familiar in both theater and corporate life. Megan speaks about learning to move through those moments instead of being stopped by them, and how resilience is built by continuing to show up even when outcomes are uncertain. At its core, this episode is about authenticity. It is about recognizing that the parts of you that feel creative, expressive, and different are not obstacles to success. They are often the very things that make your voice stronger Megan Quick Bio Megan Quick is a writer, media producer, and marketing coordinator based in New York City. She works for Valiant Technology and creates theater and comedy in her off hours. She has two cats and thinks everyone should get a pet. Social Media Instagram: @quick.megan for art and theater updates, Megan Quick on LinkedIn for business. Please check out Valiant Technology’s podcast, The Creative Stack, available wherever you get your podcasts. Quotes: A very known quote, but relevant to the episode! “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts…” William Shakespeare Anything you’d like our audience to know? Support small businesses and support local theater. If you want that sense of community, those are great places to start. Produced and Edited by Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach and Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method 🌐 iamself-ish.com📸 Instagram: @selfish.will💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.Less stress. More choice.

Meet Your Gremlins

Episode 67 – Meet Your Gremlins I Am Self-ish Podcast In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright explores the voice that shows up in moments that matter most. The one that questions whether you are ready, capable, or deserving. Instead of treating it as something to ignore or fight, Will reframes it as something to understand. He introduces the concept of the gremlin, not as a flaw, but as a pattern. These thoughts are not random. They are shaped by past experiences, environments, and expectations that were internalized over time. What sounds like your voice is often an echo of something much older, something that once tried to protect you but now keeps you from moving forward. Will shares the story of a client named Marcus, who found himself stuck after being passed over for a promotion. At first, the response was immediate self-blame. As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that the reaction was not about the moment itself. It was tied to a deeper pattern rooted in childhood, where achievement was expected but never acknowledged. That experience shaped an internal voice that constantly questioned his worth. Once Marcus named that voice “The Inspector,” something shifted. Creating separation allowed him to recognize when that voice was active instead of automatically believing it. That awareness opened the door for a different response. This episode focuses on the beginning of that process. Not eliminating the voice, but recognizing it. Not proving it wrong, but questioning where it comes from. When you understand the origin of your internal dialogue, you create space between the thought and your identity. Meeting your gremlin is not about fixing yourself. It is about understanding yourself in a way that allows you to move forward with more clarity and less self-doubt. Produced and Edited by Will Wright Creator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method 🌐 iamself-ish.com📸 Instagram: @selfish.will💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will Be bold. Be SELF-ISH. Less stress. More choice.