Came, Crashed, Rebuilt: Equanimity amid Crisis with Simon Leslie

To New Beginnings

It’s been four years since I began podcasting. I started with Mastering Midlife, which later became Mastering Overwhelm as my coaching practice evolved. You have all stayed with me for over 400 episodes, and after countless solo conversations and interviews with my brilliant guests, it is time to close the Mastering Overwhelm podcast. I have been going around the world, having a blast, and learning about living life. But all great things come to an end—so that other great things can begin. In this episode, I share what I hope you learned—what I hope I was able to impart—from the Mastering Midlife and Mastering Overwhelm podcasts. I also introduce The Rising Leader and describe how my Only 10s principle and career in coaching and sales are culminating in the next major project of my life. “I hope you noticed my humanity and how rich it is now that I’ve learned to accept my humanity, my spiritual self, and growth.” - Mark Silverman This week on Mastering Overwhelm: * My fourth year as a podcaster * Lessons I hope you’ve taken from Mastering Overwhelm * Introducing The Rising Leader Mastering Overwhelm - Set Yourself Free to Enjoy Your Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Mastering Overwhelm Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mastering-overwhelm/id1609969327] | TuneIn [http://tun.in/pk3PD] | GooglePlay [https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYjNmM2NkZWYtY2UxMC00YmFkLWExODMtYWUxNTAxMzdhODNiL2NhODZiNDY0LWEzOGYtNDMzYi1iM2Y1LWFlMTYwMGZhZGVhMy8xZDU3NGRiNi01MjRkLTQyM2QtYTM1ZC1hZTE2MDEwMDk5OTMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M%3d] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=685270] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/42DW3Gv2EKsgLdsUfs6dQ5] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f616bdfb-8c2f-4979-a3d3-f42ea0b8d138] | iHeart [https://iheart.com/podcast/91792585] | Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/show/3330502] Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Mark-J-Silverman-Coaching-1010865855602071/], Twitter [https://twitter.com/mjaysilverman], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGO6YqCHMDVNa_m2yiBZEtA], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark22102/]. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website [https://www.markjsilverman.com/]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Stress and Trauma in Adults and Adopted Children with Bryan Post

Bryan Post is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, and founder of Post Institute, an organization dedicated to helping parents heal wounds created by trauma. Post Institute has published over 100 books, DVDs, CDs, audio recordings, webinars, and articles on parenting children who have experienced pre-birth and early life trauma. One of America’s leading child behavior and adoption experts, Bryan has taught and offered love-based, family-centered principles and concepts to over one million parents and professionals worldwide. He also currently serves as the Clinical Director for Parents in Training, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides wraparound services to adoptive families throughout Northern California. Bryan joins me today to discuss trauma and stress and how we can manage our responses to them. He defines trauma and describes its dynamics in adopted children’s lives. He explains why the loss of someone close to us can cause a physiological disruption and why taking the time to grieve is important. He dissects how trauma causes us to become fearful and stress-sensitive. He also shares what we can learn as adults from soothing a child who’s having a tantrum at the supermarket and underscores how we can learn to work through fear-based anxiety and stress responses by practicing mindful breathing. “All emotional reactivity stems from unfinished business. The moment you find yourself being stressed out, it has far more to do with you than the other person in the situation.”  - Bryan Post This week on Mastering Overwhelm: * Bryan’s background and his passion for helping adoptive families * Adoption and why it can be a traumatic experience for a child * Bryan’s definition of trauma and the basis of post-traumatic stress disorder * Society’s aversion to grief and other negative emotions * How practicing mindful breathing can help us manage fear-based anxiety and stress responses * The allostatic load and window of tolerance * Addiction as a trauma response * The physiology of stress and trauma reactions * How to help soothe a child having a tantrum in the supermarket * Navigating emotional highs and lows Resources Mentioned: * Book: The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life [https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Brain-Mysterious-Underpinnings-Life/dp/0684836599/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+emotional+brain+by+joseph+e.+ledoux&qid=1669099057&sprefix=the+emotional+brain%2Caps%2C406&sr=8-1] by Joseph Ledoux * Book: Peaks and Valleys: Making Good and Bad Times Work for You - at Work and in Life [https://www.amazon.com/Peaks-and-Valleys-Spencer-Johnson-audiobook/dp/B001UL7NVM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=peaks+and+valleys+by+spencer+johnson&qid=1669100147&sprefix=peaks+and+vall%2Caps%2C378&sr=8-1] by Spencer Johnson * Book: Who Moved My Cheese?: An [https://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-audiobook/dp/B07F7LS2ZW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=who+moved+my+cheese&qid=1669100158&sprefix=who+moved+my+%2Caps%2C317&sr=8-1]A-Mazing [https://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-audiobook/dp/B07F7LS2ZW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=who+moved+my+cheese&qid=1669100158&sprefix=who+moved+my+%2Caps%2C317&sr=8-1] Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life [https://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-audiobook/dp/B07F7LS2ZW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=who+moved+my+cheese&qid=1669100158&sprefix=who+moved+my+%2Caps%2C317&sr=8-1] by Spencer Johnson Connect with Bryan Post: * Bryan Post Website [https://www.bryanpost.com/] * Post Wraparound [https://postwraparound.com/] * Post Institute [https://postinstitute.com/] * Book: From Fear to Love: Parenting Difficult Adopted Children Using a Love-Based, Family-Centered Approach [https://www.feartolovebook.com/misc-28687180] * Post Institute on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/postinstitute] * Post Institute on Twitter [https://twitter.com/postinstitute_] * Bryan Post on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanpost1/] * Bryan Post on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bryanpostofficial/] * Bryan Post on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/bryanpost567/?_rdr] * Bryan Post on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV5-uTmUc1fDKFqVWHepuRQ] Mastering Overwhelm - Set Yourself Free to Enjoy Your Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Mastering Overwhelm Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mastering-overwhelm/id1609969327] | TuneIn [http://tun.in/pk3PD] | GooglePlay [https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYjNmM2NkZWYtY2UxMC00YmFkLWExODMtYWUxNTAxMzdhODNiL2NhODZiNDY0LWEzOGYtNDMzYi1iM2Y1LWFlMTYwMGZhZGVhMy8xZDU3NGRiNi01MjRkLTQyM2QtYTM1ZC1hZTE2MDEwMDk5OTMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M%3d] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=685270] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/42DW3Gv2EKsgLdsUfs6dQ5] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f616bdfb-8c2f-4979-a3d3-f42ea0b8d138] | iHeart [https://iheart.com/podcast/91792585] | Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/show/3330502] Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners, like you. Join me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Mark-J-Silverman-Coaching-1010865855602071/], Twitter [https://twitter.com/mjaysilverman], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGO6YqCHMDVNa_m2yiBZEtA], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark22102/]. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website [https://www.markjsilverman.com/]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Following Your YES with Ken Bechtel

Ken Bechtel is an author, speaker, and podcaster. He is the creator and host of Speaking of Partnership, a podcast with listeners in over 100 countries. In his recent book, Follow Your YES: A Simple Idea to Improve Anyone's Life, Ken shares ideas on building confidence and eliminating overwhelm across the full spectrum of life. He has invested over 20 years into researching and refining what it takes to make people thrive in this busy world and is dedicated to helping people expand into their fullest expression and live fulfilling lives. Ken joins me today to discuss “following your yes” and how doing so can impact your life. He distinguishes the “internal yes” from the “intellectual yes.” He discusses why a “no” uttered from the deepest convictions is better than a people-pleasing or conflict-avoidant “yes.” He explains how following “maybes” over an internal “yes” makes us overwhelmed and overburdened. Ken also reveals the key to transforming your life and underscores how staying true to your “yes” can become a gift to the people in your life. “The key to any transformation is not the first commitment that you’re going to transform, it’s re-committing when we fall off the track.” - Ken Bechtel This week on Mastering Overwhelm: * Your “yes” as divine guidance * The decision-making process and how to distinguish whether it’s an “internal yes” or an intellectual justification * How feelings push us forward and guide us through life * The discovery of Only 10s and how to declutter our minds of shiny objects * The fear of missing out and how following your “yes” can become a gift to the people in your life * “Maybeland” and the importance of letting yourself be a beginner * Productivity, overwhelm and following your “yes” * How Following Your YES encouraged me to write Rising Leader Resources Mentioned: * Book: The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection [https://www.amazon.com/The-Surrender-Experiment-audiobook/dp/B00YOJ9RV6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+surrender+experiment+by+michael+singer&qid=1668580080&sprefix=the+surrender%2Caps%2C784&sr=8-1] by Michael A. Singer Connect with Ken Bechtel: * Follow Your YES [https://www.followyouryes.com/] * Speaking of Partnership [https://speakingofpartnership.com/] * Speaking of Partnership on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SpeakingOfPartnership/] * Speaking of Partnership on Twitter [https://twitter.com/S_O_Partnership] * Ken Bechtel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-bechtel-68a9388/] * Ken Bechtel on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/followyouryes/] * Email: info@SpeakingOfPartnership.com Mastering Overwhelm - Set Yourself Free to Enjoy Your Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Mastering Overwhelm Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mastering-overwhelm/id1609969327] | TuneIn [http://tun.in/pk3PD] | GooglePlay [https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYjNmM2NkZWYtY2UxMC00YmFkLWExODMtYWUxNTAxMzdhODNiL2NhODZiNDY0LWEzOGYtNDMzYi1iM2Y1LWFlMTYwMGZhZGVhMy8xZDU3NGRiNi01MjRkLTQyM2QtYTM1ZC1hZTE2MDEwMDk5OTMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M%3d] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=685270] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/42DW3Gv2EKsgLdsUfs6dQ5] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f616bdfb-8c2f-4979-a3d3-f42ea0b8d138] | iHeart [https://iheart.com/podcast/91792585] | Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/show/3330502] Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you. Join me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Mark-J-Silverman-Coaching-1010865855602071/], Twitter [https://twitter.com/mjaysilverman], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGO6YqCHMDVNa_m2yiBZEtA], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark22102/]. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website [https://www.markjsilverman.com/]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Came, Crashed, Rebuilt: Equanimity amid Crisis with Simon Leslie

Simon Leslie is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ink, a global travel media company dedicated to connecting companies with travelers. Throughout the years, Simon and his team have worked to build the company to over $100 million—only for the COVID-19 pandemic to ravage its business and products. Nevertheless, Simon continues to rebuild Ink to be even larger and more profitable. In his book, Equanimity: The Diary of a CEO in Crisis, Simon shares all he’s learned from the pandemic. He is also the author of White Belt Thinking: The Hero’s Journey. A Story of Living with a Beginner’s Mind and There is no F in Sales: A Book About Selling in Every Market Condition. Simon joins me today to share his wisdom, equanimity, and poetry. He describes how the COVID-19 pandemic turned his life and business upside down and how he remained equanimous through it. He discusses the work he has done to become more centered, grounded, and open-hearted. He also underscores the importance of improving your imagination and dreams and highlights the power of gratitude. “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” - Simon Leslie This week on Mastering Overwhelm: * The many failures in Simon’s life * Ink’s business in travel advertising and how COVID-19 impacted the company * Why Simon started writing poetry * How poetry became a creative escape for Simon during the pandemic * How Simon found equanimity amid the COVID-19 crisis * The relationship between problems and opportunities * Why Simon thinks people who don’t want problems aren’t living to their fullest potential * Living in the downside and the lifelong process of becoming grounded and centered * Having a miserable life despite being successful and wealthy * Radical candor and training the bravery muscle every day * Why the pursuit of happiness is unhappiness * Becoming more compassionate and open-hearted Connect with Simon Leslie: * Simon Leslie Website [https://www.luckyleslie.com/] * Ink Global [https://ink-global.com/] * Book: Equanimity: The Diary of a CEO in Crisis [https://www.amazon.com/Equanimity-Diary-Crisis-Simon-Leslie/dp/1916105130] * Book: White Belt Thinking: The Hero’s Journey. A Story of Living with a Beginner’s Mind [https://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Belt-Thinking-journey-beginners/dp/1916105122/ref=pd_sbs_sccl_1/260-7665832-4089824?pd_rd_w=tLGoV&pf_rd_p=c07415a0-09a7-4604-aaca-c3fcee246443&pf_rd_r=G8DQGDR1JS5RBRQWA6BP&pd_rd_r=5aca5b26-29e0-44f5-a3dd-78838282451f&pd_rd_wg=vzwsV&pd_rd_i=1916105122&psc=1] * Book: There is no F in Sales: A Book About Selling in Every Market Condition [https://www.amazon.co.uk/There-Sales-selling-market-condition/dp/1916105106/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=no+f+in+sales&qid=1566911923&s=gateway&sr=8-1] * Ink on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/222962/] * Simon Leslie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-leslie-b252b92/] * The Motivational Poet on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/themotivationalpoet/]   Mastering Overwhelm - Set Yourself Free to Enjoy Your Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Mastering Overwhelm Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mastering-overwhelm/id1609969327] | TuneIn [http://tun.in/pk3PD] | GooglePlay [https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYjNmM2NkZWYtY2UxMC00YmFkLWExODMtYWUxNTAxMzdhODNiL2NhODZiNDY0LWEzOGYtNDMzYi1iM2Y1LWFlMTYwMGZhZGVhMy8xZDU3NGRiNi01MjRkLTQyM2QtYTM1ZC1hZTE2MDEwMDk5OTMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M%3d] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=685270] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/42DW3Gv2EKsgLdsUfs6dQ5] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f616bdfb-8c2f-4979-a3d3-f42ea0b8d138] | iHeart [https://iheart.com/podcast/91792585] | Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/show/3330502] Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners, like you. Join me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Mark-J-Silverman-Coaching-1010865855602071/], Twitter [https://twitter.com/mjaysilverman], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGO6YqCHMDVNa_m2yiBZEtA], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark22102/]. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website [https://www.markjsilverman.com/]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Building Connections and Navigating Difficult Conversations with Sejal Thakkar

Sejal Thakkar is the founder and Chief Civility Officer of TrainXtra, a woman/minority-owned training consulting firm based in South San Francisco, California. A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion expert and former employment attorney, Sejal is on a mission to educate and empower people to create a world where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. She is also the Chief Culture Officer of Nobody Studios, a venture capital firm that aims to create 100 compelling companies, guiding them from ideation to full-scale company validation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago and received her Juris Doctor degree from Northern Illinois University. Sejal joins me today to share advice on leading people through difficult conversations. She explains why effective communication takes time and why we need more empathy in the world. She outlines the steps to facilitating difficult conversations. She describes the three conversations that simultaneously occur whenever you talk to someone about difficult topics. Sejal also highlights the importance of normalizing conversations around race relations, privilege, and unconscious bias and underscores the value of active listening. “It’s important for an effective communicator to get people into that ‘uncomfortable’ category—to bring them into a conversation that is not going to be well-received but is needed to move forward.” - Sejal Thakkar This week on Mastering Overwhelm: * Resilience and getting out of the overwhelm of grief * Creating connections in the world * Why effective communication takes time * How building connections and rapport makes it easier to navigate difficult conversations * How the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the disconnection between people * Key facilitation skills all middle managers must have * The steps in leading difficult conversations * Conversations about feelings, identity, and being right * How to get people to listen to conversations about race relations and privileges * Identifying different points of view before having a difficult conversation * Assessing your own assumptions and biases before leading a difficult conversation * Leading up, leading across, leading your team, and leading yourself * How Sejal’s legal background helps her navigate difficult conversations with people * How I teach people how to be present through mindful breathing * How to proactively kick your brain into active listening mode Resources Mentioned: * The Pain, Power, and Paradox of Bias | Sejal Thakkar | TEDxCWRU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IBn_JkH1Kw] Connect with Sejal Thakkar: * TrainXtra [https://trainxtra.com/] * Nobody Studios [https://nobodystudios.com/] * TrainXtra on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sejalthakkar/] * TrainXtra on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChNI3CR4ijzQvjvijJxkOxg] * Nobody Studios on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/says-nobody-studios/] * Nobody Studios on Instagram [http://instagram.com/nobodystudios] * Nobody Studios on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SaysNobodyStudios] * Nobody Studios on Twitter [https://twitter.com/nobodystudios1] * Sejal Thakkar on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sejalthakkar/] * Sejal Thakkar on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChNI3CR4ijzQvjvijJxkOxg/videos] Mastering Overwhelm - Set Yourself Free to Enjoy Your Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Mastering Overwhelm Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mastering-overwhelm/id1609969327] | TuneIn [http://tun.in/pk3PD] | GooglePlay [https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYjNmM2NkZWYtY2UxMC00YmFkLWExODMtYWUxNTAxMzdhODNiL2NhODZiNDY0LWEzOGYtNDMzYi1iM2Y1LWFlMTYwMGZhZGVhMy8xZDU3NGRiNi01MjRkLTQyM2QtYTM1ZC1hZTE2MDEwMDk5OTMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M%3d] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=685270] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/42DW3Gv2EKsgLdsUfs6dQ5] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f616bdfb-8c2f-4979-a3d3-f42ea0b8d138] | iHeart [https://iheart.com/podcast/91792585] | Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/show/3330502] Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners, like you. Join me on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Mark-J-Silverman-Coaching-1010865855602071/], Twitter [https://twitter.com/mjaysilverman], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGO6YqCHMDVNa_m2yiBZEtA], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark22102/]. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website [https://www.markjsilverman.com/]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.