Something New Is Possible

Building a Business That Works for You with Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood

What happens when the business you built, lived, and led for decades is suddenly no longer yours? In this episode of Something New Is Possible, I’m speaking with Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood, a strategic business advisor, certified exit planning advisor, and former multi-unit McDonald’s franchise owner. After 38 years in the McDonald’s system, including 24 years as a franchise owner in a family business, Michele found herself facing a painful business crossroads that forced her to make decisions she never expected. Michele shares what it was like to sell her business, grieve the loss of an identity she had carried for decades, and slowly begin discovering who she was beyond the work. We talk about listening to intuition, acknowledging difficult emotions, creating a “joy plan,” and why business owners need to think about their future before crisis forces the conversation. This is a grounded conversation about business, identity, grief, faith, transition, and the possibility of writing a new chapter. If you’ve ever wondered what comes next after a major life or business change, this episode is for you. CONTACT MICHELE WEBSITE: http://www.rbydesign360.com [http://www.rbydesign360.com] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/michele_kirkwood/ [https://www.instagram.com/michele_kirkwood/] LINKEDIN: http://linkedin.com/in/michelerkcoach [http://linkedin.com/in/michelerkcoach] LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHELE Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood is a strategic business advisor and certified exit planning advisor who helps business owners get clear, build real value, and create options to scale, step back, or exit on their terms. With 38 years in the McDonald’s system, including 24 as a multi-unit franchise owner, she brings practical insight, real-world experience, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build a business that supports both growth and life beyond it. Having navigated her own unexpected exit, Michele now helps others plan intentionally so they can move forward with clarity, choice, and confidence. SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL ⟹ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠] SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH BARBARA ⟹ ⁠https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠ [https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠] SOCIAL LINKS INSTAGRAM ⟹ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠] FACEBOOK ⟹ https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠] LINKEDIN ⟹ https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠] BUSINESS CONTACT ⟹ info@clearintentions.net DISCLAIMER This channel is for information and educational purposes only and should not be used in place of therapy. Feel free to comment, like, and share our videos. For a deeper look into any of these subjects, you are invited to book a coaching package with me or participate in one of our programs. Please email info@clearintentions.net for more information.

How Small Acts of Courage Can Change Your Life: A Conversation with Adam Girsault

In this episode of Something New Is Possible, I speak with Adam Girsault, entrepreneur, CEO of Your Dream School, proud gay dad, and someone who has built a life that reflects who he truly is. Adam shares his journey from Paris to Tel Aviv, from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and from fear of rejection to intentionally stepping outside his comfort zone. We talk about his personal “rejection challenge,” how taking small, uncomfortable actions changed his confidence, and what it means to create a life, family, and career on your own terms. We also talk about surrogacy, becoming a parent, identity, uncomfortable conversations, and the surprising freedom that can come when you stop letting fear of rejection run your life. If you’ve been feeling stuck, afraid to take a risk, or unsure how to move toward the life you actually want, this episode is for you. CONTACT ADAM Website: https://www.yourdreamschool.com [https://www.yourdreamschool.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestrangerlifeinparis [https://www.instagram.com/thestrangerlifeinparis] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgirsault [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgirsault] MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Rejection TedTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZXgApsPCQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZXgApsPCQ] SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL ⟹ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠ [⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠] SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH BARBARA ⟹ ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠⁠ [https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠⁠] SOCIAL LINKS INSTAGRAM ⟹ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠⁠] FACEBOOK ⟹ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠⁠] LINKEDIN ⟹ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠] ⁠ BUSINESS CONTACT ⟹ info@clearintentions.net DISCLAIMER This channel is for information and educational purposes only and should not be used in place of therapy. Feel free to comment, like, and share our videos. For a deeper look into any of these subjects, you are invited to book a coaching package with me or participate in one of our programs. Please email info@clearintentions.net for more information.

Returning To My Center

Have you ever noticed how peaceful life feels when everything goes according to plan… and how quickly that peace disappears when it doesn’t? In this solo episode of Something New Is Possible, recorded from the Philippines, I reflect on a powerful lesson about trust, expectations, and returning to your center. During a recent journey that began with a yoga retreat in India and continued in unexpected ways, I started to notice something important: I tend to lose my center when my focus moves outside of me. When my peace depends on what others do. When my emotional state depends on circumstances unfolding the way I want. In this episode, I share the practices that help me return to my center again and again, even when life feels uncertain. SIGN UP FOR MY NEW FREE 5-DAY VIDEO SERIES TO BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE ⟹ https://mailchi.mp/c162b47db7b5/confidence [https://mailchi.mp/c162b47db7b5/confidence] SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL ⟹ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠ [⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠] SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH BARBARA ⟹ ⁠https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠ [https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠] SOCIAL LINKS INSTAGRAM ⟹ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠] FACEBOOK ⟹ https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠] LINKEDIN ⟹ https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠] BUSINESS CONTACT ⟹ info@clearintentions.net DISCLAIMER This channel is for information and educational purposes only and should not be used in place of therapy. Feel free to comment, like, and share our videos. For a deeper look into any of these subjects, you are invited to book a coaching package with me or participate in one of our programs. Please email info@clearintentions.net for more information.

Self-Compassion in Action: Creating Space to Process and Reset

In this solo episode of Something New Is Possible, I reflect on self-compassion, emotional processing, and the importance of creating intentional space for yourself. I’m about to leave for my first truly unplugged vacation in more than a decade, and it made me think about something I talk about often with clients but continue to learn about myself: the importance of stepping away from constant productivity so the nervous system can reset. In this episode, I share what self-compassion actually looks like in practice. Rather than pushing emotions aside or rushing to move on, self-compassion allows us to create space for what we’re experiencing so we can process it fully and regain clarity. In this conversation I talk about: • Why emotional processing improves clarity and effectiveness • What self-compassion really means (and what it doesn’t) • How creating intentional space helps the nervous system reset • Why giving yourself time to process difficult emotions matters • A simple way to begin practicing self-compassion in your daily life If you’ve ever felt pressure to keep pushing forward without pause, I hope this episode offers a different perspective on how slowing down can actually support resilience, clarity, and confidence. Listen to the full episode and explore what self-compassion might look like in your own life. SIGN UP FOR MY NEW FREE 5-DAY VIDEO SERIES TO BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE ⟹ https://mailchi.mp/c162b47db7b5/confidence [https://mailchi.mp/c162b47db7b5/confidence] SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL ⟹ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠] SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH BARBARA ⟹ ⁠https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠ [https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠] SOCIAL LINKS INSTAGRAM ⟹ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠] FACEBOOK ⟹ https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠] LINKEDIN ⟹ https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠] BUSINESS CONTACT ⟹ info@clearintentions.net DISCLAIMER This channel is for information and educational purposes only and should not be used in place of therapy. Feel free to comment, like, and share our videos. For a deeper look into any of these subjects, you are invited to book a coaching package with me or participate in one of our programs. Please email info@clearintentions.net for more information.

Building Peace Across Divides: The Work of Women Wage Peace with Angela Scharf

What does it look like to keep working for peace in the Middle East when trust is scarce and the stakes are impossibly high? In this episode of Something New Is Possible, I’m speaking with Angela Scharf, a longtime activist and coordinator of the foreign relations team at Women Wage Peace. Angela shares how the movement began, why it intentionally includes women across political and religious lines, and how the partnership with Women of the Sun, a Palestinian women’s peace organization, grew through years of difficult, emotional dialogue. You’ll hear about the “Mothers’ Call,” why language matters, how international support has played a role, and what it takes to keep showing up after trauma and heartbreak. This conversation is less about tidy takeaways and more about the lived reality of activism and the determination to build a different future. If you’re looking for a grounded conversation about persistence, collaboration, and what it means to stay engaged, this episode is for you. Learn more about Women Wage Peace: https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/ [https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/] Learn more about Women of the Sun: https://womensun.org/ [https://womensun.org/] Learn more about The Mothers’ Call: https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/partnership-pact/ [https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/partnership-pact/] CONTACT ANGELAINSTAGRAM: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/scharf1379?igsh=b2tvOHg2djVnbHA5⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/scharf1379?igsh=b2tvOHg2djVnbHA5] LINKEDIN: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-scharf-55329419⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-scharf-55329419] FACEBOOK: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/1D4GmwXLyy/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/share/1D4GmwXLyy/]LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGELAAngela Scharf was born in Vienna and moved to Israel in 1976 to study Political Science and Middle East Studies at Jerusalem University. After completing her studies, she launched a successful textile business. In 1990, she relocated abroad—living in South Korea, Germany, and Belgium. From 1980 to 2016, Angela developed a wide-reaching network in the textile industry, connecting markets across Europe and Asia. Since returning to Israel in 2016, Angela has been deeply engaged with Women Wage Peace (WWP). She now co-coordinates WWP’s Foreign Relations Team, fostering diplomatic ties and helping to organize global events and peace initiatives. Angela also plays a key role in promoting collaboration between Women Wage Peace and the Palestinian organization Women of the Sun (WOS). SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL ⟹ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1⁠]SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH BARBARA ⟹ ⁠https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠ [https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration⁠]SOCIAL LINKS INSTAGRAM ⟹ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/⁠]FACEBOOK ⟹ https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational⁠]LINKEDIN ⟹ https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international⁠]BUSINESS CONTACT ⟹ info@clearintentions.net DISCLAIMERThis channel is for information and educational purposes only and should not be used in place of therapy. Feel free to comment, like, and share our videos. For a deeper look into any of these subjects, you are invited to book a coaching package with me or participate in one of our programs. Please email info@clearintentions.net for more information.