The Story I'm Telling Myself

Can You Balance Passion and Career?

My brother was making $90,000 a year shooting videos on "auto-settings" while I was a "cliché starving artist" with a film degree. Grab the epiosde companion self-reflection guide here [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst sits down with filmmaker and agency owner Jake Isham to dismantle the myth that technical perfection equals professional success. If you’ve ever felt like you’re standing in your own way, this mindset podcast is your wake-up call to stop being the "mechanic" of your career and start becoming the executive. Jake shares the raw reality of his personal transformation, including why he "burned his business to the ground" six times when reality didn't match his dreams. We dive into the "Three Ps" framework—Produce, Promote, and Persist—and explore how to navigate the "boring work" of consistency that leads to compounding success. Key Takeaways: The Technician vs. The Administrator: Why your love for the craft might be the very thing stopping you from building an enterprise. The Simplicity Trap: Why we chase complexity to avoid the routine work that actually moves the needle. The Power of Compounding: Understanding that self-investment is a slow-growth bamboo tree that eventually scales overnight. Whether you're a new graduate or a seasoned professional at a transition point, this episode provides the tools for personal growth and the courage to rewrite your internal narrative. Stop letting your inner critic win—it's time for a positivity podcast that actually deals in reality. Connect with Jake Isham [www.creativemindsofficial.com/digitalshow]Follow Jake on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeisham/]and Instagram [http://instagram.com/jakecreativemarketing/] Connect with host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

How Do You Find You?

“I looked in the mirror, and I said: Where are you? I miss you.” Have you ever reached the pinnacle of success only to realize you’ve become a stranger to yourself?Grab the episode companion self-reflection guide [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] In this raw and transformative episode, Rita Ernst sits down with Jane Bond, a Naples-based multimillion-dollar real estate broker and Identity Strategist, to discuss the high cost of "shape-shifting" for a paycheck. Jane reveals how she walked away from a life of "identity foreclosure"—doubling down on a version of success that was never truly hers. She shares her blueprint for the “Great Unpacking,” a process of stripping away external expectations to find the human being underneath the performance. Key Takeaways: The Identity Audit: How to recognize when you are living by default rather than design. The Four Interior Empires: Why you must align your Mindset, Heart set, Health set, and Soul set to feel whole. Success vs. Happiness: Understanding why "bore out" is often more dangerous than burnout. The Resilience Birthright: Reframing failure as a skill-building opportunity. Stop carrying a suitcase that isn't yours. It's time to unpack. Connect with Jane [https://paperbell.me/jane-bond ]: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/janebond___/?hl=en]| Facebook [ https://www.facebook.com/JaneBondTBG]| LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/janebondtbg/]| YouTube [ https://www.youtube.com/@JaneBond-r1e]Listen to Unpack Your Life with Jane Bond [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/jane-bond08/]Read Jane's Book [https://www.amazon.com/Land-First-Million-Dollar-Listing/dp/1662402902]Connect with Host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

Is Your Success Just Survival on Autopilot

In this moving episode, Rita Ernst sits down with integrated health and wellness coach Kathy Yavari to explore a journey that spans continents, revolutions, and radical self-discovery. Grab the episode companion self-reflection guide [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] Kathy shares her harrowing "Big T" childhood traumas—from witnessing her mother’s stroke at Disney World to fleeing the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the sirens of the Iran-Iraq War. After moving to the U.S. alone at 14 and building a "perfect" corporate life on autopilot, Kathy faced a midlife "trifecta" of loss that forced her to stop running and start rising. Key Takeaways: The F.E.A.R. Framework: Learn to choose between "Fear Everything And Run" or "Face Everything And Rise." Healing Health Anxiety: Discover how childhood trauma "sticks" in the body and how to release it. The Autopilot Trap: Why high achievers often ignore their own stories until a crisis hits. Inner Child Connection: Practical ways to provide yourself with the love and protection you lacked as a child. Stop living for the future's anxiety or the past's depression and learn how to stay in the powerful, authentic present. Connect with Kathy Yavari [kathy@whiteorchidswellness.com] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/whiteorchidswellness/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/khatereh-kathy-yavari/] Connect with your host, Rita Ernst - speaker | author | consultant [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

Is Head Trash Blocking Your Success?

Is your "head trash" standing in the way of your next big move? Grab the episode companion self-reflection guide [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] We all carry a certain amount of mental slop—those reflexive, negative judgments we make about ourselves and the world around us. In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst sits down with business owner, public speaker, and author Maggie Harlow to discuss how to clear the clutter. Maggie shares her powerful life transformation by adopting Byron Katie’s "The Work [https://thework.com/]" practice to dismantle self-limiting beliefs through two simple questions: "Is it true?" and Can I be absolutely sure it’s true?. From treating yourself with the kindness of a toddler to embracing the motto "the weirder, the better," this conversation is a masterclass in giving yourself the permission to say 'No' to head trash. Stop playing it small to fit a "prescriptive playbook" of conformity. Tune in to learn how to practice discernment over judgment and step into the freedom you deserve. Connect with Maggie Harlow [Maggieharlow.com] Watch for the summer release of her book, "Everyday Extraordinary." Connect with your host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

What Flaw are You Hiding?

Are you hiding your flaws? Grab the episode self-reflection guide here [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] Host Rita Ernst sits down with Nicole Angai Galindo (Nic), founder of Guiding Brilliant Writers Publishing House, for a raw conversation on reclaiming identity from the shadows of stigma. For decades, Nick navigated a high-pressure career while managing a Bipolar diagnosis, often facing professional pressure to "shut up" and hide her reality. Nick shares her transition from the "Comparison Game" and the pursuit of perfection. We break down the "Self-Coaching Loop"—a practice of interrupting the negative "tapes" our brains play to keep us small. Whether you are struggling with a mental health diagnosis or feeling stuck in a "chapter" of your life you didn't write, this episode is your invitation to own your flaws and rewrite your potential. Key Takeaways: * How to discern when mental health struggles require professional intervention. * The danger of defining success through someone else’s "yardstick". * A framework for using writing as a tool for reinforcement and self-awareness. * Why we must stop being "meaning-making machines" that prioritize negative labels. Connect with Nic [hello@gbwpublishing.com]Grab the book "We Choose To Be More Than Our Diagnoses Vol.2" [https://mybook.to/MXZTn]Connect with Host Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]