Clicks and Giggles | Your Backstage Pass to Digital Marketing Strategies

The Power of Coaching with Vicki Abelson

• Jordan Rothwell Perry • Episode 15

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Vicki, an executive life coach with a storied career in healthcare administration, opens up about the transformative experiences that propelled her from the world of medical records to the boardroom as a director of finance, and eventually into the realm of coaching. Her anecdotes are a testament to the life-altering power of finding your calling and the profound influence of inspirational leadership. We weave through the nuances of personal fulfillment, the art of building meaningful connections, and the sheer joy of helping others discover their own paths to success.

Vicki is a certified professional coach with over 500 coaching and facilitation hours. She earned her MBA and has over 15 years of experience leading teams in healthcare administration. She started The Defined Leader to help professional women love Monday mornings. 

Topics covered in this episode:

  • Importance of coaching and its impact.
  • The differences between coaching and therapy.
  • Importance of working with a coach for unbiased feedback and support.
  • The significance of setting and revisiting goals regularly.
  • Importance of seeking external perspective even if you believe you're self-aware.
  • Dealing with complacency and the need for self-awareness.

Mentioned in the episode:
https://www.thedefinedleader.com/3beliefs

CONNECT WITH VICKI:
Instagram @vicki.abelson
Website www.thedefinedleader.com

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Clicks and Giggles podcast. I'm your host, jordan Rothwell-Perry, and I'm here to make your marketing click, connect and convert. My mission is to help good people with great offers make more money through paid digital marketing strategies. I truly believe that one ad can change everything for you and your business. Tune in weekly to unlearn what the bros and insert air quotes agency gurus have led you to believe about advertising and hear from inspiring women in my network who are making business a little more live, laugh, launch and a little less stuffy suit and tie, because nobody playing the long game is having a terrible time, whether you're new to business making millions or you're just my mom tuning in for clicks and giggles podcast Today. I have a friend and colleague, vicki Abelson, here today. Welcome.

Speaker 2:

Vicki. Thank you, Jordan. I am so excited to be here today.

Speaker 1:

Yay, oh my gosh, I'm excited to just chat all all things, being a great leader, business owner, just human worker, etc. And so I'm glad to have you here. So Vicky and I met a couple years ago through guide culture sales training so awesome and so then I went through her, her goals training, which I cannot speak highly enough about. So the next time you do it, I'm there. Brad went through it with me this year, and so I would love for you to tell the people listening just a little bit about yourself. I know I couldn't do your story justice and I don't know your full story, so I'm excited for us to chat through that today. So can you just tell them a little bit about you?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, of course, absolutely, and actually it's so funny. I recently remembered exactly how we met and I was, I remember, thinking when I met you, like you were going to be an R and we're going to be a powerhouse, and it's amazing to see that like you are so together, it's just so I don't know, it just makes my heart so happy.

Speaker 1:

We met at an Academy Monday, right, was that one of it?

Speaker 2:

Okay, yeah, yeah, it's so funny. Um, okay, so a little bit about me. So I, first of all, I'm a mom and a business owner. I have two small young children not so small anymore, two young children and I am an executive coach and executive life coach. My practice was called the Define Leader. Before that, though, I have about 20 years nearly 20 years of sort of corporate life experience working in healthcare administration. I did all things except for touching the patient like nothing clinical, but like finance, project management, human resources, revenue cycle operations. I did it all for about 20 years. I have an MBA, I have a master's degree in communications and I pivoted my career in about 2019 into coaching and I haven't looked back.

Speaker 1:

It's so neat. No, I love that too, because we have that healthcare background. I worked with Johns Hopkins all children's hospital in St Pete, florida, but I did more. I came in and worked for the foundation and fundraising digital fundraising oh I love that, yeah. And then I went to social media and then I did the social and ads for the whole hospital. So I, um, I just love the healthcare world. My husband's a pharmacist so and I'm like I can't, I don't think I can do this every day. So I I respect you know and there's so much.

Speaker 1:

There's so much red tape too with it, like every post we were putting out, we're getting comments from legal and like I understand that too. But I'm like, okay, I need a career with a little less red tape and more freedom.

Speaker 2:

A little less, yeah, I get it Well and you were working for a large academic medical center and I also worked for a large academic medical center and that just comes with like a certain level of you know bureaucracy, like you know right or wrong, it just comes with a level of bureaucracy they have to learn how to manage.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, 100. Right, exactly. So I'm like I'm good and I know that you, you, you journeyed through, and I mean I was not there as many years as you were. So how did you come to that decision where you're like, wait, I've been doing this almost 20 years and now I want to transition into more of the coaching world. How did that come to be?

Speaker 2:

That's a good question. So I kind of had these two pivotal moments. One of them was coming back from maternity leave the second time and after I had my youngest son and I remember thinking at the time like, oh my gosh, like first of all, I love healthcare. I still to this day, like, love healthcare and I can quickly tell you, faster than probably anybody, how the people on the back end, like the revenue cycle people, the project managers, how the impact that they have on the patient experience, on patient outcomes, on quality, on all of that and I really passionately believe in that. At the same time, like as I grew in my career and I literally like when I started working in healthcare, I worked in a medical records room like carrying paper charts for like to the physicians post-op, and then I was a director of finance when I left. So I literally grew up in healthcare but I got away. I was too far away, I think, from being close to where that impact was and I realized what I loved and where I. The second time I was promoted and my team was actually also promoted because of how we all managed through my extended maternity leave and the impact that we made during my extended maternity leave and I realized like, oh, I want to do more of that. I want to be able to help more people sit on the right seat on the right bus that's headed on the right direction. And that was sort of pivotal moment number one.

Speaker 2:

And pivotal moment number two happened maybe a year or two after that. I was sitting in a room with one of my managers, a woman that worked for me. She was so smart, she was so, so smart, and I asked her just kind of out of curiosity where do you see your career going? And she said, well, this is it Like, this is like, this is where I see it going. And she sort of said this in this like very resigned sort of way, and I was flabbergasted because she was in her early forties, so smart, like, had such a great reputation, but she didn't see her career going anywhere. And I asked her why? And she said because her previous manager had told her that she was never going to be able to be promoted. And I like, yeah, like my jaw just completely hit the ground and I was like, wait, what I was like? I was just completely, completely, like just did not make any sense.

Speaker 1:

And so it makes me sad.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah. And she like internalized that belief to think that like somebody told her she couldn't, and so she believed them and you know, and so she didn't. And she what? What? That manifested for her as not speaking up in meetings, not putting herself up for promotional opportunities, doing sort of like the bare minimum to be good but nothing to be great, because somebody told her that she like what was the point. And so over the next year or so I worked with her to first of all take that belief away, right To create some new beliefs around her ability to be promoted, and she eventually was not only promoted to a senior manager and then to an assistant director, but then she was actually, when I left the organization, when I went to go start the Define Leader full-time, she was actually promoted into my role. I love that, which is amazing, and has since grown even beyond that in the four years since I've left, which is just makes me incredibly happy and proud of her and just celebrate like every day.

Speaker 1:

Yes, that's a freaking wild win. And like it's so crazy how the words of a leader, the impact they have, for better or for worse, right.

Speaker 2:

For better or for worse. Yeah, and how we internalize them and like, how we like the things that people say and you know I wasn't there in that conversation. He might've said it and he meant it, or he might've said it as like a throwaway comment, but like nine times out of 10, the things that people say actually have nothing to do with you and has everything to do with them. But she believed it and I, you know, and he was a person, a person of power, he, so of course she believed him.

Speaker 1:

Yes, exactly. Well, I had a boss. Oh my gosh, I was like 21 or 22 and I moved to Orlando for this job. Oh my, this is like so wild. I was from St Pete, lived in St Pete, went througha really bad breakup and, um, like, I actually found out the the guy I was in love with was addicted to painkillers. It was. It was horrible, and so I was like I've got to get out of town, Like I've got to like move, you know like I was, like this isn't working and like I need like I know everyone in my hometown.

Speaker 1:

So I moved to Orlando. But what? What happened was I actually worked for his competitor and I was like downloading a freebie. This is so wild. I like downloading a freebie. This is so wild. I downloaded a freebie to look at their pricing and see if the competitor I was working with, what it looked like. It ended up being this whole thing where he's like oh, you, you must be good at what you do Pitched me for a job. I ended up moving there.

Speaker 1:

The client I was working with understood because he knew what was going on my life. He's like you're 21, 22. If you're being relocated, try this. Well, when I got there, it was a totally different situation, right and kind of always under his thumb, and he said to me once he said you're really good at what you do, but the problem is you talk too much. You need to just stop talking. And I, in hindsight, can know that what he was saying was I needed to be a better listener, but it shut me up and shut me down for years to where I feel like now, at 33, I finally found my voice more and in a way that can have good conversations and bring things to the table but not talk all the time. But it was that exact situation where I'm like I, probably until like a year or two ago, really thought like what did he actually mean? And I gave it meaning.

Speaker 1:

I wanted to you know, I was like a hundred percent, like he doesn't, you know, but it's like those moments where it's like I could have just resigned myself to be like I'm good at what I do, but I talk too much. Okay, like I'm done, yeah, so I'll be quiet. And now I'm like no. And so it also makes me think, when I'm giving feedback or talking to people, like they could take this with them for a long time. And so how do I, how do I want to lead? So I love that you were able to see that in her and to even pause to ask the question.

Speaker 1:

I feel like business owners or managers, directors, et cetera, in the corporate world, we're all moving fast and sometimes we don't even take the time to have those conversations. So kudos to you for being like hey, where do you want to go? Right, so, okay. So after that, were you like okay, I need to do this on a bigger scale, with more people than just the team you were on. Like from that conversation, how long after did you start your business?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so that conversation was in like 2018, 2019. And I worked for a large, large organization here in Atlanta and I thought that I was gonna be able to coach within the organization. Like I was just like you know, like because I didn't want to leave. Like you know, I I'm not an entrepreneur, I I like working in healthcare, I want to stay there. So that was my, that was my goal. I did go and get a coaching certification because that was important to me.

Speaker 2:

Um, in 2019, I started, I worked through like a year long program and got certified as a um, as a professional coach, which was an incredible, incredible experience for me. I learned a lot, was humbled a lot. I learned a lot about myself, about coaching you know all of the things. Um, and through that process, I decided that I really wanted to try and start my own business. And so, um, in May and I'm sorry, in March of 2020, before the pandemic officially like kicked off, I quit my job. Wow, and like literally on March 1st 2020, I came to my boss and said, hey, like this, you know I'm leaving and he was very supportive and very you know all of the wonderful things I ended up staying longer, just because then the pandemic did hit and sort of.

Speaker 2:

I ended up staying to help my team through the transition to working from home and telehealth and all of that. So I ended up staying an extra year. Wow, but at that time I had already launched the Define Leader and I, so I was doing both at the same time. I was full-time working in my you know still my healthcare job and I was starting to um coach full-time as well, while parenting small children during a pandemic right.

Speaker 2:

It was a lot of fun I highly, highly highly, oh my gosh okay it was a crazy year, but basically a year later in March of 2021, I fully left and I haven't looked back and I've been doing this full time since then.

Speaker 1:

Wow, no, it's so neat. I remember you were on stage at Guide Culture Academy one Monday and you asked some really really good questions and I remember Macy, I think, had just gotten life coach certified or was in the midst of it. And she was like I can tell you're a great coach based on the questions you asked.

Speaker 1:

And I was like I thought that was an incredible compliment, and B I was like, no, I could tell too. And so has that been. Cause like coaching isn't new. That's what I always like remind people. It's, it's not new. I've had, you know, bosses in the past who had executive coaches. That's what John Maxwell has built his career and empire right and other people and other people yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and so what do you find like makes a good coach? Like obviously, like the question asking skills or like is there anything that you like say if people are looking for a coach to look for in a good coach? I'm just curious, based on this conversation.

Speaker 2:

That's a great question. So, I think, a couple of things. One is curiosity, right. So I think that what allows me to ask good questions is my curiosity about people. That's one thing. People, that's one thing. The other thing too is, I think, just an ability to see things really really clearly. Clearly, I think one of my superpowers, I think, as a coach, is to be able to have a conversation with somebody and see the words that they're not saying, like seeing the words behind the words, so that I can ask them about those words.

Speaker 1:

Like kind of like decoding and deciphering.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, like when you say A, I think you're saying B.

Speaker 2:

But help me, like, help me understand, like you know, that disconnect, because sometimes you know, there's the words that we say and then there's this like the face that we make, and then there's the body language that we have and then there's sometimes that, like, um, I call it level three listening. Like level one listening is when you just hear the words that are being said. Level two listening is when you hear the words and you connect the dots between their body language and their voice and all that. Level three listening is when you're listening with your core and with your gut and when you're like, I hear you say this but like, do you really mean that? And being able to listen with, like level three listening, I think is one of the things that makes a really really good coach and also, I would add too, is like being able to really balance, support and like and acknowledging of your experience, while also, at the same time, pushing you and encouraging you to go further than you really thought was maybe possible for you.

Speaker 1:

Shoot, that's good. I've never heard of the different three levels. Now I'm like, ooh, this is like. How am I listening? Yeah, right, shoot, okay, that's convicting. But I love that too. If someone is looking for a coach and obviously I want them to look at you and reach out to you to look at you and reach out to you and know, you, know, know. And maybe if it's in a different industry or they're looking for something specific, like, can the coach they're bringing cause?

Speaker 1:

I think there's I mean, you've seen this too there's seasons for different coaches. Like right now I'm working with Alexis Greco on some of the home and business rhythms, tying them in on running a better home, which has been so lovely. And then I have an agency coach right, so she is helping me scale and grow. This agency. She has three little ones, like she's million dollar agency. I'm like, okay, as I'm heading there, you're who I need in this season. But. But it's also like things change right To where we were on calls every week. And now I'm like, hey, can I pay you just for Slack support, because I'm good for a minute. But I need to, like, take what I've learned and run, but then there's other things that come up and I'm like, okay, can I break through this or do I need to bring someone in? And so I think that also like the thought of, hey, once I find a coach I love, they're still in my life some way or another you know what I mean.

Speaker 1:

But it's like figuring out in that season, what do you need and can they push you in the way that you need? Because I I mean it's funny, brad's here today, he's off today, but he would laugh and be like, yes, but I hate accountability, I hate it like so much and so I do everything I can to fight it.

Speaker 1:

and so when there is a coach which it's so funny because I was talking to Alexis and I'm like I have to go get my blood work done by this date and she was like, go enjoy your blood work, and I'm like, man, she's good, you know, like I'm like this is something I've been putting off and I know I just need to do a quarterly check, do it.

Speaker 1:

But, like I will always put off personal things because I'm like, well, I could get on this call or listen to this training, and so it's the one that will push enough. Because you don't want to yes, if you're paying for this, you don't want to be complacent and be like, well, I didn't really grow and so I think that really is. And there is the delicate balance, too, of like, how hard are you, like for you, as a coach, right to have the emotional intelligence, to be like, okay, wait, maybe they're in a season where they don't need this, or they yeah maybe they need therapy you know like I've seen therapy a hundred percent yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a whole. That's a whole other. There was definitely a season last year where I had a coach who I love but I was like I need to go back to therapy and like I, you know, like there was a certain point where I'm like, oh wait, this is, this is more than just like chit chatting. Yeah, this is deeper, more than just like chatting, yeah, this is deeper. But I definitely think that push is so needed where like, yeah, if you're hiring someone, heck, yeah, let's, let's see what we can do. And so what are some things within your business that you coach people on? Like, if people are listening, they're like oh, executive coaching, what exactly does that?

Speaker 2:

mean what are?

Speaker 1:

yeah, what are some different topics that you do coach on?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so I'm going to, I'm going to answer your question by going back to like two things that you just said that I think are so, so important, and I just want to highlight why you're a freaking good coach?

Speaker 1:

because you're a good listener.

Speaker 2:

I'm all ears. So one thing that you said you didn't say it, but like, you use a coach, whether it is in your personal life or in your work life, but you use it sort of proactively, just as if, like, you have a healthcare background. Just as if, going to a primary care physician, you're not going to a coach when, like, the house is burning down, when, like everything is terrible, when you're, you're going to coach proactively so that things can continue to be steady and or grow, and then your coach will meet you where you are right, whether it's having calls with you every week or whether it's just Slack support I do boxer support. Yeah, they meet you where you are because the goal is to continue either being steady or rising, but not like and not like. You know, what I don't want is for clients to call me and it happens, of course but like, oh my gosh, I have it, I'm in the ashes and I need you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, exactly Like, let's great, I can help you, sure, but like, call me a month ago, right, so that you don't get to this point 100 and like that is such a good point of like there's.

Speaker 1:

There's work that can be done as like a band-aid, but like in the months prior, where you're like something doesn't feel right, or like someone, someone else sees something like. The way alex Alexis and I came to work together is on her retreats she coaches on business and life, right, business. I'm in the room like giving advice, helping people, right, right, and she's like it was a round table and she's like you're fine on business I'm not worried about either. She's like but but you're home. She's like who's gonna?

Speaker 1:

who's gonna take the rotisserie chicken off the bone for your salad while you're on calls all day, yeah because I buy this rotisserie chicken and toss it because it I just I wasn't ready, you know like, and I or she was like who's gonna do your laundry? That's piling up, and so it's just funny because, like y'all can see this, like I can see the blind spots in someone's business, but y'all can see it. Yes, and so that was when it was like, hey, this is not burning down. But she was like, here's some things right.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, keep it from burning down.

Speaker 1:

Right when like you can see things and be like, hey, you've been saying this, like you can see trends and patterns and be like hold up, just like I can be with. I mean, I asked a client the other day. I said, do you even like your offer? And they were like interesting, you know, because I'm like you're just not excited to sell it if you love what you do. And so then they're like I love what I do. I don't know how I feel about this offer.

Speaker 1:

I'm like let's look at it because yeah but I love that like we get so far in our own weeds of our life and business, oh my god. That like we can't see it. And so having a coach to be able to see that and help take you to the next level, I love it. And I love that description of like helping you, like be steady or rise, versus like pulling you out of, out of the ashes.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, the other thing, the other thing you said is like so, so important and you just sort of like alluded to it again is you actually said the word complacent and I just want to highlight that word, because complacency is like I call it. I actually like tonight I this is going to be past when the, when this podcast airs, I'm hosting a workshop called um unlock the golden handcuffs of complacency. Because complacency is like I don't even have a great word for it, but it's just like it is so easy to get stuck in complacency. Complacency is like it don't even have a great word for it, but it's just like it is so easy to get stuck in complacency. Complacency is like it's like cozy, it's comfortable, like everything is going fine, like it's okay. Like if you have to throw out another rotisserie chicken, you throw out another. Like it's not the end of the world, right, and if you like you know you skip your blood work, you'll get another month. Like it's it's fine. Like I don't like my offer, it's okay.

Speaker 1:

Like it is what it is right, yeah what it is.

Speaker 2:

Oh my, yes, it is what it is, was my like, my trigger words yes, which freaks me out.

Speaker 1:

Oh my gosh.

Speaker 2:

I'm laughing if you're watching the live screen, yes, it's great, um. But like, yeah, complac complacency, it just like it holds us stuck. And we deserve so much more than being complacent, like we have worked too hard to be like you're 33. I'm in my early forties. We have worked way too much and way too hard to be complacent and we can make have so much more impact on our personal lives, on the lives of our families, on the lives of our children, on the lives of, like, our employees, our coworkers, than being complacent and like. What I coach people on really is how to not be complacent, how to have better boundaries, how to have better communication, how to have better thoughts so that you can continue growing, but in a way that, like, meets your needs right, in a way that meets your personal and professional goals.

Speaker 1:

I love that, no, okay, well, I want to tune into this training tonight, so please send me the link. We have dinner tonight, but I'm like I will catch a replay or watch later. And if it ends up being great which I'm sure it is and you do some sort of replay or some sort of way people listening now can get in on it, feel free, we'll put it in the show notes too, because I feel like people listening that's such a great first way to start the whole thing with coaching, and I think with therapy too, is like just freaking awareness, because when you aren't aware, okay, emotional intelligence is like I am not book smart, brad, and I will like laugh. You know, because he was like we're, we go back and forth on homeschooling kids. One day I cannot even imagine I want to pay a tutor. Like I will work harder to pay a tutor to come over. And you know, brad's like you're freaking clever and you're life smart.

Speaker 1:

And like he's like that's how you do this and you survive. You know, like I cannot tell you some president's names, or like you know countries, capitals, all this crazy town, but I I can. I can read a room and I can read a person. And so I'm like I'm good, I'm fine with that, because that's, that's my superpower, right?

Speaker 1:

And so yeah, and so, and it scares me when I wasn't as self-aware and I do say this to Brad sometimes, like once a month, I'm like, if I'm delusionally thinking I'm self-aware, can you please bring me back to earth, because I don't, I don't want to go through life thinking, you know, and he's like, no, you're good, like yes, but then for people listening to this who are like, wait a minute, I've never even thought through complacency, I've never even thought through this, because coaching, while it's been around, it's still new to people, you know. So what is that first step? If you're listening and you're like, hold up, maybe it doesn't have to be this way, or I, you know, I can advance in my career. What they said wasn't true. Now I may have some work to do to make it happen. Right, what is that kind of next step?

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So that's a great question. So I would say, first of all, you are a person that I think is very, very self-aware, right, I've seen you over the years and I've had conversations with you over the years and you are very self-aware. At the same time, I see a lot of people that say they're self-aware because of their age, because of their seniority, because of their title, because of you know a thousand thousand different factors. They say they're self-aware and like, but really what's happening is they have spinach in their teeth and they have no idea oh, it's so scary, isn't it like a?

Speaker 1:

scary that's why I asked brad. I'm like, please check me, please check me. He's like, no, you're good, you're good yeah, because I can't imagine if you, that's a whole other thing.

Speaker 1:

Okay. So if you're listening to this and you maybe are like, oh my gosh, wait, I need help with this. Or if you're on the other side and you're like, wait, I may need a gut check, maybe I may need a gut check, right? So what do you do in either of those? Just find someone a coach, like you're talking about to do a session to just figure out where you're at and then kind of diagnose and go from there, or what diagnose?

Speaker 1:

air quotes if you're listening right, Diagnose air quotes, you know what I mean when you can be like hey, like how do you even do that as a coach? Sorry, I'm throwing like 500 questions at you but when you do meet someone who you're like what do you do? I've fired off like 4,000 questions, but I feel like this is good dialogue. You know what? What do you think about all this?

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So, first of all, like I. So one thing that I think and I'm just going to use you as an example, because we're having a conversation Like if, if you had told me that you were not working with any coaches right now, but like we're just asking Brad for that gut check I would tell you to a hundred percent, go work with a coach, because our significant others, they love us and they support us unconditionally. And like my husband, who I love very much and who's my biggest, biggest cheerleader, like he can't really tell me like what I'm getting right and what I'm getting wrong. He could, but like I'm not going to hear it because I'm going to be like I'll get defensive.

Speaker 1:

Right, 100%. Honestly, it had the answer not been the right answer, I would have been pissed.

Speaker 2:

So yes, you're right, but if somebody who is objective, who is not invested in any specific outcome? If they told me the same thing, I would be like, oh, okay, like, let me think about that. Right, we all need somebody who is objective, who is not our like, who's not our best friend, who is not our boss? Who's not our coworker? If you're working for yourself, especially like you know, who can objectively tell you like do? You have spinach in your teeth or right, how can we?

Speaker 1:

yes, that's what's funny, olivia miller, is that for me a lot of times, because I like know she'll say it, even if it might, and I'll just be like is this bad? Like, yeah, is this right? And she'll be like yeah, no, or like some of something I can't do in the future, that I'm I'm bummed, but just schedule's not aligning. She's like you actually don't have to say why, like she can just tell me, you know. But if you don't have that and it doesn't go beyond that, we have a good conversation to move along. But if I need coaching, I'll talk to my coach about it, right? What about all these people Like, yeah, you can't just rely 100%. That's a good point.

Speaker 1:

Brad is honest to a fault. I mean, he does want what's best for me and so he can say it sometimes, but 100% it, and the conversation ends there, right? So had he been like uh, you're a little delusional in this category If I didn't have someone to talk to, I would be like oh shoot, you know. And so I think that that is right where you're saying like, if you, if you don't have a support system of an outside third party, you need I mean, I believe everyone needs a coach. If they're, if they're trying to go somewhere, if you're trying to go somewhere and yes, if you're trying to go somewhere. If you're trying to go somewhere.

Speaker 2:

And yes, if you're trying to go somewhere.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, to not go backwards, yeah, or just to not be like, or just not be even stuck right. So, like I really would like you know your listeners, like if they're thinking about working with a coach, I would really encourage you to like go out and have a conversation with one right and just to be able to like kind of understand what are your goals. If you don't know what your goals are, that's okay. Like I think a lot of people I work with don't really know what their goals are. They're like yeah, like you know I just they say things to me like I just want to be happy, okay, great, like I also want to be happy. Let's figure out what does being happy mean to you, so that we can actually help make a plan to help you get there, because happiness to me is going to look different than what happiness to you is going to look like. Right.

Speaker 1:

Right, and what are the benchmarks? Because it's not just like happy is 100 and not happy is zero, like what happens between them, because you can have a lot of crappy circumstances going on and still be happy, right? So is it circumstantial, is it? I love? Okay, I like that too and I think too, if people are listening and they're like I've never had a coach and want to have that conversation, you, you're great and you're willing to get on calls and talk to people which is what I love about people who know how to, how to sell and how to coach is you're like yeah, let's talk about this and see if it's a good fit. Cause, also, it doesn't benefit you to bring on a coaching client that's not aligned with you.

Speaker 2:

Cause that sounds terrible. A hundred percent, a hundred percent. And I have worked with coach, with clients I'm saying that who have not been the right like I have not been the right coach for them or they were not ready. They were not ready for coaches and I have worked with like cause I since my initial like working with a coach in 2018, I have worked with a coach basically consistently since that time for six years.

Speaker 2:

And some of those coaches have been amazing and fantastic and some of them have been like, maybe not such great for me, and so I've had to, like, say the hard thing and say I'm sorry, you know, thank you, but no thank you or I have to move on because, they were great, but maybe they weren't the right coach for me in that season and it is important to find somebody who you align with, who is going to push you, who's going to support you, who you are going to feel like really psychologically safe with.

Speaker 2:

And I'm not I'm not a therapist, like I will say that a million times over, I am am not a therapist. Some of my clients see a therapist at the same time as seeing me but it is so important that you feel psychologically safe with me to be able to say the things that you need to say, to think the things that you need to think, so that you can change your actions yeah, I love that.

Speaker 1:

It's true. I see my therapist for tune-ups, as I call them. Uh, amidst this, because there's there's so much of like the past and I used to get too stuck on why do I do the things I do and it's like it just actually it actually doesn't matter, just you need to stop doing them.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah and so it doesn't matter yeah, yeah, and so I'll call her in every once in a while and she actually coaches as well. So if it's people out of state, so it's been interesting working with her, so um it. But it absolutely 100% where I'm like, okay, I feel super safe with my coach and this person has all this history on me, let me go to her. And then I show back up for coaching sessions tweaking a few little things and we're like let's go you know yeah and yeah and it's so funny because the hot take you can read all the personal development you want, oh my gosh.

Speaker 1:

But if you're not taking action on it and you don't have someone helping you and holding you accountable, like freaking, burn the books, you know 100, 100 Like.

Speaker 2:

I literally just wrote something about this this morning in that like, yeah, like I can, you can go and like read a book about time management, about boundaries, about accountability, about all of the things.

Speaker 2:

I will give you that whole list like, by all means, and, at the same time, if your thoughts aren't in the right place to be able to implement those things, and your, if your beliefs aren't in the right place to be able to implement those things, and your, if your beliefs aren't in the right place to be able to like, take in that knowledge. You have just wasted 20 bucks on a book. Yes, and the odds are, you probably haven't read those books anyway, like you probably bought them and they're sitting on your nightstand table. And I say that because, like, I'm just as guilty of that as the next person.

Speaker 1:

Oh, I have books behind me.

Speaker 2:

And like the ones that I have read, like two, but like if I, if my mind isn't right, if your mind isn't right, if your thoughts aren't aligned, then nothing is going to change.

Speaker 1:

And the magic's in the work, right, which is what a lot of people don't want to do, and it pays off so much.

Speaker 1:

But I've given myself so much freedom lately with the books I buy because I'm this, I'm like, oh, I'll get this, I get this, and I'm like, um, I think I think Macy said it before like, take the meat, leave the bones and, like I've heard, other, people say that too where I'm like I will, will skim through a book just to get a couple good quotes I can take pictures of, look back later, learn a little and move along, because I'm like this book is not going to change my life, what I do from reading it, what you do with it, yeah. And then coming to a coach and being like, hey, I was reading this book on time management and I am not good at time. You know whatever it is Exactly.

Speaker 2:

Whatever it is, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Who can help you with the game plan to move forward and otherwise, like these these books are for nothing you know, and so nothing? Yeah, I think personal development gets out of control. What were you gonna?

Speaker 2:

say, I said and I just say, and also like who can help you figure out what's the meat and what's the bones? Right, because you and I can be the same book, yes, and like the different things are going to be neat for us. Yeah, like we can figure out like what is relevant to you in this season of life yeah, 100.

Speaker 1:

I'm getting like my hiney kicked right now by grant cardone. I'm in his mastermind which speaking of masterminds. We'll talk about your exciting one in a second and um, I needed, like some masculine energy I like also. It's like on my vision board to one day work with him. We have a mutual connection so I'm like it will. It's going to happen.

Speaker 2:

It's going to happen. So I'm like, let me let me get in this room.

Speaker 1:

Let me make sure what he teaches is what I want. And so I was on this mastermind call and yesterday the the it's one of the like like president or head of sales of his company was like, if you are not selling while your clients are, or prospective clients are awake and on their phones or can get on, zoom you like you're missing out and I'm like, oh my gosh like that was the meat right when.

Speaker 2:

I'm like.

Speaker 1:

I am like in the week, I'm like getting in the weeds so bad my business with my team and they're probably so annoyed. But it's like, okay, I love that.

Speaker 1:

Like I had this idea for this data tracker that we're going to use, but like you need to look at that at like 7 pm you know, and so on the weekend, it was just it's so interesting, but like you take the meat, you know that was the meat I took right and I'm convicted. I'm texting Brad. I'm like I've got to get back on my follow-ups, like better at it not leaving people on my dms that is hard for me and saying it is not enough, hearing it is not enough. It's like who on my team or my going to my coach? Yeah, and saying like, yeah, hey, I need to do follow-ups for an hour a day. Yeah, can you hold me accountable?

Speaker 2:

you know, yeah, and also like that, like the data and the dashboards, all that. All of that is also incredibly important to your business too, right? So who on your team can do that, so that you can focus on the work that you're great at and the work that like gives you energy and where you are at Like in healthcare. We talk about operating at your highest level of licensure, so that Jordan can operate at her highest level of licensure, which is selling, which is understanding, ads, which is strategy. I'm assuming there's somebody on your team whose highest level of licensure is data analytics and all of the things.

Speaker 1:

Oh, yes, and it has been delegated right when I'm like hey, I want to see the low-hanging fruit of who didn't convert. Let's talk to them, see if my program's a good fit.

Speaker 2:

But I don't need to pull those numbers.

Speaker 1:

Can you please gather them?

Speaker 2:

You love spreadsheets, right this will take me 500 hours.

Speaker 1:

And so, yes, 100%, like the zone of genius and being empowered to stay in it. I like that. You're a way of saying it. Okay. So, speaking of masterminds, if people are like, hey, I'm not necessarily in a position where one-on-one coaching which it's so funny because the busy business owner sometimes can't break away for those calls or or C-suite manager, manager, director, right, which actually, probably, using guide culture verbiage, is the very reason why they should.

Speaker 1:

And can you talk more about your mastermind, cause this episode is coming out in May, and so that is when your your mastermind is launching, so I'd love to hear more about it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so okay, so I want to. Can I tell you, like, how this idea came about? Yes, please, a lot, so I work with a lot of. I work with mostly women executives, business owners, and for years they have been telling me, like Vicky, you need to start a networking group. And I was like, oh my gosh, yes, that's a great idea. Like we need women connecting with other women so that we can inspire each other and, like you know, do all, do all of the things and connect each other with other opportunities. You know all of the things and I and I wasn't doing it and I kept asking myself why am I not doing this? People keep asking me for it.

Speaker 1:

I think it's a great idea.

Speaker 2:

Why am I not doing this? And a question that I like to ask myself is, if I'm delaying something or ask my clients too if I'm delaying doing something, why is that? What is that telling me? And what that told me, I realized I wasn't doing it because I I actually don't like networking groups and I find because I'm I'm an introvert by nature and they actually take a lot out of me, and so if I don't like participating in networking groups, what makes me think that I'm going to enjoy leading one? What I do like and where I do, where I can be of service, is coaching, right Coaching, training, facilitating and still bringing people together.

Speaker 2:

And so I sort of unofficially, officially, launched a mastermind back in December, january, with some of my current and former clients, and we meet every other week and it's a combination of teaching and coaching where I'm coaching them and where they are coaching each other, because it's one thing to hear from me, but it's also something else to hear and learn from other people in similar, in similar experiences.

Speaker 2:

And they are women, like nonprofit leaders, investment leaders, you know, having people that have their own businesses. It's kind of a combination of, and the power of that is, you learn, you get supported and you implement because we meet every other week and we meet, you know, on zoom and they have we have access to each other via Voxer so, like you kind of have a back, a coach, in your back pocket always to keep to keep you moving forward, no matter, no matter what's happening, and they can ask me questions, they can ask each other questions, they can share wins, they can share work throughs Wow and it allows you to really really grow and really really be supported and also, honestly, like it's just really, really fun, like how great is it? Every two weeks you get to meet and have lunch with your closest friends that you've never met in person.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and business is lonely.

Speaker 2:

Business is lonely.

Speaker 1:

And being a senior leader is lonely.

Speaker 2:

You don't have co-workers that you can go to the cafeteria with and have lunch with Right 100%, and I love that too.

Speaker 1:

Do you think someone also who might be a good fit is someone who is like in a manager or potentially director role, who wants to get to that senior role so they can start being in conversations that way and being coached to get there? Would that be something too for the mastermind as well?

Speaker 2:

yeah, 100, because part of the part of the mastermind too is also like um, there's a recorded and live video trainings around things. Like you know, how do you exert influence when you don't have direct reports perhaps, yet? Or how do you communicate? How do you give feedback? How do you manage your time best? How do you delegate even if you don't have, you know, a whole team to delegate to? So it kind of combines the like the hard skills with the soft skills of leadership. One of the other questions I get a lot is you know, do I Vicky like, do I need an MBA? And I say this as a person that has an MBA, but I got my MBA in my early twenties, my early mid twenties. Like most people, nine and a half times out of 10, don't need one. They're just getting one out of, like you know, sort of the safety and the security, and also like maybe they're missing out on something and like the the FOMO of it. Yes, that was the route I went down.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I didn't end up getting it, but it was a, it was FOMO, it's FOMO yeah it was letters after my name, and now I'm married to someone with a ton of letters after his name.

Speaker 2:

But I don't need it, right you know, and a lot of people don't need it but, like, there's a lot of things that, like you learn in your program that are incredibly important and, like you know, we can teach you those things too, and like some of the tactical things you can absolutely learn, um, that are going to be super, super helpful and allow you to, like, really grow your career with intention, with purpose, in the way that you want it to be.

Speaker 1:

I love that. Okay, so when people are listening to this, it's May, when this comes out, they may listen to a replay. We're going to have a link for them to just get in contact with you. What's the best way is to reach out on Instagram, or we'll have a link to like, learn more, book a call waitlist situation, or what's the best way for people if they're like wait, this could be good.

Speaker 2:

So, um, yeah, so send me, please send me a message on Instagram or LinkedIn or I will have a link to for all of the information about, about the mastermind and how you can learn more and connect with me and see if it's maybe a good fit for you.

Speaker 1:

I'm so intrigued I feel like, and then it will. Is it like rolling admission, or is it it's? Gonna be rolling yes, I love that. Yeah, that's genius. Anyone listening?

Speaker 1:

rolling admission is is where it's at. It's sometimes, yeah, it's just great. If someone wants to get in, they need to be able to get in and get going, you know. So, yeah, well, please send me information. I'm glad it's rolling because we're in a season of there's a lot going on in our lives right now and I'm like, wait, let's see what the fall or next year looks like, cause I love being around good people, I believe in your coaching so much, so I'm even like I want to learn more. I'll tell you what, if you're listening to this and mark on your calendars, because I hope Vicki does her goals workshop again in December or January, cause it's freaking amazing. I've done it now what? Twice with you. I need to revisit my goals, so maybe that's something.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, we talked about this maybe once a quarter you know, I want to do it once a quarter Cause it really is, it's like one of my favorite things to do is like to do that goal setting workshop.

Speaker 1:

It's so good. And Brad, brad and I need to review our goals. I'm going to pull that, that doc, up this week, but no, anyone, anyone listening. Definitely just follow Vicki and get connected with her, but this mastermind sounds amazing. So, before we head to the fun, part of the giggles, part of clicks and giggles, what is one way that you see women leaving money on the table? I know we were chatting about this before and you're like there's a lot of ways, so what's one way you see them?

Speaker 2:

Okay. So one way, I think is by being complacent right, is by settling for this belief that I can never be promoted, I can never grow and I am like I am insert blank. I am insert blank like in this stage of my life and I should just stay here, you know, and that like like it is, that it is what it is Mentality, that complacency mentality, is the number one way that I see business leaders and corporate leaders leave money on the table, whether it is through their salary or whether it is through building their business. This, like it is what it is, complacent mentality is, I think, the number one way we are leaving money on the table. Women especially.

Speaker 1:

It's scary to think about. Well, we'll, definitely. Depending on how you know, we're recording this in advance, but tonight goes, please, if you do some sort of replay or people can opt in or buy or buy the replay. I think that that is. I'm sure there's people listening who are like, wait, am I living a complacent life? And that is such a good place to start. If maybe they're not mastermind ready or coaching ready of just like what are some quick wins I can have right through?

Speaker 2:

realizing it doesn't have to be this way. You know it is. It doesn't have to be the way, and I actually have a pinned post on my Instagram page right now that actually like helps you. It's. I think it's like the 10 signs that you might be living a complacent life, like if that might be the place for you to like go into start. Am I?

Speaker 1:

Yes, yeah, okay, I'm going to get that for the show notes too. Okay, so now, now that we've talked business and personal development and coaching and all that good stuff, what are some things you like to do for fun? I know you have little ones and are are thick in the parenting years, but how do you, maybe on like a daily basis, get to show up for yourself and then like, what are bigger, more fun things you like to do too?

Speaker 2:

so like my non-negotiable is coffee by myself in the morning before my whole family wakes up, like it is my greatest life's joy and like I will wake up earlier just to get it just yet and my children wake up early and I will wake up earlier than them just so that I could have like it.

Speaker 2:

Just it is. It makes me, it makes me happy, it makes me a better human being, like overall, it's just. You know, it's very, it's a big part of it's. I look forward to it everything um, that's so good, I love that it's.

Speaker 2:

It's great. But I also, like I am actually like I'm wearing my sneakers right now. I walk all the the time. It's just like I don't know. I love being outside and, like you know, we both live in Atlanta. It's like a beautiful time of year right now, like I love seeing all of the nature and, just, you know, being outside listening to music, listening to a podcast or like a good audio book, it just gives me so much, so much joy. Like talking to my best friend on the phone. Like gives me just so much joy. It really is. You know, I don't know like it sounds so cheesy and cliche or whatever, but like it really is, just like these small little things like being able to get outside and being able to have a conversation with my best friend on the phone or listening to my favorite song is just you know, it's like they make me very it's a little joys right?

Speaker 1:

no, I love that. Yes, yes, yes, which I love that. And then do you? Have anything fun planned in the next couple months? Like big, are y'all doing anything this summer or staying local and exploring Atlanta more? What does that look like for y'all?

Speaker 2:

a little bit of both. I'm going on vacation with my family. We're actually going to the Bahamas for the first time I'm very excited with like an extended family. That's going to be super fun. And then we're doing lots of like you know, little local, local Atlanta things. My daughter is going to sleepaway camp for the first time this year, so that's, like you know, it's a growth for all of us.

Speaker 1:

Yes, oh my gosh.

Speaker 2:

That's like sweet, it's so sweet. I'm so excited for her, I'm it's going to be such an incredible experience for her and you know, and for me also. I learned you know you're not in that stage yet, but like I learned very quickly that like motherhood almost right away is a lesson in letting go and I'm like this is just one more lesson in letting go.

Speaker 1:

Like one more lesson in letting go. I love that. That's sweet, though That'll be fun for her.

Speaker 2:

I'm excited for her. She's going to have so much fun. She's it's going to be. It's going to be a good summer. I'm excited.

Speaker 1:

I love that. Well, and amidst it, you will be publicly launching your mastermind, which is so fun.

Speaker 1:

And I cannot wait to hear, to have you back on in the future and hear how that's going and just continue to dive deeper into the, into the benefits of coaching and why people should have an executive coach and why some of you listening should have Vicki as your coach. I fully vouch for you, vicki. I love getting to know you more and I've been coached by you in rooms, even when it hasn't been directly, and even on this call I'm like I'm thinking, and I've been coached by you, of course, through goals. So, no, this has been so good. We'll have to get you on the books, maybe in the fall to get an update and just chat more. But if anyone has, you know, heard Vicky's conversation with me and is interested in learning more, head to the show notes and you can get all all the links and all the things. Vicky, thank you so much for being here today, thank inks and all the things.

Speaker 2:

Vicky, thank you so much for being here today. Thank you, thank you. It was such a pleasure. And, jordan, like I've said this once and I've said this a thousand times, but you are like the biggest supporter of women, the biggest supporter of people and just like I don't know, you just have the biggest, biggest heart and I am so glad that you're doing this and just it's such a pleasure like seeing you shine and seeing you grow and I'm thank and thank you for having me.

Speaker 1:

Oh my gosh, it's the best. I love connecting good people with good people, having them here on the podcast and just in my life, so I am the lucky one. Thanks for being here today.

Speaker 2:

Thank you.

Speaker 1:

And that's a wrap. Thank you for listening. If you were inspired by this episode, be sure to check out the show notes for the linked resources and my free guide Three Ways to Know You're ready for ads. If weekly episodes aren't enough for you and you want more of your favorite click magnet, you can connect with me over on Instagram. At launch with Jordan, I host regular challenges and drop valuable tips that will help make your marketing click, connect and convert. And if you think it would inspire a friend, send it, share it, just for clicks and giggles.