Time To Press Pause – Real-Life Stories from the C-Suite

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In this episode of “Time to Press Pause,” hosted by Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, Ellen interviews Susie deVille, founder and CEO of the Innovation and Creativity Institute and author of “Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free.” Susie shares her personal story of hitting rock bottom during the 2008 financial crisis, which led her to reassess her approach to life and entrepreneurship. She describes how she had been caught up in a cycle of overwork and misplaced self-worth, which ultimately led to a period she refers to as her “nuclear winter.”

To recover, Susie took a step back, slowed down, and began reconnecting with her innate creativity. She discusses the transformative power of creativity in not only helping her rebuild her life but also in guiding others to unlock their full potential. Susie emphasizes the importance of pressing pause, recognizing when life is out of alignment, and engaging in activities that inspire and bring joy. She introduces her process, “the five M’s,” which includes practices like making art, which helped her access new ideas and clarity.

The conversation highlights the significance of taking time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with oneself, especially for entrepreneurs and CEOs who often tie their self-worth to productivity and success. Susie encourages leaders to recognize the signs that it’s time to pause and embrace creativity as a pathway to both personal fulfillment and professional success.

To learn more about Suzie, go to innovationandcreativityinstitute.com. You can also purchase her book, BUOYANT, and watch the BUOYANT trailer.

To learn more about Ellen Williams, go to thesalientstrategist.com.

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In this episode of the “Time to Press Pause” podcast, host Ellen Williams speaks with Dr. Neha Sangwan, CEO and founder of Intuitive Intelligence, about her experiences with burnout, stress management, and the importance of pausing in life. Neha shares her journey as an overachiever who pushed herself to please others, ultimately leading to severe burnout. She discusses the pivotal moments in her life that forced her to pause and reevaluate her approach to work and well-being. Neha emphasizes the importance of aligning with one’s inner self and respecting natural cycles of rest and growth. She also highlights the significance of addressing stress at its root, particularly in high-pressure environments like healthcare. The conversation explores how CEOs and leaders can balance their drive to achieve with the need to maintain their own well-being, and how past experiences, even difficult ones, can contribute to personal growth. 

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In this episode of “Time to Press Pause,” host Ellen Williams speaks with Melinda F. Emerson, CEO of Quintessence Group and America’s #1 Small Business Expert, also known as the “Small Biz Lady.” Melinda shares her personal “pause” story, recounting how a high-risk pregnancy in 2005 forced her to step away from her workaholic tendencies and rethink her life and business. She reflects on how this unexpected break led to soul-searching and a realization that her business and marriage were broken. Through this period of rest and reflection, Melinda began a journey of reinvention, ultimately creating a new path as the “Small Biz Lady.”

Melinda explains how she used her business experiences, especially her mistakes, to write her bestselling book, *Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months*. Despite facing setbacks, such as the 2008 financial crash, she embraced faith, which guided her toward success. Melinda also emphasizes the power of reinvention, advising CEOs to take time to pause and reflect on what they truly love, as it can lead to new and unexpected business opportunities.

Throughout the podcast, Melinda speaks candidly about the challenges of entrepreneurship, faith, and finding balance, highlighting the importance of using one’s experiences to inspire and guide others.

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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Julie Christiansen, known as the “Anger Lady,” who is the president and CEO of Leverage U and author of 15 books on leadership and mental health. Julie shares her personal story of burnout and pressing pause after her father suffered two strokes, and she experienced a severe bout of vertigo due to stress. 

She discusses the importance of recognizing the signs of burnout, grounding oneself, and practicing intentional self-care strategies. Julie emphasizes the value of delegating tasks with purpose, building resilience, and balancing work with personal well-being. She also offers practical advice on identifying when to pause, using methods like the “fun and money” exercise to evaluate which tasks to prioritize, and checking in daily on emotional well-being. 

Julie’s experiences serve as a reminder for CEOs and entrepreneurs to prioritize mental health and avoid pushing through stress at the expense of long-term well-being.

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In this episode of Time To Press Pause, Brynn Gibbs shares her experiences as a CEO and the pivotal moments when she realized she needed to “press pause” to improve her leadership and company culture. About three years ago, she recognized that her controlling nature was hindering the growth of her company, Consumer Fusion. To address this, she implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), which helped her delegate responsibilities, empower her team, and foster a healthier work-life balance. The EOS tools, particularly the People Analyzer, allowed her to align her team with the company’s core values and restructure roles for better efficiency and satisfaction. 

Brynn also discussed the importance of understanding and maintaining the “why” behind her business, which stems from her personal experience with cyberbullying in high school. This passion for reputation management continues to drive her work today. 

Brynn shared a second “press pause” moment related to her tendency to compare herself to other successful companies, which caused her stress and detracted from her enjoyment of work. Her business coach introduced her to the book *The Gap and The Gain* by Dan Sullivan, which helped her shift her mindset to focus on celebrating her own progress rather than comparing herself to others. This change in perspective allowed her to better appreciate her achievements and set a healthier long-term vision for her life and business. 

Overall, Brynn’s advice to CEOs is to recognize when it’s time to pause and reassess, avoid unhealthy comparisons, and focus on empowering their teams for sustainable growth. 

To learn more about Brynn Gibbs, go to www.consumerfusion.com. To learn more about Ellen Williams, go to www.thesalientstrategist.com. 

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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier (MH), a leadership psychologist, executive coach, and workplace mental health expert. Dr. Peltier discusses the importance of taking strategic pauses in life and leadership, sharing her own experience of pressing pause during the lead-up to her book launch, The Resilience Plan. She emphasizes how proactively managing her time before, during, and after the book’s publication allowed her to be fully present and creative during key moments, something she attributes to the success of her launch.

Dr. Pelletier explains that pressing pause doesn’t always mean a complete stop, but rather adjusting the usual pace to focus on what matters most. She also highlights the importance of integrating pauses into one’s strategic planning for resilience, ensuring leaders have the mental space and energy to seize new opportunities.

Ellen and Dr. Pelletier discuss how taking breaks enables better performance and creativity, offering advice to CEOs and leaders to plan for pauses as part of their leadership strategies. The conversation concludes with the reminder that leaders should be intentional about their resilience, just as they are about other business goals.

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In this episode of Time To Press Pause, Ellen Williams interviews Julie Thomas, President and CEO of Value Selling Associates, who shares her journey of career transformation and entrepreneurship. Julie begins by recounting her experience at Gartner, a large IT research and advisory company, where she had a successful career in sales and training. However, in 2002, after a leadership change, her position was eliminated. Following this unexpected turn, Julie decided to pause her career to focus on herself and her family, even spending time playing tennis before reassessing her next steps.

Through career coaching provided by her severance package, she explored entrepreneurship, eventually leading her to take over a business from a friend and colleague. In 2003, she acquired ValueSelling Associates and became its President and CEO, a role she has held for over 20 years. Julie describes herself as an “accidental entrepreneur” and reflects on the challenges of running a small business, emphasizing the importance of agility, strategic prioritization, and empowering her team.

The conversation also touches on leadership insights, including the necessity for CEOs to press pause when clarity is lacking, the value of learning from mistakes, and the importance of prioritizing time effectively. Julie highlights that entrepreneurship involves risk, but it also offers freedom and flexibility, which are particularly crucial when balancing work and personal life. 

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 In the Season 1 finale of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, reflects on the journey of launching the podcast in April and emphasizes that pausing is crucial for everyone, not just CEOs or business leaders. Whether for personal or business reasons, taking time to pause can help people think things through and find new perspectives. 
 
Ellen announces that the podcast itself will take a short pause before returning for Season 2, thanking all her guests and listeners for their support in this experimental journey. 

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In this special Thanksgiving episode of “Time to Press Pause,” host Ellen Williams reflects on the themes of gratitude, togetherness, and reflection amid a year marked by global conflicts and challenges. She emphasizes the importance of “pressing pause” to foster unity, understanding, and resilience within ourselves and our communities, starting at our own Thanksgiving tables.

Ellen revisits transformative conversations from Season 1 that are particularly relevant during the holiday season:

1. Stephen Foster (Episode 1): Founder of One Golden Nugget, Steven discusses the significance of slowing down and being present. He highlights that true leadership involves pausing to listen and embracing stillness to elevate oneself amid a fast-paced digital world.
2. Ben Renshaw (Episode 3): A leadership specialist and author, Ben emphasizes energy management across physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. He advocates for finding meaning in work and life, suggesting that pressing pause helps identify what is truly important and impactful.
3. Julie Thomas (Episode 26): President and CEO of ValueSelling Associates, Julie talks about the critical nature of time management and delegation. She encourages leaders to empower their teams, focus on strategic priorities, and avoid micromanagement to maximize effectiveness.
4. Paul Dupuis (Episode 13): CEO of Take 5 Global, Paul shares insights on leadership centered around making team members feel safe. He introduces the concept of the “enabling leader” who fosters an environment where everyone can be their best selves.
5. Bridgette Smith (Episode 10): Founder and CEO of Purpose Led Ventures, Bridgette speaks on resilience and perseverance. She shares her personal journey of overcoming professional setbacks by staying true to herself and not giving up.
6. Hilary Topper (Episode 5): CEO of HJMT Public Relations, Hilary discusses the importance of pursuing what brings joy. She recounts how embracing her passion for endurance sports led to personal happiness and a more balanced life, even if it meant scaling back her business.
7. Brynn Gibbs (Episode 24): CEO of Consumer Fusion, Brynn highlights the shift from self-comparison to self-appreciation. Inspired by the book “The Gap and The Gain” by Dan Sullivan, she emphasizes celebrating personal progress and being the architect of one’s own life.
8. Charles Gaudet (Episode 9): CEO of Predictable Profits, Charles underscores the transformative power of gratitude, even in the face of profound loss. He shares how finding gratitude during his father’s passing helped him develop a stronger mindset and personal growth.

Ellen announces that Season 2 of the podcast will expand its focus beyond CEOs to include diverse leaders from various sectors like education, healthcare, and community organizations. The upcoming season aims to explore broader themes such as emotional intelligence, leading through crises, and the importance of vulnerability.

As the episode concludes, Ellen encourages listeners to bring gratitude and presence to their Thanksgiving celebrations. She urges everyone to pause their worries and embrace the small moments of connection and appreciation with loved ones. Expressing her gratitude for the listeners and the journey so far, she looks forward to the next season and wishes everyone a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving.