A Fruitful Summer
Sharon Smith in conversation with Linda Zelnik
As we navigate through life, it's important to take time to reflect on our work-life balance — or, as Linda Zelnik prefers to call it, work-life harmony.
In the fourth episode of the Summer Focus Reset series of the podcast, I sat down with Linda Zelnik a leadership coach, educator, and author of Burnout to Boom!, an action guide for more energy and less stress starting today. Named one of Nashville’s Top Coaches, Linda is on a mission to cultivate effective and compassionate leadership.
In this episode Linda shares her inspiring journey from career burnout to creating a lifestyle that not only supports her family but also allows her to be fully present in both her professional and personal life.
The Journey to Work-Life Harmony
Linda Zelnik's story is one that many of us can relate to. After experiencing severe burnout in her career, she realised the need for a significant change. She transitioned from a high-pressure job to developing a lifestyle business that would support her well-being and her family. Linda's journey wasn't just about finding a balance; it was about harmonising all aspects of her life, making sure each part supported the other.
Linda emphasises the importance of being fully present, whether at work or at home. She believes that instead of trying to achieve a perfect balance, we should aim for harmony that allows us to thrive in all areas of life. She stresses the importance of setting boundaries and reflecting regularly to ensure that our personal and professional lives are aligned with our values and goals.
Nature as a Guide
Linda also draws inspiration from the natural world. She talks about how the changing seasons and the natural ebb and flow of energy can serve as a metaphor for our own lives. Just as nature has periods of growth and rest, Linda suggests that we should also allow ourselves times of intense focus and times to recharge. This cyclical approach can help prevent burnout and ensure that we maintain a healthy rhythm in our daily lives.
Overcoming Burnout: A Personal and Professional Challenge
Burnout is a significant issue in today’s fast-paced world, affecting a staggering 77% of the U.S. workforce, according to a Deloitte statistic that Linda cites. She explores this further in her book, "Burnout to Boom," where she discusses both the individual and organisational factors that contribute to burnout and offers practical strategies to combat it.
During the podcast, Linda also highlights the importance of seeking help and making necessary changes when you feel overwhelmed. She shares her own experience of reaching out for medical assistance and making deliberate adjustments to her lifestyle, emphasising that awareness and reflection are crucial in navigating through tough times.
Book Recommendations for a Restful Summer
For those looking to make a change or simply seeking some guidance on managing their time and energy better, Linda recommends the book "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" by John Mark Comer. She believes that managing your calendar and setting boundaries is essential to avoiding burnout and achieving a more harmonious life.
Connect with Linda Zelnik
Linda is passionate about helping others find their path to effective and compassionate leadership. If you’re interested in learning more from her or working with her directly, you can connect with Linda through her website, altacoaching.com, or find her on LinkedIn. She’s always eager to share her insights and help others on their journey to work-life harmony.
Final Thoughts
This episode of Focus Rest serves as a reminder of the importance of rest, recharge, and reset. As we move through the summer, let’s take a cue from Linda Zelnik and focus on creating a life that harmonises our professional ambitions with our personal well-being. By doing so, we can ensure that we are not just surviving but thriving in every aspect of our lives.
To connect with Linda Zelnik, visit her website at ALTA Coaching or follow her on social media.
You can listen to the full episode on Spotify or at sharon-smith.thinkific.com.
For more information and resources mentioned in the episode visit our website. Thank you for joining us on Focus Reset 2.0 Coffee and Coach, and we hope you’ll tune in next time for another inspiring conversation in the Summer Focus Reset series.
Changing Seasons
Sharon Smith in conversation with Lesley Fettes
In the third episode of the Summer Focus Reset series of the podcast, I sat down with Lesley Fettes, a marketing consultant who also runs a community focused on health and natural living. Lesley’s journey is one of resilience, having navigated some significant life changes, including early menopause. Her story is a testament to the power of self-care, adaptability, and the importance of a supportive community.
Lesley describes her summer holidays as a mix of relaxation and activity, usually spent with her husband, son, and friends. They balance beach or poolside lounging with more adventurous activities like theme parks or paragliding, ensuring their time together is both restful and engaging.
Lesley shares how her life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with premature menopause at 36, a shock that led her to reassess her life’s direction. This diagnosis forced her to take better care of herself, which ultimately led to a new passion for helping others going through similar experiences.
Despite not being a planner by nature, Lesley’s ability to adapt to life’s changes has been a cornerstone of her journey. She turned her personal challenges into an opportunity to support other women, becoming a certified coach and a voice in the community for those navigating menopause and other mid-life changes. She is cofounder, of Healthy and Happy Hormones, support for women in their transition through menopause.
When asked about work-life balance, Lesley offers a refreshingly honest perspective. She sees balance not as an equal distribution of time and energy but as a dynamic process—a juggling act where success means nothing is crashing down. For her, balance is about recognising daily achievements, no matter how small, and giving herself grace in moments when everything doesn’t go as planned.
Lesley’s analogy of life as a journey on a boat, where you constantly adjust your course, perfectly captures the essence of navigating through life’s changes. It’s not always smooth sailing, but by being adaptable and patient, you can steer in the right direction.
Lesley emphasises the importance of self-care, especially during stressful periods. She recently took a day off from her responsibilities to reconnect with old friends, which she found incredibly rejuvenating. Moments like these are crucial for maintaining mental health and gaining perspective on life’s challenges.
She also highlights the significance of celebrating small wins, not just the major successes. Recognising these moments helps manage the bigger picture and maintains a positive mindset, even during tough times.
Lesley has turned her personal experience into a mission to support other women through their own transitions. Whether it’s through her work as a coach or her community initiatives, she’s dedicated to helping women understand and manage the changes in their bodies as they age, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being.
For those looking for practical resources, Lesley recommended a couple of books. She kindly recommended Focus Reset New Season and Unstressable by Mo Gawdat and Alice Law, a workbook designed to help manage stress effectively. She believes that everyone can benefit from learning how to navigate stress and make it more manageable.
Both books are available on Amazon:
Focus Reset New Season New Vision
Unstressable, Mo Gawdat and Alice Law
Lesley’s journey is a powerful reminder that life’s challenges can lead to unexpected growth and opportunities. Whether you’re navigating a career shift, dealing with personal challenges, or just looking to reset your focus, remember that self-care and adaptability are key to thriving through life’s seasons.
To connect with Lesley Fettes, visit her website at healthyhappyhormones.thinkific.com or follow her on social media.
You can listen to the full episode on Spotify or at sharon-smith.thinkific.com.
For more information and resources mentioned in the episode visit our website. Thank you for joining us on Focus Reset 2.0 Coffee and Coach, and we hope you’ll tune in next time for another inspiring conversation in the Summer Focus Reset series.
Optimising the New You
Sharon Smith in conversation with Eva Medilek
In the second episode of the Summer Focus Reset series of the podcast, I sat down with no 1 best selling author, international speaker, and executive leadership coach Eva Medilek to discuss the art of optimising the "new you" and navigating life's seasons.
Eva, who is currently enjoying a summer getaway in Europe, shared her passion for work-life balance and helping high-achieving individuals become high performers. As a former dental hygienist who reinvented her career path, Eva's personal story of resilience and growth resonated deeply.
"Back in 2010, I turned 50 and had been in the dental field for over 30 years," Eva recounted. "My boss told me I was being downsized and my salary was being reduced. That really knocked me for a loop."
Rather than letting the setback defeat her, Eva saw it as a "kick in the butt" to pursue her long-held dream of living and working in Europe. She invested in coaching and mentorship to transition into real estate investing and, eventually, high-performance coaching.
However, Eva's journey was not without its challenges. She candidly shared how the stress of juggling her career, finances, and personal life took a toll on her marriage. "I became so burnt out by trying to do everything, everywhere, all at once, that my health and my well-being and my relationship was impacted," she said.
The breakdown of her marriage was a pivotal moment that prompted Eva to shift her mindset and focus on personal growth. "I looked at it as, you know, sometimes the universe gives you a kick in the butt so that you can make the changes that you need to make to reach your dreams and goals," she reflected.
For Eva, optimising the "new you" is about more than just professional success. It's about cultivating a holistic approach to life, where one's health, relationships, and overall well-being are prioritised alongside career aspirations.
"Balance, to me, is a flow," Eva explained. "It's knowing when to prioritise what, and when to prioritise it, so that you're not trying to do everything, everywhere, all at once for everyone."
Drawing inspiration from nature's cycles, Eva uses the summer months as a reset period, allowing herself to slow down, recharge, and prepare for the next season. "I use fall as a prep for setting myself up to following year," she said. "What do I need to complete to finish the year strong? And what bulbs, what seeds do I need to plant to come up in springtime?"
For those navigating difficult seasons in their own lives, Eva's advice is to approach challenges with a mindset of curiosity and growth. "Know that this is preparing you for something bigger and better," she encouraged. "Be excited about the possibilities of navigating this struggle, this breakdown, because I know that in order to break, we have to have some kind of breakdown."
As the conversation drew to a close, Eva shared one of her go-to resources for personal development: Paulo Coelho's classic novel, The Alchemist. She finds the book's lessons about overcoming hardships and trusting the journey to be deeply impactful.
To connect with Eva Medilek and learn more about her approach to high-performance coaching, visit her website at EvaMedialek.com or follow her on social media.
And be sure to tune in to the next episode in the Summer Focus Reset series for more inspiring conversations about optimising your life.
You can listen to the full episode on Spotify or at sharon-smith.thinkific.com.
For more information and resources mentioned in the episode visit our website. Thank you for joining us on Focus Reset 2.0 Coffee and Coach, and we hope you’ll tune in next time for another inspiring conversation in the Summer Focus Reset series.