Companies laying off employees is anything but rare nowadays. But that doesn't make it any easier to deal with if you're at risk of losing your job or just found out you're now unemployed. In our last episode we discussed practical steps you can take to manage the logistics of getting laid off. In this episode, we're discussing the wide variety of emotions that happen when you're dealing with job loss. Let's learn some ways to cope with the loss of identity, confidence, friendships, and stabilit...
Jun 21, 2023•28 min•Season 4Ep. 4
The news today says that yet another company has announced layoffs. Layoffs have become such a standard operating practice for companies nowadays that there's corporate-speak to talk about them: RIFs (Reductions In Force), Rightsizing (yeesh), Corporate Outplacing (wow). But calling it something different doesn't make it any easier to deal with if you're at risk of losing your job. However, there are practical steps you can take to manage the changes that happen if you're losing your job or are ...
Apr 24, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 3
No, that's not hyperbole. Stress really is trying to murder you. This episode is all about stress: what it is, how it affects our brains and bodies. But it's not all doom and gloom, because yes, beloved listeners, we also brainstorm some ways to reduce your stress. Show that murdering jerk who's boss! By relaxing. And other stuff. Want to share something that's worked for you? Let me know! Email me at bellydancealchemypodcast@gmail.com Do your goals include getting a new (less stressful) job thi...
Mar 24, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 2
If you're anything like me, by mid-February you've already fallen off the wagon with some (or all!) of your new goals or New Year's Resolutions. It happens. But instead of beating ourselves up for not being as disciplined as we should, let's consider a new way of looking at goal achievement - Goal Subtraction. What's that? Giving up on my goals? But how would I achieve anything? Oh my lovelies, take a listen and find out! Like this idea? Want to share something that's worked for you? Let me know...
Feb 14, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 1
I'm so grateful for you! And to say thanks for listening, here's a quick episode sharing some inspiring quotes about gratitude. Subscribe to our mailing list at bellydancealchemy.org Follow the podcast on Instagram @bellydancealchemypodcast We also have a Youtube channel with more content! Belly Dance Alchemy Videos If you want to grow your professional skills, either 1:1 or through workshops at your company or organization, let's chat! For a 30-minute complimentary consultation, email me at bel...
Nov 23, 2022•9 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In Part 2 of our first Belly Dance Alchemy Duet, I talk with Kristin Chesnutt, a friend, former colleague, instructional designer, and book lover about the challenges of finding our value outside of our work/title, the importance of appreciating work no matter the "corporate ladder" level, and some books she recommends (along with a lot of other great insights!) Kristin's recommended books: Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price PhD Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nago...
Nov 16, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In Part 1 of our first Belly Dance Alchemy Duet, I talk with Kristin Chesnutt, a friend, former colleague, instructional designer, and book lover about the challenges of finding our value outside of our work/title, the importance of appreciating work no matter the "corporate ladder" level, and some books she recommends (along with a lot of other great insights!) Part 2 coming to your ears soon! Kristin's recommended books: Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price PhD Burnout: The Secret to Unlocki...
Oct 20, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 4
If you haven't heard the term "quiet quitting" yet, it's all over social media recently. What does it look like? Well, it doesn't mean quitting your job - it means doing only what's required for your job, or setting boundaries that say "I'm not going to do more than I’m being paid to do." But is quiet quitting actually a solution to the problems that we're facing? I vote No! That’s what today's episode is all about. Listen now! Subscribe to our mailing list at bellydancealchemy.org Follow the po...
Sep 08, 2022•19 min•Season 3Ep. 3
If you've never been to a belly dance convention, you're missing out! In this episode, I share some lessons learned about the 4 P's of belly dance conventions: Planning Packing (or overpacking...) Participating Performing Listen now and get excited about attending one of these fantastic events! Subscribe to our mailing list at bellydancealchemy.org Follow the podcast on Instagram @bellydancealchemypodcast We also have a Youtube channel with more content! Belly Dance Alchemy Videos If you want to...
Jul 28, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The Belly Dance Alchemy Podcast is back for its 3rd season! We're kicking off our new competency-based format with a long look in the mirror. Yes, this episode is all about self-awareness and self-management. These two skill areas are critical for any other professional or personal growth you may attempt. Without them, we're all just oblivious wrecking balls of human beings, and nobody wants that, right? Register today for the Resume Revamp online course: Resume Revamp | Nottingham Professional ...
Feb 04, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Light out of darkness: the theme of so many holidays at this time of year. Know what else is all about light out of darkness? Resilience Resilience isn't being impervious to setbacks - it's the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Which is good, because we all deal with disappointments! Think you're born with a set level of resilience? Nonsense. We can build that skill just like any other. In this episode, we look at 2 ways to start strengthening your resilience muscle today! I'd like to say a ...
Dec 22, 2021•16 min•Season 2Ep. 21
It's Gratitude Time! Gratitude gives us a different (bigger) perspective on our lives. It can make us feel humble, small, receptive. That's awesome. Except when it goes too far. Then it's not great. When we have too much humility, we may not advocate for ourselves like we should, whether at work, in dance, at home, or with any opportunity. In this episode, we turn gratitude inward, to discover how to be grateful to ourselves, by ourselves. Does that make you feel weird or selfish? Oh then you DE...
Nov 24, 2021•15 min•Season 2Ep. 20
I’m going to go on record here saying that the word "priorities" plural is just messed up. The word priority (singular) means the thing that goes first. As in, the singular first position. Saying that we can have more than one thing in the first position is a recipe for stress and overwhelm and divided attention. And here's a Big Truth: Our priorities aren't what we say they are, they're what we actually DO. Our priorities aren't defined by our vision boards or the goals we set for ourselves. Ou...
Nov 10, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 19
It's the spooky season and this is a rerelease of a great episode all about Fear ! No, it's not scary (I promise!), but we are going to chat about how we can use our fears productively. Fear is there to help us - it keeps us safe and makes us alert to possible dangers, but sometimes gets so big and so all-encompassing that it holds us back in our lives and careers. In this episode we explore: The Benefits of Fear Three ways Fear can go haywire and control us too much How Fear can show up in our ...
Oct 27, 2021•29 min
Hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, and those puffy vests that people dig out of the back of their closet as soon as the weather gets a slight chill. Ah yes autumn! My favorite season. Whenever autumn comes around, it sends me into self-reflection mode. Something about the world shedding its summer glory to rest into winter's chill inspires me to slow down and think: How has my year gone so far? Are there things I need to change to get better results before the end of the year? What results have come in...
Oct 06, 2021•6 min•Season 2Ep. 18
What if we discovered a switch in our psyches that would turn our fears into courage? What risks would you take if your courage were doubled? What if I told you that courage is not a prerequisite for taking risks, but a RESULT of taking risks? Interested in learning more? In today's episode, we explore a new way to think about courage: instead of an unpredictable emotion, courage is a muscle that we can train and build, so that it's ready to use when we need it. New learning opportunities with m...
Aug 30, 2021•24 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Ever had a narcissist play you like an old ukulele? Not fun. They can show up anywhere - home, work, dance, social settings, and they're hard to resist (at first, anyway). We're diving into the manipulative, self-centered world of narcissists today, to learn what they're thinking, how they interact with others, and most importantly, how we can protect ourselves from their wily ways! Especially if you consider yourself an empathetic, loving person, don't skip this one. You'll find you're particul...
Aug 16, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Are you trying to find more balance between your work and the rest of your life? And does the whole "finding balance" thing just feel like part of your To Do list? Well in today's episode, we're going to explore a new way of thinking about work/life balance, one that will lift off the ACTUAL cause of work/life imbalance. Most of the advice out there on how to balance our lives is off the mark. Instead of giving people the freedom to enjoy the Life part of the equation, we're usually told to do m...
Jul 30, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Ah, personal and professional branding. There's a slew of information out there on creating your brand through your online profiles, your personal elevator speech, etc. The problem? You already HAVE a brand, whether you have a LinkedIn profile or not. And if everyone thinks you're a pain in the butt, the fanciest elevator speech in the world won't help you. In today's episode, we're going to look at the way our brands are ACTUALLY built, and discuss how perceptions play into our brands. We'll al...
Jul 20, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 14
When you want someone to share your opinion, but you know you can't force them to agree with you, what's left? Influencing them, of course! And despite what social media influencers would have you think, influencing is not the same as just directly selling someone on an idea. It takes some deep thinking, some reflection, and of course, a plan! In this episode, you'll learn my 3-Step Influencing Model, so you can start persuading others to your point of view right away. During the episode, I refe...
Jul 07, 2021•24 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Whether it's knee-knocking terror or just butterflies in your stomach, fear of public speaking holds so many people back in their careers, their dance adventures, and life in general. In this episode, I share 4 practical approaches you can take to manage (and even conquer!) your fear of public speaking. Don't hide your voice and ideas - the world needs them now more than ever! So listen now and get ready to speak up! "Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking" is out now, wherever you get your podcas...
Jun 17, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Conflict is NOT a 4-letter word! If your reaction to conflict is either: Slip on the ol' boxing gloves or Run away as fast as possible then today's episode is going to change your perspective (with no anger or yelling at all!) The truth is, most of us don't like the idea of conflict - we think it'll feel messy, personal, and damaging. But it doesn't have to be that way. Conflict can be a wonderful opportunity to learn about ourselves and others around us, and it gives us a chance to make the wor...
Jun 03, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Humans are emotion-driven creatures, whether we want to admit it or not. And many of the most challenging situations that come up for us aren't based strictly on fact - they're based on feeling: managing conflicts, change, influencing others, sales, delegating. Trying to fix a feeling-based problem with a fact-based solution, ain't gonna help. In this episode we dig into the work of Daniel Goleman, who wrote (arguably) THE book on Emotional Intelligence (EQ). He says: “The rules for work are cha...
May 20, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Hi dancers! Does the thought of networking (for day job or dance life) make you feel: Icky Grumpy Queasy Terrified All of the Above Well fear not, listener! In this episode we're going to bust four common myths about networking that keep many people from building the strong, mutually beneficial relationships that great networks provide. No pushy or smarmy behaviors needed. Who knows? You might even learn to *gasp* LOVE networking! In this episode I mention a book that's been a great resource: El...
May 14, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Let's start digging into building our professional and personal networks. Here's a mini episode to prepare you for next week's full episode on Networking The Non-Icky Way. I'm on vacation this week, visiting with family I haven't been able to see in 1 1/2 years (yay for vaccines!), but I didn't want to leave you hanging. Next week we'll have a full episode on how to network professionally without feeling salesy or pushy, and in ways that feel comfortable and beneficial for everyone involved. Tal...
May 06, 2021•4 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Are you a Take This Fun Quiz kind of person? If you said yes, today's episode is especially for you. We're digging into different ways that people communicate, using a modified DISC assessment that we'll do right here! In this episode! No complicated test needed! But if you're afraid of being labelled as Type X or Style_______, no worries - we'll also explore how we aren't really putting ourselves into a self-limiting box by dissecting the way we communicate. In fact, we'll learn some ways to fl...
Apr 22, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 8
EXTRA EXTRA (mini-episode!) Are you a leader who is now managing remote employees or a blended team of remote and in-office people? Are you a dance teacher or studio owner with online and/or in-person students? You now have even MORE responsibilities, including one very important one: VISIBILITY! (Yes I'm shouting, because this is crucial stuff!) Today's video shares one tactic to start the process of building solid communication and visibility for both your team and yourself! Subscribe to our m...
Apr 15, 2021•9 min
The world is so much more open to remote work, to being a digital nomad, and that's fantastic! If that way of working is calling to you - great! Go for it! Bon voyage! But there are some really important things to keep in mind. {Cue sad trombone} One of the most crucial concerns about remote work is the lack of VISIBILITY that comes with it. And I don't just mean turning your camera off during video calls. We're talking career-stalling, Wonder Woman's Airplane types of invisibility to the decisi...
Apr 08, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 7
I’m all for individuality - doing things your own way! Forging your own path through life! Woo! Unique Rules! But hey. If someone has learned a lesson the hard way, or has figured out an amazing technique for dealing with a situation, why reinvent the wheel? We may be unique, but it doesn't mean we're remote desert islands in a sea of I Gotta Figure This Out By Myself. We're more like an Archipelago of Shared Knowledge, washed in a sea of Human Experience. This metaphor is going off the rails fa...
Mar 25, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Picture the scene: You've been hand selected to participate in a big work project or a huge dance event! Woo hoo! How exciting! Except a loud voice is booming in your head, saying: I am a complete fraud. They just don't realize it yet. Ah yes, the dreaded Imposter Complex. In this episode, we're going to face this bully head on, digging into what Imposter Complex is, nine ways that it shows up, and a whole bunch of practical steps we can take to send it on its miserable way. Buh-bye! *** If you'...
Mar 11, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 5
