Hey everyone, welcome back to Top5 brought to you by DefinedTalent. We are a results driven service working with clients to connect them with quality talent as well as working to make an impact within the recruiting industry. We talk straight about today's professional world with real world professionals, experts in recruitment, job seekers and business owners alike. Have a question for us? Send it in and you might spur our next conversation. I'm Tara Thurber, Director of Talent Innovation
here at DefinedTalent. And joining me today to kick off 2023 is Karen Ann Bullock, transcendent leadership specialist and founder of Transcendence, Living a Life of Meaning, a boutique executive coaching practice. She's here today to share her Top5 Ways for Building Your Risk Taking Muscles as we enter 2023 Hi, Karen, how are you today?
I'm great, Tara, thanks for having me here today. I'm excited to talk with you.
Absolutely. I'm excited too. Before we dive in, would you mind giving us just a little bit of background about yourself?
Sure. I spent 30 years, I hate to confess that (laughs).
(laughs)
I spent 30 years in a corporate environment. I worked for a and best company. And when I left I was the executive vice president of the product and services side of the company. And I was on the board of directors for the company. And so a lot of people will say, okay, so you had a really successful career. What are you doing now?
Right.
But you know, it's funny, and we're gonna dive into risk taking, which is just one of my favorite topics. But I think what's really funny about that story is, I think a few years before I left, I started to realize that even though I was really successful by any measure in that environment, that I was feeling like
something was missing. And I was really, sadly feeling like I was not living up to my full potential, that there were gifts and talents that I had, that I was not using, and was not able to use. And so I started to say, Okay, well what is going to let me use all my talents, and what am I going to do?
Yeah.
And I actually went to a career coach, and I told her, what I really want to do is, is write, which I'll talk about my books a little bit later.
Cool.
But she said, Well, you know, you're not going to make any money (laughs). So, you should, you should think about doing something else. And when we looked at everything else that I did and could do well, you know, we came up with coaching as a way for me to you know, a) make money and b) also it kind of really goes together with my writing.
Yeah.
So the two things work together. And I also am doing the speaking and so I feel like now I'm in a situation where I really am able to use my talents, I can use my writing skills I can use my creativity, I can use my coaching and mentoring skills, you know, I can can use a lot of the talents and skills that I've built up over my career now, but when I was still working, it was like, Okay, I'm taking these risks, because I am a little bit of a risk taker.
Right.
I wasn't really taking the risks that I needed to take to really live out my full potential and have that life of deep meaning so I did, I took the risks.
Amazing.
I left my corporate job, my boss at the time looked at me and he gave you know, there are not too many people that would walk away with on the kind of money you're making, to go off and like you're talking about doing.
Right!
But I think I don't know whether he thought I was crazy (laughs) or he admired me or maybe a little bit of
(laughs) Well, and I think it's, I mean, it's so both. amazing. And, you know, I clap for you to be able to have that acknowledgement of not feeling fully fulfilled or not, you know, living your, your truest truth and purpose to the umpteenth degree and being able to acknowledge that I think is is huge. But also, you know, being able to give yourself light the fire underneath you. Right.? And I think once you kind of lit that, it was like you just kind of the sky was the limit for you.
Absolutely. And it's not, you know, it's not always easy. And I chose transcendence as my brand. And that isn't always easy (laughs).
(laughs)
Because one of one of my big core philosophies has always been you know, to lead by example.
Yeah.
That was always my case. But you know, when you choose a brand like transcendence, which sounds like such a huge word, but it really just means rising above, right? So it means rising above the crap that means rising above the negativity means rising above the situations that you're in.
Yeah.
And being able to see the bigger picture and see where you need to take the risks and understand that the risks really aren't, hopefully aren't nearly as risky as you think they are.
Or as scary, right?
Yeah, exactly. They're not as scary as you think you are. And that's one of the beautiful things about coming, you know, from the place of, of transcendence is, you know, which is I look at, but it's, it's not an easy road to get there. But it is so worthwhile, and it changes everything.
And you kind of hit something too, like jumping into a brand new year. I mean, the past couple of years have just been so crazy for everybody. And there's, you know, ups and downs and in betweens, but being able to rise above, maybe all of that negativity that one might be holding or being in a place that they're unhappy, I think being able to take that. And I mean, that's why I'm so excited to have you on today to maybe share
how individuals can do that. And see what the year ahead of them now it's fresh, it's a blank slate. Where that can take them?
Well, I mean, the first thing is exactly what you said, is acknowledge where you are, and what the truth is. And you know, you don't have to judge it as good or bad. You can say, Okay, I'm not happy, I'm not satisfied in this. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just a signpost, right. It's just a guide to tell you, where you may need to take change, make changes in your life, where you are happy, and you want to keep going, what's
working and what's not. And I think going into a new year, it's always a great time to sit down and say what's working in my life and what's not working in my life? And if I had to change something, what is it that I really would want to change? And be honest about it. It doesn't mean I think a lot of people avoid looking at stuff like that, because they think well, if I acknowledge it, then I have to do something about it.
Yep.
And the reality is you don't.
Right.
Sometimes it's just acknowledging it saying, Okay, this is the way the situation is. And for whatever reason, I'm not, I can't change it or won't don't want to change it right this instant.
Yeah.
But at least I know what it is. And I can accept, okay, I'm choosing to stay in this situation, whatever it looks like. And even just that acknowledgement of how you feel and say, okay, for right now, I'm going to choose this - changes your whole attitude about things it can.
Right. I mean, for individuals out there to what would you like, that being the first step is acknowledging it and even acknowledging it can be scary, because you're right when somebody can acknowledge something that needs to change, or that isn't working, it can be scary, because maybe they don't know how.
Right.
Or maybe they don't know, you know, it's like you're in a dark room, and you can't find the doors, right? So what would you suggest to individuals? And how or how would you suggest individuals kind of take that step from there a little bit further?
Well, there's a cut, you know, there's obviously a few things you can do there. I mean, first is, sometimes you just need to be sit with it, and just let it be for a little bit.
Right.
And just settle and not frantically try to find the door out, right? Because you don't, you don't have to rush into because I want to send people see that, oh, my God, I feel uncomfortable, I feel pain, I've got to get out of it, I got to do something about it. They're frantically looking for that door. And that's not really getting them anywhere, either. So the first thing is probably just to sit with it for a little bit and just say, Okay, this is what it
is. I don't have to do something right this second let me just sit with it. The second thing is, is figure out, what's the best method for you to move forward? What's worked for you in the past? What? Maybe what hasn't worked for you in the past?
Right.
I mean, does it help for you to talk it out with a friend or a spouse? Or someone else in your circle that you trust? Is it something that you need to seek maybe even medical help or therapy help for depending on what the situation is? Or do you need someone objective to help you create a plan and move forward which is typically, you know, do you need to hire a coach or someone to work, you know, someone to work
with you on that? So I think it depends on what the circumstances and what the best way is, for you personally to move forward. And that's going to be different from different people.
Yeah.
I mean, for me, I've always found it helpful to hire a coach, because I just find that so useful in my life. And of course, you know, it's a little self promoting since I coach too (laughs).
Right? (laughs)
And I love to help people get out of those dark rooms. I mean, that's one of my passions, but that's not the only solution. You know, some people, you know, can read books and or watch videos, or, you know, do other things. But, but really, the first step is to become curious. Okay, now, where am I? What are my options? What's going to help me move
forward the most? And really, if you just become curious, and you start to explore all your options and your opportunities, usually you'll figure out at least a place to start. And it doesn't have to be the right, the perfect thing, right? And another thing, right, we feel like, I've (laughs)
Right (laughs). got to have all my ducks in a row, and I've got to have the perfect solution before I move forward. You don't you really don't you just need to say, Okay, this is where I'm gonna start. And you can always change direction, you know, very few decisions are permanent. Yeah.
Some of them are, but very few.
Right. Right. And it's also, you know, finding the comfort in the uncomfortable, right?
Absolutely.
And I feel like that can be really hard for people sometimes is be finding that, and then just sitting in it.
Yeah, yeah. And we don't like to be uncomfortable. And we tend to run away from that and push away from that. But, you know, often when we're uncomfortable is where the magic is. I mean, really, and that's one of the hard things for people to grasp.
I just got goosebumps (laughs).
Because that uncertainty, you know, it's funny, we're talking about this, because I'm actually working on putting together a five day challenge for the end of January, for people to it's called Empowered through
Uncertainty. And it's for people to get some of those tools, get some of those clarities to be more comfortable in uncertainty and be able to, at least lay the groundwork to be able to be more comfortable being uncomfortable, being more uncomfortable uncertainty, because we have so much uncertainty in today's
world. And, you know, one of the things that I have learned in my journey and come to love to be honest with you is I left a pretty secure, stable environment in my corporate environment and, you know, took off into this completely unknown world. And I had to get really comfortable with uncertainty.
Yeah.
And what I've learned is there's so much possibility and uncertainty that doesn't exist in that stable place. Right? The possibilities are in the uncertainty, the possibilities are in the unknown. And we think we're in control, we think we have all our ducks in a row. This pandemic has taught us anything (laughs) we don't have our ducks in a row.
No! (laughs)
And no matter how much we do things change, and they're going to change and we do live in an uncertain world. We don't like to admit it, but we do (laughs).
Yes, we definitely do. And I think, you know, just starting with that, and being able to accept and acknowledge that I think is that huge part of we don't live in a black and white world, right? It's there's always this ebb and flow and everything is constantly changing, where you finally will find that comfort and you're like, okay, but then something else happens. But if it doesn't continue to keep happening, then how do you keep growing?
Exactly. Right? So let's kind of talk to me about building risk taking muscles. I could use I could use some bigger muscles here. So... Well, there's there's so my five step process to building the muscles.
Yeah...
Okay. So the first one is to ask why, why do you want to take the risk, right? Huge! To understand what it is it's motivating for you.
Yeah.
Because honestly, your why to take the risk has to be bigger than your why not to, right? At the end of the day. So asking yourself why and getting really connected with and really clear about your motivation is the first step because that's what's gonna give you the impetus to move. The second step and there's no judgment in
Right. this is to evaluate do you have valid reasons for not taking the risk? Or are you making excuses? Ah, yes! (laughs)
Because so often we we rationalize these great excuses that we come up with, as real reasons.
Yeah.
Often, often, if you really pull it apart and you look at it, honestly, you want to go back to where we started. Look at it, honestly, if they're just excuses, they're not valid reasons. Now, there are valid reasons. So don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that there's not valid reasons.
Right.
But, you know, for instance, you know, I gave a talk not too long ago, and there was a pregnant woman sitting in the room. Well, there's certain risks that a pregnant woman's not gonna take, right?
Right.
She's pregnant, she's protecting a baby. You know, those are those are valid reasons. But some of the other reasons that we come up with are often just excuses.
Do you find or how, when speaking to clients or people about this, do you feel that some people can't get through that part of it - realizing the difference between an excuse and a valid...
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, a lot of a lot of us get really attached to our excuses.
Right.
Let's face it, we get those excuses. And we want to say, Well, no, this is a real reason. And that's why it's important to have someone in your life regarding you know, regardless of who that is, who can really kind of call you to the carpet.
Call you out for it, yeah.
So you know, let's pull that apart. Let's take these step by step and look at it and say, Is this really an excuse? A reason or is it an excuse? Or is it a reason that you can actually do something about, right? And then a lot of people say, Well, I can't quit my job, I don't have enough money. Well, money can be an excuse for millions of things, right?
Yeah.
We can use I don't have enough money. But even if you don't have enough money, now, you can plan for it. I mean, when I left my corporate job, it wasn't like I left, you know, overnight. Right (laughs). I planned for it and made sure that I was in a financial position to be able to do it before I pulled the trigger.
Yeah.
So sometimes it's a matter of planning. Okay, maybe right now, it's a valid excuse. But it's not a valid excuse forever.
Yeah.
You know, you can do something about it. So I think often getting somebody objective to talk to about it is a really, it's essential for some people to really discern the difference between excuses and reasons.
Yeah, and I hear that too. I mean, even you know, somebody outside of your family or somebody that is not, doesn't have something...
Invested interest.
Yes, yes, exactly! Thank you. You know, I think that that's so key for people out there right now is to find that outer person.
Yes. Yeah. Because often the people in your life, I mean, you can talk to your spouse, but okay, let's face it, your spouse has probably has a lot of vested interest in you not changing and you staying the same.
(laughs)
Or, you know, your parents or even your friends.
Yeah.
You know often people in your life are kind of too attached to either the way you are now or whatever. So it's really finding someone who isn't attached to the outcomes for their own sake, that is only, you know, looking at your best interest.
Wow. So true. So we've got asking why, and then evaluating.
Evaluating. Okay, so number three is probably the most important one. Now, I always tell people if you only remember one of these five steps, this is the one to remember. So it's to get present to the cost of NOT taking the risk. So what is it costing you to stay where you are? What are you giving up? What are you not getting? What are the things that the negative impact that it's really having on your life that you may not look at?
Yeah.
And again, sometimes people need help with that too, really pull that apart. But getting really present to, man if I don't do this, this is really what it's costing me. And often, you know, the people talk about using, you know, the eulogy exercise, right? That you write your own book, you're eulogy sometimes can help you see that or even just asking yourself to the question when I get to the end of my life, what am I going to feel about this decision right now?
Yeah.
You know, how important is it or not important? So but really understanding what it's costing you is something I think a lot People don't do.
Yeah. And when you say cost, it's not just monetary. It's like, it's really everything as a whole, right?
What's it costing your health? What's it costing your mental health, your emotional health, your spiritual health? You know, what's it? What is it costing you financially? What is it costing you from a self worth standpoint, from a state of well being? What is it costing you as far as opportunities are concerned? You know, what opportunities are you giving up? There's lots of costs that you can can look at.
Yeah, and it's even giving up but missing out on. Right?
Yes. Exactly. Right, yeah, I mean, you know, in business,
Right. And what is it? Like what else are you missing out on by not doing x,y & z? you talked about opportunity cost, and yeah. So, you know, if you choose one direction, you're giving up the front, different opportunities. So what opportunity? You know, it's kind of what opportunities are you giving up? Wow. It makes me start thinking a lot. My head is spinning already. And it's, you know, just kicking off. Getting present. I like the act of just getting present being in the now.
Yep.
Because I think as individuals, being able to, you know, ask that why even find the why behind it.
Yeah.
And then taking that time to evaluate. But in looking at, you know, as you evaluate, I feel like you'll find the pros and cons the positives and negatives, but then taking it a step further or peeling another layer of that onion off, right?
Exactly.
Get truer to your core truth.
Yep.
Is that this getting present part of it.
Yeah, exactly. So you know, the evaluating are the pros and cons people to your point, they even they often do the pros and cons of doing this, but not necessarily the pros and cons of staying where you are, particularly really looking at what it's costing you.
I love this a lot. I think it's what a great way to just kind of wake up the beginning of a brand new year and be like, Okay, it's a blank slate, right? (laughs)
It is. Every day is a blank slate.
Exactly. I think of it's not just every year to set goals that are every month or every week, you get a chance to do it every single day.
Every day you get to choose.
Ah, all right. What's next? (laughs) Yeah.
Okay, so number four, is an obvious one. But sometimes it's just the practice. Just practice, whether it's like for instance, if you want to take the risk of asking your boss for a raise, practice with someone else before you do And we often don't think about that, you it. If you want to take the risk of you know, becoming a public speaker, you practice before you do it. Figure out ways that you can practice you can try things on before you actually have to do it.
know, but of course, it's silly that we don't I mean, let's just, you know, my favorite example of my crazy risk taking is my story of being an aerobatic pilot.
Yes, yes. Tell me more.
But I, you know, I tell the story about the first time I took an airplane up by myself to do aerobatics. And it was really scary. And one of the even scarier things about it was that a friend of mine had died doing one of the new maneuvers that I was going to practice that day.
AH!
So, I mean, it was really scary. But I had practiced beforehand, right?
Yeah.
I had practice with someone else in the plane, the peep, you know, my instructors had said, you're ready to do this. It wasn't like, I just went out and did it one day, right? So yes, I was taking a crazy risk, but it wasn't like I hadn't prepared for it.
Yeah.
It wasn't I hadn't practiced. So I think that's one of the things that people overlook often, that taking a risk is usually a process. It's not an instantaneous thing. And you do have the opportunity to practice ahead of time.
Yeah. And now and I love that because I feel a lot of times people think of risks as it being a last minute decision. And that's a risk or, you know, deciding to do this or is a riskand I don't think people really do understand the process that goes into taking risks and being able to learn, and whether the the outcome of the risks are positives or negatives, there's always going
to be something in there. And I love that the practice is coming in, after getting present, really figuring it out, because, you know, you could say practice makes perfect, right? But what it's really allowing you to do is continue to practice, because maybe you'll find a shift in there too.
Absolutely. Because sometimes when you practice, you realize, well, maybe this isn't exactly the right thing, or the right way or the right, whatever. And you can tweak, you can adjust.
Yeah.
You can make changes again, you know, one of the things that people often get stuck on is, you know, they feel like decisions are permanent (laughs).
Mmm hmm, yeah.
Well, very few decisions are in and the practicing part of this is recognizing that, okay, this is this is not, this is not a permanent decision, I can change my mind, I can change direction, I can do things differently. And that's where the practice piece of it comes in. Because and this actually leads perfectly into step number five, which, which is to take one step, right? To do one thing towards it. Because sometimes that that first step is the hardest step.
Yeah.
But, you know, and I love this saying, and it's so true. When you take one step forward to living your purpose, living your life of meaning, fulfilling your potential, doing your heart's desire, the universe or Providence, or however you look at that is going to take 10 steps toward you, you just have to take that one. And then you'll be amazed at what opens up for you just by taking that one step. And then the next
step, and the next step. But take one step is the fifth and final tip, just one and see what opens up for you.
Ah, that to me, too it just came to me being able to take this up and trust trust yourself and the process because by you saying, taking that one step the universe or you know, higher power, what whatever you kind of gravitate towards comes 10 steps closer to you. I mean, that to me, again I have goosebumps, it just feels so real when you say it that way, and being able to take that want that first step and then see where it takes you.
Yep. And I've experienced that. I mean, I've experienced that. And then learning, you know, we talked about uncertainty earlier, but it's really learning to trust in the unknown is at the end of the day, we trust, trust that uncertainty, and that sounds crazy. You know, that sounds totally crazy to say trusting the unknown, but it really is what turns life into magic. And an adventure - yes. Into an adventure where it makes life and an expedition instead of just a daily grind. Right?
And, to me, that's, you know, that's where the wonder is. That's where the awe is. That's where the joy is. Yeah, I love that. And it's, you know, it's so fitting for launching into a brand new year, you know, I know, a lot of people will make New Year's resolutions and you hear by the end of January, the New Year's resolutions are out the window. They're not fun, people I feel can they get down on themselves about stuff like that. And for many years, I've started with
goals. I've started the new year, in a journal fresh journal, and I'll write goals or aspirations or things I want to manifest for the year. And looking at these steps and just listening to you I feel like it gives you a kind of like a clear setting, right, of being able to
set yourself up. And you know, no matter what kind of situation you're in, no matter what you're experiencing, whether you know you're miserable in the job that you're working in, or you're working in a toxic environment or, you know, things just you're not happy. It's being able to well, what does make you happy? You know, why are you feeling this way? Being able to look at it as a whole and, and kind of launched that forward is Is mad What you just had magical,
right? It is really setting you up to create magic and something that I've started seeing a really amazing trend in my journals every year - I want to say over the past four or five years, at the end of the year, come December, I go back to the beginning of my journal, and I look at that list. And being able to cross things off. Like I don't go back to it every day. But being able to cross things
off. And you know, looking at, also not just making resolutions or goals, but I love putting out there risks, like I feel people say the word risk, and there's a negative feeling to it. But it's what risks are you going to make this year? What are you going to what kind of magic? Are you going to make? How are you going to grow? Right? How are you going to grow? How are you going to expand? How are you going to be more of who you are? And express
yourself fully. I mean, that's another one of my, you know, passions, which kind of goes with risk taking, particularly with women, but you know, how are you going to bring more of yourself into the world? And, you know, there's one of the things that I really worked with on my clients is, you know, clarity, that's one of the three, the three core pieces is clarity, you have to know where you're going, or you're never going to get there. And you have to know what you really want.
And sometimes that's really hard for people sometimes even just saying what they want is a risk for people. So I mean, risks don't have to be these big huge things. You know, I talk about my aerobatic flying, but risks don't have to be that I mean, they don't. Risks can be as little as asking your boss for a raise or telling your husband you don't want to cook dinner every night or standing up to someone who's taking advantage of you.
Yes!
There's lots of things that are risks, that are just tiny, little things. But even just taking those tiny little risks can change a lot in your life.
I feel just saying, you know, looking at those tiny little risks, it comes to my mind of boundaries, setting boundaries, as well. And a lot of people have a tough
time setting boundaries. And then there's this snowball of unhappiness that comes with it, because they're not fully living their truest self, because they're not setting those boundaries, or they're not taking those minimal risks to the larger risks of you know, maybe it's the unhappiness of living where they're living or being who they're with or working where they're working. I mean, it can be as minimal, minuscule or as large. But as long as you take that first step.
Yeah.
It's like you're able to at least start that journey of being able to make that change. Right. I guess I could say that.
Yeah, make the change. And, you know, take your life in the direction that you want to take it in.
And I, you know, being able to talk about this and and share this with everybody. You know, I know that there's people that struggle out there that they're miserable, and they're not even sure what they want. And they're not even sure what they need. And, you know, that's just acknowledging that you are unhappy is even just the smallest piece or the smallest step that somebody could take. Right?
Absolutely. Acknowledging it is always the first step, because you've got to say, You got to look at things realistically, and see this is where I am now. And you don't necessarily have to judge it and say, Oh, I'm in a horrible situation, right? Because that doesn't necessarily make it make anything better.
Right. But you need to accept things where they are, accept what is and say, Okay, now I have a choice. I can stay where I am, or I can change it, or I can start to change, or I can do one thing to change it.
Yeah. You know, maybe I can say for 2023 One of the things I'm really unhappy about is working too many hours. So I'm going to say I'm going to stop working at six o'clock every night.
Set those boundaries! (laughs)
And to your point, especially for women.
Yes!
I think this is true for men too. But but sometimes setting boundaries is the biggest risk We can take.
Yeah.
Sometimes setting boundaries is the hardest thing that we can do because we have to put ourselves up sort of for rejection right? For somebody to say no.
Yeah.
For somebody that too, you know, people don't always take it. Well, when we set boundaries, yeah. And then sometimes that is actually the riskiest thing one of the riskiest things we can do, but it's so important. And so but boundaries lay the foundation to your point earlier boundaries laid the foundation.
Yeah.
Boundaries are how we teach other people how to treat us.
It's like honoring your own truth what's inside,
Right. And and if you want somebody to right? treat you differently, setting boundaries is, is kind of an important thing to do. And it's scary, and it can feel very risky. But it doesn't have to be and again, you know, it sort of goes back to the step. You know, ask yourself why. And understand excuses, and understand the cost. And practice, you can practice setting boundaries, practice with people that it's
easy, right? You don't have to start with the hardest person, you don't have to start with your boss or your spouse, or your best friend, you can start with a co-worker that you don't interact with very often you can start with, you know, a stranger on the street, depending on how you know what happens, you don't have to start with the hardest thing, you can start with an easier thing and practice, right? You practice setting boundaries with people that it's
not as as scary. And then you work up to practicing with your spouse or your boss or people that are more important.
Yeah. It just reminds me of, I want to share something quickly. Years ago, I always had trouble setting boundaries, and really having my own true core and standing up for myself but setting healthy boundaries. And I'll never forget, I was pregnant with my second daughter. And I was walking down the street. And I was eight months pregnant. So I had this beautiful belly walking
down the street. And out of nowhere, this person walked up to me, and came up and put her hand on my stomach and was like, Oh, you're you're gonna have a baby. And but and it was a physical boundary. You know, I'm a big hugger and lover and, but a total stranger. And for me, I kind of took my step back, and I put up my boundary. And that - it's weird to say this now, but I feel like that was my first time where it was this really weird, uncomfortable feeling.
But to be able to have my my boundary of my personal space, and to tell a stranger that I'm sorry, you're making me feel extremely uncomfortable. And, you know, she just kind of looked at me like, oh, and I was like so have a good day. And I kept walking. But and I know, it's there's so many different thoughts that can kind of go through that situation. But for me, that I feel was one of my truest beginnings of being able to stand up for myself and to start creating a boundary of
just my own personal space. And so, you know, coming into today, and boundaries are super hard for some people, it's easier for others, but I feel that, you know, if people can really start by setting those boundaries, that's it again, it's coming in and owning your own truth, your core.
Well, it's valuing yourself, I mean, it's really valuing yourself.
Yeah.
And a lot of people don't value themselves. And, you know, which is one of the things that I love about risk taking is because when people take risks, and they succeed, it really increases the way they value themselves (laughs).
Amazing.
You know, it's a vicious cycle, because you know, when you don't, you're often losing yourself worth. But when you do, even if it's just little ones, it's amazing how much that changes the way you even look at yourself. And that is, you know, and that's, again, where you can really start to see an immediate positive impact from taking risks. Mmm mmm. I love it. I feel like I could keep talking and talking
with you. But I want you to share with the audience too, about you know, your coaching practice your five day challenge that's coming down if there's anything else about any of your books that you've written that you'd like to share. Well, um, you know, I have a novel that's out right now that I wrote a few years ago called Ascending Ladders. And it is about a female IT executive who takes take some risks and a job, and how she navigates some pretty unhappy and uncomfortable
situations at the office. So it's sort of an example of the way things can work out. But it's kind of fun, and I'm working on the sequel to it. So you can check out next year, there's gonna be some fun book launches next year.
Yes!
And, you know, my coaching practice, I have a, I have group programs, and I have one on one clients.
Mmm hmm.
And so my next group program isn't going to start till March.
Okay.
But the challenge starting January 23, is sort of gonna lead that, you know, sort of set the stage for that, called Empowering through Uncertainty, so and they can people can check that out on LinkedIn, I'm gonna, it will be on my website. But it's also the easiest way to connect with me is on LinkedIn. So I'm just Karen Ann Bullock, Transcendent Leadership on LinkedIn. And I would love to connect with people. And you can learn all about the challenge
there. Awesome, Karen, I'm going to make sure we when we do post the podcast, we'll share all this information for the audience. And I know I'm going to be checking it out too, especially because it's January 23. The number 23 is a very important number to me.
Ooo, then then the next year is going to be a very important year for you (laughs). Woo Hoo!
Oh, I am so excited. I'm very excited! So, I'm definitely going to check that out. But I want to share it too with everybody. So I'll make sure to post that along with our podcast when we get it up the second week of January.
Okay. I will make sure you get all the links. Yay! Yeah. Karen, thank you so much for joining us today. I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to share with us you know what it takes to flex the risk taking muscles and you know, launch into a brand new year for everybody a brand new day come January 1 for everybody too, so thank you so so very much. Well, thank you so much for
having me, Tara. It's been a wonderful conversation and I have really enjoyed it and I hope it provides some value for people to get their years started on the right foot.
Me too. We are DefinedTalent, a DefinedLogic service coming to you at Top5. Make it a great day.