Lead Like A Queen Coaching and Consulting, LLC

Category: podcast

  • Slow Simmer for Summer

    Slow Simmer for Summer

    What if slow was a superpower instead of a weakness? In our current fast-paced world, slow is seen as never good enough. But can you think of times when slowly planning and progressing has been best to make you and what’s important to you better in the long run? Read this article and use the journal prompts to help you plan your summer. – Coach Donna Marie

    MY SLOW SIMMER SUMMER 

    I am using this summer to slowly simmer all of my creative juices. If you’re a cook or a foodie, you know that only good things come from slowly simmering your food. All the flavors in the dish seep all the way through every bite when you let it just cook down on the lowest setting and slowly. This is what I’m doing to myself and my creativity for this summer. The goal is that when I’m ready to launch season 5 of the Plant Your Seeds of Transformation podcast in the late summer or early fall, every single interaction or piece of content will be absolutely delicious for my audience and clients. 

    WHAT ARE YOUR SUMMER PLANS? 

    Summertime can be a great time for families to focus more on family time without the normal daily distractions or weekly interruptions created by the school year. For many workers and business owners, summertime can offer more opportunities to get away for a retreat where you can rest, reflect, and be refreshed. 

    Journal Prompts to Help You Plan Your Summer

    What is your most important summer goal, and what will you put on your calendar and in your budget for it? Pick one or more of the following journal prompts to start planning your own slow summer with something that is realistic and attainable for you at this time of year. 

    • Rest: Schedule dedicated downtime for relaxation and self-care. 
      • Date and Time ________ Budget $______ 
    • Reflect: Set aside time to ponder your experiences and insights. 
      • Date and Time ________ Budget $______ 
    • Refresh & Renew: Plan activities that rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. 
      • Date and Time ________ Budget $______ 

    MY SUMMER PRIORITIES 

    I will share mine with you. I need more rest because my now more mature body (including my brain) is going through a major transition and experiencing things I have never experienced before. So, I am making more rest my top priority. This includes getting more help from a sleep doctor so I can sleep better. Unfortunately, a hefty co-pay is attached to this, but I am worth the time and the money needed to make my sleep better. 

    As I rest more, I am also reflecting more. I am learning more about myself than I ever have before. I agree with what my wise father used to say: as I get older, I realize just how much I do not know. I am grateful to have behavioral health support which is helping me become more compassionate and gentler with myself during this self-discovery process. I am also grateful that I have the time and resources needed to stay consistent with managing my mental wellness. 

    As I get more rest and reflect more, I am definitely being refreshed and renewed. My commitment to loving myself and taking better care of myself is definitely paying off, over time. There are no instant results here, but I have peace and joy in this journey. I am truly grateful and willing to be patient with my process. 

    PROTECT YOUR SUMMER PLANS 

    If you’re committing to do similar things for yourself during your summer, I hope that you are setting good boundaries around your plans so that you don’t allow anyone (or anything) to disrupt these plans. This is something that was hard for me in the past, but I am becoming better at setting and keeping my boundaries so that I can take better care of myself. If this is an ongoing struggle for you, you deserve support so you can learn and improve your boundary management. Listen to one of my podcast episodes where I discuss the topic of boundary-setting and let me know what information you found to be most helpful. 

    • Who Helps the Caregivers: God and Good Boundaries – article link 
    • Relationship Between Trauma Recovery and Good Boundaries – article link 
    • What Can Black Women Do To Listen To Their Hearts, Set Boundaries, and Get Unstuck – article link 

    Your summer has potential for immense power because there is power in planning and setting up sturdy boundaries that can support you for the rest of the year. Even when progress seems gradual, remember that each small step toward better self-care is a victory. During this warmer and brighter season, reflect on your journey. What specific small shifts can you make? What moments of rest, reflection, and renewal will you intentionally weave into your days (and your budget)? Put it on your calendar, and save money for it as part of your boundary management.

    Share Your Insights: I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and let me know how this article has resonated with you. Maybe you will make your own summer plan to nourish your spirit, fuel your growth, and bring joy to your days.

    As you think about this and prepare to plan, please remember that progress can be slow over time. It doesn’t have to be instant or fast. It is most important that whatever you do is intentional. Here’s to a summer of taking small purposeful steps! 

  • UPDATED: Content to Support Remote Workers

    UPDATED: Content to Support Remote Workers

    LeadLikeAQueen.com/support-remote-workers

    UPDATE: The link for the free download has been updated, scroll down, see the menu bar area, or click here.

    I am Coach Donna Marie. I am a remote worker who opted-in for a more flexible schedule and the ability to make a legitimate income from the same home office where I spent years working on my masters degree during the pandemic. After graduating with a Masters of Art in Executive Leadership, I was interviewing for positions for a few months when I found out about remote work that seemed to be a good opportunity for me.

    ABOUT THE PODCAST AND UPCOMING EPISODES

    Did you know that I am the host of the Plant Your Seeds of Transformation podcast? In previous seasons, we covered topics targeted towards women leaders who are recovering from trauma and crisis. These ranged from recognizing toxic perfectionism, to getting rid of money mistake shame, to managing grief during the holidays. During our upcoming 5th season, we’ll have more episodes just for remote workers (potentially in late summer or early fall of 2024). To listen to the Plant Your Seeds of Transformation podcast, go to PlantYourSeeds.show or search for it most podcast platforms.

    Grief Series: Get Practical Tips to Help Navigate Trauma or Crisis

    REMOTE WORKERS DESERVE MORE SUPPORT

    I am committing to providing content just for remote workers in this upcoming season because I am well aware they don’t always get as much support as their in-office counterparts. But remote workers work just as hard, if not harder, and deserve to be well supported, too. One thing that I am making available to help remote workers is a free download with business tips. You can see the link in the menu for this blog or use the link below.

    FREE DOWNLOAD – BUSINESS TIPS FOR REMOTE WORKERS, CLICK HERE.

    WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT REMOTE WORK?

    As I plan for this upcoming season, I would love to have input from you on questions you would like for me to address about remote work. For instance, are you curious which remote work platforms are available that are legitimate, legal opportunities? Do you want to know if it is a business (i.e., 1099-NEC tax form) or if it is a real job (i.e., w-2 tax form)? (If you want to email me, use my contact page – click here.)

    I know for sure there are specific questions that I asked before I got started in my remote work. I’ll be publishing additional content about this (e.g. types of questions to ask before starting remote work) on my medium blog soon. If you follow me on Medium and join my newsletter there, then you’ll receive updates when new articles are posted. I posted a list of past articles about remote work below, also.

    This blog, the podcast, and the medium blog are all produced by Lead Like A Queen Coaching and Consulting, LLC.

    Why do you use Medium? “I love Medium. I started reading the articles there because they have a very diverse mix of writers and topics. The topics can range from financial and business tips to cold case stories and beyond. I am a naturally curious person, so my Medium reading list continues to grow so that I’ll remember to go back and read articles over time.

    I also started using their audio feature so I could keep reading hands-free. And then I started becoming friends with other Medium writers, many of whom are remote workers or digital nomads.

    I am a member on Medium because the ad-free reading experience is truly excellent, as compared to other blog or news websites where I have to dodge ads from the start to the finish of the article.

    If you’d like to join Medium, use my profile link (click here) to check it out.”

    ~ Donna Marie Johnson

    PREVIOUS ARTICLES ABOUT REMOTE WORK

    My medium blog already has some content about remote work. Here’s a hyperlinked list of some of those articles, which you’ll be able to read (or listen to) without any advertisements if you have a medium membership. The first article I posted below is available to you for free, my friend.:

    Even though this is cute, it’s just his work break, I hope. Being able to focus while working from home is crucial. Would you like some tips to help you focus better when working from home?

    LOOKING FOR COACHING OR MENTORING WHILE PURSUING REMOTE WORK?

    The podcast and the articles I am writing all provide some level of help for you as you pursue remote work, and as you navigate trauma or crisis as a leader. And do you also need or want additional support, such as mentorship or coaching to help you achieve your goals for your remote work? If so, use the links below to check out my current programs:

  • [UPDATE] Value of Vulnerability in Leadership

    [UPDATE] Value of Vulnerability in Leadership

    UPDATE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, this topic is now more relevant than ever, as you can see in news reports and social media posts by very lonely professionals all over the world who have been isolated for months. In addition to YouTube and Apple Podcasts, you can now find this episode on other platforms, including Spotify and Anchor. There’s also a new podcast cover to help illustrate the power of purposely cultivating your own growth and transformation.

    How do you like the new podcast name and cover art for the renamed podcast “Plant Your Seeds of Transformation”?

    [ORIGINAL ARTICLE]

    As I write this, I realize that the topic of “vulnerability” has been hot for several years because of the popularity of a researcher and author who has been featured on the TED Talks video series and on Oprah’s OWN network (i.e., Super Soul Sunday). Her name is Brene Brown, and she has influenced me, but this is not the reason for this blog article.

    In the summer of 2018, I started a series entitled “Loneliness and Leadership” on my previous blog and podcast. To see the video about this topic, visit my youtube channel for Lead Like A Queen at this link (click here) or watch it below:

    Here is a summary of the main points from what I addressed in this video:

    #1 Admitting loneliness is difficult due to its social stigma* and due to unwillingness to be vulnerable. (See research resource listed below.)

    #2 Failing to admit you need help dealing with loneliness keeps you in bondage to it.

    #3 Failing to get free from the impacts of loneliness within you affects how you act and react at home and at work. It may cause you to lead in unhealthy ways.

    #4 Failing to admit your need for help prevents you from seeking help which empowers you to plant seeds for your own transformation.

    “Personal and professional transformation, just like gardening, takes time, but it can’t even start until you start seeking help as your way of planting the seeds for your own change.”

    ~ Donna Marie Johnson @leadlikeaqueen

    *Resource: Rokach, A. (2013). Loneliness updated: Recent research on loneliness and how it affects our lives. Oxon [England]: Routledge.

    Note: This is an older video, so the offer included in the video is no longer available. To get updates about current offers, join the email newsletter community for Lead Like A Queen (click here).