Enter into white space

As we enter Thanksgiving week, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of “white space”—those strategic pauses that give us time to recharge and think deeply, as Juliette Funt discusses in her book, A Minute to Think. Whether you're gearing up for family gatherings or managing work responsibilities, white space is essential for our strengths to flourish and helps bring clarity to our goals.

This week, I encourage you to carve out brief “strengths minutes” for yourself. Take a few moments to jot down insights on what energizes you and what drains you, noting any patterns. This practice can help you repeat high-energy activities while navigating challenges with renewed awareness, even partnering with others who balance out your strengths.

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day

In today's episode of Dominate Your Day, visionary leader and entrepreneur Leigh Burgess discusses her journey from the academic corporate world to becoming a consultant and author.

Leigh shares insights from her personal experiences, including overcoming burnout, transitioning from roles at Dartmouth and Duke, and finding new pathways by creating the 'BOLD' framework, an acronym for Believe, Own, Learn, Design.

She explains how the pandemic catalyzed her personal transformation, culminating in her leaving a demanding corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship with her daughter. Leigh also highlights the significance of continuous self-belief and reassessment of personal strengths in business.

Her new book, 'Be Bold Today,' encapsulates this journey, offering strategies for personal empowerment and success. Through the conversation, Leigh expresses the vital role of support networks and how aligning with one's strengths and values can foster both personal and professional growth.

Episode Minutes:

Minute 4: The BOLD Framework: Believe, Own, Learn, Design

Minute 14: Building and Sustaining a Business

Minute 18: Personal Reflections and Bold Moves

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.

When was the last time you were in a flow state?

As we enter this final stretch before Thanksgiving, I want to share some insights inspired by The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler. Kotler explores how to harness our biology to enter "flow"—that highly focused, energized state where we lose track of time. At this busy time of year, it’s a great opportunity to use our strengths to achieve flow more often. Think about strengths as your natural gateway to flow.

For example, if Learner is in your top strengths, you may find flow in skill acquisition. If Competition ranks high for you, you might feel in flow in high-stakes situations or by setting up small, daily challenges. This week, I encourage you to reflect on a recent flow experience: when was the last time you lost track of time, and what strength were you using? Identifying these moments can help you create intentional, strength-based pathways to flow every day.

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day

Today I am joined by Laura Frick, Director of Competitions at PGA of America,

We discuss her journey in the male-dominated golf industry, reflecting on her education at Ferris State University and various roles within the PGA.

Recognized as a 2020 Woman in Business honoree by the Dallas Business Journal, Laura highlights the importance of mentorship from influential figures, including her mother and mentors like Mike Damakis and Steve Tanner.

Our conversation covers the significant growth and changes in women's sports, particularly golf, citing increased participation and innovative formats like Topgolf. Laura shares her passion for working with junior golfers, creating memorable championship experiences, and the joy of witnessing young players' development. She offers leadership insights, emphasizing proactivity, team culture, work-life balance, and the necessity of taking breaks to recharge. Laura reflects on her strengths, the importance of mental and physical wellness, and the impact of strong leadership, providing valuable advice for aspiring leaders.

Episode Minutes:

Minute 3: Journey Into The Golf Industry

Minute 19: Leadership and Responsibility

Minute 24: Balancing Work and Self Care

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day

Have you heard of the “flywheel effect?”

The flywheel effect — introduced by Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great — emphasizes that success comes from consistent, focused efforts in one direction. By identifying and leveraging personal strengths, you can fuel your "personal flywheel" with sustainable energy.

For example, those with strengths like Achiever or Focus can use these talents to stay driven and aligned with goals. By embracing uniqueness to enhance productivity and impact, you can avoid settling for less than they can achieve as leaders!

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.

Trisha Cunningham, a seasoned nonprofit leader and former Fortune 500 executive is my guest today.

Trisha, now the CEO and President of North Texas Food Bank, shares her extensive career journey, which includes her impactful role at Texas Instruments. She discusses her transition from corporate to nonprofit, driven by a passion for community and mentorship.

Our conversation covers how Trisha's faith and inspirational mentors guided her path, the importance of community building, and strategic leadership insights. With highlights such as the core areas of wellbeing integrated into the food bank's mission, and her emphasis on being bold, open, and differentiated as a leader, Trisha's story is a powerful narrative of using one's skills for greater good.

Episode Minutes:

Minute 3: Impact of Mentorship and Community Development

Minute 13: North Texas Food Bank's Mission and Wellbeing

Minute 30: Leadership Advice and Personal Balance

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day

Aleya Harris is the spark for your spark™. A trailblazer in purpose-driven story crafting, she is a marketing executive and ex-Google Vendor Partner who brings her dynamic experience to her role as the CEO of The Evolution Collective Inc. Aleya is an international award-winning speaker, the founder and lead trainer of Spark the Stage ™, and the host of the award-winning Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast. She is also the bestselling author of Spark the Stage: Master the Art of Professional Speaking and Authentic Storytelling to Captivate, Inspire, and Transform Your Audience.

Aleya faced unexpected challenges, including a layoff and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aleya shares her transformative journey, including her struggles with postpartum depression, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and the importance of resilience and authenticity. She also provides actionable tips from her speaking course, emphasizing the power of storytelling, the importance of ego control, and the impact of being fully present on stage. Tune in to learn how Aleya harnessed her natural talents and overcame obstacles to inspire others through her words.

Episode Minutes:

Minute 2: Aleya's Career Journey

Minute 8: Developing a Public Speaking Career

Minute 22: Overcoming Personal and Financial Challenges

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Journal your way to a life with purpose The Strengths Journal™ is the only Gallup-certified, daily planner that guides you to live in your strengths every day.

What does it mean to be the CEO of you?

Building your personal strengths brand is key to unlocking your full potential and creating lasting impact. Drawing inspiration from Jim Rohn’s advice to "work harder on yourself than you do on your job," it's time to focus on self-improvement, leveraging your strengths to drive personal and professional growth.

To find out more about my work, please visit Dana Williams Consulting. LinkedIn. Instagram.

Email: hello@danawilliamsco.com

Looking for a way to plan your day based on your unique strengths? Get your copy of The Strengths Journal™ — the only Gallup-certified, purpose-driven daily planner and companion guide to CliftonStrengths®.