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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier (MH), a leadership psychologist, executive coach, and workplace mental health expert. Dr. Peltier discusses the importance of taking strategic pauses in life and leadership, sharing her own experience of pressing pause during the lead-up to her book launch, The Resilience Plan. She emphasizes how proactively managing her time before, during, and after the book's publication allowed her to be fully present and creative during key moments, something she attributes to the success of her launch.

Dr. Pelletier explains that pressing pause doesn’t always mean a complete stop, but rather adjusting the usual pace to focus on what matters most. She also highlights the importance of integrating pauses into one’s strategic planning for resilience, ensuring leaders have the mental space and energy to seize new opportunities.

Ellen and Dr. Pelletier discuss how taking breaks enables better performance and creativity, offering advice to CEOs and leaders to plan for pauses as part of their leadership strategies. The conversation concludes with the reminder that leaders should be intentional about their resilience, just as they are about other business goals.

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In this episode of Time To Press Pause, Brynn Gibbs shares her experiences as a CEO and the pivotal moments when she realized she needed to "press pause" to improve her leadership and company culture. About three years ago, she recognized that her controlling nature was hindering the growth of her company, Consumer Fusion. To address this, she implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), which helped her delegate responsibilities, empower her team, and foster a healthier work-life balance. The EOS tools, particularly the People Analyzer, allowed her to align her team with the company's core values and restructure roles for better efficiency and satisfaction.

Brynn also discussed the importance of understanding and maintaining the "why" behind her business, which stems from her personal experience with cyberbullying in high school. This passion for reputation management continues to drive her work today.

Brynn shared a second "press pause" moment related to her tendency to compare herself to other successful companies, which caused her stress and detracted from her enjoyment of work. Her business coach introduced her to the book *The Gap and The Gain* by Dan Sullivan, which helped her shift her mindset to focus on celebrating her own progress rather than comparing herself to others. This change in perspective allowed her to better appreciate her achievements and set a healthier long-term vision for her life and business.

Overall, Brynn’s advice to CEOs is to recognize when it's time to pause and reassess, avoid unhealthy comparisons, and focus on empowering their teams for sustainable growth.

To learn more about Brynn Gibbs, go to www.consumerfusion.com. To learn more about Ellen Williams, go to www.thesalientstrategist.com.

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In this episode of *Time to Press Pause*, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Julie Christiansen, known as the "Anger Lady," who is the president and CEO of Leverage U and author of 15 books on leadership and mental health. Julie shares her personal story of burnout and pressing pause after her father suffered two strokes, and she experienced a severe bout of vertigo due to stress.

She discusses the importance of recognizing the signs of burnout, grounding oneself, and practicing intentional self-care strategies. Julie emphasizes the value of delegating tasks with purpose, building resilience, and balancing work with personal well-being. She also offers practical advice on identifying when to pause, using methods like the "fun and money" exercise to evaluate which tasks to prioritize, and checking in daily on emotional well-being.

Julie’s experiences serve as a reminder for CEOs and entrepreneurs to prioritize mental health and avoid pushing through stress at the expense of long-term well-being.

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In this episode of "Time to Press Pause," host Ellen Williams speaks with Melinda F. Emerson, CEO of Quintessence Group and America's #1 Small Business Expert, also known as the "Small Biz Lady." Melinda shares her personal "pause" story, recounting how a high-risk pregnancy in 2005 forced her to step away from her workaholic tendencies and rethink her life and business. She reflects on how this unexpected break led to soul-searching and a realization that her business and marriage were broken. Through this period of rest and reflection, Melinda began a journey of reinvention, ultimately creating a new path as the "Small Biz Lady."

Melinda explains how she used her business experiences, especially her mistakes, to write her bestselling book, *Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months*. Despite facing setbacks, such as the 2008 financial crash, she embraced faith, which guided her toward success. Melinda also emphasizes the power of reinvention, advising CEOs to take time to pause and reflect on what they truly love, as it can lead to new and unexpected business opportunities.

Throughout the podcast, Melinda speaks candidly about the challenges of entrepreneurship, faith, and finding balance, highlighting the importance of using one's experiences to inspire and guide others.

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In this episode of the "Time to Press Pause" podcast, host Ellen Williams speaks with Dr. Neha Sangwan, CEO and founder of Intuitive Intelligence, about her experiences with burnout, stress management, and the importance of pausing in life. Neha shares her journey as an overachiever who pushed herself to please others, ultimately leading to severe burnout. She discusses the pivotal moments in her life that forced her to pause and reevaluate her approach to work and well-being. Neha emphasizes the importance of aligning with one's inner self and respecting natural cycles of rest and growth. She also highlights the significance of addressing stress at its root, particularly in high-pressure environments like healthcare. The conversation explores how CEOs and leaders can balance their drive to achieve with the need to maintain their own well-being, and how past experiences, even difficult ones, can contribute to personal growth.

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In this episode of "Time to Press Pause," hosted by Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, Ellen interviews Susie deVille, founder and CEO of the Innovation and Creativity Institute and author of "Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free." Susie shares her personal story of hitting rock bottom during the 2008 financial crisis, which led her to reassess her approach to life and entrepreneurship. She describes how she had been caught up in a cycle of overwork and misplaced self-worth, which ultimately led to a period she refers to as her "nuclear winter."

To recover, Susie took a step back, slowed down, and began reconnecting with her innate creativity. She discusses the transformative power of creativity in not only helping her rebuild her life but also in guiding others to unlock their full potential. Susie emphasizes the importance of pressing pause, recognizing when life is out of alignment, and engaging in activities that inspire and bring joy. She introduces her process, "the five M's," which includes practices like making art, which helped her access new ideas and clarity.

The conversation highlights the significance of taking time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with oneself, especially for entrepreneurs and CEOs who often tie their self-worth to productivity and success. Susie encourages leaders to recognize the signs that it's time to pause and embrace creativity as a pathway to both personal fulfillment and professional success.

To learn more about Suzie, go to innovationandcreativityinstitute.com. You can also purchase her book, BUOYANT, and watch the BUOYANT trailer.

To learn more about Ellen Williams, go to thesalientstrategist.com.

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In this episode of "Time to Press Pause," hosted by Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, Ellen speaks with Carol Will, owner of Coach Carol and Beacon of Light Center LLC. Carol shares her journey as a woman business owner and mother, emphasizing the importance of pausing and self-care, especially when life becomes overwhelming.

Carol discusses how 2024 has been a pivotal year for her, marked by her decision to take a significant pause from her business after a challenging 2023. She recounts how a series of personal and professional challenges, including her father's fall, a new relationship, and the demands of running her business, led her to realize the necessity of taking a break. Carol describes how she reached a breaking point in January 2024, deciding to pause her work to focus on rest, personal growth, and realigning her priorities.

Throughout the conversation, Carol and Ellen explore the idea of intentional pauses, the challenges of work-life balance, and the importance of being in tune with one's needs. Carol advocates for regular pauses—daily, weekly, and annually—to maintain well-being and prevent burnout. She concludes by encouraging CEOs to listen to their bodies and take time to rest and rejuvenate, ensuring they can return to their work as better versions of themselves.

To learn more about Carol, go to eps-time.com to learn more about me, go to thesalientstrategist.com. And be sure to join us again wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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This episode features a conversation between Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, and Jeremy Goldman, former founder and CEO of Firebrand Group and current Senior Director of Marketing, Commerce, and Tech Briefings at eMarketer. Jeremy shares his experience running Firebrand Group, an award-winning digital marketing firm, and his eventual decision to "press pause" on his entrepreneurial career. He explains the challenges of scaling a business based on custom projects and how this realization led him to sell his company and move into a role where he could learn and grow within an established organization.

Jeremy discusses the difficulties of convincing others that he genuinely wanted to step back from leadership and learn from others, as many expected him to start something new immediately. He reflects on the importance of humility and continuous learning, even for CEOs, and how these traits can sometimes be misunderstood in the business world. Jeremy also highlights the significance of taking deliberate breaks or "pressing pause" to make thoughtful decisions about one's career and business, rather than getting caught up in day-to-day operations.

Ellen and Jeremy also touch on the cultural differences in how humility and leadership are perceived in various markets and organizations. The conversation concludes with advice for CEOs on recognizing when it's time to take a step back and focus on making strategic decisions.