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Have you ever found yourself breaking your neck to be in spaces where you simply don't fit? That's the powerful question at the heart of this spontaneous yet profound conversation with communication coach Denise Thomas.

What began as a casual catch-up call transformed into a masterclass on recognizing your gifts, embracing divine timing, and understanding the crucial difference between fitting and forcing. Denise shares her journey as "a little Black girl growing up in a small Midwestern rural town" with extraordinary communication abilities, and how her mother's unwavering support helped her embrace rather than suppress her natural talents.

The wisdom flows effortlessly as Denise unpacks how our environment—defined as "the people, places, and things that have access to you"—shapes our gifts and purpose. She challenges listeners to move beyond merely being "products of their environment" to consciously deciding who deserves access to their energy and space.

Perhaps most striking is the conversation around networking and authentic connection. "Am I going into this room to chase or to attract?" Denise asks, offering a transformative perspective on how we approach relationships and opportunities. Rather than arriving with predetermined scripts and targets, she advocates for showing up authentically and trusting that you'll connect exactly with who you're meant to.

Faith emerges as the foundation for this trust-based approach to life. As Denise puts it, faith provides "the strength to move forward, even when the path isn't fully visible." This perspective allows you to replace "why me?" with "use me," shifting from questioning to purposeful action.

Listen in as these two friends share genuine insights that will help you strip away societal expectations, embrace your gifts, and find the spaces where your presence is truly valued without explanation. And stay tuned—there's already a Part Two in the works!

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect

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I'd love to hear what you think!

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What happens when leaders drive without a license? When we race through leadership responsibilities at 180 miles per hour without first understanding ourselves, we miss critical details and create unnecessary risks—for ourselves and those we lead.

In this powerful exploration of mindful leadership, we unpack the fundamental difference between leading from performance versus purpose. For generations, we've been taught to focus on achievement, external validation, and technical expertise. We've become masters at interpersonal relationships while neglecting the crucial intrapersonal relationship with ourselves and our deeper purpose.

The conversation reveals a troubling reality: most organizational ecosystems are governed by wounded, unrealized individuals leading from places of unresolved trauma. Even successful executives struggle to answer simple questions like "Why are you here?" and "What do you want?" without resorting to rehearsed, performative answers. Professional trauma from microaggressions, discrimination, and demoralizing experiences becomes the playbook from which many determine their worth and ultimately lead others.

But there's a profound alternative. Mindful leadership begins with creating space for stillness—just five minutes daily to be quiet enough to hear yourself. This small practice initiates transformation that ripples outward, affecting every relationship and organization you touch. The most powerful question you can ask is simply: "What am I resisting?" This often reveals where your destiny clashes with your current paradigm.

The journey toward conscious leadership isn't about dismantling everything you've learned but rather integrating it while ensuring external validation doesn't drive your decisions. When we recognize our inherent value beyond our achievements, we create space for others to do the same—cultivating environments where excellence, authenticity, and grace coexist.

Take the first step today. Set a timer for five minutes of stillness. Your authentic self is waiting to be heard, and the world needs leaders who lead from within.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect

Follow me on Facebook at: Proven Not Perfect™️

Watch and listen on YouTube: Proven Not Perfect™️

Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Send us a text

What if the secret to navigating life's obstacles isn't finding the perfect map, but developing a mindset that always sees options? Janet's remarkable journey from unemployed 24-year-old to successful business founder and philanthropist offers powerful insights on leadership evolution that will transform how you approach challenges.

Janet didn't set out with a grand strategic vision when founding BevSource. She simply needed a job after being laid off from a brewery. This necessity-driven beginning evolved into a thriving business that would eventually attract private equity investment. Along the way, she transformed from someone "super driven, somewhat selfish" into a leader described as patient, empathetic, and focused on serving others.

The cornerstone of Janet's success? A mindset that consistently sees paths forward when others see only walls. "My mom always said you always have an option," she explains. This foundation became her leadership superpower—being what she calls an "unstucker," someone who helps people navigate life's maze by showing them strengths they haven't yet recognized in themselves.

During our conversation, Janet shares the profound advice that changed her approach to business challenges: "You can turn a company around in 90 days or kill it in 90 days. Make a decision." She reveals how a leader's energy dramatically influences an entire organization, why self-care isn't selfish but essential for effective leadership, and how her definition of success evolved from financial wealth to witnessing others thrive.

Whether you're starting a new venture, facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, or wondering what your next chapter holds, Janet's story offers a masterclass in viewing difficulties not as burdens but as opportunities to develop skills you'll need later. Her journey reminds us that true success comes not from accumulating wealth, but from helping others discover their own potential while navigating life with curiosity, resilience, and an unwavering belief that options always exist—even when we can't immediately see them.

Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com

Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect

Follow me on Facebook at: Proven Not Perfect™️

Watch and listen on YouTube: Proven Not Perfect™️

Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.

I'd love to hear what you think!