Episode 197: Embracing The Edge: Overcoming Vulnerability & Rejection (Episode 197)

Prepare to dive deep in this heart-to-heart episode of The Spitfire Podcast, where our fearless host Lauren LeMunyan gets real about the nitty-gritty of vulnerability and rejection. In a candid recount of a recent coach meet and greet event, Lauren peels back the layers of her own vulnerability. Imagine standing in a room filled with top-tier coaches, their resumes shining brighter than the chandelier overhead. That's where Lauren found herself, grappling with a wave of inadequacy.

But this isn't just about feeling out of place. Oh no. Lauren takes us through the emotional labyrinth of her breakout room experiences – from the initial stumble to her triumphant stride back to confidence. It's a story of resilience, a tale of embracing your authentic self, and a journey of finding your footing when the ground feels like it's slipping away.

As Lauren unpacks her experience, she dishes out some potent insights on resilience. How do you stand tall when rejection tries to knock you down? How do you turn vulnerability from a weakness into your superpower? Lauren doesn't just tell us; she shows us, making this episode a must-listen for anyone ready to confront their fears and transform them into stepping stones.

So, buckle up, Spitfires! This episode is more than just a story; it's a toolkit for anyone ready to face their vulnerabilities head-on and come out stronger. And remember, staying curious and striving toward your goals isn't just advice; it's a way of life. Let Lauren be your guide on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

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About Us: The Spitfire Podcast, hosted by Lauren LeMunyan, is more than just a podcast. It's a movement. With a focus on leadership, innovation, and personal growth, Lauren brings her sass, wisdom, and experience as a top-notch coach to ignite the Spitfire in all of us. Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned pro, this podcast is your go-to resource for turning challenges into triumphs and embracing the Spitfire spirit. Join us, and let's set the world ablaze with purpose and passion!

Episode 158: How to Shift out of a Hunger Games Mindset in Small Business with Andrea Lyons

Andrea Lyon’s company, All About Presentation, didn’t just survive the pandemic, it flourished! With a dominantly in-person business, Andrea and her team needed to shift, pivot, and do whatever they needed to keep the lights on.

Now two years later, she is in a place to zoom out and see what might be holding her back in getting to the next level of her business.

What happens when we're in survival for so long?

How do we get addicted to stress?

And how do we break that addiction to get to where we want to go next?

Andrea Lyons of All About Presentation joins us for an honest discussion about the mindset that not only allowed her company to survive the pandemic but thrive and grow. Now looking forward, Andrea explores what it's going to take to shift her company and her team to the next level.

About Andrea Lyons

Andréa Lyons is the CEO and Executive Producer at All About Presentation, an international woman and minority-owned live and virtual event strategy and management company. Since 2007, All About Presentation has produced over 1500 events, designed the event experience for over 350,000 event attendees, and managed over 75 million dollars of event spend for clients that represent a variety of industries from banking to government and criss-cross the globe from Rhode Island to South Korea. Andréa leverages her understanding of brands, and the consumers of those brands, to design live meetings and online virtual events that support a brand and its image.

Andréa received a bachelor's degree at Central Michigan University, executive education at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and the University of Richmond, a certificate in event planning from the University of Virginia, and is currently completing a certificate in Film and Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. It’s no surprise that Andréa has mastered the art of understanding how to create events that stir emotion and guide attendees to positive change.

Her favorite hobbies are fine dining and making money. She is forever a sorority girl, life-long student, aviation enthusiast, and wannabe Chopped champion.

Andréa has been featured in Wall Street Journal publications, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Richmond Times-Dispatch, SheKnows.com, and a host of other websites and blogs.

One of the coolest days she’s ever had is when she got a notification that Barack Obama started following her on Twitter.

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Episode 149: The Magical Joy of Poo

Today we are talking about a very serious topic, one that happens to all of us. That's right, today we are talking about poop.

We're talking about poop because poo happens to everyone in life. And when we can acknowledge it, it allows us to have a less stressed environment and day and it allows us to handle conflict and high friction situations.

Now, poo at its form at the purest form is a waste product. It's a waste byproduct. It's the things that don't work for us, that compound in our intestines and our colon.

I don't need to give you the biology lesson, but I want to use it more as a metaphor because it can help you offload that stress in dealing with things that don't go away and when dealing with uncertainty and to give you a little more joy and levity.

I shared this with my client and I think I might have mentioned this in past episodes. My client was bound very tightly and he used to get very set off in traffic situations. If someone didn't use a turn signal, if someone cut him off, if someone was driving too slow in the left lane, he would be so frustrated.

I said to him, “Well, I want you to imagine that the other person has to poop really bad, really bad. And that is the reason why they're driving so erratically.”

He stopped in his tracks and started laughing. The mere thought of someone having to rush to the bathroom was more than he could deal with.

In this instance we created a shared human experience. So whether or not the story is true doesn't really matter; what mattered was his energy was preserved.

You don't have to get into the other person's story to make up your own one that works for you. Imagine the other person doing the behavior you don't deem appropriate or creating conflict and inconvenience and add a poop element.

If someone is doing being inconsiderate and they cut in front of someone in the grocery store line, imagine saying to yourself (don't do this out loud)
Wow, that person really has to poop. And that's why you need to go in front of me.”

This allows you to not take it personally.

It allows you to have a little fun with it. Now, imagine that you've had a not so great encounter. This is the next evolution of thinking someone has to poop.

I want you to imagine that you are a monkey in the wild and someone has really irked you. I want you to imagine that you are the monkey, and you are throwing your poo at the other person.

What does that feel like?

Now don't actually throw poop because you can get into a lot of trouble, and it's really gross. But the visual of you just like I'm gonna throw my poo at you, it's funny, right?

I mean, poo is just one of these things that it's fun to say. It makes your face contort, and it's really funny. And it allows you to feel like your animalistic self.

You're defending yourself with the only thing you know how to do: grabbing your poo and shoving it in their face or throwing it at them. You know, you got to do what works. Otherwise, you can be in your own shit.

You are literally creating your own shit by not having a way to offload this frustration, this friction. So the way to offload that emotional byproduct is to actually have a process and a system to use it.

Where are you going to put it? Do you want to put it over there? Cool. Do you want to flush it down? Awesome. You want to throw it at somebody? That's up to you.

So poo is your friend. We can love poo. Oh poo, I love Pooh bear. Oh, wait, is Pooh bear Winnie the Pooh? Is he really about poop? Oh no. It just totally blew my mind.

Anyway, I want you to think about where you can add in these little comedic reminders as you're dealing with high-stress or frustrating situations where you typically lose your cool or feel annoyed at everyday life.

Where can you incorporate little Pooh sayings? It's like little turds. Oh my god, I can't believe I'm talking about this on a podcast. But this is great.

So, where can you drop some potty wisdom and comedy to lighten your day? So someone is bugging you? Where can you incorporate a little poo reference?

See how that goes. I swear I know that sounds ridiculous. But I promise you it works. I've heard from multiple clients actually just talked about it on a client session about stepping in poo being filled with poo. Being backed up with poo, smearing it, and throwing it wrong like inner five roads.

You ever noticed that kids like you know when you're toddlers, you realize the power of poo and like they wipe it on the walls? There is power, so use it. I mean, don't actually use it. Use the figurative poo. Be like Winnie the Pooh and share the joy of poo.

I hope this was helpful, if not a little ridiculous, and maybe it made you giggle a little bit.