Shows
She's Not Done YetDiana BaderIn this episode of She's Not Done Yet: Conversations with women over 50, I (Becky Berry) talk with mypodcast co-host and dear friend Diana Bader. Diana and I met in July 2015 and started our podcast, Uniquely Brilliant (still available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc) in November of that year. To say we hit it off immediately would be an egregious understatement. When we went on hiatus in 2022 because of Diana's health, we had published 161 episodes, including many episodes during the pandemic. In this episode, we talk about our friendship, Diana's move from Georgia back...2023-07-1235 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastFirst and EqualOn this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Diana Bader and Becky Berry discuss putting ourselves first and equal to the needs of others. When we forget to treat our needs as equal to the needs of others in our lives, we become stressed and frustrated. We prioritize their needs over our own and shortchange things like rest and relaxation. We also neglect enforcing our boundaries which puts on the highway to exhaustion. Becky and Diana discuss the tricky areas of honoring our time and our money. Diana reminds us that mon...2022-05-0331 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastMarch SlumpOn today’s episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Diana Bader and Becky Berry discuss the March Slump. Diana begins this episode by reminding us that two years ago at this time the whole world was shut down because of COVID, and our feeling that we’re in a slump could be a trauma response. The pandemic and the response to it are different now, but not completely different. Masks, boosters, quarantines - change constantly. Becky and Diana point out that everyone has a different comfort level with how to approach the wor...2022-04-2530 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastSmorgasbordeIn this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Becky Berry and Diana Bader discuss ways to approach the smorgasbord that is life. Diana starts by discussing her recent experience on a cruise where she learned cruises no longer put out smorgasbords of food like they did before COVID. She draws a parallel between choosing from a smorgasbord and choosing priorities and goals that allow us to enjoy the smorgasbord of life. Becky brings this back to essentialism, since essentialism is about focusing on solely the things that are essential to our lives. 2022-03-2932 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastRun the Dishwasher TwiceDiana Bader and Becky Berry discuss examining our assumptions about rules. Their conversation is based on an article Becky read that reminded her to question the rules. In the article a therapist told a client who was struggling with depression and being able to do the things she wanted to get done on a daily basis that she could put her crusty, dirty dishes in the dishwasher and…wait for it…run it twice! Sometimes we assume things are hard and fast rules when they’re not. Running the dishwasher twice is both energy and water...2022-03-1436 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastRecovery is HardIn this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Diana Bader and Becky Berry talk about the importance of resting, resetting, and recovering. They begin this episode by discussing how many people experienced the beginning of 2022 as a rough start. They talk about their feelings about Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant, and emphasize the importance of staying in the present moment. One of the ways to cope with our problems and the world at large is to find humor everywhere we can. We can find sistraction in television show or movie that we enjoy. We can also hang ou...2022-02-1531 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 156: Be Uniquely BrilliantIn this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Becky Berry and Diana Bader talk about the value of being our uniquely brilliant selves. When we embrace who we really are and how we really think, we embrace our unique brilliance! In their conversation, Diana and Becky recap some of the character differences between extroverts and introverts - including how they process information. Extroverts like Becky frequently process out loud, while introverts like Diana process within their own minds. Becky talks about the importance of working out her thoughts verbally while Diana discloses that she’s been working on bui...2022-01-2542 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastWord of the Year 2022Diana Bader and Becky Berry talk about their words of the year in this podcast episode! They choose words of the year as a means to focus their thoughts around their intentions for the coming year. In past years, Diana has selected bliss, blessed, and extraordinary, to name a few. She’s been doing this for ten years - she even had a word for the decade: impact. The idea for the word of the year came from the book, Lifeword: Discover Your One Word to Leave a Legacy by Jon Gordon. Below is a link to th...2022-01-1932 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastBlow It UpIn this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Becky Berry and Diana Bader talk about the value of blowing things up. There is still so much uncertainty in the world during this pandemic. It makes it hard to feel settled. Diana talks about her criteria for an event mask being mask worthy. Becky and Diana talk about how this pandemic differs from the 1920 pandemic. Becky points out that the main difference comes down to 3 words: international air travel. Diana discusses the results of neglecting one of her core values: creativity and shares tips for bringing it back. They also...2021-12-0935 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastGet Out of Your Comfort ZoneEpisode 153: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone In this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Becky Berry and Diana Bader discuss the importance of getting out of our comfort zones. We don’t always realize that we’re coasting in our comfort zone, so it can become uncomfortable when we do. For example, it can be our default to stay in a job because it has health benefits even when we don’t like that job. We end up stuck there because we think we can do the job for one more day, then another, and ano...2021-11-0533 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe Missing PieceThe Missing Step? Savoring Our Work On this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Diana Bader and Becky Berry talk about the missing step in our work and personal lives. Diana begins the episode by talking about a conversation she had with her son about how he was improving his life. She shared his experience of playing a video game where he and a friend came to the conclusion that to get tasks done in life, we must break each part down into little pieces. We should also remember to lo...2021-10-1926 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastPresence v FocusIn today’s episode, Becky Berry and Diana Bader talk about the difference between presence and focus. Being present is being fully engaged in the moment. It's taking the time to listen fully. Since energy flows to where our thoughts go, when our thoughts are scattered, our energy is also scattered. Being present mentally and physically keeps us aligned. When our energy is aligned, our thoughts are calmer. The act of being present allows us to focus. We have to engage our bodies before our...2021-10-1324 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThinkIn this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Becky Berry and Diana Bader talk about thinking, the third component of productivity from the book, Essentialism by Greg McKeown. Becky shares how she gets blocked when she does not think before she makes a big move. The precepts of Essentialism consist of narrowing things down to the essentials. The process is virtually impossible to accomplish if we don’t invest time in figuring out what is essential to us. Sleeping, thinking, and playing are the three pillars of being productive. And, th...2021-10-0530 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastSleep Baby Sleep In this episode of Uniquely Brilliant, Diana Bader and Becky Berry discuss our absolute need for adequate sleep, how to get it, and the results of inadequate sleep. Good sleep is critical to our bodies performing to the best of their abilities. Sleep protects both our physical and mental assets. Even when we miss sleep and feel like we are doing ok, the lack of sleep will eventually catch up to us. Our brains store what they learned during the day while...2021-09-2826 min
Uniquely Brilliant Podcast5 Minutes of PlayOn this episode of Uniquely Brilliant Diana Bader and Becky Berry talk about the importance of play. Lila is Diana’s word of the year. Lila, which means playful manifestation in Sanskrit. She shares how she is enacting its spirit. They talk about the way spending 5 minutes in a day can change our outlook. Becky shares three things you need to be productive: sleep, play, and then planning and guarding those things with your life. What constitutes play? We may hear the word play and think, oh that sounds frustrating. Perhaps we...2021-09-2034 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastGo with the Flow Part 2How do we know how to get to the next place when we don’t know what the next place is? Becky Berry and Diana Bader cover this question in this episode of Uniquely Brilliant. Diana points out one way is to focus on the short term because we must get out of crisis mode and make a plan for the near future. Becky reminds us that we have to remember things are different and we must just get through things now, while Diana reminds us to let go of how things were befo...2021-09-1428 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastSoothe Yourself by GroundingIn this episode, Becky and Diana discuss what it's like to be living in today’s world, including questions like: How do we deal with the new reality of not knowing if you should hug people or fist bump? Diana Bader talks about how everything is just a little disjointed. They discuss the importance of knowing how to ground yourself. Diana shares this sensory exercise for grounding: Identify five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can smell, two things you can touch, and one thing you can taste. Becky tri...2021-09-0725 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastBuild Your Own AdventureDiana Bader and Becky Berry talk about a favorite topic: adventure! Diana refers to everything as an adventure. As a matter of fact, originally, each episode of Uniquely Brilliant was called “The Adventure of ....”. As Diana says, “Life is an adventure because you never know what is coming.” She talks about her experience moving back up north to Ohio from Atlanta. She felt the full force of the good and the bad and how it’s critical to not set expectations. Becky talks about her experience with her coworking space and the trials of letting...2021-08-3137 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastI Don't Want to Talk to YouBecky and Diana talk about all the ways people feel about talking. Becky shares her experience in opening a second business (her coworking space for women, MAD! Workspace) and all of the feelings that go along with starting it up and keeping it going in a pandemic. She also talks about how she processes things through talking. She needs to hear the words coming out of her mouth to figure out what’s going on. On the other hand, Diana is an introvert, so she doesn’t need to talk things out to proce...2021-08-2436 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastDo It DifferentlyToday Diana and Becky talk about how they get to do it (everything) differently! It’s hard to remember to rephrase the idea from “having to do it differently” to “getting to do it differently” but it makes a big difference in our mindset. “I get to do it differently” indicates agency and choice. They talk about VISION BOARDS! Diana shares her new workout with The Exercise Coach and how it meets her goals and desires.. They both cover how we can all do things differently, and how feedback can be important for...2021-05-2537 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe Art of MaintainingIn this episode, Diana and Becky talk about the Art of Maintaining. This is a great episode for people who are struggling lately or drowning in the shoulda, woulda, couldas. Becky and Diana bring it back to the present and ask hard questions about what is really important and how we NEED to take care of ourselves. And Becky advocates for getting rid of the words “strive” and “working hard.” Sometimes in life we find ourselves needing to maintain rather than excel, and that's okay. Diana talks about appreciating the moment instead of settling by pushing...2021-05-1839 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastWho Says We're Too MuchBecky talks about the different times in her life when people have tried and succeeded in silencing her because they thought she was too much and she believed them. Becky and Dana discuss the difference between saying that they don't care about something instead of saying it’s being important to them. Diana shares that when she doesn’t care about something, she works on reframing it as not being a priority to her. She also shares the story of high diving while in the Bahamas. Becky describes being told that she was too...2021-04-1931 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastLife in PiecesBecky Berry and Diana Bader discuss the importance of bringing our whole selves to everything. They also dig into what happens when people only want to interact with a piece of us. Some notes: Our whole self is more than our individual pieces! We all wear different hats in our lives, but that doesn’t mean that's all we bring to the table. Diana talks about how someone recently wanted to experience only one piece of her in their relationship and they were unwilling to accept all of her. Si...2021-04-1926 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastHonor Your EnergyBecky Berry and Diana Bader talk about the critical importance of honoring our energy. Diana discusses the many issues she's had to deal with over the last year and how her expectations weren't met when she moved back to her hometown. All of these things have affected the energy level she can bring to her life. Becky and Diana are trying to figure out if they are tired because of the seasons changing or if they are just tired. Diana is mulling over whether her issues are physical or caused my emotional stress...2021-03-3134 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastI'm Done With Responsibility!Recorded in May 2020. This was our final Pandemic episode. Becky and Diana are so tired of being responsible and having to overthink about everything! They chat about what we can do to lower our tension levels and bring as much ease as possible back into our lives. Becky talks about the coworking space she owns and how she is tired of having to remember the safety rules for everything. And, since it’s Becky, how she finds refuge and relief in reading. Diana discusses the intricacies of going out to eat du...2021-03-1628 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastWho Knows?How do you make plans when no one knows? We recorded this in May. It’s interesting/sad how the things we talked about still apply in February. Diana says she has had a hard time lately because she had planned on a lot of travel and connecting during this time in her life. She has been forced to reimagine her life and has received a lot of pushback from her own bad self, causing a massive internal struggle. Becky discusses how incredibly difficult it is to plan anything at all. The realization for all of us that this...2021-02-1920 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastEven Introverts Need People Becky Berry and Diana Bader talk about how prolonged isolation doesn’t work for anyone. Diana begins this episode by talking about Harry Harlow’s experiments with monkeys that proved everyone needs comfort, and without human contact, we fail to thrive. They also discuss the problem with texting: it’s just not the same as talking voice to voice. Becky shares her strange birthday in the 8th week of quarantine, and talks about how she missed the human connection. Becky also confesses to being a good energy vampire (she magnifies the energy instead of taking it) because she needs people around h...2021-02-0933 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastMake It Work Nature, mindset, kids. It’s all covered in this episode. Choosing to make it work is a daily choice. We can choose to make it work five or six times a day. Even with friends, making it work is different now. By using FaceTime and Zoom for face-to-face calls, we can make it work. magazine did an article about why Zoom calls are stressful. It’s because these meetings are not really face-to-face. They’re pseudo presence as opposed to real presence. We’re not sharing space – and it’s getting to Diana. On the other hand, COVID has given us the brain...2021-02-0229 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 134: Trust Your Wisdom“Let your heart be your guide on all things, but you have to listen closely because it speaks softly.” ~ John St. Augustine Recorded April 22, 2020 Everything is NOT business as usual. All of the inconsistencies are frustrating. The uncertainty gives us an opportunity to rely on our wisdom. Experience breeds confidence. Allow others to find their own wisdom. Creativity and wisdom work hand in hand. When the environment around you doesn’t change, look for other cues as to how to respond. The most important thing is to get through this experience whole. Allow for the possibility of a do...2021-01-2632 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 133: Go With the FlowNot everything will go as you expect in life. That is why you need to drop the expectations and go with the flow of life. ~ Leon Brown Recorded April 14, 2020. What is the least thing we can do to make it better? Follow mother nature for cues on how to move forward. Surrender control in situations we can’t control. Surf the uncertainty of the situation instead of fighting it. We can only control our responses. Honor what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t. The slower pace gives us the opportunity to notice more of what...2021-01-2628 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastIt's OK to Not Be OK“Faith is not about everything being okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.” ~ Unknown Recorded April 7, 2020 Be a phoenix not an ostrich. There is always another side to a crisis. This is real life right now. Embrace the imperfection. We are grieving. It cannot be business or life as usual. False positive encouragement just makes us feel worse. We are getting reacquainted with ourselves. There is a major shift in reprioritizing what is truly important to us. Give yourself permission to feel all of it. Figure out what helps you get through the day...2021-01-2627 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastBonus Episode 7: Decide To Make It Work“Once you make a decision the universe conspires to make it happen.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Pseudo presence, like we experience on Zoom, is the lack of physical presence. So, even though it’s like we’re other people; we’re not. And that’s a problem. This enforced slowdown helps us pay more attention to our surroundings. When we are too focused on a task, we are more productive if we take a break. We can decide to make it the best we can. Making a decision is half the battle and gets you moving. To get something done, put it...2020-05-2200 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastPauseBecky and Diana have mentioned the value of pausing in so many episodes they decided the concept deserves an episode of its own. Pauses allow us to gauge and check our perspectives. Stopping our momentum allows us to check where we are. A Vigilance Break allows us to stop before we start something and make sure everything is in place. Time-Out is a parental pause. If we don't take the time to pause, we can’t regain our perspective. Pausing prevents us from reacting to a situation too quickly. Do not pause and hold your breath! Breathe! We ma...2019-11-2029 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastShift Your PerspectiveBecky and Diana discuss how a change in perspective can change everything. Perspective is examining things from a particular point of view. Sometimes we need to change our perspective on a task before we can successfully accomplish it. Since other people’s perspectives can shift ours, it’s important to cultivate people with the right perspectives. When we experience success in a venture, it can shift our perspective. When we want someone to shift – or we want to shift - we have to give or take the time and space to allow the shift to happen. Creating or finding...2018-09-0232 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastWhy do we set ourselves up to fail? Becky and Diana examine how we set ourselves up to fail. It’s never intentional. We over estimate our resources. Things either fall away because they have to or we can choose to let them go. We often take an all or nothing attitude. There is never a perfect time to do anything, so what can you do now to change things up? Sometimes we have to focus on what is working and move forward from there. We stay stuck out of stubbornness because we know we can do it all eventually, but do we really have...2018-07-1428 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe Games People PlayBecky and Diana explore the games people play even without realizing they’re doing it. A game is anything that prohibits straight talk and honest exchange. We can cultivate the people around us who don’t play games. Keeping personal information close and revealing it slowly isn’t a game. Parenting often unfolds as a game. Strategy is a part of any game. It can be used to achieve a positive outcome. Playing games is a learned behavior. We often don’t realize we are playing them. Being true to ourselves is the best defense against the game players...2018-06-2935 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe Genius of a New StartBecky and Diana discuss how a fresh start can give new life to an old plan. You can just start over. A fresh start makes it easier to start and leave the history behind. When we step up and identify a different approach to a situation it opens us to even more approaches. A fresh start allows us to see things with new eyes. Every fresh start begins with taking that first step. Resiliency happens when you believe that a fresh start is possible. If we can exercise hindsight, we can exercise foresight. Sometimes we have to start ov...2018-06-2230 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastGifts vs SkillsBecky and Diana talk about the different values we place on our gifts and skills. We're trained to give away our gifts (talents). Just because our gifts come easily to us doesn’t mean they come easy to everybody. If our talents aren’t valued by certain people, we don’t feel valued by them either. Our talents (gifts) set us apart from people with similar skills. What did you want to be when you grew up? Do companies really hire for soft skills? It’s important to not take the hiring process personally. We can intentionally determine how much...2018-06-1531 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe Stories We Tell OurselvesBecky and Diana challenge us to assess the stories we tell ourselves. Our stories are how we present ourselves to the world. All of our stories can be true, and we get to choose which one we live in. We can change the stories we tell ourselves. Communicating an attitude of gratitude in our stories makes it hard to stay stuck in the negative. Victimhood is frequently the default story, but it doesn’t have to be. Attachment to the past and to expectations makes us victims in our stories. What if things could work out better than we...2018-05-3130 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastCan You Hear Me Now?Becky and Diana discuss the frustrations of communication gaps. We have to learn the language of the people we want to communicate with. Personality differences often contribute to communication gaps. We need to embrace change to understand. People who are not entrepreneurial have a hard time understanding that lifestyle choice. It is frustrating being questioned about a choice we have already made and having to explain ourselves. Just because we don’t understand, doesn’t mean it isn’t valid. Resilience and grit keep us moving whether we feel heard or not. Everyone has had different life experiences that sh...2018-05-2332 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastHow Strong Is Your Core?Becky and Diana talk about Core Values and how they keep you, you. Core Values are the building blocks of who we are. Core Values help us stay aligned with what we need. We are more grounded when we have identified and adhere to our Core Values. Diana’s core values are both her default and reset buttons. They express basic truths about us. We know we are living in these values when others recognize them in us. Core values can help us assess who brings value to our lives. We are energy sources that need to be rec...2018-05-1726 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThis Works Except...Becky and Diana challenge the notion that there is only one right way to do anything. Something might not work for us if: Should, have to, supposed to, are our reasons for doing it. We recognize it’s not working. We become aware of alternatives. We hold on to the idea even when it’s not working. We aren’t ready for the solution, so we only recognize it’s a fit when we are ready. We are tapped out. We just don’t fit the mold. We process things differently. It’s not a fit for our perso...2018-05-1127 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastSometimes You Just Gotta Surf Becky and Diana host their friend and sister coach, Tonya Harvey. They have a lively discussion about their words-of-the-year and a general overview of how their year is going. The podcast was simulcast as a Facebook Live video session and can be found on https://www.facebook.com/pg/beckyberrycoach/videos/. Picking an annual word keeps our main focus top of mind. When we do stream of consciousness writing, our brains clear and make room for the intentions behind our focus word. Choosing a word-of-the-year helps our brain shift and see things differently. When we choose on...2018-05-0336 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe FunkBecky is in a funk with a calendar full of positive events, so she and Diana hash out why. The Funk can occur even when everything is going great. When we leave no margin in our lives for downtime and reflection, we can slip into a funk out of sheer self-preservation. Happiness Hangovers occurs as a reminder to slow down. The Funk can also be viewed as growing pains. We can find the time we need to deal with an emergency, so, we need to make time for downtime so we don’t cause one. If we take in...2018-04-1829 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastIt might be drama ifBecky and Diana challenge us to look at the drama in our lives and recognize areas where we might be contributing to it. Basic life stuff becomes drama based on how we react to it. We create most of our own drama. We can make a conscious choice to not join the drama. Drama happens when we try to control situations that are out of our control. Most people just accept drama and then wonder why they aren’t happy. Feeding and maintaining the drama makes it grow. There is a place for drama, and we can put a t...2018-04-0527 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastLive a Yes!Becky and Diana talk about how saying yes to opportunities has influenced their lives, and how it can influence yours, too. If we don’t say Yes to an opportunity right away, sometimes the opportunity keeps knocking until we do. Saying Yes helps us expand our lives. Sometimes we are nudged into a Yes because someone else sees an opportunity that we can’t. “Live A Yes!” Is just another way of saying “Take a chance.” Trust your instincts before you let your brain talk you out of an opportunity. Saying Yes requires trusting ourselves and other people. The more we l...2018-03-2323 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastAgency vs ControlEpisode 114: Control vs Agency Becky teaches Diana about the value of agency and how it empowers us. Agency gives us more choice about the direction of our path. Believing in agency is a mindset. Agency gives us independence. We get to ask ourselves, “What can I influence?” When we have agency over our lives we can take back our power. Agency can’t be conferred; it has to be claimed. Agency allows us to make empowered choices. It gives us the confidence to take a risk and the ability to rebound if we fail...2018-03-1623 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastA Podcast Changed My LifeBecky and Diana share how podcasts have influenced their lives. Hack The Entrepreneur was Becky’s gateway into podcasts. It taught her she was awesome just as she is. Doing the Uniquely Brilliant podcast helped Diana find her voice. There are tons of rich content in podcasts. Podcasts help us find people who get us. Podcasts are like radio on demand. There are all types of amazing nuggets of information hidden in podcasts. Podcasts help us connect with people we never imagined we could. Podcasts are one of the last free platforms for content. Podcasts enhance the growth min...2018-03-0729 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastBoth/AndBecky and Diana talk about the concept that we can live both/and lives. And reminds us that we are more than one thing. Both/And allows for flexibility. The Growth Mindset is enhanced with Both/And thinking. Either/Or is the opposite of Both/And. Either/Or assumes we can only choose one option. During a time of transition we have the option to choose the Either/Or or Both/And mindset. If Either/Or feels constraining, it’s time to check your options. Both/And may require time and energy to juggle the options. Passions, priorities, and...2018-03-0127 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastWonder and ExpectationsDiana and Becky discuss their words for the year: Wonder and Steady and how they deploy the words to keep them on track. Diana’s word-of-the-year is Wonder. Becky’s word-of-the-year is Steady. Expectation is the opposite of wonder because it pre-supposes an outcome. Wonder gives us the freedom to allow things to unfold. Having a framework for making decisions helps us capture the wonder in our lives. Some of us feel like we need rigid structure and miss out on wonder and the possibilities it offers. Wonder grows in a flexible structure. Expectations make our world smaller. Wonde...2018-02-1428 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe Influencers Becky Berry and Diana Bader share their memories of people who have influenced them over the course of their lives and whose words and actions continue to influence them. Random and simple acts can have a big influence on our lives. We may never know how what we say or do for other people impacts their lives. A smile or words of gratitude can change another person’s day, week, year, or life. The people who taught us invaluable skills also opened doors to experiences we could not imagine at the time. The influencers who show...2018-02-0334 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastYou're Not YouBecky and Diana discuss how our experiences give us a chance to grow as we move forward each day. We get to choose what experiences we bring forward with us. We don’t have to resolve everything from our past. We can simply let go of some things. To determine if something is holding us back we can ask, “Is this serving who I am now?” Experiences only become negative when they impede our forward progress. Sometimes the biggest jerks are carrying the biggest loads and don’t know they can put it down. Can we give ourselves the same...2018-01-2530 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastThe Velcro EpisodeDiana Bader and Becky Berry talk about the pros and cons of letting things stick to us – including our ideas about life and death. It’s also an episode about letting go of the things that hold you back. It’s good to examine the things that we hold on to tightly. Perhaps there are some we hold on to too tightly. Velcro is cool because it can be repositioned and reused – just like our experiences. We can find ourselves attached to other people’s expectations which can lead to our becoming detached from our true selves. We can tell we...2018-01-1530 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastWhat's Past is PrologueDiana and Becky discuss the importance of keeping our pasts in perspective. The title of our episode comes from William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. We all were sea-swallow’d, though some cast again, And by that destiny to perform an act Whereof what’s past is prologue, what to come In yours and my discharge. The Tempest, act II, scene i, lines 248–54. Antonio is speaking. We can’t move forward while hanging on to the past. “Before you grab onto the future, make sure you let go of the past.” – a Hallmark Christmas...2018-01-0531 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastCarpé DiemAlthough they are occasionally distracted by the presence of a rare snow storm in Georgia, Becky and Diana take the time to talk about why they are committed to seizing the day and how they do it. When we are married to our personal agendas, we can miss out on the opportunities that are right in front of us. What we focus on we get. Leaving ourselves open to random moments and events allow shifts to happen. Seize The Day = Ride The Moment Break free from the stranglehold of expectations – both yours and other people’s. When we rele...2017-12-2831 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastShort Circuit Those Energy Sucks! Becky and Diana talk about the critical importance of managing our energy, especially around the holidays. We have to prepare ourselves for events and manage our energy accordingly. To operate at peak energy, we need to check our energy levels over the course of an event. We can leave an event or take a break if we feel our energy waning. It’s critical to find ways to replenish our energy that honors our energy profile and personality. Before we attend an event, we can check the language of the invitation for clues about the kind of e...2017-12-2133 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastI'm A Little Beat Up Becky and Diana discuss the feelings and emotions of feeling beat-up and reveal strategies for coping with those feelings. Triggers can bring forgotten and buried things to the surface of our minds and force us to deal with them. Managing multiple expectations can leave us feeling exhausted. It is important to choose our battles. The Lack mindset and the Victim mentality go hand in hand. When we push through difficult things quickly instead of dealing with them, they will pop up again, maybe even in different ways. We have to go inside ourselves and slow down an...2017-12-0835 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastBoundaries - Please Fence Me In!Becky and Diana talk about the value of boundaries. Boundaries give us a framework to move more smoothly through our lives. We set boundaries to guard ourselves against others and against ourselves!. When we don’t set boundaries we leave ourselves open to having our lives breached. Prioritizing what we do and how we do it is one strategy to create beneficial boundaries. Once we’ve compromised our own boundaries, it becomes easier to do it again. We can experience growth as we enforce our boundaries. Boundaries prevent burnout. Clearly stated boundaries can help manage conflict. Assigning value to yo...2017-12-0330 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastCommunicationsBecky and Diana discuss 4 of their favorite communication frameworks and how becoming acquainted with them can help you navigate the Holidays. When we know more about how people communicate and how they receive communications everyone has a more enjoyable experience. The language in the explanations of each type also gives us clues about how to talk to various people. DISC Styles D - Director: Makes sure everyone is doing their part and keeps things on track. I - Initiator: Keeps things fun. The social butterfly flying around the room. S - Relator: Keeper of the traditions, m...2017-11-2340 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastWho's In Your Head?Becky and Diana discuss the voices we carry with us and provide ideas to make sure they are the best ones for us. We get to choose whose voice we listen to. Sometimes we can decide to just take a nugget of wisdom from one of the voices. We also accumulate voices when we read Where we are in life is a great barometer for choosing whose voice we decide to listen to. Words like “The One,” “The Best,” and “The Only” are clues that the voice speaking to us may not really be for us, and that’s okay. Often w...2017-11-1532 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastReinvention vs EvolutionBecky Berry and Diana Bader discuss the value of evolving as a person instead of continually reinventing ourselves. Our podcast is a great example of evolution. We haven’t re-invented it; it has evolved. Reinvention - The action or process through which something is changed so much it appears to be entirely new. Reinvention implies something is wrong and needs to be scrapped and started over from scratch. Evolution - Gradual development of something from simple to complex. Evolution encourages adaptation and appreciating where you are. We all have life lessons and skills that have made us more of...2017-11-0130 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastIf I Could Put Time On a CalendarBecky and Diana challenge us to adopt a new perspective and look at the Calendar differently. It is easy to get stuck in a “Lack” mindset with time when we are following an arbitrary calendar that doesn’t match our time needs. Time flows if we allow it. Our life calendars don't run from January through December, so we can reorganize the calendar in a way that suits us. Time on our calendars isn’t real until we act on it. Working with our own natural rhythms helps our lives run smoother. Every day is a new day! It's har...2017-10-2328 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastTaking On Too MuchBecky and Diana discuss the things we do that lead us to taking on too much. The need for control is one of the biggest factors in taking on too much. When we push ourselves too hard it can take longer to achieve what we set out to do. A key to avoiding taking on too much is to find more time. We have more control over our time than we think we do. Make time work for you, not the other way around. The sense of overwhelm can be attributed to confining ourselves to arbitrary time frames, l...2017-10-1634 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastGet GroundedBecky and Diana analyze the nature of grounding and feeling grounded. Being ungrounded can feel like flying without a place to land. We can’t fly forever. It is important to have both a launching point and a landing point. Grounded is the only state we can both pause and launch from. Grounding gives us a sense of belonging and ownership of our space. If you know who you are, and trust yourself, you are grounded. When we are internally grounded we can take the feeling with us. When we find people in our world who accept us as...2017-10-0930 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastWho Do You Trust?Becky and Diana talk about who and what we trust, or maybe need to learn to trust. The Process: If we aren’t ready for the process, it’s really hard to embrace it. Ourselves: When we are comfortable with something it is easier to trust it. Developing our skills improves our ability to trust ourselves. Our Guts: When we learn to trust our gut instincts it becomes easier to fend off those shoulds and fears. It makes it easier to act on our own instincts. Ot...2017-10-0234 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastThings That Hold You BackBecky and Diana identify things that hold us back and provide solutions to beat them back! Fear is at the core of much of what holds us back. Future-casting is worrying about what could happen and projecting our fear into the future in a way that keeps us from moving forward. When we are not willing to share our concerns and thoughts with others, we may be afraid of hearing other perspectives. We have to get the nonproductive stuff out of our heads. We often have expectations, or take on those of other people, that hold us back. S...2017-09-1728 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastPivotingBecky and Diana talk about how pivoting has helped them in their entrepreneurial journeys and their lives, and how it can help you. Pivoting represents a course evolution. It’s not necessarily a huge correction; it’s more of a tweak. Shifts can happen before we realize it. There is always a reason things pivot. When we resist the pivot, we get stuck and can fail. A Pivot Point is the foundational piece that a pivot moves around. Knowing who we are helps us become the pivot point in our own lives. In order to pivot successfully, we must...2017-09-0427 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastStuff No One Told MeBecky and Diana share things that no one ever told them. No one ever told us: Diana - I could reject a job offer that didn’t feel like the right fit. Becky - Not everyone is going to get you, and that’s okay! Diana - I didn’t have to be part of only one core group. Becky - Not everyone is an extrovert, and introverts bring so much to the table! Diana – It’s just as easy to believe things are working in our favor as it is to believe they are not. Becky – We...2017-08-2929 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastYou Get What You Think AboutBecky and Diana explore the idea that our thoughts create our reality. Our brains automatically search for memories that validate our thoughts. We have to train our brains to focus on what we really want. The Reticular Activating System in our brain picks and chooses what we notice. Leaders who use fear and propaganda have all used attention getting techniques like identifying people as “other” to influence how citizens think about what’s happening around them. The energy we put behind a thought helps manifest the thought. When we settle for what we don’t want, there is no room f...2017-08-2131 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastOwn Your Wins!Becky and Diana discuss the importance of acknowledging and owning our wins. Somewhere in the growing-up process we are taught that boasting and being proud of ourselves is the same thing. It’s not! It’s critical to both recognize a compliment and give it value. If we don’t own our wins we stay stuck where we are, particularly at work. The negative conversations in our heads block out the compliments. Creating Win Jars gives us a place to capture our wins so we can revisit them when we need encouragement. Also, creating a fan mail file contain...2017-08-1434 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastPlan a ProjectBecky and Diana continue to explore David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done, this time focusing on planning a project. Project - An outcome that requires more than one step. 90% of the work we do each day should be the next step of a project. We tend to react to our day instead of planning it out. Establishing a purpose for a project drives it and keeps it going. “People love to win. If you’re not totally clear about the purpose of what you’re doing, you have no game to win.” – David Allen In order for a multi-perso...2017-08-0833 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastGet Things DoneBecky and Diana explore concepts from David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done. In Getting Things Done, David Allen describes a 5 step process to master productivity. The steps: Capture, Clarify, Organize, Reflect, and Engage. Capture: Get every idea, task, and to-do item out of your head and put it somewhere. Whether you use an app, a whiteboard, a notebook, or something else, find a place you trust to store your ideas. Developing this habit prevents the cognitive load of incompletions (Roy Baumeister). Clarify: Process the ideas. Ask “Is this important to me...2017-07-2929 min
Uniquely Brilliant PodcastEssentialismBecky Berry and Diana Bader discuss the concept of Essentialism. Our modern concept of Essentialism is based on the book, Essentialism, by Greg McKeown. We tend to believe we have to do it all; that it’s wrong to delegate or even drop tasks. We can ask ourselves is, “Am I the best choice to do what needs to be done in this situation?” When other people are actually the priority (like kids, partners (at home or at work), or employees), it’s crucial to get their input about what makes them feel like they are a priority. When we k...2017-07-2729 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 087: TractionBecky and Diana explore the relationship between traction and friction. Traction helps us navigate all terrains. Friction helps traction move us forward. Many people get stuck in the friction. Friction leaves tracks to mark our progress. The bigger the idea the more powerful the friction. Obstacles can be crushed under the weight of traction. We have become so resistant to friction that we have lost our ability to deal with it and have created rules to avoid it. New ideas always create friction before they gain traction. Traction is a function of friction and momentum is the energy p...2017-07-1724 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 086: Stop Comparing Yourself!Becky and Diana challenge us all to stop the incredibly destructive habit of comparing ourselves to others. There are so many shoulds to sort through! Often our comparisons are fleeting thoughts that have a big impact. We must trust ourselves and affirm that we know what to do. Comparison keeps us focused outwardly instead of on ourselves. When we compare ourselves to others we limit who we are. To be our best selves we have to declare, “I know/ am enough to take action!” Key questions: Where am I right now? How am I feeling? Am I uncomfortable becau...2017-07-0228 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 085: Option BBecky and Diana explore the correlation between being open to different options and our ability to move through tough situations. Leaving room to find other options is the true test of a growth mindset. When considering other options we need to focus on what we want to accomplish the most. Being immersed in a situation makes it hard for us to see our options. We don’t have control of every situation, but we do have control of our response to them. Three beliefs that can keep us stuck are personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence. Radical self-forgiveness reminds us tha...2017-06-2529 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 085: Take a Vacation!Becky and Diana discuss how taking vacations improves our body, mind, soul, and even our productivity! We like to believe we are irreplaceable. When we are drained we cannot serve our constituents as a whole person. We live in a society that believes every moment must be filled with activity. We have to carve out the space to take breaks. Taking breaks allows us to release ourselves from our responsibilities on our terms – before we fall apart. Everyone finds rejuvenation in their own way. Breaks allow us to make room for new things. Things we didn’t even know...2017-06-1927 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 83: You Know What to Do!Becky and Diana discuss the perils and pitfalls of not trusting what you know. At some point we have to stop learning and start doing. We can fill our heads with so much information that there’s no room for a solution to appear. Sometimes just making a decision, whether it’s right or wrong, allows us to move forward. When we trust ourselves to make decisions we instinctively make better ones. Sometimes we just need a knowledge detox. Decision fatigue can be managed by creating habits. We can give ourselves permission to decide what is right, right now...2017-06-1326 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 082: The Money ShowBecky and Diana navigate the sticky subject of money. There are a lot of social taboos around money. Rules about talking about money change constantly. When we are dismissive of money we are disrespecting it. Money is often a major stressor. How do we talk about money ourselves? Do we talk about money? Do we talk about it from the perspective of never having enough or having plenty? Knowing how to earn money and how to manage money are not the same thing. When we’re looking for a job, we should be aware of each company’s attit...2017-06-0526 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 081: TruthAfter attending a great conference, Diana springs the topic of the Truth on Becky. When we don’t know what the truth is we can’t move forward effectively. How much of what we call truth is really just something we want? Whose truth is it anyway? We must identify how much of the truth we are working with. Natural talent only gets us so far. It can be much easier to help others find their truth. What is it that has us saying “I can’t” instead of “I can”? When we feel unsettled about something it is a sign we’re...2017-05-3132 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 080: Pokemon Power!Becky and Diana explore the power we gain each time we evolve as a person. Evolution is “The gradual development of something, especially from simple to complex.” It’s easy to forget we are in a constant state of evolution. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin We aren’t who we were yesterday. If we don’t evolve, we're a drag on the system! Zombification of companies occurs when they don’t evolve. Once we’ve evolved and gain...2017-05-1522 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 79: Mind the Gap!Becky Berry and Diana Bader investigate the gaps in understanding that keep people and businesses from reaching their full potential. The generational gap works both ways. “We’ve always done it this way,” isn’t a legitimate reason to do something. Building a bridge of understanding between generations is the ideal. The first step in closing the generation gap is developing mutual respect. Anytime we develop better communications and understanding of each other helps us build and reinforce the bridge. Merging skills from all generations is game changing. The education system - how it values of certain skills, teaching...2017-05-0732 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 078: Incremental InnovationIn the 3rd and final part of their series on innovation, Becky and Diana talk about incremental innovation. Incremental innovation is the art of tweaking. When we have Uniquely Brilliant minds, we’re naturally inclined to innovative thinking. Businesses are looking for people who can improve upon things without reinventing them. Many of us who are Uniquely Brilliant can identify problems and see solutions other people cannot even imagine. Some innovators do a lot of internal processing before they share their ideas, while others present their ideas proceed to process them out loud. Innovation can only take place whe...2017-05-0131 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 077: End User InnovationIn the second installment of their innovation series, Becky Berry and Diana Bader consider End User Innovation. End user innovation creates something that fills an unidentified and unmet need. End user innovation can happen in the heat of the moment using the resources at hand to make what we need. Tenacity is a critical strength of end user innovators. Sometimes it is hard to explain a vision until it has evolved to a point where others can understand it. As Mike Dooley says, the cursed hows are a deterrent to innovation. Little innovations can have major impact on p...2017-04-2230 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 076: Disruptive InnovationBecky and Diana begin a three part series on innovation beginning with disruptive innovation. Uniquely Brilliant people are always innovative. Disruptive innovation attacks the traditional way of looking at and doing things. Collecting data around the problem we’re solving makes our innovations more effective. Innovation is one application of creativity. To be innovative we have to be willing to fail and then try again. Questioning reveals where disruptive innovation is needed. Innovation doesn’t happen without grit and a growth mindset. Disruptive innovation always receives push back from supporters of the status quo. 2017-04-1030 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 075: Get UnStuck!Becky and Diana discuss what it is like to be stuck and what to do about it. We stay stuck because we are numb to the pain we’re in. When we’re first stuck, we thrash around and fight it. But if nothing changes we give up. We stay stuck when we lack the imagination and trust to believe there’s another way out or through our situation. Visualization is a great way to move towards getting unstuck. Neural plasticity in our brains creates neural circuits and new connections in the brain which allows us to change both ou...2017-04-0232 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 074: It's Not Personal It's BusinessBecky and Diana talk about the difficulties that ensue when we take critiques and mistakes personally. When someone criticizes your work, do you feel like they’re criticizing you? It can be hard to separate ourselves from our work, but we must. We need to maintain space between who we are and the work do so we can maintain our objectivity. We are not the products/ work we create. Taking things personally is like donning one heavy coat for every critical comment and carrying them around with us! One of the most effective skills to develop for handling cr...2017-03-2729 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 073: HabitsBecky and Diana discuss Gretchen Rubin’s 4 Tendencies and how understanding them helps you develop successful habits. A habit is something you do without thinking about it. Most systems for developing habits tell you to employ either an “all or nothing” or “moderation” mindset. When working with others it is helpful to respect their tendencies. The 4 Tendencies focus on how you meet inner and outer expectations. The 4 Tendencies: Upholder - Meets both inner and outer expectations. Motto: “Discipline is my freedom.” Questioner - Questions both inner and outer expectations, but makes decisions based on their inner ex...2017-03-1831 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 072: SurrenderBecky and Diana explore the concept of surrender. Surrender is a loaded word for many and can be misconstrued as giving up. Surrender allows you to release your grip on a particular situation. Surrendering to a plan gives you the space to find out if it works. Surrendering to a plan is an effective way to stomp down resistance to change. Surrendering to the boundaries of a situation creates focus so you can follow the course. Measuring progress and seeing results makes it easier to surrender. We can forget that we have surrendered before and succeeded. We tend t...2017-03-1129 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 071: Control? Ha!Becky and Diana delve into the concept of control and why we try so hard to stay in control. It’s all about trust. Trusting others, yes, but mostly it’s about trusting ourselves. There is a false sense of safety and security when we think we’re in control. People want certainty. Boundaries teach people how to treat you. No matter how hard you try you can’t change other people. Control actually limits your possibilities. When you exert control over others, you don’t give them a chance to express who they are and learn from the mistake...2017-03-0427 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 070: As IfBecky and Diana discuss living “As if.” Live your life as if you are already living the life you want. Mentors are helpful as role models while you are moving towards your goals and dreams. What baby steps can you take right now to get the life you want? There is very little preventing you from learning new skills and gaining new knowledge. The “As If” process allows you to try on the life you want and see if it’s a fit. When acquiring knowledge use the platform and medium that work for you. Opportunities appear when you begin...2017-02-2724 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 069: PronoiaBecky and Diana explore the concept of pronoia, the belief the Universe is working for you. Why is it easy to believe that things are working against us rather than for us? Most people are more comfortable attributing the negative things “out there” to someone or something else instead of their own. Taking ownership can be equally hard when things are going well. Start looking for the good and you will find and receive more good. When you say there is enough you give the Universe the opportunity to show you it’s true. Gratitude works hand in hand wi...2017-02-1927 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 68: Share the Wealth Becky and Diana discuss the value of asking for help and giving help. When you take on a role sometimes it’s hard to let it go even when you don’t like it. It can be the same way with asking for help. Micro managing happens when someone needs to take on all the roles in a project. It’s hard to share and ask for help when you don’t have a model. Helping and sharing tasks is a core attribute of animals, including people. It’s a key to survival. People may want to help but don’t kn...2017-02-1530 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 067: From Burned Out to Smokin'Becky and Diana examine the effects of burnout and share strategies to deal with it. Once you are burned out you have to take a break and assess where you are or you will continue to flounder. Do you have to do it all? Do you have to do it all the way you are doing it? Leading your life based on Essentialism helps you define what is most important and allows you to prioritize opportunities. You can burnout without boundaries and you can burnout with boundaries that are too rigid. Flexibility that respects the flow of life...2017-02-0732 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 066: CommitmentBecky Berry and Diana Bader discuss the pitfalls and positives of commitments. You can’t make progress without commitment. Commitment creates parameters that can increase productivity FOMO (fear of missing out) is an epidemic in this country and it’s creating commitment phobia. Committing to too many things makes it impossible to be committed to anything. Over scheduling teaches children they are worthless unless they are always busy. The things kids want to commit to don’t have to be the same things as their parents. This is how they explore. Set a timeframe to stick to your commitm...2017-01-3123 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 065: On No! I Forgot to Set My Goals!Becky and Diana talk about strategies to implement goals any time of year. There is no “right time” to set your goals. Setting goals too soon in the New Year can be counterproductive because they end up being a reaction to the previous year. Goals should create action. Myth: Goals are set in stone. Check in with your goals on a regular basis to see if they are still relevant. The most important part of goal setting is identifiying the motivation behind them. Use the tools and systems that fit you and that you will use. Breaking your year...2017-01-2327 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 064: It's Not Forever!Becky and Diana remind us that no matter what we are going through it’s not forever. In the midst of a tough situation we tend to forget it will end. Action is required to both maintain the things we want in our life and to move through the things we don’t. People don’t stay in situations unless they are getting something out of it. Being grateful helps you shift from a negative attitude to a positive one. Just do! Make the best of what you have. The bottom line is to understand that you have the bi...2017-01-1623 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 063: The New NormalBecky and Diana give strategies to adapt to a new normal in the face of change. The uncomfortable feeling associated with change often makes it seem bad. Shifting your perspective to accept change makes it easier. Change can either be by choice or thrust upon you. Resistance creates a smaller, tighter, less flexible existence. There are two sides to “What if?” What if it goes wrong? - and - What if it goes right? When we choose the easy way, we can find ourselves surrendering our power to someone else. Change and growth don’t happen when you’re comfor...2017-01-1200 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 062: Lose the Luggage!Becky and Diana explore the effects of carrying around extra luggage in our lives. When you travel light you have room to acquire new experiences and things. Luggage comes in many forms: physical, emotional, mental, and relational. Tolerating things and situation takes up time and energy and slow you down. Often we don’t take care of things until they are extremely painful or problematic. Urgency can be an artificial construct. Get rid of your excess baggage by setting boundaries, delegating, or simply purging. Letting go of things (and people) creates space and makes you feel lighter. Expectations ca...2017-01-0425 minUniquely Brilliant PodcastEpisode 061: Our Best StrategiesBecky and Diana review strategies that come up over and over in their podcast episodes. Personality: You need to know who you are to know what you want. Success begins within. If you don’t know what drives you, anything can. The more you know about yourself the easier it is to say, “No.” Community: Work buddies and life buddies are those people who really get you and support you as you navigate the world. Choose your circle of friends wisely. They can either raise you up or drag you down. Breakin...2016-12-2834 min