full

full
Published on:

14th Sep 2025

Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Play in Professional and Personal Growth

Unlocking Potential Through Play: Jolyn Ledgerwood on the Power of LEGO and Personal Growth

Join us on Social Skills Coaching as we host Jolyn Ledgerwood, founder of Elevate Your Talent, to explore how past experiences, both positive and negative, shape us as adults. Discover the transformative power of play, particularly LEGO Serious Play, in both professional and personal settings. Learn about Jolyn's unique coaching methodologies, including Clifton Strengths and Primal Question, and gain insights into the importance of mental health, recognizing individual strengths, and fostering a supportive environment. Whether you’re seeking improved workplace dynamics or personal growth, this episode is packed with valuable knowledge and practical tips.



00:45 Welcome to Social Skills Coaching

01:08 Meet Jolyn Ledgerwood

02:05 The Power of Play in the Workplace

03:08 Lego Serious Play: A Unique Approach

04:31 Building Connections Through Play

05:48 Personal Stories and Experiences with Lego

08:15 The Therapeutic Benefits of Lego

18:32 Overcoming Learning Disabilities

24:12 Innovative Training Techniques

25:52 The Power of Play in Brainstorming

26:21 Understanding Clifton Strengths

27:18 The Impact of Trauma on Adults

30:22 The Importance of Mental Health

32:48 Finding the Right Counselor

36:55 Applying Strengths in the Workplace

48:10 The Role of Play in Professional Development

53:38 Personal Growth and Mental Well-being

Transcript
Jolynn Ledgerwood:

heard a, um, a quote a long time ago.

2

:

It's not what's wrong with us,

it's what's happened to us.

3

:

if there's been situations in our

past that have been really positive

4

:

or really negative, that really

does taint who we are as adults

5

:

anybody tells you that that's.

6

:

Not okay.

7

:

Or, oh, you shouldn't go see a counselor.

8

:

Those are the people sadly,

that probably need it the most.

9

:

You bring in play to work and or

playfulness, It gives everybody a voice.

10

:

It allows people to interact

with each other on a level

11

:

that maybe they haven't before.

12

:

Russell Newton: Hello listeners and

welcome back to Social Skills Coaching,

13

:

where you become more likable, more

charismatic, and more productive.

14

:

And today we're gonna take a branch

off that more productive part, because

15

:

our guest, Jolyn Ledgerwood is a

consultant, coach, therapist, counselor.

16

:

Probably a wide variety of

things, podcaster, I'm sure.

17

:

as well as, uh, other social media sites.

18

:

Jolyn, please introduce yourself

to our listeners and we'll take

19

:

the conversation from there.

20

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Absolutely.

21

:

Thank you so much for having me.

22

:

as you said, my name is Jolyn Ledgerwood.

23

:

I started my business Elevate

Your Talent a year and a half ago.

24

:

previously I'd worked in corporate

America in various different types.

25

:

Of businesses, startups, cybersecurity,

law, all different types of areas where I

26

:

was director of training and development.

27

:

And absolutely loved training individuals

on how to be better at their work

28

:

and happier find their innate talents

so that they could check those boxes

29

:

while they were at work or while they

were at home, to make them feel like

30

:

they're living a more fulfilled life.

31

:

and doing that in the corporate setting.

32

:

They normally want you to write

manuals and boring stuff like that.

33

:

And so I went out on my own and

started to elevate your talent where

34

:

I coach teams and individuals on

how to work better in the workplace.

35

:

I use several different methodologies.

36

:

The more the most popular is Lego series

play, and I also use Clifton Strengths

37

:

Primal Question, Bob Goff's, dream Big.

38

:

and just try to use those a

more well-rounded approach

39

:

to coaching people and teams.

40

:

Russell Newton: Fantastic.

41

:

Thank you very much.

42

:

you know what I, I, I'm gonna do something

a little different today for the podcast.

43

:

Uh, I, I notice when I go

back and edit the video, I pay

44

:

much more attention to the.

45

:

Uh, surroundings of the people.

46

:

And there are oftentimes

questions that I like to ask

47

:

about what's in the background.

48

:

And I, I see, some yellow

containers on the other side of you.

49

:

Can you lean the other way for a second?

50

:

Yeah.

51

:

and the other things that are on

your bookshelf back there indicates

52

:

that, uh, while you're a serious

professional, uh, you definitely don't

53

:

take a too serious approach to life.

54

:

And of course, that's reflected in

one of your main platforms, the Lego.

55

:

Serious play workshops.

56

:

So those things combined.

57

:

Tell us something about that.

58

:

And then I want to get to the, the

picture on the top of your bookshelf.

59

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah, sure.

60

:

Absolutely.

61

:

so years ago I was having lunch with

a friend that I hadn't spoken to in a

62

:

really long time, and he brought with

him a small kit of six Lego pieces.

63

:

There's four yellow and two

red, and he said, build a duck.

64

:

And I thought, what are

whatcha talking about?

65

:

And of course, it's a very abstract duck

because there's not even number pieces.

66

:

And so I put it together and he

was like, tell me about your duck.

67

:

And I was like.

68

:

Okay, here's the feet, here's

the, you know, the explained it.

69

:

And he had also built a deck and his

was completely different than mine.

70

:

And he said, this is a

work that I've gotten into.

71

:

It's called Lego Serious Play.

72

:

It's allowing people to use

their hands to think through

73

:

questions and problems and whatnot.

74

:

And he said, and it's really cool.

75

:

And I thought, oh my God.

76

:

Yeah, that's really cool.

77

:

So I looked into it.

78

:

There's over 15,000 certified

facilitators overseas.

79

:

There's maybe a hundred

here in the United States.

80

:

And I thought, this is insane.

81

:

Like why?

82

:

Like we're Americans, we like to play.

83

:

And the more I think Right, exactly.

84

:

The more I thought about it, and the

more people I've spoken to, it's because.

85

:

Americans, and again, please

nobody take this personally.

86

:

We have this little box of what

work is supposed to look like, and

87

:

if it doesn't fit in that little

bitty box, then it can't help us.

88

:

We don't want any part of it.

89

:

Forget it.

90

:

Like we have work to do.

91

:

We have real work to do.

92

:

When you bring in play to work

and or playfulness, it doesn't

93

:

matter what that looks like.

94

:

It really does allow people

to let their guard down.

95

:

It gives everybody a voice.

96

:

It allows people to interact

with each other on a level

97

:

that maybe they haven't before.

98

:

imagine the old days when we used to walk

into a conference room or the fishbowl,

99

:

as some people call it, and you'd just

have this like anxiety and this angst

100

:

just kind of creep up on you 'cause

you don't know what's gonna happen.

101

:

You don't know what's gonna be said.

102

:

Versus walking into that same conference

room or fishbowl and every place

103

:

setting has a set of Legos sitting

next to it and you go, a second, what?

104

:

What's this about?

105

:

We're gonna have a strategic session,

but we're gonna have fun while we do it.

106

:

And we use the Legos and the methodology

to really open people's minds and how.

107

:

What is their subconscious telling

them that they don't think to say

108

:

lot of highly, energetic people.

109

:

A-D-H-D-A-D-D, people with just

high anxiety in general don't

110

:

like to sit and do nothing.

111

:

They need something to play with,

something to use their hands on.

112

:

And Lego Series play was

a great way to do that.

113

:

And by doing that in my

business, it kind of helps.

114

:

Propel and financially

support my Lego habit.

115

:

when I was a young adult, when I had

a stressful day or when I was tired, I

116

:

would find a Lego set that I really liked

and would buy it and build it, and that

117

:

Russell Newton: Okay.

118

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: my stress.

119

:

That just allowed me to just

kind of zen and chill and as.

120

:

Lego continues to grow.

121

:

Their sets are just becoming phenomenal.

122

:

Russell Newton: right.

123

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: and over sets are, I

mean, some of them are just beautiful.

124

:

The Starry Night is my absolute favorite.

125

:

the Great Wave was fun to do, but it

wasn't as colorful, you know, so it's

126

:

just, it's exciting to have something

else to do with one of my passions.

127

:

Russell Newton: So much in there.

128

:

Yeah.

129

:

so we both have a international,

corporate IT background, sounds like.

130

:

So, Yeah, I remember walking into the,

the boardroom was our, our big meeting

131

:

room or the teleconference room at that.

132

:

Of course, this was before Zoom

and everything was so common, so

133

:

teleconference was more rare, and a

little more nerve wracking and a little

134

:

pickier hardly ever worked, seemed like.

135

:

but when you walk in and, I mean,

honestly, we usually look for

136

:

cookies or, something on the table,

but to have a manipulative there.

137

:

rather than just an agenda.

138

:

Yeah.

139

:

Just changes the mindset of

everybody walking into the room.

140

:

I imagine conversations are

completely different of people

141

:

beginning the meeting and so forth.

142

:

That sounds like a

great, a great approach.

143

:

I was reminded of a Rorschach test almost

with your first, uh, with your first

144

:

duck, uh, and how that was put together.

145

:

So that's, uh.

146

:

I wouldn't be able to draw much conclusion

from it, but it's an interesting premise

147

:

to base a conversation and a, and a

development, developing a relationship on.

148

:

It's great.

149

:

yeah.

150

:

Legos are, European.

151

:

I, I'm gonna name a country,

but I'm gonna get it wrong.

152

:

Are they, are they finished

153

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: So Dutch?

154

:

Mm-hmm.

155

:

Russell Newton: Dutch?

156

:

Yeah.

157

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah.

158

:

Russell Newton: Yeah.

159

:

So I imagine, maybe

that's why a little more.

160

:

Accepted in the business world,

overseas, then in the States.

161

:

But really,

162

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah.

163

:

Russell Newton: Lego is pretty big in

the us Like I say, there's so many kits.

164

:

I never did a, I never was a Lego

guy myself, but you have a long

165

:

history of Lego use, so it makes

you an expert coming into the,

166

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Ooh, I

don't know about an expert.

167

:

I like to follow the

rules when I get my books.

168

:

a lot of people say that they take

the rule book and toss it and just

169

:

build whatever they wanna build.

170

:

I don't have a creative

brain like that, so

171

:

Russell Newton: okay.

172

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: walking into a room.

173

:

those Lego bricks, I'd probably

be one of 'em that's like, I'm not

174

:

creative, I don't know what I'm doing.

175

:

just starting with something small

facilitators have, you know, a regimen

176

:

to kind of just get people comfortable

with the bricks and get them touching

177

:

and you know, moving 'em around and

clicking pieces together and not, and it

178

:

really just kind of takes that edge off.

179

:

if you're in the room, you're building.

180

:

that's the leaders, the

CEO, the operating officer.

181

:

If they're in the room all the

way down to, I don't know, your

182

:

administrative assistant might be

in the room or the new person that

183

:

just started might be in the room.

184

:

Everybody builds.

185

:

Everybody has a place at the table and

everybody gets the same time and energy

186

:

in explaining their builds, what's in it,

what's not, all types of different things.

187

:

But you'd really be amazed if you.

188

:

Could hear and see, and I working really

hard to get somebody to allow recording,

189

:

to see some of the output that you get.

190

:

I mean, when, when I was first

learning how to do this, I'm gonna

191

:

scramble in my kit that we always use,

we were told Build your ideal CEO.

192

:

And I thought, okay,

193

:

Russell Newton: Your ideal?

194

:

What?

195

:

Say that again.

196

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: CEO,

197

:

Russell Newton: CEO.

198

:

Okay.

199

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah.

200

:

C, chief executive officer.

201

:

Russell Newton: Okay.

202

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: And it, a

lot of it's metaphor usage, so.

203

:

this green brick can mean a green brick.

204

:

It can mean future, growth.

205

:

It can mean a turtle, it

could mean ecolo, you know?

206

:

yeah.

207

:

the word just escape me again.

208

:

environmental awareness, it

could mean anything like that.

209

:

So whatever you say the

bricks mean is what they mean.

210

:

Russell Newton: Okay.

211

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: so I built this, and

I'm gonna put it on a little pedestal

212

:

so you can see I built my ideal CEO.

213

:

And this is obviously just a very small

part of it, but it was, it was really cool

214

:

because the facilitator was able to ask

me a question, there's, that was my ideal.

215

:

CEO.

216

:

It's just a little Lego mini

figure with one foot up.

217

:

I do not recall intentionally

putting the foot up.

218

:

I don't recall my brain telling me, oh,

don't forget, you need to, he needs to

219

:

have a, he or she needs to have a foot up.

220

:

And so when the facilitator

looked at my model.

221

:

And asked, you know,

what does that leg mean?

222

:

His leg is up, does that

mean anything to you?

223

:

And I thought,

224

:

yeah, I think it means that I want

him to be forward motion and always

225

:

moving forward, not stagnant.

226

:

And this is where we are and

this is what we're doing, but

227

:

how can we make this even better?

228

:

Or how can we be even better together?

229

:

ever since all of my Lego figures now

have one leg up because that's for me,

230

:

that's taking me back to when I first

learned how to do this and what it was

231

:

about, and it just, asking the questions

and hearing some of the responses.

232

:

Even the members themselves are surprised.

233

:

you build with your hands, you open

up 80% more of your brain power.

234

:

And I tell people, don't overthink it.

235

:

Just build whatever your hands are doing.

236

:

Just build, keep doing something

to, don't overthink it.

237

:

Just build.

238

:

the models that they come up

with are just fascinating.

239

:

It's even at, it works for business

corporate groups, it works for

240

:

individuals, it works for small groups.

241

:

one of the groups I was coaching.

242

:

A woman had to bring her kids in

'cause school was out in the daycare,

243

:

wasn't open for some reason, their

builds were just as good, if not a

244

:

different, completely different aspect.

245

:

But the adult build, so everybody

has a seat at the table.

246

:

It doesn't matter how old you are,

where you've been, what you're doing,

247

:

I'm actually thinking of creating a.

248

:

Like a, not a subscription box, but

like a parenting play with purpose.

249

:

So helping parents with these kids,

having more conversations with their kids

250

:

instead of phone and digital all the time.

251

:

We sit around the table and we talk

about, know, we're building and

252

:

we're asking questions, and we're

understanding a little bit more about

253

:

what's going on in our kids' minds that

they can't articulate as well, verbally

254

:

as they can when they're building.

255

:

Russell Newton: A lot in there as well.

256

:

Just the, the process of your

hands doing something allows your

257

:

mind to work in a different way.

258

:

So different things come to

mind or don't come to mind, but

259

:

are present in the work there.

260

:

kind of similar sounds like to maybe

stream of consciousness writing or,

261

:

uh, what are they, there's a phrase

for the certain type of journaling.

262

:

Whereas just you just basically,

it's stream of consciousness,

263

:

but they don't call it that,

but it's just, just put it out.

264

:

Just let the pen go.

265

:

You're not overthinking it, you're

just, you're just doing, have you

266

:

done this with a, you mentioned

some, a mother and children.

267

:

Have you done it in a family type,

I don't wanna call it therapy or

268

:

counseling, but in a family session.

269

:

Have you tried that or is it mostly

a smaller group just professionally

270

:

related or socially related?

271

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: It's

a great question and I.

272

:

My husband lives in Nashville with

his two boys, and so I, and I live

273

:

in Dallas, Texas with my girls.

274

:

And so I sent him sets for he and

the boys to do together, with prompts

275

:

and questions and all the details.

276

:

I wasn't there, I was here, but

he videotaped it and sent me the

277

:

video of what they talked about

and what it was like, and, So for

278

:

that aspect, yes, I have, I enjoy

doing it with individuals as well.

279

:

There's a standard kit that I send my,

coachee and they're, it's a mix match

280

:

of bricks, but they're all the same.

281

:

So each bag is the same that I, that I

send out and I'll send, you know, I'll

282

:

ask, give them prompts over the Zoom or

whatever we're using of, you know, build

283

:

your ideal job, build something that

makes you happy, build something that.

284

:

You see as an impediment in your business?

285

:

And we talk about the builds as

they build and we reflect and we

286

:

look at the question, you know, we

look at aspects of the builds to

287

:

kind of bring awareness to them.

288

:

You know, I see that the,

you know, the bottom base is

289

:

like black and brown bricks.

290

:

Is there a reason?

291

:

Yeah, I just, I feel like I'm

kind of stuck and I'm like,

292

:

okay, let's talk about that.

293

:

How do we get around that and how

do we or work through that and

294

:

how do we get to a better place?

295

:

but yeah, the bricks, are you one-on-one?

296

:

They can be small groups.

297

:

The largest group that I like doing is

probably 12 to 15, just because you want

298

:

everybody to have time to share and.

299

:

So, yeah, individuals are so fun because

they're like, my kids are gonna be

300

:

jealous when I get a bag of Legos.

301

:

Like, right, but they're yours.

302

:

They're not for them just yet.

303

:

And I encourage people to

leave them on their desk.

304

:

I know you don't want stuff on your

desk, but find a small little container

305

:

that you can store your Legos in.

306

:

And if you have a brain block,

or if you're having a bad day, or

307

:

if you're looking for, you know,

bring the bricks out and start

308

:

building again and see what happens.

309

:

You'd be amazed at some of the things that

your brain's gonna put through your hands

310

:

that's not actively percolating up there.

311

:

Russell Newton: That's great.

312

:

you know, so many times we, I'm reminded

of like the Executive Zen Garden.

313

:

Right, that you, you'll see every, and

I have one, actually, I don't have it

314

:

on the table here, but I do have one.

315

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah.

316

:

Russell Newton: if nothing else, a

stress ball or what used to be the

317

:

wave, you know, the, the blue and clear

liquid thing that rocked back and forth,

318

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Mm-hmm.

319

:

Russell Newton: those types of things.

320

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: shook it and then it

321

:

Russell Newton: Exactly.

322

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: everything.

323

:

Russell Newton: That's right.

324

:

The bubbles in and then started

leaking and all the, yeah.

325

:

oops, I dropped it.

326

:

Is that a bad thing?

327

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: And that's

the, you know, I understand.

328

:

I don't like clutter on my desk either,

but there's plenty of days where I break

329

:

out my Legos and try to work through,

you know, what does this look like

330

:

to me and what do I want it to look

like and what's stopping me and why.

331

:

And, it's, it's really fascinating.

332

:

Russell Newton: Have you ever

had somebody just flat refuse?

333

:

I'm not gonna play with those.

334

:

Uh, I'm too mature for that.

335

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yes.

336

:

in a group setting, and

337

:

Russell Newton: I.

338

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: I'm not the

one, I'm not trying to force

339

:

Russell Newton: Right.

340

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: This is an

activity we would like for you to

341

:

participate, if you'll just try.

342

:

a couple things we do at the

beginning that are really innocuous.

343

:

It's like, no, right, or,

I mean, just putting bricks

344

:

together is all you're doing.

345

:

We, you just will you try, give it a

chance and just see what you think.

346

:

And normally by the third

or fourth exercise, they're

347

:

Russell Newton: Yeah.

348

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: that

are jumping to the other

349

:

Russell Newton: Yeah.

350

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: get more

bricks or ask, you know.

351

:

Like I said, I'm not cre,

I'm not a creative person.

352

:

Like that's just not how my,

I'm very black and white.

353

:

I'm, I'm that box normally kind of person.

354

:

So to put Legos in front of people,

it kind of lets their guard down.

355

:

It just kind of says, we're

just like, this is just play.

356

:

We're just putting pieces together

and you know, I'm, I'm not

357

:

trying to be manipulative at all.

358

:

It's just a different way to

open your brain to what's going

359

:

on inside of there without.

360

:

Struggling to find the right words.

361

:

'cause somebody might misinterpret

or struggling to say the right thing

362

:

because maybe that's not a good idea.

363

:

When we're building, we can say,

this is what I think is a potential,

364

:

know, way for us to have more sales.

365

:

And we talk about it and there's

other people that'll say, oh, I

366

:

didn't even think about that, or

I didn't know you thought that.

367

:

That's amazing.

368

:

Like it really opens us up to

understanding more of each other and

369

:

understanding more of ourselves too.

370

:

Russell Newton: Yeah.

371

:

Yeah.

372

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah.

373

:

Russell Newton: Now I could give

someone a stack of Legos and ask

374

:

them to build something and, you

know, coach them through something

375

:

and, and come up with a product.

376

:

But you're basing that entire

process on something, a, a much

377

:

deeper understanding of things that

are going on in the background.

378

:

So while we, the foreground is, is

looking at the Legos, the background,

379

:

you must have a, um, a lot of

training, a lot of experience in.

380

:

At least counseling, if not therapy.

381

:

Can you tell us about your, your

background on that side of things?

382

:

Uh, schooling experience that,

383

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Absolutely.

384

:

Russell Newton: maybe what school I, I

know I saw some, did I see neurolinguistic

385

:

and I was thought, I was reminded of NLP,

but I didn't know, I seen neuroscience

386

:

based is the phrase that was in my mind.

387

:

if there's a school that you come from

or that the work is based off of, can

388

:

you just share some of the professional

389

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah,

390

:

Russell Newton: aspects there?

391

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: You'll be surprised.

392

:

I'm not a counselor, I'm

not a therapist, I'm a

393

:

Russell Newton: Okay.

394

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: And if in my

work I find that maybe that's a

395

:

direction that I wanna encourage my

clients to go to, I absolutely will.

396

:

I'm a huge advocate for mental health.

397

:

I see a counselor regularly, my kids.

398

:

so really my background's

a little bit different.

399

:

I, I don't have a college education.

400

:

I went to college for three and

a half years, studied nursing

401

:

at Texas Tech University.

402

:

my third year, my dean

was aware and noticed.

403

:

You use all the tutors that are

available, you're here at class every

404

:

day, like what is going on with you?

405

:

So she sent me to see an

educational psychologist.

406

:

This is back in 95, 96, when learning

disabilities weren't a thing.

407

:

It was, well, you're not studying

hard enough, or you're not trying

408

:

hard enough, or you're not.

409

:

Listening in class or whatever.

410

:

she, the educational psychologist,

diagnosed me with a pretty

411

:

severe learning disability.

412

:

and it was kind of a wake up call

like, okay, so now it makes sense

413

:

why I've struggled so much in school

and I was an AB student, I had to

414

:

bring home all my books every night

to study all the things every night.

415

:

It was just, it wasn't fun for me.

416

:

work at the time was going great.

417

:

I was being rewarded for being,

I was in the restaurant business.

418

:

Being an awesome employee.

419

:

I was traveling over the summer to

train new employees at new restaurants,

420

:

and so I thought, you know what?

421

:

This is, this feels really

good and this really does it.

422

:

So I went the path in the learn the

rest in the restaurant business, and.

423

:

to work up to the corporate office

where I could then help managers

424

:

train their employees on how to be

good employees, how to train others.

425

:

I really wanted to focus on the

different adult learning principles.

426

:

Everybody learns so

completely differently.

427

:

I could hand you a paper and say,

study this, and you'd probably knock

428

:

it out in an hour, hour and a half.

429

:

For me to sit down and read an article

like that, I would have to have like.

430

:

A completely silent room.

431

:

No other distractions, like

I just don't learn that way.

432

:

And so I really focused my career

on helping others learn in different

433

:

ways, helping understand that

not everybody learns the same.

434

:

and like I said, I worked from

the restaurant business up to, I

435

:

did a small stint in retail and

then I went to IT cybersecurity.

436

:

Here I am today.

437

:

So I don't have any professional

education at a, at a university,

438

:

but I have a ton of life experience.

439

:

I've been certified in several

different methodologies, and I continue

440

:

to want to learn new methodologies.

441

:

I know there's so much out there that

resonate differently with different

442

:

people, and so I try to use that

experience to help them through whatever

443

:

it is that they might be going through.

444

:

Russell Newton: I hope my question didn't

445

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: No,

446

:

Russell Newton: as,

447

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: not at all.

448

:

No.

449

:

I'm an open book.

450

:

Russell Newton: As an

academic at which I am not.

451

:

I mean, a, I did, I taught

high school for quite a while.

452

:

so some of the things you, you talk about

there, not so much from an experience

453

:

of myself, but in dealing with chil,

with children, with, high schoolers,

454

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood:

deserve like all the, I.

455

:

I, yes.

456

:

They're amazing people.

457

:

Mm-hmm.

458

:

Russell Newton: um, I taught in a,

a, a private Christian school, so

459

:

it was quite a different situation

than a lot of public school teachers.

460

:

Yeah.

461

:

In um.

462

:

The, the orders of magnitudes

of difference between

463

:

my situation and theirs.

464

:

But you mentioned learning disabilities

and we did a, a podcast episode a week

465

:

or two ago with Rick Coton and it was,

uh, talked about his A DHD and the

466

:

struggles, but also, and then on the

other side and, and really learning

467

:

disabilities become a, a regular piece

of conversation on the podcast because

468

:

once the it and I, I'm gonna say this.

469

:

Hoping you'll correct

me or, or confirm it?

470

:

either way.

471

:

so, and there's a little history to the

question because, uh, and I've, I've

472

:

gone through this before as a young

teacher starting in the mid eighties.

473

:

I'll date myself again.

474

:

Uh, learning disability wasn't a thing.

475

:

You, you knew you had problem

kids, you knew he had smart kids.

476

:

So, and maybe the dumb kids too,

depending on how you wanted to.

477

:

The kids that didn't care.

478

:

We'll see, we'll put it that way.

479

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Exactly.

480

:

Russell Newton: know,

481

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: yeah.

482

:

Russell Newton: a wide range of things.

483

:

So we didn't know there

wasn't really a diagnosis.

484

:

And the first time I came across

it, it was very uncomfortable for

485

:

me because I didn't know how to work

with this, with this one student,

486

:

you know, and the parents were asking

questions that I couldn't answer.

487

:

I, I was not prepared for it in any way.

488

:

But it seems like as things have changed

in education and in in society itself.

489

:

Well, learning disability still has

some stigma, but not the stigma maybe

490

:

that it used to have, and just the fact

that you can name it, you can, if not

491

:

point to a cause, at least you can point

to a, a commonality, you know, this is

492

:

something, this is not, you're not just,

you're not weird, you're not different.

493

:

You're a smaller representation

in the population

494

:

and then learning to harness

that or work around it.

495

:

I think is really, it's just one struggle

that a lot of very successful people

496

:

have gone through on top of number,

no, nobody gets to be, you know, real

497

:

successful without the struggles.

498

:

but identifying that,

harnessing it if possible.

499

:

You mentioned to overcoming

it, finding a way around it

500

:

to, to surmount that challenge.

501

:

Does any of that theory hold water?

502

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Well, you touched

on a lot there, Russell, and I'm

503

:

Russell Newton: Yes.

504

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: with, and

that's good that, that's all good.

505

:

It's great conversation.

506

:

I'm gonna start with you didn't know back

then and we didn't know back then we did.

507

:

You know, and so it wasn't

you individually, you didn't

508

:

know how to, nobody did.

509

:

We

510

:

Russell Newton: Right.

511

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: a society.

512

:

think that may not be right with the kid.

513

:

It's just they're not trying hard enough.

514

:

Like try harder.

515

:

Okay.

516

:

You, you can't do that necessarily.

517

:

I can try as hard as I want, but if

there's a squirrel, then I'm out.

518

:

Like, see you later, alligator.

519

:

so.

520

:

I, I interviewed with somebody once and

he said his A DHD is his superpower.

521

:

I was like, okay, well that's a,

that's a good way of, I mean, that's

522

:

Russell Newton: Yeah.

523

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: of embracing it.

524

:

I recognized when I was doing, when there

would be like sales kickoff meetings that

525

:

were in conference rooms that you take

high energy people, salesmen, saleswomen,

526

:

you put them in a conference room or a.

527

:

with tables, you know, eight pieces,

eight, eight people per table.

528

:

And then you force them to listen

to a sales leader for two days.

529

:

They're outta their

minds like they are gone.

530

:

after the, and I noticed the first

day they would stand up, they'd

531

:

kind of pace back and forth.

532

:

They'd go to the, you know,

they were always like moving

533

:

Russell Newton: Even that.

534

:

Pardon the interruption.

535

:

Even that is very school-like.

536

:

Right?

537

:

It goes back to fifties education.

538

:

Sit at your assigned seat, listen

to what's going on and learn.

539

:

Yeah.

540

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: No,

you're exactly right.

541

:

It's, this is how we're gonna teach you.

542

:

I have to stand up here.

543

:

You have to sit down there and

listen and this is important stuff.

544

:

So you have to listen.

545

:

Russell Newton: Listen well.

546

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: You are right.

547

:

Right.

548

:

And they're not, because they're

not active, they're not engaged.

549

:

They, it's, care how great.

550

:

Of a speaker you have, if he's not a or

she's not a comedian, or not somebody that

551

:

can bring a lot of humor into it, it's

gonna be really dry, boring information.

552

:

And yes, it's important that

they learn, but process isn't

553

:

about well I give it to you.

554

:

It's how well are they accepting

that information and if they're

555

:

not accepting that information.

556

:

Then it's a complete loss.

557

:

So the second day I brought in

Play-Doh and I put a piece of a little

558

:

small conter, not a big one, just

a small container and every seat.

559

:

And they came in, they're like,

what's up with the Play-Doh?

560

:

And I'm like, you, it's yours.

561

:

Whatever you wanna do with it, do with it.

562

:

Well, is it for like an activity later?

563

:

No.

564

:

Just use it.

565

:

And I'm telling you what Russell, I did

not, there was no scientific method.

566

:

There was just like a hunch.

567

:

That day, they sat at the tables, they

were listening to the conversation

568

:

while they were playing, building

the most intricate designs with

569

:

Play-Doh I have ever seen in my life.

570

:

But it allowed me to see that,

that they need something to do.

571

:

Like just throwing people in a

conference room and saying, let's

572

:

brainstorm isn't gonna work.

573

:

Like a lot of people don't, their

brains just don't work like that.

574

:

One of the methodologies I

teach is strengths, Clifton

575

:

strengths finders, which if, if.

576

:

is not, and there's different,

34 different themes and talents.

577

:

It rates your one through 34

that everybody has the same.

578

:

It just depends on how they're rated.

579

:

If the four or five strategic are not

in your top five, if I put you in a

580

:

conference room, you just shut down.

581

:

Your brain

582

:

Russell Newton: Yeah.

583

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: that way.

584

:

You don't wanna inc.

585

:

You don't wanna participate because that.

586

:

When it comes to a new hire,

I am all about that new hire.

587

:

I'm gonna make sure that

person feels wanted seen.

588

:

I'm gonna help teach 'em

whatever they need to learn.

589

:

But it's different ways

that our brains work.

590

:

And when we force people to do

things that are against the way that

591

:

their brain works, they shut down.

592

:

They don't wanna be a part of it,

they can almost become negative

593

:

and have like a really, tarnished

interpretation of what's happening.

594

:

but yeah, the A DHD, it manifests

in so many different ways.

595

:

And it manifests different in everybody.

596

:

I heard a, a quote a long time ago.

597

:

It's not what's wrong with us,

it's what's happened to us.

598

:

So

599

:

Russell Newton: Wow.

600

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: I know I was

like, oh, that hits, if there's been

601

:

trauma in our past, if there's been

situations in our past that have been

602

:

really positive or really negative,

that really does taint who we are as

603

:

adults and it really does show that.

604

:

It's not that I'm not trying,

it's that I'm not motivated.

605

:

I'm not.

606

:

I don't feel safe, I don't feel important.

607

:

There's other aspects to

that of people shutting down.

608

:

And when coaches or leaders in different

positions can see that and can recognize

609

:

and acknowledge that, I think that

really allows the learner A DHD or not

610

:

to just kind of go, okay, I feel seen.

611

:

I feel like I'm safe here.

612

:

and that's really, really important.

613

:

Russell Newton: When you say

learner, of course you replace that

614

:

with person because that applies

in whatever the situation is.

615

:

Business, family, social,

616

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yep.

617

:

Russell Newton: whatever.

618

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah,

619

:

Russell Newton: say that

quote again for me, please.

620

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: it's

621

:

Russell Newton: It

622

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: what's wrong with

you, it's what's what happened to you.

623

:

Russell Newton: that,

that's really strong.

624

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah,

625

:

Russell Newton: yeah, we should

have that plastered in a, in a

626

:

lot of classrooms and, a lot of,

business offices around the country.

627

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: yeah.

628

:

And I

629

:

I may not have it with me,

but, there was a book written.

630

:

I will, yeah.

631

:

Hold on.

632

:

It's on my bookshelf.

633

:

Dr.

634

:

Bruce Perry wrote the book originally

and then Oprah Winfrey came back and

635

:

did a whole series with, with him on it.

636

:

and just the, and I'll be happy

to send this to you if you wanna

637

:

show your, share, your listeners.

638

:

It's, it's not something that I said by

any stretch, but the methodology behind

639

:

it is fascinating and just how deep.

640

:

Some of those wounds may be

641

:

Russell Newton: Right.

642

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: themselves

don't even recognize it.

643

:

They don't even see or understand why

they're having that triggered response.

644

:

But when you dig a little bit

deeper, you're like, okay,

645

:

that makes a lot of sense.

646

:

Russell Newton: Yeah, well,

that, that's really strong.

647

:

We talked in a, again, in a previous

episode, not, I don't think the

648

:

episode's even been released yet

649

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Okay.

650

:

Russell Newton: trauma, identifying

trauma and, you know, we hear trauma

651

:

and we think er, PTSD, significant

abuse as a child, but that's,

652

:

trauma can be shallower than that.

653

:

It can be deeper than that.

654

:

And you alluded, uh, I asked you to tie

these two concepts together maybe, because

655

:

in your personal coaching, you certainly

come across people as you alluded to,

656

:

that you would recommend, to some,

to someone with a different approach.

657

:

Someone with a, uh, maybe

a medical background, a

658

:

psychiatrist or a psychologist.

659

:

What would you say to a listener

who, Is on the borderline.

660

:

Maybe.

661

:

You know, they, they, obviously

they're listening to the podcast.

662

:

They may be reading materials

and, you know, making some

663

:

progress, trying some things.

664

:

But there seems to be a roadblock

or something they don't understand,

665

:

something they can't get past.

666

:

Maybe they're hesitant about the,

again, stigma of having counseling.

667

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Like I said earlier,

I am a huge advocate for mental health.

668

:

I also recognize that a particular

counselor is not gonna provide the

669

:

same result to different people.

670

:

Russell Newton: Exactly.

671

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: recommendation is

to always talk to somebody, like if you

672

:

find a counselor that you really enjoy.

673

:

Talk to them.

674

:

If you find a coach that you feel

like can really tap into what you

675

:

need and is driving you and pushing

you forward to be better and to.

676

:

Sometimes we can't heal those wounds

and we can't heal that trauma, but

677

:

we can learn how to deal with it.

678

:

and that's been huge

in my personal journey.

679

:

but people that are struggling,

like find somebody that you feel

680

:

comfortable talking to, it doesn't

have to be a licensed professional.

681

:

Sometimes that's helpful

depending on how deep and.

682

:

How much it's affecting your life.

683

:

Maybe that's important, but if you

have a pastor minister that's important

684

:

to you, or a dear family friend,

maybe a friend of your parents that

685

:

was part of you growing up that may

understand some of those things about

686

:

what you went through, now more than

ever, mental health is being accepted.

687

:

Russell Newton: Right.

688

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: anybody

tells you that that's.

689

:

Not okay.

690

:

Or, oh, you shouldn't go see a counselor.

691

:

Those are the people sadly,

that probably need it the most.

692

:

So

693

:

Russell Newton: Fine.

694

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: what you need and

get the help that you need depending

695

:

on wherever you're sitting, and know

that you're worthy and of being better.

696

:

You are more than enough to bring to

the table, in your space, wherever

697

:

that space looks like for you.

698

:

But you are loved and you are.

699

:

Important to the people

that are around you.

700

:

So talk to somebody and find somebody

that can really listen to you and can

701

:

help you and kind of see where you are and

where you wanna go, and can give you some

702

:

really practical tips on how to get there.

703

:

Russell Newton: We use the phrase

on the podcast, occasionally talk

704

:

therapy, which most people have

the concept of, okay, that's the

705

:

formal setting I'm on the couch.

706

:

Or you know, if it's an NLP or A-A-C-B-T

type of session where it's a, um,

707

:

I'm having, you know, a conversation.

708

:

But really studies show, talk therapy is

not a, a formal therapeutic relationship

709

:

that's required, as you say, anybody, a,

a pastor, a friend, a an old teacher, a.

710

:

A younger person in your life,

711

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yeah.

712

:

Russell Newton: uh, really can

create a lot of openings and a lot

713

:

of possibility for understanding

and progress within your own head.

714

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Absolutely.

715

:

Yep.

716

:

Russell Newton: Yeah.

717

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: And,

718

:

not every counselor's gonna fit you.

719

:

If you go

720

:

Russell Newton: that's important too.

721

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: is awful.

722

:

Like, that's okay.

723

:

That's not the same as everybody else.

724

:

And it's okay to ask for what you

want when you set those appointments.

725

:

You know, I wanna be able to just spill

all of my stuff and not be judged,

726

:

and the counselors should quickly.

727

:

Absolutely.

728

:

Would you like for me to help you

with any of those things or, I just

729

:

wanted to make that differentiation

that not all counselors are

730

:

gonna be great for everybody.

731

:

Find the one that works for you.

732

:

And there may even come a point if

you've been seeing them for two or three

733

:

years that it doesn't work anymore.

734

:

And so it's okay to find a new counselor.

735

:

My husband's been seeing the

same guy for 12 years, I think,

736

:

which I think is phenomenal.

737

:

I'm glad that they've got that connection.

738

:

I've never been so lucky.

739

:

So I find different counselors

every once in a while.

740

:

Russell Newton: Those

are all great points.

741

:

If you have someone that's

discouraging you from.

742

:

Counseling or coaching or mentoring

or therapy, whatever level it is,

743

:

that's the person, as you say,

that might need it the most and

744

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Mm-hmm.

745

:

Russell Newton: why they

would discourage someone.

746

:

There must be some selfish reason there.

747

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: insecurity.

748

:

There's

749

:

Russell Newton: some.

750

:

Exactly.

751

:

Exactly.

752

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: up everywhere.

753

:

Yeah.

754

:

Russell Newton: But if you're in

a relationship, in a professional

755

:

relationship with a mentor or someone and

they discourage you from expanding into

756

:

something else, that's the same red flag.

757

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Absolutely.

758

:

Russell Newton: Yeah, I was surprised

I took some graduate courses, when I

759

:

was still teaching in counsel in school

counseling, so I have a little bit of

760

:

familiarity with it, and I was surprised.

761

:

At one point they talked about, you

know, how you, how people should

762

:

find a counselor, and this was

in counseling education process.

763

:

They said the first thing a person

should do is call multiple counselors

764

:

and do an intake interview.

765

:

Because as you say, you, you may

not, you probably not find it on the

766

:

first, you know, do people find it?

767

:

Did you find your dentist

on your first visit?

768

:

You know the I did because it was in

second grade and that's where I had to go.

769

:

Right.

770

:

That was the only option there was, but.

771

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: and you

just brought up a good point.

772

:

It's not just about you liking and

feeling comfortable with a counselor.

773

:

The counselor needs to be

comfortable with you too.

774

:

And if there's something that,

and again, we all have our

775

:

baggage, we all have our trauma.

776

:

If there's something that's in your world

that maybe isn't comfortable for them,

777

:

then it's okay for them to say, Hey,

I'd love to help you, but I really think

778

:

maybe you could try this person instead.

779

:

Great.

780

:

If you don't know where to start,

talk to people in your community or,

781

:

know, talk to people that you know and

just you guys know of any counselors

782

:

I can start talking to or call a

counselor, like you said, just do intake

783

:

interviews and talk to people and see

if it's gonna be a good fit for you.

784

:

They should not charge side note for

785

:

Russell Newton: Exactly.

786

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: just to make

787

:

Russell Newton: Good point.

788

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: But yeah,

I mean, health is really,

789

:

Russell Newton: I.

790

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: and the hierarchy,

depending on your faith, you and

791

:

then your spouse, and then your

kids, and then everything else.

792

:

And on the top of mostly

all of those is you.

793

:

'cause if you're not a healthy you,

you can't be healthy for anybody else.

794

:

You can't be present and, aware

of all the things if you're

795

:

struggling in your own space.

796

:

Russell Newton: I think we've, anybody,

even the casual listener at this

797

:

point, certainly understands that.

798

:

As we said at the top, while your business

model deals mostly with work related

799

:

things, the things that work to fix

problems at work, work to fix problems

800

:

at home, and everywhere else, if there

is someone, and, and here's my segue for

801

:

you to, to make things available as much

as you'd like, if there's a listener.

802

:

That is interested in learning more.

803

:

I know your primary website

is elevate your talent.co.

804

:

so listeners, you can check that

out and see a little bit about,

805

:

some of the things involved there,

but there's also a tab there or a

806

:

button there for one-to-one coaching.

807

:

Jolynn Ledgerwood: Yes, absolutely.

808

:

yeah, elevate your talent.co

809

:

or you can find me on

LinkedIn, Jolyn Ledgerwood.

810

:

I also have a personal coaching

website called Jolyn Ledge.

811

:

Coach, you're more than welcome to

reach out there, and individual time.

812

:

I, you know, I wanna talk about

what's going on in your world.

813

:

I'm gonna ask challenging questions.

814

:

I'll send you some Legos that we can play

with and kind of work through some things.

815

:

There's different methodologies I use.

816

:

Clifton strengths, I think is

phenomenally successful in the

817

:

personal and the professional world.

818

:

So when you explain your work to

me, it's called Clifton Strengths.

819

:

It's the Clifton strengths finder.

820

:

Yeah.

821

:

it's a, yeah, it's a, an,

it's an assessment you take.

822

:

It's not a test, it's just an assessment.

823

:

And the questions are really random.

824

:

It's gonna be like, do you like to walk

your dog or do you like to make lasagna?

825

:

And you're like, these have

nothing to do with each other.

826

:

There's a purpose through it.

827

:

and when we get the results of that

is when I'm really able to talk about

828

:

what drives you, what motivates you

to do the work that you do, and what,

829

:

what are hindrances that you have?

830

:

And I don't wanna say the

opposite of strength is weak.

831

:

And I don't call these weaknesses.

832

:

I call these lesser strengths

because we all have them.

833

:

And sometimes you go.

834

:

and if I have a quick second to give

an example, my number 34, which is

835

:

the bottom of the bottom is empathy.

836

:

I was like, I'm a mom of of

my own kids and two, right.

837

:

It's because I have another.

838

:

Strength that's higher called

individualization and high responsibility.

839

:

So when my little girls were young

and they would trip and fall on

840

:

the sidewalk, my first response was

not the empathetic, oh, I'm sorry.

841

:

Are you okay?

842

:

She up your toe.

843

:

What happened?

844

:

My first response was.

845

:

Well, why did you trip?

846

:

Were you not looking where you're going?

847

:

Is your shoe not tied?

848

:

You know, yes, I can engage my empathy,

but I know that that is an intentional,

849

:

I'm really sorry you're struggling.

850

:

That's gotta be so hard.

851

:

I look at what causes

us to be where we are.

852

:

Yeah, solve the problem first, right?

853

:

So it's different, but we

all have the same strengths.

854

:

It just depends.

855

:

Depends on.

856

:

What order they pop up in.

857

:

just a little stat.

858

:

One in 277,000 people will

have your same top five.

859

:

One in 33 million will

have them in that order.

860

:

that really resonates with

how different we really are.

861

:

So my top five strengths,

there's only 33 million people.

862

:

No, there's one in 33 million people

that have those same strengths.

863

:

It's really rare.

864

:

And they're probably not here in the

United States, so we'll say that.

865

:

but yeah, I just, I take an individual

approach, like, what are you looking for?

866

:

How can I help you?

867

:

How often do you wanna meet?

868

:

There's all types of, ways, and I, you

know, you mentioned it earlier, it's

869

:

not just you as a person and who you

are, it's who you are as a father and

870

:

who you are as a employee or who you

are as a leader or who you are as a dad.

871

:

And how does that show up in.

872

:

The, the things that you do every single

day and how do you want to be better or

873

:

different and how can I help support that?

874

:

So it's, it's a different approach.

875

:

Yeah.

876

:

Myers Briggs.

877

:

Yeah, that's okay.

878

:

Disc, they're all the same.

879

:

Yeah.

880

:

I don't, I'm not one, no, I'm sorry.

881

:

Yeah.

882

:

And not all are gonna resonate

with you versus the other.

883

:

Like there's a lot of people that

like live and die by Myers Briggs

884

:

and it just, it doesn't speak to me.

885

:

Disc is normally like on projects

at work, not holistic person.

886

:

I, yeah.

887

:

Oh, please.

888

:

Yeah.

889

:

Yes,

890

:

absolutely.

891

:

Yeah.

892

:

Well, and that's the, and what

you said is ride their masks.

893

:

So when I do an assessment at work, I'm

thinking, who am I supposed to be here

894

:

and how am I supposed to be that way?

895

:

when I ask people to do strengths in a.

896

:

Mutual environment.

897

:

Don't think about work,

don't think about home.

898

:

Just think about you as a person.

899

:

What makes you happy?

900

:

What drives you, what makes you feel good?

901

:

You know, all those things.

902

:

And the thing about strengths is once

I get those results, I can go, okay,

903

:

now how can we apply these to work?

904

:

How can we apply these to home and

how can we apply these to being a

905

:

dad or being a whatever, and what do

they really mean to you individually?

906

:

Because I find that if someone's reports

high strategic and they're in a leadership

907

:

role, I'm like, great, what a perfect fit.

908

:

That's amazing.

909

:

if I have somebody that's not very

strategic in a leadership role.

910

:

They are, they feel challenged by

that, and I'm like, that's when

911

:

you know your team and you know

what your team's strengths are, and

912

:

you cater to their, their higher

strengths if they're lesser for you.

913

:

For example, I was director of

training at a cybersecurity company.

914

:

I am not strategic at all.

915

:

I'm the woo hoo everybody

love, just have fun.

916

:

Let's you know I'm the

positivity, whatever.

917

:

So I went to my instructional

designer and I said, Hey, we have

918

:

to write a plan for next year.

919

:

What do you think?

920

:

He's like, I'm on it.

921

:

Two days later, he brings this plan.

922

:

It was, we made a few tweaks here and

there, but all in all, it was spot on with

923

:

what we were talking about doing and what

we wanted to accomplish and this and that.

924

:

So two things happened there.

925

:

One, I didn't stress for three days

having to write this thing that I hate and

926

:

don't wanna be a part of and just blah.

927

:

Two, I empowered one of my employees

to do something that makes him feel

928

:

really good and special and wanted

and important and all those things.

929

:

What a win.

930

:

Like why are we forcing now?

931

:

Because I'm not strategic.

932

:

Doesn't mean I can't write reports on

the work that we're doing and assessment.

933

:

You know?

934

:

No, I still have to do my job, but

are there other people that are around

935

:

me in my job that I can work with for

us all to accomplish something better

936

:

and for us all to enjoy our work more?

937

:

Absolutely.

938

:

Why not?

939

:

Like there's no reason why we shouldn't

be doing those things, so yeah.

940

:

It is.

941

:

Yeah.

942

:

Mm-hmm.

943

:

And I crazy.

944

:

My first thought was like,

high school group projects.

945

:

I'm like, they just throw it at

'em and they don't give any help.

946

:

And like you said, the, the,

the teacher leader doesn't coach

947

:

into who should do what pieces.

948

:

So it's normally almost always a complete

mess that somebody, one or two people in

949

:

the group feel like they did all the work.

950

:

The other people feel like they didn't

have a chance to contribute, or just like.

951

:

And I think a lot of that too is when

you say, well, what part do you wanna do?

952

:

I think people are scared.

953

:

To be themselves and say, well, I,

I'm not really good at posters, but I

954

:

really wanna do this research because

doing research looks like totally nerdy.

955

:

Why would anybody wanna do that?

956

:

We need to be able to be ourselves to say,

this is what I wanna do, and to be able to

957

:

speak up and not be criticized for that.

958

:

These are the parts that

I would really like to do.

959

:

I think you would be great at these parts.

960

:

Oh, I'm glad that you said that,

but I really don't wanna do that.

961

:

So, coming to a consensus together

on what does that look like and

962

:

how do we, you know, how do we

all work together to accomplish.

963

:

This when we each wanna

do these different pieces.

964

:

So yeah, you named it right there.

965

:

Yeah.

966

:

Absolutely.

967

:

Mm-hmm.

968

:

Absolutely.

969

:

Yeah.

970

:

Sure.

971

:

Absolutely.

972

:

I think that's how Scrum was probably

in invented, was to, to deal with

973

:

that I, that that was just on a whim.

974

:

But I'm like, that's maybe why Scrum

came along, because nobody knows what

975

:

they're, they're doing and nobody wants

to tell the other people that they're

976

:

struggling or that they need help.

977

:

And like, it kind of goes back

to the whole society views.

978

:

is not cool, but it's okay

to say, Hey, you know what?

979

:

I really need your help here and I

really wanna accomplish this thing,

980

:

and I really could use your help.

981

:

So to humble ourselves

to say that we're human.

982

:

We don't have all the answers,

we can't do all the things.

983

:

It's okay to ask people,

ask other people for help.

984

:

Yeah.

985

:

I do.

986

:

Absolutely.

987

:

Now.

988

:

I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.

989

:

This is great.

990

:

Mm-hmm.

991

:

So many questions.

992

:

I love it.

993

:

my podcast is called Play for Performance.

994

:

It's where I interview other play

practitioners in the workplace.

995

:

and it's people that bring fun.

996

:

It's people that bring rest.

997

:

It's people that bring all different

types of playfulness into the workplace.

998

:

And I, it's really fun to do.

999

:

I hope you enjoy it as well.

:

00:48:26,778 --> 00:48:29,448

and I am on YouTube, Spotify,

all the different places.

:

00:48:30,348 --> 00:48:32,778

of right now, we have a

limited number released.

:

00:48:32,778 --> 00:48:33,108

I had a.

:

00:48:33,523 --> 00:48:36,163

Unfortunate clog in my schedule

over the last couple of months.

:

00:48:36,163 --> 00:48:39,373

So we are working to get those released

a little bit, a little bit quicker.

:

00:48:39,373 --> 00:48:42,673

And, on a more steady basis, I

do have a newsletter on LinkedIn.

:

00:48:42,673 --> 00:48:44,052

I have not written a book.

:

00:48:44,052 --> 00:48:47,742

I've been told by several people that

I should, so I'm thinking about that.

:

00:48:48,112 --> 00:48:51,383

and articles really, again, that's

really probably more of my LinkedIn

:

00:48:51,383 --> 00:48:52,762

newsletter than anything else.

:

00:48:53,122 --> 00:48:54,923

yeah, absolutely reach out if I can help.

:

00:48:54,923 --> 00:48:56,752

If you need recommendations, if you need.

:

00:48:58,027 --> 00:48:59,407

to other people, just let me know.

:

00:48:59,407 --> 00:49:02,047

And I mean, I, I just,

I love helping people.

:

00:49:02,047 --> 00:49:06,967

If I could just do my coaching work and

not charge people, I'd be okay with that.

:

00:49:07,087 --> 00:49:09,457

But I, I have bills and I have

kids and all those things.

:

00:49:09,457 --> 00:49:13,077

So, yeah, it's, I love what I do

and I'd love to help anybody that,

:

00:49:13,127 --> 00:49:15,467

has been struggling to make that

decision one way or the other.

:

00:49:40,367 --> 00:49:43,337

I don't, I don't, I don't have 10,

but I can give you two or three.

:

00:49:43,417 --> 00:49:45,547

Miller has been a really

great writer for me.

:

00:49:45,647 --> 00:49:46,457

and

:

00:49:49,127 --> 00:49:52,387

obviously, I mean, I listen to Brene

Brown, on, I do most of her books

:

00:49:52,387 --> 00:49:54,637

audible when I'm driving places to place.

:

00:49:55,007 --> 00:49:57,437

Bob Goff has been a

huge inspiration for me.

:

00:49:57,437 --> 00:49:59,747

He is an author, lawyer.

:

00:50:01,906 --> 00:50:06,897

Political, I can't think of his,

he's a, ambassador to a country.

:

00:50:06,897 --> 00:50:08,697

I think it's Uganda, but I'm

not a hundred percent sure.

:

00:50:09,127 --> 00:50:10,387

he's, he's just phenomenal.

:

00:50:10,387 --> 00:50:14,287

He brings play, he wrote a book

called Catching Whimsy, like he's

:

00:50:14,287 --> 00:50:19,437

all about playfulness and some he'll

weave some, faith into his stories.

:

00:50:19,437 --> 00:50:20,547

But he is a great storyteller.

:

00:50:20,547 --> 00:50:23,517

He just brings it on a level

where let's just have fun and

:

00:50:23,517 --> 00:50:24,412

do what we love to do and let's.

:

00:50:25,317 --> 00:50:27,357

You know, he's just been,

he is, he's a great writer.

:

00:50:27,657 --> 00:50:29,727

but yeah, I really am

kind of across the board.

:

00:50:29,745 --> 00:50:33,387

I'm not stuck to one person's way

or another person's methodology.

:

00:50:33,387 --> 00:50:36,897

I kind of just learn a little bit from

all of them and kind of pull 'em together.

:

00:50:36,897 --> 00:50:41,087

So, yeah, I, you know,

I, I, I don't, I love.

:

00:50:41,302 --> 00:50:45,292

It's a physical book, but I don't

have time to sit and read books.

:

00:50:45,292 --> 00:50:47,302

And so I do a lot of them on Audible.

:

00:50:47,302 --> 00:50:50,792

And, that, allows me the

time to think and to process.

:

00:50:50,792 --> 00:50:53,942

And where I'm so into the book,

I'm like, wow, I should have

:

00:50:53,942 --> 00:50:56,012

exited like three times ago.

:

00:50:56,012 --> 00:50:58,292

Like, I should probably

get back on my route.

:

00:50:58,292 --> 00:51:00,522

But, yeah, I love learning more.

:

00:51:00,582 --> 00:51:04,632

I'm, I am a high learner, so, and

that's, that's Clifton strengths talk.

:

00:51:04,912 --> 00:51:07,132

I do love to learn, if I could go be.

:

00:51:07,212 --> 00:51:10,482

Trained in all of the different

methodologies, I would absolutely do it.

:

00:51:10,482 --> 00:51:12,462

I just, I don't have the time, so, yeah.

:

00:51:15,222 --> 00:51:16,122

Yes,

:

00:51:22,662 --> 00:51:23,622

yes.

:

00:51:28,512 --> 00:51:31,032

Yeah, and I'm sorry I

didn't mention Patrick.

:

00:51:31,032 --> 00:51:32,142

That should have been my first one.

:

00:51:32,142 --> 00:51:33,642

I just kind of felt like that was assumed.

:

00:51:33,642 --> 00:51:34,422

I'm so sorry.

:

00:51:47,537 --> 00:51:50,597

The, yeah.

:

00:51:53,027 --> 00:51:53,872

Which one is it?

:

00:51:57,302 --> 00:52:00,107

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's,

yeah, that's Vincent Van Gogh.

:

00:52:00,107 --> 00:52:01,547

Star Night, that's Lego.

:

00:52:02,027 --> 00:52:02,868

And then so is the group.

:

00:52:03,737 --> 00:52:04,817

Those are all Lego pieces.

:

00:52:04,817 --> 00:52:05,207

Yes.

:

00:52:05,237 --> 00:52:08,057

And that was my favorite,

my favorite build of all.

:

00:52:08,307 --> 00:52:10,737

this is the, yes, sir.

:

00:52:10,767 --> 00:52:12,507

That's the great wave.

:

00:52:12,537 --> 00:52:13,827

And then I've got the Milky Way.

:

00:52:13,827 --> 00:52:17,607

My camera won't go all the way over, but

the Milky Way is also all Lego pieces.

:

00:52:17,607 --> 00:52:20,547

But yeah, that's, other than

the books, that's all I have

:

00:52:20,547 --> 00:52:21,597

on my bookshelf or Legos.

:

00:52:21,602 --> 00:52:26,877

'cause I mean, building is so, it's

fun, it's relaxing, it's, can be

:

00:52:26,877 --> 00:52:28,047

very strategic at the same time.

:

00:52:28,047 --> 00:52:28,438

Who knew?

:

00:53:37,407 --> 00:53:38,007

Thank you.

:

00:53:38,287 --> 00:53:46,207

just recently I went on a retreat

to a mountaintop 9,700 feet, and

:

00:53:46,267 --> 00:53:49,927

really got in touch with my inner.

:

00:53:50,782 --> 00:53:53,302

Self, like it was an

eye-opening experience.

:

00:53:53,332 --> 00:53:56,152

I, we would go up on this ridge

and we would do yoga every morning

:

00:53:56,152 --> 00:53:58,132

at 7:00 AM and watch the sunrise.

:

00:53:58,132 --> 00:54:01,582

And it was just, it's, it was a

reminder that we are not here on

:

00:54:01,582 --> 00:54:03,892

the earth, but we are of the earth.

:

00:54:04,282 --> 00:54:06,532

And so every morning I

wake up and I do yoga.

:

00:54:06,532 --> 00:54:07,882

Just kind of a grounding.

:

00:54:08,247 --> 00:54:11,217

Putting my feet on the ground, just

recognizing that I'm here and I'm present.

:

00:54:11,527 --> 00:54:13,987

I work on my breathing if I'm

having struggles during the

:

00:54:13,987 --> 00:54:15,707

day, just kind of recentering.

:

00:54:15,977 --> 00:54:18,467

And then at night, I wish I could

say it's every night, but it's,

:

00:54:18,467 --> 00:54:20,627

most nights I journal about my day.

:

00:54:20,627 --> 00:54:22,847

And that's just like the free

writing that we talked about earlier.

:

00:54:22,855 --> 00:54:24,047

Just what works.

:

00:54:24,077 --> 00:54:25,547

You know, it's not prompts, it's just.

:

00:54:26,022 --> 00:54:29,862

Writing down the things and how I feel

about the things, and that's helped

:

00:54:29,862 --> 00:54:35,202

me tremendously, through my adult

years, both parenting and career wise

:

00:54:35,202 --> 00:54:39,577

to just refocus on, the little things

are gonna happen, but if we can be a.

:

00:54:39,887 --> 00:54:42,677

I don't wanna say bigger, but

if we can work around and rise

:

00:54:42,677 --> 00:54:44,867

above, then we're doing better.

:

00:54:44,927 --> 00:54:47,837

And I see my counselor every

week, so it depends on what

:

00:54:47,837 --> 00:54:48,857

day of the week that happens.

:

00:54:48,857 --> 00:54:52,437

But, like I said, I'm a big advocate

for mental health and, and you know,

:

00:54:52,437 --> 00:54:56,477

if it's not play to get th you through

what you're working through, yeah,

:

00:54:56,477 --> 00:54:59,957

find somebody that can help you 'cause

life's too short to live miserable.

:

00:55:00,942 --> 00:55:04,382

if we can find, just a piece of happiness

and how to grow that within your

:

00:55:04,382 --> 00:55:06,252

space, I think that's very healthy.

:

00:55:06,312 --> 00:55:07,812

And it's been a pleasure

being on your show.

:

00:55:07,812 --> 00:55:08,742

Thank you so much.

:

00:55:08,742 --> 00:55:10,732

I'm, I'm, I really do appreciate it.

:

00:55:10,732 --> 00:55:11,302

It's been awesome.

:

00:55:43,187 --> 00:55:43,502

Thank you.

:

00:55:59,542 --> 00:55:59,962

Bye everybody.

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Voice over Work - An Audiobook Sampler

About the Podcast

Voice over Work - An Audiobook Sampler
Audiobook synopsises for the masses
You know that guy that reads all the time, and always has a book recommendation for you?

Well, I read and/or produce hundreds of audiobooks a year, and when I read one that has good material, I feature it here. This is my Recommended Listening list. These choices are not influenced by authors or sponsors, just books worthy of your consideration.

About your host

Profile picture for Russell Newton

Russell Newton