In this episode, we explore the dynamic role of the CliftonStrengths theme "Woo" in initiating new projects. Join hosts Sarah and Bill as they dive into insightful discussions with guest Natalie Becerra, a CliftonStrengths coach and career specialist. Discover how Woo, along with other strengths, can energize and influence the start of new ventures, and learn strategies to harness these strengths effectively. Whether you're a leader, coach, or simply curious about personal development, this episode offers valuable perspectives on leveraging strengths to kickstart success.

Takeaways:

Understanding Woo's Influence: The Woo strength is instrumental in energizing and influencing others, making it a powerful asset when starting new projects. It helps in breaking the ice and building relationships, which are crucial for project initiation.

Balancing Strengths: While Woo is impactful, combining it with other strengths like Individualization and Relator can enhance its effectiveness. This combination allows for matching energy levels and building deeper connections with team members.

Strategic Partnerships: The episode highlights the importance of partnering with individuals who have complementary strengths. For instance, those with strategic thinking themes can provide direction, while those with executing themes can ensure tasks are completed efficiently.

Adapting to Personal and Professional Life: Strengths like Woo can be applied beyond professional settings. They can help in personal development, such as creating routines or adapting to new environments, by leveraging the energy and influence they bring.

Empathy and Relationship Building: Empathy and other relationship-building strengths are vital for understanding client needs and fostering collaboration. They play a significant role in creating a supportive and engaging environment for project success.

Soundbites:

"Woo is the energy whisperer that opens doors and gets things started in any new project."

"Combining Woo with Individualization and Relator creates a superpower for building strong, effective teams."

"Strategic partnerships are key: leverage different strengths to ensure both direction and execution in your projects."

"Empathy isn't just a strength; it's a leadership superpower that connects and inspires teams to achieve more."

"In both personal and professional life, understanding and applying your strengths can transform how you approach new challenges."

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

In this conversation, Bill Dippel and Sarah Collins discuss the nuances of coaching, the impact of the Achiever strength, and the importance of balancing productivity with personal well-being. They explore personal shifts in their coaching practices, the cultural implications of the Achiever strength, and the need for reflection and celebration in both personal and professional contexts. Token Barnthouse shares his experiences as an Achiever, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's why and the potential pitfalls of overemphasizing achievement.

Takeaways

Coaching is about watching people improve and grow.
Keynote speaking can be a powerful way to engage audiences.
Achiever strength is often overhyped in a hustle culture.
It's important to check your why behind achievements.
Celebrating successes is crucial for personal well-being.
Achievers often struggle with burnout due to high expectations.
Cultural perspectives on achievement vary significantly.
Reflection and self-care are essential for Achievers.
Empathy can be a challenge for those with high Achiever strength.
Finding balance between achievement and personal fulfillment is key.

Sound Bites

"Achiever can get in people's way."
"Don't be a loose rubber band."
"Check your why."

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

In this engaging conversation, the hosts explore the intersection of leadership, coaching, and parenting through the lens of personal strengths. They discuss the importance of self-awareness in recognizing blind spots, the role of coaching in leadership development, and how understanding one's strengths can enhance parenting and relationships. The conversation is filled with personal anecdotes, insights on navigating challenges, and the significance of positivity and emotional intelligence in both parenting and partnerships.

Takeaways

Leaders often overlook their own blind spots.
Coaching can lead to significant growth and development.
Investing in people is more cost-effective than hiring new staff.
Parenting can serve as a master class in personal growth.
Self-awareness is crucial for effective parenting.
Strengths can enhance parenting and partnership dynamics.
Strength spotting can help identify children's talents early on.
Don't let your strengths become a source of pressure.
It's important to balance personal strengths with parenting needs.
Recognizing and celebrating small victories in parenting is essential.

Sound Bites

"Investing in people is worth it!"
"Parenting is a master class!"
"Don't shoot on yourself!"

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

Is your sense of duty lifting you—or crushing you?

If you’ve ever felt the weight of always being the one people count on, this episode is your permission slip to pause. We’re diving into the CliftonStrengths theme of Responsibility, especially when it shows up in overdrive. Sarah and Bill welcome Becky Murway—Director of Operations, former business owner, and all-around executing powerhouse—whose #1 strength is Responsibility.

Becky opens up about the pressures of showing up for everyone, the struggle to delegate, and how saying “yes” too often can quietly lead to burnout. Through real stories and coaching moments, she shares how she’s learning to reframe delegation, protect her energy, and celebrate her growth. Together, we unpack why Responsibility is a strength that shines—but also one that needs boundaries, strategy, and sometimes, a really great coach.

If you’ve ever felt like the lost-and-found bin of your office or home, carrying the weight others drop, this episode is your reminder: you are not alone—and you’re allowed to carry less.

💡 7 Main Takeaways

1. Responsibility + Achiever = Doer overload—a powerful combo that can lead to burnout if not managed intentionally.
2. High Responsibility often means prioritizing others at your own expense.
3. Coaching offers essential perspective and accountability for Responsibility-driven leaders.
4. Delegating isn’t a weakness—it’s leadership.
5. Strategic thinking time feels unproductive to executors, but it’s crucial for growth.
6. You need an “offensive line”—people or boundaries—to protect your capacity.
7. Responsibility shines brightest when it’s aimed at the right things, not everything.

🔥 Sound Bites

1. “If I say I’ll do it, I will—even if it breaks me.”
2. “Responsibility is my superpower… and my kryptonite.”
3. “Just because I can carry it doesn’t mean I should.”
4. “I’m not the lost and found anymore. I’m a carry-on bag.”
5. “Responsibility without boundaries is a fast track to burnout.”
6. “I used to think delegation was a dirty word.”
7. “I’m learning to lead, not just to do.”
8. “Coaching helps me stop, reflect, and actually celebrate.”
9. “When your 10 is someone else’s 15, you’ve got to recalibrate.”
10. “I used to say yes to everything—and it cost me more than I realized.”
11. “Saying yes to everyone else often means saying no to yourself.”
12. “Responsibility made me a rockstar… until it made me exhausted.”
13. “My boss told me, ‘Pick one role.’ I wanted to pick five.”
14. “Being good at everything doesn’t mean you should do everything.”
15. “High Responsibility needs high intention.”

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

Ever worked with someone so driven to win it feels inspiring… or maybe exhausting?

Brandon, whose top 10 strengths include a power-packed stack of influencing themes (including Competition, Command, and Woo), makes a compelling case for why Competition, when coached well, can elevate an entire team’s performance.

In this episode of Strengths on Fire, Sarah and Bill dive into a bold, energizing debate with fellow strengths coach Brandon Miller. You’ll hear stories from Brandon’s life as a coach, dad, and leader, including what pickleball taught him about performance, and why a driven eighth grader became his most inspiring MVP. They explore how Competition fuels preparation, why some of the best performers make the worst coaches, and how to spot the line between healthy drive and team disruption.

Plus, if Competition is nowhere in your top 10, don’t worry—this episode is packed with insight into how other strengths (like Woo, Achiever, or Relator) can help you compete in your own way. Whether you love the thrill of winning or avoid competition at all costs, this conversation will give you a fresh lens on leadership, motivation, and how to work with (and coach) the driven people around you.

7 Main Takeaways

1. Conflict on strong teams is normal and healthy—avoidance is more dangerous than disagreement.
2. Competition thrives on preparation, not just performance, and that’s where its power lies.
3. Everyone has the potential to lead, but finding the right role for your leadership matters.
4. High Competition can uplift a team—or derail it—depending on maturity and coaching.
5. Woo and Competition together create a drive to win people over and win in general.
6. Great competitors aren’t always great coaches; self-awareness is key in leadership roles.
7. Strengths don’t operate in isolation—context, maturity, and pairing with other themes shape behavior.

Sound Bites

1. “Strong teams don’t avoid conflict—they work through it.”
2. “Competition is a superpower when it’s mature, focused, and others-oriented.”
3. “The best competitors are also the best preparers.”
4. “Everyone wants to win, but not everyone is wired to need the win.”
5. “High competition without maturity is just ego on display.”
6. “Influencing themes like Competition are designed to bring people with you, not just beat them.”
7. “Immature competition says ‘me first’; mature competition says ‘let’s rise together.’”
8. “Great competitors show what’s possible—they raise the bar for everyone.”
9. “Coaching a competitor is easy—just show them how to win and they’re in.”
10. “A competitor with achiever next door is a podium threat every time.”
11. “Losing isn’t always the worst thing for a team—it’s sometimes the greatest teacher.”
12. “Control is the real culprit behind many dumpster fire moments, not just one strength.”
13. “Your strengths don’t make you great—how you manage them does.”
14. “Sometimes the best place for a high competitor isn’t on a team—it’s as an individual contributor.”
15. “A great coach doesn’t say ‘do it like I did’—they say ‘let’s do it your way, but better.’”

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

Ever looked at your CliftonStrengths results and thought, “Ugh, I don’t like these?” You’re not alone.

In this honest and energizing episode, Sarah Collins and Bill Dippel sit down with special guest Jen Werner to explore what it really takes to embrace your strengths—especially when they don’t show up the way you expected. Jen shares her personal journey from resisting her strengths to recognizing their power, and the trio dives into the messy, beautiful work of self-awareness, coaching, and growth.You’ll hear real talk about what it’s like to dislike your results, why individualization matters, and how your strengths shape (and sometimes strain) your personal and professional relationships. Whether you’re a coach, a team leader, or someone still figuring out how to own what makes you unique, this episode will leave you feeling seen—and maybe even a little more proud of your quirks.

🔥 7 Main Takeaways

1. Strengths culture doesn’t happen by accident.
2. Ambassadors and in-house coaches are game-changers.
3. You can’t outsource culture. Bringing in a coach is powerful, but without internal commitment and leadership modeling, strengths won’t transform your team.
4. Skeptics aren’t the problem—silence is.
5. Professional development needs consistency.
6. Curiosity is your secret weapon. When team dynamics get sticky, leading with curiosity over criticism builds trust and opens doors.
7. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work. Strengths-based development is most effective when it’s tailored to the team’s culture, goals, and internal rhythms.

💥 Sound Bites

1. “You can’t call it culture after one workshop.”
2. “Awareness is the spark. Application is the fire.”
3. “Ambassadors make the magic last.”
4. “If your team’s growth is outsourced, it’s not sustainable.”
5. “The goal isn’t to make everyone a coach—it’s to make coaching normal.”
6. “A good ambassador doesn’t have all the answers—they ask better questions.”
7. “Curiosity creates culture. Criticism shuts it down.”
8. “Skeptics can actually sharpen the system—if you let them talk.”
9. “One workshop is a start, not a solution.”
10. “Strengths work isn’t a checklist—it’s a commitment.”
11. “Don’t expect culture change if no one’s following up.”
12. “If we’re not building muscle, we’re just giving pep talks.”
13. “Leaders don’t need to be the loudest—they need to be the most consistent.”
14. “A coaching culture means strengths live in the day-to-day, not just the kickoff.”
15. “If you want strengths to stick, give the work to the people—not just the facilitator.”

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/