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Keen to ensure balance not burnout? This episode has the cure with guest Sunflower on applying Sunflower Medicine of Self-Love for 21 days!

In this episode of the Write the Book Inside You podcast, host Caryl Westmore is joined by transformational author, speaker, and coach, Sunflower. Sunflower shares powerful insights from her personal journey of overcoming adversity and embracing self-love, mindfulness, and transformation.

Caryl begins by sharing her exciting news about her new book ChatGPT AI Book Writing Formula being an Amazon bestseller since launching [November 2024]

Sunflow Medicine's story: After experiencing significant challenges, including a difficult divorce and a life-altering diagnosis of throat cancer, Sunflower found herself at a crossroads. In this conversation, she discusses how these life events catalyzed a deep inner transformation. She shares her journey from traditional healing methods, like meditation, to exploring alternative paths, including plant medicine, which ultimately led her to profound self-healing.

Sunflower's book, 21 Days of Self-Love and Mindfulness, is a guide to shifting from burnout to balance. Through 21 days of reflection, Sunflower leads readers to explore key obstacles such as fear, obligation, and guilt, and teaches how to clear the "fog" that often clouds our self-worth. By using her unique "grace model," Sunflower helps individuals get grounded, aligned, and fulfilled, all while emphasizing the importance of mindfulness as a tool for personal and spiritual growth.

Throughout this episode, Sunflower also dives into the themes of energy as currency and the deep connection between mind, body, and spirit. She shares how releasing trauma and negative beliefs can have profound physical effects, even making us look younger and feel lighter. She explains how trauma, particularly from childhood, can impact self-esteem and hinder progress, but that through self-compassion and mindfulness, we can begin to heal and truly live in alignment with our authentic selves.

If you're struggling with self-worth or need guidance on connecting with your inner strength, this episode offers an inspiring roadmap for transformation. Sunflower's approach is both practical and profound, helping listeners not only navigate their inner worlds but also make real-life changes.

To find out more about Sunflower’s work, her book, and upcoming coaching programs, visit her website at Sunflower Medicine. Don’t forget to grab your copy of ChatGPT

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Show Sponsors: Books for Writers by Caryl Westmore: Bust Writer's Block Forever www.bustwritersblock.com and The Inner Path of Writing, Make Love not War to the Writer Within . Details here: https://www.ipwbook.com

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In this episode, host Caryl Westmore interviews Kim Speed, a brand visibility expert and host of the Employee to Entrepreneur Society. Kim shares her journey from corporate advertising executive to entrepreneur, sparked by the 2008-2009 recession when she lost her job. This unexpected change allowed her to spend more time with her children and realize the importance of work-life balance.

Key Points Discussed:

• The difference between brand and branding: Brand is about perception, emotion, and reputation, while branding involves logos, colors, and visual elements.

• Essential steps for new entrepreneurs:
• Figure out your service offering and expertise
• Show up authentically without perfection
• Choose comfortable ways to be visible
• Marketing Strategies:
• Focus on one social media platform where you're comfortable
• Build an email list to own your audience
• Create valuable content and engage with your community
• Consider collaborative marketing through partnerships
• Monetization Methods:
• One-on-one services
• Course creation
• Group coaching
• Affiliate marketing, including the Amazon Influencer program

Kim emphasizes that success in business requires three crucial elements:

1. Building an email list

2. Joining a supportive community

3. Finding ways to become profitable early on

The conversation highlights the importance of authenticity in business, with Kim sharing how she initially feels pressure to maintain a corporate image but learns that people connect more with genuine personalities. She also discusses various visibility strategies, emphasizing that entrepreneurs should choose methods that feel natural and sustainable rather than just following trends.

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on alternative income streams, particularly the Amazon Influencer program, which Kim teaches through her Creator for Profit course. This program allows content creators with established social media presence to earn money through short-form video content.

The episode concludes with practical advice for finding Kim's resources, including her Facebook group (The Employee to Entrepreneur Society) and LinkedIn profile. Throughout the conversation, both host and guest emphasize the importance of building genuine relationships and creating value while developing a sustainable business model.

This episode provides valuable insights for authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs looking to build their brand while maintaining authenticity and creating multiple income streams.

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Show Sponsors: Books for Writers by Caryl Westmore: Bust Writer's Block Forever www.bustwritersblock.com and The Inner Path of Writing, Make Love not War to the Writer Within . Details here: https://www.ipwbook.com

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Is 50 the New 30? Learn why it's never too late to start yoga and how it can help you reclaim your vitality, feel fitter and sexier, after age 50 and beyond.

Laura Venecia Rodriguez reveals her secrets of a lifelong yoga practice in her book "Gentle Yoga after 50: Get Fit, Flexible, and Feel Fantastic!"

In this episode we learn:

• The Surprising Way Laura stumbled Upon Yoga at Age 15: Find out what inspired Laura to start yoga and how two books became her first instructors.
• The Hidden Benefits of Gentle Yoga: Uncover how yoga improves bone health, reduces stress, and might even help you lose weight—with no need to be an athlete.
• Simple Steps to Incorporate Yoga into Your Busy Life: Laura shares her practical tips for starting yoga at home, even if you have just 10 minutes a day.
• Why Meditation and Journaling are Key Parts of Laura's Routine:
• Can Yoga Keep You Young? Laura explains how embracing new challenges and staying active can help you maintain your sparkle at any age.

Get Laura's book on Amazon and start your own yoga journey right from your living room.

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SHOWNOTES

From teen waitress to CEO and entrepreneur powerhouse. Meet Julie Cropp Gareleck, author of new book Dare to Become: From the Corner Booth to the Corner Office.

For millions, a major American dream is to start one’s own company and, become one’s own boss. Meet someone who did just that (without founding capital or an Ivy League degree)... entrepreneurial powerhouse Julie Cropp Gareleck, CEO of Junction Creative, a company that has driven millions in revenue for clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 1000 companies.

It all began in her teens working in the family restaurant where she and her sister dived in working long hours in roles that included scrubbing floors and waitressing.

After time in corporate America (with some horrendous stories) she started her own company -- without the backing of capital or an Ivy League education. Her story is now captured in her debut book, Dare to Become: From the Corner Booth to the Corner Office.

**Notable Quotes:**
"I'M FINE, IT'S FINE AND IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FINE."
- “It’s in the rising and the falling that we evolve. We evolve as humans, entrepreneurs, and the best versions of ourselves.”
- “Treat every dollar like it’s your last, and you’ll never run out of money.”

**Key Takeaways:**

- **The Power of Perseverance:**
- Julie’s journey highlights hard work, resilience, and the willingness to take risks.
- How Julie’s experiences in toxic work environments and overcoming academic challenges served as catalysts for her entrepreneurial journey.

- **Financial Wisdom and Discipline:**
- With money management in business, Julie says treating every dollar with care, especially when bootstrapping a new venture.

- **Lessons from "Dare to Become":**

- The book highlights the reality of entrepreneurship beyond the glamorous stories often portrayed in media, stressing the need for realistic expectations and a strong work ethic.
- Always have a planned Exit strategy for your company. The importance of recurring revenue and quality returns in creating a business that can stand the test of time and offer a profitable exit.

- **Work-Life Integration:**
- Julie challenges the notion of perfect work-life balance, sharing her approach to setting boundaries and prioritizing what matters most. Especially true for writing her book, based on years of keeping a journal.

**Connect with Julie:**
- **Website:** https://juliecroppgareleck.com
Podcast: Aspire to Be: https://juliecroppgareleck.com/podcast-episodes/
- **Book:** *Dare to Become:

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https://www.facebook.com/carylwestmoreauthor
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Show Sponsors: Books for Writers by Caryl Westmore: Bust Writer's Block Forever www.bustwritersblock.com and The Inner Path of Writing, Make Love not War to the Writer Within . Details here: https://www.ipwbook.com

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Want folks to hang on your words when you speak? Want to be heard loud and clear from the boardroom to the bedroom? From stage to podcasts? Then this episode on effective communicating with guest Brenda Viola is for YOU!

Brenda Viola is an author, speaker, and award-winning communicator. She teaches us how to captivate our listener...whether in the boardroom, on stage, TV, podcasts or in the home.

Her book, "How to be Heard without Screaming," promises you CAN learn tips to be a more skillful communicator...in only 30 days.
The book includes daily exercises to improve communication skills, overcome the fear of speaking up and know the joy of watching people lean into you and your message.

#### Key Discussion Points

1. **Brenda's Journey:**

- Brenda was 10 years old when tragedy struck (her father died suddenly). She went from being a confident live wire and aspiring news reporter to a reserved, silent bookworm, afraid to stand up and speak up to bullies. She receded into the shadows to avoid burdening her grieving mother.

- She later found her voice again through personal growth and the realization that effective communication is essential for personal and professional success.

As a journalist, TV reporter and later public information officer, she learned the power of effective communication and storytelling to engage the audience, making information memorable.

2. **Brenda's Top Communication Tips

- **Pause and Savor Words:** Rushing through material without pausing can make the audience feel disconnected. Taking pauses allows for better engagement and understanding.

- **Active Listening:** Reflecting back what you heard can build a bridge and ensure clear communication.

- **Speaking the Truth in Love:** Conveying hard truths with patience, kindness, and empathy ensures better reception and connection.

3. ** Sound Bites:**

- Be memorable on a TV interview or podcast with a SOUND BITE, condensing you message into 7-15 seconds. But ensure you begin with a verbal highlighter like: "Here’s what you really need to know" or "The bottom line is." These signal to the audience the importance of the information being shared.

4. **Brenda today:**

After the death of her mother and partner in one year, Brenda started over at 60 with a new company VICI Communications focusing on improving communication, confidence, and culture within organizations and individuals.

#### Conclusion
Get Brenda's book How to Be heard Without Screaming, and find her at https://www.brendaviola.com/

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Show Sponsors: Books for Writers by Caryl Westmore: Bust Writer's Block Forever www.bustwritersblock.com and The Inner Path of Writing, Make Love not War to the Writer Within . Details here: https://www.ipwbook.com

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Trauma and resilience relating to Prince Harry and Baby Reindeer. In this episode Caryl interviews therapist and author Sally Baker on her new book, "The Getting of Resilience from the Inside Out," where we relate this to people in the news.

We dive deep into how this relates to Prince Harry outraging the Royal family with his tell-all autobiography "Spare," plus mental health aspects of Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd (the stalked) and Martha (the stalker).

**Guest Introduction:**
Sally Baker is a senior, licensed, and accredited therapist based in London with over 20 years of experience. Specializing in helping people feel broken or stuck, Sally uses techniques like hypnosis, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), and other related therapies. She is also a media commentator on mental health and well-being.
Her website: https://www.workingonthebody.com

- Sally shares a personal story from her childhood, where she was sexually abused by two older boys.
- Sally explains how childhood trauma affects mental health, self-worth, and relationships. The judgments we make about ourselves during trauma can impact us for years.

- To help clients, Sally uses techniques like EFT, Orpheus Mind Technologies, and hypnosis. These methods help clear the trauma before reinforcing positive beliefs.

**Prince Harry and Celebrity Mental Health:**
- The discussion shifts to Prince Harry, who has openly discussed his mental health struggles and mentioned EMDR therapy. Sally emphasizes that mental well-being requires ongoing management, not just one-time fixes.
- Celebrities often discuss mental health in isolation, but resilience and well-being are daily practices involving good nutrition, sleep, and avoiding toxic substances.

**Richard Gadd's Baby Reindeer:**
- Sallysays Richard Gadd's portrayal of a survivor of abuse in Baby Reindeer, highlighted self-blame, guilt, and hypersexualized behavior -- common responses to unresolved trauma.
Stalker Martha's compulsive behavior is typically a distraction from facing her own life's shortcomings and traumas.

**Steps to Healing and Resilience:**
1. Acknowledge and interrupt the negative inner voice.
2. Develop and trust your intuition by pausing and reflecting before making decisions.
3. Check if emotional reactions are proportionate or triggered by past events.

**Book Information:**
- Sally's book, "The Getting of Resilience from the Inside Out," is available worldwide via Amazon and her website, https://www.workingonthebody.com.
- The book is recommended for anyone feeling stuck or self-sabotaging, offering insights and direction for therapeutic work.

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Show Sponsors: Books for Writers by Caryl Westmore: Bust Writer's Block Forever www.bustwritersblock.com and The Inner Path of Writing, Make Love not War to the Writer Within . Details here: https://www.ipwbook.com

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The shock of visiting her father in prison changed Sarah Edwards' life forever because she chose a career as a Probation Officer to help others caught up in the prison system.

But then she got burnt out and now focuses instead on coaching other professionals to escape the mental jail of judgement and self-recrimination keeping them from success.

It's all in her book "Success on Probation: A Step-by-Step System to Reform Your Life and Release Yourself from the Mental Jail" where she shares a process to help people break free from their mental prisons and avoid burnout based on her experience as a prison Probation Officer.
She also shares what ecstatic dance and reflective writing mean for herself and those she coaches.

### Key Points:
- **Introduction:**
- Caryl welcomes Sarah Edwards, talking about her book *Success on Probation* and her journey from trauma to resilience.

- **Sarah's Background:**
- Saw her father taken to jail when she was a teenager.
- Felt the shock and emotional pain of having to visit her father behind bars.
- Became interested in understanding crime and rehabilitation.

- **Career Path:**
- Started working as a probation officer in the UK and primarily worked with people involved in the criminal justice system.
- Focused on individual rehabilitation by directing a change of habits and cognitive-behavioral intervention techniques known as CBT.

- **Key Insights:**
- The impact and effect of the root causes of crime, including family structure, beliefs, lifestyle, and opportunities.
- The difficulties of working with stubborn probationers.

But then she hit rock bottom and burnout. One way out was learning the following:

- **Ecstatic Dance:**
- Sarah learned about ecstatic dance as a way to prevent burnout and rediscover the body.
- Talks about the transformative journey through free-form dance and how it helps mental health.

- **Reflective Writing:**
- The importance of journaling and reflective writing as a means of listening to oneself and processing emotions.
- Explains how this practice supported her in making massive life decisions and living her truth.

- **Writing the Book:**
- Encouraged by a mentor to write her book during the pandemic.
- Shares the process of writing and self-publishing *Success on Probation.*
- Delves into the impact of this book on her career and how it led to a TEDx talk.

### Connect with Sarah Edwards:
- **Book:** *Success on Probation* —[Amazon worldwide]
- **Course:** *Soothe Your Soul* (6 weeks)
- **Community:** No More Burnout (Facebook Community)

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Shirin Etessam, author of transformative book, "Free to Be." shares her journey of self-discovery and healing, emphasizing the importance of play in overcoming life's challenges.

Key Points:

• Introduction to Shirin Etessam:
  • Shirin's background in the film and media industry.
  • The pivotal breakup that led to her soul-searching journey.
• The Journey to Writing "Free to Be":
  • She felt "dead inside" despite outward glamorous success.
  • The six-year process of rewriting her life's story ( distilled into six weeks in the book).
• The Writing Process:
• Overcoming the "monkey mind" and internal gremlins to stay focused on writing.
• Structured approach: Committing to writing a chapter a month, working with editors, and testing exercises with a focus group.
• Daily Purge and Morning Routine:
  • Importance of the "daily purge": A six-minute exercise to clear negativity and declutter the mind.
  • Different forms of the daily purge, including writing, dancing, and outdoor activities.
• Week-by-Week Breakdown of "Free to Be":
  • Week One: Decluttering and detoxing the mind.
  • Week Two: Taking care of and protecting the heart.
  • Week Three: Detoxing the body and resetting the relationship with it.
  • Week Four: Embracing play as an essential part of life.
  • Week Five: Finding your true north and understanding the difference between soul and spirit.
  • Week Six: Rewriting your story from the inside out.
• The Importance of Play:
  • Play as an unintentional yet essential activity for creativity and emotional well-being.
  • Examples of play: Dancing, playing with pets, exploring new places, and engaging in creative activities.
  • Encouraging listeners to identify their "play personality" and incorporate play into their daily lives.
• Practical Applications and Spiritual Wellness:
  • The continuous journey of self-discovery and the importance of integrating spiritual wellness into daily life.
  • Shirin's mission to redefine spirituality as spiritual health and wellness, distinct from religious connotations.

Connect with Shirin Etessam: https://shirinetessam.com/

• Find Shirin's book "Free to Be" on Amazon and other platforms. It’s a six-week guide to reclaiming your soul.

Free Gift:

• Download Caryl Westmore’s free checklist, "Five Book Hook Tips to Kickstart Your Bookwriting Journey," at writethebookinsideyou.com/freegift.

✅ Recommended - get my FREE CHECKLIST:
5 Book Hooks you must have to Captivate non-fiction Readers: Checklist (Free): https://www.writethebookinsideyou.com/freegift

✅ Connect with Caryl Westmore on social media!

https://www.facebook.com/carylwestmoreauthor
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookinsideyou
https://twitter.com/carylwestmoreuk

Show Sponsors: Books for Writers by Caryl Westmore: Bust Writer's Block Forever www.bustwritersblock.com and The Inner Path of Writing, Make Love not War to the Writer Within . Details here: https://www.ipwbook.com