Unconventional Leaders

This week we are talking with the founder of The Original Squeeze, Kristin Ahmer. After surviving a brain aneurysm while in labor, Kristin wrote a letter to her newborn son encouraging him to “squeeze the goodness” out of life. She didn’t know it then, but that would become the core of her brand in a company that she would build just a few short years later. We have an honest dialogue about the challenges of business, navigating through change, and how to focus on what matters most in the midst of it all. To connect with Kristin for Original Squeeze inquiries email Kristin@originalsqueeze.com. For help reaching financial goals Kristin.Ahmer@nm.com. You can also follow her adventures at kristin_ahmer on Instagram. Topics Discussed: The importance of listening to your gut in business. How to react when things don’t go as planned. The realities of business that most people do not talk about. ----- Connect with Kristin at Kristin@originalsqueeze.com ----- For access to our free Morning Habit Tracker click here

It’s one thing to notice a problem and it’s another to do something about it. Ryan Carson is on a mission to make “education accessible to students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and socio-economic backgrounds.” In this episode, he shares with us his mission to positively influence our culture by providing more opportunities for those who society discriminates against. The seed for his business was planted while he was living in England, where he went to experience a different culture. In this period of Ryan’s life, he became aware of the major problems in our education system. Ten years later he now works to influence the system and help fix what is broken.   Topics Discussed: How to change the system from within. What to do in order to appeal to your target group. How to make a profit and fund your mission.   Connect with Ryan Carson: Website Instagram Twitter   --  

If you have ever felt unqualified or doubted your potential because of things that have happened to you in your past, this episode is for you. From standing in a food line to getting her PhD and advocating for those who feel broken and overwhelmed, Carolyn Colleen shares her powerful journey with us in today’s episode. As an author, speaker, and coach, Carolyn teaches others how to embody their “inner fire”. We talk about how to use negative emotions to propel you forward. She shares her story of childhood abuse, a suicide attempt, and her abusive message to show how you can use your story to impact the lives of others. Check out her book FIERCE Transform your life in the face of adversity, 5 minutes at a time. All proceeds from the book sales are donated to the Mental Health and Social Services Fund at Gundersen Medical Foundation. --

What is intuition? How can we use it to our advantage? If you are hyper and super driven (like myself) how do you develop the discipline of slowing down and tuning in? Isabel Hundt, one of the first guests on our previous podcast, returns to share with us how following her intuition changed her life and how we too can identify and listen to our own intuition. As a child growing up in Eastern Germany, Isabel began to feel “called” to do certain work. Through a series of events, Isabel discovered a love for helping others navigate through their emotions and tune into their hearts calling. In this episode, Isabel shares advice on how to unblock ourselves, how to make a decisions when in doubt, and how to KNOW what our intuition is saying.   Resource Mentioned: Book: The Power of Faith-Driven Success Course: Empowered Warrior   Topics Discussed: Using Intuition & Identifying It How to Detach from Outcome The Importance of Diligence and Hard Work   Connect with Isabel Hundt:   Website Isabel’s Course Faceb

Have you ever failed so bad at something that you did not even want to try anymore? Ever felt so discouraged because no matter how hard you tried something it did not work out? This week we are talking with Miha Matlievski, also known as the “fail coach” about picking yourself up after a massive failure. By the time Miha was thirty, he had run four successful companies. His net worth was in the millions (upon millions) of dollars. However, after a series of events he lost everything. He was in a place of deep depression and did not know how to pick himself up again. Just moments away from taking his own life Miha had a ‘wake up call’. He now uses his stories to help companies and individuals process through and pick themselves up after devastating failure. This is a very raw episode that addresses the ugly side of business and success that we all face at times. Miha encourages us that failure is normal and that it can be “an amazing thing.” Connect with Miha: Website Fail Forward Nation Facebook Group Facebo

She has worked for one of Mark Cuban’s companies, became a founding team member for a tech startup, and created a successful tribe of female entrepreneurs. This was all by the age of twenty-three. This week we are talking with Meral Arik and dig into the topics of networking, building a tribe, and developing a personal brand. You can connect with Meral at hellochava.com were she is offering listeners 6 free months of Hello Chava Pro- just use code "PARADY" when you sign up. Also, check out her growing tribe at doersociety.com and follow her on Instagram @my.startuplife    Topics Discussed: How to appropriately network. Building a tribe. Staying true to your values.   ----- Connect with Meral Arik at https://doersociety.com/ ----- For access to our free Morning Habit Tracker click here https://www.heatherparady.com/morning/   Connect with us! Facebook group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Website: heatherparady.com Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwUvrwJB

From Today's Episode: Social media addiction and how that’s affecting our businesses. How to set boundaries in your work even when you aren’t at the level of success that you want to be. How to use Parkinson's law to get more done.     What is the proper work-life balance? How do we succeed in our business goals and yet not neglect the people we say are the most important to us? Do we have to sacrifice several years of relationships and health in order to reach the level of success that we want to see? Is that simply the trade-off that we have to expect? This is a VERY relevant topic for me and several people that I know. We know we feel “called” to do certain work but it feels as though that requires us to work ALL of the time and “hustle” in order to see results. Our guest this week has a very counter-cultural and powerful viewpoint on how we can succeed in our businesses WITHOUT neglecting things that we value. This isn’t just his opinion either, Graham Cochrane has built a very successful business, The

How do you make money in a creative business? Maybe you are a photographer, writer, painter, and want to supplement your income doing what you love but you have no idea how to go from hobby to business.   Maybe you already have a side hustle going but feel super uncomfortable promoting your work and knowing how to market yourself.   This week’s guest is the perfect guy to talk to. At the age of 30, Blake Jamison left his successful digital marketing career to pursue painting. He said that his career was not "fulfilling" and he wanted to take the risk of jumping all in with his art. What he has created in just a few short years is going to blow your mind. In this episode, he shares how he did it.   Check out his website, store, and his project 90 Days to MOMA (you definitely want to watch this!)   Topics Covered: How he markets himself, values his work, and sets the right price point How he creates a flow state and stays inspired. Why setting smaller goals can be more beneficial than long-term goals.   For a

She is the gal behind the camera for one of the most popular podcasts in the WORLD. Tiff Tyler joins us today to share how at the age of 27, she has been able to use her creative skill set to work with some of the most influential people in the world and ultimately make a living doing what she loves. In this episode, we talk about understanding WHAT business you are in. As a small business owner, there are multiple directions you can go and there are always decisions that need to be made. Tiff believes it comes down to revisiting your vision on a CONSTANT basis. We also talk about how to deal with “perfectionism” in your work and be willing to delegate, the power of working for free and “going for” the ask, and how she is able to produce so much incredible content without getting overwhelmed. Resource Mentioned: Book: The E-Myth Topics Discussed: The importance of human connection as a freelancer. Producing mass amounts of content without getting stuck in perfectionism. How she was able to land her biggest

In his early twenties, David Francisco was going to school to pursue his dreams in music. However, in a moment everything changed for him when he was struck by a car that ran a red light. He was paralyzed from the waist down and would spend months in a hospital undergoing intensive therapy.   Since then many things have changed for him. In just a few years he has traveled the country, shared his story on major platforms including American Idol, and married his best friend. In this episode, we talk about why he is grateful for this journey and what it has taught him about redemption.   Resources mentioned in the show: David's website, American Idol Audition, Youtube channel, another podcast interview sharing more of his story, and his Facebook post about forgiveness.   For access to our free Morning Habit Tracker click here https://www.heatherparady.com/morning/   Connect with us!   Facebook group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Website: heatherparady.com Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Subscribe on YouTube: h

She was bullied through grade school and high school. As a kid, Rachel Weinstock made a promise to herself that she would make a difference in the lives of other kids who experienced abuse in schools. She has a powerful message about the importance of play and creativity and believes that we can use our greatest pain and turn it into our greatest strength.   As a teacher, speaker, and founder of Playfully Creative Workshops, Rachel has a passion to help children and adults return to their most “authentic selves” through play. She believes that the “more authentic you can be, the more that will translate into your business, relationships and in your life.”   Resource Mentioned: The Artist's Way (You can read my review here)   Topics Discussed: Ways to be more creative. How to rewire our minds and return to creativity and play in our work. How to not suppress our joy and enjoy life.   Connect with Rachel: Website Facebook Youtube Instagram   -- For access to our free Morning Habit Tracker click here https

Starting a business, leading an organization, stepping outside of the box and doing anything “unconventional” is INCREDIBLE. Right? Most people who listen to this show are trying to blaze their own trails and create something powerful that will impact the world. However, along with the perks of these ventures comes a downside. Often, entrepreneurs and leaders face loads of stress and feel overwhelmed when trying to get their dream off the ground.   This week, we are talking with therapist and online entrepreneur Julia Kristina about how we can take concepts in psychology and apply them to our entrepreneurial ventures. How can we be productive and still not overwhelm ourselves with unrealistic expectations? How do we handle the negativity we face from family and friends who don’t understand what we are doing? What are the stories we tell ourselves that keep us from going all in with our dreams? Access Julia's "25 Ways to Say No" resource here Topics Discussed: How does resistance show up in our lives? How to

Millenials: Are they lazy? Apathetic? Entitled? If you believe so, what can we do about it? If you do not think they are, how can we change the stigma that is placed on them? We are digging into an interesting subject as Chelann Gienger joins us and shares why she is calling millennials to a higher standard. You can check her out by visiting her website, listening to her podcast Entrepreneur Before 25, or reading her book Dear Millennial. Grab Chelann’s free resources from her book here ---- For access to our free Morning Habit Tracker click here https://www.heatherparady.com/morning/ ---- Connect with us! Facebook group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Website: heatherparady.com Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwUvrwJB_0ahNqrcBHP-TA --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unconventionalleaders/message

He is the host of the top ranking podcast, Tiny Leaps Big Changes, which has hit over 4 million downloads and is being listened to in 199 countries. Gregg Clunis is an entrepreneur, author, and musician who is dedicated to helping people reach their goals through tiny, daily steps. After suddenly losing his father in 2017, Gregg had to continue to run and grow his business in order to help provide a source of income for his family. He shares with us how he was able to navigate the grief of losing a loved one, all while having to operate a business. This is a powerful episode for leaders and business owners who have to walk through grief and tragedy.     Topics Discussed: His first business venture as a child (which got him in trouble) Balancing grief and work Producing content after enduring a tragedy Connect with Gregg: Podcast: Tiny Leaps Big Changes on Itunes, Spotify Website: GreggClunis.com Instagram: @GreggClunis ----- For access to our free Morning Habit Tracker click here https://www.heatherparady

Sometimes it is really hard to know what to say to someone who is hurting. You may worry about what you should say or do (or not say, not do) but really want them to know that you care. This week we talk with hospital chaplain and author J.S. Park and he shares with us why and how to connect with those who are hurting. As a former suicide survivor J.S. Park has a unique perspective on what people need during a season of pain and loneliness. This is a powerful episode! I encourage you to connect with J.S Park on his blog and check out his line of books on Amazon.   Topics Discussed: Why we should step back from the advice giving instinct How to overcome the fear of sharing your story   Connect with us! Facebook group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Website: heatherparady.com Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwUvrwJB_0ahNqrcBHP-TA --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unconventionalleaders/message

He was homeschooled his whole life, grew up in a polygamous family, and was super weary of the internet. He is now an entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and is openly documenting his journey to making his first million on Youtube on a series called The Millionaire Case Study. In just three short years Calvin Wayman’s life has changed. He quit his full time job, started a successful company, paid off $53,000 in debt, and got in shape. He has an incredible story that will inspire you to listen to your intuition, be willing to make hard decisions, and go after what you really want to do.   Topics Discussed: How to show up authentically in the social media space Two questions to ask yourself to know if you are making the right decision The most game changing actions that he has taken which turned everything around Connect with Calvin at CalvinWayman.com ----- Connect with us! Facebook group https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Website: heatherparady.com Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Subscribe on YouTube: https://www