Creator conversations

My conversation partner this week is Elizabeth Miner. In Elizabeth's words:  "Global business coach, international speaker, digital nomad, and author Elizabeth Miner has learned true sustainable success relies on understanding the human engine running a business. Combining her 20+ years as a corporate paralegal with coaching clients around the globe, she has a unique worldview of entrepreneurship. Elizabeth recognized distinct patterns in the success and failure of business owners and has been piecing together where traditional education has failed entrepreneurs. When she’s not writing or helping business executives thrive in the face of persistent change, Elizabeth hosts her own podcast, entrepreneurs IRL, sharing real life stories of those along the entrepreneurial journey. She has been featured on podcasts including Entrepreneur on Fire and The Conscious Millionaire, and has been published by She is Fierce!, Rank & File Magazine and Mike Dooley’s personal development site Tut. Find Elizabeth at: elizabethminer.net We talk about: - Elizabeth's back-story, "year of retirement" + journey to becoming a full-time nomad - Moving to Belize as a single mother, in the face of the opinions of others - How Elizabeth's blog became a coaching business, and how this has evolved as a remote business - About Elizabeth's book "The Entrepreneur Advantage", and the process of putting it together  - How Elizabeth decided to self-publish early on & the flexibility that came with that - The stories we tell ourselves... and how we can work through them - "Getting things done" whilst being a nomad, & how Elizabeth structures her days - Elizabeth's book tour to promote her new book, including who she is reaching out to & how she is scheduling her talks & events - Elizabeth's tips for getting started with managing and growing your emotional intelligence // by Jas Hothi, with music by Chris Porter PS. join INF Club (free) at infclub.net

My conversation partner this week is Rick Rigdon. In Rick's words: I'm a 63 year-old gay man who lives with my spouse of 26 years in Everett, Washington. (We've officially been married for 8 years after marriage equality passed in the US). I'm an INFJ who's a semi-retired web developer. This past year, I created a blog (Mystical Bear) where I document my experiences of using the writing of a novel as a tool to help overcome depression, anxiety, and PTSD that I've experienced most of my life. Find Rick at: mysticalbear.com We talked about:- Rick's story with PTSD, depression & anxiety- Rick's experiences with conventional therapy / what worked for him & what didn't- Flashbacks & a painful break-up / on unhappy experiences & mental health stuff- How holotropic breathwork helped Rick- Rick's current outlook on his depression- The importance of having a creative outlet to manage his depression- Rick's fiction project / the origins of the story- Rick's relationship with his father- Rick's experiences with blogging & why he is writing- On writing for ourselves, authenticity, and sharing what we write online- Why Rick decided to start his Mystical Bear blog- How sharing his experiences through writing online has helped him thus far//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠

The eighth conversation in a series with my friend Lauren Sapala. Lauren is a writer, writing coach and INFJ. Find Lauren at: laurensapala.comWe talked about:- Tools for changing the 'stories' you tell yourself- Lauren's journey from alcoholism to sobriety & re-discovering writing- Why Lauren really needed her silent writing group when she started writing again- "Breathing out our stuff" / why Lauren writes- Focusing on writing for yourself vs being a full-time author or making an income from it- The job Lauren worked whilst she was writing & blogging, & how Lauren has set up her business- The types of genre INFPs & INFJs seem to be particularly drawn to//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠

My conversation partner this week is David Johnson. In David's own words: I am an Englishman married and living in Hawaii. I have been a practicing Tibetan Buddhist for 30 years (ouch, where does the time go?). I identify as an introvert and highly sensitive person (INFJ), and work as a Life Coach. Find David at: crossingthethreshold.netWe talk about:- The effects of the (full) moon / sleep- David's travels to the Himalayas - and beyond- Tibetan Buddhism, faith, religion & spirituality- Hedonic vs eudaimonic happiness- David's writing, blogging and podcasting- How David's online presence & business has unfolded- Micro blog & social media- David's book: "Meditation Tips for Introverts and Highly Sensitive People"- Men & high sensitivity//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠

Ayelet is a multiple award winning author of the F*ck the Bucket List Trilogy and Our Journey to Corporate Sanity, and a co-contributor to Dear CEO, a book by Thinkers50. She had a very successful traditional career as a strategy and innovation leader at Cisco where she worked around the world. Ayelet is recognized by Forbes as one of the top 50 global female futurists and is one of the top 50 Future of Work leaders for Thinkers360. Her current work focuses on conscious leadership and creating whole systems and lives. Find Ayelet at: ayeletbaron.comWe talked about:- firing herself from her PhD programme, her experiences in the corporate world, & the family + societal expectations she felt - where Ayelet's ambition comes from, & early memories of war - on being someone who is an introvert, idealistic and emotional  - moving away from unhelpful models that exist in the world & in business, and towards more whole, holistic environments - Ayelet's transformational trip to Ecuador - Going against the conventional advice and burning the bridges that are toxic for you - Ayelet's dream to write as a kid, learning to write from the heart, & her journey to being an author - Ayelet's books, & how she wrote them - What the concept of 'The Universe' means to us both - Ayelet's upcoming trek into nomadic life - Ayelet's new online platform to realise her vision & connect the creators of the world - Ayelet's words of advice for intuitives & creatives//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠

In Kendra's words: I am a writer, podcaster, and creativity coach with a background in social science research. I coach other creatives, sensitive intuitives, and late bloomers who are trying to create lives that feel purpose-driven and satisfying at a deep level. I'm currently working on a research project on living life experimentally rather than conceptually, and why this may be a better way to approach life for creative late bloomers struggling to feel like they are fulfilling their potential. Find Kendra at: kendrapatterson.comWe talked about:- Experiencing 'whole-life' burnout, and how this added context to Kendra's experience of depression & anxiety  - Why conventional therapy doesn't seem to work for us, and the conclusions that Kendra and I have drawn about this  - On money: living frugally whilst on the creative path, vs peers who are hitting conventional, societal milestones  - When Kendra knew that the conventional path wasn't for her, and moving out of burnout, depression & anxiety  - Experimental vs conceptual types, & being a "late (repeat) bloomer"  - Why Kendra's "dark night of the soul" was exactly what she needed to experience  - Testing as an INFJ, but identifying as an INFP//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠

Leslie: I help creative and ambitious personality types (including INFJs) to tap the potential of their personality to live a more purposeful life. Leslie is an INFJ. Find Leslie at: lesliemcdaniel.com//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠

This is the seventh conversation in a series with my friend Lauren Sapala. Lauren is a writer, writing coach and INFJ. Find Lauren at: laurensapala.comWe talked about:- School, family life, & cultural "rules" and expectations - Labels like "shy", "selective mutism" and "bipolar" - Job titles, creating your own vocation & answering the question "So, what you do?" at Indian weddings - The slow, unfolding journey of an intuitive career-changer who wants to 'do their own thing' - Lauren's approach with putting her stuff "out there" (using a soup analogy), how she treats her fiction writing, and a fiction book recommendation//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠