In this episode of The Joy CEO Podcast, I’m diving into a topic that’s been truly transformative in my own leadership journey: forgiveness. For so many high-achieving professionals, the weight we carry isn’t just from deadlines or responsibilities—it’s from unhealed moments of the past.

I share the four types of forgiveness that have helped me and my clients find more peace and clarity: forgiving your younger self, your parents, your past blockers, and everyone else. Each represents a “rock” we’ve been carrying—one we can finally choose to set down.

I also introduce what I call the Hula Hoop Principle, a simple but powerful mindset shift that helps you focus on what’s actually within your control and release what isn’t.

To help you put these ideas into practice, I close the episode with a seven-day “Forgive to Win” challenge—a gentle invitation to lighten your emotional load, one day at a time, and make space for more joy, confidence, and ease in your leadership.

• Why forgiveness is one of the most powerful (and underused) leadership tools.
• How to “drop the rocks” by forgiving your younger self, your parents, past blockers, and everyone else.
• How the Hula Hoop Principle can help you stay focused on what’s within your control.
• Simple, daily steps to make forgiveness a lifelong habit of freedom and clarity.

Use these questions to go deeper after listening:

1. Which “rock” feels heaviest for me right now—and why am I still holding it?
2. What might change in my leadership if I chose to forgive myself for past mistakes?
3. How have old resentments or unmet expectations shaped the way I lead today?
4. Where in my life or career do I need to apply the Hula Hoop Principle?
5. What would it look like—and feel like—to finally lead with a lighter heart?

This episode is for driven, heart-centered professionals who want to lead with more clarity, compassion, and joy.

It’s especially for you if:

• You’ve achieved success on paper but still feel weighed down emotionally.
• You’re ready to stop replaying old stories that hold you back.
• You want to show up as a more grounded, authentic, and emotionally intelligent leader—at work and at home.

Join me in the Seven-Day Forgive to Win Challenge. Each day, identify one “rock” you’re ready to drop—and notice how your energy, perspective, and joy begin to shift.

00:00 – Introduction to the Joy CEO Podcast

00:49 – The Power of Forgiveness

03:21 – Forgiving Myself: The First Rock

04:43 – Forgiving My Parents: The Second Rock

07:16 – Forgiving the Blockers: The Third Rock

08:17 – Forgiving Everyone Else: The Fourth Rock

09:17 – The Hula Hoop Principle

15:27 – Seven-Day Forgive to Win Challenge

21:20 – Conclusion and Next Steps

22:24 – Closing Remarks and Call to Action

• Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation
• Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

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In this insightful and connection-driven conversation, Lori Pine sits down with Ira Gleser—former Coca-Cola colleague, #1 Amazon bestselling author, and executive coach—to explore how stewardship and relationship-building can transform the way we do business.

From their time working together at Coca-Cola to Ira’s later experiences at Microsoft and as an author, this episode reveals the power of trust, storytelling, and partnership in driving both personal and professional growth. Ira shares the origins of his book Stewardship for Business and offers actionable advice for sales professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to move from transaction to transformation.

If you believe business is built on relationships—and you want to deepen yours with integrity and purpose—this episode is for you.

Ira reminds us that success in business isn’t about the next deal—it’s about the next conversation. Building genuine relationships grounded in trust and curiosity is what creates long-term value.

Audience follow-up → Who in your network could you reconnect with—not to sell, but to serve?

Stewardship is about caring for the people, ideas, and resources entrusted to you. Ira believes leaders who prioritize stewardship inspire loyalty, innovation, and lasting results.

Audience follow-up → Where can you shift from ownership (“mine”) to stewardship (“ours”)?

Numbers can inform, but stories connect. Ira shares how narrative bridges gaps between brands and people—whether in marketing, leadership, or customer engagement.

Audience follow-up → What’s one story you can tell this week that shows, not just tells, your brand’s value?

When you think across disciplines—rather than only up the ladder—you open doors to creative problem-solving and collaboration. Ira calls this “horizontal thinking.”

Audience follow-up → What adjacent industry or team could you learn from right now?

Before you articulate your value, you must understand your customer’s reality. Stewardship begins with listening.

Audience follow-up → In your next client conversation, can you spend 80% listening and 20% speaking?

• Book: Stewardship for Business by Ira Gleser
• Companies: The Coca-Cola Company, Microsoft
• Concepts: Stewardship, Relationship Marketing, Horizontal Thinking, Storytelling in Leadership
• Project: The Coca-Cola case study where Lori and Ira collaborated to enhance internal and external brand trust

• How do you define...

💡 Episode Summary

Too often, high-achieving professionals think flourishing means landing the next role, title, or opportunity. But what if the key to thriving is right where you are? In this episode, Lori Pine—former corporate VP turned executive coach—introduces her CRUSH framework, a powerful tool designed to help you clarify goals, strengthen relationships, optimize processes, and protect your boundaries so you can flourish exactly where your feet are.

Packed with actionable advice and reflection prompts, Lori also shares how companies can create conditions where women win—building visibility, joy, and professional growth into the culture itself.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Flourishing isn’t future-based—it’s present-focused. Thriving starts with making the most of your current role, not waiting for the next opportunity.
• The CRUSH Framework:

C – Clarify: Define what success means to you right now so you’re not chasing someone else’s version of achievement.

R – Re-engage: Step back into visibility by showing up, speaking up, and contributing with confidence.

U – Upgrade: Identify processes, habits, or workflows you can refine to work smarter, not harder.

S – Strengthen: Build authentic, strategic relationships that fuel both your growth and your joy.

H – Healthy Boundaries: Protect your time and energy so you can sustain momentum without burning out.

• 30-Day Flourish Sprint: How to test the CRUSH framework in real life for immediate momentum.
• Conditions for Women to Win: Leaders can (and must) design environments that support visibility, equity, and growth.
• Boundaries are a leadership strategy. Saying no is often the most powerful way to say yes to what matters.

📝 Mentioned in This Episode

• The CRUSH Framework for professional flourishing
• The 30-Day Flourish Sprint challenge
• Strategies for leaders to create inclusive, growth-oriented cultures
• The importance of visibility and joy in sustaining success

🎯 Who Is This For

• Professionals feeling stuck in their current role and craving growth
• Leaders and HR partners seeking frameworks to retain and engage high performers
• Women navigating visibility and boundaries in male-dominated environments
• Anyone ready to thrive without waiting for “someday”

✨ Reflection Prompts

• What does flourishing mean to me in my current role?
• Which part of the CRUSH framework could make the biggest impact for me right now?
• Where do I need stronger boundaries to protect my energy and joy?
• As a leader, what conditions can I create to help women in my team flourish?

• Connect with Lori on LinkedIn or Instagram.
• Learn more about coaching, retreats, and leadership support at loripine.com.

🎧 Listen to Episode 19 now:

• Apple Podcasts