Recently I had the honor of leadingfour workshops — two in-person, two virtual — for innovative companies across fintech, wealth management, adtech, and Google. Each team was unique, but the challenges weren’t. The workshops were titled:

• Push Pause: Managing Stress in High-Pressure Jobs

• Five Keys to Pause and Reset in Challenging Times

• Three Keys to Finding Your Inner Calm

• Resilience Lab: Tools to Leverage as a Team

From seed-stage startups to global orgs, one thing was clear: leaders and teams are under pressure — and they’re looking for real tools to help them rise.

Here are the three themes that stood out most:

1. The pressure is real — everywhere.

Whether you're a team of two or 200,000, times are uncertain. Stress is high, resources are stretched, and many employees are quietly struggling. Uncertainty is no longer a phase; it’s the backdrop we’re operating in.

2. Resilience isn’t optional — it’s a critical need and differentiator.

Everyone’s asking: how do we keep going when what used to work… doesn’t anymore? These sessions made it clear that resilience — real, embodied resilience — is what teams need now. Not just as a buzzword, but as a lived practice. That’s what my workshops deliver.

3. People want to connect — more than ever.

Across every session, people leaned in. Whether through 1:1 shares, breakout chats, or group reflection, the desire to feel seen and supported is stronger than ever. Teams are craving psychological safety, trust, and real connection — and it starts with giving them space to speak.

Bonus: Update on my almost 3-month frozen shoulder saga and how it is helping and informing my own resilience - physcially, emotionally and mentally.

Yes, you read that right—AI read my book Pause and pulled out the gold.

In this special episode, I share the AI Audio 17 minute synopsis by two completely digital voices as they have coffee chat about the book Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break - from Google’s new NotebookLM.

The results? Pretty surreal. Surprising. Spot-on. Pause-worthy!

Whether you're an AI enthusiast or just need a real reason to stop spinning in overdrive, this episode gives you:

• 🧘 The timeless leadership lessons from Pause, now filtered through Google’s AI

• 🧠 Why pausing isn’t lazy—it’s neuroscience-backed clarity

• ⚡️ How this book still hits, 7 years later, in the middle of our always-on tech culture

• 🔄 Real-life reset tools you can apply today to lead, think, and feel better

It was a lot of fun to upload the book and get this back in return in a matter of minutes - truly AMAZING and frankly, a lot of fun to listen to!

If you love pausing, AI, leadership, and coffee talk about self-mastery—please check this out between the male and female vapors of Pause. :)

📘 Grab the book that started it all: Pause: Harness the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break → https://www.amazon.com/Pause-Harnessing-Life-Changing-Giving-Yourself/dp/0143129244
💡 Sometimes the smartest thing you can do… is pause...and not gush because something seems so cool - this was such a trip to listen to - what do you think?!

#AIforleaders #pausebook #powerofpause #executivecoaching #resilientleadership #notebookLM #googleai #innerwork

What if your next level of leadership isn’t about doing more—but rewiring how you respond under pressure? 🧠🔥

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by one of my all-time favorite thought leaders—Dr. Rick Hanson, psychologist and bestselling author of Buddha’s Brain, Resilient, and NeuroDharma—to explore how neuroscience can help you lead with strength, calm, and clarity.

💡 This is more than just a conversation—it’s a mini-masterclass in emotional intelligence and embodied leadership.

🔄 Here’s what you’ll experience:

• ✨ A 10-minute guided Pause Practice with Rick—reset your nervous system on the spot

• 🧠 Why pausing changes your brain chemistry—and how to make it a high-performance habit

• 🐍 How to work with your "reptile brain" (Hint: Feed the mouse, pet the monkey 🐭🐒)

• 🔑 The 3 essential psychological needs you must meet to feel resilient

• 🌱 How your mindset literally shifts your biology

• 💪 Rick’s recipe for building unshakable inner strength (and how many neurons you’re working with)

🎯 If you’re a leader, founder, or high performer who wants to stop reacting and start leading with calm authority—this episode is for you.

***

Interactive Challenge for Listeners:

After you listen, ask yourself:
👉 “Where in my leadership am I reacting instead of responding?”
Then DM me your biggest insight—or what you’re committing to shift.

✨ Ready to go deeper? If you want support integrating these tools into your leadership, I’ve got spots open for 1:1 coaching. Let’s make your inner growth your greatest advantage.

About Rachael O'Meara

Rachael O’Meara, MBA, MA, ACC is an executive coach helping successful leaders learn the proven tools and strategies to rise to their next level of leadership - without the overwhelm. Her previous thirteen years at Google helps her have a pulse on what it takes to be a successful leader. Her first book⁠ Pause⁠ was a top business book for your career. She's been featured in the New York Times, WSJ.com and on the⁠ TEDx stage⁠. Learn more at ⁠www.rachaelomeara.com

#NoMoreExcuses #TimeToTakeAction #emotionalintelligence #podcast #pausecast #CorporateLeaderGoals 🔥 Let's do this! 🌟 #EndProcrastination #TakeActionNow #LeadWithPurpose #Rickhanson #buddhasbrain