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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams interviews Anatoly Spektor, founder of Soul to Soul Business and a seasoned entrepreneur, about the pivotal pauses that reshaped his life and work. Anatoly shares his early experiences as a software developer and consultant, reflecting on how he repeatedly ignored the signs of burnout and misalignment in corporate roles. These experiences led him to press pause, journal deeply, and analyze recurring patterns, ultimately shifting his focus toward creating businesses that align with his values. He candidly discusses the dangers of staying in comfortable but unfulfilling roles and how chasing "passive income" disconnected him from both his customers and his purpose.

Anatoly recounts how stepping back—sometimes for months—allowed him to reassess his strengths, recognize gaps in leadership and team dynamics, and build a business model that integrated his technical and strategic expertise. This journey culminated in the creation of Soul to Soul, a consultancy helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs scale impactful businesses. Rather than pursuing ventures purely for financial gain, he now works with clients whose missions he believes in, bringing clarity, process design, and deep personal investment to each engagement.

Throughout the conversation, Anatoly emphasizes the power of asking the right questions, the importance of listening to internal and external signals to know when to pause, and the transformative value of seeking help. He challenges the myth of effortless passive income and reframes success as building a business that brings peace and pride. Ellen echoes this sentiment, reflecting on her own journey toward finding peace through introspection and alignment. Together, they offer a compelling message: growth comes not just from doing, but from pausing with purpose.

To learn more about Anatoly, visit https://soultosoulshow.com/

To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Mitchell Levy, a global credibility expert, executive coach, and prolific entrepreneur. Mitchell shares his journey through various business ventures, highlighting how critical feedback, especially the kind that challenges your assumptions, can be the catalyst for meaningful growth. He discusses how his past ventures in credibility and clarity, though profitable, weren’t aligned with market demand. A conversation with a trusted advisor helped him realize he had been selling what people need instead of what they want, prompting him to rethink his business strategy and offerings.

Mitchell describes how he used that pivotal moment as a chance to “press pause” and realign his focus toward offerings that resonate more clearly with his target audience. This led to the development of two core areas: “executive abundance,” a coaching philosophy centered on five stakeholder groups (self, family, customers, employees, and community), and a streamlined LinkedIn success service focused on delivering high-impact results with minimal effort. These changes allowed him to align what he delivers with what business leaders truly want, while still integrating the values of credibility and clarity.

The conversation wraps with advice for leaders on recognizing when it’s time to pause. Mitchell urges entrepreneurs to seek input from referral partners and prospects, not just friends or existing clients, to avoid the echo chamber effect. He stresses the importance of vulnerability, coachability, and being willing to question whether you're truly addressing your market’s wants. Pausing, he says, isn’t just about slowing down—it’s about finding the clarity and courage to pivot toward more meaningful, effective work.

To learn more about Mitchell, visit https://mitchelllevy.com/

To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

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In this heartfelt episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Ann Sheu, CEO and founder of Mpowered Journey, about two pivotal moments in Ann’s life when she chose to "press pause" and radically re-evaluate how she was spending her time. The first pause came after the unexpected passing of her father, which led to deep regret over not being more present during his final days. Ann shared how this experience awakened her to the danger of assuming there will always be more time for the things—and people—that matter most. It sparked a journey of personal development and prompted her to re-center her priorities around presence, values, and meaningful relationships.

The second major pause in Ann’s life was a career shift from practicing law to becoming a business and family coach. While she enjoyed aspects of being a lawyer, Ann realized that the work didn’t align with her natural talents or fulfill her at a deeper level. Taking time away from work—and her identity as a lawyer—allowed her to reflect and fully embrace a new path where she could lead, coach, and help others build not just successful companies, but strong, intentional families. She now helps couples treat their family as their most important team, bringing the same level of clarity, structure, and intentionality to home life as they do to work.

Ann’s advice to other leaders is to trust the quiet nudge when it arises—to listen to their intuition and take a pause before burnout or regret sets in. She encourages doing the "ME work": understanding your core values, identifying what energizes or drains you, and crafting a long-term personal vision, what she calls your “decade dream.” This thoughtful and vulnerable conversation is a reminder that success isn’t just about achievement—it’s about alignment, purpose, and choosing how you spend your most valuable resource: time.

To learn more about Ann, visit https://www.mpoweredfamilies.com/

To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/