What does it take to move from decades in corporate leadership roles into entrepreneurship?

This week Paula sits down with Carolyn Langley, owner and managing partner of Input Idea, for a candid conversation about leaving corporate life, building a business, and learning to trust your own voice.

We talk about the realities behind big career changes, the hidden conditioning that can show up in male-dominated workplaces, and how Carolyn is committed to helping small business owners simplify tech and content marketing.

This is a practical and personal episode about growth, self-awareness, and creating work that fits your life.

Connect with Carolyn at carolyn@inputidea.com or inputidea.com

Want to make it easy to be introduced to the very best people? Hit that SUBSCRIBE button so I can help you do just that!

Have an idea for a future podcast? Email me at hello@thecourageblueprint.com

00:00 - Welcome back and meeting Carolyn through a chance connection

03:09 - From corporate roles to helping businesses demystify tech

05:45 - Why leave a successful corporate career for entrepreneurship

08:22 - Work-life balance, personal relationships, and the right timing

15:45 - The silent conditioning of male-dominated workplaces

17:44 - Speaking up without being labeled aggressive

21:39 - Turning reactions into questions instead of comments

24:33 - Grassroots building through community

32:37 - Why the human in the loop still matters

Paula Shepherd talks with Dr. Amy Matthews Perez about her 34-year career in public education, her retirement, and why she launched MESA, which stands for making education special for all. The conversation centers on special education, relationship-building, and how parents, educators, and administrators can work together more effectively around the table.

Dr. Amy brings deep experience as a classroom teacher, speech pathologist, diagnostician, special education coordinator, assistant principal, principal, director of special education, and director of special programs. She shares a practical, people-first approach to reducing conflict and creating progress in IEP and ARD meetings.

Connect with Dr. Amy via email at dramymp@gmail.com or dramyperez.com/
Link to read her article - “Power Poker” at IEP Meetings

Want to make it easy to be introduced to the very best people? Hit that SUBSCRIBE button so I can help you do just that!

Have an idea for a future podcast? Email me at hello@thecourageblueprint.com

00:00 - Welcome to the episode and why Dr. Amy’s work matters

02:24 - Dr. Amy’s fifth-grade calling

06:41 - The hidden workload of parenting an adult child with special abilities

08:55 - Reframing “special” versus “special education”

10:04 - What “making education special for all” really means

11:24 - Why later is expensive in special education

14:09 - Why vulnerability matters in IEP and ARD meetings

20:26 - The need to set ego aside

Are you showing up authentically every day? Or are you burdened under the weight of expectations. In today's episode, Jo Naughton shares her journey through a brain injury to a deep mind, body and soul connection. She shares how she moved away from feeling like a victim of her circumstances, to being the powerful creator of her life by taking radical responsibility.

In this episode we chat about:

Noticing your internal dialogue to create a higher, soul mind body connection.

Applying the "know, like & trust" factor to yourself.

"Radical Responsibility" and stepping away from the victim mentality.

Releasing the outcome of your actions.

Letting the pain flow through your experience.

Showing up authentically & remove the masks you wear.

Recognizing your "power energies".

Jo's top tip to start your powerful journey today.

And so much more!

Connect with Jo!

www.joannanaughton.co.uk

Are you looking for an all-in-one affordable hosting platform? Try NewZenler!

Paula says, "This all-in-one platform has all the features you need to get started with your website, including blogging tools and easy to build funnels - plus create and sell online courses. No more trying to link everything together. And with super affordable pricing - it's a no brainer for entrepreneurs who want to keep their expenses low while staying visible!" Click here below to join today!

Check out other resources Paula loves HERE!

If you're interested in working with Paula, send her an email paula@thecourageblueprint.com

Continue the conversation by joining my private Facebook group "I am Becoming…" here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/befearlesswithpaula

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be__fearless_with_paula/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/befearlesswithpaula/

Don't forget to rate and review The Confidence Sessions and please subscribe if you like what you heard! https://www.thecourageblueprint.com/podcast

(02:00) Jo & Paula share how they initially connecte over their use of curse and swear words.

(02:48) Jo's journey from a brain injury to holistic, alignment coach. Noticing her internal dialogue and creating a higher, soul mind body connection.

(05:45) How Jo began reconnecting with her body and the callings the vessel was giving her.

(07:48) Why Jo left teaching primary school to pursue a life of deeper alignment.

(10:25) Applying the "know, like & trust" factor to yourself.

(10:50) "Radical Responsibility" and stepping away from the victim mentality. Stepping up as the creator of your own life.

(17:15) How you are the missing piece you need to change your life and releasing the outcome of your actions.

(19:28) Jo's deep connection with her soul-self and learning to know, love and trust herself.

(20:30) Learning to find beautiful moments in the suffering and letting the pain flow through your experience. Recognizing that life is happening for you.

(24:40) Feeling like you have to wear a mask to fulfil others expectations of who you are.

(26:00) Showing up authentically to create favourite client attraction.

(29:45) Avoiding the noise of what you "should" be doing.

(31:20) Recognizing your "power energies".

(33:30) Checking in with yourself on your journey to knowing, loving and trusting yourself and your decisions.

(35:31) Jo shares her top tip to start your powerful journey today.

This week Paula sits down with email marketer Liz Wilcox to talk about something I think a lot of us need to hear: marketing doesn't have to be complicated to work.

Liz built a thriving $9/month membership in spite of the naysayers, because it made sense for her life and her audience.

We get into the scrappy start of her RV travel blog, why she bet on email over social media as her main channel, and how a practical skill turned into a real, sustainable business. We also talk about giving yourself permission instead of chasing validation, and what it actually looks like to build something that fits your life instead of burning yourself out in the hustle game.

If you've ever felt like marketing has to be dancing to trending music, yelling into the algorithm voice, or super complicated to work, this one's for you.

Snag Liz’s $9/month email marketing membership here👇
https://fearless4life--lizwilcox.thrivecart.com/email-marketing-membership/

Heads up…some of the links in this post/email are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products, services, and tools I use and genuinely believe in.

Connect with Liz and grab her FREE email swipes👇
lizwilcox.com

Want to make it easy to be introduced to the very best people? Hit that SUBSCRIBE button so I can help you do just that!

Have an idea for a future podcast? Email me at hello@thecourageblueprint.com

(2:02) - Going all in on email

(4:21) - Why consumers respond to unpolished, human advertising

(8:26) - Why Liz rejected high-ticket business pressure

(16:12) - Pricing as a long-term strategy, not a quick fix

(27:01) - Why not me? Replacing doubt with action

(29:49) - Giving yourself permission before giving yourself time

(33:03) - Why human-to-human email beats polished corporate crap

(37:08) - Paula’s results using Liz’s email marketing membership

It's too easy to make your success in business say a lot about your success as a person! In today's episode Marianne Smith, the "entrepreneurs therapist", shares how your business can trigger unprocessed traumas in your life. She shares the danger of not supporting yourself and finding self-compassion as an entrepreneur. In her work Marianne sees lots of business owners in reaction mode, creating codependent relationships with their teams and losing their identity as a person outside of business. She share the big themes she identifies as harmful in the social media world and shares strategies to take care of yourself in the world of entrepreneurship.

In this episode we chat about:

Triggers to look out for.

Fear as an entrepreneur.

What does "reactive" business look like?

Dealing with inconsistency.

And so much more!

Marianne is well-known in the online coaching space as The Entrepreneur's Therapist! She supports high-level entrepreneurs (like you) in creating stability, safety, and healing in their nervous system via EMDR & other trauma techniques so they can create richer, healthier businesses, relationships, & lives. Marianne specializes in working within the unique challenges that leaders & entrepreneurs face mentally, relationally, & in business, as she's had 2 6-figure businesses of her own both in the spaces of coaching and therapy.

Are you looking for an all-in-one affordable hosting platform? Try NewZenler!

Paula says, "This all-in-one platform has all the features you need to get started with your website, including blogging tools and easy to build funnels - plus create and sell online courses. No more trying to link everything together. And with super affordable pricing - it's a no brainer for entrepreneurs who want to keep their expenses low while staying visible!" Click here below to join today!

Check out Paula's recommended resources HERE!

If you're interested in working with Paula, send her an email paula@thecourageblueprint.com

Continue the conversation by joining my private Facebook group "I am Becoming…" here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/befearlesswithpaula

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be__fearless_with_paula/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/befearlesswithpaula/

Don't forget to rate and review The Confidence Sessions and please subscribe if you like what you heard! https://www.thecourageblueprint.com/podcast

(02:54) How business can be triggering for people, bring up unprocessed trauma, anxiety and negative self talk.

(09:00) Overcoming judgement, being watched and fear as an entrepreneur.

(14:50) Finding your identity in your business and the unhealthy attachment.

(18:00) How your reactive mode in your business reflects in your relationships.

(19:22) How to notice a "reactive mode" business, codependency in teams

(25:12) Unhealthy themes that are prevalent in the social media world - posturing, fear and inauthentic connection.

(26:35) Seeking integrity on social media and you're not obligated to share your pain.

(29:45) The unexpected life of an entrepreneur.

(34:09) The lie of consistent income in business.

(36:20) Strategies for avoiding comparison on social media.

(38:28) Self-compassion to heal yourself in business.

When we stay quiet and don't ask for what we need, we are ultimately punishing ourselves. Maybe you feel like you've lost your voice and control over your life just to please others. It's time to start advocating for yourself.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Starting to believe in yourself
• Becoming your best advocate
• Trusting yourself to make decisions
• Deciding exactly what you want
• Creating your plan and following through
• And so much more!
  
  

Is this your first time listening to The Confidence Sessions, and you have questions or episode topics suggestions, I would love to hear from you. Email me at support@thecourageblueprint.com

• Love what you're hearing? Don't forget to rate and review The Confidence Sessions and please subscribe if you like what you heard! https://www.befearlesswithpaula.com/podcast

My favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is creating amazing conversations that happen in our private community.

Want to be a part of those conversations? Join my private Facebook community, "I am Becoming…": http://www.facebook.com/groups/befearlesswithpaula

• Be the first to know when new episodes are released and binge all of the amazing episodes so far? Get on the list here: https://www.thecourageblueprint.com/podcast

• Apply here: https://www.thecourageblueprint.com/courses/elevated-voices-academy

It's the final quarter of the year but maybe you don't feel like you've been "successful"? If you're a coach or an inspiring coach who feels like you're floundering, this episode is for you! Paula shares how to reinvigorate your offer, your personal brand, your own excitement.

So you can build your business to be stronger in this last quarter than it ever has for the whole beginning of 2021! Setting you up for 2022 as the bold leader that you are.

In this episode we chat about:

Why 29% of businesses fail

How your cashflow worries are NORMAL and what to do about them

The Confidence & Cashflow Catalyst - 6 week experience

Included bonuses and how to sign up!

And so much more!

Join the Confidence & Cashflow Catalyst HERE!

https://www.thecourageblueprint.com/courses/confidencecashflowcatalyst

If you're interested in working with Paula, send her an email paula@thecourageblueprint.com

Continue the conversation by joining my private Facebook group "I am Becoming…" here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/befearlesswithpaula

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be__fearless_with_paula/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/befearlesswithpaula/

Don't forget to rate and review The Confidence Sessions and please subscribe if you like what you heard! https://www.thecourageblueprint.com/podcast

(02:52) Why 29% of businesses fail and the reality of business cash flow.

(05:21) Recreating the confidence you had when you first had when you started your business & creating cash flow.

(06:17) The 6 week experience.

(07:25) Reframing your offers and simple ways to create cash flow right now.

(08:40) Creating cash flow without expensive tech.

(08:54) What's included in CCC

(10:00) Amazing bonuses - Legal advice with Natalie Puglisi, Human Design for business with Rachael Ami & genuine marketing strategies with The Social Salad Society.

(11:25) How to sign-up for this super affordable no-brainer offer.