About Progress

I'm back on my soapbox again today to gently give you permission, but also enthusiastically cheer you on, in your pursuit of your dreams. If it wasn't for a dream I had, oh, ten years ago then none of this would be here. Not this blog, this podcast, or this incredible community. And certainly none of my own personal growth from it all! So let's talk about you, what are the lies you believe about d...

If all of our talk about dreams this month actually has you feeling stuck, that's okay. Let's get back to the basics about why you need a dream and give you a little help on how to find it. This is a no pressure approach, our life coach guest even says so. Why You Need a Dream Janelle Alexandra is a life purpose coach with a clear and faith driven mission to build up women. She believes in passion...

You know the phrase "when the going gets tough, the tough get going", right? What does 'going' look like for you? When things get hard do you dig in or do you get out? I think there is a common misconception that just because something is good, it should be easy. A lot of the time that just isn't true, because hard is good. Hard is Good If you think about it, you've probably seen this principle in...

Maybe one of the reasons we hold back from dreaming big is because it feels too...big! In this week's episode learn how small steps take you big places. Don't believe it? Because of that method today's most instagrammable blogging conference was born before the app even existed. How small steps take you big places Gabrielle Blair, mother of 6 blogging at Design Mom, co-founded Alt Summit 10 years...

Have you felt intimidated by this month's theme, dream big? Well that was not my intention! But, let's break that feeling down. We sometimes equate big dreams to big numbers - like monetary earnings or Instagram followers or other attributes of fame. I want you to hear me when I say, you don't have to be famous to dream big. You don't have to be famous I hope you felt inspired when I opened up abo...

Have you ever asked yourself, what even is self development and where do I start with all that it entails?! It is much simpler than you think and totally achievable with baby steps. This month as we dream big listen to this interview that reminds you that you can be more than one thing. More than likely, you already are. You can be more than one thing. Vanessa Quigley is a mother of 7, founder of...

If you're an accomplished athlete, maybe you've heard of this topic. If you're not really an athlete (like me!) this still applies to you. Ready for a sort of cheesy analogy? You are an athlete of growth, and me and our guests are your progress cheerleaders! Today you're going to learn why overloading is the key to growth. Heather Fuller is a personal trainer who really advocates for wellness in a...

With the new month comes a new theme, and I'm starting this episode off asking you to reconsider calling this one "dumb", ha! It's time to allow yourself to dream big. I suggest downloading the Progress Plan so you can work through it as you listen to this episode. I'm going to offer several shifts you can make in the way you look at dreams, as well as get realllly vulnerable and share 10 of my bi...

This month the theme was "You Are Creative", and you heard guest interviews and my take on what creativity really means and how you can become the creative person you already are. Ashmae Hoiland, who I consider creativity personified, gave us permission to just create even if you might be "bad" at it. In the interview with Womb Sisters we heard from 3 women (so fun!) who gave their perspective on...

Sometimes I'm here to give you a bit of tough love, a kick in the pants as I like to call it! Today that looks like this: no more excuses! How many times have you pushed aside the spark of an idea with the excuse of laziness? You know what, you are not lazy. It's time to unpack why you're saying that and what to do about it. This month we have focused on creativity - getting started, what it looks...

Do you ever feel down about yourself when really you're just feeling down about your talents and abilities? It's time to stop and figure out what the story is that you're telling yourself. And please, rewrite if necessary to connect to your own creativity story. But what exactly is that? About connecting to your own creativity story Today's guest is a scrapbooker. You remember the days of scrapboo...

I used to think being creative meant doing something completely unique, whether it was in performance or product. I can see now the crippling effect that had on simply allowing myself to use my natural abilities and see them as creative. What shifted my mindset? Realizing you are allowed to mimic! If you're still not convinced, let me explain... In this Pinterest era you're hard pressed to find an...

I love to paint, but it has been put on the back burner these days with all the other things I juggle. So, does that mean I'm not creative? I still come up with meals my whole family eats, squeeze in my favorite workouts, interview incredible podcast guests (like these ladies!) and I just launched a 10 lesson online podcasting course. And that's not at all to toot my own horn, but it is to say tha...

Have you been surprised by discovering something new about yourself recently? So many of us are surprised by where our creativity can take us. Don't stop here if you think you're not creative, because you are. You may just need to give yourself permission to create. Whatever that looks like for you, you can explore it with grace, curiosity, and simply just for you. Ashmae Hoiland shares that, desp...

With the new month comes a new theme, and I really hope this one doesn't scare anyone off! We are going to dive into creativity - what it is, what it isn't, and how to have more of it in our daily lives. I suggest downloading the Progress Plan so you can work through it as you listen to this episode where I remind you of something that maybe you've forgotten: you ARE creative. About creativity myt...

This month the theme was "Progress is Messy", and you heard guest interviews and my take on what that looks like in real life. Natalie Norton shared her perspective on "How to Get Out of a Funk" - with simple tips for you and stories from her own life. Patrice Washington discussed "What to do When the Growing gets Tough" - including her own rise and how to deal with resistance. Rachel Nielson let...

Mamas who primarily stay home with their kids struggle to understand how I can work on my podcasting business in addition to taking care of my kids. I get this curiosity, because a few years ago I wondered if I could ever make that possible, too. Whenever I talk about the how-to's with podcasting, people seem to be more interested how I balance my work here as a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM). This episo...

Maybe you remember back in March when we talked about habits - motivation, sleep, and time management were a few of the topics. Hopefully you felt inspired to make some real change that would benefit you and, as a result, those around you. If you're still moving right along and keeping up with those new habits then good for you! (Also, give us all your tips!) But maybe you've become stuck, overwhe...

We're throwing the stale rules of etiquette out the window and answering one of my most asked questions: Do you make money from podcasting? So here's the honest truth: yes! ...and no. This podcast started as, and still is, a passion project. If I didn't love it I would have quit a looong time ago. Maybe the numbers will surprise you, but do you want to know what really surprised me? Even with all...

Raise your hand if you have fallen victim to circumstances, or excuses, and your list of "What if's?" seems like the only thing in your life that is growing. Just like the old adage that a diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure, we too can learn how to shine if we push past resistance. The choice is yours, learn how to keep growing or allow self doubt to stop you in your tracks. I...

We talk a lot about self development around here: making progress, stretching yourself, GROWING. And I know it can be frustrating when those things, even the change you desperately want to happen, take time. If. you feel like you are only able to grow slow, I'm right there with you. In fact, I'm now grateful for my slow grow. Of course, for me, I think about my blog, podcast, and Instagram but it'...

How is progressing going for you? Is it all over the place, back and forth, kind of a mess? GOOD. Progress is messy. All month long we are talking about what that looks like and how to deal with it. So what if you feel stuck, and need to know how to get out of a funk? The answer is simple - it's you! And this episode contains the tools you need to show up for yourself. Natalie Norton, retired phot...

Thank you for being a part of the About Progress community! I have a small favor to ask of you. Would you take this 30-second survey so that I can better understand this audience's demographics? It means so much to me that you show up here and allow me to produce this meaningful work! xo Monica Here's something you maybe didn't expect to hear around here: failure is not an option. No, really, we w...

Thank you for being a part of the About Progress community! I have a small favor to ask of you. Would you take this 30-second survey so that I can better understand this audience's demographics? It means so much to me that you show up here and allow me to produce this meaningful work! xo Monica It's time to hear from this community! Each month I ask for audio submissions from YOU, the listeners. I...

Some of us dominate our to-do lists every single day and find happiness in checking off one thing after another. But most of us flounder between lists that consume all our waking thoughts and not making them at all. What if we could learn how to make a better To-Do List? Let's be clear, your desire to stay organized or maintain priorities is not wrong. But there may be room for improvement in your...