Let's Talk Boundaries with Mary Brown

In the sixth and final part of our boundaries in business leadership series, Sarah Stokes and I discuss setting boundaries in our professional relationships.  We explore topics such as defining roles and responsibilities, expectations and measurements of success, dealing with conflicts, and maintaining healthy business relationships.  We share our personal experiences with professional relationshi...

In the fifth part of our boundaries in business leadership series, Mary and Sarah dive into establishing boundaries with clients.  They discuss the importance of defining clear expectations as a business leader, including setting both working and non-working hours.  The conversation highlights establishing specific terms of service to prevent overcommitting and potential resentment. Furthermore, t...

In this discussion on business finances, Sarah Stokes and I discuss the importance of setting financial boundaries in business.  We discuss topics such as setting boundaries around pricing and payment, the unintended consequences of not having financial boundaries, and the importance of creating sustainable financial practices in business. We emphasize viewing money as a tool for achieving persona...

Welcome to the third installment of the Boundaries and Business Leadership series. In today's episode, Sarah Stokes and I delve into the importance of establishing boundaries concerning focus, technology, and learning within the realm of business leadership. Our conversation highlights the significance of being aware of potential distractions and deliberately choosing tasks that align with achievi...

Everybody is searching for the ever-elusive work-life balance.  I think what we really need are clear work and life boundaries.  In the second part of my Boundaries and Business series, I engage in a conversation with Sarah Stokes, sharing our experiences, reflections, and insights on work-life balance, including a discussion of myths and misconceptions about it. Work-life balance isn't a perfect...

Welcome to part one of this series designed for business owners, leaders, career professionals, and entrepreneurs. Partnering with Sarah Stokes, we delve into the realm of boundary-related issues that often arise in business. In this first segment, our focus revolves around the transformative power of saying no and practicing self-leadership for greater success and fulfillment in business. Sarah a...

Today, we are joined by a special guest, Minette Riordan, who delves into the significance of establishing boundaries in the realm of creativity and its integration into business. Our conversation explores the idea that while not everyone may be "crafty," yet we are still able to be creative in our own ways. Minette explains how embracing creativity contributes to both self-care and business succe...

Struggling to establish and stick to your New Year's resolutions? You're not the only one! By February, many individuals find themselves lacking the motivation they had just a month before. In this conversation, I speak with Deb to explore a fresh approach to creating and maintaining resolutions. Emphasizing the importance of acknowledging progress rather than striving for perfection, we discuss a...

Are you finding the approaching holidays to be a source of stress? Wouldn't you prefer to experience joy, connection, and excitement instead? Many individuals tend to overlook setting boundaries, especially during the holiday season, which can result in increased overwhelm, stress, and anxiety. In this episode, we explore the concept of establishing boundaries for the holidays. I provide examples...

As working from home has become more common, so have questions and discussions about work life balance.  Today we go beyond the typical work-life balance to include the unique challenges faced by parents working from home.  Our guest, Leslie, embarked on the journey of entrepreneurship with her husband and then discovered that they were expecting a baby.  In this conversation, Leslie shares her ex...

Do you consider yourself busy?  Do you find yourself rushing from one thing to the next with a never-ending to-do list running in the back of your head?  Well, that's exactly the sentiment shared by today's guest, Cari Powers—a personal trainer, a nutrition coach, and a busy entrepreneur.   Despite her perpetual busyness, Cari often finds herself feeling unaccomplished as her to-do list seems neve...

The term "burnout" has become increasingly common, but what does it actually mean?  Today, we dive into this important topic with special guest and burnout expert, Chelsea Frost.  After overcoming her own struggle with experiencing burnout, Chelsea is now dedicated to preventing others from going through similar struggles.  As an executive coach specializing in burnout prevention, she shares her p...

In this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with Patricia Ortega, a career coach and the host of The Uncommon Career Podcast.  Patricia specializes in helping technical leaders and professionals overcome career challenges to find, land, and thrive in fulfilling and impactful careers.  She has over a decade of experience, is a certified life and executive coach, and holds a master of science i...

In this episode, I had the privilege of interviewing Delaney and Vesta Hager, a mother-daughter duo who are not only business partners but also co-hosts of "The What's Next Podcast."  Their business venture and podcast aim to assist women in transition, guiding them toward their desired destinations and helping them shape the life they aspire to live. During our conversation, Vesta and Delaney del...

Today, we're joined by a special guest, Sarah Stokes. We hear all about Sarah's story of working with her spouse as television anchors, to co-creating a million dollar marketing business, to starting a coaching practice that helps business women choose joy.  We dive into the topic of the husband and wife power couple and what made it so successful.  We also explore the moment when Sarah knew she h...

Have you experienced a toxic or unhealthy relationship with a family member? In this episode of Let's Talk Boundaries, we delve into a deeply personal and courageous story with our guest, MJ. She opens up about her challenging relationship with her mother and the tough decision she made to go "no contact." Join us as we discuss MJ's emotional struggle over her love for her mother and her need for...

As a business leader or team member, sometimes difficult conversations need to happen to work effectively together.  However, these conversations don't need to be as stressful as you may think!   It is possible to have tough conversations while maintaining professionalism and solution focused.  I had the opportunity to discuss how to have a tough conversation with a business owner named Carolin Se...

You may have heard (or even thought!) that setting boundaries is unkind.  I am here to tell you that this is a myth!  In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Loreé Beamer, also known as the Queen of Kindness.  She shares her story of discovering happiness in her life by extending kindness to everyone and also by setting boundaries for herself. During our conversation, we discuss the...

Taylor Swift's been all over the news and trending on social media recently.  My "Swifty" sister Chime and I watched the Netflix Documentary "Miss Americana" and uncovered boundary lessons from the film and life of the amazing Taylor Swift.  Her life and career began with the moral code and belief system of wanting to be considered "good".  We discuss Taylor Swift's journey from desperately seekin...

Last month, we discussed the differences between rules and boundaries (see episode 48).  Since then, I have frequently been asked, "What About "Relationship Boundaries"?  If rules are guidelines for leading groups of people and boundaries are my personal guidelines for myself, then what do we call the boundaries within our relationships?  Well here is the catch, there is no such thing as relations...

Do you work with friends and family?  Have you become friends with your coworkers? Maintaining a personal and professional relationship can be challenging, especially when you are trying to enforce rules and boundaries.  You do not want to resent your friend.  You also do not want it to be uncomfortable at work.  This is exactly the situation that Tiffany faces as she tries to supervise a childhoo...

Does your family have a business? Have you ever worked for a family business of considered taking on responsibility for your family business? What would you do if your family asked you to take over your family's business? Managing a family business is complicated because it can blur the lines between personal and professional. In this episode, we dive into the importance of setting clear boundarie...

In this episode, Mary Brown, The Boundaries Coach, shares insights on a common area of confusion she often encounters in her work: distinguishing between rules and boundaries. In this discussion, she emphasizes the significance of grasping these distinctions and how doing so can contribute to maintaining strong and healthy relationships. Mary emphasizes the importance of safeguarding our well-bein...

Balancing work and life can be a tough feat for many individuals, but it becomes even more demanding when faced with a health issue. In a conversation between Mary and Tracy, who is a solopreneur, Tracy candidly shares her experiences dealing with Lyme disease and the adjustments she had to make to prioritize her well-being. Tracy came to the realization that prioritizing self-care is paramount to...

In recent weeks, the new Barbie movie has taken center stage. Mary Brown and her sister, Chime, engage in a conversation about the fundamental concepts of boundaries and provide examples from the film.  The two delve into the themes of self-confidence and self-worth that are prominently depicted throughout the Barbie movie. Mary and Chime deliver a powerful reminder that our value remains constant...