The Rutledge Perspective Podcast

What do we mean when we talk about productivity? And how do we measure it for ourselves? Is just checking off all the things being productive? Are all the things necessary or aligned with where we are going? If not, then why are we using their completion as a sign of productivity? In fact, why are they on the list at all? About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approach, empathy, and unde...

Perseverance is not always gut wrenching pain, but it is usually uncomfortable. By definition, it is overcoming despite challenges, obstacles and failures. But perseverance also shows grit and determination to get to the stated goal. It also leaves room for "modification" of the pathway to that goal. And think of the story you will have to tell when you get there! About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's...

Having "LASER focus" isn't necessarily all it's cut out to be. That myopic state of being can prevent us from taking in information that is necessary to achieve the desired goal. Instead, try just blurring the background like in a picture. That way, if something catches your attention, you can make the choice to attend to it or not. But you aren't at risk of missing something critical because you...

Your vision of what you want and how you want to do it is PERFECT! You know what you want to deliver. You know where your gifts are and how you want to utilize them. The challenge is getting support in the execution of the what. Why? Because "support" can often lead us to changing our vision to suit what an "expert" tells us. But if you are not living in your purpose and your genius, success may h...

What would happen if you believed deeply that what you wanted were possible? When we doubt the possibility, we leave room for comparison to everyone else's achievements – or at least what they let of see of them. But if we get solid in who we are and what we really want, we can stand firm in the possibilities, even if the path is a shaky one. About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-centered approa...

Episode Summary I'm not sure when the selection of an annual word started. I'm sure I was late to the party whenever it was. After having selected words for a few years, what has become evident is that it's not the word that's the driving force. It's the behavior that accompanies the word that makes the difference. E.g. discipline without supporting behavior is just a word with projected importanc...

Have you thought lately about how your actions can impact far beyond your immediate visions or knowledge. Your actions indeed have a ripple effect. What's amazing is that the ripples can reach farther than we even know and impact people we may never know. It's also what makes it important to be mindful of the actions we take and the words that we use. Leaders recognize their ripple effect. TRUE le...

Legacy is a funny thing. We think we have to be rich or famous or somehow bigger than life to have one. Or we have to have offspring to hand things down to. But legacy is so much more than that. Legacy is about IMPACT. What will people say you have done for them? How has your presence uplifted or supported someone else? What are you creating that build instead of breaks. THAT is Legacy! About the...

Perspective enables us to see multiple sides of a situation. It helps us to operate in the gray when we want to live in black and white because is seems safer. Through perspective, we can get clear and make definitive decisions while enabling flexibility and adaptability, and yes, even empathy. Perspective can pull you out of despair and into possibilities if you let it. Perspective is a SUPERPOWE...

Leadership is not for the faint of heart. And having a "leadership position" shouldn't be seen as the only measurement of success. This leads to many people who have no desire to lead or no skills to lead being put in positions where their lack of desire and skill negatively impact an organization's culture and outcomes. But it doesn't have to be that way. How about we find ways to "promote" techn...

Whew! Unmet expectations are a killer! As we approach the end of the year, it is important that we manage our expectations of ourselves and of others in order to manage our emotional response to them. It is also important that we clearly communicate our expectations so that we understand the gaps and can choose accordingly. It's not hard, it's just not always consistent. But let's make it so this...

Persistence is a superpower. In the madness of making things happen, we often focus on our resilience and consistency, but we rarely talk about how our persistence serves as a foundation for achievement. For in the persistence, there is room for imperfection, changes of direction, and increased clarity. All of those serve us well as we step fully into our unique purpose. How's your persistence hol...

We seem to have it all wrong! Leadership is not about the ANSWERS. Leadership is about PROVIDING SOLUTIONS. Too often we get caught up in the standard process or the "we've always done it that way." We fail to pause, listen and then actively pursue a solution to the problem that is being presented to us. You know that saying, "if you are going to call out a problem, also bring a solution?" The sam...

Sometimes pushing is the wrong thing to do. It can lead to injury. It can lead to the diminishing returns. It can lead to burn out, frustration, anxiety. While we need to exercise our resilience, that resilience is often grounded in a keen sense of awareness the enables us to just take a minute to regroup when needed. How are you taking a pause this week? About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-ce...

How often to you pause to appreciate everything you have done to get to where you are? How often do you say "thank you" to YOU for your grit and resilience. As we move through this gratitude month, take some time to show appreciation to others. A kind, sincere word goes a long way. And while you are at it, show yourself some appreciation too! You got this! About the Host: Laurel Rutledge's human-c...

Fear does not have to be debilitating. In fact, fear can be a driver in moving you forward. Jacqueline Wales has spent her career studying human behavior and the impact fear has on success. She knows that fearlessness is not the absence of fear but the courage to take the next step. About the Guest: An astute observer of behavior, Jacqueline is endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human,...

Fear in and of itself is not bad. It keeps us on our toes. But when taken to an extreme, it can prevent us from moving forward. Tapping into caution as a bellwether for action is a way to move forward with awareness of the risks and plans to mitigate them. Caution gives pause where fear makes us stop. So the next time you are hesitant, ask yourself, "am I afraid or just being cautious?" and adjust...

It's been a "messy brain" kind of month already. But this show is all about "perspective" so we are finding the power in the mess. The reality is that sometimes what we feel is messy is what makes us really good at what we do. It's our "superpower" of sorts. But if we spend too much time focused on cleaning up the mess as opposed to finding the gems hidden inside, we miss opportunities for greater...

Is being "influential" enough to cause systemic change? You can increase your influence by increasing your presence and being seen everywhere. BUT does mere presence carry enough power to create sustainable change? According to Rashad Robinson, President of The Color of Change, real power is the ability to change the rules. As leaders, are we exercising the power of intimidation caused by our mere...

Our guest this week has found a way to successfully earn a living AND serve others at the same time. Author, TV Show Creator and Songwriter Lisa Caprelli left a thriving marketing business to follow her passion and fulfill her purpose. She lets us know how she navigated that switch and how she uses her talents to educate and inspire young people. We also touch on building teams, dreaming big and e...

What we intend isn't always what happens. But what with do with that unexpected outcome is what matters.  If we justify or explain, we ignore or negate how our actions have impacted others and we have a hard time processing how our actions didn't give us what we wanted. But if we pause, take a minute to understand and OWN the outcomes, we can apologize and make it right. When we know better, we do...

Sometimes we can plan ourselves right into failure. Why? Because we get so caught up in making sure the plan is perfect and all-encompassing that we have a hard time letting go. Instead of giving ourselves the grace of knowing that there is always something unforeseen and including flexibility in the plan, we try to plan away the unexpected. But here's the rub, if we never do anything, the plan is...

Surviving trauma is something most of us, if not all of us, unfortunately have to learn. This week's guest talks about not only surviving, but thriving, after bad things happen. Based in the UK, Claudine Charles shares with us how her personal tragedy led to her professional transformation and her best life. We also discuss the importance of instilling resilience in children and how accepting feed...

Having and showing emotion is not a bad thing. Emotions are a part of being human. It is only when those emotions lead us to feelings of constant persecution that they become a challenge. Not every "no" is a judgment of your worth or character. Not every situation is a set up. But if you always lead with emotion, your ability to discern when something different versus dangerous is compromised. Som...

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do when we're taking those first steps in our journey is to keep going. Kyndra Crump, a comedian and instagram show host is getting ready to head back to college to pursue another dream. We chat about how women, and particularly women of color, can persevere when stumbling blocks arise - especially when you're first starting out. We have a candid conversation abo...