Access Brand Communications’ Post

Saying “no” in the corporate culture shouldn’t get you in trouble if mental health is truly valued. Do you have that relationship with your team where they feel valued and comfortable in saying “no”? Do you ask them? Do you have that relationship with your leaders? We, as leaders, can be blind in this space. It is a area I can improve in.

And, there you have it... It was well over 7 years ago now (Maybe more). One of my employees said to me, "Jen, you should write a book." Little did he know, it was already long on my head and heart to do so. This book series has been such a wild ride and evolutionary experience. What started as a non-fiction book about my life, what I've overcome, what I've learned, etc., became something much bigger than I ever expected and even closer to my heart. Over time, I transitioned it into a fiction book series for many reasons, but that's for another day. This series includes a combination of actual experiences, embellished experiences, and completely fictional portions based on my learning and understanding of people and what we experience in life. Book one felt like pulling teeth some days. It was cathartic, brought up wounds I still needed to heal, and brought more emotions than I ever expected. I started and restarted SO many times. And, at one point, I was almost done and started all over...yes...that happened. Truth be told, for book 2, I was also nearly 3/4 done and started over. I'm starting to think it's part of my creative process. The critics, wow, guys, people can be harsh. Never let them get you down; stay the course!!! The topics I write about aren't rainbows and sunshine. They are tough topics that millions of people live with every single day!! And, topics we need to talk more about so others understand and have support with whatever life circumstances they are in. To the person reading this today, YOU matter; be kind to YOU! SO very grateful for all my dedicated readers; sorry book two took so long. Book three will be much faster... Book 2, "Created—Time to Look," is officially in my editor's hands. I expect it to be published before Thanksgiving, but it may be sooner, depending on how long the editing process goes. Book 2 offers many lessons on how to turn around the life and headspace you may be in. If you are reading this today and haven't read Book 1, consider it. "Created—No Way Out" is about a woman who is ready to end her life. It takes readers on the journey of her life and what brought her to that fateful day. It's a must-read before you pick up book 2. If you're interested, you can find it at, https://amzn.to/3I9kuAw If you are currently struggling with mental health issues, please know that for some people, the book can trigger certain emotions. Be KIND with yourself. YOUR life, YOUR best life, can be closer than you think. YOU matter!!!! If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for support to a crisis counselor or dial 988 for support! Trust me, as someone who has been in that dark space in the past, you don't have to stay there, and life can be bright again! My books are not intended to replace any type of mental or physical health support. Thank you to my dedicated beta readers, so much appreciation for you! Stay well! #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthadvocate #growth #coach

Are you a people pleaser? Learn the signs, negative impact, and how to break the cycle in our latest blog, written by Master's Level Intern JoAnna Emley.

In my last write club for a while, I start writing about my current holiday dilemma: A paradox of making the most of a holiday when you're an over/deep-thinker with an identity wrapped up in your business and career. The many tensions between doing, thinking, anticipating, exploring, being, connecting and resting. I have had the odd (for me) experience of prepping for holiday this evening in a less pressured way. Usually it's stress and work I'm there. Yes there's the admin of packing, coordinating flights, car hire, baggage, taxis etc. And excitement of not feeling pressured to work... ...then wondering what I will actually look forward to. Friends, family, sunshine, cool water contrasting with the heat, dinners, sunrises, sunsets and maybe some clubbing. And the deeper thinking I'd like to do. On my six years of identity criss and chrysalis self work through therapy and coaching. My business. My future. The industries I am part of. And, the opportunity of (more tangibly) creative acts like making music, taking photos my wife's yoga, writing, making sand castles, or videoing my son doing the marshmallow song. I've already created a list of what I'd like to do. It's like a mini university degree in 10 days. Amongst a family and friends with their own desires. Complex relationship dynamics. More complex than work ones at times. What I can be sure of is that I won't do all I have sketched out. I'll also do more than and different to what I expect too. It's my ongoing dance between structure and flow. Anticipating futures, and being in the present. Burdening myself with possible future consequences as a form of protection, while also exploring possibilities. What would be the most nutritious thing for me? Some say 'switch off', 'enjoy time with family', 'don't think about work', 'just go with the flow'. And I think, do they even know me? I think I am going to have thoughts, ideas, and try not to be so precious about them. Dealing with emergent circumstances (weather, people, personal energy, events and more). Not certain how that will go. And then, how do I return to home and work? I feel like there is a September 'back to school' season where people return with clarity, intention and energy they have developed through their own break. And often one person's isn't aligned with another, creating tensions. I have hopes for Q4. They are weighty and meaningful hopes. I feel I need to prepare for that. And yet, I cannot anticipate it all. Especially the way things are right now. I know others have similar overthinking tendencies. Mixed with identities tied to our work, or even our own businesses. It's a wicked cocktail. Positively potentially. More likely negative. I feel grateful of all the work I have invested on myself over the past six years. And grateful of, and for seeking, the support. I'm excited about what happens next, despite the darkness around me. If any of this resonates, how do you deal with a similar dilemma?

https://lnkd.in/ehbE89fT This may be worth considering! Deadlines coupled with grace can give us laser-like focus and can lead to tremendous accomplishment. As the writes states about summer resolutions: 1) They have a limited lifespan. 2) They may be easier to keep. 3) They may make you happier due to the time of year that you make them! May be worth considering 🤔🤔🤔

𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 😥? 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 🔥 Returning from vacation often feels like a punch to the gut. You're back at your desk, facing a mountain of tasks, and your vacation glow is fading fast. One of my client, Sarah, a high-achieving leader in the tech industry, had just returned from a much-needed vacation, a week spent hiking in the mountains and disconnecting from the daily grind. Sarah had planned this break carefully, knowing how crucial it was to recharge her batteries. However, upon returning to work, she found herself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emails and tasks that had accumulated in her absence. She felt a sense of dread at the thought of diving back into the daily routine. This is a common experience for leaders who strive for success, and it's something we often discuss. Sarah's experience highlights the “𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅.” Instead of feeling rejuvenated, she found herself 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲. So, we worked together to address this challenge by recognizing that the initial re-entry period would be difficult. We identified the key areas where Sarah was struggling, such as 🎯 Returning from vacation can be a 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺, and it's common to feel drained and struggle to regain motivation, because of the contrast between the freedom of vacation and the structure and stress of everyday work life.  🎯 We also discussed the importance of 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 to ease her back into the rhythm of work and gradually increase the workload.  🎯 By reminding Sarah of the aspects of her job she enjoyed, we helped her re-engage with her work and 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Other helpful views include: 🎯 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 Acknowledge that work and leisure can coexist, and that your job provides the financial means for your vacations. See your work as complementary to your downtime. 🎯 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 If post-vacation blues persists after a couple of weeks, it might be time for some self-reflection. While vacations often provide a much-needed break, they can also be a time for introspection. Perhaps your job no longer aligns with your goals, or maybe it's time to explore new career paths. But remember, avoid making impulsive decisions. Instead, take a proactive approach and start exploring other options. ☞ 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: You are a leader, and your 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁. By embracing these strategies, you'll not only overcome post-vacation blues but also emerge as a stronger, more focused leader.

My personal journey to becoming an author of novels first began 7 years ago when I began my overall journey. However, to be a little more specific, because my own process has utilized information from others to guide me along my journey... My process to becoming an author began with me writing real life events in fun, creative and entertaining ways. I shared the first with y'all yesterday. That was an absolute retelling of the facts of a day I had. Which is why I titled it, "A Day In The Life Of Chris Rebel". This (link below) was my second attempt which came several months after my first attempt. This short story still follows very closely the facts of real life events I lived through. But this time, I began experimenting and feeling more comfortable with fictionalizing those events. I actually began writing the opening sequence of Honky Tonk Angel thinking I was writing another short story. But something within me told me it was going to be my first novel instead. So I continued my process from there. I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to take a lot of time alone with yourselves. To not use any drugs (legal or not) alcohol or other distractions to hide from the pain you begin facing in this time alone. To begin your own journeys to greatness, learning to trust in your own processes. What you will discover is what I did. Your creative process is also taking you along your own paths to recovery. https://lnkd.in/dA_Gr65A

Starting a new job can be tough, especially if it's been a while since you've worked in an office. Jancee Dunn shares her experience of feeling lost on her first day at The New York Times, from struggling to log into her computer to seeking help from the I.T. department. A kind I.T. specialist named Adnan offered her a valuable piece of advice that smoothed the road of easing into her new job: Imagine adding a metaphorical penny to a jar for every small achievement at work. This method helped Dunn see progress in her daily tasks and boost her morale, even on hard days. Celebrating small victories can significantly improve motivation and happiness at work. While big achievements are impactful, they're rare, so it's the small wins that often keep us going day to day. This penny jar method can be helpful in personal life, offering a way to gain momentum during tough times by recognizing the smallest steps forward. Jancee Dunn highlights that acknowledging even the smallest accomplishments can have a profound effect on our well-being and motivation. By adopting the penny jar method, whether in professional settings or personal life, we can learn to appreciate our progress and keep moving forward, one penny at a time.

Good Lessons to learn from this article! We need to learn to maintain balance in Work—Life-Family

Hello and Happy New Year! This week, we are discussing false analogy, which is based on partial, incorrect, or improbable comparisons with the situation at hand, aiming to convince or manipulate us. Let's take some examples to realize the danger we face when not reacting to individuals who, due to lack of preparation or bad faith, use such methods: "The price of your training is way too high. I used to buy this kind of service for less than half the amount 10 years ago." "Working from home is like a vacation; you do whatever you want." "Freedom of speech is not without limits. For example, you don't have the right to shout 'fire' in a crowded cinema." - Justin Trudeau "I am not in favor of a labor code per company, just as I am not in favor of a traffic code per street." - Jean-Luc Mélenchon "The open office is like political cohabitation; it involves people, some of whom dislike each other but have to work together." "The market is a jungle, it's either 'eat or be eaten.' Wolf or lamb." False analogy is a reasoning error in which an argument establishes a comparison between two things, situations, or concepts and suggests that because they are similar in some respects, they are alike in other respects. The error occurs when the similarities between the two compared things are not relevant or substantial enough to support the drawn conclusion. False analogy can deceive us by making us accept inaccurate arguments or erroneous conclusions. By relying on weak parallels and overlooking significant differences, it oversimplifies thinking, potentially leading to incorrect decisions, the spread of false information, and influence on ideas. What to do in the face of false analogies? Remember three key ideas: Ask for explanations: "I don't understand where you're coming from," and insist. Ask for evidence. Ask the interlocutor to explain things differently. Have a great week