Thrive Today Thrive Today Podcast

How can we build a resilient mindset that allows us to navigate challenging situations and criticism while staying true to our identity and purpose?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Thrive Today podcast, Natalie, the media host, sits down with the founder of Thrive Today, Colleen Rouse, to discuss Natalie's insightful article entitled "Built to Last." The conversation delves into the importance of knowing one's identity, mastering one's craft, and understanding that we are not alone in facing challenges and criticism. Natalie shares a personal story about a difficult situation with a former boss and how she navigated it by standing up for herself respectfully while honoring her commitments. The discussion also touches on the role of criticism in personal growth and the importance of processing feedback in a constructive manner. Throughout the episode, Natalie and Colleen emphasize the significance of guarding one's heart and imagination, and the transformative power of allowing trials to shape us into who God has called us to be.

[00:00:00] - [00:04:00] Navigating a Challenging Situation with a Former Boss
- Stand up for yourself respectfully when faced with unfair treatment
- Honor your commitments, even in the face of adversity
- Seek guidance from God when making difficult decisions

[00:04:00] - [00:08:00] Knowing Your Identity and Mastering Your Craft
- Your identity in Christ is more important than any earthly title
- Put in the work to excel in your gifted areas and be a lifelong learner
- Be prepared to have your abilities and knowledge challenged

[00:08:00] - [00:12:00] The Role of Criticism in Personal Growth
- Feedback is a gift that helps reorient and refocus us
- Take time to process criticism, weighing its validity and identifying areas for improvement
- Learn to communicate effectively with others to foster better working relationships

[00:12:00] - [00:16:00] Viewing Ourselves Through the Lens of Our Scars
- Avoid seeing yourself as a victim due to past hurts and challenges
- Seek feedback from trusted sources to gain a clearer perspective on your situations
- Identify and challenge the lies that prevent you from moving forward

[00:16:00] - [00:19:00] Being Built to Last in Life
- Allow trials and challenges to shape you into who God has called you to be
- Seek God's perspective on your circumstances and surround yourself with wise counsel
- Embrace personal growth opportunities that arise from difficult situations

Quotes:
"We have to know who we are in Christ. We have to know who God made us to be, and that has to be so much more important than anything else that exists in your life." - Natalie Born

"We lose sight of the fact that we are sons and daughters of the Most High God, and that is a more important title than anything we will ever achieve in our lives." - Colleen Rouse

Follow Thrive Today on Instagram (@thrivetodaywomen) and visit our website at Thrive Today.

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What are the hidden secrets to creating a stable and long-lasting leadership legacy?

In this episode of the Thrive Today podcast, host Natalie Born sits down with Colleen Rouse, the founder of Thrive Today, to discuss the principles that have enabled Colleen and her husband to lead Victory for over 30 years with a long-tenured staff. Colleen shares her insights on the importance of valuing people, creating an environment where it's okay to make mistakes, and fostering a sense of family within the team. She emphasizes the significance of humility, intentionality, and trust in leadership, and offers practical advice on how to communicate value to team members and challenge them to grow.

Author Colleen Rouse founded ThriveToday birthed from the support of John Maxwell’s Thrive initiative. She coaches leaders and speaks at churches and organizations across the world with her expertise on biblical truths for women in leadership.

Colleen co-pastored alongside her husband at Victory Church for over 30 years building a church of over 16,000 multicultural members with multiple church campuses and 140 nations represented. Colleen’s leadership skills have been instrumental in leading the Victory organization toward its success today.

Colleen advocates both locally and abroad in support of efforts to end human trafficking, working to help provide places of safe refuge for those who have been exploited.

She also serves on the board of directors for Street Grace-- an abolitionary non-profit aiming to end domestic sex trafficking. When Colleen is not traveling and speaking, you’ll find her at home in Georgia writing and enjoying time with her family.

00:00:00 - 00:03:59 - Turning Negative Experiences into Positive Leadership
- Colleen and her husband learned from their experience under toxic leaders and decided to lead differently
- They focused on conveying value and appreciation to their staff
- Making the decision to be strengthened, rather than scarred, by negative experiences

00:04:00 - 00:06:59 - The Importance of Humility and Intentionality in Leadership
- Defining humility accurately and living with a sense of ease
- Being able to laugh at oneself and create an environment where mistakes are allowed
- Intentionally investing in people and buying up opportunities to address individual needs

00:07:00 - 00:09:59 - Caring for People: Investing in Your Team
- Care requires intentional investment in people
- Treating everyone like a "10" and challenging them to grow
- Implementing an honor code to set expectations for all staff members

00:10:00 - 00:13:59 - Dealing with the Undercurrent: Surfacing the Heart
- Being sensitive to the undercurrent within the team and asking questions
- Creating open highways of communication by making people feel seen and heard
- Investigating and uncovering issues that may be hidden beneath the surface

00:14:00 - 00:21:59 - Building Trust and Creating a Legacy of Stability
- Trust is earned through decisions and sticking to core values
- Building trust by holding true to standards, even when it hurts
- Encouraging longevity by valuing people, fostering creativity, and creating a sense of family

Quotes:
"Humility is an accurate assessment of who you are, what you can do, what you can't do, your strengths, your weaknesses, and how bad you are and how big God is in your life." - Colleen Rouse

"When people feel seen, they will also feel heard. And you create some open highways." - Colleen Rouse

Connect with Colleen:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cwrouse/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenrouse/
Website: https://thrivetoday.com/
Follow Thrive Today on Instagram (@thrivetodaywomen) and visit our website at Thrive Today.
Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-STAR Review!

How can we navigate the current global economic challenges and build personal wealth during these tumultuous times?

In this eye-opening episode of the Thrive Today podcast, host Natalie Born welcomes back Dr. Robert Watkins, a heart-centered financier who shares his wisdom on building wealth amidst the current global economic challenges. Dr. Watkins delves into the impact of worldwide conflict and personal inflation on our financial lives, offering practical strategies to overcome these obstacles. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing needs, learning about personal finances, and seeking accountability to achieve financial freedom. Throughout the episode, Dr. Watkins shares his own inspiring journey of faith and perseverance in acquiring a multi-million dollar commercial property with minimal upfront investment, demonstrating the power of vision and human capital in wealth-building.

Recognized by former president Barack Obama with the exclusive Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Robert J. Watkins is far from an ordinary entrepreneur. Known as The Empire Builder, Dr. Watkins is a heart-centered financier completely focused on his God-given mission--to educate, empower and equip people around the globe to build empires that transfer wealth through generations. After being given up at birth to a Detroit orphanage and ultimately adopted by wonderful working-class parents, Dr. Watkins eventually embraced his calling as the “Moses” who could lead God’s people to economic deliverance and began developing his signature system of Never Chase A Paycheck Again and the 10 Commandments of Financial Healing was born.

00:00:00 - 00:06:59 | Navigating the Global Economic Landscape
- Understand the impact of global inflation on personal finances
- Recognize the signs of financial evil and protect your wealth
- Prioritize needs over wants to manage personal inflation

00:07:00 - 00:14:59 | Strategies for Building Personal Wealth
- Implement the PLAN method: Prioritize, Learn, Accountability, and Net Worth
- Focus on owning assets rather than renting
- Automate savings and investments to build wealth consistently

00:15:00 - 00:21:59 | Investing Wisely: From Emergency Funds to Passive Income
- Establish a 90-day emergency fund for financial security
- Pay off high-interest debts and start saving for wealth-building
- Explore real estate investing for passive income opportunities

00:22:00 - 00:28:59 | The Power of Vision and Human Capital
- Cultivate a mindset of abundance and belief in your ability to prosper
- Seek out mentors and relationships with property owners
- Recognize that vision is more important than money in wealth-building

00:29:00 - 00:30:00 | Connecting with Dr. Robert Watkins
- Follow Dr. Watkins on social media for ongoing financial wisdom
- Learn more about his ministry, Kings and Priests, and his company, Conquer Worldwide

Quotes:

"Jesus talked about wars and rumors of wars. He talked about the time that we're living in now." - Dr. Robert Watkins

"Vision is more important than money. Human capital is far more valuable than financial capital." - Dr. Robert Watkins

Connect with Dr. Robert:
Website: https://www.conquerworldwide.com/

Follow Thrive Today on Instagram (@thrivetodaywomen) and visit our website at Thrive Today.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-STAR Review!

How can we cultivate authentic fruit in our lives and share it with others, even amidst the challenges and busyness of everyday life?

In this insightful episode of the Thrive Today podcast, Natalie Born engages in a heartfelt conversation with Amber Vaughan, a project manager, UX researcher, and devoted mother of three. Amber shares her journey of juggling her professional career and family life while staying rooted in her faith. She emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ and finding genuine community to support personal and spiritual growth. Amber also opens up about her experiences as a parent of a child with special needs, highlighting the role of prayer, patience, and wisdom in navigating the unique challenges and joys that come with it.

Amber is currently a Project Manager. Her background is in UX Research, Communication, Sales, and Marketing. Amber leads a specific organization of women in a bible study during the fall and winter months each year. But her true joy is found in spending time with her husband, Josh, and three kids Levi (8), Caleb (7), and Kendall (2).

00:00:00 - 00:03:00 - Amber's Background and Balancing Work with Family Life
- Amber's diverse professional background in sales, marketing, UX research, and project management
- The importance of prioritizing time and finding a balance while working remotely with three children
- Abiding in Christ through various means, such as Bible study apps, worship music, and podcasts

00:03:00 - 00:08:00 - Authentic Fruit vs. Fake Fruit
- The difference between presenting a perfect image and being genuine in our faith
- Recognizing that all good fruit comes from Christ working through us
- The true test of our fruit is revealed in challenging situations and interactions with others

00:08:00 - 00:15:00 - Cultivating Authentic Community
- The value of being honest and vulnerable with trusted friends and mentors
- Overcoming past negative experiences and praying for God to provide the right community
- The power of prayer in finding specific, relatable community, as in Amber's experience with connecting with other mothers of children with special needs

00:15:00 - 00:22:00 - Growing Authentic Fruit through Parenting a Child with Special Needs
- Amber's son Levi's unique challenges and joys as a child with autism and ADHD
- The importance of relying on God for wisdom, patience, and understanding in parenting
- The power of fasting and prayer in seeking guidance and breakthrough for Levi's well-being

00:22:00 - 00:24:00 - Encouragement to Seek Community and Thrive
- An invitation to listeners to actively seek out community and support
- The significance of Amber and Natalie's long-standing friendship and shared experiences
- A final reminder to thrive in leadership, community, and strength
Quotes:
"Even the good that comes out of me, is it me it's Christ in me. And I think that's what we have to remember. - Amber Vaughan

Follow Thrive Today on Instagram (@thrivetodaywomen) and visit our website at Thrive Today.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-STAR Review!

How can mastering the art of difficult conversations and emotional management revolutionize your leadership and transform your personal and professional relationships? In this insightful episode of the Thrive Today podcast, host Natalie Born sits down with Ryan Dunlap, founder of Conflict-ish and former law enforcement officer, to explore the intricacies of navigating high-stakes conversations and managing emotions under pressure. Drawing from his extensive experience in hostage negotiation, crisis intervention, and leadership, Ryan shares powerful strategies and insights that can help individuals become more effective communicators and leaders. Throughout the conversation, Ryan emphasizes the importance of separating the person from the problem, understanding the other person's perspective, and actively listening without judgment. He also delves into the concept of reputation management and the lasting impact of emotional outbursts on one's credibility and influence. Listeners will walk away with practical tools and a newfound understanding of how to approach challenging conversations with tact, empathy, and strategic thinking.

With more than 20 years of combined law enforcement, ministry, and executive leadership experience, Ryan Dunlap is an internationally recognized conflict management coach and trainer. He is a Certified Leadership Coach as well as the founder and Chief Conflict Officer at Conflictish, a conflict strategy firm dedicated to helping leaders improve how they lead themselves and others through conflict. He is the creator of The Real Tact Model®, a custom framework for developing conflict competence.

00:00:00 - 00:06:00 - Unraveling the Threads of Difficult Conversations
High-stakes conversations are subjective and require
understanding the other person's perspective.
Defining clear objectives and focusing on the future state is crucial for productive conversations.
Emotional hijacking can lead to ineffective communication and damaged relationships.

00:06:00 - 00:13:00 - The Art of Tactful Communication
Approaching conversations with finesse and strategic thinking leads to better outcomes.
The three-part assertive message framework helps communicate value without causing offense.
Pausing and rethinking one's approach can prevent emotional responses and facilitate constructive dialogue.

00:13:00 - 00:20:00 - Listening: The Superpower of Effective Leaders
Active listening and empathy can transform hostile conversations into meaningful exchanges.
Separating the person from the problem allows for more effective conflict resolution.
Most people have an emotional management problem rather than a conflict management problem.

00:20:00 - 00:26:00 - The Ripple Effect of Emotional Outbursts
Losing one's cool can have lasting negative impacts on reputation and credibility.
Reputation consists of passive (the story others tell) and active (lived experiences) components.
Consistently demonstrating character and managing emotions is crucial for influencing how others perceive us.

00:26:00 - 00:31:00 - Accountability and the Weight of Words
The impact of disrespect and negativity is often felt more deeply than intended.
Accountability for one's actions should match the level of perceived offense.
Being mindful of the weight of our words can prevent unintended consequences in communication.

Quotes:
"Separate the person from the problem. Attack the problem while preserving the person." - Ryan Dunlap

"Most people don't have a conflict management problem. What most people have is an emotional management problem." - Ryan Dunlap

Connect with Ryan:
Website: https://www.conflictish.com/
Follow Thrive Today on Instagram (@thrivetodaywomen) and visit our website at Thrive Today.
Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-STAR Review!

How can women navigate the challenges of unconscious bias and negative self-talk to become confident leaders in their fields?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Thrive Today podcast, host Natalie Born and founder Colleen Rouse delve into the challenges women face in the workplace, particularly in light of a recent incident involving a female pilot and a senator's unconscious bias. The conversation explores the importance of women being less triggered and more centered in their reactions, focusing on their purpose and standing confidently in their God-given abilities. Natalie and Colleen discuss the power of executive presence, the value of bringing one's unique self to the table, and the need to replace negative self-talk with God's truth. The episode offers practical insights and encouragement for women striving to thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Author Colleen Rouse founded ThriveToday birthed from the support of John Maxwell’s Thrive initiative. She coaches leaders and speaks at churches and organizations across the world with her expertise on biblical truths for women in leadership.

Colleen co-pastored alongside her husband at Victory Church for over 30 years building a church of over 16,000 multicultural members with multiple church campuses and 140 nations represented. Colleen’s leadership skills have been instrumental in leading the Victory organization toward its success today.

[00:00:00 - 00:04:00] Navigating Unconscious Bias: Reacting with Grace and Understanding
Women should strive to become less triggered and more
centered when faced with unconscious bias.
It's essential to focus on being a catalyst for progress rather than playing the victim or villain game.
Women must be established, rooted, and grounded in God's love to help others have breakthroughs.

[00:04:00 - 00:09:00] Confidence and Executive Presence: Knowing Your Value and Taking Up Space
Women should know their personal value, who they are, and what they bring to the table.
Building executive presence helps women to be seen as equals in the room.
Observing and understanding body language can help women validate their presence in a room.

[00:09:00 - 00:15:00] Servant Leadership: Walking into a Room Like You Belong There
Walking into a room like you belong there makes it about others, not just about yourself.
Women should be assertive and bring warmth and grace to the room, as there is power in being grace-filled.
Setting the stage by warmly greeting and praying for others can change the dynamic of a room.

[00:15:00 - 00:21:00] Bringing Your Unique Self to the Table: The Power of Being Different
Women should bring their unique selves to the table, not just mirror others' behavior.
It's essential to balance being yourself with being there to serve others.
Negative self-talk can hold women back from becoming who they're meant to be.

[00:21:00 - 00:26:00] Replacing Negative Self-Talk with God's Truth: The Path to Liberation
Women must identify their saboteurs and replace negative narratives with God's truth.
Meditating on the truth and speaking it out loud can help women battle negative self-talk.
True liberation comes from being self-aware and asking the Holy Spirit for context.

Quotes:
"If we want to make progress, then you and I as female leaders, we have to learn to become less triggered and more centered." - Colleen Rouse

"We don't have to hide it if we're good at something or if we enjoy something or if we have a knack for something." - Natalie Born

Connect with Colleen:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cwrouse/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenrouse/
Website: https://thrivetoday.com/
Follow Thrive Today on Instagram (@thrivetodaywomen) and visit our website at Thrive Today.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-STAR Review!