Design Yourself
236 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 42 ratingsWelcome to the podcast where we talk about how to raise our collective consciousness about what's possible and bring more ease and delight to the way we live, work and lead. I'm Sharon Lipovsky, host of Design Yourself and founder of Point Road Studios where I guide my clients to get clear on the direction they are headed, create the roadmap for how to get there and then take steps to realize their vision every day. In this podcast, I share the tools and resources that create breakthroughs in my work as an executive coach and team accelerator and in my own life as a creative living with her family on a dirt road in the Catskill Mountains in NY.
The way we work and live has fundamentally changed and there is no going back to what was. This is both incredibly scary and exhilarating.The times we live in challenge us to lead towards a brighter future. What matters most right now? How do we set boundaries that serve us and our teams? What skills are necessary in today's workplace? Join us every Wednesday to explore big questions and share tools, mindsets and resources that will guide us as we reimagine what's possible.
For show notes visit www.pointroadstudios.com/podcast
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Episodes
35: Creating the Ideal Shopping Experience with Ericka Leighton-Spradlin
February 27, 2017 10:22 - 47 minutes - 73.1 MBIn today’s Design Yourself, we meet Ericka Leighton-Spradlin, the artist and entrepreneur behind Continuum, an eclectic bazaar//concept shop in Cincinnati, OH. (This happens to be Sharon’s favorite place to shop!) Learn how Ericka created her vision for the space and then followed her instincts to make her dream a reality. From sourcing trips to Japan, an artist commune in Maine, and balancing the demands of a growing business, Ericka’ story weaves a beautiful mix of the creative spirit and ...
Encore Episode: You Just Have to Start
February 20, 2017 18:57 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MBThanks to those listeners who reached out to suggest that I share some Encore episodes while I am out on maternity leave. There will be a few of these episodes – all suggested by listeners – shared in the months ahead, starting with today’s throwback. In this encore episode of Design Yourself, Sharon discusses the importance of getting started. Career moves, life adventures, and creative projects can only begin from one place – the one you are in. The theme for today is: Stop waiting + start...
34: Walking The Camino (While Pregnant!)
February 13, 2017 12:41 - 32 minutes - 53.3 MBThere is nothing like a little life adventure to teach. Sharon seized the opportunity to walk the ancient pilgrimage path through Spain, the Camino de Santiago, back in 2012. She hadn’t intended to be 6 months pregnant when starting this 500 mile walk, but the Camino - like life - doesn’t always follow our plans. Today Sharon shares 5 lessons that have stuck with her since this magical experience that she believes will resonate for pilgrims and non-pilgrims alike. GIVEAWAY To celebrate t...
33: Setting Boundaries
February 06, 2017 12:37 - 38 minutes - 64.6 MBHate the feeling of being caged in? Me too. It may seem counterintuitive, but boundaries are a hugely impactful way to open yourself up to greater possibility. In today’s episode, Sharon discusses boundary setting using her three maternity leaves as examples for how her boundaries around this special time shape-shifted over time. While this episode will likely peak the interest of anyone preparing for their own maternity leave or supporting someone in this process, Sharon promises the 6 less...
32: Transitions
January 30, 2017 06:13 - 35 minutes - 64.7 MBWe all experience transitions on a regular basis. Sometimes they are big - e.g. getting married, starting a new job, grieving a loss, moving to a new place. Sometimes they are little - e.g. commuting across town to work, finishing writing a proposal, integrating a new member on our team. Transitions often seem like something to rush through as quickly as possible on our way to get from the present to where we want to be. Unfortunately life doesn’t usually work this way. We spend the majority...
31: There Is Nothing Stopping You
January 23, 2017 11:57 - 31 minutes - 56.7 MBYou’ve heard Sharon close each podcast with this phrase: There is nothing stopping you. But where did that come from and what exactly does it mean? Learn how this tagline came to be and work through some reflection questions for getting deeper on your own beliefs. Your intentions really can change the world, but first you have to discover what they are. GIVEAWAY We shared this week that we are doing a special giveaway this month for early subscribers to our community. The full details of...
30: Taking A Stand
January 16, 2017 12:01 - 18 minutes - 29.5 MBOne of the many great legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is that real, transformational change is possible when you stand up for what you believe. The first step in being able to emulate this kind of leadership? You have to know what you stand for. Today Sharon draws inspiration from this visionary leader and offers up questions for you to consider as you hone in on what it is that you believe and how you might best drive that forward. IDEAS SHARED Today we celebrate the profound lea...
29: Go Beyond - PRS Vision Cycle
January 09, 2017 10:48 - 38 minutes - 63.4 MBWhat do you want? This question is the core inspiration for setting and moving towards a vision. Sharon believes that the greatest gift we can offer the world is to let our inner lights shine out brightly. To be our own unique selves. Visioning is an amazing resource for stewarding us on this path. Today Sharon shares Point Road Studios’ vision process, the Go Beyond Vision Cycle. Learn about how this process came to be, why visioning isn’t a linear but a cyclical process, and exercises for ...
28: New Year, Same You
January 02, 2017 15:09 - 29 minutes - 46.8 MBHappy New Year and welcome to 2017! Today’s show is all about embracing who you are and what you want for the new year. Sharon offers alternatives to setting a New Year’s resolution - because let’s face it, most of us don’t follow through on those anyway! She also shares guidance for how you can focus less on trying to reinvent yourself and more on tapping into what's awesome about you right now - and build from there. Our wish for each listener this year is that you can let go of what’s not...
27: Appreciating Quiet
December 26, 2016 15:10 - 32 minutes - 50.9 MBMaybe you, like Sharon, love this last week of the year for the quiet inspiration that it inspires in you. Or maybe you are thinking, “what quiet?!?!!” as you wend your way through the transition from 2016 to 2017. Today’s podcast will meet you wherever you may find yourself. In this last episode of our inaugural season, Sharon shares the importance of finding and exploring quiet moments - with a special emphasis on how we can embrace them when they show up naturally and create them on our o...
26: Finding Your Holiday Spirit
December 19, 2016 12:09 - 35 minutes - 59.5 MBCan it be that the holidays and end of year are really here? Tis so! If you, like Sharon, are finding yourself not yet fully in the holiday spirit, fear not. Today’s episode is designed to help you find just that. Sharon shares 10 questions to get you reflecting on how you’d like to move through the coming weeks. Explore your own answers and see what Sharon’s personal reflections might spark for you. Wishing that the holidays this year bring you just what you hoped for - and a few fun surpri...
25: 4 Years In - Lessons Learned
December 12, 2016 12:21 - 36 minutes - 61.8 MBThis week we are celebrating the 4th birthday of Point Road Studios with the launch of our new website (www.pointroadstudios.com) and some reflections on key lessons learned in our first 4 years. Come reminisce and learn with Sharon as she reflects on topics like quitting your day job, demanding your worth, taking a stand, and more. Ideas Shared: Celebrating our 4th birthday at Point Road this past week was a real milestone. There is something about 4 years that feels a little like a “gr...
24: Embracing Imperfection
December 05, 2016 12:31 - 32 minutes - 53.9 MBYou know what’s not possible? Being perfect. But man does it still have a magnetic force that draws us towards it. In today’s episode Sharon shares some of her favorite resources for countering this pull as she discusses how to embrace imperfection. You’ll learn also about some of the many imperfect things Sharon’s experiencing right now (hint: it involves a lot of home renovations) and get a sneak peak into the launch of the new pointroadstudios.com which goes live at the end of this week. ...
23: Presence and Preparation
November 28, 2016 12:59 - 31 minutes - 52.3 MBThis week Sharon shares one of the most helpful pieces of wisdom she’s ever received: “It’s more important to be present than prepared.” Learn how she has come to understand this adage over the years and how she’s added on to it as well. As part of this process, Sharon shares some questions you might consider if you find yourself holding on tightly to a desire to be in control and tips for bringing yourself back to centered awareness. May today’s episode steward you in stepping into your ful...
22: Let Us Give Thanks
November 21, 2016 12:41 - 36 minutes - 62.9 MBThe Thanksgiving season is upon us! Whether you are hitting the roads to travel to loved ones or embracing the opportunity to stay put, this week is often the start of a frenetic holiday pace. But it doesn’t have to be. In today’s episode, Sharon offers listeners a chance to settle into a spirit of peace and gratitude for the holiday season. Take in the 10 questions she shares to build up your own spirit of gratitude and hear her share how she is answering these prompts herself. Ideas Shar...
21: Living in the Question
November 14, 2016 11:40 - 29 minutes - 47.5 MBEver found yourself in a place where your head keeps spinning on the same question (or set of questions)? But no matter how much energy you expend thinking about it, you just can’t seem to come to a confident conclusion? You are not alone. We often get stuck on “unanswerable questions” because they are rooted in a way of seeing the problem that is limiting our ability to move forward. In today’s episode, Sharon shares a simple process for moving from question to action. Learn what it means t...
20: Eliminate the White Noise
November 07, 2016 12:51 - 33 minutes - 56.5 MBWith less than 3 weeks until Thanksgiving, the joyful and jam-packed end of year season is upon us. Offices are budgeting and planning for next year while simultaneously focused on ending this calendar year with a bang. In our personal lives, invitations to holiday open houses begin to hit our mailboxes (or more likely, inboxes) while we also plan out how we’d like to celebrate the holiday season with our loved ones. All this makes for a fast-paced season. Beautiful chaos, as I like to embra...
19: Go For It
October 31, 2016 11:30 - 32 minutes - 54.9 MBLife is too short not to spend your time doing what you really feel called to do. In today’s episode Sharon offers up tips and resources for just letting go of the excuses and going for it - whatever it might be for you. Learn 5 simple steps to move from where you are today to where you want to be. Ideas Shared: This week I had fun playing with Adam Kurtz’s new book Pick Me Up: A Pep Talk for Now & Later. It is a fun book-journal-workbook-guide thing with pages of prompts for you to fill...
18: Be Still and Rest
October 24, 2016 14:01 - 33 minutes - 55.7 MBSharon comes to you today from the peaceful setting of the Hudson Valley to share some reflections and resources related to rest and stillness. Learn what’s different about intentionally choosing to hold something (and not act) versus feeling stuck. Hear how we all need to take rest after we birth something new into the world - be it a new little baby or a brand new business. And get Point Road’s take on the steps you can take to realize your current habits around rest to making changes. May...
17: Death, Grief, and Chickens
October 17, 2016 14:23 - 38 minutes - 63 MBI know, I know: Death, Grief and Chickens isn’t, well, sexy. But this week Design Yourself foregoes sexy for a whole lot of getting real. With light hearted humor (hello, chickens!) and a deep well of grace, Sharon opens up about her own observations on the topics of death and grief. This is not a show designed to give you the answers on what’s right or wrong when it comes to these gritty topics. Instead it’s one person’s reflections and observations as she comes to appreciate not just what’...
16: Letting Go of the Busyness Paradigm
October 10, 2016 13:14 - 38 minutes - 62.4 MBThink about it. When was the last time someone asked you how you were doing or how things were going at work and you leaned on this go to answer: Busy! In this episode Sharon shares what happens when we open ourselves up to the possibility of the spontaneous (for her it was a magical trip through Slovakia to discover the hometowns of her Great Grandparents!) as well as strategies for how to shift out of the default habit of “busy.” May you be surprised by what opens up to you in the process....
15: Play Isn't Just For Kids
October 04, 2016 10:14 - 23 minutes - 37.7 MBWhen we think of play, what usually emerges are signs of childhood: playgrounds, kids running around, perhaps a cape, lego or magic wand thrown in for good measure. But here’s the thing, adults can - and need! - play, too. In this episode Sharon explores some of the research behind why play is important, leveraging the lessons of the great scientist and play advocate Stuart Brown. You will learn three simple insights that will challenge you and spur you on to play. Sharon also shares a few q...
14: Celebrate!
September 26, 2016 11:33 - 29 minutes - 48.6 MBSome events seem to call more naturally for a celebration - birthdays, graduations, major events in our lives. But there is a huge opportunity to bring the celebratory spirit to those things in our life that no one is measuring or observing. Today’s episode looks at 4 simple tips for how to bring the spirit of celebration into the things you are working for in your life that might be unseen or unnoticed by the casual observer. Why bother doing this? Work is great for getting to goals AND cel...
13: Money, money, money
September 19, 2016 11:58 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MB“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” So says Epictetus. In this episode Sharon discusses money, money, money. Learn about the difference between operating from a sufficiency ("there is enough”) vs. a scarcity (“there isn’t enough”) mindset and explore the 5 guiding steps to ensure that money isn’t what holds you back from going after what you really want. Money ultimately only has the value that we give it; learn how to make sure that your values and yo...
12: Storytelling Miniseries - The Future
September 12, 2016 12:19 - 35 minutes - 49 MBWhat’s possible? What’s next? We close out our 4-part miniseries on Storytelling by looking to the space of the future. Being able to set a future direction gives a sense of purpose in your here and now and draws you forward with intention. But this doesn’t mean it comes naturally. In fact, even though research indicates that simply focusing on the future causes us to be perceived as “leaders,” most of us aren’t in the practice of doing this. Sharon shares her 5 tips for stepping into a futu...
11: Storytelling Miniseries - The Present
September 05, 2016 11:42 - 36 minutes - 50.7 MBCarpe diem, baby. In part 3 of our 4-part miniseries on Storytelling, we go deep on the role the present in shaping our stories. We explore the power of being able to bring new awareness to what you see right now using the wise words of the late writer David Foster Wallace (this is water!). We also learn about how being really clear about what’s real in your present is key not just to telling the Story of You but to feeling sane in the process. Sharon also dishes on some of her favorite shop...
10: Storytelling Miniseries - The Past
August 29, 2016 09:21 - 31 minutes - 43.3 MBWelcome to Part 2 of our 4 part miniseries on Storytelling. Today’s episode looks at the Past and the influence our telling of it can have on our present and even our future. Draw awareness to the importance of your story “up until now” and learn tips on how to revise and adapt your personal history over time. We all have the power to change and revisiting the past can be a powerful catalyst on this path. As we head towards Labor Day, Sharon also briefly looks at some of her own past experie...
09: Storytelling Miniseries - Time Travel Introduction
August 22, 2016 09:22 - 36 minutes - 50 MBToday we kick off our 4-part miniseries on storytelling. In our Kick Off Episode, you will learn about the power of owning your role as life author and learn about how different leanings in time affect the way we interpret and react to events around us. Sharon provides a quick snapshot of what each Time Stance (Past, Present, and Future) looks like in practice and the importance of being able to move from one stance to another. She also geeks out a bit on the the genre of autobiographies (he...
08: Ask For Help
August 15, 2016 10:17 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBToday Sharon explores the topic of asking for help. You will learn about why flexing this skill is a critical component of successful leadership and sane living, what holds us back from asking for help, and why we've got to push forth and ask anyway. Finally Sharon offers 5 Rules of the Road for how to get past your own discomfort or habit of not asking for help and move into the practice of doing it anyway. Learn more about the Camino de Santiago – a pilgrimage walk through Spain that prof...
07: Fail Forward!
August 08, 2016 11:50 - 38 minutes - 52.5 MBThis week Sharon discusses the importance of embracing failure. (Fail forward!) Gain distinctions about how to own your own story, what it means to be (and be a part of) a deliberately developmental organization, and our default reactions to failure. Sharon shares tips for how to get comfortable stepping into the Fail Forward! mindset and offers questions to prompt your own reflection on this topic. Plus she brings in perspectives from both the "Harvard Business Review" and the "Gilmore Girl...
06: No Such Thing As 50-50
August 01, 2016 13:20 - 40 minutes - 56.2 MBSharon reflects this week on work life balance - or really imbalance. She shares the marriage advice that has stuck with her as she nears her 9-year wedding anniversary: "Marriage takes 100% effort to be successful, but rarely is it split 50-50. Sometimes it's 60-40. Sometimes it's 90-10. But it always takes 100% effort to work." After a near-decade she sees how this framework applies not just to our relationship with a spouse but to anytime we work with others. The most inspirational advic...
05: A Vision Meditation
July 25, 2016 11:01 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBNaming what you want is an incredible first step to any kind of change. In today's podcast, Sharon shares the first step in her Go Beyond Vision Cycle process: Getting clear on what it is that you want. To help listener's see for themselves what it is that their hearts desire, she spends most of the podcast offering a vision meditation (questions, prompts, exercises) to help you focus in on all that is possible. Wishing you fun and a few surprises as you play and explore here! Bravely and ...
04: The Importance of Taking Breaks
July 18, 2016 04:02 - 35 minutes - 49.3 MBIn Episode 4 of Design Yourself, Sharon talks about why stepping away from your computer and taking a break is one of the best things we can do for ourselves - and our work too. Bonus: You can hear the birds chirping in the background of this episode recorded on Lake Champlain (NY) at sunrise. Enjoy! This picture pretty much sums up my trip to the Adirondacks this summer. Open, expansive, peaceful. IDEAS SHARED Where do you get your best ideas? The shower? Running? I bet you won’t say:...
03: Scary Is A Good Thing
July 11, 2016 04:02 - 27 minutes - 38 MBIn Episode 3, Sharon explores one of the fiercest barriers to going after what we really want: Fear. Ideas Shared: Here are the two types of Good Scary that I most commonly see happening to us: Scary New – How can I possibly? I never have before! Scary Change – What? Me? Do something different? Never! Scary Good Challenge: When it comes to leading a life that makes you wildly happy/fulfilled/delighted – what are you afraid of? Another way to think of this is: What is holding yo...
02: You Just Have To Start
July 11, 2016 03:58 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MBIn Episode 2 of Design Yourself, Sharon discusses the importance of getting started. Career moves, life adventures, and creative projects can only begin from one place - the one you are in. The theme for today is: Stop waiting + start doing. Listen to hear some of Sharon's favorite tips for how to get over the delay game and start getting the job done. IDEAS SHARED Eric Smucker of Smucker Farms is the visionary urban farmer and CSA pioneer who said yes to my podcast interview back in 201...
01: Let's Do This Thing
July 11, 2016 03:50 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBWelcome to the inaugural episode of Design Yourself - a podcast to help you figure out what it is that you want and then make it happen. In this episode, Sharon shares her inspiration for launching the show, what you can expect from Design Yourself moving forward, and how this podcast fits into her own professional journey as a creative, coach, and entrepreneur. As I kicked off the podcast I shared both the story of how Design Yourself came to be and some of the headlines of my own profess...