You Aren’t That Special (Sorry!)

Oct 27, 2022Revolutionary Rising Podcast

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Today I’m saying something that you really need to hear… you’re not that special.

Y’all should know me better by now and I know you that there’s more to today’s topic.

Today’s message is super simple:

There’s a systemic reason that you feel like no one understands you
There are so many people who relate to you and your experiences

Listen in to find out exactly why you’re special but not that special!

Get on my mailing list or come find me on Instagram @gieselleallen!

All my love,
Gieselle

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If I said, “you don’t have to work twice as ha

If I said, “you don’t have to work twice as hard as a leader of color,”

You probably wouldn’t believe me.

Or you may think, maybe someone else can – but not me.

Or maybe you want to believe it’s possible – but you just don’t know how to make it happen for you.

Well, in today’s episode of the Revolutionary Rising podcast, my client, Jaya, is officially unlocking the code of how you can stop working twice as hard, too.

When Jaya and I started working together, they had been burnt out since their teens.

(You read that right, their TEENS)

Even though they had just had their most successful year in their career…

…internally, they were hitting a breaking point.

They still felt like they weren’t enough.

They couldn’t celebrate themselves.

They were working seven days a week for months on end.

And their burnout had become physical, leaving them with chronic headaches and stomach issues.

Sounds pretty dire, right?

It was.

If you can believe it, Jaya’s world looks completely different now.

Jaya considers themselves recovered from burnout – after over a decade of pain.

They are no longer working twice as hard – matter of fact, they’re working way less, while still delivering excellent results at work.

Wanna hear the craziest part?

Once they started making the changes that allowed them to stop working twice as hard….they started getting MORE compliments and acknowledgement on their work.

(Not gonna lie, that last part surprised me, too lol!)

I can’t make this shit up.

If you want to stop working twice as hard, you’ve GOTTA listen to Jaya’s episode.

Jaya was so generous with their wisdom and shared so much of their journey – I know if you give it a listen, there are SO many pieces of wisdom you’ll take away on your journey to rest, too.

Ready to dive in?

Click the l!nk in my b!o to listen to this week’s episode.

If you really want to stop feeling like an imposte

If you really want to stop feeling like an imposter and start to feel like a brilliant leader - then you should come to my upcoming workshop:

✨ The Three Keys to Rock Solid Confidence as a Leader of Color.✨

In this free, interactive workshop, I’ll help you uncover:

👉🏿what successful leadership looks like for you, and how well you’re doing based on your personal metrics
👉🏿tools and resources that help you get out imposter syndrome and move towards being the confident leader you deserve to be
👉🏿simple, sustainable practices to help you can navigate white dominated spaces while maintaining your confidence

…and so much more.

This workshop is going to be free, but it’s not going to be full of surface level B.S.

This is a training that I’ve led dozens of times within organizations, and here’s what I know to be true:

If you

❤️show up
❤️ do the work
❤️raise your hand for a little coaching

…you’re 100% going to leave this workshop already feeling more confident, and like you have tangible, sustainable practices to view yourself and your leadership in a new way.

I’ve got an interactive workbook for you, plenty of space for individual questions and coaching – long story short, this is going to be legit, deep work.

So come live, and get the confidence you deserve, precious.

Check out the l!nk in my b!o to join us next Monday, September 25th @ 11am EDT.

#melaninmillenials #safespaces #overworked #leadershipcoaching #worklifebalance #designalifeyoulove #leadershipmastery #successmindset #impostersyndrome

If you’re anything like the leaders I work with,

If you’re anything like the leaders I work with, you worry if you’re a good enough leader every single day.

Leading in a humane way feels impossible because you’re constantly caught between the productivity that’s needed for your team and organization to succeed….

…and being the caring, heartfelt leader that you want to be.

I’ve got a secret that I want to share with you:

If you want to stop worrying if you’re a good enough leader, there’s just two things you need to do:

1️⃣ you need to define what success looks like for YOU as a leader

2️⃣ you need a simple method to help you determine how well you’re tracking re: YOUR definition of success (not society’s!)

Once you’ve got those two things in order, you’re immediately going to feel more confident as a leader, because you’ll either…

✨see how much you’re kicking ass

or

✨create intentional action steps towards being the kind of leader you want to be.

If you’re thinking,

“Okay, Gieselle, that makes sense, but how do I do that?”

I’ve got good news for you!

I’m hosting a FREE, interactive workshop on Monday, September 25 @ 11am EST/8am PST where this is one of the main practices we’ll be doing.

In my workshop, “The Three Keys to Rock Solid Confidence as a Leader of Color” we will be:

🔥defining what success looks like for you as a leader of color
🔥getting clear on how well you’re doing based on your version of success
🔥creating clear, SMALL action steps towards your version of success

We’ll also be talking about:

🔥how imposter syndrome manifests for you - and how to get rid of it
🔥small but powerful ways you can start feeling more confident and successful as a leader TODAY (without changing a damned thing about your leadership)

This is one of my OG workshops that I’ve facilitated dozens of times.

So here’s what I know:

This shit is good

It works.

If you show up, do the work, and ask for support during our time together, you’ll leave our time together with so many individualized, confidence boosting strategies.

You in?

Click the l!nk in my b!o to learn more.

#takeyourpowerback #leadershiptips #9tothrive #leadershipworkshop #growthjourney #fearoffailure #worryless #yougotthis

No matter what your racial or ethnic background is

No matter what your racial or ethnic background is, if you grew up in a white-dominated environment, your parents probably told you some version of this:

“We have to work twice as hard to get half as much as white folks.”

If they didn’t tell you, you likely learned it the hard way as you experienced:

👉🏿white peers with less skills or achievements get promotions, raises, or better roles than you

👉🏿white entrepreneurs post pictures of themselves looking hot and affluent and making millions

👉🏿 white men sharing the exact same thing you said and getting the credit when you just got shut down

(I could go on with this forever – but there’s no need to beat a dead horse…we both know what I’m talking about.)

These days, you’re still working twice as hard…

…but if you’re honest, it’s not getting you very far.

Instead of the success you hope it’d lead to, you’re feeling:

😢exhausted
😢resentful
😢like you’re doing everything right but STILL nothing’s fucking working

If you’re thinking, “yep, that’s me”

…then you probably should listen to this week’s episode of the Revolutionary Rising podcast.

In this episode, called, “Stop Working Twice As Hard”, I’ll be breaking down:

💡when it IS true that we have to work twice as hard as folks of color
💡why working twice as hard stops working sometimes
💡simple ways you can cut down the work you do so that you’re no longer working twice as hard and burning yourself out

…and so much more.

This episode will have some hard truths (and some exciting perspective shifts!), but if you want to have more rest without sacrificing success, this is an episode you have to hear.

You can find it via the l!nk in my b!o.

And get excited…

Because next week I’ll be sharing an interview with a client of mine who genuinely did stop working twice as hard in their work…and actually gets more recognition and appreciation from their peers now than before.

#generationalhealing #marginalizedvoices #overworkedandunderpaid #restmode #peopleofcolor #peopleofcolour #podcastersofinstagram #podcastsforwomen #somaticrelease

Do you ever need help with something, but you just

Do you ever need help with something, but you just…don’t ask?

You might think something like:

“I could just do it myself”

“They already have so much on their plate.”

“I don’t want to burden them.”

You might also worry about being too demanding or needy as a leader of color.

If you’re like, “yep, that’s me,” then you’re in good company with today’s guest on the podcast, Cassandra Le.

When I met my client, @cassandratle , she was an entrepreneur and the leader of a robust team of employees and contractors.

Business was great…

…but the personal was, well, not.

She struggled to take time off, or enjoy her free time, because she still felt entirely integral to her team’s execution & success.

And okay, I know I said business was good…

…but on the business side, Cassandra was also struggling to get her portion of work done because she was constantly answering questions, giving feedback to, or helping others on her team.

Cassandra was so busy avoiding being needy or demanding, that she was drowning in the process while everyone else on her team thrived.

If you relate to this at all, then you NEED to listen to today’s episode, because these days, Cassandra is literally a whole new leader:

🥹she’s created new, bold boundaries with her team & clients
🥹she takes so much time off to travel, I’m jealous (and that’s saying a lot!)
🥹she delegates ruthlessly
🥹she has a robust personal life that is creative, exciting, and thrilling
🥹she asks for what she needs, when she needs it – without internal drama
🥹she’s unafraid of difficult conversations (even if they might impact her bottom line)

…and that’s really just scratching the surface.

Wanna dive deeper into Cassandra’s story, and what advice she has for other leaders whose people pleasing tendencies are keeping them drowning in work?

Check out her episode today via the l!nk in my b!o

#somaticpractice #beyourtrueself #burnoutprevention #bipocbusiness #supportwoc #womenofcolorpodcast #leadershiptips #leadershippodcast #boundariesarebeautiful #restisresistance

I bet you’ve said one of these things recently 👇🏿

“I’m burnt out.”

“I’m exhausted.”

“I feel like I can’t enjoy my free time.”

I know, because every single leader of color I work with has had this problem.

(Probably because we’re socialized to feel like we have to work twice as hard within a world that genuinely asks us to work twice as hard to get scraps.)

That’s why, in the newest season of my podcast (that premieres today!), I wanted to focuson how you can get more:

🌴rest
🌴joy
🌴free time
🌴creativity

in your day-to-day life, without changing your job, abandoning your kids (lol!), or doing a complete overhaul.

We’ll be doing deep dives on some important topics like:

👉🏿do we really need to work twice as hard as folks of color?
👉🏿feeling safe doing less & creating boundaries as a leader of color who is genuinely judged differently
👉🏿prioritizing yourself & your needs without shirking your responsibilities as a good leader
👉🏿decoupling your identity with your work and with being “exceptional”

and so much more.

I’ll be doing this through educational episodes…

…but I’ll also have some very special guests on the podcast with me to share their stories of how they went from being burnt out, overworked, and stressed to feeling laid back, relaxed, and thriving.

Sound like a podcast season you need to hear?

Good news – the first episode of the new season is LIVE today!

In today’s episode, I’ll be talking about a few of the reasons why it’s so damned hard to rest as a person of color, and the internal and intergenerational struggles that create our fucked up relationship to rest.

You can check out this new episode via the l!nk in my b!o

Make sure you subscribe (if you haven’t already!) so that you can be ready for new episodes when they drop each week for the next few months.

I hope you enjoy it – and if you do, please leave me a review so that other leaders of color can find this podcast, too.

#burnoutprevention #traumainformed #podcastersofinstagram #createalifeyoulove #blackleadership #thrivingnotsurviving #dopeblackpods #worklifebalance #letshealtogether #healthyboundaries #newpodcast

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Here are s

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Here are some tips that might help:

✨Remember that the internal voice that says “I should be doing more” isn’t actually how you feel.

That voice is internalized messaging that has been passed down to you from a capitalist society.

Mark those thoughts as unhelpful (because they’re making you stressed) and refocus on more helpful thoughts like “i’m doing my best right now” and “other folks are struggling too”

✨“Does anyone else actually care if this happens?”

Sometimes we take on responsibilities that no one expects from us – and then feel deeply burdened by it.

Make sure you’re clear on what exactly other people’s expectations are for you – you’ll often find that you can do way less without letting anyone down.

✨Take the easy route

If you need to cook, what’s the literal easiest thing you can make?

But also…do you even need to cook, or can you just order delivery this week?

✨Ask for support!

Are there pieces of your to-do list that other people can do?

Can you brainstorm with a friend for how to do some of your tasks faster?

Maybe you just need someone to sit in the same room with you as you do something hard, or
remind you that you’re productive enough when you’re stressing out.

You’re not meant to carry your load alone – practice letting others show up for you.

If you’ve loved the little bit of support I’ve offered here, I’ve got good news for you:

Season 4 of my podcast, Revolutionary Rising, premieres next Thursday, August 31st – and this season, we’re talking all about rest.

We’ll be discussing:

👉🏿the obstacles BIPOC experience when they try to do less, & how to overcome them
👉🏿how to rest more and feel less guilt about it, no matter how much you’ve got going on.
👉🏿 the journeys of leaders and entrepreneurs of color who have gone from feeling burnt out and overwhelmed to embracing rest.

It’s going to be a really good season, full of tips, resources, and tools like I shared above – so make sure you check out the l!nk in my b!o to subscribe.

#howtorelax #stressless #restandrecovery #anxietyrelief #mentalwellbeing #preventburnout #selfcarecoach #wocpodcasts #blackpodcaster

No fancy message today. I’m just tired, and ang

No fancy message today.

I’m just tired, and angry, and wanting more for all of the incredible leaders of color that I work with on the daily.

I’m tired of hearing the same oppressive things happening across industries and organizations meanwhile all of my clients think that the problem is them.

The system is rigged.

If you’re a leader of color reading this, take away this one thing:

It’s not you.

Seriously, 99% of the time, the problem isn’t you.

Stop questioning yourself and start questioning the people, organizations, and systems that make you feel any less than brilliant.

You’ve always been more than enough.

👆🏿 This is a hard truth, and it’s really f

👆🏿 This is a hard truth, and it’s really fucking unfair.

But this is the kind of truth that is actually the key to your success as a leader of color.

How, you ask?

Because you can start solving & working with what’s really going on…

…instead of trying to fix your communication and wondering why that’s not working.

If you get nothing else from this post, get this:

Your success (or struggles) as a leader are not separate from your identity as a person of color.

(Though it’s unfair and I wish that wasn’t true.)

So when you’re looking for someone to help you thrive or overcome your struggles as a leader, make sure you’re working with someone who is a fellow person of color, AND approaches leadership from this perspective, too.

Otherwise, you’ll continue getting watered down, white-washed advice that doesn’t work and feels like it doesn’t apply to you.

If you’re ready to work with a coach who can help you thrive as a leader and overcome the unique struggles leaders of color experience then we should talk about 1:1 coaching.

I have a few spots opening up in September, and if you’d like one – it’d be an honor to work with you.

You can learn more about them via the l!nk in my b!o.

#rewritetherules #leadershipadvice #careerconfidence #emotionalintelligence #peopleofcolor #diversity #blackbusinesscoach #leadershipdevelopment

There’s 3 REALLY good reasons why you should sch

There’s 3 REALLY good reasons why you should schedule a Leadership Lifeline call w/ me before my calendar closes in a few days:

1️⃣ I don’t know when I’ll offer single, discounted sessions like this again

Yeah, you could wait and hope that I offer these sessions again when you have more time, or you’re less busy…but honestly, do you really want to stay stuck for another 6-12 months, when you and I could just get you unstuck right now?

2️⃣ This is the cheapest price you’ll ever see me offering 1:1 coaching sessions

Leadership Lifeline sessions are currently $145 USD – normally, someone would pay over $500 USD for this level of support.

So if you’ve been wanting to coach with me specifically, this is your moment to experience some serious breakthroughs with a huge discount.

3️⃣ I’m not letting everyone book these

It’s important to me that if you pay for this call, you get results.

So, whenever you DM me to tell me you want to do a leadership lifeline call, you and I will have a short (but deep!) conversation, where I’ll confirm that I understand what you’re seeking support with, and that I can 100% serve you in one, 45 minute session.

If I can’t help you, I’ll let you know – and send you on your way.

As a reminder, “Leadership Lifeline” calls are one-off coaching sessions where you can bring in one issue you're having as a leader of color, and you and I will work together to:

🥳get clear on what the right next steps for YOU are (because you’re a unique leader with unique needs!)

🥳uncover what your the root of this issue actually is - whether it’s white supremacy, capitalism, or lived experiences - so that you can finally overcome it

🥳create individualized plans, tools, and practices you’ll need to continue moving forward confidently, calmly, and powerfully.

Basically, you get 45 minutes of my time where I can be your thought partner and coach on a specific topic, and you’ll leave feeling clear, calm, and confident about what you need to do next.

I only have two calls left and your call must be scheduled to occur on or before August 10th.

If you're interested, DM me ASAP (or comment here!) and let me know what you’re wanting to work on.

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