Bring Your Whole Self To Work

My guest this week, Sarah Brubacher, is remarkable and quite an anomaly in Silicon Valley. She has been with the tech giant, eBay, for 13 years, she has survived two different forms of cancer, she and her husband recently welcomed a new baby into the world, and she inspires other women through keynote speeches at her Alma Mater, Cornell University.   During our discussion, Sarah shares openly about her experience as Chief of Staff, serving on Devin Wenig’s leadership team.  As well as how it feels to be part of the community at eBay dedicated to inclusion and diversity.   Key Takeaways:   [2:49] What the phrase ‘bring your whole self to work’ means to Sarah. [6:19] Starting a relationship based on raw honesty. [13:03] The eBay community gave Sarah the opportunity to try new things. [27:46] eBay has always been a community of inclusion. [33:48] Sarah speaks on being a female executive in Silicon Valley. [42:17] How having a child has changed Sarah’s perspective on work. [51:53] As tragic as having cancer is, i

My guest this week, Prakash Raman, is the Senior Consultant in Executive Development at LinkedIn. Prakash facilitates conversations and programs that drive diversity and inclusion, among other things, within the organization. The primary goals of his work are to usher in compassion and awareness by understanding the values and differences of everyone in the company. Prakash’s passion lies in paying it forward by participating in Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches Project, and volunteering for the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity.   Key Takeaways:   [3:04] What does ‘bring your whole self to work’ mean to Prakash? [9:42] How LinkedIn is driving diversity, inclusion, compassion, and success. [18:21] How Prakash tries to bridge the gaps in understanding the values and differences of others. [22:10] Success should be measured in habits, not in outcomes. [29:38] The 100 Coaches Project.   Resources: Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbins on Facebook Mike Robbins on Twitter Mike Robbins Workshop a

When you heard about the hate march in Charlottesville, Virginia how willing were you to talk about it? Did you discuss it at work? Did you discuss it with others who are different than you?  Did you consider how your personal history influenced your views? This week I explore the topics of gender, race, and diversity. I reflect on the privileges afforded to straight, white males, and how being aware of those privileges may be the key to unlocking empathy and compassion for others.   Key Takeaways:   [1:38] Reflecting on my Open Letter to My Fellow Straight, White Men. [5:50] Being aware of privilege and difference can open up the door to empathy. [12:23] How willing are we to talk about gender and diversity issues? [19:23] Is justifying prejudice based on actions racism? [21:36] Understanding what makes up how we see the world. [27:08] How much do you cover your authentic self?   Resources: Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbins on Facebook Mike Robbins on Twitter Mike Robbins Workshop at 144

This week’s episode comes on the heels of the finishing of my manuscript for Bring Your Whole Self to Work. I feel a sense of accomplishment in having my work completed, and I realize having a deadline was a motivator for me. But, did I enjoy the process? Starting any creative project opens us up to vulnerability and discomfort, because we don’t know how it will turn out. What if we could be satisfied with the growth that accompanies the creation, not just the achievement that is the finished product?   What can you do to support and empower yourself in a positive way to grow and engage in the things that mean the most to you?   Key Takeaways:   [:19] Sign up for the “Nothing Changes Until You Do” workshop September 15th -17th at 1440 MULTIVERSITY in Santa Cruz. [1:38] The power of completing what we set out to do. [4:52] The shitty first draft. [9:16] Being obsessed with, and attached to, an outcome limits our power.   Resources: Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbins on Facebook Mike Robbins

I am recording this week’s podcast close to midnight on the eve of my manuscript’s due date. I happily share with you that I have finished the manuscript and will be sending it to Hay House (my publisher) after finishing my final review and writing the Acknowledgements. This week I was provoked to consider my motivation for wanting to change, fix, and heal myself through my personal development work, which is something I wrote a bit about in the book. What if instead of criticizing ourselves for things we feel are lacking, we practiced love, acceptance, and forgiveness? How might we grow, if we had gratitude for our whole selves?   Key Takeaways:   [:35] Sign up for the “Nothing Changes Until You Do” workshop September 15th -17th at 1440 MULTIVERSITY in Santa Cruz. [4:59] Growth mindset is about looking at everything that comes our way as an opportunity to learn and grow. [5:56] Forgiving instead of fixing helps keep you whole. [13:41] What's the motivation behind your growth? [19:46] Aging — it happens.   Re

I am recording this week’s podcast from a hotel room near Napa, CA, where I’m focused on finishing the manuscript for my book, Bring Your Whole Self to Work. As I write the growth mindset chapter, it’s forcing me to take an introspective look at the areas of my life in which I employ a growth or a fixed mindset. Growth often require us to be vulnerable and uncomfortable What triggers us to stay in a fixed mindset, when we know growth and development come from our willingness to try and to fail?   Key Takeaways:   [1:15] Sign up for the ‘Nothing Changes Until You Do’ workshop September 15th -17th at 1440 MULTIVERSITY in Santa Cruz. [4:16] The growth mindset is a willingness to fail and to learn. [12:45] Why we avoid the things we think we will fail miserably at. [16:25] Discovering our inner ‘grit.’ [20:56] The immediate feedback loop is more satisfying than delayed criticism.   Resources: Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbins on Facebook Mike Robbins on Twitter Mike Robbins Workshop at 1440 M

I am recording this week’s podcast from a hotel room in Calistoga, CA where I’m focused on finishing the manuscript for my book, Bring Your Whole Self to Work, which is due August 1st. I find myself knee-deep in the creative process, having completed about 37,000 words of my intended 60,000 word objective. I’ve been thinking a lot about what it takes to inspire my creativity, specifically my writing, and how we’re all creative in some way, even if we all demonstrate it differently. In this week’s episode, I talk about how we can understand and embrace our creative process with more awareness and self-compassion.  So often the hardest part of the creation process is dealing with ourselves, not the project itself.  What do you need to have in place to nourish your own creative process?   Key Takeaways: [1:27] I have a love-hate relationship with writing. [5:29] We all create in different ways. [10:49] Embrace your creative process. [13:39] Writing is more than the physical, practical process of the written word

During this week’s podcast, I have a conversation with my dear friend, Dr. Robert Holden. Robert is a well-known author and spiritual psychologist from the UK. He has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America, and his books, including Happiness NOW!, have made him a sought-after speaker. But, Robert is much more than his accolades. He is a husband, a father and a teacher with a deep understanding of the human experience. During this interview, he kindly shares his insights about why we feel inadequate, why it’s important to define our own success, the beauty of being honest and the four aspects of intelligence.   Key Takeaways: [2:46] What the phrase ‘bring your whole self to work’ means to Dr. Holden. [8:36] Considering the possibility of wholeness beyond our persona. [14:55] Honesty and truth are core values of Dr. Holden’s company, Success Intelligence. [19:54] Dr. Holden describes the many aspects of physical intelligence. [27:38] How much do you enjoy being you? [31:54] Spiritual i

This week’s podcast is a conversation with the authors of the new novel B.S., Incorporated, Jennifer Rock and Mike Voss. The duo met at Best Buy, a company based in the “nice” city of Minneapolis, MN. They spent the better part of two decades in corporate America writing speeches and running Internal Communications. This experience contributed to their innate knowledge of the B.S. that resides in most large groups of people and lends itself to their insightful, and funny, commentary on work today. Currently, Jennifer and Mike provide communication support to top level executives as well as small business entrepreneurs. During this week’s episode, Jennifer and Mike share how their idea of writing a book morphed from a patio bar conversation into a fun fiction and why storytelling is the best way to engage an audience.  Their insights are relevant to how all of us can cut through the B.S. of work and show up more authentically.   Key Takeaways: [1:56] The inspiration behind and crafting of B.S., Incorporated. [

From the moment we are aware our first child is coming, we become parents. We continue to be parents for the rest of our lives. We don’t stop being parents when we show up at work, have a date with our spouse, or when we end a relationship. During this week’s episode, I speak with Vicki Hoefle about all aspects of parenting.   Vicki Hoefle is a professional parent educator and certified ICF (International Coaching Federation) coach with over 20 years’ experience. She is the author of Parenting as Partners, Duct Tape Parenting, and The Straight Talk on Parenting. She shares her wisdom and perspective on the expectations placed on both mothers and fathers, how to raise respectful, responsible and resilient children, how corporations can support parents in the workplace, and how parents can transfer the relationship skills from their home life into their work life.   Key Takeaways:   [2:29] What the phrase, ‘bring your whole self to work,’ means to Vicki. [6:06] Vicki’s personal journey accidentally led to a ful

My guest on this week’s podcast is Tami Simon. Tami is the Founder and CEO of Sounds True, a wonderful publishing company in Boulder, Colorado that disseminates spiritual wisdom. Tami started Sounds True in 1985 with live conference recordings of Ram Dass and Stephen Levine. Over the last 32 years, Sounds True has grown and evolved.  They continue to produce spiritual audio and learning programs, as well as books and apps. I met Tami a few years ago at a Wisdom 2.0 conference, and at the most recent Wisdom 2.0 conference she gave a speech, which was all about bringing your whole self to work and creating a healthy work culture. During today’s episode, Tami shares her thoughts on what it means to bring your whole self to work, how she navigates through tough business issues holistically, how people are hungry for meaningful work, and what she and her team at Sounds True do to create a productive culture.   Key Takeaways: [2:30] What does ‘bring your whole self to work’ mean to Tami? [5:03] How Tami makes a saf

This week’s episode focuses on leadership and having an attitude of gratitude. My guest, Cindy Elkins, joins me to share how her experiences at Genentech and as a board member of Weight Watchers International, have shaped her perspective on life. Cindy acknowledges she didn’t always bring her whole self to work, but during her journey, she did create environments where people could flourish within corporate communities. Binding people together without using functional, structural strategies is what makes Cindy’s cultural leadership qualities a powerful asset in life and in business.   Key Takeaways: [3:14] What does the phrase ‘bring your whole self to work’ mean to Cindy? [7:29] Cindy is acutely aware of what it feels like when someone doesn’t feel safe to bring their whole self to work. [12:37] Sometimes people in senior roles need to be vulnerable. [21:57] How Cindy came to be on the board at Weight Watchers. [27:55] The body image differences between men and women. [37:11] Practical strategies to link the

This week I spoke with my friend, the amazing Gabrielle Bernstein. You may know Gabby from her appearances on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, The Dr. Oz Show, The Today Show, or maybe you’ve read one of her New York Times bestselling books, like her latest, The Universe Has Your Back. During our conversation, Gabby shares some of the key moments of her life which called her to her life’s work.  She shares some insights, tips, and suggestions for how we can step more into our power and do the work we are meant to do.  Gabby believes there will be more and more people waking up and being called...and that bringing our whole selves to work is as important as ever right now! To find out more about Gabby’s free video training and her Spirit Junkie Master Class, visit Mike-Robbins.com/Gabby Key Takeaways: [3:49] What the phrase ‘bring your whole self to work’ means to Gabby. [5:12] There are few other addictions that get you as much praise as Workaholism. [13:46] The Universe Has Your Back was Gabby’s most vulnerable bo

This week’s episode looks at how we can be empathetic and compassionate towards people in our lives who are experiencing grief or other difficult situations. The author of the There is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful and Unfair to the People You Love. Dr. Kelsey Crowe shares her insights based on her many years of research on the subject. During the conversation, we touch on things organizations can do to gain loyalty by respecting their employees as whole beings, what to do and what not to say when someone you know experiences grief, and how we can become empathetic and compassionate during difficult times.   Key Takeaways: [2:23] What the phrase ‘bring your whole self to work’ means to Dr. Kelsey Crowe. [6:10] Kelsey details the inspiration behind There is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful and Unfair to the People You Love. [11:26] What should I do when something happens to someone I love? [15:08] The more humane policies we have around p

In this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Chef, Author, Speaker, and Podcast Host Chris Hill. Making the Cut is the title of Chris’s book and podcast; both are interview-based explorations into the success principles of entrepreneurial elite. During the podcast, Chris describes his journey from being in a high-profile marketing position to switching gears and following his dreams to become a chef and restaurateur. Chris eventually turned his blogging into a book and his love of cooking into an enterprise. Chris shares the inspiration behind his forthcoming book, Lead Like a Chef, and about the ups and downs that accompany being a leader and changemaker.  Key Takeaways: [2:32]  What does the phrase ‘bring your whole self to work’ mean to Chris? [3:31] Chris describes the path he took to becoming a chef and an entrepreneur. [10:26] The challenges of the restaurant business. [22:53] While writing Making the Cut, Chris is privy to an example of a chef who brought his whole self to work. [33:16]

In this week’s solo episode, I examine how we deal with loss, the passing of time, the aging of our bodies, grief, and being human. I’m currently reading Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy, and it reminds me we all are going through some type of loss. As humans, when we go through something painful, we just can’t snap our fingers and move on. We still have to be responsible, show up for work and be there for our families. So how do we deal with loss and grief in the workplace?  Permission to be human in the workplace is what my book, Bring Your Whole Self to Work, is all about.  In this episode, I explore ways in which we can be even more human and vulnerable with ourselves, and others - especially when facing big challenges and changes. Key Takeaways:  [1:19] Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy is not just about grief. [8:36] Using the phrase, “If you really knew me you would know this about me…” [13:28] Seeing the

In this week’s solo episode, I discuss trust and how we can expand our ability to trust. Many of us believe trusting is naive. We spend a lot of time and energy shielding ourselves from being embarrassed, taken advantage of, or compromised. But, what are we really protecting ourselves from? Vulnerability is power, and trust is a generating energy. What would happen if we learned to embody trust and lead from a place of trust? How would our lives be different?   Key Takeaways: [1:06] What does authenticity mean? [3:42] Being a leader means we go first. [6:50] How much time and energy do we spend protecting ourselves? [13:02] The hardest person to trust is ourselves. [15:49] The concept of basic trust [19:41] The impact of the lack of trust in our lives   Resources: Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbins on Facebook Mike Robbins on Twitter "The Power of Authenticity" TEDx talk, by Mike Robbins Be Yourself Everyone Else is Already Taken, by Mike Robbins Life Loves You, by Louise Hay and Robert Ho

In this week’s solo episode, I explore stepping out of our comfort zone. I was inspired to discuss this topic based on my experience of walking through the streets of Bangalore, India. When traveling to a place with a different language or culture, our self-sufficiency is stripped. It forces us (or gives us the opportunity) to be vulnerable in a purified way. When we stay in our comfort zone, we stay away from risk and discomfort. Can innovation or revolution happen without risk?   What does it take for you to have the courage to be bold, to show up, to step out of your comfort zone and bring all of who you are, to everything you do?   Key Takeaways:   [5:14] Chris Sacca's travel question exposes vulnerability. [8:52] Are we really challenging ourselves to get out of our comfort zone? [11:44] Opening yourself up to discomfort and risk can encourage the use of your inner resources. [12:33] We all exist on a continuum of fixed and growth mindset. [13:43] Admiration for those who constantly change and adapt. [18

In this week’s solo episode, I explore the topic of inner work and how it relates to our lives and our careers. One of the ways we can bring more of ourselves to the work we do, is to focus on the work we do internally. It is so easy to get caught up in the “doing-ness” of life and business.  However, what goes on within us, has so much to do with what shows up around us. How committed are you to your inner work?  Doing work on ourselves and really looking within can be challenging, emotional, and, at times, even painful.  However, it is essential to our journey of growth, success, and fulfillment.  I recently attended another Hoffman workshop and did some great inner work, which prompted this episode.  The more willing we are to do our personal work, the more likely we are to create the kind of life and results we truly want.  We are all spiritual beings having a human experience. We are all works in progress.   Key Takeaways: [1:43] The Hoffman Process focuses on healing issues we assumed when we were young

Nancy Collier joins me this week on the podcast to discuss her book, The Power of Off: The Mindful Way to Stay Sane in a Virtual World. She looks at the addictive side of technology, and how it is capable of removing us from our human relationships. Nancy believes we humans are giving up our capacity to think for ourselves, and are forfeiting the precious gaps between stimuli when our minds used to be free to run wild. Nancy shares her personal intention to make technology a tool at her disposal instead of a consumption engine which eats away at the moments in her life. I know this idea will resonate with many of you who feel, as Nancy says, Twired, tired and wired. Being able to bring all of who we are to work our and our life, requires us to unplug and turn off our devices at times, in order to think, feel, and re-engage with ourselves and each other.   Key Takeaways: [2:25] What prompted Nancy to write The Power of Off? [7:54] Technology has discouraged us from realizing our brilliance. [13:32] We are usin