Special 300th Episode: Surprises, Satisfaction & a Sprinkle of Regret (Part 2)

We celebrated the 300th episode of the Dynamic Women Podcast. I was joined by a bunch of friends and supporters and I answered their tough questions and vice versa. This is part 2 of that episode.

What's one myth or stereotype about women that you believe needs to be debunked? And why? 

As you're thinking, I did a post the other day about how people judge me when I go away with friends, or even when I do an overnight in Whistler that I do once a year, and they'll say, “How could you leave your family for ten days? What about your children? What about your husband?” I' reply, “What about them? They're good!” Yes, my children are jealous, but my husband says, “You work hard, so why don't you get to go and relax and recharge?”

I think the stereotype that women shouldn't be leaving the home to have a little personal vacation is wrong. Needs to be debunked. We need our time away to recharge and relax and have new experiences. Anyone else have an answer for this one? ​

Barb: Two things. One, kind of a little bit on to what you were talking about. This idea of women, they have to be working, and they need to be in the house and everything. I can remember when my children were young, and I would be traveling for work, and people would be asking, "But who's looking after the kids?” My husband and I are an excellent 50-50 partnership and family rearing. My mother's like, "But who gives the kids baths?" It's a different era, and this is now 20 years ago, so the times have changed since then as well, but there's still this kind of idea that a woman can't leave the house to do their job if they have children because there isn't someone back in the house who can look after them. It has been changing. It hasn't completely gone.

I think the other thing for me is this idea that you can't have emotions. Maybe I'm not sure if it's a stereotype that women have more emotions, or if it is just the way that our society was and has brought up, but I think I personally show more emotions in the things that I do, and I think that there's a lot of research now about emotional intelligence that shows that great leaders have a better understanding. Not—I don't mean just bursting out into anger or fear or crying or whatever emotion might come along, but that the control and the understanding of emotions is a much bigger part in what our society needs. I think women have this, and I think it's great for our society if we have more people with these abilities leading our children into the next era.”

Patricia: “When women speak assertively, they're often perceived as aggressive.”

Pamela: “I think I was just thinking about this because I'm like, what could it be? But I think it's the myth that we can't have it all. We can have it all, especially in this day and time. There's VAs, we can delegate, and we can have it all and feel that fulfillment at the same time as we are bringing our family in. I mean, now people work from home. Your families are with you. You don't have to farm them out, or take them to wherever they need to go. I think that myth—we can have it all!”

Actually, COVID, I think, helped us out a lot to be able to be normal about things. I can remember I was in a mastermind, or in a training or something, and my son came in. I somehow left the door unlocked. He came in wearing a ninja costume, and he's an extrovert, for sure, and he loves attention, so he was in the camera, and I'm like, "Get out!" Then he leaves, and he comes back with a sword, and he starts putting the sword in the camera, and everyone's laughing, and no one shamed me, which was really good. I think that's where COVID has helped us a lot.

I'm going to do kind of the quick answer to a few of these questions, and then I'm thinking about doing longer episodes to really honor the answer to them.

Paula’s question for me: Over the last 300 episodes, I imagine you've learned so much. My question is, what is one of the most surprising lessons you have learned, and the one that perhaps you never saw coming?

I had to think about this. What came up was actually something I mentioned earlier, is the episodes that get the most listens are the ones where I'm super vulnerable. But like, no surprise! So many people commented on my post where I felt judged that I just did the other day. Many people commented because it’s true about how I'm feeling and they connect with it. The super vulnerable ones get more views, get more downloads, whatever, than the ones where I'm polished. I think that's also true for how I consume content. I want to see someone being real and know the behind the scenes.

Lydia’s question for me: What was the number one thing that you feel led you to be successful as a speaker and entrepreneur?

Actually, it is one thing, which is really funny—it's one word: implement. Or execution.

I go to Vegas three times a year to meet one of my coaches, and there's a big mastermind, and he loves to pull me up to the front to say, “Hey, can you talk about that day you made a sale from stage and made $90K.” He loves when I tell the story, or these other stories because it’s fanning his flame and I play it up. Because it fans his flame, and all is good. 

What I say to them is, implement. People will tell you strategy all day long. You will come up with great ideas all day long, but you have to actually get it out there. You have to do it. I'm very quick in action, whether for years and years it was only me and then I had Canadian assistants, and a time when I paid contractors, and then I had my virtual assistants. There's always someone that helps me to get things out quickly. But before, it was me. 

But before that, I think what's helped me just in life to be successful is my mother's belief in me. She would say, “You can do it. You can do it.” 

I remember I invited her to a talk in my hometown, and I said, “Mom, you can come to this one. I got you a ticket.” 
She says, “I can't come.” 
I said, “No, it's a public event. You can come.” 
Then she said, “No, I can't come.” 
I said, “Yes, you can - it’s local.” 
She said, “I can’t because I'll be nervous.” 
I said, “Why will you be nervous? You don't need to talk to anyone.”
“No, no, no, I'll be seeing you speak, and I'll be nervous.” 
“Why? I'm the one speaking?” 
“I know, but I'll be nervous.” 
“Why? I'm going to do a good job.” 
“I know you will, but I'll still be nervous.” 
“Why?” 
“Well, I never understood all the things you've done.” 
“Mom, you always said ‘you can do it’, and I believe in you.” 
“Yeah, but I never understood how you actually could do it.” 

And it's funny, because she always said to me, “I believe in you, and you can do it.” 

Then in my head the conversation would be, “I’m so scared, but mom says, I can do it, and mom believes in me, so I'm going to do it.” Then I did it. Sometimes I go so far away from that girl, and I ask:

• “Who was that who sold the book before it was even written?” 
• “Who was that who jumped out of a plane?” 
• “Who was that who started a women's community?” 

I have these moments of who was that, and then I have to reconnect with her. Maybe that's a takeaway for you, is to believe in yourself, and the greatest thing is now I get to be that belief for others. There's a funny quote that I say, “If you don't believe in yourself, hire someone who does”, because it's the same thing. 

That gave me a “How can I” attitude because it wasn't about “Could I do it?” it was about “How can I do it”? ​

• Going to write a book in 90 days? How can I do that? 
• Going to make a podcast. How can I do that?

It's twofold: my mama's belief in me, but then my quick action to implement, and I just see it through.

Wrapping Up

Reaching the 300th episode of the Dynamic Women Podcast is a milestone I’m truly grateful for. It’s been an incredible journey filled with insightful conversations, powerful stories, and invaluable lessons.

Throughout this special episode, I had the honour of answering thought-provoking questions and hearing inspiring insights from an amazing group of women. Their contributions made this recording even more meaningful, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the time and energy they brought to the conversation.

To all of you—whether you're reading this blog or you listen to the podcast or watch the YouTube—I want to say a heartfelt thank you for being part of this journey. Your support, engagement, and encouragement mean the world to me. This podcast has always been about empowering dynamic women like you, and I’m excited for what’s ahead!

Speaking of what’s next—stay tuned for the next episode, where I’ll share about the times I lost my spark, when I felt like an imposter in my own life, and how I found my way back to fulfillment and joy.

If you have a topic, question, or story idea you'd love to hear on the podcast, I’d love to know! Feel free to reach out at [email protected]. If you haven’t yet, I’d truly appreciate it if you could leave a review of the Dynamic Women Podcast. When you do, send a screenshot along with your mailing address to [email protected]—I have a little surprise waiting for you!

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Until next time—stay dynamic!

Diane

A special shoutout again to our guests: 

• Barb Stuhlemmer
  
• Catherine Deluca
  
• Karen Ta
  
• Lydia Burchell
  
• Mandy Rushton
  
• Pamela McClure Duran
  
• Patricia Morgan
  
• Paula Kent
  
• Rochelle Odesser
  
• Sandrine Ramoisy
  

Read my other blogs:

1. How Do I Find the Right Virtual Assistant for My Business Needs?
2. From Reactive to Proactive: Designing a Life You Love
3. People Who Have the Results You Want are Delegating