Emily Merrell  00:00

Hey, my name is Emily Merrell. I’m a taco loving people connector. And I’m obsessed with playing the name game and all things networking. I’m the founder of secondary society, a female focus networking community, as well as a business coach for female business owners passionate about bringing their business to the next level with the help of events, community and connections. I crave deep conversations, and I’m continuously curious to see what makes people tick. And I’m invested in uncovering their stories with some life lessons along the way. This podcast is aimed to inspire and educate as you tackle your busy day. So join the conversation and tune in for the second degree podcast. Alright guys, I am so excited to have my friend Lindsey Yellen. She is a leadership coach and speaker on today’s show, she is one of just the most phenomenal human beings that I’ve met. And fun fact we are birthday twins. So there you go. That’s the end of the episode.

 

Lindsay Yellin  01:09

Thank you so much for having me here. I’m thrilled. And just to spend the time with you. Every time we talk. We’re like, oh, wait, are we the same person? Oh, okay. Yeah, maybe maybe. So this is just another chance to confirm that

 

Emily Merrell  01:21

we were twins separated at birth is what we decided to get we it’s really it’s really bonkers. All the things that we have in common, and whatnot. But, Lindsay Yellen, I’m going to be yelling at you a lot today and saying some really good puns along the way. You were one of those last names that I’m going to take advantage of. So my apologies right out of the gate with that?

 

Lindsay Yellin  01:41

I do. I’m used to it. And you know what, I love it. I own it. I business name.

 

Emily Merrell  01:46

I love it. I think that’s a great thing to have yell it from the rooftops. So Lindsay, who are you? First and foremost? Yeah, I’m sorry. Let’s start at the beginning. Who are you? Who is Yellen?

 

Lindsay Yellin  01:58

And what does she do? Am I I will say I am a coffee loving coach. Okay, coffee, or always use it? To describe me first and foremost. But um, yeah, I’m in the Midwest gal from Chicago who comes from the world of advertising. I now live on the Cali coast. So it’s, I’m figuring out who is California, Lindsay that’s like a whole other world. But I in the in the world of business and work I do. I come from advertising. I started my career there, out of college, and was so attracted to it because of how the energy and the creativity. And then it felt like it was like a good career path. Right. And also, sorry, I

 

Emily Merrell  02:44

want to interrupt advertising in Chicago was like Mecca,

 

Lindsay Yellin  02:47

Mecca. So completely, completely. And I think, you know, what was interesting that I reflect on now that I didn’t, you know, haven’t thought much about which, I don’t know, I’ll just go for it. But I, when I was graduating college was actually just a year after my dad had passed away pretty unexpectedly. And so I think about a year before that happened, I was like, hoping my plan was to go lead bike trips in Ireland. That was like my goal, like, oh, yeah, I’m gonna get out there. And I want to leave bike trips and travel, because it’s a big travel theme and lover from studying abroad, all the things. And then it just felt he was a very career driven, very successful person. And it just felt like, okay, no, no, it’s time to begin my career and like, make him proud. And went into advertising and love the energy, love the people of the creativity. And I was also good at it right as an account management. And I worked really well connecting to clients and leading teams. And so I just kind of kept going and kept climbing that ladder. So I think what’s interesting, and Emily told me if you had this moment to maybe in your corporate life, but I remember pretty early on in my career that I had this, what I call like, the career ache, and I remember the moment it happened, like very distinctly, and I was in my second job, I now worked at this big agency in Chicago, and it’s international agency, and I was on this big team and a project we had a huge launch coming up. Right? It was right? Oh, it was Christmas. And it was so cold in Chicago that you couldn’t go outside. We’re stuck at home. And I’ll never forget that we were all working towards this launch. And I got on the phone with one of the senior VPs on the project working through something for a client then like okay, I’m almost done. I have it by this time. What is this? Right, you know, going over feedback. And then I hear in the background. Hey, Dad, can you want to come play with me now? I got you know, like, wow, and he’s like, I’ll be right there, son, you know, give me a few more minutes. And here it is like Christmas break. Like, it’s, you know, you know, Christmas winter times Hymas family, here we are on the phone talking about something for a client deliverable. And the kids begging for his dad to come play with them. And I remember that moment being like, I don’t want that. Like, I don’t want to be my boss’s boss’s boss in that position, that doesn’t feel right to me. But at the same time, I didn’t know can be different. And I didn’t know what to do with that feeling beyond the fact that like, let’s like something. So I just kept climbing the ladder. Because I was still I was good at it. I was I was achieving, and being recognized for everything that you should be recognized for. And I ultimately got my my job, my dream job was going abroad and working abroad to the company like ticking all the boxes. And then I came back. And I ignored this ache the whole time. And I came back from London. And I knew that it was coming to a head like I had ticked the big box I wanted from this job was to get abroad, I did it. And I came back and was like, you know, something’s still isn’t right. Like, I now more now I realize I am my boss’s boss’s boss, that I didn’t want to be eight years ago or whatever. Here I am. What do I do? And so often you look around, you don’t know what to do about it. And

 

Emily Merrell  06:17

in those moments, too, I feel like you have you have this ache, but then you’re like, well, we you know, busy, busy, busy, work, work, work, hustle, hustle, hustle. Like you kind of you’re indoctrinated into it that if someone deviates from that path, I imagine you look at them, like less than or you look at them as crazy or like, why would they want to do something that wasn’t Work, Work work, or? Yeah, eating the bottom line? So how did you? Like how did you deal with this own ache while also climbing and simultaneously?

 

Lindsay Yellin  06:57

I started to reflect on myself with like, with myself of what was working and what wasn’t like what was the areas within my job that would trigger this kind of ache. And then what were the areas that kept me still there, like there was still something I wasn’t miserable. What it was more for me was a realization that I wasn’t reaching my full potential here. And I could look ahead and see what my job was going to be in 10 years and 20 years. And I just knew, like, Could I do it? Yes. Is it really what I made to do? No. And I just knew I had to do something different for something different to happen. And so I just started to talk to people, I talked to a friend who was also a mentor to coach and she’s the first person that I go, you know, what is this areas like, in team leadership and development, and I was the person that was always called in to help a team culture that was broken, or a client relationship that wasn’t working, or somebody who had a bad manager, but had a lot of potential, like, I was always the one, like, put Lindsay in there, you know, and I loved that. So I thought about those areas of the work that really did fill me up. And I said, What’s something that I can just explore, that might help me understand, like, what is the skill set I have? And that’s when I made it to this friend for the first time. Like, I think we I want to try out coaching? Like, yeah, do it. So I just started coach training as part of leadership development, but also of my own career curiosity. And, and I did that all in parallel, while I was still full time, working as a VP in an agency. And it totally revolutionized how I lead. But more importantly, it revolutionized my relationship to myself in my understanding of myself, in my career.

 

Emily Merrell  08:44

And how crazy that you were able or what, how wonderful was it that you were able to explore coaching, but also under the guise of this is for the business?

 

Lindsay Yellin  08:55

You know, it, it is so like, what is so brilliant about coaching work, and just coaching skills, like whether you are being coached or you’re learning how to coach, it’s so unbelievably applicable to leadership. And that’s actually why a lot of my leadership development work that I do is teaching leaders and managers how to show up more coach like, because you’re able to step into greater possibility perspectives through curiosity, you understand how to nurture greater and more meaningful connection that can unlock way more potential and your talent and drive greater engagement, all the things like I could go on all day. But I, so luckily, I was at a business that, like, saw the potential in that and we’re like, yes, like, we believe that this is something meaningful for your career girls, so they supported me in that. And it really was like a sneaky twofold. It was like Oh, I’m learning how to better lead in my team’s my own leadership journey. But I’m also realizing that I really love this like process of coaching other people, and like leading this like Oh, Oh, could this be something? And it wasn’t until I was actually April of 2020, which is hilarious, right? I mean, great timing. But I’ve signed up for certification to continue the education longer, or continued education going with coaching. And you’re kind of forced to start a business. Like they say you have to have paying clients through the notification process. So I just kind of threw together yelling, coaching and all transparency. And like, I was terrified, and sent out a few emails to people and got a couple clients and went through certification and got more before I knew, and I had a handful clients paying me to coach them, which I did all on the side while still, you know, leaving some pieces of business. And at this point, everyone’s living at home, it’s pandemic, so you’re not going into the office? How did you balance? How did you balance like taking on these coaching clients while also running a business at such a high level? Yeah, you know, so there’s been two parts of it. The first is, because I loved it so much, it really was energy giving. So work was so energy draining, and it was really burning me out. But coaching was like this kind of light, where I was able to like step into a new potential of my career and connect with people outside of the formality agency world. So I would do it honestly, like, in mornings, and evenings, and I coached on weekends a lot with my clients. And I also had a boss who was unbelievably supportive. So he supported me and my certification process, I was able to My Courses, no problem missing work. And they even gave me people to coach within our team. And I partnered with another leader on our in our agency team. And we would put on workshops and bring resources from a coaching perspective to people. So I was able to kind of, I didn’t feel like I had to be two different worlds like coaching world, in advertising exact world, I was able to start to bring them together, which was very fulfilling for me. But it also let me just kind of try on being more like how to bring coaching into the corporate space, which was very useful for me now.

 

Emily Merrell  12:13

It’s, that’s incredible. I have this like, beautiful image of my brain and be weaving everything together and being able to take what you’re learning, and then try it on real time people that you get to see their reactions day in and day out, because you work with them. And then also serving these people on the side who probably so valued all of their learnings and growth from you. So that’s April 2020. At what moment, were you like, oh, you know what, I think I’m ready to jump. Yeah, so

 

Lindsay Yellin  12:43

it wasn’t like, it was this kind of beautiful reunion. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. But on one hand, I had a boss who was really supportive, but a company that really didn’t want to value me for that. So they valued me as being this, you know, high performing account person supporting big pieces of business. But as soon as I started talking about wanting to give some of my time to coaching, it was like very much all this red tape like No, no, no, no, no. So I knew that trying to transition into a career this way within my current environment wasn’t going to be possible. But I was pretty terrified to think about what, like, what could it be like, I didn’t actually envision myself starting a coaching business full time. I said, Okay, I gotta go into HR. I need to go into some type of people role, like, I need to transition that way. I’m not, you know, not ready yet. And when I realized, like, that couldn’t happen, where I was, I started to think what else do I do, but all in the meantime, we are working nonstop around the clock for these clients. And then I’m coaching too. So actually really came to head Emily in July, not even that long after this, I guess I think about it. Maybe as a whole year afterwards, I guess I don’t know. It was it was okay. I gave you my timeline, right? July 2020. So, I was at my brother’s house actually in California. And he was working a ton and he said something to me, he goes, you’re kind of like a workaholic. I never thought of myself this way. Okay. Even though I worked a lot and like what everyone did, you’re surrounded by it and advertising. So like, knowing that he’s like, I don’t know, you feels like you. Doesn’t feel right. Like, okay, well, it was like he was like, profit out of prophecy because the next day, I got some really difficult news about a friend of mine, and it broke me like crack. Like I had a little crack inside of me from just being pulled at all ends of this work. And I just crumbled and had a total breakdown. And I went to my brother crying, crying. I’m like, Oh, my God, I can handle it. And he was like, okay, and he basically walked me through. He’s like, you’re not working the rest of the day. Talk to your boss. And I ended up asking for a two week sabbatical. It’s not really sabbatical two weeks, time off felt like a

 

Emily Merrell  14:59

scrapbook. certification is not two weeks, right? And

 

Lindsay Yellin  15:03

I took this long, a long time away, and I came back feeling so refreshed. But within my first week back, I was in tears again. And my brother was talking the same brother again, he goes a week ago, you were talking to you the most childlike joy while you were way up in the mountains of Asheville. And you were, I had never really heard that joy from you in so long. And then here you are back, like something isn’t working. And I realized that, you know, I felt that ache a decade earlier. I felt to persist, I got me to explore coaching. And then it was at this moment, where I realized is undeniable. And I was at a tension turning point of either I disappoint myself, I turn away from myself and stay in this career, even though I just can’t any, like, it’s just very unhealthy for me, or I decide to do something different. And it was really scary to think about what that was going to be because I didn’t have an answer in front of me that felt secure. But I was one day when I was like contemplating what to do. I was scrolling drag distract myself. And I came across this quote from Michelle Obama, where she says, Don’t ever make decisions from a place of fear, make decisions based on hope and possibility, make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t. And it was, as soon as I was introduced to this perspective, of possibility versus fear, it became very clear to me that it was fear that would keep me in the job and possibility that would allow me the freedom to go do something that would actually be fulfilling and aligned to where I could have the greatest impact, which was deciding that I should bet on myself and go into coaching full time. And then it was, so that was at that time, it was about, you know, I guess it was at the end of my certification. I started like nine months later, I started to have that moment, those conversations, and then through with my business, we worked out, we’re actually ended up part time, which I think is really interesting, because I don’t think it’s very common a lot in America, compared to other countries and other work environments. But I wasn’t very fortunate time with my accountant as possible. But I, I spoke and worked with HR and went on a temporary contract to do three days a week full time where I still got benefits, and then two days a week, where I could start to focus and build my business. So I can transition very intentionally versus like, now you are a coach, like I think that is such an incredible gift to give yourself because so many. 

 

Emily Merrell  17:29

So many times people are like, Oh, I’m gonna do this thing. Here’s packing all my bags, shutting all the doors, I’m jumping right in, and you’re like, oh, but you give yourself time to figure out like, who you’re, who you’re servicing or what your offers are going to be. And I think the fact that I think about like a balance, and you’re able to move that balance up to coaching, but still feel secure and stabilized with having benefits coming in. With having revenue coming in, where you can probably service your clients in a lot more generous place in way than if you were like, No, I need to make all the money now I’m charging you a bajillion dollars an hour to make this work, or I’m a failure.

 

Lindsay Yellin  18:12

But also like, I’m sure you know, too. There’s also a big, like learning and competence gap to even be able to think about even owning your rate. So knowing what like how do you build a stable business. And, you know, I went from my clients knowing that this was sigh like this is my like, side business full time to now having to fully own that I was, you know, I was a coach. And this is was my career and not just something I’m supporting folks. So it was it was a big moment. I mean, it was a long, did it feel long felt really fast. But at the same time, it also felt like a journey that was someone was taking me on. But I was also very intentionally, very tension on every step of the way. 

 

Emily Merrell  19:01

I think there’s something so beautiful about just reading on yourself and acknowledging that you’re going to do that. It’s all of a sudden, I don’t know if you felt this way lens, but like this kind of portal opens up where you’re like, This person wants to introduce me to this person, and this person wants to introduce me to this person. And all of these, all these pathways are in front of you that you never never saw as an opportunity. And now you get to travel down through your own leisure, and get to connect with people that fill you up and give you that energy that you so so got from coaching even within a corporate ladder, but like on your own time and on your own schedule. Yeah,

 

Lindsay Yellin  19:41

that’s so cool. You’re like, that actually reminds me of the first pay a client I ever got. I was so nervous to send emails to people asking if they needed coaching, right. I was terrified of it. Because I didn’t know what people would think I didn’t know if I was worthy. Yeah, I guess you’d say, I don’t know. And I didn’t get, you know, tons from friends. But I started to reach out to some people I work with. And there was a woman who was very like a senior leader in a partner agency we had. And she’s a huge, she was like, Chief connection. I mean, she literally made to connect people. And I was like, Yeah, I’m actually starting certifications, I gotta get some clients that do coaching. That’s so cool. Send me your email, I’m gonna send it out to my whole network. This is great. And what happened was, she ended up calling me back and saying, You know what, I think I need you. And you’ve been very vocal and open about working with me and the transition. But I feel competent in sharing her story. But she ended up we only work together, I think, a month like two months. And she ended up transitioning from corporate into going full time into her building her own PR agency. And we had such an incredible working time working together, I really helped her kind of bust through some of these blockers that were in her way. And so because of just this one partner and one client, my first client, she got me so many I tell her to this day, I credit you my business because of how you supported and championed and she was a senior leader and gave me a lot of other senior execs, I never thought I was I didn’t think I could coach executives, until I realized until she gave me the permission that of course, I can coach executives. So it only takes one verse, that one connection that could change so much in your business, your door opening connections.

 

Emily Merrell  21:29

So on the tactical level, thinking about the way that you coach people, you coach, a lot of people that come to you my understanding and correct me if I’m misaligned. They’ll come to you. And they’re like, I know what I want to do with my life. I’m not quite sure. I’ve been in this account executive role for the last 15 years. And I made it to the top. And it’s kind of sucky up here. But I don’t know what else fills me. How do you help those people who feel so freakin lost at doing what they’re doing? Yeah,

 

Lindsay Yellin  22:05

that’s such a good question that I do that is a big population of those I’ve served. And I also support folks in the leadership development side of increasing impact, and effectiveness and leadership. But at the same time, I also think it’s all comes from the need all comes from the same place. So when people come to me, and they’re like, I’m feeling lost. In my career, I’m exasperated, I’m frustrated, I know, this isn’t right for me. And I don’t really know what to do. What I hear from that is a bit of like stuckness and lostness. And also a bit of like, a hunger for intentionality, because anyone can just jump from one job to another. But if they’re looking for someone to say, Help me that means like, they want to do something different. And so I feel like as we go through our career, and I did the same thing, as I was climbing the ladder, I was looking around, and I was looking up. But I rarely beyond those moments where I kind of had that like, ooh, but I quickly ignored it, what I look like, what I would look what I look inward at me. So I recognize that when these professionals come, that there’s just a strong disconnection from self that’s happening. And they don’t understand they don’t feel connected to what is it that they need in a career? What is it that’s not going right in this job. And because we lose that disconnection with ourself, then we have competence and understanding what we want. And it’s very hard to look forward with any type of confidence and clarity. So that’s where the work starts is, before you can lead your career before you can lead other people, you have to first be able to lead yourself. So let’s, let’s get down to the foundations of who are you? And how does that translate into your career and how you show up in your career. So whether that’s values, whether that’s purpose, whether it’s your career needs, there’s a slew of different tools I build with my clients. But it’s all to get to that place of how do you build security back with understanding yourself. So when you look at these decisions, and you’re looking ahead to your career, you’re able to look at yourself to help get the answer and trust yourself versus asking everybody around you what you should be doing.

 

Emily Merrell  24:10

Where were you about 10 years ago? I wish there was a 26 year old out there that was like who am I? What am I gonna do with my life? I was truly Lindsey I feel like that should be like the most. I wish that every college gave you a Lindsay Right, right upon graduation because to your point, like it’s so easy to look around, or I felt this so much like seeing my friends in their career at a certain level and then feel like I’m less than if I’m not at that level, or they’re further along, or they’ve been promoted more or third jobs cooler than mine. Like it was kind of just this comparison game, versus the actual work of looking inside and saying, Do I really like doing whatever x y and z are doing and more like why why As Lindsay not leading back trips in Ireland, why am I leading account execs instead? Completely,

 

Lindsay Yellin  25:07

and I lived with that, I mean, I live and 12 years, I’m doing what I felt like was the right thing to do and what I was celebrated for being able to do, versus listening to perhaps, what I knew deep down, which is like, this isn’t working for you, and how do you pause long enough and look around long enough to recognize that that’s okay to admit that and like so many people come to me thinking that they need to change careers or changed jobs? Like just because I went from corporate to coaching does not mean that’s what I’d actually support my clients with. Very rarely do I support clients where they’re actually doing a major career pivot? Usually what it takes is just some greater reflection and fresh perspectives to say, Oh, this isn’t what’s working. So then we ask, okay, then is this something that can be controlled? Can you start to work to change this yourself? And make this feel better and more aligned and fulfilling for you? Sometimes? Yes. Or I’ll say it’s okay. Is this the right work, but just not here? Because you’re missing this, this and this? Okay, then what does that look like? And then it’s like, Well, okay, then do you? Is it actually something very, very different? And how do you move regardless of the option, moving into those types of changes with greater intention of understanding what boundaries you need to set what values are looking to be honored? What you need to be asking for what you need to be saying no to like, doing in honor of yourself? Regardless, so it doesn’t feel like you’re moving through so blindly just trying to find a bandaid to fix this issue. It’s deeper, it’s deeper core transformational change. Again, where

 

Emily Merrell  26:52

were you? This is so phenomenal. So what are some questions, or listeners could start asking themselves today, if they’re like, Lindsey, you’re speaking directly to me what the how? Well, first off,

 

Lindsay Yellin  27:03

you’re out there. You’re here, you don’t feel alone. I feel like often we feel alone when we’re feeling like something isn’t working. And you’re not. Because when we feel alone in something, that’s where shame happens. So know that you’re not, the first question I would get is starting to get curious with yourself, perhaps start with a perspective that shifted me so much. You’re standing here? Are you staying in your career looking about how you’re showing up every day from a perspective of fear? Is fear driving you? And what would it look like to step into a perspective of possibility either in your role, or what you’re contemplating doing, to start to try on different perspectives of a view in your job. And I do that with my clients all the time, because we are so stuck in only thinking one way in our head, even if you invite in perspectives, like whose most favorite boss you’ve ever had? Invite their perspective, you have to channel them, what would they tell you? Or someone you respect? In television, a character you love, like that? Exact guy, coach, they loved Wendy from six on a succession from billions. So when we would step in and say, Well, what would Wendy tell you to do in this conversation? Like, oh, you know, everything changed. So perspective taking is huge. So invite in some different perspectives to help shift the way you’re thinking. And then you know, what my core foundation of everything I do with my clients is values. So I think it starts in its values, they say it’s a compass, it is such a compass to help guide your life. So how do you feel connected, you know, your values are 90% of people I talk to you, I ask them, they think they know, they maybe didn’t work one time, but they don’t actually know. And that’s the first, that’s like a first easy start to gain so much clarity and connection to self. So there’s a great podcast by Brene Brown that I always have my clients listen to, before we do that values work. It is living in our values, I can send it to Emily to include like living in our values, and she talks about the power of it and walks through a process to help identify them, and use that as a filter of our the decisions I’m making. And those around me, are they honoring my values, are they not? Because so often when people are frustrated in their career, is because they are not able to articulate what isn’t working and what is. And so if you identify and when you name something, you start to tame it. So if you’re able to name your value and say I have a value of collaboration, and then realize you’re in a team, where nobody wants to collaborate and your boss never wants to work with you only tells you what to do. And you’re gonna feel really crappy, like there’s not you’re gonna feel super off because you’re not getting your needs met. So when you start to name it, you’re like, oh, I need collaboration. Oh, it just is like a relief. That’s what it is. That’s incredible.

 

Emily Merrell  29:56

I think the value thing is so important. I always think Think about that as like a family mantra, too. I’ve talked about this in other podcast episodes, but like, I always think of the Griswolds. Like they, I feel like they have like family mantras or family scenes. And then there’s like, values for the family, like, you know, this is a Robinson family value that we must help those, whatever it is. And I like the idea of doing the values work, because to your point, like, we’ve probably all done it somewhere, but we haven’t really recorded it or stored it or done anything with it beyond that point of just doing it. And I think

 

Lindsay Yellin  30:34

often people think of values as something aspirational. They’re not. So you might think, Oh, yes, I value honesty I value. But like, yeah, sure, you might respect honesty, you want to be honest, but is that actually one of your core values? So and I often get leaders too, who are like, Well, my work values are this, but these are my home values is like, no, no, no, one person, one set of values. And that could be part of the problem. So and people don’t realize that Emily, you and I probably have a shared value. Or maybe it’s around connection, but how you understand that value is very different than how I do too. So it’s not just about naming them, but also fully defining understanding them for you, so that you can recognize when it’s being honored or when it’s not, and then you have choice to do something about

 

Emily Merrell  31:23

1. It makes me laugh it I’m thinking of like a hitman at work, like my values are, you know, diligence, hustle. And then like, they’re at home values, like life, I valued life and community. Like we, I don’t know why I hit man just came into my brain.

 

Lindsay Yellin  31:43

But that’s, I mean, you I think we’ve all worked with people where we feel totally like their values are misaligned. Or they say one thing they say value this but then they are actually speak something else. So that is, so that’s, that’s where I would start is start to invite some curiosity with yourself around perspectives around your values, and then seeing how that shifts how your, what your relationship is, and understand more about yourself and going what’s going on with your job. And the other thing is, once you start to get to some of these deeper things, like maybe through your values, that is really what’s under the problem, like the need under the need of your career, that can start to shift how you start looking forward to other jobs, because so often people are like, Okay, I don’t feel valued, I’m not getting paid enough. And so then they jump to another job where they’re, they’re getting paid enough and they feel like they’ll be good at it, but they end up in the same miserable place. Because it’s just a bandaid on the surface, like doing the things that they’re like, trying to fix with the next job. And that’s where the intentionality is so important to actually do the work to say what’s really going on in these jobs, it’s not working for me that is under the surface. So I can be way more intentional when I show up to the interviews. When I’m talking to my prospective manager when I’m evaluating what’s like the complete like package and opportunity here to know if I’m setting myself up to be in the same place or I’m actually making the changes and doing something different that will make me feel different and making me make decisions walking me closer and closer to more fulfillment

 

Emily Merrell  33:19

a frickin men I think this is wonderful. And this is guys this is only touching the surface of like doing the inner work on yourself to be that leader and to learn how to to shape the life that you want and that you want it for yourself and you want to be remembered for I think about legacy a lot. Lindsey, how can people find out more about you and working with the most incredible person?

 

Lindsay Yellin  33:46

Thank you. Well, I love if anybody here is curious even just about their values, I’d love to offer have like an initial values conversation. I think it’s a really intimidating but vital thing. So feel free to schedule and grab time with me you can find that on my website Yellen. coaching.com There is a Connect Now that takes you to Scrab some time on my calendar, or I’d love to connect on LinkedIn. Just looking up Lindsey Yellin or Instagram of course and my handles Lindsey yellow, there’s a theme here. So doubt, oh, Jude and you too, I’d love to connect either just to share stories. I can help in any way or of course, yeah, dig into values a little bit deeper.

 

Emily Merrell  34:32

I think that’s wonderful. And I just you know, I’m gonna plug this in. But guys, if you become a member to have second degree society, Lindsay led a phenomenal workshop for us that you can view in our vaults in our library of amazing workshops. And she also hangs out at the ready set coach community so I’m plugging both communities today.

 

Lindsay Yellin  34:52

 Yeah, I will say to support that for any business, you know, entrepreneurs out out there, in a coaching business, I think we see and modeled a lot that to grow coaching through Instagram and a lot of marketing and, and that is certainly a very great way to grow your business I have intentionally chosen that I want to grow my business from a place of referral based connections, and more meaningful connections of folks coming to me. And so it is because of communities like second degree society that has allowed me to just be able to take that to the next level because I realized too if you’re transitioning from corporate I don’t know if you’ve felt this Emily like, people knew me as advertising Lindsay, they didn’t really know me as coach Lindsay So I was like, I have to build my network as a coach and surround myself with people who are not only gonna inspire me, but and support me, but also bring me like, opened me up to a whole new world of connections that are potential clientele to grow from, and it has done that like, over and over again. So I just couldn’t like

 

Emily Merrell  36:00

I appreciate you saying that. No, and I completely agree. My My people are like your special events, Emily. And I’m like, Well, I was and now I’m sweatshirt you know, not high luxury fashion. Emily, I’m cozy events at home on your couch. Emily, the different person here for that for sure. I do like a lot more. Lindsey. Before we leave. I’ve got six best questions that I am so curious about for you. Okay, I’ll try to answer. First one is tell me an unknown fun facts about Lindsay Yellen.

 

Lindsay Yellin  36:33

Unknown. Fun fact. Okay, I might have told this story an event once, once. This is more of an embarrassing story than a fact. I want at times single handedly delayed a United flight by my cell phone dropping from my lap, bouncing and going in between the vents and the side of the airplane. It was lost in the side of the plane and I didn’t know where it went. They had a call Tech’s on board. They I mean everybody who had to wait, it was delayed for maybe an hour, and they couldn’t get it out. And they said it’d be fine but shouldn’t be harmful for the flight. We go to Chicago and then we arrive and there’s fire trucks and hoses. Reading the plane and forest. My husband’s like, you’re in trouble. reality it was a pilot last flights anyway. Good night, late. And so that’s how they greet a plane for pilots last flight. But that was the person who delayed a pilot’s final flight. Career.

 

Emily Merrell  37:34

He’s like, get me out of this job. This is baloney. We that is I did tell that story to me before and that is insane. And also I feel I would be like, You know what, I’m just gonna, like, go melt into a puddle right now because this is wild, did they? So they got the phone out.

 

Lindsay Yellin  37:51

I got the phone. I got the phone out in my, my family will never let me live it down. So that was like, yes. And also, I guess another fun fact is one day you just wait, Emily, I’m going to have the best coffee shop in America. And you’re welcome to come and get a free cup of coffee.

 

Emily Merrell  38:06

Oh my god, I will be yelling it from the top here first. I love that. I can’t wait to try it out. Who would be a dream person to be connected with

 

Lindsay Yellin  38:20

I would say right now. I am so inspired. I really love Simon Sinek podcast. And I listened to it and I reason why I say him right now is because the way he talks to people and what he does such an incredible job of getting very deeply curious and doing such deep listening, that he is able to offer the greatest gift every one of like a really great gift to any guests of his because he takes their expertise and what they do and their story. Then he asked them about like their childhood and like deep memories. And then he makes this connection of like, this is why they drove like inspired this about you and your any and the person sits there like oh, wow, I I’ve never been seen like that before. So he makes this guest feel so seen and valued. And that is what I work to teach my leaders. It’s what I try to do with my clients. So I’d love to just meet him and see us like and inquire about how he does that and and learn from him because it really

 

Emily Merrell  39:25

blows my mind. It also be fun to reverse the tables on him and make him write I’m sure he’s I’m sure he’s used to wielding the control and the power of asking the deep questions. But then having someone turn the tables and ask him the questions. Is it scripted? Or would he have to pause for a second? Action such

 

Lindsay Yellin  39:49

a good point? There’s conversations do between Brene Brown Adam Grant and Simon Sinek are like three of them like get together a lot and I’m telling you if I could just

 

Emily Merrell  39:57

oh my

 

Lindsay Yellin  39:58

god I can do that table. I think my life would be made I

 

Emily Merrell  40:03

can I get the opening the popcorn, I’ll just I’ll just see you here listening and learning and growing. Oh my gosh, um, well, I know you. You’re my TV buddy, which I love so much. So What show are you currently watching? Or have you recently watched? You know?

 

Lindsay Yellin  40:22

Oh yeah, well there’s like love is blind but that’s a whole thing I’m not aware of what I am watching right now is new look on Apple.

 

Emily Merrell  40:31

Have you heard? No,

 

Lindsay Yellin  40:33

it tells the story of Dior back in World War Two. And then after it talks like French fashion and like couture culture. It talks a lot about Chanel and Dior. And it tells the story starting like at the end of World War Two in Paris, and then going on since then. And it’s really beautifully done. And I think it’s wonderful. So I’m a huge fan of that show right now. And it gets into the story of do your sister, Christine, I believe, who is kind of I don’t think they tell her story enough. And her story is incredible. Like so badass. So brave. So I I love and I’m also going to Paris in April. So I’m like

 

Emily Merrell  41:14

Christian Dior and then Christine Dior?

 

Lindsay Yellin  41:16

Yes. A little on the nose. No, all right. I think I think that is and then of course I am starting to rewatch Ted last. I was just like ever present in my life. I watch all the time. What about you and what are you watching right now?

 

Emily Merrell  41:32

I just finished what did I finish less? Oh, I just finished one day.

 

Lindsay Yellin  41:39

I was on the floor. My bedroom crying. I don’t know if it had that. Yes,

 

Emily Merrell  41:43

I was my my husband at a certain point of it. Towards the end of it. He was like, I’m going to bed. It was like Well, I’m almost at the end. I’m just like, ah, like I texted my sister at the end. We’re not gonna ruin it. But I was like, What the fuck? Like,

 

Lindsay Yellin  41:59

what the fuck? No, I It’s a book. I didn’t read the book. I it was a movie. I’d never seen the movie. So I was like, no idea. Came rocks me but in a beautiful way. But last one I’ll say is true detective on HP just finished that too.

 

Emily Merrell  42:14

Let’s, let’s talk about this afterwards, because I haven’t had someone to talk about it. Like, yeah, there’s a lot. There’s a lot to unpack there. So guess what book are you reading?

 

Lindsay Yellin  42:26

I am reading the Art of Possibility right now. And I you know, possibilities is actually a core value of mine. Like I had these different values of like adventure and this. And I realized it’s just this value of possibility living the highest possibility. So this book is like rocking my world. It’s so beautiful. And it’s written by a husband and wife, the wife, I believe is the therapist, psychologist and the husband is a composer. And they tell it’s like a leadership book around how these different tools to equip others around you to live life from a place of possibility and get out of this, like achievement only mindset. And the stories they tell are beautiful. I’m learning a lot about the music world. I don’t know anything about why I couldn’t it is I couldn’t recommend it enough. It’s very fantastic and very actionable and very inspiring. Okay, there

 

Emily Merrell  43:22

are two possibilities. I need a new self help book. I just read the power of one more. Hmm, I just listened to that one. It was good. I mean, if there’s some books that you read, and you’re like, Yeah, I get the message. Like, do you one more thing every day? Do you one more? Yeah, I’m like a summarize. And I get the genesis of what you’re saying. So I Okay, that’s a great one. I’ll add that to the list of learning. Okay, two last questions for you. And this one’s an important one. But what is your favorite emoji?

 

Lindsay Yellin  43:58

Oh, the like sparkle star. I just maybe because to me, it kind of embodies like, excitement and possibility and like kind of a little wonder. So I use that one a ton. And then I also right now, okay, I know it’s like one but there’s two phases. I’m using a lot right now. The first one was like big open, I won, like, love that one. I think it’s because we’re in the midst of buying a house and they’re just things that I’m like, This is my reality. And then upside down smiley face like, this is just like, Yay,

 

Emily Merrell  44:26

I’m so excited. Yeah, overwhelmed. I think emojis are a language of their own that are just so refreshing sometimes. Completely. And then my final question for you today. Miss Lindsay is what permission Do you want to give our listeners today?

 

Lindsay Yellin  44:47

Oh, I like to in my mind, but I’m going to tap into something different than I talked about today. And that is the permission to just show loving kindness to yourself. So I stepped into the world of Mindful self compassion about a year ago right now, it has revolutionized my world. And it’s something that I build with every single client of mine. Because we are, we are so misguided to believe that the harder we are in ourselves, the more we will achieve and the doing good for us. When we don’t realize how actually incredibly impactful it is just loving ourselves and be kind to ourselves. So I just give you permission to step in the perspective of if I was talking to my best friend, and I was talking to someone I care about that’s going through what I’m going through, but when I say to them, it’s incredible what you can uncover for yourself. Hmm. Well

 

Emily Merrell  45:37

on that beautiful wisdom as we end you guys, you have so much permission in this episode, and so much self reflection and so much homework. Lindsay, thank you so much for being on today’s show and joining us with all of your beautiful stories.

 

Lindsay Yellin  45:53

Thank you. It has been a true honor. Thank you so much, Emily, you are just incredible at what you do. Thank you so much.

 

Emily Merrell  45:58

I appreciate you. See you the next time you’ll on the second degree podcast. Have a great day.