Belly Dance Alchemy

The news today says that yet another company has announced layoffs.Layoffs have become such a standard operating practice for companies nowadays that there's corporate-speak to talk about them: RIFs (Reductions In Force), Rightsizing (yeesh), Corporate Outplacing (wow). But calling it something different doesn't make it any easier to deal with if you're at risk of losing your job.However, there are practical steps you can take to manage the changes that happen if you're losing your job ...

No, that's not hyperbole. Stress really is trying to murder you. This episode is all about stress: what it is, how it affects our brains and bodies. But it's not all doom and gloom, because yes, beloved listeners, we also brainstorm some ways to reduce your stress. Show that murdering jerk who's boss! By relaxing. And other stuff.Want to share something that's worked for you? Let me know! Email me at bellydancealchemypodcast@gmail.comDo your goa...

If you're anything like me, by mid-February you've already fallen off the wagon with some (or all!) of your new goals or New Year's Resolutions. It happens. But instead of beating ourselves up for not being as disciplined as we should, let's consider a new way of looking at goal achievement - Goal Subtraction. What's that? Giving up on my goals? But how would I achieve anything? Oh my lovelies, take a listen and find out!Like this idea? Want to share ...

I'm so grateful for you! And to say thanks for listening, here's a quick episode sharing some inspiring quotes about gratitude.Subscribe to our mailing list at bellydancealchemy.orgFollow the podcast on Instagram @bellydancealchemypodcastWe also have a Youtube channel with more content! Belly Dance Alchemy VideosIf you want to grow your professional skills, either 1:1 or through workshops at your company or organization, let's chat! For a 30-minute complimentary consultation...

In Part 2 of our first Belly Dance Alchemy Duet, I talk with Kristin Chesnutt, a friend, former colleague, instructional designer, and book lover about the challenges of finding our value outside of our work/title, the importance of appreciating work no matter the "corporate ladder" level, and some books she recommends (along with a lot of other great insights!)Kristin's recommended books:Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price PhDBurnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nago...

In Part 1 of our first Belly Dance Alchemy Duet, I talk with Kristin Chesnutt, a friend, former colleague, instructional designer, and book lover about the challenges of finding our value outside of our work/title, the importance of appreciating work no matter the "corporate ladder" level, and some books she recommends (along with a lot of other great insights!) Part 2 coming to your ears soon!Kristin's recommended books:Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price PhDBurnout: The Secret to Unlocki...

If you haven't heard the term "quiet quitting" yet, it's all over social media recently. What does it look like? Well, it doesn't mean quitting your job - it means doing only what's required for your job, or setting boundaries that say "I'm not going to do more than I’m being paid to do."But is quiet quitting actually a solution to the problems that we're facing? I vote No! That’s what today's episode is all about. Listen now!Subscribe to our mailing list...

If you've never been to a belly dance convention, you're missing out! In this episode, I share some lessons learned about the 4 P's of belly dance conventions:PlanningPacking (or overpacking...)ParticipatingPerformingListen now and get excited about attending one of these fantastic events! Subscribe to our mailing list at bellydancealchemy.org Follow the podcast on Instagram @bellydancealchemypodcast We also have a Youtube channel with more content! Belly Dance Alchemy Video...

The Belly Dance Alchemy Podcast is back for its 3rd season! We're kicking off our new competency-based format with a long look in the mirror. Yes, this episode is all about self-awareness and self-management. These two skill areas are critical for any other professional or personal growth you may attempt. Without them, we're all just oblivious wrecking balls of human beings, and nobody wants that, right?Register today for the Resume Revamp online course: Resume Revamp ...

Light out of darkness: the theme of so many holidays at this time of year.Know what else is all about light out of darkness?ResilienceResilience isn't being impervious to setbacks - it's the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Which is good, because we all deal with disappointments!Think you're born with a set level of resilience? Nonsense. We can build that skill just like any other. In this episode, we look at 2 ways to start strengthening your resilience muscle to...

It's Gratitude Time! Gratitude gives us a different (bigger) perspective on our lives. It can make us feel humble, small, receptive.That's awesome. Except when it goes too far. Then it's not great. When we have too much humility, we may not advocate for ourselves like we should, whether at work, in dance, at home, or with any opportunity. In this episode, we turn gratitude inward, to discover how to be grateful to ourselves, by ourselves.Does that make you ...

I’m going to go on record here saying that the word "priorities" plural is just messed up. The word priority (singular) means the thing that goes first. As in, the singular first position. Saying that we can have more than one thing in the first position is a recipe for stress and overwhelm and divided attention.And here's a Big Truth: Our priorities aren't what we say they are, they're what we actually DO. Our priorities aren't defined by our vision boards ...

It's the spooky season and this is a rerelease of a great episode all about Fear! No, it's not scary (I promise!), but we are going to chat about how we can use our fears productively. Fear is there to help us - it keeps us safe and makes us alert to possible dangers, but sometimes gets so big and so all-encompassing that it holds us back in our lives and careers. In this episode we explore: The Benefits of Fear Three ways Fear can go haywire and control us too muc...

Hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, and those puffy vests that people dig out of the back of their closet as soon as the weather gets a slight chill. Ah yes autumn! My favorite season.Whenever autumn comes around, it sends me into self-reflection mode. Something about the world shedding its summer glory to rest into winter's chill inspires me to slow down and think:How has my year gone so far? Are there things I need to change to get better results before the end of the year?&...

What if we discovered a switch in our psyches that would turn our fears into courage? What risks would you take if your courage were doubled? What if I told you that courage is not a prerequisite for taking risks, but a RESULT of taking risks? Interested in learning more? In today's episode, we explore a new way to think about courage: instead of an unpredictable emotion, courage is a muscle that we can train and build, so that it's ready to use when we need it.New...

Ever had a narcissist play you like an old ukulele? Not fun.They can show up anywhere - home, work, dance, social settings, and they're hard to resist (at first, anyway).We're diving into the manipulative, self-centered world of narcissists today, to learn what they're thinking, how they interact with others, and most importantly, how we can protect ourselves from their wily ways! Especially if you consider yourself an empathetic, loving person, don't skip this one. You'll f...

Are you trying to find more balance between your work and the rest of your life? And does the whole "finding balance" thing just feel like part of your To Do list? Well in today's episode, we're going to explore a new way of thinking about work/life balance, one that will lift off the ACTUAL cause of work/life imbalance. Most of the advice out there on how to balance our lives is off the mark. Instead of giving people the freedom to enjoy the Life part of the equ...

Ah, personal and professional branding. There's a slew of information out there on creating your brand through your online profiles, your personal elevator speech, etc. The problem? You already HAVE a brand, whether you have a LinkedIn profile or not. And if everyone thinks you're a pain in the butt, the fanciest elevator speech in the world won't help you. In today's episode, we're going to look at the way our brands are ACTUALLY built, and discuss h...

When you want someone to share your opinion, but you know you can't force them to agree with you, what's left?Influencing them, of course!And despite what social media influencers would have you think, influencing is not the same as just directly selling someone on an idea. It takes some deep thinking, some reflection, and of course, a plan! In this episode, you'll learn my 3-Step Influencing Model, so you can start persuading others to your point of view right away.During the epi...

Whether it's knee-knocking terror or just butterflies in your stomach, fear of public speaking holds so many people back in their careers, their dance adventures, and life in general.In this episode, I share 4 practical approaches you can take to manage (and even conquer!) your fear of public speaking.Don't hide your voice and ideas - the world needs them now more than ever!So listen now and get ready to speak up! "Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking" is out now, wherever you get your ...

Conflict is NOT a 4-letter word! If your reaction to conflict is either:Slip on the ol' boxing gloves orRun away as fast as possiblethen today's episode is going to change your perspective (with no anger or yelling at all!) The truth is, most of us don't like the idea of conflict - we think it'll feel messy, personal, and damaging. But it doesn't have to be that way. Conflict can be a wonderful opportunity to learn about ourselves and others around us, and ...

Humans are emotion-driven creatures, whether we want to admit it or not. And many of the most challenging situations that come up for us aren't based strictly on fact - they're based on feeling: managing conflicts, change, influencing others, sales, delegating. Trying to fix a feeling-based problem with a fact-based solution, ain't gonna help.In this episode we dig into the work of Daniel Goleman, who wrote (arguably) THE book on Emotional Intelligence (EQ). He says:“The rul...

Hi dancers! Does the thought of networking (for day job or dance life) make you feel: Icky Grumpy Queasy Terrified All of the Above Well fear not, listener! In this episode we're going to bust four common myths about networking that keep many people from building the strong, mutually beneficial relationships that great networks provide. No pushy or smarmy behaviors needed. Who knows? You might even learn to *gasp* LOVE ne...

Let's start digging into building our professional and personal networks. Here's a mini episode to prepare you for next week's full episode on Networking The Non-Icky Way. I'm on vacation this week, visiting with family I haven't been able to see in 1 1/2 years (yay for vaccines!), but I didn't want to leave you hanging. Next week we'll have a full episode on how to network professionally without feeling salesy or pushy, and in ways that feel comfortable and beneficial...

Are you a Take This Fun Quiz kind of person? If you said yes, today's episode is especially for you. We're digging into different ways that people communicate, using a modified DISC assessment that we'll do right here! In this episode! No complicated test needed! But if you're afraid of being labelled as Type X or Style_______, no worries - we'll also explore how we aren't really putting ourselves into a self-limiting box by dissecting the way we communicate.&nbsp...

EXTRA EXTRA (mini-episode!)Are you a leader who is now managing remote employees or a blended team of remote and in-office people? Are you a dance teacher or studio owner with online and/or in-person students? You now have even MORE responsibilities, including one very important one: VISIBILITY! (Yes I'm shouting, because this is crucial stuff!)Today's video shares one tactic to start the process of building solid communication and visibility for both your team and yourself!Subsc...

The world is so much more open to remote work, to being a digital nomad, and that's fantastic! If that way of working is calling to you - great! Go for it! Bon voyage! But there are some really important things to keep in mind. {Cue sad trombone} One of the most crucial concerns about remote work is the lack of VISIBILITY that comes with it. And I don't just mean turning your camera off during video calls. We're talking career-stalling, Wonder Wom...

I’m all for individuality - doing things your own way! Forging your own path through life! Woo! Unique Rules! But hey. If someone has learned a lesson the hard way, or has figured out an amazing technique for dealing with a situation, why reinvent the wheel? We may be unique, but it doesn't mean we're remote desert islands in a sea of I Gotta Figure This Out By Myself. We're more like an Archipelago of Shared Knowledge, washed in a sea of Hu...

Picture the scene: You've been hand selected to participate in a big work project or a huge dance event! Woo hoo! How exciting! Except a loud voice is booming in your head, saying: I am a complete fraud. They just don't realize it yet. Ah yes, the dreaded Imposter Complex. In this episode, we're going to face this bully head on, digging into what Imposter Complex is, nine ways that it shows up, and a whole bunch of practical steps we can take to s...

Do you believe you're smart? Talented? Creative? What happens when your intelligence or talents or creativity are put to the test, and don't make the grade? Do you focus on what you can learn from the situation? (This is the answer we know we should give, but deep down inside is that really our reaction? Or do you question whether you're really smart or talented or skilled? - That's the one that often comes up instead!) In this episode, we dig into som...

We behave according to who we believe we are. So who do you believe you are? Powerful? Adaptable? Scatterbrained? Never good enough? In this episode, we dig down into the many layers of our identities, and explore our beliefs about ourselves. Why, you ask? Because our self beliefs shape how we interact with our work, our dance, and our relationships, both professional and personal. Our beliefs can propel us forward, or hold us back. It...

"I'm unhappy but I'm comfortable with it." Sound familiar? This the Siren Call of Complacent Despair, and it keeps us stagnant, sitting alone on our little island of I Guess This Is Good Enough. But it's not good enough, dear listeners, and in this episode we're exploring a new way to think about developing our careers and our dance - the Development Odyssey. This odyssey is going to take us far beyond what a traditional career or skill development plan would. Don...

Welcome to 2021! Let's kick off this year by setting some GOALS! In this episode, we discuss 3 key aspects to setting goals that are actually going to get you where you want to go (yes yes, isn't that what they all say?) But if you don't pay attention to these 3 points, your goals will remain more like wishes than reality, your Vision Board more like a Disappointment Board. And we don't want that. If you want a much deeper look into goal setting and habit forming...

Yeah, we might be ready to just say Good Riddance to 2020, but let's take a little time to learn what we can from this bizarre year.Pull out your notebooks or journals, a pen, and a beverage of your choice, and prepare yourself for a virtual coaching session with me! We'll take our time reflecting on the past year in this episode, both the ups and downs, and you can pause as much as needed to write out your thoughts and ideas.If you like this episode, please let me know, so I can ...

Today we're discussing self care, but not the heavily marketed, commodified, Buy-Expensive-Luxuries version of it. Please don't pummel me with fancy scented candles! (Unless they're lemongrass scented).This episode reveals a much broader, truer way of caring for ourselves, so that we can be the most vibrant, powerful, and authentic versions of ourselves that we can. Yes, pampering ourselves is a part of caring for ourselves, it's just definitely NOT the whole package. So light a c...

(Note: this episode discusses some topics that may be borderline challenging for younger ears to understand, including examples of common biases in the world and our dance community. Parents, you may want to listen when the kiddos aren't around.)Our brains are efficient, squishy little machines that can do amazing things! But they can also go on autopilot and default to thinking processes that reinforce stereotypes that can hold us back from living in an equitable world where ever...

Does the idea of a 'Gratitude Practice' make your eyebrow pop up in cynicism? When you think of practicing gratitude, do you immediately think of tedious meditation?Does "feeling grateful" feel a bit arrogant or self-centered to you?Well, dear listeners, it doesn't have to be that way! Trust me, I'm not a meditation person, but even I've found ways to bring more gratitude into everyday life. Here are some key points from this episode:Gratitude doesn't require religious/spiri...

Often when we think of change, we think of "We're at Point A, Next We'll Be at Point B."But making changes successfully isn't so much about the logistics - it's about the mental and emotional transitions that we go through as we transition from Point A to Point B. When a change pops up in your life, do you get mad? Sad? Grumpy? Anxious? What's your Default Change Reaction?In this episode we talk about the 3 transitional phases we go through during changes, and w...

It's the spooky season and this episode is Filled With Fear! No, it's not scary (I promise!), but we are going to chat about how we can use our fears productively. Fear is there to help us - it keeps us safe and makes us alert to possible dangers, but sometimes gets so big and so all-encompassing that it holds us back in our lives, our dance, and our careers. In this episode we explore: The Benefits of Fear Three ways Fear can go haywire and control us too muchHow ...

Like learning new dance movements, being an effective coach or mentor requires focused skills practice and a learning mindset.In our last episode, we discussed ways for learners to make the most of 1:1 coaching or mentoring time. Today's episode focuses on the other side of the relationship, with some best practices from the world of corporate coaching & mentoring, to help you make the most of that precious 1:1 time with your learner.We'll dig into:Effective Goal Setting...

Does the thought of working individually with a dance coach or a work mentor terrify you? There's a BIG reason why, and it's probably not what you think! If you want to get the most out of 1:1 time with your dance teacher or a work-life mentor, this episode will give you some great tips to maximize your time together, and make the relationship (and your private sessions) a whole lot easier!Subscribe today to be notified of new episodes as soon as they pop up!www.bellydancealchemy.org

Think all perfectionism is the same? Not so, my lovelies! In this episode we learn about the 3 types of perfectionism and how they impact our work, dance, and relationships. We'll also discuss some ways to rein in the beast of our perfectionistic thoughts and behaviors. Let's try them out!www.bellydancealchemy.org

This episode is all about an insidious type of Perfectionism that I like to call PerFAKEtionism. Want to know what this means, and whether it affects you? And more, how can we effectively manage our PerFAKEtionism so we can get out of our own way?Take a listen!www.bellydancealchemy.org

Welcome to Belly Dance Alchemy! This mini-episode will give you a quick overview of what this podcast is all about. Belly Dance Alchemy is a captivating blend of the best elements of career & professional development and the magic of belly dance. Life is too short for a day job that doesn't make us feel motivated or fulfilled, or a dance life that doesn't make us feel empowered! I'm Kelli Nottingham, and this podcast brings together the learnings from my professional tra...