Joyful Leader

Partnership

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

When working with others, the relationships we most value feel like partnerships — collaborative, mutually respectful, and effective.

But what makes a relationship a partnership? In today’s episode, we’re talking about the four skills that add up to the skill SET of partnership.

If you’d like to make your working relationships more potent and joyful, tune in.

Thanks for listening.

Hungry for more of the things we talk about on this podcast? Visit mimigordon.com to find articles, classes, and other resources. Or to schedule a free 60-minute consultation to talk about working with me as your coach. You can also find me on Instagram @mimigordoncoaching.

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Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

I vs. WE

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

You can tell a lot about a person’s leadership style from how often they use “I” vs. “we.” This is true when recounting history . . . describing a past project or piece of work. And, it’s true when leading a team in a specific direction . . . “I want you to . . .” vs. “We should . . .”

“We” is inclusive AND it sets the tone that everyone (including you as a leader) is on the same team. It helps your team make decisions from a place of values and best practices, rather than because their boss told them to. And, it has myriad other benefits.

Tune in to today’s episode of Joyful Leader to hear more about I vs. We.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Going With the YES

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

If you’re a theater kid at heart like me, you know the first rule of improvisational theater: go with the YES (AKA, “yes, and”). On today’s podcast, we’re talking all about YES energy in our work — how our workdays and work relationships are very much like improv, and how applying this rule to our work helps build trust and enable great work to get done. Even if the idea of improv makes you roll your eyes and/or clutch your stomach, you’re safe — every leader will find something of value in this concept. Tune in!

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

People Rise and Fall to Your Expectations

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Today on Joyful Leader, we’re talking about a truism you’ve likely heard: people rise and fall to your expectations of them. If you lead, you know. A HUGE part of how you set people up for success is by first intentionally aligning your expectations. And you’ve probably seen this play out in real time — people feel it when you believe in them. And when you don’t. In this episode, we’re going to break this idea down a bit, and talk about areas of our work where this is unexpectedly at play. And how you can elevate expectations to elevate the work being done on your team and in your company.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

How to Look at Your Strengths (+ Weaknesses)

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

I work with growth-oriented people. People who are always moving forward, making an effort to be better today than yesterday.

And in the process of growing, we can find ourselves in a hurry to distance ourselves from the parts of us we don’t like. Or no longer find useful.

And in doing that, we distance ourselves from ourselves, judging habits and thought patterns that we developed for very good reasons.

So on today’s podcast, we’re going to talk about another way to look at strengths. One that doesn’t involve judging, denying, or avoiding any part of us.

Tune in.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

How to Be More Effective

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Most leaders (YOU) want to be effective, use their time wisely, and prioritize the right things.

There are two questions, asked in tandem, that can be game-changers to find ways to bring even more effectiveness to your leadership game.

How much of it do you spend reacting and responding? And how much of it do you spend preventing, investing, and building?

On today’s podcast, we’re talking all about effectiveness. I’ll break down the questions above, and we’ll talk about how to prioritize things that have a big payoff for you and for your team.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

What Leaders Feel

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

I used to think that being an exceptional leader meant not feeling. I thought that leaders who had it together never felt anger, frustration, stress, or anxiety.

Many of my clients experience this, too, and find, like I did, that it leaves them holding themselves to an impossible standard. Of not feeling anything negative. Or, of making negative emotion mean something about them as leaders.

On today’s Joyful Leader, we’re talking about what leaders feel (everything), and how to think about your feelings as you navigate your leadership journey.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Leading as a Whole Human

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

We often think that our various roles — woman, leader, wife, mom, CEO — require different things from us. Different skill sets, lenses, and emotions.

Sometimes they do require different things, but sometimes . . . we think one version of us is supportive, kind, and generous, and another has to be cutthroat, cold, or clinical.

This can be subtle, but it can cause a sense of disintegration.

On today’s podcast, we’re going to talk about leading as a whole human — with all the parts of who we are, and without intense compartmentalization. So we can lead as an integrated human, not just one version of ourselves.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Service + Leadership

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Most leaders feel called to leadership because they want to serve.

And there are two warped ideas about what service means that I have seen adopted, then weaponized against leaders themselves, the teams they work with, and the companies they work within.

Those two ideas are that service is the same thing as pleasing. And that service is the same thing as sacrifice.

Any trace of these two things in your service definition is dangerous.

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about why this is, and what to do about it.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Power of Significance

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Last week, we talked about bringing purpose to our roles as leaders, and today, we’re diving into one specific aspect of purpose: significance.

We’re going to break down two types of significance — the significance of each of your team members, and the significance of each role on your team.

When you have a deep understanding of significance, it shows — your team feels it, even if you never mention it explicitly.

And I’ll share tips for applying this concept immediately.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Power of Purpose

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Humans love purpose. We crave it. We want a connection to meaning in our lives and in our work.

Having purpose makes us go farther by lightening our steps on the journey — this is true of individuals and of teams. And leaders are purpose torchbearers.

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing what it means to lead with purpose and how to bring purpose into your daily work with your team.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

People Support the Things They Help Create

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

On Mike Birbiglia’s podcast, he regularly asks guests to share the best piece of advice they’ve received that they actually used. Every time I hear him ask, I think of today’s podcast topic: people support the things they help create.

This idea, taught to me by my beloved mentor and friend Ken, is a leadership game-changer.

Let’s talk about what this means, what it definitely doesn’t mean, and why it works.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Be a Weirdo

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Do you know what obstacle many people find when attempting to transform their work lives?

Not wanting to be weird.

It sounds funny, but it’s true. Claiming the work lives we want sometimes means doing things differently than the people around us, or out of sync with the prevailing culture of our workplaces.

Today on the podcast, we’re diving into this. And — fair warning (but also, you knew this was coming) — I’m going to try to convince you to be a weirdo. 🤓😍🥳

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Overdoing: The Game of Avoid + Seek

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Overdoing.

It doesn’t matter what. Work. Netflix. Pinot.

If you are taking an action over and over again that has a negative effect on your life, here’s what’s important to know: all overdoing is a pattern of avoidance + seeking.

We’re avoiding something (usually a feeling), and seeking something else (see earlier parenthetical). And often, this pattern has us trying to “fix” a “problem” with the entirely wrong solution.

On today’s podcast, we’re going to talk about how to bring this to light, and how to assess if we’re really getting what we want from overdoing, especially at work.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Busy Season, Crunch Time + Launch Week, OH MY!

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Most of us have experienced a “busy season” — either because our work flows in seasons, or because of project crunch time, or for some other “work is going to get wild for the next few weeks” reason.

The thing about busy season (no matter what you call it in your world) is that it has a sneaky way of keeping itself alive and relevant. Meaning the more we accept it as fact and brace for it, the more stressful it can become.

On today’s Joyful Leader, we’re breaking down why this is and what to do instead.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Getting it All Done

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

If you added up every incoming request, data point, question, and flashing blip that enters your brain daily, the number would be enormous.

Many of us walk around carrying these things as psychic weight, feeling pressure and burden about not being able to get it all done, or respond quickly enough.

Today, we’re going to break down some of the twisted socialization that’s at play here and peel back the layers of this situation, so that we can look at it from a different angle.

If you are one of the many, many people who feel overwhelmed, or behind, or like there’s not enough of you to go around, this episode is definitely for you.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Overwork Causes Underperformance

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

One of the things my clients and I find when coaching about working less is a subconscious belief that if they work less, they will somehow be worse at their jobs — their brains have linked the quantity of their hours to the quality of their performance.

Today on this podcast, we’re talking about why the exact opposite is true — how overwork actually causes underperformance, and why working less drives up the quality of our work.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Big Truth Blocker

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Do you know your own truth? About your relationship with your job, for example? Or to specific family members? Do you know the truth of what you want in your life, and what you don’t?

I’ve spoken to so many incredible people who feel like they’ve lost touch with what they want — they tell me they used to know, but can’t access it anymore . . . or that they feel overwhelmed when they even ask themselves the question.

In our lives, many, many things act as obstacles between us and the voice inside us. And there’s one of these obstacles — a particular kind of thought — that is one of the biggest truth blockers of all.

Today on Joyful Leader, we’ll discuss this truth blocker and how to reconnect with what you truly want in your life, work, and relationships.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Future Orientation, Forward Momentum

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

There's a trait that's common amongst good leaders: future orientation and forward momentum.

These two things, when combined, create a sense of energy, agency, and self-esteem within leaders themselves and within the teams and organizations they serve.

Today on the podcast, we're going to break down what these things are, why they're helpful, and how you can embody them.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Meeting Your Own Needs

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

There's a model that I bet you've seen many places. In relationships — whether those relationships are romantic, friendships, or employment-related — we have needs, and it’s the responsibility of other people to meet them.

This leaves us waiting for other people to notice our needs, which we may or may not have expressed. It leaves us waiting for them to take action to meet them. It leaves us waiting.

Today, I’m making a pitch for thinking about this differently. And for meeting your own needs through the action you take.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Taking In vs. Taking On

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We all face challenges in our work and lives, and we all make mistakes and find ourselves in uncharted territories — situations that we’ve never encountered before, and so need to learn to navigate.

How well we navigate these moments, how quickly we move through their challenges, and how much we learn from them often comes down to one thing: what we make them mean.

I sometimes describe this as whether we “take on” a situation (making it mean something about who we are, wearing it like a weight) or “take in” a situation (absorbing the decisions and actions we could have done differently, or can do differently in the future, without attributing them to deep character flaws).

Today, we’re talking about this difference. If challenge is inevitable, let’s navigate it in a way that helps us feel whole and in integrity.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Culture Eroder: Assumption of Inclusion

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Today, we’re talking about another culture eroder: the assumption of inclusion.

Assuming inclusion is often innocent — it’s the assumption that if we haven’t heard that we’re being exclusive, we must be doing alright. And while this is sometimes true, often, we’re being unintentionally exclusive in ways we can’t see.

This can happen in the context of the diversity of our team, but in other ways, too. Some of which are quickly and easily corrected. We’ll talk about both, and I’ll also gush about one of my favorite humans (Viva Asmelash, @viva.asmelash), who teaches companies to have a holistic approach to safe, welcoming, diverse workplaces.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Receiving Feedback

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We’ve been talking all about feedback — focused mostly on giving.

Today, we’re turning around some of the tools we’ve discussed and applying them to receiving feedback. We’ll talk about how to identify the feedback you want, and how to make sure you get it.

And, we’ll discuss why getting in the habit of asking for feedback is so important — for you AND your team.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Giving Actionable Feedback

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Good feedback is actionable. It allows the person hearing it to know exactly what to stop, start, or continue doing — immediately. And, the best feedback puts these things in the context of a larger goal or purpose.

Today we’re going to talk about all of this — a rich, saturated episode of feedback approaches + tools that you can begin using immediately.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Feedback Mindset

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In our second feedback episode, we’re talking all about mindset.

Last week we talked about the mindset challenge — what stops us from giving feedback enough to create a habit. And this week, we’re talking about the feedback mindset to cultivate.

Whether a small note or a more weighty performance conversation, there are common ways to think about the feedback we’re giving.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Feedback: Why It’s Important and What Gets in The Way

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Your team’s results are created in your culture. » Your culture is built on trust. » Good feedback is essential for trust-building and growth. » Feedback is important.

Today is the first of several episodes all about feedback: why it’s important, what gets in the way, what makes feedback good, how to build a healthy feedback culture on your team, and strategies for delivering it well. Whew.

Tune in for this first episode, where we’ll talk about the purpose of feedback, its link to the cultural health of your team, and the biggest obstacle(s) to giving it.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

A Lovely Little Metaphor

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Today’s podcast is a story.

I’m sharing a beautiful metaphor created by a client many years ago in a moment of new understanding.

It’s short, sweet, and a perfect reminder for everyone.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Value

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Look up right now and you’ll likely find some reinforcement of the message that what makes you valuable in your professional life is the number of hours you put in. Or the number of tasks you check off your list.

Many of us are taught early in our careers that these are the things that determine our value. Which can create a never-ending chase toward longer hours and more tasks in order to offer greater value.

This is a hamster wheel. Today, we’re talking about what really determines the value we offer, and the myriad benefits of shifting our definition.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

"I don't know what I want."

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Today’s episode is all about a single sentence: I don’t know what I want.

This thought can create a truly paralyzing cycle of confusion and stuckness.

It’s vicious.

And it’s never, ever true.

I’ve worked with so many people who struggle with what they want: in their careers, relationships, etc. And every time this thought enters the picture, it does damage.

Let’s talk about what happens when we think this seemingly innocent and true little sentence. And what to do when it seems true, but is stopping us in our tracks.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Emotional Resistance

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

True facts: I didn’t really know how to process my emotions until I was in my 40s. Like many of my GenX cohorts, teaching and attending to emotional fluency hadn’t been part of my upbringing.

So when I experienced discomfort or emotional pain, I usually resisted it, pushing it away and finding a way to distract myself from it.

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about emotional resistance — the process of avoiding discomfort — and what it costs us. We’ll also talk about the huge gains that result from a deeper understanding of what we’re feeling.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Culture Eroder: Lack of Appreciation

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

The habits of an organization either build culture or erode it.

This episode is the next installment of the culture eroder (and corresponding culture builder) series. And today’s culture eroder is: lack of appreciation.

Lack of appreciation—whether it’s an organization-wide mindset or a simple lack of thanking people for their work—leads to disengagement, feeling unseen, and many other things that drag your team down.

Appreciation is really about awareness, and on today's episode, we’ll talk about what makes it hard for people to have the awareness they need to appreciate others.

We’ll also discuss how to incorporate appreciation into your regular practice, and I’ll share the phrase I use to describe the act of looking for strengths in others.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Resistance

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

You feel called, drawn, compelled. To a project, a role, a career.

And this thing that you feel drawn to, you also feel incredible resistance to.

You avoid putting yourself in the chair and doing the work.

You fight your way through doubt and overwhelm as you do it.

You dread the delivery of the thing you created.

Welcome to resistance — the force that often shows up between us and what we’re here on the planet to do.

What is it? Why is it? Is it normal?

We’ll answer all these questions and more on today’s podcast.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Emotional Weight

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

What’s the most emotionally heavy team you’ve ever worked on?

You probably had an immediate answer to that question.

Heaviness, or emotional weight, is problematic within an organization.

On today’s Joyful Leader, we’re making sure it doesn’t weigh your team down.

We’ll talk about what it is, where it comes from, why it’s such a problem, and how to prevent it.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

How to Know What Your Team REALLY Thinks

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

You consider yourself an open-door leader.

And yet, there are times when you want more feedback from your team.

Maybe you get crickets when you ask for feedback after a meeting presentation. Or maybe when you ask your team for feedback about you as a manager, they tell you everything’s great.

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about how to get great, specific, actionable feedback from your team. And, how to create a culture of giving good feedback, even to your boss. 😉🤓

Tune in to start getting better feedback immediately.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Culture Eroder: Lack of Ownership

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The habits of an organization either build culture or erode it.

This episode is the next installment of the culture eroder (and corresponding culture builder) series. And today’s culture eroder is: lack of ownership.

Lack of ownership as a habit within an organization leads to a lot of heaviness — a sense of drag, protracted processes, and lack of clarity.

It usually happens innocently, and for some predictable reasons.

Today on the podcast, we’ll talk about what can cause it, what it looks like, and what to do about it.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Role Modeling

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

No amount of training will help your team grow as much as what you show them.

Who you are as a leader — how you make decisions, who you consider when making them, how you approach problems, how you interact with other people — all of these things are more powerful teaching tools than any content or training outline.

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about the greatest teaching and mentoring tool there is: role modeling.

I recently had the joy of working with a group of exceptional role models, and in working with them, developed a simple yet powerful definition that I’m excited to share with you.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Being Accountable for Your Team's Autonomy

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

There’s an honest mistake that organizations make when hiring capable people.

They think that someone’s capacity and depth of experience mean they will be autonomous and independent right away without a lot of guidance. Essentially, the mistake is thinking that hiring great people means you don’t have to do anything to set them up for success.

Today on the podcast, I’m talking about why this couldn’t be further from the truth, and sharing the concept of accountable autonomy — in which an organization takes accountability for enabling the autonomy of team members.

If you supervise, hire, or lead, you’ll want to hear this.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Constant of Culture

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Step one: build a strong culture.

Step two: maintain a strong culture. Daily.

It’s common to think that culture is something you build once and lasts forever. But really, your culture is ever-evolving. With every season, new hire, initiative, and priority shift, your culture is changing.

Rather than being set-it-and-forget-it, maintaining a strong culture is a constant part of leadership.

Tune in to talk about what this means, and to hear one of my favorite anecdotes about maintaining culture.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Knowing Your Reasons, Liking Your Reasons

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

There are many rubrics and wisdom out in the world about decision-making.

Today on Joyful Leader, I’m sharing a tool to help you understand a decision before you make it. It’s a tool for deeper self-awareness and understanding.

Using this tool helps you make decisions and take actions in line with your values, priorities, and integrity. I mean, come on. Who doesn’t want that?

It’s something I use with clients all the time, and it’s a super simple process.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Culture Eroder: Power Language

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the next installment of the culture eroder (and corresponding culture builder) series. And today’s culture eroder is: power language.

Power language is anything that draws conspicuous attention to power differentials within your team or organization. Power language can take the form of using titles when it’s not necessary, building mystery around certain meetings or decisions that not everyone is a part of, or many other things.

Listen in to hear more about what power language is, why it erodes culture, and what different language builds culture.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Why You're REALLY Not Giving Feedback

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On the horizon is a series of episodes all about feedback . . . get excited.

But today, we’re starting with a client request. Many of my clients have had a-ha moments in our conversations about feedback when we look at the real reason they’re not delivering feedback to a team member.

So today we’re going to talk about the shift that turns the reason we think we’re not giving feedback into the actual reason we’re not giving feedback.

And, how this one-word shift makes all the difference.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Values Differentiator

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

If you’ve listened to the podcast, you know that culture is my middle name. Culture — the values of your organization and the behaviors they drive — is queen.

Organizations with strong, intentional cultures generally adapt more quickly, ride economic and other waves more successfully, have better retention rates, and get more done.

On today’s episode, we’re talking about a few cultural/values differentiators. What creates a strong culture, and what sets a cultural superstar company apart?

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Leader Model vs. The Work Model

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

As a leader, there are three general components to your work experience: you, your team, and the work you do.

How you think about these things, and the priority you give them, can make a huge difference in how you experience your role overall and your day-to-day.

Today on the podcast, I’m contrasting two different models of leadership and the different results they create for you when you’re in one of these models.

If you’ve ever wanted to drive up engagement, effectiveness, positive team culture, work quality, you name it — today’s episode is for you.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Culture Eroder: Indecision

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The habits of an organization either build culture or erode it.

In our 2nd Culture Eroder (Culture Builder) episode, we’re talking about indecision.

Indecision is slow and heavy; it weighs down your organization rather than creating energy and momentum. It can look like a lack of ownership, putting off decisions, or taking too long to make them.

And the antidote is clear, right-speed, well-owned decision making.

We’ll talk about all of it on today’s episode.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

The Anatomy of a Decision

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On today’s Joyful Leader, we’re talking more about decisions.

Specifically, how to break down a decision into its component parts — or anatomy — and how doing this can help us make the right decisions in the right amount of time.

Whether you’re applying this to your own life, to your team, or to your company, this breakdown will be tangible and immediately implementable.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Decisions: Yes AND No

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Decisions are how we move forward and generate momentum in our lives and work. We decide, we move forward, we learn . . . lather, rinse, repeat.

Over the next few episodes, we’re going to talk about decisions — what they are, how to make them at the right pace, and what makes a decision good.

We’re starting with the idea of full decision-making. Or, acknowledging and understanding that every decision we make has a no that corresponds to its yes. And vice versa. So often, we make decisions for something without considering the cost. Or make a decision against something, without considering its benefits.

Today, we’ll talk about this — about tradeoffs, and giving ourselves enough time to understand them before committing to a decision.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Trust Fundamentals

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

When I first began supervising people, one of the first components of my management training was a session all about building trust.

Trust is fundamental. It’s a building block of a healthy culture and a great work environment. It may just be THE building block — the thing without which you can’t create anything else.

It’s always stuck with me that this was the first thing I learned — correctly placed in order and importance.

Today, we’re going to talk about trust. I’ll share components of building trust, actions that build and maintain trust, and a metaphor or two. 🙂

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Culture Eroder: Wasting Time

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The habits of an organization either build culture or erode it.

And today, we’re talking about a big culture eroder: wasting people’s time.

Time wasting often happens in some predictable buckets. Today on the podcast, we’ll dive into each of them so you can spot whether these are happening at your company or on your team. And nip them in the bud.

I’ll also share the culture builder that prevents time wasting and creates the culture you want, not one you don’t.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Goals Are For Skill-Building, Not Worth-Building

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In my community, we do goals. We love goals. Setting them, achieving them.

And, we do goals in some very specific ways. Today I’m sharing my rules for goals, starting with the biggest and most important: goals are about skill-building, and never, ever about worth-building.

Let’s talk more — about what this means, about the other goal rules that will help you have an amazing relationship to your own growth, and about how to apply the same rules to support, supervise and catapult the growth of your team.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Emotional Fuel

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Our emotions are like fuel in our tanks.

They take us where we need to go, and like actual fuel, have different properties.

Some burn clean for miles and miles. Others burn hot and fast and powerful over a short distance.

Today on Joyful Leader, we’re talking about emotions as fuel — why willpower is only useful to a point, and how to fill your tank with the fuel that will take you the distance.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Your Job Is Not Your Purpose

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Last week we discussed purpose — and how it is always internal, never external. In our lives, we choose containers in which to express our purpose, including our jobs.

This week, we’re exploring a specific aspect of this — feeling like you’ve lost your connection to purpose at work.

If you’ve been there, you know. Feeling like the thing you're doing no longer lights you up like it used to.

Tune in to talk about why this happens. And of course, what to do about it.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Finding Your Purpose

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

I hear from a lot of people that they are looking for — or haven’t yet found — their purpose. In today’s episode, we’re going to clarify where purpose lives. And where it doesn’t.

So many of us think of purpose as a thing — something outside of ourselves that will light us up when we finally encounter it.

But this definition has us looking in the wrong place, and can make us feel like we’re on a never-ending, futile search for an elusive and magical grail. Boo to that.

Let’s look for purpose where it lives.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Radar

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

An essential part of leadership is knowing where to direct your attention.

Given the number of things we have on our plates at any one time and our finite attention, how do we choose?

Today, we’re talking about a simple tool for directing your attention and honing your instincts about what to give your attention to.

This tool is also exceptional for developing your team members' leadership instincts and the collective awareness of your entire team.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Objectify Your Story About Yourself

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On a regular basis, my clients bring up observations about the way their companies operate, often in the context of their leadership teams. They notice default communication styles, teaching styles, decision-making processes . . . and many other behaviors and attitudes that set tone and culture at their organizations.

And, sometimes, they feel like their observations are just about them. They’ll say, “It’s not a big deal, it’s just my preference, so it’s fine.”

And I always lovingly interrupt them with an emphatic, “Nope.”

Today, on the podcast, I will share why. Why is this a problem, and what is the solution? Tune in to find out.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Confidence vs. Arrogance

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Confidence and arrogance are VERY different things. They are both emotions, but come from different mindsets, and look very different.

AND YET. :) We sometimes confuse them. We think that our confidence will come across as arrogance. We also often think of arrogance as all bad, and judge it harshly in ourselves and others.

Today on Joyful Leader, we’re breaking down each of these emotions. We’ll talk about their differences, why a nuanced understanding of them is important, and how to tell them apart for yourself.

Thanks for listening.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Mindset by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.
I Don’t Want to Talk About It by Terrence Real

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Tool vs. Weapon

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We use so many tools throughout our lives and work — project management, life management, mind management. Tools, systems, frameworks, and rubrics are everywhere. These things are designed to help us, to make our lives easier and more efficient. But every tool can be turned into a weapon.

Today we’re talking about using your tools for you, instead of turning them into weapons against you. We’ll talk about what this means, how you know you might be doing it, and what to do instead.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Rewiring Your Brain: Reps at the Gym

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 29 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We’re talking about how to think about the process of change — which is essentially rewiring your brain. When we change anything, we switch from an existing brain habit to a new one.

Today we’re discussing how this process FEELS like it should just happen overnight, as soon as we become aware of us. That would be fantastic. But in reality, the process is like building muscle. Repetition is what creates tone and strength.

I share more about this in today’s episode and walk you through how we experience rewiring, phase by phase.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Rewiring Your Brain: We Develop Habits For Good Reasons

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 22 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Every time we change anything in our lives — habit, relationship, attitude, anything — we are essentially rewiring the brain. We’re creating new patterns of thought, feeling, and action.

Many times, our existing patterns have been around for a very long time. Creating new ones doesn’t happen overnight.

Today and next week, I’m sharing how I help my clients avoid frustration along the way — by sharing the two ideas that make the process of rewiring your brain feel like progress and momentum.

Today, we’re focusing on the genius human brain. And why it develops habits in the first place.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

How to Plan Your Week

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 15 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Get ready to connect all the dots.

In the last several episodes, we’ve been talking about using time well, and today, we’re bringing all the concepts together in a step-by-step guide to planning your week.

This process gives you time for your highest priorities, clarity, allowance for emergencies, and a greater sense of calm about your week.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Doing: Following Through on Your Plan

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Today, we’re talking about the third phase of the accomplishment and time usage process: doing.

While doing the thing — task, project, conversation — might seem like the most straightforward part, you and I know that it’s sometimes the part that feels most fraught.

There are all kinds of external distractions and obstacles — the world doesn’t stop to honor our project priorities. But also, we experience internal obstacles.

And today, we’re talking about all of it. I’ll share how I recommend you approach follow-through, what might get in the way and what to do about it, and the crucial last step of the process.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Deciding vs. Intending

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 01 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Way back a few episodes ago, when we launched the series about using your time well, I mentioned the idea of deciding vs. intending.

It was sort of a gloss-over moment, but it’s a hugely important idea.

I’ve gotten so many questions about this difference.

Today, we’re looking at this concept, which is pivotal in understanding your time decisions (and many other things). It’s key to understanding why things that are important to you do or don’t happen.

In fact, understanding this difference — and what it looks like for YOU specifically — is essential to becoming a time master.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

How Much Time Things Take

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

I’ve thought it many times. And hear it often from clients.

An obstacle to planning our time is that we don't know how much time things take.

Surprising but true, this is the very definition of a self-fulfilling prophecy. When we believe it, that’s exactly what we experience.

Inspired by a recent client conversation, we're going inside the brain, looking step-by-step at how this plays out.

And then we’ll jump into the opposite thought process — that we decide how much time things take.

If there are things you feel like you can't estimate, or you frequently think you're bad at predicting how much time things will take, this episode is for you. And truly, it will benefit anyone who wants to know exactly how much time things do and should take up in their calendars.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Time Design

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Continuing in our series about using time in alignment with our values and priorities, today we're talking about design.

So many of us have experienced the feeling that time got away from us. Or the sense that our day got derailed. How we approach designing our time can make all the difference in minimizing or eliminating these experiences.

In today's episode, I share my top three time-design recommendations.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

What to Prioritize

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We have more demands on our time now than we ever have. With all the noise, it can be difficult to figure out what to prioritize.

Especially given that our mental, physical, and emotional resources are limited. We can't possibly do everything.

In today's episode, we're talking about how to make that decision. I'll give you my take on what to prioritize when planning your time or your team's time.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://mimigordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/High-Impact-What-to-Prioritize.pdf

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Time Decisions

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We’re slowing down to take a look at how we use our time.

In this episode, we’ll look specifically at how we make decisions about time. We’ll ask two incredibly important time decision questions. One: when are we deciding how we use our time? And two: what do we decide to prioritize?

I’ll share what three decisions I recommend you make and when to make sure your time usage aligns with your highest priorities. We’ll also talk about: constraint, making trade-offs, and setting priorities in a world of many competing demands.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Time + Using it Well

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Many of my clients want to work on how they use their time.

Sometimes in their personal lives — spending more time with family, for example.

Sometimes in their professional lives — using their work hours for what’s meaningful and important. or working on those meaningful, important things when they have the greatest energy to give.

No matter what their time use goals, the theme is wanting to use their most precious resource well. In alignment with their values.

Today kicks off a series of episodes all about aspects of this desire. In this episode, we talk about why the first step in aligning our time usage with our values is slowing down. Like pressing pause on the show you’re streaming to see the frame-by-frame.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

My Recent Experience Feeling Less Than 100%

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

I recently had an experience that threw me. It was challenging mentally, physically, and emotionally. And for several weeks I didn’t feel like myself.

But out of this came an opportunity I didn’t expect. I could see how I responded, what skills and techniques I used, and how I led myself through this experience differently than past challenges.

It was imperfect. And messy. And I’m proud of myself for all of it.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Impostor Syndrome

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

I’m going to say it right off the bat: I don’t like the term impostor syndrome (or imposter if that’s your preference).

It implies sickness, something for which we need treatment. And that it’s somehow something we “come down with.”

Though I don’t love the term, it describes a very real experience of very many real human beings. 🙂

So today we’re going to break it down — what is it, why does it happen, and what can you do if you’re experiencing it?

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Direct Your Spotlight

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Imagine you’re watching a play.

And the theater has a spotlight operator — someone who directs a beam of focus on the appropriate dialogue or action at any given moment.

This focus isn’t the only thing happening — other scenery, other characters — but it’s the most useful thing happening. The focus is on the thing that moves the story forward.

Our brains have this spotlight ability — to focus on one thing amid myriad possibilities.

And today on the podcast, we’re talking about how to use this spotlight to move your story forward.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Scientific Mindset

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Let’s talk about science. The scientific mindset, specifically.

Last week, I shared that there are two skills that help us build habits that look big and impressive from the outside, but feel easy and delightful from the inside — embracing small steps and adopting a scientific mindset.

And today we’re talking all about the latter. So often, when we try new things or start new routines, it can feel like we’re going for success — let’s get this 100% right, right away. But looking at change as an experiment — looking at life as a series of experiments — has so many benefits.

Including avoiding the emotional roller coaster that can come from trying something new with a heart full of hope, then crashing into feeling like a failure when we encounter a setback.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Small Actions, Big Results

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

I have some insider info for you. A secret tip, if you will.

People sometimes hear about some habit I have and comment that they think I have superhuman discipline. Or commitment.

And I’m shocked because so much of my life is centered around having as much freedom and free time as possible.

Today and next week on the podcast, I’m sharing the two skills that have allowed me to build habits that look super impressive from the outside but feel easy and delightful on the inside.

Embracing (sometimes ridiculously) small steps is this week’s episode.

If you’ve wanted to build a routine, adopt a practice, or make a change of any variety, this episode will help you do it now, easily, no matter how many other things you’re juggling.

Seriously.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Doing Other People's Jobs

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

You’ve got a plan for your week, balancing multiple high priorities. And then something goes sideways. Something specific — someone else doesn’t deliver in the way that you expected.

In this scenario and other similar situations, many people do something that I almost always coach against — doing someone else’s job.

This means jumping in to take on more work to compensate for someone else’s mistake, poor performance, lack of interest, etc.

Today we’re talking about how to be aware of when you’re taking on additional labor that isn’t yours, and what gets in the way of kindly asking others to take care of their own responsibilities.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Your Bassline

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Imagine that every situation you find yourself in, every circumstance in your life, is a song.

What you think about yourself in relation to that circumstance or situation is the song's baseline . . .

. . . the sometimes under-the-surface yet nonetheless powerful theme that shapes the entire song.

Or in your case, how you experience the entire situation.

Today on the podcast, I'm talking about this concept, which is the most powerful and important thing we work on in coaching

I’ll give you tips on becoming more aware of your bassline. So you can have greater influence and authority over it.

And, I’ll share a recent client story about a profound bassline shift.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Boundaries

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

“You need clear boundaries.”

“You need to draw a boundary with that person.”

There’s so much talk about boundaries, needing to have them, and how to establish them.

What are they? What does it mean to have them? How do you establish them? How do you make sure they’re upheld?

Today on the podcast, we are talking about boundaries.

I’m giving you my recommendation for a working definition of boundaries that feels empowering and useful. And, I’m sharing how you can establish and uphold your own boundaries at work and in life.

Whether you feel you have strong boundaries, feel like you need to refresh, or are starting from scratch, this episode will have something for you.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Three More Messages That Can Stop Women From Taking Action

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Last week we talked about change resistance — how, in the effort to be efficient, the human brain manufactures thoughts that, if listened to, will keep us where we are.

Today I want to share three more thoughts that come up more often — and very commonly — in women.

They are different variations of the thought I shared last week: I can’t do it. It won't work. It's confusing. It's too hard.

But they affect women disproportionately, and if left unchecked, can cause women to back away from meeting their own needs.

They are:

It will damage my reputation.
It will hurt other people.
I don't deserve it.

And today, we’re going to talk all about them.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Your Brain Doesn't Want You to Change

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Let’s talk about change, shall we? Specifically, changing our actions, habits, and behaviors in ways that make our lives better. When we try to change something about our lives, we often experience doubt, insecurity, or resistance. And while these things feel very true and worth listening to, they are actually a manifestation of the human brain’s natural desire for efficiency and keeping the status quo.

In other words, our brains don’t want us to change.

So today we’re talking about what to do in the face of this resistance, and I’ll share the surprising approach I use with my clients (and recommend to you) on this topic.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Failure

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

How’s “Failure” as an episode title? Does it really make you want to listen? I thought so.

Today we are indeed talking about failure. Specifically, how many of us encounter situations where our fear of failing threatens to prevent us from seizing opportunities or going after things we’d like. I’ll share a bit about where our fear of failure is born, and how it changes over time. And, we’ll break down what we’re actually afraid of, and learn a couple of helpful frameworks for overcoming the fear of failure.

Last but not least, I’ll tell you how to mentor your mind through experiencing fear of failure.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Creating Exceptional Team Culture, Part 2

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Today on Joyful Leader we’re diving back into team culture.

This week is all about specifics — I’m walking through WHY, HOW, and WHAT from the framework we shared last week, and giving you different ways to apply each.

I’ll share specific examples from my experience. And, I’ll tell you how to apply a cultural leadership approach to your company, team, or a specific situation.

Thanks for listening.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Creating Exceptional Team Culture, Part 1

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Every group of humans who spend time together develops a group culture — a set of behavioral or attitudinal norms. These norms become the group’s default way of being — the way they are without even thinking about it.

See where I’m going?

When it comes to our teams, building culture — common behaviors and practices — intentionally, helps us create the culture we want. The culture that makes for a happy team and happy business results.

This week and next, we’re talking about how to build exceptional team culture.

How you, as a leader, can create moments that show your team how to handle the situation in front of them, but also help them make exceptional decisions in the future that reinforce the culture you’re building.

Thanks for listening.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Evaluating vs. Judging

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today we’re talking about a standard I recommend to my clients: self-evaluation without self-judgment.

Many of us are committed to learning, growth, and deeper self-understanding.

Judgment moves us farther away from these things. Every single time.

Setting this standard means — inside your own mind — redirecting self-judgment. Instead of judging, you’ll walk yourself through an evaluation process.

Because, unlike judgment, evaluation drives momentum and major growth. And when you regularly redirect your mind in this way, evaluation becomes the norm for assessing yourself.

We’ll talk about exactly what these two different experiences feel like, and exactly how to redirect your brain.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Incredible Meetings, Part 2

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today is the 2nd of two episodes on creating a great meeting culture and improving your company or team meetings. (Or your one-on-ones!)

This episode is all about clear and well-executed roles. We’re talking about facilitation, participation, power structure, decision-making, and having the right people in the room. We’ll also talk about why facilitation and participation aren’t tasks, but position descriptions.

Listen in to build meeting momentum that leads to fun, impactful meetings that help you build the team you want. And move you meaningfully toward achieving your goals.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://mimigordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Incredible-Meetings.pdf

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Incredible Meetings, Part 1

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about a ubiquitous part of office culture . . . meetings.

Generally, we talk about meetings with a tone of annoyance or exasperation. We have too many, they’re not effective, etc.

But there’s a light at the end of this tunnel.

There’s a way to make meetings effective, efficient, and exceptional. To make sure they support our work, and our companies' and teams' vision and mission.

There are two common causes of ineffective meeting culture and three traits that all good meetings share. Tune in to learn what they are, and how to apply these on your team to create dreamy, high-impact meetings.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://mimigordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Incredible-Meetings.pdf

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

A Story About Gratitude + Appreciation

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

I love a good story.

Listening to one. Telling one.

And it seems like an appropriate day for a story.

About summer camp, inspiration, and professional trajectory.

About gratitude, and the mysteries of human connection.

Tune in, cozy up.

Happy Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Sustainable Impact

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

A lot of the people I work with are born workers. They started working early in a lot of cases. Especially early in their careers, work provided growth, learning, mastery, and success.

But at some point, they started to feel like work took up too much space — over time or overnight. Mental energy, emotional energy, or time.

So the thing they love (work) that is such a part of their contribution, identity, and values, has started to feel like a source of frustration.

They want to make an impact, but they want to do it in a sustainable way.

Today on the podcast we’re talking about exactly this. Sustainable impact.

I’ll share why so many people reach this point. I’ll also share exactly what steps to take to create your own impact. Sustainably.

If you identify with even one of the sentences above, don’t miss this episode. 🤓😉

Thanks for listening.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://mimigordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/High-Impact-What-to-Prioritize.pdf

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Short Story Collection

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing one of my favorite, super-practical techniques for shaking your brain out of a spin.

The human brain is an exceptional (if overexuberant) danger scanner.

This means that it sometimes (or often) defaults to negative interpretations — of a colleague’s tone or facial expression, or an interaction with a stranger. This is especially true when the stakes feel high. (Most of us don’t anxiously replay conversations with our best friends. But almost everyone has replayed an interaction with their boss.)

Asking your brain for alternative explanations shakes it out of danger scanning mode.

Tune in to hear exactly how.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Mentoring Your Mind

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

An exceptional mentor is invaluable. They provide perspective, wisdom, and guidance.

One of the greatest skills we can develop is to mentor our own minds. To learn to step in and be that voice for ourselves.

Today’s podcast is an in-depth, practical guide to developing or deepening this ability. I’m sharing more about what it means to mentor your mind, and specific, practical tips for exactly how to do it and when.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

More Delightful Job Search, Part 4

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today is the final episode in our short series about making job searches more delightful.

And it’s about the final mindset shift that can aid your enjoyment of your job search: I hope they like me.

This particular thought has deep socialization roots. Particularly for women, who — in dating and job searching and everywhere else — are taught that other people's opinions are more important than their own.

Today we’re evening the scales. I’m sharing how to keep your brain focused on the truth: that you’re a gem. And, that in any job search, assessment is bi-directional — I’ll tell you how to keep your brain focused as much on what you’re assessing in a potential future employer as you are on what that employer thinks of you.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

More Delightful Job Search, Part 3

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Episode three in a short series of episodes about making job searches more delightful.

Today we’re talking about the second of three mindset gremlins that often come along with a job search: this is going to be a slog (or difficult/hard/annoying . . . fill in the blank with your brain’s favorite flavor).

This thought has caused so much misery. 🤓😉And it’s caused so many highly qualified, ambitious people who actually love (yes, you heard that right) many aspects of looking for a job to THINK they dread something they don’t.

Today I’m sharing a way to look at your search that can keep you in high spirits, and rolling with what comes.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

More Delightful Job Search, Part 2

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

This week, we’re continuing a short series of episodes about making job searches more delightful.

In this episode, we’re talking about the first of three mindset gremlins that often pop up when we begin to look for a job: thinking there’s nothing out there (that matches what you want).

This little thought demon rears its head often, and when we let it run the show, it can cause us to feel defeated, and to stay in a situation we’re merely tolerating.

Today I’m sharing a different perspective, that can help move you forward and into the arms of your dream job faster.

I’m also sharing a personal story about when I thought this way and was proven completely and totally wrong. In the best way possible.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

More Delightful Job Search, Part 1

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On its face, a job search is just a project. Take action, take action, and eventually get a result.

But a job search rarely feels like “just a project.” For many people, a search brings up all kinds of insecurity, dread, and discomfort.

Over the next few episodes of Joyful Leader, I’ll be talking about the mindset shifts that can help take your job search from terrible to terrific . . . or at least tolerable.

Whether you’re looking for a job now or know you will again at some point . . . this series of episodes will help you take charge and think differently about finding your next dream job.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Outcomes BEFORE Methods

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On today’s podcast, I’m talking about my favorite tool of all time.

It is a tool for planning . . . whether you’re planning a single event, the next 10 years of your life, or your next salary negotiation.

Using this tool helps you connect your plans to bigger ideas, build engagement and buy-in, create a healthy and flourishing team culture, lead out-of-the-park quality presentations . . . and generally increase the quality, effectiveness, and precision of your work.

It is deceptively simple. And incredibly powerful.

The tool is called Outcomes BEFORE Methods, and today we’re talking all about how to use it as a tool for planning.

And, I’m walking you through exactly how to start using it by applying the tool to your current team meetings.

You don’t want to miss this.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Your Balance Line

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

This week, we’re talking about balance.

Specifically, your balance line.

If you imagine a glass filled to the midpoint, this is your balance line.

It represents the place in your life and work when your needs are met, and you have what you need to be at your best.

When one or more of your needs goes unmet, you fall below your balance line.

This is such an important topic. Because when we fall below our balance line, it can create a vicious cycle that results in feeling less and less like ourselves.

Tune in to hear how to identify your balance line, how to operate at it, and what questions to ask yourself to maintain it.

I’ll also share why I recommend finding at least one area of your life where you feel like you’re operating at a surplus — where all your needs are met and then some.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Momentum, Minimums + Maximums

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Action. Getting started. Momentum. Consistency.

Starting and keeping up desired habits.

You want to do something. It’s beneficial. Good for you. You know it. But it feels hard to start.

Or . . .

You have a habit. It’s working. It’s good for you. You want to keep it up. But some circumstance arises (travel, a bit project) and you “fall off the wagon.”

These two themes — starting and continuing — are the main action-related topics that my clients bring to our coaching sessions.

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about starting and keeping momentum by embracing the concept of a minimum.

We often unconsciously think about momentum and habits through a black & white lens of perfection — done at A+ level or nothing.

But this way of thinking is what keeps us from starting AND what keeps us from maintaining momentum.

I’m sharing how to start more easily.

And how to keep it going once you do.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Joyful Leader Teaser

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 00:55:00 +0000

Joyful Leader with Mimi Gordon — the podcast about all things leadership, including leader mental health. Listen starting September 12, 2024.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Re-Engage: How to Get Un-Stuck

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Whether in one part of your life or in general, you’ve likely felt the ick of feeling stuck.

We all have at one point or another.

Stuck in a job, but not sure what to do next.

Stuck about making a relationship decision.

Stuck.

It feels uncomfortable, slow, disempowered.

Like there’s no way to make a good decision. Or downsides to every choice.

Most of my clients find me at points when they have a stuck point — they want help to break free of stuck and move forward, create momentum, and make decisions.

Today, on the very first episode of the Purposeful Leader podcast, I’m sharing a three-step strategy for un-sticking yourself and re-engaging in your life or work.

We’ll also talk about the psychology of stuck. Why we feel this way, how to notice when we’re feeling stuck, and how to reverse course.

Thanks for listening.

Links mentioned in this episode: https://mimigordon.com/unstuck-masterclass/

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Quick heads up: podcast frequency update

Mimi Gordon Coaching — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone! After this week's episode, Joyful Leader will now be released every TWO weeks. See you in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for listening.

Original music by Amir Sberlo | Never Bored Photograph by Vivian Johnson Design by Deena Rutter This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm