Podcast Summary: Chief Change Officer with Vince Chan Featuring Erin Deo
Podcast Information:
- Title: Chief Change Officer
- Host: Vince Chan
- Episode Released: November 19, 2024
- Guest: Erin Deo, Founder and CEO of Improve It
Introduction
In this compelling episode of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan welcomes listeners to a deep dive into the transformative power of failure and resilience with Erin Deo, the founder and CEO of Improve It. Erin brings a unique perspective by blending improvisation with business strategies to help teams thrive. This conversation forms part of a two-part series exploring Erin’s innovative approach to joy, failure, growth, and learning.
Erin Deo's Personal Journey with Failure
Erin begins by recounting her personal struggles during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. She shares a poignant story of navigating through immense personal and professional challenges:
“I was living a crash course myself in failure... I created this content in 2021 and it was coming off of the pandemic in 2020.” [04:56]
Despite recently becoming a mother after years of infertility and facing significant personal loss when her mother suffered a stroke, Erin found herself thrust into a period she describes as the "three P's":
- Pivoting: Her business had to transition from entirely in-person to a virtual model overnight to survive the pandemic.
- People Pleasing: Accustomed to moving frequently and being the "clown" to make others laugh, Erin struggled to balance her innate desire to please others with her personal well-being.
- Pain: Chronic, undiagnosable physical pain manifested from unprocessed emotions and relentless stress, leading Erin to a profound moment of self-realization and the necessity for healing.
“This pain made me cry myself to sleep at night. It was physical pain like I'd never endured before.” [04:56]
Through this harrowing experience, Erin embarked on a self-healing journey that transformed her approach to failure and success.
The Three P's: Pivoting, People Pleasing, Pain
Erin elaborates on the "three P's" that defined her experience during the pandemic:
- Pivoting: The rapid shift to virtual operations demanded constant adaptation and resilience.
- People Pleasing: Her natural inclination to please others led to over-giving, neglecting her own needs amidst the chaos.
- Pain: The cumulative effect of these pressures resulted in chronic physical pain, which she later recognized as a manifestation of unprocessed emotional stress.
“The three P story ultimately led me to my greatest success.” [04:56]
This period of intense struggle became the catalyst for Erin's personal and professional transformation, guiding her to develop strategies that help others navigate similar challenges.
The Move On Methodology
Transitioning from her personal narrative, Erin introduces her practical framework for overcoming failure: the MOVE ON methodology. This structured approach provides listeners with tangible steps to process and grow from their failures.
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M - Marinate:
- Description: Allow yourself time to sit with and process your failure.
- Action: Engage in activities like walking, meditation, or journaling to fully experience and understand your emotions.
- “Marinating is not like a steak. It doesn't happen overnight.” [16:22]
-
O - Own It:
- Description: Acknowledge your role in the failure without assigning blame.
- Action: Forgive yourself for negative self-talk and recognize that making mistakes is part of the human experience.
- “You have to own it. And then you have to forgive yourself because you're a human being.” [16:22]
-
V - Verify the Lessons Learned:
- Description: Identify key takeaways from the experience.
- Action: Determine what you will do differently in the future to avoid similar setbacks.
- “What are the two to three things that you're going to take with you from this experience?” [16:22]
-
E - Evaluate the Next Steps:
- Description: Develop a concrete action plan moving forward.
- Action: Outline specific steps to implement the lessons learned and continue personal growth.
- “Put together an action plan.” [16:22]
-
O - (Re)Marinate:
- Description: Revisit and reflect on your progress and the lessons learned.
- Action: Continuously process new failures with the same methodology to build resilience.
- “There will be another failure. This time you've got another tool in your toolkit.” [16:22]
-
N - Next Failure:
- Description: Embrace the inevitability of future setbacks with preparedness.
- Action: Use the MOVE ON methodology to approach each new challenge with confidence and clarity.
- “You can bring it into the scene of your life.” [16:22]
“This is a tried and true method and it's called this. You ready?” [15:19]
Erin emphasizes that MOVE ON is not merely an inspirational concept but a practical tool designed to help individuals systematically overcome failure and continue progressing in their personal and professional lives.
Practical Tools and Closing Thoughts
Erin shares additional resources to support listeners in their journey:
-
Affirmations List: A curated list of 50 affirmations designed to help individuals pull themselves out of negative mental states without feeling cheesy or insincere.
“It's an affirmations list. It’s a literal list of 50 affirmations that you can use.” [22:33]
-
Encouragement to Pay It Forward: Erin urges listeners to spread positivity and joy in their daily interactions, highlighting the ripple effect of small acts of kindness.
“If today made you laugh, it made you smile, it gave you food for thought... pay it forward to somebody else today.” [22:33]
Vince reflects on the shared themes of resilience and the impact of small positive actions:
“A single generous action creates a ripple effect, encouraging others to replicate it and in turn making the world a little better.” [23:41]
Erin concurs, reinforcing the significance of simple gestures like a smile in creating meaningful change.
“You never know who has not had a smile today. So when that simple act of kindness can really pay it forward.” [25:11]
Reflections on Resilience and Positivity
Throughout the episode, both Vince and Erin underscore the intertwined nature of failure and growth. They discuss how embracing failure as an opportunity rather than a setback can lead to profound personal and professional development.
Vince shares his personal struggle with negative thoughts, aligning with Erin's teachings:
“Absolutely over 50. So should be between 80 to 90%. Yeah, it's 80%. And then what's worse is that we are repeating those same negative thoughts 95% of the time.” [19:11]
He acknowledges the practical applicability of Erin's advice in managing persistent negative thoughts and finding ways to move forward despite mental noise.
“It's practical and it's something I know I can apply right away to keep that noise in check.” [21:17]
Erin reinforces the universality of these experiences, ensuring listeners that they are not alone in their struggles and emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and proactive strategies.
“Just know you're not alone.” [22:33]
Conclusion
This episode of Chief Change Officer offers a profound exploration of failure and resilience through Erin Deo's personal journey and her MOVE ON methodology. Listeners are equipped with practical tools to process and overcome setbacks, cultivate a positive mindset, and foster resilience in both their personal and professional lives. Erin's insights, combined with Vince's thoughtful reflections, underscore the podcast's mission to empower listeners to harness change as a superpower and transform their lives through human intelligence.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
- “This pain made me cry myself to sleep at night. It was physical pain like I'd never endured before.” — Erin Deo [04:56]
- “The three P story ultimately led me to my greatest success.” — Erin Deo [04:56]
- “Marinating is not like a steak. It doesn't happen overnight.” — Erin Deo [16:22]
- “You have to own it. And then you have to forgive yourself because you're a human being.” — Erin Deo [16:22]
- “What are the two to three things that you're going to take with you from this experience?” — Erin Deo [16:22]
- “Put together an action plan.” — Erin Deo [16:22]
- “You can bring it into the scene of your life.” — Erin Deo [16:22]
- “This is a tried and true method and it's called this. You ready?” — Erin Deo [15:19]
- “It's an affirmations list. It’s a literal list of 50 affirmations that you can use.” — Erin Deo [22:33]
- “A single generous action creates a ripple effect, encouraging others to replicate it and in turn making the world a little better.” — Vince Chan [23:41]
- “You never know who has not had a smile today. So when that simple act of kindness can really pay it forward.” — Erin Deo [25:11]
Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Chief Change Officer, leave top-rated reviews, and follow Vince Chan on social media for more insights and transformative conversations.