In this episode of The Power Lunch Podcast, hosts Tracie Munce, Amy Sousa, and Lisa Carmichael sit down with Charity Weibel, Market President at Merchants Bank (Apple Valley and Rosemount) and author of Awakening the Hero Within: Discovering Her Power.

Together, they dive into how women often wait to be “chosen” or “rescued” in their careers and lives (like the fairy tales we grew up with) and how to instead become the hero of your own story. Charity shares practical tools for shifting from victimhood to radical personal responsibility, from scarcity to abundance, and from survival mode to peaceful, intentional living.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

You are the hero of your own story. Stop waiting to be noticed, chosen, or rescued; hard work only pays off when you also speak up and step up
Use the H.E.R.O. formula. Combine Hard Work, Education, and Responsibility for Self so you’re ready when Opportunity shows up.
Choose radical responsibility. Catch yourself playing the blame game and pivot to, “What can I do about this?”
Shift your mindset first . Move from fixed to growth, from scarcity to abundance, and stop letting your past dictate your future.
Start tiny to change your money story. Even saving $5 a week and cutting small “filler” purchases can begin to create real financial breathing room.
Interrupt negative spirals fast. Name the negative thought, replace it with “I am” affirmations, breathe deeply, and use music or movement to reset your energy.
Lead with intention, not autopilot. The tools are simple; the transformation comes from using them consistently instead of picking up the same old emotional luggage every morning.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“We have to realize that we are the heroes of our own story.”

“Women will say, ‘The opportunity was never given to me.’ Yes, the opportunity has been given—but what action did you take to own that opportunity?”

“I always question that when I start thinking about my childhood: you’re not six anymore.”

“If we’re going to live in a survival mentality or scarcity mentality, we have to choose to move into an abundance mindset.”

“Awareness is always the first step to growth.”

“I just woke up one day and decided, I’m tired of being this way. I want to change.”

“Every step you’re talking about is easy to do—it just takes intention.”

“Stop waiting to be begged, chosen, or rescued. Make the decision to take action.”

LINKS & REFERENCES:

Books

Awakening the Hero Within: Discovering Her Power – Charity Weibel
- Self-guided career and mindset book for women, with prompts to help you claim the hero role in your own life.
Mindset – Carol Dweck
- The foundation of growth vs. fixed mindset referenced in the conversation.
Everything is Figureoutable – Marie Forleo
- Recommended for its core belief that every challenge is solvable.

Frameworks & Practices Mentioned

H.E.R.O. Formula – Hard Work · Education · Responsibility for Self · Opportunity
Blame Audit – Notice when you blame traffic, weather, or other people and intentionally shift to “What can I do?”
Money Micro-Steps – Start with small weekly savings (even $5) and cut low-impact “filler” purchases.
“I Am” Affirmations – e.g., “I am confident. I am positive. I am intelligent.” Post them where you’ll see them daily.
Breath & Music Reset – Deep breathing to interrupt negative spirals and “girl power” playlists to raise your energy.

MORE ABOUT Charity Weibel: Where intuition stirs and courage rises, Charity helps women awaken their waiting hero within.

CONNECT WITH Charity Weibel:

Website: ⁠Rise2Success.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charityweibel/

CONNECT WITH US:

CALL TO ACTION:

If this episode gave you a new perspective or made you feel seen, share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Subscribe to the ⁠Power Lunch Podcast⁠ so you never miss a conversation. And remember, there is no ceiling you can’t break.