2019-12-19

Ep 095 — 19 Holiday Tips for Stroke Survivors


The Holidays are a wonderful time, and it can be a stressful time. Here are 19 Holiday Tips for Stroke Survivors. I explore them in greater detail in the episode.

  1. Use Spoon Theory to explain disabilities
  2. Nap when you can
  3. Warn a host you may need a break
  4. Keep blankets in your car
  5. Dry your cane tip
  6. Update note cards and laminate them
  7. Cold drives tone. Ask your doctor about adjusting meds
  8. Stretch
  9. Be careful with alcohol. It can affect you differently now
  10. Talk about Pba and emotional lability. It’s not shameful.
  11. Get extra traction for your shoes
  12. Use an ally at parties
  13. Decorate a cane for the holidays
  14. Send Thank you notes to your team
  15. Make a list and check it twice
  16. Use project planning tools like Planner and Trello to organize your endeavors
  17. Help others
  18. Create an Amazon wish list
  19. Adjust your expectations

Where do we go from here?

Strokecast is the stroke podcast where a Gen X stroke survivor explores rehab, recovery, the frontiers of neuroscience and one-handed banana peeling by helping stroke survivors, caregivers, medical providers and stroke industry affiliates connect and share their stories.


Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

2019-12-15

Ep 137 -- Bigger than Yourself with Kira Ming


2-Minute Tip: Be Authentic and Tell Your Story

 

Across the different guests I talk with, the theme of authenticity keeps coming up in the tips. It’s similar in many of them which demonstrates just how important it is. Also interesting is how each of them brings their own angle to the concept.

 

When you tell your story and use it to connect with the message you want to convey, it’s much easier to have a memorable and authentic impact on your audience. And that’s ultimately what you want.

 

When you are talking about things that aren’t about you specifically, you can still let your authentic self come through. It’s in your enthusiasm or feeling about the topic your discussing. It’s in the analogies you use. It’s in how you dress and how you carry yourself. It’s in how you relate to the folks in your audience.

 

Sharing your story and being authentic doesn’t mean you have to share your detailed biography, especially when it’s not relevant to your topic. But you may have had an experience or anecdote that helps explain something. It doesn’t have to be a major thing in your life. It just needs to be something that will help make your point and help you achieve your goal.

 

Meet Kira Ming

 

Kira is a writer at heart. As she became more and more successful, she received more invitations to speak. And that helped her writing business. Which got her more speaking opportunities. Ultimately she learned that people want to hear from the person behind a brand.

 

The point is, she didn’t seek the stage.

 

And when she found herself on it, she had to learn fast. She had to learn to be bigger than herself — to push beyond her own limiting beliefs about what she was capable of to share her story with her audience and how her company could help them achieve their goals.

 

Bio

 

The Real Kira Ming stands outdoors in profit and looks towards the camera

Kira Ming’s background in publishing spans over 15 years and involves the creation of her own successful publication. Over the past decade she’s had the pleasure of interviewing some of entertainment’s biggest names, and has been involved in many legendary events within entertainment both as a host and media sponsor.

 

She’s spent the past few years developing tools, resources, marketing material, and several types of content for businesses, editing numerous projects, and contributing articles to major platforms including Huffington Post. As a result of her success within publishing, content marketing, and business strategy, she felt it only necessary to write Small Business, Big Success – a straight to the point guide for small business owners. Kira Ming has served as keynote speaker, a panelist, and workshop conductor for numerous events, and she’s excited to continue giving value when it comes to her expertise.

 

3 Reasons Entrepreneurs Should Speak

 

  1. It increases the audience for your product, service, or content
  2. Others want you to speak on their platform. And that will further expand your audience and potential customer base.
  3. It has a high conversion rate. People are more interested in buying from someone  they’ve personally seen and heard

 

Personal Branding

 

We talked about this topic a bit. A lot of people don’t like the idea because they feel, “I’m a human being — an individual. I’m not a brand.”

 

This is a short sighted approach. A brand is really  a mental shortcut that we all use that is a summary of our thoughts and feelings about a person, an organization, a topic, etc.

 

We all have a brand whether we want one or not. Personal branding is about taking an active role in influencing how people think about and see you.

 

It’s essential in the modern social media landscape we live in. And people will create it for you if you don’t protect it yourself.

 

It’s a modern way of caring about your reputation.

 

Links

 

 

Call To Action

 

 

2-Minute Talk Tips is the public speaking podcast that helps you become a more effective speaker in as little as 2 minutes a week.


Check out this episode!

2019-12-03

Ep 094 — Positive Outcomes with Julia Fox Garrison


There are a lot of amazing people in the stroke community, and I get to talk with a lot of them. #PodcastPrivilege.

A few weeks ago, I spoke with Debra Myerson about her book, Identity Theft. In that book, she wrote about a couple dozen other stroke survivors, including Julia Fox Garrison.

Julia joins us in this episode to talk about her journey, her book, Don’t Leave Me this Way, and her philosophy of Positive Outlook = Positive Outcome.

And, of course, the importance of humor in dealing with difficulty in our lives.

Bio

Julia Fox Garrison holds a cane in her left hand. She curves her right hand. Together they make a heart.

Julia is the author of Don’t Leave Me This Way (or when I get back on my feet you’ll be sorry), Harper Collins Publisher. A memoir that chronicles her struggle to regain control over her life and her body following a massive hemorrhage resulting in a paralyzing stroke. The success of the book and the message it conveys led to a new career path for Julia as a motivational speaker, evangelizing for humanity in health care, our work, and in our personal relationships. Her message is universal and transcends far beyond a survivor’s handbook. It is not only about facing adversity and overcoming, but to live life to the fullest regardless of circumstances. Julia presents at doctor, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, case manager, social worker conferences, as well as to patient advocacy groups, women’s conferences, businesses, and communities, where she shares her story of personal triumph against overwhelming odds. Julia’s life lessons will transform how to overcome and empower when the intruder called adversity knocks at our door. She will provide strategies on how to answer through attitude, choice and purpose.

Two foxes cuddle forming a heart. Their tails form the U in the word HUGS. The caption says, "Humor Ultimately Gives Strength."

Julia has more than ten years of experience as an acclaimed national speaker. She is passionate about her message and relishes sharing it with receptive audiences. Most noteworthy about Julia’s success as a speaker is that all of her engagements are the result of word-of- mouth– someone hears her speak, believes in the message and, in turn, enthusiastically recommends her to some other organization. The distinguished list of client organizations continues to grow and broaden as Julia’s message touches more and more people.

An Eye chart that spells out Positive Outlook = Positive Outcome Stay True To Your Vision

Before her stroke, Julia had a successful career as a manager in software customer support. Rapid advancement through the ranks of her company was within her grasp when she suffered the debilitating injury, effectively ending her career in the corporate world. And thus began her journey of rediscovery and reinvention as author, health care advocate and motivational speaker.

Julia was raised in Andover, MA, in a loving if chaotic household with eight brothers, an upbringing that no doubt made her battle-ready for the literal fight for her life. Julia lives with her husband Jim, son Rory, and dog Shaggy in a suburb outside Boston, where she is working on writing projects as she continues to overcome the effects of stroke.

Julia’s Theme Song

Here is Christina Aguilera’s Fighter

‘Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter

Heavenly Puss

It’s funny how things from your childhood stick with you.

When Julia mentioned choosing to climb the ladder between life and death — between Heaven and Earth — I flashed back to an old episode of Tom and Jerry where Tom has the chance to revisit his life choices.

Here’s a clip.

Links

Where do we go from here?

Strokecast is the stroke podcast where a Gen X stroke survivor explores rehab, recovery, the frontiers of neuroscience and one-handed banana peeling by helping stroke survivors, caregivers, medical providers and stroke industry affiliates connect and share their stories.


Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast