EPISODE 565 - Change is Hard, Messy, and Gorgeous - 10th Anniversary Edition

Speaker A: Once you are self aware, you must make a change.

Speaker B: Welcome to the Millionaire Woman show where we'll be discussing leadership, business, human potential inspiring you to live rich from the inside out, unlock your creativity, stretch out of your comfort zone, break through your barriers, take inspired action and achieve epic results. Now here's your host, three time best selling author, speaker and certified executive coach, Deborah Kazakh.

Speaker A: Uh, hello and welcome back to the Millionaire Woman show. Today is deeply personal because we are celebrating 10 years together. 10 years of conversations, learning, growth, encourage and becoming. When I think back to where it all began, I remember sitting in an audience listening to someone explain how to start a podcast. And a thought crossed my mind that within 30 days I could do just that. That decision changed my life. It wasn't certainty that moved me forward, it was commitment. The commitment to do something that I've never done before and wanting to see it through to completion. Robin Sharma's quote has been come a, uh, lens through. I see so much of my own journey. Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous in the end. Today I want to unpack each part because I believe every listener, every viewer is somewhere along this path. Change is hard at first because it asks us to release an identity that has become so familiar. We became so comfortable with this identity that that's the only way we know ourselves to be. And we have to challenge self limiting beliefs, question old stories and replace the habits that no longer serve us in order to shift in that new identity. We often wait for confidence before taking action. But in reality, confidence is usually the result of action, not a prerequisite. And every meaningful dream begins with choice. And I strongly believe that my friends. For me, the choice has shown up repeatedly. Leaving the security of healthcare leadership to build a coaching and speaking business, beginning a master's degree, knowing that life would not become simpler, continuing to show up even after developing a rare neurological eye condition, or refusing that diagnosis to be my identity. I discovered that circumstances influence us, but they do not have to have the final word unless we surrender our choices. And really, when you sit back and think about surrendering choices, how often have we done that? How often have we surrendered? Sometimes choices that lead to a form of self betrayal. But what I want to tell you is that messiness in the middle is where many dreams become abandoned. Because this is the place where progress feels slow, where comparison steals our joy, and whether you wonder you've made the wrong decision. Yet the messy middle is also where resilience is forged. And it's where routines become anchors, where value becomes a compass. And where persistent quietly reshapes our character. There were days I did question whether I was making enough progress. There were moments where I wondered whether anyone was even listening, whether speaking would, uh, grow, whether my vision was too ambitious. Those moments taught me to focus

Speaker B: less

Speaker A: on the outcomes, but more on alignment. Where I stayed aligned with my purpose. To encourage people to recognize the power of choice and living beyond labels. I always found another reason to keep going. One of my favorite ideas is that we become the version, uh, the person of our goals require. And that is why I've spoken about identity. Even my alter ego. She represents courage, decisiveness, strength and composure. She reminds me that growth is intentional. And we build, uh, identity one habit at a time. Through conversation, through courageous decisions, one at a time. Eventually comes the gorgeous, uh, ending. Not because life became perfect, but because clarity replaced uncertainty. We realized that the rewards were never the achievement. The greater the reward has become someone more compassionate, more resilient, more courageous and capable of more than we ever imagined. Looking back 10 years, I simply celebrate a podcast. It's not a simple celebration. I celebrate every version of myself that refused to quit. I celebrate every guest that came on on their own journey of becoming and sharing their stories. So if you are at the beginning of your journey, take the step. If you're in the messy middle, keep going. Don't mistake the discomfort for failure. It may simply be the evidence that you are growing. And if you are enjoying the beauty that follows persistence, remember to look back with gratitude and then look ahead for the future with hope. I want to thank each and every one of you for walking along this journey with me over the last decade. I thank every guest, every listener, every client, every supporter, every friend that helps shape this community. And as we begin the next decade of the Millionaire Woman Show, I hope you remember that one message above all else. Your circumstances do not define you. Your choices do. Continue becoming, Continue believing. Continue creating a life that reflects your deepest values. The best chapters lie ahead. And I'm a bit emotional here because it's been such an, ah, amazing journey. The opportunities that have come to me, the books that I've read by spectacular authors, the people I've been introduced to. It has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. And I think of the past 10 years and I'm not even, you know, thinking about all of that time. I've published a book. I have done two TedX speeches, I have done a triathlon that I thought I would never be able to do again. So many different things in that, uh, evolution of identity. I would love to challenge you today to look back at your past 10 years and not just look at the achievements and accomplishments, but I really challenge you to look at who have you become during this time and how have you been more in alignment than you ever thought possible. And if you feel like you're off track, maybe you feel like you're in the messy middle, trust that you will get on, um, back to the track that you feel most empowered to move forward and reclaim what it is that has been hidden beneath the surface. Because I will tell you, my friends, you've never lost your power. It's maybe been just hidden under several priorities. And I know in the past few weeks, uh, there hasn't been as many episodes. And it's because I've been my full dedication into my master's thesis paper, which is near its completion. And I'm really excited for the decade ahead and the, um, next. Just amazing things that are about to happen because I believe there's something for each of us as we continue to move forward together. And again, I thank you. As Mohammed Gandhi said, be the change you wish to see in the world. And as always, go out and make to day great. Don't forget, head over to Deborah Kozowski.com and if you want to learn more about coaching, you can send me a DM from there. Have a great day and don't forget to share, write, uh, write a testimonial for this podcast and know that by sharing this podcast, you are really changing the world. Have a great day.