Listen Now

Quotes about change: "Don't put a lid on your emotions." Tracey was influenced at an early age by her Mom. Her father had health problems, and her Mom had to  run the farm.  At eight years old, she saw her Mom asking for money because nothing at the bank or on the farm was in her name. This had a profound impact on Tracey. At a young age, Tracey became her Mom’s partner and  they managed the farm together. She left to pursue her education working four jobs at one time to make ends meet.  Tracey’s approach to life was to be tough – face life with toughness and you’ll get through. But her life changed when she changed her approach to being more vulnerable.  The old Tracey was broken, and she needed a different way to put herself back together. Her vulnerability and resilience gave her the support she needed when facing a heart-breaking loss. Today, she has her Masters in Leadership and is a Leadership Development Coach.  Tracey still holds space to be vulnerable.Leadership Outside of the Box  http://traceykowalchuk.com http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "Give yourself permission to be human."Shannan Corey had a demanding job with long hours, big decisions, and huge responsibility as well as a young family to take care of.  She was noticed changes in her health because she wasn’t taking care of herself but kept going. Her health deteriorated to the point where she was in and out of the hospital dealing with serious allergic reactions.   She made the decision to quit her job and lived in a bubble for an entire year where she did absolutely nothing, because she couldn't. Shannan was trying to heal.  She wasn’t getting the answers from the medical professionals, so through research into what would work for her and strong support from her family, her health started to improve.  Slowly, she started to reintegrate herself back into life.  Now, she listens to the signs her body gives her.  Today she is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. She continues to remind herself of the importance of positive thinking, and to not wait until you’re less busy to take care of yourself. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quote about change: "How can I tap into my abundances to make this place better?"Palash Sanyal is the Strategic Partnership and Project Manager for the Global Institute for Water Security. Palash’s relationship with water started as a very young boy, and it has shaped and changed him.  Born in Bangladesh, Palash saw how valuable water was…every day… as he stood line to collect water for his family.  Palash's father died with he was young and he grew  up in poverty. But his mother was educated and valued education for Palash and his sister.   Palash made his way to Canada and shares his thoughts on how some immigrants have a mindset of abundance when they leave their home country, but when they arrive to their new country, it changes to a mindset of scarcity.  Saskatoon is Palash’s home now.  He is working to make meaningful connections with people who want him to be his best, and he in turn does the same. It’s not easy to move to a new country.  Palash describes how he is successfully making changes to make this his new home.  http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "I had to start living again. The old Leane wasn't coming back."Leane Durand grew up in a home where family values and expectations included that one would get educated, get a job in that field, and then work there until retirement.   So when she decided that teaching wasn’t for her, it was because teaching didn’t line up her HER values, not her family’s. She left a good paying job with benefits and summer holidays to …. she wasn’t sure what. After trying a few different things, she opened her own business which she operated very successfully for 15 years – until her declining health made it untenable for her to carry on her business.  She went from great physical health and  running  half marathons to a nightmare of fatigue, severe pain, and severe weight loss.  After years of searching for medical answers and trying alternative approaches, she was finally diagnosed with Lyme's disease. Leane describes how her change in health led to her closing her successful business, finding a way back to good health using resilience and perseverance, and embarking on a  new and fulfilling career. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "Change has made me appreciate who I am."Deborah Smith is the Former Chief of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation in Manitoba. Deborah grew up on the reserve, moved to Winnipeg to pursue her career, and was asked to return home to run as Chief.  She was successful and wanted to bring change by reclaiming women’s voices – voices that had been lost in their community. Deborah talks about how she and her team brought change, found ways to seek progress,  and how she personally relied on her mentor during her time as Chief. Losing an election can be a painful and public experience, and Deborah describes her unique approach following her election loss to find what was important to her.  Deborah has changed despite and through trauma and challenges – her story is one of resilience and reclamation. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "Feel your feelings through change."Brigette Marquette grew up on a dairy farm, giving her a strong  work ethic, which was to serve her well in the years to come.  She married at 23 years old, and at around the same time, found a love and passion for pole dancing.  At the time, this was new as a form of fitness, and Brigette describes the judgement pole dancers continue to experience. Brigette’s life changed when she went through the trauma of her divorce, losing her hair, and then having to undergo a hysterectomy at the age of 34.  She was under tremendous stress and was suffering from depression.  At one point, her puppies were the only reason for her to get out of bed.  Her turning point was when she decided she wanted to be proud of herself in 5 years, and she started to surround herself with people who helped her get back on track. Values, hard work, and working at things she is terrible at have guided Brigette.  Today, she is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and owner of  Gilded Cage Counselling.  https://www.gildedcagecounselling.com http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes on change: "Can I step out of my safe bubble?"Jana Danielson  is an Amazon Best Selling Author, owner of Lead Pilates and Lead Integrated Health Therapies, her bricks & mortar businesses and the Metta District, her online wellness community. Jana knew for a very long time that she wasn’t healthy.  She looked healthy and happy on the outside, but inside, things were not going well and living in pain was taking a toll.  After many visits to medical specialists she was diagnosed with  having "undiagnosed" digestive pain. She counted on her doctors to be the healers, but it wasn’t until she discovered that she had the ability to heal from within that her journey back to health began. She empowered herself to make change. Jana started practicing Pilates and then teaching it.  Her physical issues began to resolve. She found Pilates connected to her purpose and led to her opening a studio.  Jana talks about how she had to listen to herself, and to someone close,  to make the changes she needed to lead her to the joy and fulfillment she is enjoying today. She now works with others to empower them to make change through health & wellness. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quote about change:  “You can’t change your personality type, but you can change your behaviour”.Jolene Watson is a professional speaker and trainer and the owner of Clarity Coaching & Development. Jolene has changed professions several times during her working life.  She started as a Veterinary Technician and worked in a cat hospital.  After a period of time, she decided she wanted and needed a change to learn more about psychology and communications.Through hard work and professional development, Jolene made her career changes.  It was her mentor who gave her the insights and encouragement she needed to take the leap to become an entrepreneur. Jolene describes her very disciplined approach to personal change as first identifying the behaviours she wants to change or improve for herself, and then setting a plan to make it happen. Constant improvement and development are Jolene’s key to success.  http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

When Maja Jakic was 5 years old,  her family fled Bosnia (former Yugoslavia) when civil war broke out in 1993. Her parents were practicing medical physicians, and she had 2 smaller sisters.  They escaped to the basement shelter in their grandparents’ home, where it was decided that Maja would go with her father to Germany, and her mother and two sisters would go to another part of Bosnia. It was a chaotic and frightening time for the family. Maja learned to speak and study German and stayed in Germany until she was 11 years old.  The family was sponsored to come to Canada by a family in Herbert, SK, where they stayed for a year before moving to Saskatoon. Maja has university degrees in nursing and psychology, and a Master’s degree in public heath, and today is a Clinical Nursing Educator with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.  Her entire life has been about change, and she reflects how her childhood experiences have shaped her. Her parents were the same age she is today when they made the decision to flee their country, and she admires how they navigated incredible change to provide a safe and better life for their family. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes on change: "Reflect on the pros and cons of a decision to find your moment of truth."Cherise Arneson thought she wanted to teach high school – until she got her teaching degree and started teaching.  It wasn’t what she wanted or expected.  She ran away to London, England and took a teaching position in inner city schools only to earn money. It was a baptism by fire!  Cherise learned how to be fluid and adaptive, how to survive and tackle anything, and how to be an exceptional teacher in a difficult and challenging environment. She became really good at it! Cherise moved back to Canada because she promised her Mom she would come home. She started teaching again, met her husband, and moved to Prince Albert where she established a very successful product and retail business.  Cherise tells us how she made the decision to wind down that business, and how her reflections and values have led her and her husband to their new business venture of providing homes for people. Change is part of Cherise’s DNA, and her unique view on looking at the pro’s and con’s of change before making significant decisions has guided her well. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change:  "We always have a choice about how we show up."Showing up when the chips are down and finding joy!Kimberly is the owner of Kimberly Joy Evans Consulting.  She started her professional career as an event planner, and as a young woman, was an owner of RSVP Events.  Event planning is a busy profession day and night, weekdays and evenings. She and her husband were raising their 2 young daughters and juggling their careers. In 2012, they received the devastating news that their 4 year old daughter was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.  Their lives changed overnight and the family was gripped with fear.  Kimberly was accustomed to handling everything, but this shocking news put her into overdrive. Kimberly left her business so she could show up and be a stay at home Mom and they moved the family to Moose Jaw.  Kimberly talks about how she and her family navigated this very difficult time, how she knew when people were there for her, and why she paid attention when she heard a voice that said “You are the chosen one”. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

#Quotes about change: "Clean up the stuff you've kept stuffed down. Then,  do the soul work."Darla Deguire is the founder and owner of Cedar & Sage Boutique Retreats – a far distance from her first job as a Clerk for SGI in auto insurance claims. Working for SGI, Darla began her journey through the labour movement where she was President of the Union Local and eventually worked 17 years for the Canadian Labour Congress. She had a senior position and  was well-respected with lots of responsibility.  But, she started to see that she didn’t like how she was showing up in the world – as Darla puts it – she was misaligned with herself and her purpose. So she listened to her inner voice and did a 360 review of herself. She looked in the mirror, read books, and built a new community.  She realized that she had to get rid of the labels she gave herself because lasting change starts from within. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "Do the basics so you feel normal."Arlene Jorgenson is a strong person.  She built a successful business, had a loving husband who was also her partner in business, and was part of a strong faith community.      In 2003, her husband was diagnosed with cancer, and shortly after that she went through the difficult time of selling her business.  That was hard period for Arlene and her husband.  As his health failed, Arlene was the primary caregiver and there were days when it was difficult just to make the bed.  COVID hit shortly after her husband’s passing, leaving Arlene to grieve in isolation.  It's been a long and lonely time, and Arlene shares how family, faith, and journals helped her to get through one day and one week at a time.  Through perseverance, today she sometimes catches her reflection in the mirror, and sees that she’s happy.   http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes on change: "What value am I providing? What is my purpose?"Dean Ehrmantraut was a Financial Advisor Assistant Manager for Wood Gundy. He was in his groove and doing very well financially.  He would set financial targets, then meet them, set higher targets, and meet them, and on it went. But there came a point where Dean asked himself, “What value am I providing?” And to answer this question, he tells us in the podcast that you have to take money out of the equation. At the age of 46, Dean retired.  He was financially secure but suddenly had lots of time on his hands.  Walking the dog, going to the gym, but what was the purpose?  Dean talks about the people in his life who sparked new interests for him, and how he started a new career as a lawyer, finding purpose and value for himself and the people he serves.  http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "Test and try things out before retirement"Lee Knafelc came from a family of teachers, so it seemed obvious to him that he would go into teaching himself.  Lee realized  early on, that teaching in primary and secondary school was not for him.  He loved teaching and so refocused on teaching and training adults. As with many things in life, things rarely turn out as we planned, and Lee found that human resources was a good fit for him and there he enjoyed a long and successful career. Lee has recently retired from his high level HR position in a mining company, where he was a big part of the change from a very tactical approach to human resources to a company-wide strategic approach.  Now,  HR is  at the table making key executive decisions about the future of the company. In Lee’s position, he was able to forecast how people would transition into retirement by the retirement gifts people chose for themselves – it was a peek into how they planned to spend their time, and it gave Lee great insight into how he wanted to spend his time in retirement.  Choice, confidence, and self-awareness have been important elements to Lee’s successful life transitions.    http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: “Everything in life comes at the right time.”Ryan Townend is the Owner and CEO of William Joseph Communications.  During the pandemic, like many of us, Ryan stayed at home, gained a few extra pounds, and lived in stretchy, comfortable clothes.  When his doctor reported he had some pre-eminent health conditions, his first thought was, “Is this the life I want to live?” Inspired by a friend who had undergone significant weight loss, Ryan went into “Fat Camp for 90 Days”.  His goal was a time limit, not a weight goal, and it worked.  Ryan lost 50 pounds in 3 months.  Ryan talks about how getting off social media freed up the time he needed to spend on himself. Focusing inward  has changed Ryan’s life – how he perceives himself and how others perceive him. For someone in the brand industry, Ryan is now the brand he wants for himself.   http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "What do you need to bring into your life to move forward?"Arla Gustafson made the decision for big change - retirement! She describes her life up to now as raising family, having fun, developing a busy professional life as a CEO, travelling, and having a lot of interesting experiences. When she reached 60, she realized that life becomes more about focusing on applying the wisdom and experience we’ve gained over the years to taking risks and applying to our own life to move forward. Not a bad approach.  At one time, Arla considered working until she was 70.  But that’s not the case. Arla talks about how she reached her decision to retire, and how she moved through grief to pure excitement about what’s ahead. Life transitions can occur when you don’t have a choice, and for Arla, this life change was going to be one where she was making the decision and it wasn’t being done for her. Through decades of having a busy career and being a very public figure, Arla feels she had lost herself, and she describes how she is going to re-connect and get to know Arla again. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Shawn Moen was a practicing lawyer and Garrett Pederson, an environmental engineer. They are both farm boys, families rooted in agriculture farming 9 miles apart from each other in SW Saskatchewan.  A home brewing kit turned out to be life-changing for Shawn and Garrett when they started brewing beer and is now the very successful and award-winning craft brewery, 9 Mile Legacy Brewing. Shawn and Garrett thought long and hard about leaving successful careers to put all their time and energy into their business and knew there were lost opportunities by not staying.  There have been many times when they thought about throwing in the cards.  But they have what Garrett describes is “…like a marriage, a strong partnership rooted in love and respect.” It works because they learned to how work together and sorted out who was good at what. Their life transitions have been mired in uncertainty, hope, and hard work. Their resilience is hard-baked into their DNA. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "I stopped trying to change others and worked on changing me."Stephanie Staples was working as an RN – she had a nice family, a nice husband, a nice house, a nice job.  And then she had an “incident”, a fairly significant one, that made her stop and ask herself, “Is this the person I want to be?” Stephanie knew something was missing in her life and felt guilty about wanting more when she had so much.  But she wanted a better life, so fell into personal development and everything changed for her when she stopped looking to change other people and focused on changing herself.  A big step was deciding the people with whom she wanted to surround herself.  She wanted people in her life who fed her, and she did a tally on how people made her feel when she was in their company.  She also takes a pulse on her pain, and now doesn’t wait for it to become a 9 before she does something about it. Stephanie has changed and evolved and is now a Psychosocial Wellness Coach, speaker, and author.   http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three

Quotes about change: "Self-care is about being kind to yourself."Leslie Bennett is a Partner with Mental Health Innovations, focused on supporting organizations that prioritize workplace mental health. Leslie has had a personal journey with her own mental health and has asked that we let our listeners know that this conversation may be confronting or challenging for some. Leslie was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder in her 20’s, and she describes a very painful period of her life where the decisions she was making weren’t healthy or safe.  Shame, isolation, and aloneness came with her diagnosis. In 2007, Leslie made a life-changing decision to be open about her experience living with bipolar disorder. After concealing her mental illness for 10-years, she now speaks and writes about her journey through her mental health blog, at lesliebennett.ca. Leslie talks about the importance of self-care, including sleep, nutrition, exercise, and what she watches on TV.  Self-care changes are based on what’s going on in her life. http://getyourgoat.ca/season-three