Embracing Selfishness (yes, really) with Naketa Thigpen

03/17/21 • 47 min

“Stick with the definition [of selfish] if you want. If you want to say that it’s to fill your ego because it’s all about you, stick with it. I’ve redefined it as a personal intimate gift to create my joy. It’s that space that I need to do what I need to do for me, call it selfish, so that I have more to give freely.” - Naketa Thigpen

I’m so excited to be bringing today’s guest back to the podcast, because her first appearance on Brave By Design was one of our most popular and talked about episodes. You may remember Naketa Thigpen, who spoke about work life balance and overcoming addiction to stress in that episode that aired early last year, and what we talk about today almost feels like a continuation of that amazing conversation.

Naketa R. Thigpen, LCSW, is regarded as the #1 Balance & Relationship Advisor in the World, is the President & CEO of ThigPro Balance and Relationship Management Institute, a global personal development company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA that's revivifying the industry.

In this episode Naketa reveals how having an addiction to stress led her to redefine what being “selfish” really means, and the way being selfish can play a huge role in your personal and professional life. What she shares here is fascinating, and I hope you find it informative, and timely, during these challenging times.

Connect with Naketa: https://thigpro.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

How the word “selfish” was, and still is today, weaponized against women [3:30]
What are some of the detrimental effects of not doing anything for yourself [6:56]
How do we start to be more selfish [15:51]
Why you need to be completely open and honest with the people in your life about your boundaries [21:57]
The key difference between being “nice” and being “kind” [28:31]
Actions steps you can take right now to slow down and assess what is going on in your body [38:45]
Ways to be kind to yourself, starting now [40:39]
Naketa’s thoughts on admitting what you really want, and the role that self-pleasure plays in being selfish [41:23]

Additional Links & Resources:

Tired of choosing between energy for your business and energy for your marriage? Join Naketa for her Free 5 Day Experience: The Joy Map Method Masterclass for Married Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More...

Her Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

Naketa's First Appearance on Brave By Design

Her Books

Support the show

Connect with Naketa: https://thigpro.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

How the word “selfish” was, and still is today, weaponized against women [3:30]
What are some of the detrimental effects of not doing anything for yourself [6:56]
How do we start to be more selfish [15:51]
Why you need to be completely open and honest with the people in your life about your boundaries [21:57]
The key difference between being “nice” and being “kind” [28:31]
Actions steps you can take right now to slow down and assess what is going on in your body [38:45]
Ways to be kind to yourself, starting now [40:39]
Naketa’s thoughts on admitting what you really want, and the role that self-pleasure plays in being selfish [41:23]

Additional Links & Resources:

Her Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

Naketa's First Appearance on Brave By Design

Her Books

Support the show

Previous Episode

The Power of LinkedIn with Brenda Meller

“If you’re not looking for a job, stop making your LinkedIn profile look like a resume. Nobody cares that you generated $3 million of revenue for your last company if you’re a sales consultant. They only care about what you can do for them. What are you doing for your company right now, and what’s your company all about?’ - Brenda Meller

Are you using LinkedIn but not seeing the results that you want to see from all your efforts? Maybe you’re not even sure where to begin, or how to properly use this powerful platform? Today I’m so excited to have my friend Brenda Meller as our expert guest on Brave By Design, because she helps people unlock the true power of LinkedIn, and has so much wisdom to share around this topic!

Brenda Meller is a self-proclaimed “ambassador” of LinkedIn, national speaker, and the Chief Engagement Officer at Meller Marketing, which provides marketing and social media support for individuals and businesses, specializing in LinkedIn. She has been leveraging social media to propel her personal and professional efforts for over ten years, and now blends this experience with her marketing expertise to help clients achieve their goals.

You can find Brenda Meller and Meller Marketing online on all the major social media channels.

In January 2021, she published her first book, Social Media Pie: How to Enjoy a Bigger Slice of LinkedIn.

Other Important Facts: Brenda loves coffee, chocolate, and pie. In her downtime, she enjoys jigsaw puzzles, and it was such a joy to introduce her to you today. I hope you find this conversation with Brenda informative and helpful in getting you those results you are after using a social media platform that we are both huge fans of!

Connect with Brenda: https://www.mellermarketing.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

The amazing story of how Brenda went from anti-social on social media to being the “Queen of LinkedIn” [2:25]
What she says is really happening when people resist using LinkedIn [6:14]
Tips and tricks to get started engaging on the platform right now, including the very first step you should be taking [7:48]
Brenda’s thoughts on the use of bots, and the way that she prefers serving her prospects [9:43]
How to begin walking through the fear of reaching for what you want - and a bigger slice of LinkedIn [18:05]
A breakdown of her P.I.E framework, and practical ways to use it daily while on LinkedIn [28:26]

Additional Links & Resources:

Brenda’s LinkedIn

Her Instagram, Facebook & YouTube Channel

Get Brenda’s Social Media Pie Book

Support the show

Next Episode

How to be an Authentic Communicator (in Your Personal and Professional Life) with Anthony Hayes

“In order to be an authentic communicator, to be heard and to get to the point you have to be willing to see and hear whatever criticism may be coming at you and not necessarily internalize it and personalize it.” - Anthony Hayes

Whether you’re in business, a community leader or a political candidate, at some time in your life you may experience a communication crisis. It is during these times that possessing the skills to communicate not only effectively, but authentically to your audience, is of utmost importance. Today’s special Brave By Design guest is an expert in the field of crisis management, and not only does he share his advice on how to be an authentic communicator, but you’ll also hear his fascinating backstory, his experiences in the industry and his thoughts and opinions on timely topics such as social change and “cancel culture.”

Anthony Hayes has spent more than 15 years in communications, crisis and issue management and political and legislative campaigns. He founded The Hayes Initiative to apply his experience steering organizations’ public affairs and media relations to clients across business, politics, nonprofits, and philanthropy. A seasoned C-level advisor, Anthony has cultivated an energetic, fast-growing company now trusted to execute strategy for prominent clients around the globe.

The Hayes Initiative (THI) is a full-service public affairs firm providing strategic counsel and support on a range of needs including communications, media outreach, crisis management, government and community relations, and event planning. They help leaders and organizations deliver major initiatives, break through the noisy media landscape, and navigate the world of politics and government. They excel with high pressure, politically sensitive, and confidential issues while demonstrating the utmost level of discretion and judgment. As an LGBTQ owned and operated firm, they are proud of their work in the advocacy space and of their efforts to help organizations realize inclusivity at all levels of their work.

Connect with Anthony: https://hayesinitiative.com/

Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

How Anthony’s turned his greatest challenge as a young child into his greatest asset as an entrepreneur [3:11]
His thoughts on being aware of how you are being received by others [6:27]
The damaging impact on your organization when you don’t speak up and be the change you want to see in the world [15:15]
Anthony’s powerful lessons learned from working with big names and top politicians [21:39]
His perspective on “cancel culture” [30:01]
Tips and strategies for “getting to the point” when communicating [37:27]

Additional Links & Resources:

Anthony’s LinkedIn & Email

What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Support the show