Dreaming Beyond Limits with Shannon Russell: The Transition from TV Producer to Business Coach

Change is daunting but also an exhilarating opportunity for growth and self-discovery. In this episode, we sit down with Shannon, a former television producer turned career coach, who shares her personal journey of transition. She opens up about the challenges of feeling stuck in a job that no longer resonates with her identity, especially amid the shifting roles of motherhood and professional life. Shannon illustrates how one's career doesn't have to define who they are and emphasizes the importance of living with intention and clarity. 

Listeners will glean practical strategies from her extensive experience in managing both her family and professional responsibilities. Shannon's wisdom shines through as she discusses the significance of self-reflection and organization in successfully navigating life's changes. Gratitude is a vital thread throughout the conversation, showcasing how it empowers individuals to embrace new paths while appreciating their journeys. 

Join us for a thought-provoking dialogue that inspires action and helps you take your next step toward fulfillment. Whether you're contemplating a career change or seeking ways to produce the life you want, Shannon's insights will motivate and guide you. Don't miss this enriching episode—subscribe, share, and leave a review to support our community of life changers!

TLDR:

This episode dives deep into the transformative journey of Shannon, who left her career as a television producer to become a successful career coach. Listeners will learn how to navigate career changes, overcome feelings of being stuck, and embrace self-reflection and gratitude in their journeys.

• The importance of mindset in career transitions 
• Overcoming the identity crisis that comes with career changes 
• Building confidence through self-awareness and research 
• The role of gratitude in personal and professional growth 
• Practical tips for becoming the producer of your own life 
• Shannon's insights on balancing personal life and professional aspirations 

Have a listen and discover actionable steps you can take toward your next act! 

Stay in touch with Shannon:

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Welcome
• 5:00 Meet Shannon: Her Journey and Mission
• 29:00 Transitioning from Television to Coaching
• 1:03:00 Overcoming Identity Challenges
• 4:24:00 The Importance of Self
• 11:44:00 The Role of Gratitude in Transformation

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Hello and welcome back to the next episode of Overcome Yourself, the podcast. As you know, my name is Nicole and I'm so excited to be here today with you, with Shannon, and I love the way that Shannon puts her whole thing, how she's the producer of her life, right. So talk to me a little bit, Shannon. Tell us a little bit about who you are, a little bit about your story and who you help.

Speaker 2: 0:28

Thank you, I'm so happy to be here with you. Yeah, so I am a mom, first and foremost, of two little boys, but I began my career as a television producer and then I decided to pivot, start my second act and I opened my first franchise business and then a coaching business and now I run second act, success career coaching, where I coach women on how to move from a corporate job they might not feel as aligned to anymore into creating a business of their own.

Speaker 1: 0:59

That's amazing, so tell us a little bit more about that Sure.

Speaker 2: 1:03

So about my business? Yes, okay, so, yeah. So I just realized that when I made the switch from a television career into opening my first business, I was completely alone. I was struggling, I had quite a few missteps along the way of trying different things and it not feeling right. So it took me a while.

Speaker 2: 1:24

And then, when I was really in my first business, a lot of people would ask me how did you go from this to that? And I just realized that a lot of women especially feel stuck when they choose a career at 20. And then now we're in midlife maybe, or have children or have a partner and our life feels a little bit different, that you feel, oh, maybe this career just doesn't fit me anymore, or you feel a little stuck and that's a really scary place to be. I know I've been there and so I felt like you know what? Maybe there is something that I can do to help women feel like they're seen and that they have an accountability partner. And that's where my coaching business started, really just helping women realize that you can get unstuck and you can find something even more fulfilling in this second act of your life if you just take that leap.

Speaker 1: 2:18

I love that so much, and so can you tell us a little bit about how you were able to overcome yourself and go from having this TV producer job, which sounds like a dream, to now having this coaching business, which is also a dream right?

Speaker 2: 2:34

Yes, very lucky. Well, yeah, being a television producer was like a dream of mine, since I was a very little girl. I just knew I wanted to be in Hollywood and do something in the entertainment industry. I was a very little girl, I just knew I wanted to be in Hollywood and do something in the entertainment industry. And I think when I had my second son I was now living in New York City at the time and I realized I had missed my oldest son's first birthday Halloween. I was just traveling and I was working just too too much that when I was about to have my second child, I realized you know what? I can check the box on television.

Speaker 2: 3:05

I felt like it was a mindset shift, of like you know what my career is, not my identity. I've had this career. That was a dream of mine, but I checked the box. I accomplished it. What else can I do? And that's where I think a lot of people feel like their personality, their identity, is wrapped up in what you do for work. And I want to change that because I think you can move to something else, like I can still say I'm a television producer because if Oprah called, I could go work with her tomorrow. You know you're all, you take every part of yourself with you to the next.

Speaker 2: 3:41

And so I think for me, when I was in that place of trying to figure out what else I can do with a newborn and a three-year-old, it was very lonely and it was hard and it took me a lot of soul searching to realize okay, this is what I did as a television producer.

Speaker 2: 3:59

I took this idea for a show and I brought it to screen and in the interim I hired staff, I oversaw, I wrote scripts, I dealt with talent, I marketed, I pitched and I started writing down everything that I had done and I was like I think I can produce a business of my own, produce my own life. And it was a confidence boost to look at it that way, kind of have that shift to say you know what I can do something else. And once I shifted my mindset, I think that's when everything kind of fell into place and I was able to take the leap and open a franchise and build it and you know, see what came from there. But it was really that mindset that I think was the biggest hurdle to overcome when I was thinking about a change.

Speaker 1: 4:47

Wow, that is amazing, and you know, I talk about in my book how we can't, like we have to be very careful when we define success or we define our identity, because if all, like, your entire identity is being a mom, like what happens when your kids grow up and they leave the house and now your, your, your whole identity was tied into that, or you tie up your whole identity in a job and then one day, you get fired because you know 2008 happened, and then you know what I mean, and so what do we do then?

Speaker 1: 5:21

And so I think it's so important to talk about that identity and how these are not our identity. They're different roles, they're different hats that we put on that help empower our identity, right? So, like the things you learned as a TV producer, you don't just tuck them away and put them away somewhere and then go on. You take those lessons, just like I take lessons from when I worked in restaurants, right, and like I'm really fast in the kitchen, and you know I can do a bunch of things at once, because that's how you had to be in the restaurants, right. So I want to know, though, if you could give us some tips, some TV production tips that you've carried over into your life, like how can we be more of a producer in our own life? What does it mean to be a producer?

Speaker 2: 6:11

I think it's being organized and really again taking that idea and bringing it to life and and saying, okay, what do I want to do in this next act of my life? Can I do it? What skills do I have? What skills do maybe I have that I'm good at, but I don't want to do anymore, right? Really allowing yourself to create this next version of yourself and really taking everything from your past and helping you move forward from where you are to where you want to be.

Speaker 2: 6:42

And I think it's that being organized, that self-reflection and self-awareness of you know so many of us, especially as moms. We don't take that time to ask ourselves how we're feeling, to ask ourselves like, are we okay? And I think when you can turn inside, you can get honest with yourself and you can realize that maybe something isn't right. And then that's where you're organizing. You're organizing your ideas, maybe your wants, with your experience, putting it together and then doing that research, because I've had clients come to me with 10 different ideas of a kind of business that they want to start and as we start researching what the day-to-day of those businesses really looks like, they say oh, no, no, no, that's not what I want.

Speaker 2: 7:24

Or I'm not a numbers person or I you know, and so you can cross things off then and you can narrow down to what really feels like it can fit you. So I think it's being organizing, talking to yourself and then doing that research, because I do believe that research equals confidence and once you're confident, then nothing can stop you. Then the naysayers go away and your imposter syndrome lessons and you can take that leap into your next chapter.

Speaker 1: 7:53

I love that and just a reminder for our audience the producers are the ones that make everything happen, right? They're the ones that lead the charge, they're the ones that are the ones that get the directors and they're like, hey, we need people, so we need someone to staff, we need someone to cast people, and then we need someone to dress these people and we need a set and we need cameras and we need people that can operate booms and we need all of these different things. People to bring in lunch who's going to bring lunch? Because we can't have everybody leaving, right. Who's going to be setting the schedule? Who's going to be making sure that the trailers get put up? Like, there's so many things.

Speaker 1: 8:30

And when we think about that, as women, that's what we do in our life, right? Like we have so many different responsibilities that we oversee between being the taxi driver and we have to be the, the cook, and we have to be the maid, and we have to be the gardener and we have to be, you know, the the pet walker and, right, like, even before you have kids, there's so many. And then we haven't even talked about business, like now we've got social media. Now, whatever it is that you actually do. Now you gotta do blog posts and the podcast and oh my god. And so becoming looking at your life and being like, how can I be the producer of this? How can I outsource what needs to be outsourced? Like I'm not gonna dress the cast because I don't know anything about going shopping. I don't want to be on Amazon, I don't want to be looking on TikTok and finding these businesses that are amazing, but that's just not my vibe. Like I need somebody else to do that. Right, right, right, yeah. And same thing in your life.

Speaker 1: 9:27

Like what, if that means a lot of people look like chores? We talk about outsourcing chores, but what does that actually look like for you in your house? Does that mean having someone come in once a week and just cleaning the whole thing, you know, and just doing the floors, making sure that all the laundry is done, making sure that all the counters, like everything is clear, making sure that all the dishes are washed, or does it look like having someone in your house every single day? And when it comes to movies, right, there's a lot of planning, but when it comes to our, there's a lot of planning, but when it comes to our lives. There's a lot of planning we can do too. What if you do research and you find out that you totally can't afford someone to come into your house? And that hour that you pay someone 50, $100, and that hour or two, now you're producing episodes for your podcast, or you're doing something that actually fulfills you, or even like doing stuff with your kids, like taking them to the park, and now you're free to do that and that is so much more meaningful than I'm sweeping and I'm mopping and I'm cleaning the bathroom right, and so I love that um yes, completely.

Speaker 2: 10:34

That's such a great like connection between being a mom and being a producer, and even if it's systems around your house right like sometimes it's just letting the kids know what chores they have so that you can take a step back, or that you know, yeah, I love that.

Speaker 1: 10:55

I love that, thank you, thank you for sharing, because it's such a, it's such a cool picture, right, and then you can just imagine yourself like in the old, you know, like the Hollywood style, you know, and you can just be like, alright, we need someone on light, someone doing the dishes, I need someone out in the garden, I need someone to mow the lawn. Let's get, let's make this happen people come on, lights up, right, exactly, exactly, getting it done. I love that. You can have so much fun with it. All right. So I want to know, because one of the big things that my book is about my you know what I teach my clients when we're talking about mindset is gratitude. So I want to know what part gratitude played in your journey of this transformation as you became a coach.

Speaker 2: 11:42

Gratitude played everything, because I think I was able to be very grateful for everything I had done and I am, to this day, like, so thankful to my parents for helping me pursue my dream.

Speaker 2: 11:54

I was the first in my family to go to college and leave my state and my town and be that black sheep, and I'm grateful to them.

Speaker 2: 12:02

And then I'm grateful that I accomplished my childhood dream and I think because of that gratitude, it allowed me to say okay, I can take this, put it up on the shelf, let's see what else I can do. And that's where it gets me excited, because I want to now start a million businesses and put it up on the shelf. Let's see what else I can do. And that's where it gets me excited, because I want to now start a million businesses and do a million things. Because you can see, you look back and go, wow, I did that and I was able to change and do something else that helps people. And I think just living in that gratitude, like you said, it fulfills you in a way that nothing else can and you just say I'm so grateful, let me see what else I can do so that I can give back, and for me, I'm able to share in the doors with my parents and be present with my kids now, with with the businesses that I've created, and I think that's just more than you could ever want.

Speaker 1: 12:52

You know, yes of course, and you're leading by example, so I think that's amazing. Yeah, even my kids I tell them.

Speaker 2: 12:58

you know you can choose whatever career path, but have a business on the side, have something that you truly control and I think we see that now with what's happening, with so many layoffs across the country. Like you want to have something that gives you a little bit of power, a little bit of that upper hand, if possible.

Speaker 1: 13:16

Yeah, absolutely. And how like? Why would you not? Like we have so you know it's not like it even was like 20 years ago, 50 years ago. Like you don't you know you don't have to go out and do all this stuff. Like get on social media and start doing something right. Like you can do affiliate links. Like you can sell shirts, like if you have art, like there's so many opportunities that are available to us. Yeah, I think that is amazing, so much fun. And that's what I was going to say is I love your outlook of it. Sounds like you made it sound fun, like you were gamifying it and you're like all right, we're done with this game. So what I sound fun like you were gamifying it and you're like all right, we're done with this game.

Speaker 1: 13:59

So what I want to do next like what is going to be the next fun adventure that we're going to have um, because it is scary, and so we have to control we have to literally control our narrative right and make sure that we're focusing on what we can change right, and sometimes I find myself spiraling. I'm like, okay, but what can I do? What can I do? I need to focus on Right, and if it's like a money situation, okay, thinking about that, nicole, it's not going to help you. What you need to do is you need to go make money, and so let's focus on that, and then this problem will go away. But don't think about it anymore. You got to get the money and then, once the money's there, or whatever, it is right Like I need to pay attention to this right now and then the big domino right and then all the other ones can fall. That is amazing. So talk to me a little bit about how my audience can get in touch with you.

Speaker 2: 14:50

Sure, yes, my website is secondactsuccessco and everything's there. How to work with me, my new book that's coming out in May, which I'm so excited about. My free resources, my podcast everything is at second act successco.

Speaker 1: 15:06

That is awesome. And you did mention that you had told me that you have your book coming out Amazing Congratulations. And you did mention that there is a gift that matches with your book that you had talked to me about that is available on that resource page. Can you tell us a little?

Speaker 2: 15:20

bit about that. It's all about just making that leap into whatever you want your second act to be. And so the free download, the gift there is a second act journal where you can take all the ideas in your head, put them down and really start working through them, and you can get that at second act success dot co. Forward slash resource or forward slash book.

Speaker 1: 15:46

That is amazing. Can you tell me a little bit about your journey to writing this book, like, how did you come to doing this?

Speaker 2: 15:56

Yeah, again, I've wanted to write a book since I was really little. That was another childhood dream, you too, yeah, and I wanted to write fiction. And about a year, a little over a year ago, I started taking some writing classes and getting ideas and then I was like you know what I want to do? One that is based on my business. First, because I feel like a book is a way for people who aren't going to work with you one-on-one to really get the help that they need or the inspiration. And so, a little over a year ago, yeah, I started writing the book. I am self-publishing but working with an amazing team at Book Launchers and they've been really helping me with all of you know, say kind of like that, like a coach, having that accountability partner of all the elements to get the book launched. And, yeah, I'm beyond proud of it and I'm so excited for May 7th when it comes out.

Speaker 1: 16:47

Finally, that is amazing. Well, I'm proud of you, I'm so excited for you, like that is just such an accomplishment. I've got my book with the editor, so it'll be out soon, hopefully as well. So I know thanks. I know I know that journey like how, how amazing that journey can be and how many steps and how many things that that it takes to to bring it to life. So I commend you for that.

Speaker 2: 17:15

I don't think a lot of people know how many steps. So you're in the thick of it with me and you know it's like a million things to think about on top of the creative part of it. So, yeah, it's, it's a journey.

Speaker 1: 17:27

Yeah, but you know what I also think it's so worth it because I mean, as you, yeah, but you know what I also think it's so worth it because I mean, as you can tell, behind me, my collection. That's how I've gotten the opportunity to spend time with a lot of my mentors, and there's just nothing quite like it. Right, because they're sitting here in my house and so whenever I want to hear from one of them, I can open up the book and I can be like, ok, well, what advice do you have? Right, and I want to be. I want to gain real estate on on someone's bookshelf too. Right, so that I can help them when they're ready. And it just cuts through the noise. So I think that's just fantastic that you've written a book.

Speaker 2: 18:03

I want your book on my bookshelf, so you let me know when it comes out and I will buy it right away.

Speaker 1: 18:08

Yay, thank you so much, I definitely will. Okay, so we've talked about how to get in touch with you, so now I want to know what is your big tip Like? What is that one tip that just creates that change for your clients that you advise everyone?

Speaker 2: 18:26

Is do that research. Just take whatever idea, even if it feels super far-fetched, and sit with it and do research. Look at other people who are already working in that role or own that business and really see how it feels Like. See, sit with it, see if you can see yourself in that role and by doing that I feel like that's where the confidence comes, and then you can take those baby steps to get there. And even if you're working and you're comes, and then you can take those baby steps to get there, and even if you're working and you're earning that paycheck, you can start doing that research and putting those pieces in place so that when you have that confidence and you're ready to take the leap full time, you've already put everything else in place so it can be done without causing all the chaos in your life. And your second act can be pretty methodical if you let it.

Speaker 1: 19:13

Absolutely and, like we were talking about, this online world makes it so that you can you can do both at the same time. Like you know, if that's an option for you, because if you focus in, you get just laser focused on the activities that move the needle, it doesn't take you that long, it doesn't take that many hours, and so, if you are really like you said, think about it, do the research, get down to like what is the smallest step that I can take and and do it now, Like don't wait to quit your job. That is really scary, but you can start it now and start doing those things. I love that. I love that. I love that so much. So thank you so much, Shannon, for being here with us. This has been absolutely fantastic and we will see you online. So thank you guys as well for joining us and we will see you next time on the next episode of Overcome Yourself, the podcast. Bye.