Power of the Pivot Podcast

Hosted by Susan Salzman

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Jan 2024

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About the show

If you are ready to pivot your “I can’t into an I can, then you are in the right place. Susan Salzman, host of the Power of the Pivot, explores how women of the “what’s next” generation who are ready to say NO to everyone around them so they can say YES to themselves. Building on her 35+ years as a founder and CEO, she is guiding brands, creatives, and entrepreneurs to tap into the knowledge, build their confidence and prove to everyone that building a business in your 50s doesn't have to SUCK! Tune in to hear how she and her guests use simple tools, tips, and resources to navigate both the highs and lows of aging in a modern world. The truth is, age is just a number, and if you are ready to reinvent, realign, and redesign your life after 50, then join this community of strong, passionate, and fearless women!

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54 recent

January 11, 2024Episode 5434 min

054: How to Merge Technology and Genuine Connections

The question is, can we as humans compete with technology? Especially AI.One of my clients uses Chat GPT for everything. A friend of mine talks to Siri all day long. She uses it like you, and I may have used 411 to gather phone numbers and make dinner reservations.I don't use AI to write my content. But I do use a tool that transcribes my podcast episodes. Because I am all about time management and productivity, it helps me find those identifiable moments that I want to highlight in my audiograms and the show notes.In this week's episode of "The Power Of The Pivot," I am talking to Greg Wasserman, an AI expert. He and I talked about how AI when used properly, can elevate your productivity and give you the tools to repurpose your content most innovatively and efficiently. Taking your long-form content and breaking it down into smaller soundbites can save one hour of time creating social media posts, audiograms, LinkedIn newsletters, and so much more.Episode Highlights:4:46|Supporting others and connecting them by bringing their products together5:19|Podcast is hosts who support each other in growing their audience10:09|Streamlining your podcast production through Cast Magic11:10|Automating long-form content into short-form content14:00|Ai is here to assist and not meant to replace humans.21:05|Why Ai will never replace relationships27:07|The importance of community and leaning into discomfort to grow and innovate28:09|Engage! Don’t just scroll and be a voyeur.Find Greg on LinkedIn hereVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

January 4, 2024Episode 5332 min

053: How one Word can Inspire your Vision for Success in 2024

Every December, I sit down with the women in my mastermind, and we pick our word for the following year.Before we do that, we reflect back on the word of the previous year and see how it may have inspired our growth and creativity.My words for 2023 were opportunity and expansion.Some years, my word never manifests. The obstacles and challenges that I was faced with didn't leave any room to inspire anything because at every corner and turn, there was a roadblock.But 2023 was different. I started the year determined and ready to create massive shifts. I was no longer going to allow the past failures to define me, and I came into it with a willingness to believe that change would manifest.In March, I was invited to spend a week with 25 women, most of whom I didn't know. This happened to be the same time as the Spring Equinox. My friend, Nicole, an energy healer and spiritual guru was on that trip. Together, we did an exercise. I truly believe that exercise brought me to where I am today. There is power in words. Both positive words and negative words and it's important to pay close attention to what you say and how you say it. This week on the podcast, I didn't have one guest...I had 7. Seven powerful, creative, and brilliant ladies came together to discuss our words of the year. After producing 53 episodes, I have to say this is one of my top three. It represents that when you put a bunch of women in the room, it vibrates.Here are a few takeaways:📍Relationships are both learning and teaching moments📍Persistence propels you to keep moving forward📍Learning to leave behind what no longer serves you so that you create space for what will📍Build it (with intention) and they will come📍EHow future pacing gets you to your next destinationEpisode Highlights:2:03|Bringing everyone together in community6:43|Relationships are both learning and teaching moments8:30|Future pace where one wants to be by the end of 202411:39|Feeling the connection to one's work and the people who support it12:56|Persistence propels you to keep moving forward19:08|Build it and they will come23:39|Your energy is everything27:23|Leaving 2023 behind with the intention to gain space for more in 202429:00|There is no margin for terrorLinks:Shirley Lipner InstagramLaurey Levy InstagramHeather Hartt Sussman InstagramSheryl Wachtel InstagramStacy Valner InstagramMary Williams InstagramCatherine Hendry InstagramVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

November 30, 2023Episode 5255 min

052: Micah Siva’s Path to Monetizing Her Food Blog: Embracing Jewish Identity Through Food

I have two sets of friends - those that cook and those that don't.There is minimal grey area when it comes to what goes on in the kitchen.I, as you know, love to be in the kitchen. I delegate many other things, but cooking is not one of them.As a former food blogger, I am in awe of those in the food blogging community who found their way to massive monetization.My guest this week, Micah Siva, has done just that - and so much more. And the best part about it is that she has only been at this game for about six years. Her passion, grit, and tenacious spirit have paid off, and being the Everready bunny that could - she has accomplished so much.But what makes Micah genuinely unique is how specific her niche is. Her plant-based recipes are all inspired by modern Jewish culture, and I have to tell you - I cannot wait to get her book to make her meatless brisket. I know that doesn't make sense, but I am intrigued.Micah and I talk about so much. We talk about food, recipe development, and how blogging has changed so much in recent years. But we also get into the current state of affairs.And as Jewish women and moms(and mom-to-be), how passionate and proud we are to be Jews. Not only will this episode make you hungry, but with Hannukah right around the corner, you might be inspired to whip a batch of Sufganiyot (Israeli doughnuts).Episode Highlights05:48 | How to monetize one's creative outlet06:12 | The power of perseverance and not allowing failure to stop you 08:30 | The power of networking and putting yourself out there - even when it's uncomfortable12:31 | Diversifying income streams and exploring various avenues to maximize financial stability15:55 | Embracing a specific niche to stand out in a crowded playing field17:36 | Staying authentic to who you are will ultimately protect your mental health24:56 | Doing a self-published Jewish children’s cookbook became an excellent way to connect with the community.35:54 | Jews are the O.G.’s of dairy replacements and how creating vegan, Jewish recipes was not that challenging. Links:Micah Instagram hereMicah Website here1-2-3 Nosh With Me hereNosh: Plant-based recipes celebrating modern Jewish cuisine (presale) hereVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

October 26, 2023Episode 5151 min

051: Redefining Cannabis and Merging it with Jewish Humor: My Conversation with Tokin’ Jew

As someone who prefers to smoke my buzz, I am not surprised by how mainstream it's becoming. Although still very much an uncomfortable or taboo subject, I would say that 90% of those in my inner sphere eat some dose of edible, have a favorite strain of Indica or Sativa, or even grow it.This week on the podcast, I sit down with the CEO of Tokin Jew, a full-fledged loud and proud stoner who has found a beautiful and humourous way to merge Judaism and Cannabis. We get candid about the stigma surrounding Cannabis and how we see that changing. With the conversations getting louder and louder around micro-dosing and other mind-altering options, Cannabis is becoming a topic of choice.Because of that, Tokin' Jew is not only creating an incredibly creative line of products developed from a Jewish perspective, but their Instagram feed is worthy of serious "laugh out loud" moments. For that reason, he is creating a community of like-minded, engaged humans. This movement has grown from a few thousand on Instagram to over 37k in just under a year.From a business strategist POV, that's some pretty incredible metrics.Whether you are into Cannabis or not, I feel you will enjoy this episode. You will learn how one straight-A, very driven college student and D1-national soccer star tapped into his creative and entrepreneurial side from his dorm room and not only landed a tremendous mainstream job but is also building an unconventional business at the same time. Highlights:5:05|How to not be one dimensional and merge passion and play to create community.5:45|Overcoming adversity and finding your identity.7:15|Creating Token Jew as a community of half-stoners and half-Jews who have found the intersection between cannabis and Judaism.9:58|Being in the flux of the changing perception of cannabis from a taboo subject to a normalized one.13:01|How lighting a joint and then lighting the menorah led the founder and his buddy to the 3D lab where the first product was born.16:38|How to embrace being a straight-A student, a D1 Soccer star, and a stoner.18:12|The birth of being an entrepreneur started at age 10 with a rolling list of ideas.24:41|Parents and grandparents are coming out of the closet and admitting to embracing the cannabis trends and helping to normalize it.25:15|The stigma around cannabis, a plant that grows out of the ground compared to other plants like carrots and asparagus.27:07|The benefits of having a side project that unlocks a different part of their brain, making their day-to-day work more accessible and more enjoyable.29:01|Judaism is the religion of curiosity.30:29 |Learning when to shut down and who to shut out in order to avoid burnout.31:34|Don’t share your idea with anybody yet, some people love to detract people.33:30|Without the community, Tokin Jew would not be Tokin Jew.34:23|Taking Tokin Jew to this beautiful, modern brand that is rooted in community.40:29|Fall back on your instincts.44:07|Using your intuition, finding a loyal person, remain super loyal to them.Links:Tokin’ Jew Instagram here Tokin’ Jew Website hereTokin’ Jew OneTable hereVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

October 19, 2023Episode 5027 min

050: Unleash Your Inner Storyteller: A transformative workshop for women over 50

We all have people around us who can and will support us - even when unsure of what kind of support we need. That's precisely what Sheryl Wachtel and I discussed in this week's podcast episode. Conversation, collaboration, and community are top of mind, and because the landscape of our world is causing such elevated anxiety - we are searching for ways to calm the F down!One way that Sheryl and I are doing that is by bringing women together in small, intimate settings where we re-examine how we see ourselves in the world.In this episode, you will learn why we are passionate about raising every woman's vibration to the highest level. And we have witnessed that many magical things can happen when you get people in a room craving a non-judgemental place to express themselves.Episode Highlights:6:57|Women crave a space to open up and be themselves without judgment.9:13|Connecting with your own story is an opportunity to be your most authentic self.10:07|A photo of your current self is just as valuable as a photo of your younger self.12:12|What it takes to craft a beautiful origin story - in 7 simple steps.15:30|Being at a live event creates an infectious excitement.23:49|Building new relationships is a domino effect for more relationships.Visit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

October 12, 2023Episode 4944 min

049: At 67, Shirley Lipner is in her Prime A.K.A. The “Fuck-it” Years!: Her journey to Becoming a Psychic Medium

When the universe is speaking to you, paying attention is essential.No one knows this better than my weekly guest, Shirley Lipner, psychic medium and clarity coach. Her gift teaches her clients to recognize what’s already inside them. Shirley has always been curious. And that curiosity has allowed her to be fearless in her many pursuits. Whether it was a random opportunity to travel to Cannes, France, with a group of young adults, to manifesting her meeting with Roger Ebert, to starting a quirky show on Public Access Radio back in the 90s. Shirley always seems to be in the right place at the right time.Today, we talk about all of that, but more importantly, she is sharing with us how to pay attention to your intuition and listen to your gut - even when it’s quiet. Shirley is not just a psychic - she’s a healer. Tune in and be inspired!Episode Highlights:4:06 | Being curious and asking questions led her to be a psychic medium5:56 | Everything one does in life will lead one to their destination9:33 | How she manifested meeting her idol in a random cafe in France15:44 | Becoming a mother opened up opportunities to be a radio host20:20 | When you can tap into your intuition, doors open up all around you22:03 | Why the ’60s are the F*ck - it years23:57 | Being a psychic is being used to help others heal from their childhood trauma and more26:54 | Be the change that you want to see30:57 | Find the balance between your health and your work35:51 | A good belly laugh heals all wounds38:48 | Always finding the funniness in situations.Links:Shirley Lipner's Website here Shirley Lipner's Instagram hereVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

October 5, 2023Episode 4847 min

048: How Relationships Shape Our Well-Being with Joleen Porcaro Duddy: The importance of community in Aging

Relationships and friendships are rooted in my emotional state. They can easily affect how I feel or don’t feel. And because so many of mine have stood the test of time, I take them very seriously.It was both this article and my new position at OneTable that sparked this week's podcast episode. This quote, in particular, struck a chord with me:"Countless studies in the last several decades have revealed information about longevity that may surprise you: Social connections don't just improve your life emotionally, but physically and psychologically as well."There was no better person to have this conversation with than my long-time best friend, Joleen Porcaro Duddy. Joleen and I met at the beginning of middle school (over 50 years ago), and I honestly could not imagine a life without Joleen in it.This week's episode discusses the value of connection, community, and being a good friend and confidant.We get under the hood about family, loss, tragedy, and how seeing her mom living in an assisted living environment has inspired her to think about aging in a whole new way. As someone who has always valued building a strong community centered around loyal friends, I am leaning more and more toward this as I settle into the aging process. When faced with a few health challenges, I got a bird's eye view of who my people were, and no one was more present than Joleen.Highlights5:42| The impact of community on aging6:49 | How strong connections keep your life vibrant and alive11:22 | It’s not just about building a business relationship, it’s more about building community with intention19:25 | All friendships are not the same - each one has their meaning and purpose18:45| The critical building block in a good company is trust24:59| What tragedy and loss teach and how to move through life with a new normal34:45| Strong relationships and bonds are built on honesty and finding ways to offer constructive criticism without putting someone on the defensive41:07| The most outstanding example of friendship was witnessing the one with her mom and dadLinks:Check out Joleen’s Instagram here.Visit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

September 29, 2023Episode 4733 min

047: Emotional Exhaustion and Self-Care: How Melissa Meyers pivoted in her 50s

This week on the podcast, Melissa Meyers and I discuss what it takes to build an online space in your 50s and how it’s not always easy. The hard part is staying focused and not giving up even when all the doors are closing in your face. And that requires grit, tenacity, and drive to take you to the finish line. Melissa’s passion for clean living and the products she has used over the years to do that in all areas of her life has allowed her to build a platform where she can inspire others. And because of that, she is earning over 6-figures each year.It's not a terrible chunk of change for a woman who shares what she knows and is passionate about. However, none of this came quickly and didn’t arrive without sacrifices.But when asked if it was all worth it…you’ll have to tune in to find out the answer.Highlights:3:50|How using products organically pushed Melissa into partnering with various brands4:47| The earning power of women in their 40s and 50s is stronger than ever before7:27| Closing the gap in the market for women over 40 and how to create a platform to fill it9:34| Learning to block time on one’s calendar creates a time management protocol that enables one to be focused14:12| How to achieve the goal of working only four days a week and having the other three reset18:03|Meditation helps with your mental health and mental clarity20:39 |Taking long-form content and repurposing it into short-form content and actions22:13|How our attention span is 4.25 seconds shorter than it was in the year 200025:34|Giving yourself 3 - 7 years to build a business is the winning formulaLinks:Visit Melissa's Instagram hereVisit Melissa's Website hereVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

September 21, 2023Episode 4634 min

046: Dear Resume - You’re Dead To Me: How being pithy will help you stand out.

When did you last update your resume?If you are anything like me, you have multiple versions of the same thing buried in Google Drive. Because the resume is dead, it's time to find a new and improved way of showing others that your value deserves to be recognized. And that is challenging to do on a single sheet of paper.This week on the podcast, I sit down with Julie Sandler-Sacks, who has made her career out of advertising, first as a copywriter and then as a recruiter. I asked her to wear both hats in our conversation, and I am confident you will like what you hear.As a career professional and an entrepreneur, I know the value of telling your story while giving others a behind-the-scenes peak at how awesome you are. But that piece of paper gets me every time. It's a buzz kill! It never truly highlights your strengths, and at the end of the day, no one gets a sense of who you are by chronologically reading your accomplishments.As a recruiter, Julie's perspective is on the money! When it came time for me to toss my hat in the ring for the position I ultimately captured, Julie said, "let's create a non-traditional resume for a non-traditional candidate.And it worked!!Highlights5:08|How advertising has changed to become more sales-oriented6:33|Why it’s important and encouraged to try different jobs10:01|Generally, your resume doesn’t show much and what to do instead12:07|Non-traditional way of writing your resume: be unique, creative, yet cautious18:40|LinkedIn is a helpful place to find information and create connections23:14|You can’t rely on your resume alone. Show them you want the job by being creative and persistent to show them you are a desirable candidate26:16|When it comes to writing or rewriting your resume, the number one tip is to be pithy!Link:Julie's LinkedInVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders

September 14, 2023Episode 4549 min

045: Navigating the Changing Online Space: Carla Besinger’s Transformative Pivot

Putting a square peg in a round hole is way more common than you might think.Taking your big idea and transforming it into something viable, like a book, digital course, PDF guide, or subscription model is no easy task. Regardless of what the gurus on the internet might be preaching, don't believe a word they say. Especially those that are promising you that you will make 5 figures in a week if you just follow their formula. And no one knows this better than my guest this week, Carla Besinger, a 7-figure online digital marketing genius who over the past 7 years has built courses, products, coaching programs and so much more.Carla also talks about why she is possibly shelving her signature course - the one that has made her 3 million dollars (plus) and what the next few years will look like if she pulls the trigger on that.If you are currently frustrated with the internet and how unkind it can sometimes feel, or are just starting out and not really sure where to start, this conversation with Carla will make you feel so much better. She keeps it real and not just by being her honest and kind self. Her delivery and candor will make you feel like a friend just validated all of your emotions. And you will no longer feel so alone.Highlights:7:24|Why being repetitive is key to growing your audience and your base9:01| Why asking questions to your potential audience is what helps you, as the mentor, solve more problems12:22|Focus on money-making tasks every day: mindset, growing audience, nurturing, making offers.13:20|Consistently creating quality content is going to help you stand out28:38 | Why volume isn’t always the best way to build an online business31:53 |Coaches need coaches and why it ads perspective34:05 |When you have the systems and processes in place you can get a lot done41:54 |It’s not always easy, but you can learn anythingVisit Susan’s websiteFollow Susan on InstagramJoin the What’s Next RoadmapJoin The Social SquadAutomate - A Guide For On-Line Digital MarketersDownload Tap Into It - A FREE guide for business builders