#27: Courage and Problem Solving with Christine Perakis

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Think about a time you thought you could face something alone. As it got underway, did you realize that you could have used a little bit of help? Maybe it was completing a project, or starting a workout program. For author and business growth architect Christine Perakis, she headed back to her home in the British Virgin Islands just as a hurricane was coming her way. And she realized that it’s okay to admit you need help in difficult situations — in fact, that kind of courage and problem solving are key traits to possess.

Luckily, Christine survived that hurricane — and a second one within two weeks! — and went on to write The Resilient Leader: Life Changing Strategies to Overcome Today’s Turmoil and Tomorrow’s Uncertainty. Now she coaches businesses on resiliency and provides the roadmap for them to reach new levels of success. And in many cases, it takes the very courage and problem-solving she had to put to use while in the midst of a hurricane.

Highlights of our conversation include:

  • How 2020 has served as a reset and helped us become more present in the moment. (2:23)

  • Christine talks about her experience surviving two hurricanes in the span of two weeks — Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria — and why complacency kills in both seamanship and business. (6:03)

  • A look inside Christine’s book, The Resilient Leader, and her story of releasing it in the middle of a pandemic while in the heart of protests around systemic racism in her neighborhood and across the globe. (9:08)

  • With panic rising during the middle of a hurricane, how writing helped Christine activate the problem-solving part of her brain and led to her survival of the situation. (13:27)

  • Christine shares why he considers herself a business growth architect. Plus, how entrepreneurs are constantly going after new ideas and why it’s important to harness that creativity to make an actionable, concrete reality. (16:38)

  • The moment when Christine realized she didn’t have the courage to admit she couldn’t handle facing a hurricane on her own, and why it’s okay to ask for help in difficult situations. (19:08)

  • How you can find your tribe and build a community of people that will support you on your journey as an entrepreneur, including stepping up to help others, in turn allowing them to help you. (25:35)

  • We talk about why it’s important to reach out to people and connect, even (and maybe especially) if you haven’t spoken in months or even years. (29:44)

  • Christine discusses tips on relationship building, including trusting other people and acknowledging our differences to reach a better understanding among each other. (32:33)

  • The top lessons Christine has learned through weathering the storms of life and business: having the courage to admit you need help, the ability to communicate it, and keeping one hand on the boat. (36:23)

What’s next for Christine Perakis?

You’ll get lots of great insight on business and personal development by following Christine’s story. Check out her website for more and grab a copy of her book: The Resilient Leader: Life Changing Strategies to Overcome Today’s Turmoil and Tomorrow’s Uncertainty

If you’re a fan of Good People, Cool Things, I would love your support. Feel free to subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. That helps even more people discover these wonderful guests.

You can also support the show by checking out the new Good People, Cool Things merch store. Thanks for listening!

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#28: Supporting Women Founders with Lizanne Falsetto

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#26: What’s Your Story? with Sarah Elkins