An Interview With Chad Silverstein
ADOPT AN 80% MINDSET. 80% is a really helpful number in my work and life. Be 80% ready (vs. getting stuck in perfection). Eat 80% healthy (and allow for the birthday cake). You don’t have to do it ALL in order for it to be doing at all. This mindset helps us take more action.
Growth is an essential part of life, both personally and professionally. Every day presents an opportunity to learn, evolve, and become better versions of ourselves. But how do we seize these opportunities? How do successful writers, leaders, and influencers ensure they are constantly growing and improving? What daily habits, practices, or mindsets contribute to their continual growth? In this interview series, we are talking to authors, leaders, influencers, and anyone who is an authority about “What We Can Do To Grow Every Day”. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sally Zimney (or, Sally “Z”),
“Sally Z” is an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and coach whose mission is to empower leaders of all stripes to bravely move from the sidelines into the spotlight at work — on stage — and in life. After 20+ years of honing her craft, Sally curates experiences that move people. She has spoken in front of thousands, is the host of This Moved Me, a podcast in the top 2% of podcasts in the world and is listed in the top 3% of Women in Business speakers by espeakers.com. Her instant best-selling book, Speaking Story, came out in February 2024.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up? Can you tell us a bit about what you do professionally, and what brought you to this specific career path?
When I was growing up and people asked me what I wanted to do when I got older, the somewhat bizarre answer that always popped into my brain and out of my mouth was “be up in front of people.” And lo and behold, that’s what I’ve always done! I spent some time doing theater, I traveled the country speaking to kids about big, important ideas like kindness, courage, and respect — and I have been both speaking and coaching professionally since my first “real job” right out of college. I truly love what I do. But it hasn’t just been about the joy of the spotlight; it’s about the purpose of that spotlight. I truly believe that when we share our authentic and brave selves it can move people. So, every career moment I’ve had over the last 25+ years has been a synthesis of those two ideas: mission and message. Another way to think about this is that there are a lot of people out there who use and crave the spotlight… but if it’s not making the world a better place? If it’s death by Power Point? If it’s self-focused instead of others focused? — Who cares! So it’s been my life’s work to not just help people step into that spotlight, but to do with it with authenticity, connection, and courage.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion about Personal Growth. To make sure that we are all on the same page, let’s begin with a simple definition. What does “Personal Growth” mean to you?
Personal Growth, to me, means getting just a little bit better every day — and being willing to accept that we CAN (and need to) to get better, while still loving our imperfect selves in the process. It requires we take some time to reflect on the past so we can intentionally take steps towards curating a future that’s healthy and brave. Instead of accepting that we’re stuck/miserable/ — we can create a life we love.
But I’m also a business coach, and someone who recognizes that personal growth is in direct correlation with business growth. Someone once called me a “Professional Nudger” — and it stuck. I was highly complimented, because I see what’s possible for others (and myself), and I have a hard time letting them wait on those possibilities. If our hopes, dreams and dearest wishes are on the other side of our courage — it means they’re also often on the other side of what we currently believe is possible. Which means that sometimes we need others around us to help us see beyond our own limited beliefs.
Why do you believe that it’s important to commit to growing every day?
If you have a dream, a hope, a belief for the world…. Growth is how you get there. So, without a focus on our own personal growth, we leave a lot of dreams on the shelf. Without growth, we also likely leave a wake of hurt in our path. We are humans; we struggle, we hurt others, we make mistakes, we try and fail. Learning from those moments isn’t just how we grow personally, it’s how we grow communally as well.
What are the key upsides for those who mindfully engage in a journey of personal evolution?
Simply put, personal growth makes us ultimately happier (even if the pathway getting there is challenging).
When we stop evolving in intentional ways, what do you think are the biggest downsides?
The biggest downside is the reality that as you change, the people around you often change as well. Sometimes that means painful relationship changes. They often don’t tell you that as you head out on your growth journey.
What specific practices, if any, do you have in place to ensure that you don’t become stagnant in life?
I have a natural tendency towards growth — but I also get stuck. There have been times when I’ve just felt tired, or uncertain, or just plain unmotivated. So when that happens I create time and space for people: I network, go to coffee with people who are doing interesting work and have interesting conversations. I focus on fueling my mind and heart. And I also rest. (Usually after being too exhausted; aka, I waited too long.) Sometimes you just have to make space for the stagnant until the next burst of growth kicks in.
Is there any particular area of your life where you are most committed to growth (e.g., spiritually, professionally, socially, internally, relationally)?
I can’t extricate the personal from the professional. As a speaker and coach, I bring my full self out with me on stage, and in my coaching. As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that my personal growth is in direct correlation with my professional growth. The more I discover about what’s holding me back, or why I believe this or that, or what patterns of behavior are showing up in my life — the more I unlock not just about myself, but about us all as humans. Which makes me a better speaker and coach.
If you could offer five tips to readers on how to stimulate and perpetuate self-growth, what would they be?
1 . ADOPT AN 80% MINDSET. 80% is a really helpful number in my work and life. Be 80% ready (vs. getting stuck in perfection). Eat 80% healthy (and allow for the birthday cake). You don’t have to do it ALL in order for it to be doing at all. This mindset helps us take more action.
2 . LEAN INTO YOUR (and others’) STORIES. When talking with others, or talking about yourself — your stories are the nuanced version of your resume, and the categories that we apply to each other. No one is just one thing. Stories allow us to see, support, and connect with each other in powerful ways.
3 . REST. This is so no-duh, and yet — again and again I find myself NOT doing it as much as I should. I grew up in a fantastic family that believed in hard work. Hard work is how you get where you’re going, and how you can feel good about how you got there. So when someone told me that rest isn’t EARNED… that you can simply do it because it’s good for you, I was taken aback. Rest is worthy. Rest along the way. Rest before you’re tired. Rest.
4 . START BEFORE YOU’RE READY (and embrace failing in public). When I work with speakers, I actually have them stop writing their keynotes BEFORE they’re done, and we do the rest of the work on their feet. There are some things you can only learn by doing — and if we wait until we’re “ready” — it may never happen. I wasn’t ready to be a parent (even though it was planned); but ready or not, here we go! Allow yourself to learn by doing — even if it means failing in public.
5 . FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO GROWING. Find the people who are as invested in their own growth as you are, cause they’re the ones who will cheer you on as YOU grow.
What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck and unsure of how to start their personal growth journey?
This one mantra has helped me (and many others!) simply start taking action — and that is to #showupanyway. Not sure if you’re ready? #Showupanyway. Not sure if you can walk into that networking event to meet the people who are growing cause you don’t know anyone yet? #Showupanyway. Not sure you have what it takes to say YES to that opportunity? #Showupanyway! — and you will learn so much. It might not always be comfortable (in fact, it’s likely to be really uncomfortable from time to time), but that’s how you grow.
Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have significantly contributed to your personal growth?
I have a few favorite books! They’re oldies, but they’re the ones I continue to recommend to others.
Big Magic, by Liz Gilbert
Dare to Lead, by Brené Brown
The Art of Possibility, by Benjamin Zander and Rosalind Stone Zander
We’re Gonna Need Cake was recently published by my dear friend Valerie Garcia, and it’s fantastic!
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If everyone created one #ShowUpAnyway moment in EVERY DAY. Face the fear and discomfort, and do it anyway!
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I spend most of my time online on Instagram (@SallyZ_BeMoved) or LinkedIn at Sally Koering Zimney.
You can grab my best-selling book, Speaking Story here.
And you can download resources, tips, and reach out about coaching on my website at BeMoved.com.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein, a seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience as the Founder and CEO of multiple companies. He launched Choice Recovery, Inc., a healthcare collection agency, while going to The Ohio State University, His team earned national recognition, twice being ranked as the #1 business to work for in Central Ohio. In 2018, Chad launched [re]start, a career development platform connecting thousands of individuals in collections with meaningful employment opportunities, He sold Choice Recovery on his 25th anniversary and in 2023, sold the majority interest in [re]start so he can focus his transition to Built to Lead as an Executive Leadership Coach. Learn more at www.chadsilverstein.com
Growing Every Day: Author Sally Zimney Of Be Moved On What We Can Do To Grow Every Day was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.