#109:From Taylor Swift Interviews to Time Freedom
How a Former TV Executive Guides Women Through Career Reinvention
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Today’s Featured Uplifter: Shannon Russell
Picture this: Eight months pregnant, racing through Times Square subway station, having just told her team she couldn't stay late to interview Taylor Swift because she couldn't miss another bedtime. The physical and emotional weight of that moment – literally carrying new life while trying to hold together a career that was increasingly at odds with her deepest values – became the breaking point that sparked Shannon Russell’s reinvention.
Shannon approached that change systematically, strategically, and with deep self-compassion. Rather than powering through or making hasty decisions, she gave herself permission to experiment, to discover what truly mattered, and to build something that honored both her professional talents and her desire to be present for her family.
Her Courage Practice: Strategic Research as Self-Care
Shannon's signature courage practice is what she describes as "strategic research" – a process that's equal parts practical investigation and profound self-discovery.
Unlike the frantic googling many of us do when contemplating change (guilty!), Shannon's approach is deliberate and nourishing. She creates protected pockets of time – those 15-30 minutes we might otherwise spend doom-scrolling – to explore possibilities, reach out to professionals in fields that interest her, and critically examine how different options align with her non-negotiables.
What makes this practice powerful is how it transforms anxiety into agency. When she felt stuck in her corporate job, she would listen to podcasts during lunch breaks, often with tears streaming down her face, absorbing stories of women who had successfully pivoted. This wasn't just information-gathering; it was gathering courage by witnessing others who had walked similar paths.
The ripple effect of this practice extends beyond Shannon herself. Now, as a coach, she guides other women through this same process, showing them how to reclaim small moments throughout their day to build the foundation for significant change.
Listen to this if:
You're feeling trapped between career ambitions and family responsibilities
You're afraid of making a change because "who am I to want more?"
You're curious about transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship
You need practical strategies for finding time to invest in yourself when you're already maxed out
Pre-order Shannon’s book here.
Listen to more transformation stories here.
Let’s keep rising higher together.
💓 Aransas
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