A 6-Step Process for Making Your Dreams Come True

How Emmy-nominated Director and Entrepreneur, Susie Jaramillo, Uses a Growth Mindset to Make a Big Impact

Apr 14, 2023

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack, or watch us on YouTube.

Before we get into all the big lessons I learned in our latest episode, let’s talk about our guest, Susie Jaramillo. Susue is an Emmy Nominated Director, illustrator, storyteller, and entrepreneur.

She serves as President and Chief Creative Officer of Encantos, an award-winning entertainment company for kids.

Encantos Original properties include the Emmy-nominated and 2x Kidscreen award-winning preschool brand Canticos, and Tiny Travelers, a brand designed to introduce children to the countries and cultures of the world.

Susie is the creative heart of Encantos, creating the vision and setting the bar for brilliant stories with captivating, diverse characters that will endure the test of time.

A fierce advocate for diversity and representation in media, she is a sought-after speaker. She has been featured in Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, NPR, NBC, AdWeek, Brandweek, Univision, Telemundo, and more.

But, this isn’t a conversation about Susie’s many accomplishments. It’s a conversation about the mindset she uses to break through barriers and keep moving forward when she faces obstacles.

In this week’s episode of The Uplifters Podcast, Susie Jaramillo reminds us that we all have a story to tell, and that success comes not when we do what the storybooks or our families tell us we should do, but when we have the freedom to pursue what genuinely interests us.

A natural rule breaker, Susie has always marched to her own drummer. In this episode, you’ll learn the powerful process she relies on to refine and narrow her focus to increase impact!

Here’s how to increase your impact in 6 steps:

Identify your talents and gifts and lean all the way into them.
Accept that you will NEVER know everything you need to know in order to be ready. Trust that you already know what you need to get started and that you will keep learning. No amount of pondering is going to create action or change. Readiness is way overrated (and the most successful people don’t ever ask themselves if they’re ready).
As you embark on new adventures, notice what you really enjoy doing- the parts of the process that excite you and engage your curiosity. Find ways to do more of those (and less of the stuff that bums you out or drags your energy down).
Notice where you have an impact. Do people need more of your talents and gifts in a single area? That’s a good sign that you’re meeting a need. If you have narrowed your focus based on point two, you’re in a really excellent position to continue isolating your focus and energy into something truly meaningful.
Look for your people. Notice who gets what you’re trying to do, who challenges you to do more, and who offers support. These people are your audience and champions. You need them, and they need you! (Stay tuned for more on this in our next episode too!)
Stay curious! Keep learning, keep refining, and keep discovering new answers to all of the questions above.

Hear more from Susie on social at @Canticosworld and @sujaramillo. Learn more about Encantos at www.encantosworld.com.

More Uplifter Inspiration

Out in the world

The Uplifter of the Week (is that a thing now?) has to be Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who recently retired from public office because she “no longer has enough in the tank”. Her resignation speech echoed a sentiment I’ve heard so often in my recent interviews with Uplifters.

“You can be anxious, sensitive, kind, and wear your heart on your sleeve. You can be a mother, or not. You can be an ex-Mormon, or not. You can be a nerd, a crier, a hugger. You can be all of these things. And not only can you be here, you can lead, just like me."

Whatever roles we play, whatever stage we are in, these women remind us to celebrate our uniqueness and use it to strengthen our leadership, whether we lead companies, families, or countries.

Inside LiveUpDaily, our Coaching Community for Uplifters

At the end of every episode of the podcast, I ask our guest to share a quick way she lifts her energy when she needs a boost. This week I asked our LiveUp crew how they do this. Here are their responses, in case you could use a boost today.

Body or brain care (a short nap or a few jumping jacks do the job in a flash)
Talking to people who inspire me
Making something look nice (like cleaning or organizing or redecorating or doing someone's hair/makeup)
Planning an event/gathering
Deep interactions where I feel I am appreciated and helpful
Taking a moment to consciously switch gears when moving from work mode to mom mode
Connecting with other adults for non-work purposes
Trying new tastes or experiences
Slowing down my brain by taking things one moment at a time
Drinking lemon water
Uplifting music, books, and movies

How do you boost your energy when it gets low? Leave a comment to share your tips and boost others!

Coming Soon on The Uplifters

Tune in Next Week

Overcoming Fears and Limiting Beliefs with Entrepreneur, Rachel Lipson

Who would you like to hear from on The Uplifters Podcast?

Maybe it’s someone you know that you believe would inspire others. Or maybe it’s someone you admire from afar. Maybe it’s a specific challenge or skill that you’re looking to learn more about. Whatever or whoever it is, let me know by replying to this message, commenting below, or leaving me a voicemail. This show belongs to all of us, so let’s work together to make it something truly valuable to all of us.

Nominate an Uplifter

Sexy Breakfast Break

What could possibly be sexier than a giant cinnamon roll the size of my head, on a paper plate, in the middle of a faux French tavern?

What did you eat for breakfast this week?