PP 274: Becoming a Legend with Izabela Lundberg

Izabela Lundberg is an Inspirational Magnetic Keynote Speaker, who knows how to energize, engage, and enchant an audience from organizations, universities, and charitable organizations to sports teams and a wide range of associations. Izabela is a unique individual who has a personal story sprinkled with miracles all over.

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Kim Sutton Welcome back to another episode of positive productivity. This is your host, Kim Sutton, and I am so happy that you are here to join us today. I am also thrilled to introduce our guest, Izabela Lundberg. Izabela is the CEO and founder of legacy Leaders Academy. Welcome, Izabela.

Izabela Lundberg Good morning.

Kim Sutton I’m so happy to have you here. And I would love if you would share a bigger and better introduction because I know what I did for you did not even do your justice. So would you mind sharing a little bit of your background, more of your background with the listeners?

Izabela Lundberg Sure Kim. First of all, thank you so much for having me on your show. And I’m super thrilled that we had a finally chance to do this together. In terms of my background, I just started all from, you know, traveling the world and being exposed to so many different cultures and countries and then bringing everything together by living in United States, right? And really filling in that country and land of opportunities, where I felt like I have a blank canvas to do whatever I wanted to do. So but a lot of experimentation. And as you know, nobody’s perfect, right? And a lot of trials and errors, I was able to actually to a collect a great acumen of work with fortune 500 companies, professional coaches and athletes, as well as very innovative small businesses to truly wanted to make an impact in difference on large scale.

Kim Sutton Where are you from originally, Izabela?

Izabela Lundberg I grew up in former Yugoslavia. I was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina, and I had a chance to live with two major cultures, that is now separate two countries Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia. And my background is my ethnicity is Croatian. If you’re familiar at all with the Balkan wars and conflicts that occurred there. I was as a result of what occurred during the era and late 90s, early 90s, I’m sorry. As a teenager, became very quickly a refugee, and immigrant, and entrepreneur, and coach, and trainer, and interpreter, and so many other roles as a result of event that one particular event changed my life forever.

Kim Sutton Yeah. I am familiar. And this is gonna date me, but I was going through high school around that time. So it was very much a topic, especially in our global studies classes. And even one of my friends actually had an exchange student from Croatia. So we heard a lot about what was going on in the trials and tribulations and just all the I don’t want to say drama, because that doesn’t even begin to express. I can’t even imagine being a refugee. Where have your travels taken you and what have been your favorite places to visit?

Izabela Lundberg Obviously had a journey where I was, as a young woman, barely 19 at the time, have lived on my own in five different countries. My journey started from Austria, Germany, Sweden, obviously, then United States. But then when I stablished myself, I found my new home in Denver, Colorado. And from there, I was really able to explore this beautiful country that were part of traveling to 44 states, and over 40 countries worldwide, which really gave me so much perspective. What is going on, not only economically, politically, but also to really see what is happening around the world with people, right? Where their interests are, where the passions are, and how these certain cultures really create most amazing, either innovative ideas, but also elements that will make us kind of look at into flex, you know, it’s like oh, well look at what they’re doing versus what we could do and then kind of pick what works best for you. So when you ask me the question, Where was the most amazing opportunity or what did I like the best? It’s really hard to answer in very single one prong approach because it just so much to it, right? But some places that I would love to go back for sure are New Zealand, some of the islands between Australia and New Zealand. Obviously love Asia, but where I find most intriguing obviously are some of the areas also believe it or not North America.

Kim Sutton I love how you mentioned number one how beautiful the country is and number two, how much you learned just by looking at other cultures and countries, especially in light of what is going on in America right now. And I never want to date. So I’m not going to date when we’re recording this. And listeners, I would say don’t even look at the date of when it’s released. But no matter where we are, and when it is, there’s always something to look at as beauty and marvelous about wherever we are. And I was watching a TED talk recently that was looking at the different economic statuses of people in different countries, lower class, middle class, upper class, and how no matter where people were in different countries. Upper class in let’s just say, well, not China, but I’m just trying to think of upper classes could be something completely different from what upper class in America is. And that just made me feel so blessed. I’m not upperclass. But no matter what we’re going through, there’s always something that we can look at and be and feel extremely grateful for.

Izabela Lundberg Absolutely, Kim. What is so beautiful is if we’re looking at the things that really differentiate us, we’ll always see things that are different, right? And then they’re also to middle separators. Where we also look at from different perspective of things that, you know, as I always say, common language of a number above that smile, those heartfelt hug. Those things that connect us and make us human and really show the different tapestry of humanity. Because I also had a privilege to work with people from over 80 countries worldwide, and learn firsthand about their traditions, beliefs, different approaches to things that I have to say that was the most priceless life experience. And I was [inaudible] cry for every MasterCard. But for that price was experienced, I came with a value on it. Because really changed and deepened so many things within myself, and with my work, with the approaches that I do in everything I touch. So as a result, I found that to be wealthiest in skill and knowledge and awareness, because I love that, right? And I think if we do that, from whatever we set will be much more richer from that depth of that human connection, which I think deeply down ultimately, everybody’s seeking and looking for.

Kim Sutton Oh, without a doubt. I agree with everything that you just said. Would you mind sharing more about Legacy Leaders Academy and what you do?

Izabela Lundberg Well, absolutely. See, I started in Europe as an educator. And when I came to U.S., I got additional undergrad based on my experience in Global Business Management. And what happens is, initially when I was teaching and working with kids, I quickly realized kids are going home, and you can relate to that, because you’re the mother of beautiful children. And now you know it’s sometimes they drive you crazy, but they’re careers, they’re energetic, they’re learning, they’re supporting one another. And it’s so great to grow up in this health environment with siblings, right? That is what I used to have, and everything absolute change in a second. And then looking at these different dynamics with their children, I realized how much these kids are going back in environments and they were not not necessarily the healthiest one. And whatever, as an educator will try to do will kind of undo to some extent, because I saw a lot of different parenting styles and kids really been in turmoil and different behavioral patterns, right? Then I realized when it came to U.S. and we start working in corporate America, and then also with intrapreneurs, in parallel, I recognize very quickly how much actually more impact I can have teaching and educating and working and coaching and training with adults, which in some ways I’m sure you can relate to because you do that as well.

Kim Sutton Absolutely.

Izabela Lundberg And then recently Kim, why I got to this conclusion, whatever we do on a double two level and between us to learn, right? And sure, the skill and knowledge, that adult will take it everywhere they go, either it’s their work, other it’s their home, other is their classroom where they will have an impact on others. And I think it’s extremely essential to really look at how that echoes and disseminate even that one aha moment or one thing that they will have an epiphany to be better and be greater. So now to circle back well how does Legacy Leaders Academy came about. I realized that so many adults really wanted to live a meaningful life, beyond a paycheck the title, the status, the position, the house, so whatever it is for some people, right? Or money, or the car, or beautiful wife, or kids. When we look at all of that how we measure accomplishments and status and I love what you said that middle class or upper class have a completely different values and meaning dependent upon which culture you’re in. So I realize that many of them really want to work on their legacy of something that is so meaningful, impactful now, not when they pass away, not when it’s going to be recognized hundreds years later, but absolutely now. And then Legacy Leaders Academy came in as a great way to bring legacy leaders to help one another, to truly do things that matter that can make an impact on others. So what are my slogan is “Leave a legacy, a legacy that matters.” Because so many things we do, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in but on the end of the day, do they really matter? And to who they matter to.

Kim Sutton Izabel, say that one more time, but not the whole thing, the motto because it was so beautiful, but I can’t repeat it unless you repeat it one more time.

Izabela Lundberg Sure, absolutely.

Kim Sutton Leave a legacy legacy that matters. Did I just mess it all up?

Izabela Lundberg No, you didn’t “Leave a legacy, a legacy that matters. And then be the legend in your legendary way.”

Kim Sutton That is so extremely beautiful, and I have to share with you and listeners, it took more than 35 years. That’s my best guess, more than 35 years to realize that what mattered most in my life was not how much money I had. Because I was living every day prior to that thinking, everything will be better when or I’ll be happy when or will be great when. And then I went through my own journey and realize everything is great now. So how can I share this with the world? And it was like the light bulb came on. Yes, my house is a mess ad my kids are crazy and I have way too many animals. By the way, I have cats up for adoption, if any listeners want some. But it’s a blessed life, because we have everything that we need. And anything that we don’t have, we probably don’t need anyway.

Izabela Lundberg That is so beautiful Kim, and it’s amazing that we really live life by our own design, and by our own meaning, our own purpose, and our own values, right? Because when I remember when I came to U.S. with traditions and beliefs and different upbringing that I have been exposed, but then also the other, you know, countries in Europe, I looked at what is typical approach here in U.S. and everything was like, okay, elementary school, then High School, then college, then marriage, then cows, then cars, then husband, then kids. And everything was kind of like a blueprint. But the blueprint that work maybe hundreds of years ago or 50 years ago, maybe that works still for so many people, but wasn’t necessarily my blueprint. I did not resonate with that. So to me, what was disrupted not because of my willing, right? So now I have to look at what I can do and pick up the pieces based on what I am in control of. And things don’t get in all that order. And it’s great and it’s okay and then just living in a moment and have that works, again, for you and your family without stressing about things that truly do not matter because we believed that that is the way to be. That’s where really we disconnect from truly who we are what we’re meant to do and then from our own internal happiness.

Kim Sutton  Oh, absolutely. Izabela, what did you want to be when you were a little girl?

Izabela Lundberg See, I had a dream. I had a dream to be Olympian more than anything in the world. But I was a little tall, skinny girl petite, inter sorry, a little girl, but really shy. And then I grew up in this kiddy little kid that my father used to call me from affection of point, Olive Oil from cartoon because that was just like, it’s still skinny, twiggy girl that a lot of guys or boys will say, “You know, you will never be anything.” Because for them being an athlete was all about men dominating the industry and being an Olympian was for the best of the best. And I realized very quickly how little was invested in sports for men versus women. And was amazing to also very quickly to pick that eventhough I wanted to do that my dream may not realize because of environment I was in. But then I found other avenues how I can live what I wanted to do. And I wanted to be educator. The main reason why I wanted to change influence of those kids at that time to believe that they can be anything they want it to be. And if I maybe I tried harder or had a more supporters, maybe my dream would actualize. But regardless of that I never left a dream far away. I’ve always been fascinated by Olympics. And why realize why because that’s the only way in my mind, sporting events of Best of the Best around the world come together so that we can really roots and support but also show all these beautiful nations and their representatives of wide range of sports to show us what their capable of. And that’s to me, it’s still the dream that lives every two years, from winter to Olympics, to Summer Olympic Games.

Kim Sutton I did not realize and now I am dating it, darn it. Now I have to go back and redo what I just said. But I did not realize that we’re actually in an Olympic year. So I’m actually very excited because there aren’t very many things that I watch on television. But I had no idea until just a couple, actually just a couple days ago that we are within a few weeks of the Winter Olympics for 2018.

Izabela Lundberg Absolutely. And they’re happening in South Korea. And when you also think about, as you mentioned earlier, how politics, economies and different things affecting how we think, how we act, what we do, right? How we consume information. This is going to be very significant on so many levels, and hopefully will bring world together and show again, what is truly always intended with those Olympics from centuries ago, to really future, again, athletes and their capacity to show their strength. And yes, that reflects some physical. But what a lot to learn came from working with professional coaches and athletes in elite sports. How important it is obviously, that mindset and enville, and drive and passion, and that internal mental game from mental and emotional capacity to really deal with the fear factors, and everything that really slow us down or kill our dreams or never let us to try or never allowed us to really go places or do something that we always desired to do.

Kim Sutton Absolutely. We can let our circumstances define us or we can overcome them and by overcoming we can be the best of the best.

Izabela Lundberg Very, very, true.

Kim Sutton I would love to go back if you don’t mind. And because it’s so important to me that listeners understand that we can overcome any circumstances. And listeners, you know that none of these chats are ever pre rehearsed, pre scripted, but to be totally honest, I have no idea where they’re gonna go ever. What is journey as a refugee look like? Did you have to leave in the middle of the night with nothing because you and yourself have overcome and becomes such a success story. I mean, that I’m not saying that where you were before was not a success story. But people often want to be stuck in the circumstances and think that it’s never going to get better. Would you share a little bit more about what that journey look like for you?

Izabela Lundberg Sure, it’s very true. And one of the things I have to say, I was blessed to have a most amazing father, and also great, great mentor, my grandma. And they gave me amazing foundation that really helped me to navigate and deal with the most awful, unspeakable events. I have to really make a very hard decision. And I share parts of that story in my book, The World Messenger: From Fear to Greatness. And the reason why I did this, not only I overcame healing, obviously and everything else but people insisted, as soon as about, it’s important for people to have opportunity to know so that they can navigate and put things in perspective what they’re dealing with. It’s maybe not as challenging or difficult as they may think. But I also leverage professional coaches and athletes that I drew from six continents, as well as business leaders to really kind of show parallel. Why I’m bringing this up, because so many of us endured so much. And in my experience, when you have to make a decision, are you going to spread propaganda news to save your dad, or you have to let your dad go and go through family values, and let him die in peace the way and respect his wish, was the most challenging epiphany in my life. And I, again was very, very young at the time and again, at the strength, the belief, the love, unconditional love that he had towards me, and not willingness to jeopardize who I am and what I’m about really became my mantra through everything I had to endure. When you think about it, I lived in five countries English is my sixth language. I have to learn language to culture, adopt to adjust with no parents. And on top of it, I also had my diabetic sister as my dad’s big task. When he said, Izabel, I know you can save me and I don’t want you to save me. I want to die here. But I want you to save your sister. He knew that he needed to give me amazing big goal. They will preoccupy me and not make me be self destructed. But more to really push for something, that at a time, I also felt it’s Mission Impossible. But then again, I have to face fears and think every second with strategy, with different ways and approaches how I’m going to make that happened. It wasn’t easy. But the journey was, needless to say, full of true danger, not just perceived fear. And on top of it, the fear that I will not be able to fulfill the promise and more than anything, I wanted to do that. So I will show just the ending and end up the Yes, I said, my sister. And she is thriving in Sweden and being an amazing leader. She changed her a degree and became head nurse, and nurse with specialized care in diabetes, and help so many diabetics and clinics in Sweden and being such a valuable voice of what it means to help others, right? Within the same time, I felt, I can’t explain to you Kim the level of magnitude and gratitude to know that I fulfilled what I said I will do and I found a way. And I’ve had to face all those fears on that journey. And as results made me way stronger, and helped me out than to face all the other fields and challenges I encounter since then, specifically in the country that we live in, and everything that is so changing radically on daily basis.

Kim Sutton You have just blown my mind. Because it’s one thing to be taking care of yourself with, and I’m not saying that you have no health conditions that had to be addressed. But it’s one thing if we’re a healthy being with no significant health issues that need to be addressed, and we are running for our lives. But it’s another to be taken care of somebody else. Number one, I mean, I can’t imagine running with even one of my children. I would do it, you know, I would do it, because that’s where my heart is and because I love them dearly. And I will do anything to protect my children. But I don’t even have a diabetic child to handle and I can’t imagine just the fear of where am I going to get more insulin? And how am I going to take care of making sure that blood sugar’s taking care of. And I don’t mean to bring humor into this conversation. But my son and I have been watching The Walking Dead. And that has come up in my mind before because my sister is a diabetic. And I’ve often thought about what would they do? You know, there’s a baby that’s born in the show, what do you do if the mother’s not around? You know, how do you get what you need? And when there’s a will there’s a way for anything in our life.

Izabela Lundberg Absolutely.

Kim Sutton I don’t know whether to say congratulations, or congratulations isn’t the right word by far but a great job. And that’s not even just, you’re blowing my mind. So thank you. That was so weak, but I just you’ve left me speechless, obviously, because now I’m all tongue tied. And listeners, you’ve heard me have brain fart before, that’s actually where I am right now. I just don’t know how to word it properly.

Izabela Lundberg It’s okay, you’re doing great Tim. And what I really wanted to share that I am not super wonderwoman and have more than anybody else capacity to either love or overcome or face fears. But I definitely had a fair more fair shares of those fears and issues that I knew if I will just accept, I didn’t want to be statistics of refugees that we see a shared around the world, what that looks like, feels like what it is, and majority of people never knew that I came up shown this country as a refugee, they never even think about it, because they cannot fund them that also somebody can be refugee that is educated, that is accomplished, that is strong, that is all these things that they just cannot see the other side of the coin of it. And that is also great conversation and opportunity to dispel some of those myths but also the fears that others are facing, you know, that are politically right now from right or wrong reasons everybody are out here to take away something from someone or the we’re all terrorists or we’re all whatever. Because at the end of the day, I have to say nobody choose ever, I did not meet one single one refugee into this planet Earth, either from at war, torn country, or due to environmental issues that they have to relocate and move and seek and start your life from scratch that volunteered and said this is what I chose and this is what I want it to be. And I never really accepted that labeling, and I never let that labeling defines me. And that’s where I’m at where I am today.

Kim Sutton Izabela, I actually just went and did a quick search for what all the definitions are for refugee, because it occurred to me that we can be refugees from our own circumstances. But unfortunately, Merriam Webster dictionary didn’t really support my idea, necessarily, but I think that we can be always running from whatever– we can be running from war in our own personal lives, and in our own upbringing. And just like you were just saying we can stay and we can follow the herds or we can make something better.

Izabela Lundberg Absolutely.

Kim Sutton So take us deeper into legacy leaders. Could you share something more specific about what you do?

Izabela Lundberg Sure. I’ve worked for Fortune 500 companies as an executive coach and consultant, and a lot of times as advisory. And I help with innovative approaches of technology and change and transformation. But what I also realize I also helped internal on the talent and team level, and helping teams to be more effective. And I know that sounds very corporate-ish, but then when you look at deep down, what I do is help people to really get that back passion thereby so that they can be the most effective they can be. And then to actualize their greatness. They usually and this is why I’m saying everything that we want is on the outer side of the fear, right? But then how do we actualize? And a lot of times environments that we’re in either working or living environments, sometimes both don’t give us any proper foundation to make things happened. So I do create a– I have a curricula that I help and train individuals who want to actualize their potential by really tapping into passion that really wanted to make a difference. For me, everything is understanding somebody’s motivation. Why somebody wants to do something when people just say I want to be influencer. Okay. Why? You know, so what do you want to influence? And how do you want to influence or if it’s gonna say, I want to really want to make sure that I’m on the right path and develop my leadership skills. Again, why? So that ultimately, what everything leads to that to deeper meaning and self actualization through the passion and true genuine interest, so that they can be more effective in what they’re trying to do. So I have situation was when I work with executive privately who wants to be better leader and lead his team, and really create a more innovative approaches in what they’re doing in healthcare space, which is amazing. And I know they’re gonna impact hundreds and thousands and millions of people. But the question is, again, how do you navigate different personalities? How do you work effectively those teams? Do you have a right team, right? You know more than anybody, Kim how important it is to know, to have a right group of individuals to share the vision. And that doesn’t always happen, even with a lot of coaching and training. And definitely not many of individuals have the natural capacity. So from legacy leaders perspective, it is an opportunity to really understand of anything that we want to do. Like you will create an amazing content, Kim, you’re already raising the bar of a woman what’s possible as a mother, as so many things that defines who you are, right? You’re already living legacy, not what you’re going to leave, but what are you living at every single day and actualizing that. So that’s kind of the way I work depending of scenarios and sometimes they’re not necessarily as verbose, sometimes very specific, but ultimately accumulated steps. Just something that maybe you never even thought of yourself you could actually make it happen and what does this process will lead you to or where will take you next, right? And then also obviously, opportunities to connect with serial entrepreneurs, and leaders, and decision makers, and be able to unify and make things a faster greater. And how do we can then be involved in large projects, either from humanitarian efforts that I do, either is solely from merger and acquisitions and making companies better stronger as a result of what market is requiring, but through that lens of leadership and the lens of legacy. Is it something that matters? Is it just pure profit? Is it something is going to create an impact but impact is going to really better others or just yourself?

Kim Sutton What do you see as being some of the biggest challenges with your clients?

Izabela Lundberg The biggest challenges with the clients is that they are in different stages of life and they really lose track of priorities and they lose track of their own “Why” But beside that fear factor. And again, I interviewed people from six continents that face fear on daily basis. And when I did, I really became very attuned what the fears we are having right now. And believe Kim, I’m just going to share top five. But of course, the number one everybody’s kind of dancing around is a failure or not. And what I found actually is a fear of rejection. We’re in a society right now that we’re so petrified to do any move of anything. I mean, it’s like, because if we don’t really face the fear of rejection, and that is okay to be rejected, or receive the No, and it’s not that sentence, just the way we’re programmed and trained. And for a lot of people create so much emotional distress that they rather will not try anything. And as a result, the fear of failure is the second one, because it’s kind of the in between those two. So when you break from both of those, it’s amazing what can happen unless you ask, unless you seek out, or unless you dare, obviously, nothing gonna move, or it will be moving in very small increments. And then, of course, fear of unknown, because we want to know everything how’s gonna unfold? If I do this am I gonna get that? Just the speed of how we consume information and where are we headed, and what we’re trying to do, it just really shows that with all information that’s in our fingertips, we want to know for certain that this is going to pan out the way we want it. And that creates a lot of friction. And by being not allowing and just want to know everything and sometimes forcing everything, right? That unknown it’s not any more than a what would naturally possibly could happen. When you already have preconceived motion, when you already have a sense of how something should go does not allow you to be anything else than in that very confined sterile space.

Kim Sutton Izabela, if you had access to a time machine, or a crystal ball that could show you your future, would you use them?

Izabela Lundberg I feel like I am building stuff with intention that I already know where I’m going that I don’t have to know what would crystal ball is validate or not. Because everything that I’m been validated so far, it’s showing that I’m on the right track where I needed to be. So to me, I can’t explain that because when you live and survive. And I have to say my love was so many times in dangers that at least 10 major instances with life and death situation for me, and I’m still alive. So it is bigger reason why I’m obviously here and I strongly believe in that, and not taking that lightly. So I just know that it is a bigger journey for me to be accomplished. And I know also that I’m on that track because I get validation. There’s so many avenues almost on daily basis.

Kim Sutton I need to share, my oldest son was not planned. Actually, now that I think about it, none of my children are planned. You know, I think the movie Back to the Future where Biff I think Biff gets it. But he gets a hold of the DeLorean and he goes back and he gets the book and then he majorly alters the path of the future. And while none of my children were planned, and there have been a lot of struggles, I’m not saying it was because of the children, but just a lot of struggles that happened over the course of those 16 years, I would never want to go back and change that. Because if I did, I wouldn’t be here right now. And I wouldn’t be– I would be chasing income still trying to get to the top of the corporate ladder in the field of interior design and architecture. And I wouldn’t have known that there was anything outside of that. So I love that you said that. And I don’t know where I’m going. I know where I want to go and I guess I need to change that mindset. I do know where I’m going if I– when I, see listeners, you got to take out those ifs, when I keep on working and taking even if they’re just baby steps daily when I keep on taking them. But I wouldn’t want to change that for the world because everything that I’ve experienced so far and everything that you’ve experienced so far has brought you to where you are today.

Izabela Lundberg Absolutely. Absolutely. When I look back you as you said, you know, it’s a reason and sometimes we don’t understand what is the reason because when where in the pain, when we’re into all that turmoil, when we’re in conflict, when we’re feeling like we’re not either enough or we can’t do it to up ourselves or whatever. But when you look at all of that back 10, 15, 20 years ago, you really then see the stepping stones to make you who you are today and prepare you who you’re going to be tomorrow. And as you said, changing and altering will not give you the path, but also will not give you the outcome and some of those outcomes, right? We celebrate we wanted, we were happy about it. And an amazing, amazing things are yet to unfold, right? And I really strongly believe that we’re yet to see some most amazing things that we’re producing as a result, not just only on mindset, but will and desire, right? To do this and add this extra work, an extra curricular to help others like you doing with this podcast to impact female listeners around the world and to make a big difference in their lives on personal and professional level, right?

Kim Sutton Oh, absolutely. And I’ve just recently shared as at the time of this recording, I had just recently shared that I was trying to read one book at a time in 2018. But thanks to one of my mentors, cough cough Cliff Ravenscraft. I started reading The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks last night. Have you read that?

Izabela Lundberg No. I did not at yet.

Kim Sutton The subtitle is conquer your hidden fear and take life to the next level. And one of the questions that he starts with right now is basically and I can’t remember because the book is not right in front of me. So I can’t remember exactly. But are you ready to live a life where you are happy every day?

Izabela Lundberg So deep.

Kim Sutton And to me, that was just a wow. Like, am I ready? Because I have seen and he shares in the book how so many people, they have something amazing going for them. But then they self sabotage themselves because they’re just not used to having such an amazing life. So many of us will do something just because we’re not used to that constant happiness.

Izabela Lundberg It’s true. Because every time in the past when I looked at everything that I loved was taken away from me, everything that I [inaudible] was perished. And then I will find out where accomplish I will feel like oh my god, I have this now but what if something again happens again. And when happens too many times that’s where the really truly reprogramming has to happen, so that you can have really allowed other circumstances to enter in your life. And happiness is internal work and took me years to figure out how true that is. And how actualize that within myself, no matter what, no matter rejections, no matter what’s happening externally, and just to smile and be giggly and be the kid that I was with this big huge wondering eyes skipping as a six year old. I still skip on the streets, Kim and reason I’m bringing this up, when you have that internal happiness that’s that is like a being child again, and being beautiful and fit and energetic and not caring about a 99% things that truly do not matter. And when you strip all of that, what do you find that the most amazing exhilarate in essence, and I can see that who is already exhibiting that and who is on their path to get there. And because this can see who is stuck and who just stubbornly wants to stay there. And the best part is we can choose also who we associate with and with individuals that can help us to preserve that energy and preserve that innocence and that open mindedness and eagerness and drive and passion just come naturally for things that we really know. It’s us versus what we doctrinated to think and believe that it’s us.

Kim Sutton Izabela, what do you do? Let me rephrase that. How do you ensure that you live the most positive day possible? Do you have any rituals in your day?

Izabela Lundberg Absolutely. I mean, I am waking up early. I am blessed to have this most amazing view of my apartment in my building this quarter state of art where I have this windows from top to floor 16 feet ceiling that really opens the world of this amazing glass wall and seeing the energy of city of downtown. But not only that that I wake up every morning with sunrise in my city that I love and means so much to me And with that sunrise I start my morning ritual on meditation and I always wake up happy. How can you not be happy because sun is there and then gets on your face and it just that peacefulness and and this positive energy, right? And I will always have the moments where I’m like, you know visualize or affirm what I would like to unfold and I already have action packed agenda and I was excited to meet and see all these people and then bring in my A-game and I already see how this is going unfold in 99%. It’s exactly how I seen it. And that beauty is, like, I’m excited to get up. And I’m excited to get moving and, you know, nurture my body and mind. And sometimes I also do quick meditation that is guided. And regardless, that is kind of that first, you know, few minutes for me far away from social media, text messages and everything else. And then, you know, obviously, healthy breakfast to nurture my body and getting ready and go. And then naturally, I have to say, I have energy to sustain me throughout the day that I don’t necessarily coffee, I’m not necessarily stuck, you know, I need to have this in order to have that, none of that For me, it’s more about I’m ready, let’s roll up and make it happen, and then just go at it. And but I also have a ritual throughout the day, and specifically, depending on what I need to do. I also have a ritual on the end of the day. And I have to say a lot of times we forget, a, to celebrate our successes, celebrate our blessings, celebrate some amazing momentos. What did I learn? What was aha moment? Who I did learn? Then really preserve that. And one thing I start actually doing, and you probably will be laughing Kim. I read years ago about this little gratitude jar where you put this epiphanies or great moments, and create a little sticky slip or whatever and write something down that really was amazingly impactful to you. And then to throw that in that little jar, write it up and on the end of the year, or whenever you feel down to go back to the jar. And I find that to be little nuggets and treasures that reminds me when things are really rocky, when things really don’t go the way, not only I wanted, but really could make a major, major breakthroughs for so many people, right? And sometimes you don’t have controls of those outcomes to really still say, okay, maybe I’m not seeing the picture yet. But maybe it’s a bigger reason behind it, but still to be okay with that. And then go back to something positive and remember moments that, again, puts me back in that state of my internal peace and happiness.

Kim Sutton I don’t think that that is silly at all. And the only reason I would laugh at it is just thinking about a gratitude jar in my house, I can just see what my littles who are three year old twins and a four year old, they would be in it all the time, however I’ve been designing the positive productivity planner for some time. And it does have a space on each daily thread, as well as, in the weekly reflection and a monthly reflection to look back over the month. And write down what most grateful for in the day in the month in the quarter. And I think it’s so important that we do that. And so often I find myself, Izabella the end of the day, I’m completely exhausted. I do make a point of writing down my agenda for the next day. But so often I forget to just flip it over and go to that box that says what am I most grateful for today? Because I don’t know, just I’m tired. You know, but I think it’s so important. You’ve just given me a little kick in the bum to make sure to flip it over and do that every day.

Izabela Lundberg And definitely that’s help us reflect and also help us to restart for the next day with that same exhilarating joy and happiness to move forward, right?

Kim Sutton Absolutely. Thank you for that reminder. Listeners, remember what you’re grateful every single day. Izabela, this has been an amazing conversation. Thank you so much for sharing about your journey and how you are making a greater impact on the world around us. It is so appreciated. Where can listeners connect with you online and get to know more about you?

Izabela Lundberg They can connect through theworldmessenger.com. theworldmessenger.com I also have a very special for your audience. For anybody who is eager to learn more, I have a free book special. You just pay for shipment if you’d like to, I will gladly sign it send it to you. And if any of those golden nuggets resonate, you will have more I guarantee in that book. But also I am very much so involved on LinkedIn. So yes, you can connect with me on Facebook and all the other media but LinkedIn is the one. If you want to make tremendous strides and impact in your business from a business standpoint, but also connect and align with others that can help you to thrive. That’s definitely another avenue that you can find me and again, my spelling of my name. It’s a little bit unique. So it’s I-Z-A-B-E-L-A Lundberg L-U-N-D-B-E-R-G, Izabela Lundberg. So you will be able to find me very easily.

Kim Sutton Thank you so much listeners if you’re driving or at the gym or just completely busy right now, don’t burn your dinner. You can find all the URLs on the show notes page at thekimsutton.com/pp274. Thank you again so much Izabela, do you have a golden nugget or a parting piece of advice that you can offer to listeners?

Izabela Lundberg Absolutely. One Golden Nugget that really constantly is helping me out to thrive is the one that acts to express the love and joy on a daily basis and share that with others. Do not fear it. Just be in the loving, beautiful space as much as you can be. It’s infectious and it will get you wherever you want it to get.