Episode 104 | You Only Get One Ticket: Living and Leading with Intentional Joy

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speaker-0: Your life is a one-time ticket. No practice rounds, no refunds. So I'm going to ask you a question this morning. Are you just doing life or are you actually enjoying the ride? This week on the Lead with Hope podcast, we dive into how to stop sweating the small stuff, show up fully, and ensure that your life's ride is one worth remembering.

LWH Closing: Every review spread HOPE ⁓ empowers more leaders to rise. ⁓ for listening ⁓ until next time, ⁓ leading with HOPE. ⁓

Brandi Kelly: or on the Spark Hope website. Thank you, Convissary, for supporting the Lead with Hope podcast.

speaker-0: Welcome to the Lead with Hope Podcast. I'm your host, Brandi Kelly. And on this show we explore the power of hope in leadership and in life. Joining me today is Cindy Walsh Rinsler. She is the VP of Programs and Services at Inroads to Opportunities. With over 20 years in vocational rehabilitation, Cindy is a leading advocate for individuals with disabilities. She is dedicated to fostering inclusive communities.

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speaker-0: sustainable employment and independent living skills. Her leadership has been recognized with the ACES New Jersey 2019 Star Award and appointments to the State Rehabilitation Council and the Union County Development Workforce Board. Welcome to the show.

Brandi Kelly: A big thank you to Craig Williams and Convissary for being a legacy sponsor of this podcast And for investing in stories that matter because when we share our stories with clarity and hope, real change happens.

speaker-1: Hi, thank you.

speaker-0: Cindy, it's a pleasure to have you on the show and I'm looking forward to getting to know a little bit more about you and your story. so why don't we start there? Tell us who you are. I did a brief intro, but there's so much more to unpack.

speaker-1: ⁓ so I am ⁓ I'm a mom of four. have I work here at Inroads to Opportunities. when I was graduating college, ⁓ I was I wanted get my feet wet in the real world before I went for my masters and I thought I I I back when there's a newspaper ads, I applied to this little tiny ad. And I came here and I fell in love with the place. Like you just feel that connection. and I thought this will be a good place to get experience and to make sure this is really the field for me. I've here, ⁓ it'll be twenty nine years next month. And I in a small entry level position. I went for my masters, ⁓ got my license and counseling and and grew with agency. And so now I'm the VP of programs and services. I've worked in every department. We have a a a plethora of options here. ⁓ we really try to individualize our services. So I've worked in all the departments and now I I work with the directors of those departments to try and provide the best services we can to our population.

speaker-0: So I'm I'm curious. At the ⁓ intro the show, I talked about the fact that as we're through life and in our leadership, we wanna ⁓ make sure actually enjoying the road. And I believe in my time ⁓ as a worker all the way to superintendent, ⁓ the kids me so much. So I'm curious when you think about your clients, ⁓ what do your clients teach you enjoying that ride?

speaker-1: So Inroads works with ⁓ teens through retirement age ⁓ individuals with disabilities, a wide range, predominantly developmentally disabled, but we also have ⁓ individuals here with ⁓ mental illness, dual diagnosis, physical impairments. and what I what they've taught me over the years is resilience and optimism. We work with individuals who come from ⁓ some very low income and struggling areas on top of their disability. the joy that they bring into this agency ever each day that they share with us, their How they view the world and and all the good they see, it's it kind of makes, you know, people talk about first world problems and ⁓ well that's the first and all problems are valid and and and deserve, you know, their due attention. But it's kind of hard for me to get stuck in the in the negative when you see people who are are struggling so much more than me. Who who just see the joy in each day. And ⁓ and you know, I I've kind of over the years I've come up with the the kind of mantra for myself that I've got one ticket on this ride called life. Right. And to use it wise wisely myself, but for those I serve too. You know? ⁓ who what can I do to it's no I don't know, no no ride I've ever been on has been fun to do it alone. No. You know? You're screaming on a roller coaster, you're screaming with your pal next to you. And it just makes the thrill so much bigger, right? So much more intense. And so ⁓ that's always been my mantra. Things are getting ⁓ tough, things are You're just feeling weighed down. Mm-hmm. I've got one ticket on this ride. All right. So where's my silver lining? What am I doing here? And and kind of it helps me to refocus. And so I think that's what they've they've brought to my world over the years.

speaker-0: I love that. It's the little things, right? It's the little things in our life that are really the big things. And teach you how to find joy in the journey. That's what my students did for me. They taught me ⁓ the important things were just like ⁓ the pictures I see behind you on the wall, Cindy. ⁓ know, yeah, I see your degrees too, but ⁓ things that really stick out to me ⁓ ⁓ am looking at. That display behind you, I love you. things will happen if you try. I mean they're teaching us every single day in those small ways to enjoy the journey and like you said b before, we don't we created to do this life alone. We are created to be in relationship and to support and to lift one another up. So is a beautiful reminder as we start this episode of the Lead with Hope podcast. ⁓ you were to reflect on your journey, what lessons have had the biggest impact ⁓ on ⁓ in journey?

speaker-1: On this journey, I think biggest life lesson has really ⁓ for me been consistency ⁓ and showing up. It's there's days it's hard. There's days where you know you feel a little beaten down or you feel like this is too big of a task to take on. This is nerve wracking. I have a pit in my stomach. but you show up and and you're consistent and you're there. I know when I first When I first became a manager, which I was ⁓ joke that my my the CEO at the time, my mentor, kind of twisted my arm to become a manager. it wasn't a step I took lightly and and when I went into it, I kept telling her I can't, I'm a worker bee. I'm not a like I'm not a leader, I'm a worker bee. Right. ⁓ And had babies at home and I it was just ⁓ and I kept doing for my team. Like I got it. Let me take care of that. You're busy. Let me do this. you know, it's just easier for me to do it than to show you how to do it. Which wild because I spent all my years training individuals with disabilities how to do things. ⁓ But I am for my staff going, no, no, no, I got it. I don't have time to show you. And and just fell apart. You you can't, you know, so so I stuck with it. I was consistent with, you know, ⁓ I've got make changes and I've got to work with my team. ⁓ and and over the years I've kind of gone from do it for you to empower you ⁓ learned the more I empower the people around me, you the the better we're all be, the farther we'll all go and and the easier the, you know, more collaborative and easier the trip will be.

speaker-0: ⁓ I absolutely love that a leadership development lens. ⁓ Most of the people to this podcast are educators, they're leaders, they're helping professionals. And so ⁓ when you think about empowering your people, ⁓ building capacity for those today, if they're struggling like you were, ⁓ and they are the bee and they just keep doing and giving and they're Headed towards burnout because that's where you're gonna go. If you keep on that road, you're going to hit burnout. What is the first right step to switch that, to change your mindset or your paradigm and start empowering people consistently?

speaker-1: For me, I had to really had to sit down with my team. And we didn't do, I wouldn't say it was like a formal like team bonding day and we played games. It was it wasn't like that. There were really some hardcore one to one meetings and group meetings where it was like, you know, like I had to apologize. I I was I was not trusting you with this. It wasn't intentional. but one of the things that i in in the fields, my mentor growing up in the field, One of the things she always really emphasized was the dignity of risk. Yeah. And that, you know, individuals with disabilities, just like any other person, deserves the dignity of risk of just being able to go out there and try. You might fail, but that's part of life. and I really had to bring that back to my team ⁓ I they deserve the dignity of risk of of trying to do it on their own. Yeah. It might work out great. It might crash and burn. I'm here to support you. And so it started out slow. Mm-hmm. And and and it it took a lot of reinforcement and a reminding and you standing them and just like kind of cheering them on from the background, you know, a text message saying, like, I know you have this today. I'm out of the office, but I'm a text away. ⁓ But you've this. Yeah. and and that's one of my of my daughters are are cheerleaders. One ⁓ she had a coach for a while who ⁓ before they would go out for competition, she would just pump them up and you've got this. And you've and they'd she'd make them chant it, you know, you've got this. And I really like started just texting that out to my team. You've got a hard meeting today. Yeah. I'm here if you if you need to call me in, but I want you to try it. You've got this. Yeah. And so it was it started out real slow, it's all it's an expectation now. It's, you know, and and they'll tease me, they'll go, no, I don't want to got this. I'll say but I'm empowering you. You got this. And and it's and just kind of like you chuckled. They'll chuckle, we'll chuckle and they'll go and they got it. And so yeah, sometimes it's a risk and it it bombs a little bit. We from that.

speaker-0: That is absolutely how we learn. And I love the way you framed that with the dignity of risk, because we need to put language to it. And if that's an expectation, got to share that. You've got to articulate what your expectation is. And what I'm hearing you say, Cindy, ⁓ that the expectation ⁓ you going to try hard things. And sometimes you're going to be successful, sometimes You're going to learn a lesson, but either way, I'm going to offer what we call in the counseling world unconditional positive regard. I'm going to be there to support you and to help you. And if you fail, dust you off and provide that belief and that encouragement that you need to keep moving forward.

speaker-1: Yes. That's it. Yeah. That's that's that's a hundred percent. That's what it is.

speaker-0: And as the leader, it starts with your mindset. It starts with the way that you see the world, the lens through which you see the world, and then how you can begin to put language to those expectations. So talk to us a little bit about the role of your mindset in getting through paradigm shift for you.

speaker-1: So it it really goes to that it it it's so simple to it's that one you've got this one ticket. Mm-hmm. You I I've got no tattoos, but I always joke that I'm gonna get a little tattoo of a ticket on my hand here because it's it's that reminder. It's you've got this one ticket, right? So I had started when I when I started accepting that I was in the management position and embracing it because Like I said, I was I was twisted and ⁓ my arm was twisted. I took it on and I fought it for a little while. When I accepted that this is I'm I'm management now and we're taking we're doing this the right way as best I can. My own dignity of risk. Yeah. I started coming up with a word every year. You know, in in ⁓ this field, like schools, like everywhere, I'm sure we all deal with so many regulatory bodies. ⁓ you know, so many rules to follow, and so many and and some years are just like, Woof, you this is your accrediting year, this is your licensure year, and everyone is is breathing down your back and wants everything. so ⁓ know, I've got this one ticket and I'd have a f a word and would be like hope. I'm finding hope or silver linings. I'm looking for silver lining, positivity, you know, and where's the positivity? ⁓ and I would that year, I'd I'd kind of you know, well w it where we're all coming up with our New Year's resolutions, I'm just adding to my mantra list, you know, like, okay, we got this. So I was able to make that shift. Like I said, it was a slow moving ship. Like we turned slowly, but really by adopting these, you know, I can make a mistake and I can I can crash and burn and I can let my team know. You know, my team knows. I'm not afraid of letting them know when I'm when I'm nervous. Like, guys, this is terrifying, but we got to do this. Yeah. And because we're all human, we get nervous, we get anxious, terrified sometimes, we're psyched sometimes. and and if we just keep our my other mantra with my staff is we're doing this for the the people we serve. We are serving a population, they need us. And so as long as they're at the forefront of what we're doing, whether we're Whether we are dealing with licensure or dealing with a really angry customer or you know what have you. We're gonna be positive. We're gonna you know, it's gonna be okay. And we're gonna go home tonight and we're gonna make dinner with our kids. And maybe we're gonna go to a band concert at the elementary school and life goes on and it's just ⁓ Just giving yourself that grace. Mm-hmm. And then I you know, I had to learn how to give myself that grace. Yeah. And and be truthful with my team. So my team, they they joke all the time. you you know, I I sometimes I have to go, part what I do is advocacy. So I might go speak at the state house or I might go speak to ⁓ we do a day at the hill every, you know, once or twice a year down in DC and and advocating for our participants ⁓ and Testifying to to ⁓ the state senate is not my cup of tea. It's I'm nerve wracked doing it, but it's what I have to do. So I just put on that hat. I accept that I'm nervous. They know it and they're like, no, you're outgoing. I am doing a really good job on this one ticket to let you know, to let you think I'm outgoing. Cause on the inside, I'm terrified, but you know, and it's it's good for them to know. They they give me the support, you know, just like when they are having like the support, I'm there for them.

speaker-0: it all starts with that that mindset, like I said before, and and ⁓ listening to you share about way you frame this life, that one ticket, and and adopting a word or mantra every year is powerful. I've been doing the John Gordon One Word Challenge every year for the last, I don't know, five or six years. ⁓ And this year my focus is on

speaker-1: Love that.

speaker-0: Because people can be hard to love. But that is where leadership starts. We have to love the people that we lead, the people that we serve. that's really what you pointed to here. We're doing this for the people we serve. But Cindy, mindset piece that you're talking about giving yourself grace first and foremost. I don't know about you. But I am most critical in my own head. It's a challenge.

speaker-1: My word this year is grace. To give myself grace.

speaker-0: Then the next step is acceptance because sometimes we stuck because we are fighting against our circle of no control. And if we accept that in this world there's going to be trouble, things are not always going to go the way we want them to go. And sometimes ⁓ are going fail. Just that acceptance. That things are not always going to be the way that we want them to be. And then vulnerability. That's hard for some people. Being vulnerable and honest. And when you mess up, owning it and just saying, guys, I'm sorry, but I really messed this one up, but I'm gonna need your help.

speaker-1: Yeah. It's a skill. That's a skill. That's a hard one to it's and I found it easier as a worker bee to be able to go to my boss, my mentor, go like, I don't know what I did. I don't I don't or I don't know why I did this or I thought this was the right thing to do, but no. it took it it ⁓ it took time as a leader. Yeah. You know, I was I wasn't really giving myself the grace at the time to realize that the leader I had She had years of experience to get there. And and she had, I'm sure, I know, she had her own of inadequacy, you know, like that's just so natural. And I saw her on this pedestal. I can't do that. So took a while to realize like, nope, she was here once and I'm here. And and you gonna it's gonna work out. You're you know, ⁓ try your That's all you can do.

speaker-0: Yeah, and it requires courage. courage is a choice. You can choose to be hopeful and courageous ⁓ just stepping out and doing that next right thing. And like you said, ⁓ may not be the leader that your predecessor was. You're gonna have strengths and weaknesses ⁓ she didn't have, but you're gonna shine by being authentically who you are.

speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah.

speaker-0: Yep. So thinking about that, Cindy, what habits have you cultivated to help you to be the leader that you're meant to be,

speaker-1: I I you know, you have kids, you know, you got you life is busy so I'm I ⁓ I have a lot of structure in my day. ⁓ a few years ago, one of my words was adaptable and ⁓ by flexible. And so, you know, I do have these consistent habits. I have my morning wake up routine. I have my ⁓ with my kids. And I've incorporated as a leader the check-in with my staff. ⁓ know, setting myself a reminder when I know one of my staff. Personal life or pro or or work life, most often work life, but even, you know, occasionally the personal life just is going through something. Like, ⁓ your daughter is having that procedure today, just letting you know I'm sending you a thought to to you know, what we do is is more than just a paycheck. It's you spend a lot of hours here, you know, and and and you're putting a lot of yourself out there and to to embrace who you are and to support you. even, you know, most especially the work stuff, like I know you have that, you know, big meeting today. You know, just you got this. And and so it's become a habit to to check in with my team. the beauty of that for me, selfishly, they check in with me. And I I I I them know often, I think. I hope. maybe I'll be more cognizant of that. That I do truly appreciate that because, you know, we're all just kind of inside sometimes still that 15 year old like what am i doing in this world right you have that moment in your head where you're like the world's huge ⁓ so it's good to to be checked in on too but consistency is my habit how I interact with my participants every day checking in with my staff being when I was getting ready for this podcast I have the sign on my door it was like a big no sign and and I had staff come in and You could see they're so confused because I have a a a door's always open policy. You know, where we are, ⁓ like a lot of places, it's there's not a lot of extra free time during the day. You know, you need something, you need it right away. My door's open. This is you can cut this is a safe place. Come in. Do you need to vent? Do you need to run an idea past me? Do you need to get some data that I have to what do you need to support you? ⁓ so yeah, it was entertaining, ⁓ a little bit nerve-wracking too, but it was entertaining ⁓ you could see the look of confusion that there's a sign on my door that my door is locked. Like what? so so my you know, the habits are are small, simple little things, but they really they set my wake up routine every day, my dinner routine, my family, we have We have sit down dinner every night. Not everybody can make it every night. Some of my kids are grooms, some of my kids are teens. jobs and extracurriculars get in the way. But mom and dad are there, you four to five work nights a week. You know, if it's not, it's a big deal. It's on the calendar because that's our habit ⁓ to that space to connect. ⁓ And think that kind of I think it's good for my kids, which is why I instituted it. But really again, it's kinda like checking with my staff. It's benefited me because, you know, it's it's good for me to have that whatever happens during the day, whatever's going on, it's important. But I can put it on a shelf for a minute and I can be present there. And that kind of helps keep me focused and and and and moving in the right direction, I think.

speaker-0: What I'm hearing you say, Cindy, is that consistency and connection are your key habits. ⁓ love dinner routine That is something that I think is missing in a lot of our homes right now. ⁓ And I'll add thing to that dinner routine needs to be technology free. No cell phones, no computers, no TVs, just

speaker-1: Yes.

speaker-0: personal human connection where you tell me about your day, you tell me about what went well, what what you struggled with, and we really connect as human beings. It's a skill that we need to cultivate, especially in our kids, but I also think it's one that we're missing in adult relationships these days as well.

speaker-1: Yeah. It's growing up, I'm I'm I'm part of a big family, but I was kind of a surprise baby. So there's a big gap. And and family wasn't able to do that growing up. I mean, my siblings had all been off to college and moving out when I was still really young. You know, but then I my my father passed and I had a single mom and she she had to work nights. And so she did have that connection other ways. But the family dinner, I in in a lot of ways I was kind of also partly a little bit raised, nothing against my mom who's amazing, but a little bit also raised by TV, you know, ⁓ and what happened on family ties and the Cosby show and those dinner time, and that was so important to me. I saw my friends had it. And I saw you and T and I I really was that was so important. so yeah, it was it was a no-brainer to do it with my kids. ⁓ and it's really the connection, like you said, is it the world to me. ⁓ And you they can invite friends over. I love when they invite friends over. ⁓ I I some of their friends my do my oldest daughter's best friend, her mom and I joke that we co-parent. Yeah. You know, because it takes a village, right? And it's just she's stuff from my daughter that I'm not being privy you know, getting the information, vice versa. And we're there to support them and we trust each other. And ⁓ I remember first time she came over, she's an only child, ⁓ and she so confused. I mean, here we are. I have four kids at the dinner table. My husband and I, my mom was living with me at the time. It's a it's it's big, it's rackets. And she sat there. This only child, and she was like, it's so quiet. I thought, there is nothing quiet about this. But ⁓ her family her parents work in TV production and they work in so they always have like a TV show on a podcast, and and they're very connected. They have other ways of connecting. but it it was it was very funny to me to to see the world from that different perspective. And she became a regular at our family dinner nights, you know, we'd see her every once a week, every other week at least, she'd pop in and and would sometimes lead the conversation. It was kind of fresh air, but she would lead the conversation. And so the connection has it grew to friends and families as well. Yeah. And and it's

speaker-0: Definitely. ⁓ habits like cultivating habits that are really meaningful for you. I frequently say that we are perfectly positioned to help the person or the people that we once were. ⁓ And so what you have done, just with something simple like that family dinner, you know, ⁓ sometimes our and the things that went well in our wife in our life inform what we want to do in the future. ⁓ Sometimes it things that didn't feel so good to us that that helped us to do. Do better for ourselves and our families and the people we lead. And that's exactly what you've done there. You want to give your children that solid foundation that no judgment, but you it to feel a little bit different than what you had. ⁓ And okay. And one day they're gonna ⁓ something similar, for their children. Yeah. ⁓

speaker-1: Crazy, yeah.

speaker-0: So Cindy, when when I think about your work and working with folks with mental health challenges, with disabilities, things like that, for the listeners, what do you want them to know about your work or or the people that you serve? Do you have a message there?

speaker-1: I do, you know, ⁓ so a large part of what Inroads does is assists individuals with disabilities to reach their highest level of success. We started where it was all focused on vocational success, ⁓ jobs and out in the competitive integrated environment, the post office, ⁓ target, shop right, DPW, whatever interesting for them. And and and we have a a work environment here for training people with their ⁓ to reach those goals. I think the the biggest thing that would help them is if we all kind of understood ⁓ everyone's unique and different, but they bring gifts to the table. You know, it's not a cookie cutter. you have to be able to do this, this, this, and this. And I get it. Times are tough, finances, you know. ⁓ Right now prices are high and and and we need people to do a lot, you know, for what they're earning. But the gifts that someone with a disability, the the viewpoints, the skills and talents that they can share, sometimes it takes a little bit more to see what it is, but they're there. They're so prevalent. And know, to assist someone to to be able to step away from the cookie cutter and to be able to look at somebody for the talents and the skills they have. and to look at you agencies like ours across the country, across the world ⁓ that provide assistance, you know, ⁓ with coaching, with training on the job, with supports, so that that can be successful. that is to to look at individual with a disability as a unique person and not just lumped into an individual with a disability is something I would love for your listeners to take away. ⁓ To kind of give give them a chance and to see a little bit beyond, you know, is in ⁓ immediately visible and look look inside. Yeah.

speaker-0: it goes back to the lens that you see the world through, Your level of self-awareness. And sometimes you have to look inward and get honest with yourself maybe make some changes. but ⁓ I agree with you. I think we could step away from that cookie cutter and expecting everybody to be in that mold and Change our perspective and accept the fact that whether people have a disability or they don't have a disability, we're all different. we all have gifts, we all have talents. ⁓ there's one thing that we can always choose to do, and that is to be kind. That requires very little to be kind. And ⁓ I was talking to my aunt yesterday, and this really just stands out to me because again, it fosters that encouragement that you were talking about earlier, that belief that you were talking about earlier. And she was remembering an individual that when she was a little girl, she had a bunch of freckles on her face, and she really hated that. he changed that for her by just. saying a simple phrase and he looked at her and he said you're beautiful and the angels have kissed you all over your face. The angels have kissed you. And for her that changed her paradigm. That changed her mindset and it helped her to accept herself a little bit more. And when you think about people with or without disabilities, what would it look like If we could foster that belief and give them that encouragement that they could accept themselves more, they could love themselves more, give themselves grace more. You have talked about your mentor, your mentor equipping you for success in this leadership role. We have the power to do that for the people that we come into contact with every single day. And I think that's a gift. I think that is a gift that just keeps on giving.

speaker-1: Absolutely, absolutely. And you know, I see it with my participants here, our my staff. just the the that someone sees you and and rooting for You know, and sometimes rooting for you, this is your goal. Invoke rehab. Sometimes that means I have to kind of point out like, what do we need to do to succeed? What do we do? What is holding us back? And to help you see that, okay, your punctuality's not so good. We're gonna work on improving that. Or, you know, you need to learn this skill. ⁓

speaker-0: Yes.

speaker-1: What are the foundation sets, Gil? How do we build it up? You know, it's some of sometimes it's it's tough love. You know, it's being honest and truthful and we don't want to set anyone up for failure, but it's also letting that person know there is a realistic path. If you're willing to do the work, we're we're willing to work with you. ⁓ know, one of my biggest things here, like I said, we started Inroads started almost ⁓ over sixty years ago as a vocational center helping individuals with disabilities to do to work. Right. And we've grown over the years and we have mental health ⁓ services, we have day habilitation services, a school to work transition to help help individuals who are students kind of learn 13 years in in a classroom, learning the difference between a classroom and the work setting and what you need to do to succeed there. My biggest thing has always been to help the individual define their success. know, I'm I'm the youngest of six. My siblings are all business people, they're all numbers and accounting and bookkeeping. Please don't present me with numbers. I am, you know, ⁓ I I Einstein had that quote that was like, you know, and I'm gonna forget the exact quote now, but basically, like, you know. You can't expect like a you can't expect a fish to climb a tree. Like that's not, you know, like you can't you measure genius based on the person, not on you know, as just one criteria of measurement. mean, goodness, if I had to if I had to go into the world of numbers and bookkeeping and accounting, I would I don't know where I'd be, I'd be a mess. You so ⁓ I to know what my measure of success was and for staff. identifying with where they see themselves in five years and what their measure of success is. And then leading my participants, you know, in their care. What is what is their individual measure of success? And when they achieve that, what is their next measure of success? Right. You know, if their if their goal is to be able to do a a a complex task independently it takes time and they get there, they achieve it, we celebrate that. Now what? Now what's our next goal? You know, because we're

speaker-0: Yeah.

speaker-1: We're not done with the ride. Keep going. What's what are we working on next? Mm-hmm. So so understanding, you know, it kind of goes with that cookie cutter that it's we're all individual and unique. ⁓ what is what is your deterrent what is your idea of success and how can we help you get there? ⁓

speaker-0: And it doesn't matter if we're talking about the participants that you work with or if we're talking about educators or leaders, we all have to get really clear on what success or excellence looks like for us. I have a a hope cycle that I work ⁓ my leaders on whenever we are going through coaching. ⁓ a framework and we assess and envision. ⁓ But as you're as you're getting really clear on what you want, I think dreams come into play there too. we have big dreams and Sometimes we lie to ourselves because we're afraid of failure. So that's why that assess and envision is so important. And then we focus and act. We create a plan and you do that at Inroads. And then finally we measure and align. We have to look at where we've where we've come from, where we're at. and celebrate those small successes and those big successes and then make sure everything's in alignment with our values and our vision and our mission for the future. I think the first step is just to get really clear on what you want. How do you define that success?

speaker-1: Yes. Yeah. I'd say ⁓ our current CEO now it's it's I try to learn something from everyone I spend a lot of time with. And prior I had it it was learning about being a leader and and working with ⁓ our population and Now it's it's moving forward, like moving the company into a direction where we can expand, we can serve more people, you know, the community has needs, and how can we help meet those needs? and so you know, you're saying ⁓ and measure, and ⁓ that's been so new for me to learn. ⁓ I'm loving this new ⁓ this new these new lessons in in leadership really, it's been for me with this our new leader and how we can, you know, move forward and and help people in in ways that creative new ways we haven't thought of before that is going to meet the needs of, you know, our community here, you know, in society in general. So

speaker-0: as you say, we only have ⁓ one ticket, only ⁓ one life. while we're moving towards that vision, while we're doing all of these important things, let's not forget to enjoy the ride, enjoy the journey, find joy ⁓ in the things and the big things. So, Cindy, as we're wrapping up this podcast episode today, I always love to ask my guest. What's giving you hope in the world right now?

speaker-1: wow, there's a lot going on in the world right now, right? Yes, yes. and and I am a very I'm I'm all about finding positivity and silver linings. but I think we have to be careful not to find toxic posity and not to like wash it all out. but but I think if we look, there's a lot of silver linings. There's a lot of people out there doing, you know, there's Mr. Rogers had that quote about, ⁓ you know, when are bad, look for the helpers. Yeah. And I think what's giving me hope is is is finding the helpers, finding the people who are finding joy despite going on. the studies, the research, you know, my participants ⁓ and and you they come into work each day and they do ⁓ they're working on skills and there's consistency in in what they're doing. And that just kind of gives me hope that consistency just every day, the day ⁓ every morning you just start again and you keep going with that. I had read a few years ago a book by Rutgers Bregnan, ⁓ Humankind. he has a new book out that I've just started. And it's he's it's really about like the overarching all through society, all through all through the history of the world where we saw really bad things were happening, there were little good things that came out of it. Yeah. You know? ⁓ and and and people who really everyday everyday average people who who manage to find, you know. What they may not even thought was remarkable, but a way of of doing something really good. And and it's it was a very hopeful book. And and it kind of sticks in my head with a Mr. Rogers quote of, you know, there's a lot of research going on. There's a lot going on for various disabilities, autism research, dementia research, research on employment practices and options. And so from an a a a work an academic level. I've got a lot of hope of of what's ⁓ the future's leading. And and then just on a personal level, just just finding those helpers and finding those good little glimmers of hope ⁓ and it's ⁓ it of powers through, helps helps to put everything in perspective.

speaker-0: There are always glimmers in our life. We just have to look for them. We have to open our eyes and look for the helpers. Look for the ordinary people doing extraordinary things because they exist. And Cindy, I'm even going to go one step further with that and say that you are one of those extraordinary people. You are doing amazing things at En-Roads. So thank you for your service. Thank you for making difference in the lives of all of the people that you work with and for. ⁓ And if somebody wants to get into touch with you, they want to learn more about you or your organization, or maybe how they can support your vision and and your mission, how can they get in touch with you?

speaker-1: So inroads we're online at ⁓ dot org, inroads two dot org, and they can email me ⁓ at W A L S H C Walsh ⁓ at I N R O A D S T O dot com.

speaker-0: Well, Cindy, it has been such a joy to get to have this conversation with you and to learn more about Inroads. And I am grateful for this connection, grateful for the work you do, and look forward to hearing more about the work you're doing there in New Jersey.

speaker-1: Thank you so much. It's just lovely chatting with you and and this whole dialogue is I learned for from it and I'm gonna grow from it. So thank you.

speaker-0: Thank you.

speaker-1: Yeah.