010. Italy to America; From Handbag Design to Healthcare Wellbeing: Maddalena Palermo [Life, Health, Wellness Coach]

Imagine this: Italy, 2002, a young woman named Maddalena Palermo bravely ventures to the US to learn English, armed with nothing but courage and determination. Little did she know, she would find more than just language - she would find love, purpose, and a path to becoming a renowned coach and a guru. Join us for an engaging conversation with Maddalena as she narrates her inspiring tale of finding her life partner, overcoming her struggle with anxiety, and her transformation from a successful handbag designer to a game-changing coach.

As we delve into her life, Maddalena shares her enlightening experiences as a health and wellness coach, the challenges she faced within the healthcare industry, and the importance of maintaining work-life balance. She provides meaningful insights on the role of common humanity, authenticity, and intentional effort in personal growth and development. Her perspective on self-awareness, the essence of wealth, and the significance of balance in life might be just the shift in mindset you need.

Throughout our conversation, we tackle hurdles like the fear of failure and delve into Maddalena's personal experience with shyness. We emphasize how stepping out of your comfort zone can catalyze growth. Not one to shy away from personal stories, Maddalena shares how her love for sports, particularly tennis and pickleball, have been instrumental in her personal development journey. So, tune in and buckle up for this enriching, inspiring, and thought-provoking journey with Maddalena Palermo.

About Gurus and Game Changers: The Gurus and Game Changers Podcast  focuses on individuals with unique insights and solutions based on their life experiences. 
Listen and you will find:

1. Life insights
2. Overcoming obstacles
3. Unconventional success
4. Personal growth stories
5. Unique life journeys
6. Self-discovery
7. Inspirational life lessons
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9. Niche expertise
10. Non-traditional success stories

Inspirational journeys abound when you listen to some of our guests as they describe their personal transformation with unconventional wisdom with real-life stories. Their
empowering narratives and life-changing experiences showcase triumph over adversity, resilience and perseverance.

At Gurus and Game Changers we thrive on authentic storytelling and non-traditional paths to success described with empowering voices. These motivational insights
laden with turning points, lessons learned and a testament to inner growth will lead to your own journey to self-discovery.

These inspirational role models or 'Wild Ducks' as they've been described always come with a positive mindset in describing transformative experiences and evolving perspectives.


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PLEASE NOTE: **The views expressed by participants, including hosts and guests, are their own and not necessarily endorsed by the podcast. Reference to any specific individual, product, or entity is not an endorsement. The podcast does not provide professional advice, and listeners are urged to consult a physician before making any significant lifestyle or health changes.**

Transcript

Chapter Summaries:

(0:00:02) - Maddalena Palermo's Journey and Overcoming Anxiety (10 Minutes)
Mark and I are thrilled to have Maddalena Palermo join us today to discuss her journey to becoming a Guru and Game Changer. She came to the US from Italy in 2002 without speaking any English. After passing an English test, she was given the opportunity to come to the US. She came with the intention of learning English and ended up meeting her future husband a year later. Despite the distance, they kept their relationship alive and after two years of traveling back and forth from Italy to the US, he surprised her with a proposal in Florence outside of her dorm room. Maddalena shared with us a beautiful story of how her journey led to the success she has now.

(0:09:46) - Discovering Purpose Through Philosophy and Psychology (8 Minutes)
We talk with Maddalena Palermo about her journey to becoming a Guru and Game Changer. Maddalena shares how she discovered who she was and found her purpose, which shifted her away from being a successful handbag designer to a coach. We explore her experience with her first panic attack, how it impacted her, and the measures she took to address it. We also discuss the importance of common humanity, authenticity, and intentional effort when it comes to personal growth and development.

(0:17:20) - Physician Well-Being and Coaching Success (8 Minutes)
I'm joined by Maddalena Palermo to discuss her journey to becoming a Guru and Game Changer. Maddalena shares how she discovered her signature strengths and found her purpose. We explore how she chose kindness over honesty in a situation where her best friend was trying on a dress. Maddalena also shares her experience working as a health and wellness coach and physician well-being. She explains the culture of perfectionism and the difficulty of maintaining a work-life balance for health care workers. Maddalena also talks about the importance of self-care and normalizing the conversation around mental health.

(0:25:43) - Coaching for Well-Being and Personal Growth (13 Minutes)
Today, Maddalena and I discuss the differences between coaching and therapy, and how potential clients can decide which is the right fit for them. We explore how Maddalena works with her clients to create sustainable changes and how coaching can help those who feel they are stuck and not thriving. Maddalena emphasizes the importance of talking to a therapist or counselor when discussing issues from the past and how coaching can be a great tool for certain people. Maddalena also explains how she works with clients to help them define their purpose and take action on their dreams.

(0:38:35) - Balancing Self-Awareness and Enjoying Life (10 Minutes)
Maddalena and I discuss how she came to recognize her own self-awareness and how it has influenced her journey to becoming a Guru and Game Changer. We explore the idea of wealth not being just about money, but also about knowledge, experience, and opportunities. Maddalena felt the need to leave her small town in Italy and how it has shaped her view of the world. We also discuss the importance of balance and how striving to reach a goal can't always be the end goal. Finally, Maddalena shares how she wants her children to experience different cultures and how she has learned to love the US.

(0:48:07) - Overcoming Failure and Imposter Syndrome (4 Minutes)
Maddalena and I explore the idea of congratulating yourself for a job well done and how it ties into the idea of perfectionism and imposter syndrome. We discuss how our upbringing can shape our views on success and how to celebrate the process, not just the outcome. We also talk about the importance of asking ourselves if we are proud of our accomplishments, rather than telling ourselves we are. Maddalena shares a personal example of how this shift in thinking has impacted her and her son.

(0:52:01) - Failure and Growth Mindset (11 Minutes)
Maddalena and I discuss the concept of failure and how it can be used as a learning experience. We talk about Maddalena's own experience with failure, her beginnings with a fixed mindset, and the importance of growth mindset. We explore her father's influence on her understanding of failure and how it can be used to level up. We also discuss how Maddalena has found the meaning behind her own suffering and the importance of taking the time to process and dissect difficult experiences in order to learn and grow.

(1:02:49) - Revealing Personal Shyness and Business Promotion (5 Minutes)
Maddalena and I discuss the idea of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and how it can help you grow. We explore the idea of self-promotion and how confidence can be used as a tool to succeed. Maddalena shares her passion for dancing, her plans to go back to Latin dance classes, and her mission to help those without access to resources. She also talks about how to get in touch with her about her business and how our listeners can reach out to her.

(1:07:32) - Discussion on Tennis and Pickleball (1 Minutes)
Maddalena and I explore the world of sports and recreation. We talk about Maddalena's experience with tennis and pickleball, and how it has helped her improve her skills. We also discuss how playing different sports can help you learn more about yourself and give you an opportunity to bond with others. Lastly, we look at the importance of congratulating yourself after a job well done and how to use failure to learn and grow.