Early Accountability

On this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, Kimi talks about recognizing the difference between slow progress and no progress when it comes to long-term goals. It is easy to get discouraged when you are working towards a goal that is a long way off, especially when it may have been derailed by COVID-19, so Kimi offers these self-evaluation questions as a way of checking in with yourself on those goals: 1.Do you still have actionable steps that you’re taking? – Are those steps written down? Are they measurable? Do you have milestones set up? Even making slow progress should mean that you are consistently taking steps and checking in with yourself. 2.Are you still immersed or in touch with resources? – This could be your network, a mentor, or the community that is supporting you in this goal through motivation, enrichment, and/or accountability. It is important to know your achievement style as well as your procrastination style so you don’t get sidetracked. 3.Are you still revising your plan? – Cha

With everything going on in the world, many workforces still being remote, and most school systems being virtual, it is easy to just be in survival mode, getting everything done but not really being “there.” On this episode of the Early Accountability podcast, Kimi discusses this mental fog that many of us are feeling that could be affecting our productivity, physical health, mental health, and our interactions with those around us. Here are Kimi’s tips for having mental clarity: 1.Watch what you consume – It is tempting to just eat what is easiest or most comforting when everything else seems to be out of control, but it is important that you try to eat and drink more healthy foods during this time. 2.Watch the energy you expend – Do your best to integrate exercise into your day, or at the very least get outside for some fresh air and a change of scenery. 3.Take time to rest – Set aside at least 10 minutes a day where you are able to relax without any screens or expectations. Your brain needs down time

EAP 134: Lifelong Learning & Intellectual Wellness by Kimi Walker

On this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, Kimi is joined by Danielle Tucker, founder and owner of Professional Speaker Websites. Several years ago, Danielle and her husband sold everything they had and moved to South Africa to be digital nomads. She soon learned that it was difficult for her to gain credibility without being able to speak on stages and network in person, so she needed to develop a very professional website that would establish her as a thought leader. Before long, Danielle realized that there were others just like her who wanted to be thought leaders but were falling short because of their subpar websites, so she started a web design service with these potential clients in mind. Danielle points out that many people are thought leaders without realizing it because everyone who has a smart phone and social media has a stage and the ability to get their message out to people. Often, you are your biggest obstacle – either by doubting that people will want to hear what you have to say

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Jonathan Bolton, a financial and investment advisor with Wilson Wealth. It is safe to say that the events of 2020 have come as a shock to everyone, and many people have found themselves falling on hard times due to the pandemic itself, job losses, unexpected expenses, and emotional stress. Jonathan is here to share with us some good ideas for reviewing, analyzing, and adjusting our finances to ensure that we are in a better spot financially if and when another pandemic-like event takes place. 1.Save and invest more – While many people say that an emergency fund of 3-6 months is sufficient, COVID-19 has proven that it is probably better to have a 12-month emergency fund. Jonathan recommends having 2 months of cash accessible in savings and 10 months in a brokerage account as an investment that is still pretty liquid. 2.Reevaluate your needs and wants – Take a hard look at your expenses and ask yourself if they are necessary or frivolous. If you

EAP 131: Creating a New Normal by Kimi Walker

On this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, Kimi discusses the importance of mental and cognitive flexibility as more and more of our plans for 2020 are sidelined due to COVID-19. Things are still changing so quickly, and plans that were set in stone last week have already disintegrated. So how do we maintain our sanity when we can’t make solid plans? 1.Give yourself extra time for thought and decisions – Practice mindfulness when you can but especially just allow yourself some quiet alone time during the day to process. 2.Be ok with not knowing or understanding – One of the most tangible examples of changing plans right now is the fall 2020 school calendar. While it is difficult for parents to not be able to make plans for their kids, there is only so much they can do. Expect the unexpected and be flexible as the authorities in your area make decisions. 3.Accept that you may have to change your mind – It is likely that your opinion on wearing masks or going out in public or sending kids back to s

During this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, Kimi is putting on her school psychologist hat and helping listeners understand how to navigate this upcoming school year with all of the adjustments that will have to be made due to COVID-19. We all got a dose of these changes during the last half of the spring 2020 semester, which could either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how that trial run went for you. Perhaps you or your child struggled to connect to the online platform or perhaps it was a great season for you. Either way, there are a few things you can do right now to work towards your academic best this fall, whether your school will be in-person, all online, or a blend of both: 1.Keep the brain turning – While no one is expected to remember everything from the last school year under normal circumstances, it is expected that retention will be even lower this year. Do your best to work with your children consistently through the summer to maintain exposure to their subjects and r

EAP 128: Reaching Your Summer Goals During COVID-19 by Kimi Walker

On this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, Kimi talks about how the continuing COVID-19 quarantine as well as the recent public outcry about racial injustice in the U.S. and many people being without work has created a perfect storm necessitating a time of pausing to reflect, refresh, and restart. While most people are not able to travel to take traditional vacations, Kimi outlines a few specific things you can do to set yourself up for a “staycation” to accomplish just that. 1.Make time for it – Schedule a day or more for your staycation and stick to your commitment. If things come up, treat them as you would if you were truly out of town on vacation. 2.Find a format that works for you – If you are going to camp in your backyard, make sure you have all of your materials ahead of time. Arrange childcare if necessary to give you some focused time to recharge. If you had to cancel a trip this summer, create a theme night or event for yourself featuring the cuisine or activities you would have had on

Dominique Kennedy, a speech language pathologist and communication expert, joins us on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast. Dominique helps people with their communications differences and needs to strengthen the words they use in the world and strengthen their relationships. She has her own private practice where the assists people who want to increase their communication abilities and she also works with school-aged children to develop their communication skills and strengthen any areas of weakness. At some point in our lives, all of us come to a point where we need to have a difficult conversation with someone for some purpose. Dominique points out that the most effective method of approaching this conversation is to be open to what the other person has to say and to expect a positive result. Think through what you are going to say, how you are going to say it, what your body language will be like, and practice your delivery ahead of time to ensure that your message gets across. In this tim

EAP 125: The Fight Against Injustice and Inequality by Kimi Walker

Our special guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Zana Williams. Zana joined Kimi to talk about what has gone on in her life in the past 2 years and the big milestone that she just achieved. When Zana was on the podcast in 2018, she talked about the journey that she had been on to get into law school in the midst of losing her grandmother and her father and she was beginning law school in San Diego. While she was there, she noticed that her mom’s health began declining, so she made the decision to move back home to Oklahoma City to finish school and take care of her mother. Her mother passed away in September of 2019, a few months before Zana was set to graduate law school. Recognizing the immense losses that she had experienced in the past several years, Zana put herself into counseling to help her work through the grief of losing both of her parents, and she had some self-realizations through the process. Zana had been taking care of others for so long that she had lost herself in he

This episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is the first of a two-part mini-series featuring Zana Williams, a returning guest on the podcast. Zana joined us back on episode 10 to discuss conquering law school in her father’s memory, and on the next episode of this series, we will be catching up with Zana to see what she has been up to the past 2+ years since her last visit. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to Zana’s original interview, you should definitely go check it out, but this episode serves as a summary. Zana knew by the time she was 12 years old without a shadow of a doubt that she wanted to be an attorney. She took a Mock Trial and Debate class in high school that further solidified this desire for her, and the rest is history…not quite. Right around the time Zana was studying for the LSAT, she lost her grandmother and her father and she was in 3 car accidents. She – understandably – didn’t get the score she had hoped for, so she received many denial letters from law schools. She didn’t l

EAP 122: The Mental Toll of Perfectionism by Kimi Walker

This episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is geared towards high-achievers, leaders, and caretakers in the audience who tend to let their mental health needs go unnoticed. By nature, these people put the needs of others above their own and can often feel that their mental health does not matter. Quite the opposite is true, in fact, and it is important for high-achievers, leaders, and caretakers to recognize their signs or triggers of mental health issues and get the help they need. If you or someone you know falls into this category, here are some helpful steps to take: 1.Get in tune with your feelings – Give yourself the time and space to feel emotions. Once you have done this, you will have the clarity and ability to navigate next steps. 2.Find someone to talk to – This could be an individual therapist, a support group, a mastermind group, or just a friend or group of friends who are in similar life circumstances. 3.Practice mindfulness – Find an activity that helps you get grounded. Examples are:

EAP 120: Mindset Shifts: From Petty to Pandemic, Protect Your Energy by Kimi Walker

Our topic on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is mental health during this quarantine season. As you may know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and mental health is a key component to your whole-body wellness. In these difficult and different times, it is all the more important to be conscious of your mental health and reach out if you feel you need help. The Mental Health Association of America specifically recommends keeping these aspects of your life in mind this month: •Connecting with others •Creating healthy routines •Finding the positive after loss •Eliminating toxic influences •Owning your feelings •Supporting others Kimi specifically talks about connecting with and supporting others on this episode as we are all living through big adjustments to the norm. Everyone needs to have community and interaction with others, and even though those interactions might look different during this time, they are still just as important as ever. It is crucial to prioritize these conversation

On this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, Kimi is joined by Justin Ochoa, co-owner of Pace Fitness Academy in Indianapolis. Justin was an athlete in high school who discovered his love for coaching during college. A short time later, he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder which triggered him to start learning about nutrition, strength, and conditioning. This eventually led to him and his business partner, Eric Allen, opening Pace Fitness Academy to coach and train athletes and anyone else who is looking for a top-notch training experience. With gyms across the country being closed, Pace has shifted a lot of their services online, from online training sessions for their paying clients to free resources available to anyone on their website. Justin has noticed that the main challenges for people during this time of coronavirus quarantine are the lack of structure and lack of motivation. Because our routines have been thrown off and we are not able to leave our houses, people are struggling to

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Robert Barnes, a U.S. Air Force veteran of 22 years who has become passionate about helping people understand their taxes. Robert joined the Air Force 5 days after his 17th birthday, a new high school graduate who was looking for his place in this world, and he served in Germany and Hawaii for most of his career. Toward the end of his time in the military, he started to wonder why he was having to pay taxes even though he was on the government’s payroll. He breezed through his associate’s and bachelor’s degrees before completed a degree in graduate school as well. At the time of his graduation from his master’s degree, he was asked to begin teaching a personal finance course and he found his new life focus. By simply breaking down the tax code and explaining it to his students and others who asked for his advice, he slowly built up a client base of 300-400 individuals whom he was helping with the completion of their taxes in a consulting capac