IAM1380 – Coach Helps Midlife Women Discover their Midlife Calling

Cenita Johnson helps midlife women discover & pursue their midlife calling, to do their part in making the world better. Cenita uses NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) principles and intuitive listening to assist women in navigating their midlife journey.

She wants women to know that what they are feeling is not a midlife crisis, it’s a Midlife CALLING! It’s time to pursue your dreams and start that business idea.

• CEO Story: The thought of how Cenita can impact the lives of other women is the biggest reason for pursuing her midlife calling. Discovered the catalyst through her dream, the program midlife reinvention method.
• Business Service: Coaching. Helping midlife women discover their midlife calling.
• Secret Sauce: Using a life resume – re-evaluating looking at the natural abilities and skillsets. Leverage your life experience which prepares you for your midlife.
• CEO Hack: Writing down the plan in order to get things done.
• CEO Nugget: “If you’re experiencing fear or discontent, that is your calling. It may not make any sense now, but if you listen and do what you’re called to do or ask, it will come to you.”
• CEO Defined: Freedom (water), creativity, hope (jar)

Website: hcenitajohnson.com

Instagram: cenitajohnson

Facebook: midlifeleapcoach

Twitter: cenitajohnson

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Transcription

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00:23 – Intro

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEO's without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you come to the right place. Question Mark values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO podcast.

00:50 – Gresham Harkless

Hello. Hello. Hello. This is Grech from the I AM CEO podcast. I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Sunita Johnson of the Midlife Leap. Sunita, it's great to have you on the show.

00:59 – Cenita Johnson

Thank you for inviting me.

01:02 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, super excited to have you on and all the awesome work that you're doing. And of course, before we jump into the interview, I want to read a little bit more about Sunita so you can hear about all these awesome things. Senita helps midlife women discover and pursue their midlife calling to do their part in making the world the world, the world better.

Senita uses NLP, which is neurolinguistic programming principles in intuitive listening to assist women in navigating their midlife journey. She wants women to know that what they are feeling is not a midlife crisis. It is midlife calling and it's time to pursue your dreams and start that business. Idea Sanita appreciates you for the work that you do and the time you took out today. Are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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01:42 – Cenita Johnson

I am. I'm excited. Thank you.

01:45 – Gresham Harkless

Absolutely. Well, let's get it started then. So to kind of kick everything off, I wanted to rewind the clock a little bit and hear a little bit more about how you got started, what I call your CEO story.

01:53 – Cenita Johnson

Well, actually the reason why I chose MetLife women specifically is I had to leave California. I was working on a talk show and a friend of mine who's now very famous actually took my project to one of Oprah's producers and she wanted to keep abreast of what I was doing. And then soon after that. So I was excited because I was like, I finally, you know, I can't my background of modeling and some stints and corporate America, America after that. And but nothing really satisfied me.

And when I was doing that, it was like finally, after all the different things I've done and the different businesses, but then my dad wasn't something had changed about him and I promised him that I would move to live closer. So I basically uprooted everything and moved down South. And eventually, after about a year, I wound up here on the East Coast. So that was because I needed to be where I could get to an ocean quicker. And then I moved him here during the pandemic and I found myself in corporate America, really an environment that I'm not used to because I spent over 1820 years of my adult life, I'm 55 now in the entertainment industry.

So that confinement and literally I was walking around one day and I've done some coaching off and on over the years, but I never had that niche. So it, it wasn't really, I guess kicking me like this was it? This is it. And I've been asking the universe, if you will, what is my, what, what, what, what can I do that's a little bit different? What can I do to separate myself from everyone that's really going to impact people's lives? I feel like I'm doing insane what everyone else is saying, literally. So one day I just was walking around in the office and I found myself saying, gosh, I need a coach with all these midlife changes.

And that was kind of like, that's it. Why don't I help MetLife women just like myself? And then, but still, you know, I, so I got this training so I can go deeper into the method and specifically NLP, which is basically changing your mindset so that your actions can line up. Because if you're walking in fear and discontent, generally your actions line up with what you're feeling. But if you change your mindset.

So there was a dream that I had in 1990 and I, I've sort of been testing it over the years, not only with myself but with clients that I'd gotten here and there with my part-time coaching and their friends and family. And it turns out that was the catalyst. And I had no idea that would be the catalyst of my program, which I call the Midlife Leap Reinvention method, to help other women, specifically midlife women like myself.

04:48 – Gresham Harkless

Nice. Well, I appreciate you talking about that journey. I think so many times, you know, you see somebody that's doing, you know, really awesome things and making an impact, but you don't see the behind-the-scenes, the, the different, you know, steps along the journey. I, I, you know, I won't speak for you. I usually say a lot of back steps too, and things that sometimes happen the way we don't want them to, and then we end up going forward.

But it's, but the important part is to understand and recognize that it's all a journey. And I really like, you know, so kind of what it echoed and spoke to for me was that sometimes when we're going through our journey, it can be frustrating and sometimes we don't know exactly why we're going through it. But often, you know, once you get that realization, just as it sounds like you had that aha moment, it provides you the tools of like I was going through that journey so that I can help other people in going through much of the same thing that I might have been going through.

05:33 – Cenita Johnson

And as you're speaking, my mind's going Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding. You made some key points. You said journey and going forward and going back. So can I share, this share with you this dream?

05:43 – Gresham Harkless

Go for it, go for it I.

05:45 – Cenita Johnson

Call it the water carrier dream and it's what I, ‘m basing my, midlife leap reinvention method on. So in this dream, there's this road and I'm taking this journey and there's a lot of other people. We're all going in this One Direction on this journey and after so, so far, we get thirsty and go back to a body of water. I think it seemed like it was more like a lake, a smaller lake because I could see people on the other side and everyone. Nobody has a cup or jar, nothing. So everyone's drinking from their hands, right? I would drink enough, quench my thirst, and then continue my journey but so far have to stop and go back to this body of water.

Now this is occurring with myself and others over and over again. Now one of the trips back I find a jar just on the edge of the water and I make a sighted because I'm like I can finally continue my journey and take my water with me. So filled up, quenched my thirst while drinking from the jar, and then I continued my journey. I'm excited because I won't have to go back. Now as I'm walking forward in my journey, I see some other people who are going back to the body of water. So I decided to give them my jar so that they could continue. Of course, I get thirsty and have to go back to the body of water. And on this trip back I found several jars and I knew immediately it was the universe blessing me because I helped others.

07:20 – Gresham Harkless

Absolutely fulfillment, indefinite purpose. As you said, it kind of just reminded me of one of the journeys that I went through. One of the things I learned is that I mean, my mind, these are words that do not rhyme with us. We are together. These are words that last forever. So it really spoke to me when you said that because so many times we can see what society is all about. I mean, my mind, rather than all, the community things, the things that we could do to give our gifts, which have been given to us to make an impact, on other people.

And like you said, so well, asking, you know, what's the jar, what's the water and you're life and how can you use that, you know, to make somebody's life better? And in turn, it helps make our lives better and society as a whole. So I wanted to, I guess, drill down a little bit more and hear a little bit more about how you're doing that. I know you such a little bit of on your program and your methodology. Could you take us through a little bit more about that, how you're making an impact, and what you feel kind of even sets you apart and makes you need your secret sauce?

08:12 – Cenita Johnson

Yeah, so actually leap the, you know, one of the words in the name of the program, I used the acronym that basically is the modules in the program and L is for leverage. And basically, we go through your, your, your go through your life. One of the tools I use is what I call the life resume. We all use a resume for our jobs and our skill sets and all that stuff experience to get a job. But do we ever really take a look back, especially at midlife when we're re-evaluating every anyway, write it down and take a look back at those key moments and those natural abilities and those natural skill sets?

And the reason why I have people, women to do that is leverage is what the L stands for is to leverage your life experiences, your abilities, your natural skill sets, your the learned skill sets. Because all of that up to this point is preparing you for your next, for your midlife calling your midlife purpose. None of our experiences are wasted. We often tend to underestimate ourselves, especially women, and downplay our experiences. However, even during tough times, there is something to be learned that can be utilized in whatever we are meant to do.

And then the other module is E for the expected mind, changing your mindset. If you change your mindset and know that you are capable of doing the things that you want to do. And then there's a for I, I play on the word orgasmic, which is age orgasmic action. And the reason why I did that is because, I mean, one of the most exciting things in our life is so I just wanted to play on because when you find, I think a renewed sense of being, a renewed sense of purpose. And then there's P for purpose, full calling because of purpose. But it fills you, it fills your jar with the water that you need to keep going forward. There's greater value because you're helping yourself and others.

10:24 – Gresham Harkless

I appreciate that. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit and I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO Hack. So this could be like an app, a book, or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

10:38 – Cenita Johnson

Boom. That would definitely be writing everything down. Like every day. I plan. I probably overplan the things that I need to do because I'm always moving stuff over. But if I don't write it down, it won't get done. Groceries list everything it has to be. I have to write it down and I keep my little folder with me so I can get things done.

11:01 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, I love that. I would say spoken like a, like a successful coach as well too, because, well, I think they said what gets written gets measured or what gets written gets done often. And so many times just by at least I've read that writing something down actually increases the likelihood of something getting done, rather than saying I think I want to do this and just having it like in your head or something like that.

11:20 – Cenita Johnson

Yeah, and the perfect example, I'm sure we've all done it. You go to the grocery store, you don't have a list, you remember 3 items out of the five. And then you get home and it's like, oh gosh, the main thing that you needed, you left at the grid. Now you have to spend another 30 minutes, 40 minutes out of your time to go back. That's wasted time. Yeah, well, that's something else.

11:45 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, absolutely. And I think if we look at our time, whether we're talking about going to the grocery store or business or anything in between, if you're, you know, over planning, if you're really, really planning on what it is that you're doing, you're just trying to set yourself up for success so that you can spend your energy elsewhere, which is often in our gift and our passion and our, as you said, purposeful calling as well too, to make sure that you are doing the things that actually do move the needle forward rather than, you know, trying to remember what did I say I wanted to do? What did I have on the list and things like that?

12:13 – Cenita Johnson

Yeah. And then I feel like life plays. What is it Murphy's Law tricks on us? Because when you were there at the grocery store earlier, there was no line. When you go back to items missed, it's packed.

12:23 – Gresham Harkless

You were just there.

12:24 – Cenita Johnson

30 minutes ago, right?

12:26 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, absolutely. That's a reminder of the lesson of what we should have been doing. That's what I call it. And you know, it's something that's so huge. And so you might have already touched on this, but Speaking of Nuggets, I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. So it's a little bit more of a word of wisdom or piece of advice. It's something you might have touched on, but it might be something you would tell your favorite client, or if you hopped into a time machine, you might tell your younger business self.

12:50 – Cenita Johnson

I guess the biggest would be if you're experiencing discontent if you're experiencing fear if you're experiencing major changes, especially right now. That's your calling, that's your purpose. It may not make any sense now, but if you listen and do what you know you're being called to do or ask. I asked about that dream for years and it came at the time that I was ready. I kept seeking and searching. So ask. Keep doing what you're supposed to do and then it'll come to you. It may not make any sense until it comes to you, and that's OK. That's what makes life so fascinating to me.

13:33 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, absolutely. Now I wanted to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. We're hoping to have a different quote quote CEOs on this. So, Sunita, what does being a CEO mean to you?

13:43 – Cenita Johnson

Wow, that is so easy. OK, so freedom, creativity, and hope because for me the the water, I might be getting mixed up, but the water means freedom and the jar means hope. And I learned that I have to have a sense of freedom, and that's what being a CEO for me means for real.

14:10 – Gresham Harkless

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. What's Anita? Truly appreciate that definition. And of course, I appreciate your time even more. So what I wanted to do now is pass you the mic, so to speak, to see if there's anything additional that you can let our readers and listeners know. And of course, how best people get out of you about all the awesome things that you're working on.

14:27 – Cenita Johnson

Yeah, So they can go to my website, www.themidlifeleap.com or www.sunitajohnson.com. Of course, midlifeleap.com is easier to spell and they can go to my website. I have a free master class about my reinvention method. But I also on the first page, if you go further down past the Met master class, I have a book called The Supreme Warrior that I wrote a few years ago. And there's a free chapter that they could just put their name in their -mail and download immediately.

And of course, my talk show. Thank you. And you know, it's crazy because of the pandemic is when I moved here, you know, it's so different from Lai lived by the water was easy for me to get people to come and sit in my living room and do the show. And then they go out and hang out in the ocean. But since I've been here, it's so different. I was like, how can I do this here? But it was because of the pandemic from doing Zoom interviews that are, I realized, oh, I can start my show and just do my interviews that way. So anyway I started the Midlife Leap which is a talk show and it's on YouTube and I just Google the Midlife Leap.

15:39 – Gresham Harkless

Yeah, absolutely amazing.

15:40 – Cenita Johnson

Women giving great advice to midlife women mostly. Mostly women, some men. Not trying to stereotype.

15:47 – Gresham Harkless

No, it's all good. I, I love it. And I think what we'll do, obviously, is to make it even easier, we'll have the links and information, the show notes. So if you get a copy of the book, find out about the show, find out about all the awesome things that you're doing and using to make an impact. Thank you so much for doing that. Obviously appreciate the time and and all the energy that you have and I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

16:06 – Cenita Johnson

Thank you, you as well.

16:08 – Outro

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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