Finding your tribe and embracing change can enrich personal growth and lead to fulfilling life changes. In this “Friends & Family” series opener, Dr. Lara Salyer sits down with her longtime friend Jill Pyrz, mixing humor with raw truths as they look back on the moments that defined their friendship. They reflect on shared challenges in the healthcare industry and personal ventures that tested their resilience and determination.

Jill's career, spanning diverse roles from the office of a university president to various entrepreneurial endeavors, highlights her passion for people’s stories. Whether involved in a state production called “That's What She Said” or penning stories as a newspaper journalist for the News-Gazette, Jill's experiences prove the importance of community and authentic connection at every phase of life.

This episode touches on the challenges and rewards of starting new projects and businesses, with Jill offering advice on recognizing one's limitations and the crucial role of a supportive team to complement one's strengths. A humorous anecdote from a night out dancing, where Jill questions Dr. Salyer's choice of Dansko shoes, reminds us of the importance of having people in our lives who will tell us the hard truths.

Dr. Salyer and Jill explore themes of personal growth, the enduring bond of friendship, and the courage to pursue one's passions. They encourage listeners to find their tribe, ask for honest feedback, and be willing to take risks in pursuit of a fulfilling and creative life. 

Quotes

• “I get really passionate about things, and when I learn about something, I go deep. I read every book I can possibly read, and I try to live my life to whatever I'm learning.” (07:58 | Jill Pyrz)

• “For me to do my best work, I have to feel passionate about it.” (15:49 | Jill Pyrz)

• “Now that I yearn for deeper relationships and deeper conversations, it makes it a lot easier to interview someone and get to know them. It provides a structure to the relationship that I'm much more comfortable with. Writing, for me, is actually the same job as being the production person for 'That's What She Said,' because you're just getting to know people. Instead of providing a stage for their story, I'm just writing it on paper. So it's the same exact thing. And what it really comes down to is that I'm really fascinated and just in love with people's stories.” (18:57 | Jill Pyrz) 

• “It's not just finding a match in terms of having a good business partner, because you don't necessarily have to have a partner, but you have to have a team of people and you have to be able to ask for help and not be afraid to show that you have no idea what you're doing in a way.” (23:51 | Jill Pyrz)

• “Have people in your life that will tell you things that are hard to hear.” (27:10 | Jill Pyrz) 

Links

Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype

News Gazette: https://www.news-gazette.com/

Connect with Lara: 

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com

The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst

Instagram: @drlarasalyer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer

TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm