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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams sits down with Jennica Norris, ADHD entrepreneur, systems strategist, and CEO of Strategic Sound Consulting, for a powerful conversation about what it really means to pause when your brain works differently.

Jennica shares how navigating neurodivergence reshaped not only her career path but also the way she approaches energy, focus, and leadership. Instead of forcing herself into rigid productivity systems that never fit, she built a structure that supports how her mind actually works and now teaches others to do the same.

This episode dives into the truth many high performers quietly face:

Your success is not determined by how many minutes you manage, but by how well you understand and support your mind.

🎙 In this conversation, you’ll learn:
• Why traditional productivity systems fail neurodivergent leaders
• How to spot when your energy, not your schedule, is telling you to pause
• The difference between bandwidth and capacity
• How small, intentional pauses prevent burnout and expand your effectiveness
• Practical ways to build systems that support your brain, not drain it.

Whether you’re neurodivergent, managing a neurodiverse team, or simply tired of productivity advice that doesn’t work in real life, this conversation will help you approach your work with more clarity, compassion, and sustainable energy.

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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams sits down with Sophie Devonshire, CEO of The Marketing Society and bestselling author of Superfast: Lead at Speed, to talk about why strategic pauses are the fastest way to better decisions, clearer direction, and more sustainable momentum.

Sophie shares her “squiggly career” from P&G and Coca-Cola to founding and selling an e-commerce company, moving overseas, and writing Superfast.

You’ll hear how she builds micro-pauses into projects (pre-mortem, midpoint check, fast feedback), uses the “soak period” when navigating a transition, and why community and coffee chats are non-negotiable when you land somewhere new.

You’ll learn:

• How to slow down to speed up (and avoid headless-chicken mode)
• A simple cadence for year / mid-year / monthly reflection that actually sticks
• The “100 coffees” playbook to build a real network (friends, not just contacts)
• How to frame a break as a “strategic pause” so ambitious teams buy in

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What happens when your career no longer aligns with your values?

In this episode, Ellen Williams speaks with Stephanie Vaughan, about pressing pause to realign your life, family, and purpose.

From walking away from corporate success to finding fulfillment through intention and emotional awareness, Stephanie shares how listening to your emotions can lead you to the right next step, both in business and at home.

They discuss:

• The moment Stephanie realized her career no longer aligned with her values
• How she turned a leap of faith into a 20-year coaching legacy
• What it really means to balance family, purpose, and ambition
• Why “listening to your emotions” is one of the most powerful leadership tools

If you’ve ever felt torn between career and family, or struggled to slow down long enough to hear what your next chapter might be, this episode will speak directly to you.

To learn more about Ellen, please visit: https://thesalientstrategist.com/