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In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, speaks with Laura Lampa, owner and CEO of LML StoryLab Consulting. Laura shares her incredible journey from a career in science to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Laura reveals how a layoff became her pivotal "press pause" moment, forcing her to trust herself, embrace uncertainty, and launch her own business.

This conversation is for anyone who has considered leaving a secure career to build something on their own terms.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How a layoff can be a catalyst for a life-changing career pivot.
• The courage it takes to leave the safety of a secure job for entrepreneurship.
• Why stress feels different when it's tied to passion and purpose.
• The importance of listening to your inner voices of doubt, as they often point to your true passions.
• The pleasure of working for clients who believe in you and your vision.

More from Laura Lampa:

• Website: https://lmlstorylab.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralampa/

More from Ellen Williams:

• Website: https://thesalientstrategist.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/
• Contact: ellen@thesalientstrategist.com

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How do you rise from security guard to managing director at Morgan Stanley?

Ed Clementi did just that and then made the bold choice to bet on himself by walking away from a C-Suite career to build his own company, Inspired Fire.

In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, dives into Ed’s story of resilience, self-belief, and the importance of finding alignment in your career.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How Ed rose from security guard to managing director.
• The crucial leadership lessons he learned from mentors who saw his potential and gave him room to grow.
• Why "betting on yourself" might be the most important career decision you ever make.
• How to recognize the signs that it’s time to "press pause" and realign your path.
• The simple yet powerful analogy of staying on the "wrong train" and how it applies to your career.

More from Ellen:

• Website: https://thesalientstrategist.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/
• Contact: ellen@thesalientstrategist.com

More from Ed Clementi:

• Website: https://edclementi.com/
• Newsletter: https://edclementi.com/newsletter/

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In this powerful episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Scott Ballard, CEO and owner of Confidence Coach LLC, about the life-altering experience of exiting a business and navigating the uncertain space that follows. After building a highly successful company from the ground up, Scott found himself with time, money, and no clear plan. What began as a pause after selling his company became a deeply reflective period of personal growth and spiritual searching. During this time, Scott immersed himself in volunteer work, traveling with young adults to underserved areas around the world, seeking clarity on what came next in his journey.

Scott recounts how a simple request from a peer in his former industry to offer leadership advice reignited his purpose. That single encounter led to the realization that his true gift lay in helping others identify and overcome limiting beliefs—something he understood intimately through a childhood marked by dyslexia and destructive labeling. A pivotal figure in his early life helped him reframe his identity, sparking a lifelong commitment to mindset transformation. These formative experiences shaped his passion for coaching CEOs and entrepreneurs who, despite their external success, often feel like impostors or disconnected from their true purpose.

The conversation closes with Scott urging leaders to consider the deeper purpose behind their pauses. He emphasizes that a pause isn’t just about rest, it’s a gateway to discovering how one’s future can align more fully with their core identity and long-term legacy. His story is a powerful reminder that mindset is not only foundational to success but essential to fulfillment, and that the most significant growth often comes from intentional stillness.

For more information about Scott, visit https://www.confidencecoach.org/

For more information about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/