We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful MaryBeth Hyland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with MaryBeth below.

MaryBeth, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

Yes! Hands down, my best boss (who hated being called a boss) was in graduate school where I worked under Associate Dean John Green. John was someone who was new to overseeing interns like myself and he was incredibly thoughtful, loving, and direct about how to best go about the way we worked together and with our partners.

At the time, I was running special events for the school which meant a lot of people needed to be involved. From security to communications, to facilities to volunteers, and more. And since John was also new to the role, he said, “Let’s go on a welcome tour and meet 1×1 with each key contact you’re going to need to collaborate with on these events. Then we can learn more about them personally, have them learn about us, and also ask them what they loved and were disappointed in from past events.”

It was so simple, but a key step that almost no one takes. Within a couple of weeks of these meetings, my role and the events that came from it had never been more streamlined and impactful than ever before. Each key contact was raving about how heard they felt and how excited they were about this new way of working together.

And all it took was slowing down, getting curious, and building personal relationships. That stuck with me in a major way for the rest of my life. And I have John to credit for it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

As the founder of SparkVision, I work with high-achieving executives and entrepreneurs who are struggling to prioritize their own needs, stop burning out, and better manage their well-being alongside their clients, family, and community commitments. I facilitate that possibility through keynotes, coaching, retreats, workshops, and my book Permission to Be Human: The Conscious Leader’s Guide to Creating a Values-Driven Culture.

I got into this work because I was a clinically diagnosed work addict when I was seen as being “on the top of my game.” Everyone around me was applauding me for my impact, awards, promotions and accolades I was earning, but no one realized what a toll it was taking on my well-being. I wasn’t able to sleep through the night. I was working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was constantly being brought down by my racing thoughts of unworthiness and feeling like I could never get ahead.

And one day when I felt like I was at rock bottom, I realized there had to be a better way and looked for help.

That began my healing and mindful journey within myself and it inspired me to ignite that possibility in others now professionally. I realize more than ever that I was born to give people permission to be human and remind them of that truth.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As someone who was recognized as “Innovator of the Year” I’ve definitely struggled with shiny object syndrome. In the past, I was constantly jumping from one thing to the other because it seems like the next best thing and I was so passionate about that possibility.

I had my coach recently say to me, “you could have a garage filled with beautiful cars that you love individually in a unique way. But the reality is you can only drive one at a time. If you tried it any other way, you’d likely hurt yourself and others.”

And similarly, “If you were trying to build 5 bridges at the same time, you’d likely never finish any of them. But if you focused on one bridge, you could not only finish but make it an everlasting, sustainable way of moving through life.”

These types of analogies help me to visualize and cement that possibility into place for me so it’s no longer a shiny object, it’s THE OBJECT!

And today I’m feeling so grateful that I’m truly able to LEAN IN HARD to my word for 2022, “SIMPLICITY” and have faith that the next car will be driven over the next bridge in time.

To have faith in the process and make conscious, mindful choices each day to do what has the greatest return on investment.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I started my business on my own as a solopreneur and then 4 years down the road my husband left his job in finance to come work with me and build our vision out together full-time.

It was a situation in which he had really loved his job when he started, but over time he was feeling drained every day. Dreading going into the office. Dreading working with his high-need clients. Dreading selling something he wasn’t passionate about.

Then one day when he was leaving for work he said, “Off to get my soul sucked out!” And I stopped him in his tracks and said, “that’s not how we’re going to live this life. It’s not designed for me to live my best life and for you to have to suffer. We both need to step into that possibility and stop making excuses.”

A few months later he realized that he wanted to join me in our mission to create value-driven cultures where people thrive by activating their shared beliefs and motivations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sparkvisionnow.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marybethandjames/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparkvisionllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybethhyland/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqXY58u471QmFGE58ni0LWw

Image Credits
Harry Bosk, Mollye Miller