We recently connected with Lisa Hammett and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

Last year I gave a TEDx Talk. My topic was Breaking Through Stress and Other Negative Emotions With Mental Fitness. In my presentation I shared how negative emotions, such as stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, impact our behavior and wellbeing. My presentation included a demonstration of how to intercept negative thought patterns in the moment, and shift to a positive mindset.

Prior to going on stage, all presenters were taken to the green room where we were fitted for a microphone. Each mic was inspected to make sure it was working properly.

I was in a great head space, before I went on stage, having practiced mental fitness exercises to calm my nerves and improve my mental clarity.

As I started my presentation, I felt energized and confident.

Not 10 seconds into my TED Talk, I heard the MC call my name and ask me to stop talking. I looked at the audience and they had a look of horror on their face. What was happening?

The MC rushed over and proceeded to put her arm up the back of my shirt. My microphone was not turned on. Apparently, when the technician checked to make sure it was working, he inadvertently turned off the mic.

Had I not been in such a great headspace, this incident would have caused me to completely derail.

Once my mic was turned on, the MC asked me to start over.

I did, and my presentation went off without further incident.

Out of 19 speakers, I was the only one who had a microphone issue. This incident tied perfectly to my presentation. In fact, I referenced the incident in my closing remarks.

Was it fate, divine intervention, karma, or just coincidence? You be the judge.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Certified Positive Intelligence PQ Coach, a motivational speaker, an international best-selling author, and a wellness expert, helping HR & Healthcare Executives manage stress, improve productivity and communication, and regain their health and wellbeing.

I spent 26 years in the corporate retail sector and reached burnout, which resulted in significant weight gain, poor emotional and physical health, depression, and marital troubles. After a transformative health and wellness journey, where I lost 65 pounds, I decided to dedicate my life to helping others achieve their health and wellness objectives, and prevent the pain and suffering I went through.

I have positively impacted the lives of thousands of individuals, empowering them to make lasting changes.

I love speaking to audiences about the importance of stress management to prevent burnout. My speaking topics focus on mental fitness, work/life balance, and goal achievement.

I’m proud to say that my book, From Burnout to Best Life. How to take charge of your health and happiness, reached best seller status in 16 categories globally.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

During the pandemic I started blogging. I used a lot of my blog post material for social media posts. I developed quite a following. I started connecting with professionals in the publishing space. When we met for virtual coffee chats, my connections commented on my content and asked if I had ever considered writing a book. When the first publisher mentioned this I had to laugh. I had never considered writing a book. The more conversations I had, the more I was encouraged to write a book. So, I decided to write a book.

I used my blog posts and social media content as the foundation for my book.

Once I made the decision to write a book, I posted consistent content on the progress, gaining a bigger following.

I also hired Art Hoffman, with InLink Advisors, to help me grow quality connections on LinkedIn. Art and his team use my messaging to make new connections. Once the connection happens, I take over the messaging. Over the past 1 1/2 years, my connections have grown from 1,500 to 10,000.

I’m a firm believer in recycling content. I have folders, by month, of all my social media content, for the past 4 years. I’ll update the images when I recycle a post, and I might add some new information. This saves so much time.

I also share the same content on all my social channels: Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.

Narrowing my niche has made a great impact on my follower count. You can’t be everything to everyone. Being laser-focused on who you serve will attract the right audience of loyal followers.

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

A major lesson I had to learn was to make stress management a priority. This involves practicing daily gratitude, reciting Affirmations, doing mental fitness exercises, and practicing self-care. Had I been practicing these techniques when I was in the corporate sector, I could have prevented burnout, and planned a better exit strategy that did not result in bankruptcy. My poor health, marital problems, and financial woes could have been prevented.

I believe things happen for a reason. My burnout led to my health transformation, which resulted in my decision to become a Wellness Coach. My love for coaching led to Life Coaching and Positive Intelligence education and certification. My education and personal and professional experiences led to my book, which opened doors to speaking opportunities.

My life has definitely come full circle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lisahammett.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa.hammett/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthylivinglisahammett
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisahammett/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisahammett
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChGQY8WAdQsQnGlFRlIoEbA
• Other: Take your FREE stress and wellness check-up! https://lisa-zxd6bfkc.scoreapp.com/

Image Credits
Headshot – Lee Ann Baker (LAB Photography)