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Summary Jackie Morreale shares her journey of celebrating success, facing failure, and the lessons learned about preparation, resilience, and community. This episode emphasizes that failure is a stepping stone to growth and the importance of lifting others as we climb. Topics:
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Chapters: 00:00 The Day After My Biggest Success, I Failed 00:20 Thank You, Wisdom for Wannabes Community 01:09 YouTube Silver Creator Award Celebration 01:54 I Failed a $200 Fitness Certification Exam 02:20 Shout Out: School of Rock 02:32 Shout Out: Lucie Pierro & Breathe Music Vocal Collective 03:12 Preparation Isn't Punishment—It's Protection 04:32 Wisdom from Pilot Johannes Schwab: Confidence Through Discipline 05:09 Respect the Process 05:31 Imagination Exercise: Picture Your Finish Line 07:30 My Son's Lesson at the Finish Line 08:16 Wisdom from Educator Dr. Roy McGriff: "Lift as You Climb" 09:02 Final Thoughts & Thank You
Failure is a Teacher! Finish Your Race, & Lift As You ClimbBy Jackie Morreale The day after I celebrated one of the biggest accomplishments of my career, I failed. But not in the way you would think. My name is Jackie Morreale, and I'm the host of Wisdom for Wannabes. First, I failed to say thank you. Thank you to every person who has watched an interview, listened to an episode, subscribed to the channel, left a thoughtful comment. Last Sunday, my family and closest friends gathered to celebrate the arrival and opening of the YouTube Silver Creator Award for Wisdom for this channel. Woohoo! This award represents one year of my life fully devoted to interviewing remarkable people. Taking a leap of faith that the wisdom shared through those interviews would somehow reach the people who need it most. Every conversation teaches me something new, and those thousands of quiet hours have become this very public milestone. The award may have the Wisdom for Wannabes name on it, but it belongs to every guest who trusted me with their story, and every person who believed those stories were worth watching. Before I tell you about my second failure, thank you, thank you. Thank you for building this community with me. Thank you for being here. Then, on Monday, I failed a test. I sat for a group fitness certification exam, and I failed, with flying colors. The exam cost about $200, but the real cost was my pride. The truth is I convinced myself that I didn't need to study. Twenty years ago, I was a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, spinning instructor, Zumba instructor, Pilates instructor, yoga instructor, you name it. I assumed that all that experience would carry me through this exam. It didn't. I learned that experience might be valuable, but preparation is indispensable. For a few days, I was disappointed in myself. My daughter even reminded me that I wasn't acting myself after I got the results. She was right. Failure has a way of shaking our confidence before it strengthens our character. A week later, though, I realized something inspiring: I learned far more by failing than I ever would have by passing. If I had passed without studying, I would have walked away believing that preparation wasn't necessary. Instead, failure reminded me that every worthwhile goal deserves our full attention. It humbled me. (continued below)
Ironically, another experience from this year taught me the exact opposite lesson. I auditioned for something that genuinely scared me: a singing group. Unlike the fitness exam, I prepared. I signed up for lessons at a local school called School of Rock. Shout out to all my teachers at the School of Rock. You rock! I joined a group Breathe Music Vocal Collective. Shout out to Lucie Pierro and all the folks in the Breathe Music Vocal Collective. I practiced scales, lip trills, breathing exercises, harmonies, and vocal technique. I surrounded myself with singers who were more experienced and better than I was and am. I became a beginner again, open to anyone and everyone's skills. I gained wisdom and practiced skills that I hadn't used in years. And the audition went well. (Yay!) The difference wasn't talent; the difference was preparation. A few days later, on the 4th of July, my family and I decided to celebrate by running a 5K before watching the fireworks. My nine-year-old son has always been the strongest runner in the family, but this race was different. He hadn't been training consistently, the weather was brutally hot, and in hindsight, eating a hot dog before a 5K race probably isn't the best decision. Around mile two, he started hurting. He wanted the race to be over. I slowed down, and I held his hand. Reminded him that he'd already done the hardest part; that we were closer to the finish line than we were to the start. I told him to picture the finish line, to imagine all the spectators cheering for him, and to remember how lucky he was that his body could carry him forward. How lucky we all are, in fact. Little by little, his stride came back. He found another gear. He crossed the finish line one second ahead of me, very happily. Watching him struggle, though, reminded me that preparation isn't punishment; it's protection.
Preparation doesn't eliminate challenges; it gives us the strength to meet them. One of my podcast guests and very good friends, Johannes Schwab, a pilot from Austria, shared something I will never forget in his interview. He studied so thoroughly for his aviation exams that by the time the test day arrived, he wasn't worried about failing. He had prepared beyond what was required. The 5 Ps – prior preparation prevents poor performance. That's confidence that can only be earned through discipline. There's an old saying that what people see in public is simply a reflection of what happened in private.
Those invisible moments are where success is actually built. Failure reminded me: Respect the process. The next time I walk in to take that exam, I won't assume that my past accomplishments are enough. I will walk in overly prepared. Not because I'm afraid to fail, but because I've learned what preparation really means. It isn't just passing a test; it's about becoming the kind of person who earns the result (continued below) Imagination Exercise: Finish Your Race, Lift as You ClimbA simple imagination exercise. It might help you get to the finish line. Let's close our eyes for a minute. Picture your own finish line. Maybe it's the exam that you've been studying for. Maybe it's an audition. A presentation. A race. A business that you've dreamed of starting. A book that you're writing. Artwork you're creating. Or simply becoming a healthier, happier version of yourself. Now imagine you're in that last mile of a race. Your legs are heavy. Your breathing is louder than the crowd. Your mind whispers, 'You've done enough.' Then another voice answers, 'You've already come this far.' You're no longer standing where you started. Every practice session, every early morning, every page you studied, every mistake, every failure, every time you got back up... they have all brought you here, to this moment. You look ahead, and the finish line is finally in sight. You can hear the announcer calling names. You hear cheering. Now imagine that every person lining the course knows exactly what you've overcome to get here. They know the setbacks no one else saw. They know the mornings that you didn't feel like getting out of bed but did anyway. They know about the failures that taught you. They know the dream that you almost gave up on. They're cheering anyway. Not because you're the fastest, but because you didn't quit. Your stride gets a little lighter. Your shoulders relax. One more moment of courage, then you cross the finish line. Someone reaches out a hand. Maybe it's a volunteer; maybe it's the exact encouragement you needed at exactly the right time. Take a deep breath. Feel the gratitude. Feel the relief. Feel the quiet confidence that comes from doing something hard. Then notice something else. There are still people out on the course. Some are smiling, some are wondering if they're going to make it. Without thinking, you turn around, you go back toward clap, you cheer, you hold out your hand. You tell them exactly what someone else once told you: ‘You've got this. Keep going. I'm here if you need me. I believe in you.’ At that race finish line, that's exactly what I saw my son do. After finishing the race, exhausted, the announcer said, 'Somebody shake that young man's hand.' A woman stepped forward from the crowd; she smiled, congratulated him, and shook his hand. A few minutes later, after he'd caught his breath, he walked back to the finish line. Not to race again, not to celebrate himself. To congratulate other runners as they crossed. He offered high fives, he shook hands, he cheered for people he'd never met. I don't think he realized it, but in that moment, he stopped being someone who needed encouragement and became someone who gave it. Watching him reminded me that maybe the finish line wasn't the destination after all. Maybe it's the place where our next responsibility begins. One of my earliest podcast guests on Wisdom for Wannabes, Dr. Roy McGriff, an educator and sixth-degree black belt, shared a phrase that has stayed with me ever since that conversation: ‘Lift as you climb.’ That's what preparation is for. That's what failure prepares us to do. Not simply to collect another simply to pass another test, but to become the kind of person who reaches back, extends a hand, and reminds someone else that they can do hard things too. So, prepare, study, practice, and fail. Try again and cross your own finish line. Then turn around, someone else is still out there. You didn't need someone to carry you this time, but maybe someone else needs you. 'Lift as you climb.' Have a wonderful day and thank you for showing up for Wisdom for Wannabes. Shout-Outs in this blog article:
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 What if one memory could bring you back to who you really are? In this deeply personal reflection, Wisdom for Wannabes host, Jackie Morreale, shares what happened when she returned to her elementary school 30 years later—and why it moved her to tears. Inspired by a powerful insight from sports psychologists about our brain’s tendency to hold onto the negative, Jackie explores the importance of intentionally creating joyful, meaningful moments we can revisit throughout our lives. This story is about identity, gratitude, and the people—especially educators—who shape us long before we realize it. Read on for a heartfelt reminder to reconnect with your roots, reclaim your truest self, and say thank you to those who helped you become who you are. Topics: • The importance of positive memories for mental health • Creating intentional joyful moments • Revisiting childhood to reconnect with your true self Takeaways: • Our brains are wired to remember negatively, but we must practice recalling positive memories. • Revisiting childhood places can reconnect us with our authentic selves. • Creating meaningful moments intentionally can help us stay grounded and true to ourselves. Quotes: • "I realized that little girl is still me." • "I think I forgot her along the way." • "We need to create moments on purpose." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: A Memory That Brings You Back to Yourself 00:31 The Insight That Sparked It All 01:11 Walking Back Into Where It All Began 03:15 Remembering the Girl I Used to Be 03:41 A Different Lens on the High School Years 04:05 Creating Memories You Can Return To 04:57 A Simple Exercise to Come Back to Yourself 06:00 Say Thank You, Just Because!  Jackie Morreale reading Princess Tessa & The New Look to Ms. Meehan's students, March 2026 Transcript: Jackie Morreale (00:00) I went back to my elementary school after 30 years and I remembered exactly who I am. My name is Jackie Morreale and I'm the host of Wisdom for Wannabes. I wrote this and I'm saying this now because I don't ever want to lose this feeling. I had one of those experiences that I know I'm going to want to come back to. Not just to remember, but to actually feel again. It made me realize something. I think every single one of us needs to have a memory like that. One that we can return to at any age. One that brings us back to ourselves. I was interviewing these two amazing sports psychologists earlier this week and they said something that really stuck with me: "Our brains are wired to think negatively." We're built to remember the bad moment, the embarrassing moment, the failure. Maybe at one point that kept us alive. It was survival. But now, it keeps us stuck. They said, "If we don't intentionally create and hold on to those positive memories, we won't have them to pull from later." We actually have to practice remembering the good. It took me a day to realize I had just lived one of those life-changing, happy moments that I will want to recall for the rest of my life. So here it is: Last Friday, I went back to my old elementary school. Thirty years later, I walked in with a stack of my books and my family. From the moment we arrived, something felt different. We were greeted by the security guard upon entering the building who said, "Hello, so you're the author?" I paused for a second and thought, "Wow, yes, I am." There's something so powerful about someone else seeing you as something you've worked so hard to become and identify with yourself. The principal came right out, welcomed us in, brought us into his office. We were laughing because I realized this had been my first time to the principal's office, an idea that I once dreaded, and this time it was for good. It felt like a full circle moment. Then we walk down the hallway to my favorite teacher's classroom. My fifth grade teacher who still teaches there to this day, now teaching kindergarten. And how lucky are these students, this school, this community, how lucky am I to go back and see her and relive this experience? We get to the door. There's a big sign over the doorway. It says, "Welcome Mrs. Morreale!" And it includes my family members' names. And streamers! And all the autographs of the kids in the class, as well as the one for my teacher. We walked right through the streamers and there she was, standing there: My favorite teacher. She looked and sounded exactly the same, same presence, same person. I just lost it. Tears were instant. The kind of tears that you don't even try to hold back. The kids are all looking at me and saying, "Why is she crying?" My teacher just smiled and said, "They're happy tears." They were. Because in that moment, everything else disappeared. I was her student again. I sat down. I read my book to her class. My own kids sat next to me. The students were amazing. They raised their hands to point out rhymes, respond to my questions, and ask brilliant questions of their own. I even had a few belly laugh moments where kids say the darndest things. I just felt joy. Pure, simple joy. No pressure, no noise. Just being exactly who I am. And it hit me: That little girl, the one who loved writing, the one who loved stories and had felt seen by this teacher 30 years ago... she's still me. She never left. But somewhere along the way, I think I forgot her a little bit. Tried to fit in. Tried to be what I thought other people wanted me to be. Even tried to dim parts of myself. But going back there brought me right back to her. We said our goodbyes, more happy tears, and a whirlwind of an amazing experience. We went to revisit another special place, my old high school, to see the best art teacher in the world, the new art wing, the new students' work. It felt different. I remember feeling like I didn't quite belong back then. Like I had to change myself or keep up or try to prove something. Looking at the kids now, they seem lighter than I remember feeling. Somehow more in touch with it all. And I hope that's the case. It made me the pressure we feel isn't even real. It's just the story we're telling ourselves. And the teachers, they see it all. They see what makes each kid different, what makes them special. They nurture it, they protect it. And I surmise that most of the time, they have no idea how much of that actually stays with all of us. So here's what this experience gave me: We don't just need to remember those moments. We need to create them. On purpose. Moments that are so real, so grounded, so full of who we actually are, that we can come back to them later. When life gets loud or stressful or remind ourselves: This is me. I want to try something. Probably 20 years ago, I was fortunate enough to teach a group in Brooklyn, New York, not far from these schools, physical fitness. We would always end our practice with a visualization exercise, to end on a really beautiful note. So here's one for today: Close your eyes. Just for a moment, imagine you're back at a place that shaped you. Maybe it's your elementary school. Maybe it's your first job with a great boss. Maybe it's your favorite relative's house. Maybe it's a field or on a stage or in a studio with a paintbrush that dips into your favorite color. You walk in, people know your name. Not for what you've done, not for what you've achieved, but for who you've always been. People who believed in you before you even believed in yourself. And they're just happy you're there. And you're so happy to be there with them. You can feel it in your chest. That warmth, that calmness, that certainty. That's you! That's your core. That's what you can come back to; in this place, in this moment, in this visualization, anytime. For me, it's looking at the paper sign with streamers and 25 signatures that's now hanging on my office wall a thousand miles away from where it was last week. There's one more thing I realized walking out of that school and it's an actionable item. We don't say thank you enough to the people who saw something in us early, before the world got loud, before we started questioning ourselves, before we tried so hard to fit in. To the teachers, Ms. Patricia Meehan, Mr. Keith Gamache, countless others. The ones who stay late, the ones who make things special, who remember our names, our strengths, our quirks. Who shape lives every single most likely aren't reminded often enough how much it all matters to us. If you can, reach out, send a message, say "Thank you!" Tell them, "You made a difference in my life." Most likely it'll mean a lot to them and it'll bring you back to yourself as well. Have a beautiful day.
Wisdom for Wannabes host Jackie Morreale explores the deep connection between body health, self-image, and personal well-being through personal stories and reflections. She emphasizes gratitude, self-acceptance, and the importance of viewing our bodies as vessels of strength and resilience. Topics: • Body image and self-perception • The importance of health and wellness • Reframing personal flaws as strengths Quotes: • "Nothing else matters when your body's in pain." • "No matter how thin, I always thought I was too big." • "Disease begins with dis-ease, out of alignment." Chapters: 00:00 The Journey of Body Image and Health 03:08 The Importance of Movement and Gratitude  Transcript: What if the thing you hate most about your body... actually proof that it's working? My name is Jackie Morreale and I'm the host of Wisdom for Wannabes, the podcast that seeks to wise words in business, beauty and betterment. Today, the focus is on betterment, personal wellness through the lens of physical fitness and body image. This morning, I finished a 5k, probably my slowest time on record. 33 minutes. Somehow that made me smile because 33 always felt lucky to me. I've been seeing it everywhere: 3:33 on the clock, 33 on receipts, little winks from the universe. I figured this was my cue to speak. Earlier this month, someone I love very much drove himself to the hospital in excruciating pain. That night, he woke up at 3:30am. I woke up not long after. There's almost nothing more helpless than watching someone you love suffer inside of their own body and not being able to fix it. It turned out to be... a kidney stone. A tiny black speck of a thing, something that his own body created, probably from too many sugary drinks, too much salt, not enough water, the usual suspects. After fluids, medication and fear and uncertainty, it finally passed. The kidney stone. It was the reminder that when your body is healthy, your mind gets to wander. You can think about dreams and goals and deadlines and magazine covers, but when your body is in pain, nothing else matters. Health is the only thing. It's bizarre timing because right now I put myself out there as a candidate for the cover of a fitness magazine. I've even made the top 10 by some miracle. And thank you to everyone out there who's voted. Still, let's be honest, body image has always been personal for me. We tend to study what wounds us. I look back at my career in fashion design and I can trace my body confidence through the hemlines. When I felt lean and model-like, I designed things that were tight, sheer, bold, unapologetic. When I didn't feel enough, my designs were longer, darker, more covered. I went back to school in my late 20s and studied body image as part of a fiber science and apparel design program. My instinct was to research bathing suits because what makes you more aware of your own body than that? But my professors wisely redirected me to jeans, because everyone wears jeans. The truth is no matter how thin or fit I've ever been, I have always thought I was too big. There's something broken in that. Not in my body, but in the way of seeing it. I could run marathons and still only see the jiggle. I could be at my smallest and still compare myself to five years younger. I could achieve the goal and still move the finish line. That's not health, that's distortion. So lately, I've been trying to reframe what I see. If I notice a softness under my chin, I remind myself this mouth has given me a voice. It is sung. It has spoken ideas into existence. It has smiled at my children. (Hi guys!) If I see a stomach that isn't flat, I remember that stomach stretched not once, but twice, to give life. If I look at my hips and thighs that I once criticized, I remember these legs have crossed marathon finish lines. They carried me through 26.2 miles more than once. It had me thinking: What if everything that we call a flaw... is actually a metal? We rarely appreciate our bodies until they scare us, until a kidney stone, until the diagnosis, until something stops working. I've heard it said that disease begins with dis-ease, something out of alignment, in our habits, our emotions, our spirit. When I run consistently, I feel better, not just physically, mentally. The noise quiets, my focus sharpens, and I have more energy, not less. Movement doesn't deplete me, it multiplies. We put a lot into our bodies, fast food, sugar, caffeine, stress, expectations. And somehow, our bodies keep showing up for us, breathing, digesting, healing, carrying. Would I give this loved one a kidney? Without hesitation. But the fact that I even could, that I have a healthy body capable of offering something like an organ, that's not something I take lightly. I'm grateful for this body. Not just for having visible abs on a magazine cover, and if that happens, wonderful. I hope that it makes another woman feel more at home in her own skin. We need more real bodies out there, more mothers, more women who have lived. But the goal isn't the cover. The goal is longevity, peace, a healthy, vibrant old woman someday. Modeling for my children that caring for your body isn't vanity, it's future-proofing. So 14-year-old, 27-year-old, 39-year-old Jackie, stop chasing a smaller version of yourself. You are not behind. You're not wrong. You are here. And this body, this resilient, imperfect machine, is doing its job. So thank you, body. Thank you for running, even slowly. Thank you for healing. Thank you for carrying babies and dreams and groceries and grief. Thank you for forgiving me when I've criticized you. We only have the best version of ourselves at this moment. Not compared to 10 years ago, not compared to her or him. Just here and now. Health is the foundation, gratitude is the shift. Everything else - the aesthetics, the numbers, the pace - is just a detail. Final Reminder: You are a beautiful person, exactly as you are, right now, inside and out. Have a beautiful day.  Thank you to HERS Magazine, for the opportunity to compete for Ms. Health & Fitness 2026! Reclaiming the Word "Wannabe", with Podcast Host Jackie MorrealeIn this episode, Jackie Morreale explores the themes of personal growth, identity, and the concept of being a 'wannabe.' She reflects on her journey through podcasting, halfway to her original goal, on a personal day of importance: 20 years of the Ken Pribil Jr. Foundation. She discusses the importance of embracing change, and the value of real conversations in learning and evolving. Jackie redefines the term 'wannabe' as someone who aspires to be more, encouraging listeners to embrace their own journeys of growth and self-discovery. Takeaways: • Have you ever felt like you were growing into a new version of yourself? • What if that gap was actually the most important place to be? • I'm saying I see potential in myself that hasn't been realized yet. • The best answers are the unexpected ones. • I want to be more like you when I grow up. • Wisdom is everywhere. • Maybe being a wannabe isn't something to outgrow, but something to return to. • A wannabe is someone who believes they can be more. • You're exactly where you're supposed to be. Quotes: • "I'm saying I see potential in myself." • "That's not fake or trying too hard." • "Wisdom is everywhere." Chapters: 00:00 Embracing Change and Growth 00:47 Redefining 'Wannabe' and Identity 01:44 The Journey of Learning and Growth 03:06 The Power of Real Conversations  "Redefining Wannabe" by Jackie Morreale Have you ever felt like you were growing into a new version of yourself, but the people around you didn't quite understand it yet? If so, this is for you. My name is Jackie Morreale and I'm the host of Wisdom for Wannabes. I'm tuning in today on one of those rare, rare days: A solar eclipse, lunar new year, Ramadan, Mardi Gras, Carnival, Winter Olympics, a 20th anniversary of something very special in my own life, losing a loved one to cancer 20 years ago. And across cultures, across beliefs, across the world, This moment is all about the same thing. reflection, renewal, and becoming. And it got me thinking about one word that I don't think we fully understand. A word that's very important to us here at Wisdom for Wannabes. That word is "wannabe". Now, if you grew up in the '90s like me, you remember how we used this word. "He's such a wannabe, she's such a wannabe." They just try too hard. Someone stepping into an identity that other people didn't think that they had earned yet. People putting another person into a small box when they were way more than that. That's what we were really doing: Judging the "gap"; the difference between the box that they had been placed in by other people and that they were aspiring to be. And we made that gap something to be embarrassed about. But now that we've evolved, what if that gap was actually the most important place to be? What if that space between who you are right at this moment in time and who you're becoming is where all the growth lives? Because when I say "I wanna be...", I'm saying I'm not done yet. I'm saying I see potential in myself that hasn't been realized yet. I'm saying I'm willing to stretch, evolve and be uncomfortable to become something more. And that's not fake or trying too hard. That's courage. That's exactly where the name, Wisdom for Wannabes, came from. That's what's really meaningful to me right now. I'm about halfway through my original goal for this podcast, almost 26 interviews out of 52. Halfway! And I've learned more than I had ever expected I would by this point. When I first started this podcast, I had an idea of what I thought it would be. Now, being right there in the middle of it, I realized it's not just about the conversations. It's about what those conversations do to they shift you, how they humble you, how they make you realize that there is just so much more to learn. For me, that growth shows up in three core areas: 1. Business, building something meaningful. 2. Art (aka Beauty), expressing and creating. 3. Wellness (aka Betterment), taking care of body, mind and spirit. These are the areas where I feel that gap the most. And instead of hiding from it, I'm choosing to step into it. Through this podcast, I've had the opportunity to talk to people that I truly admire. The best moments, they're never the planned ones. They're the unexpected answers, the honest stories, the moments that completely shift your perspective. That is the power of real conversation. And in those moments, I find myself saying something simple: "I want to be more like you when I grow up." I've realized that that's not insecurity. It means I'm open. It means I'm learning. And that means I'm still growing. Because wisdom is everywhere. You can learn from someone who's built success. You can learn from someone who's overcome struggle. You can learn from someone who simply shows up consistently. You can even learn from kids, probably most from kids. They trust themselves. They follow what they love. And somewhere along the way, some of us lose that. (And if you identify with that, drop a thumbs up in the comments.) So maybe being A "wannabe" isn't something to outgrow. Maybe it's something to return to. A mindset where you stay curious, where you stay open, and where you stay willing to evolve. So today, I'm reclaiming the word "wannabe". A wannabe is not someone who doesn't belong. A wannabe is someone who believes that they can be something more. So yeah, I'm a wannabe. If you're on that journey too, you're exactly where you're supposed to be. This is Wisdom for Wannabes. And we're just getting started. Thank you so much for being here. Have a beautiful day.
On Social Media: What Every Business Owner, Creator, and Person With a Message Needs to Know2/12/2026 Summary: In this episode of Wisdom for Wannabes, Jackie Morreale explores the multifaceted world of social media, discussing its potential for connection and growth, as well as the challenges it presents. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and community engagement, while also addressing the evolving landscape of influence, including the rise of AI influencers. Jackie encourages listeners to embrace social media as a critical tool for personal and professional growth, urging them to overcome their fears and be visible in their endeavors. Takeaways:
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Chapters: 00:00 The Love for Social Media 02:21 The Shadows of Social Media 04:41 The Power of Authenticity and AI in Social Media  Transcript: Jackie Morreale (00:00): Hi there and welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes. My name is Jackie Morreale and I am the host. Today I am here to talk about a very important subject. You ready for this? Social media. I love social media. I know it's not a fashionable thing to say. We're supposed to talk about burnout and algorithms and doom scrolling. And yes, all of that does exist. But still, I love social media, because Social Media took ideas that once lived only in my head and expanded them into the world. Took thoughts I had that I wasn't sure anyone needed to know and showed me that there is a community, thousands of people, in fact, who want to seek wisdom alongside of me. And thank you so much to my community, the one that we are building together, seeking wise words in business, beauty and betterment. I am eternally grateful for you. Thank you for tuning in. One reel, if it lands right, can even reach thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people. It's crazy and I'm just scratching the surface. That kind of reach, that kind of exponential growth, I have never experienced anything like it and I am grateful. Thank you. Now let's be honest, social media does have its shadows. Anxiety, comparison, fear of missing out, insecurity, not so nice comments mixed in with the nice ones, and as your message grows, so does the resistance. And with the likes also come the dislikes. But here's the thing that I'm learning in real time. You have to be willing to get better. And that's just not social media. That's with anything. I'm speaking as someone who has used social media as a professional tool for over a decade for brands, businesses, public figures. But now I'm also speaking about it as an entrepreneur, a creator, as a human with a message to just something to sell, but something to say. Social media is no longer optional. It's a critical tool. And if you're not using it, you're invisible. I recently heard this line and it hit me so hard. The real barrier is not technology. It's fear. Fear of putting yourself out there. Fear of putting your face out there. Fear of putting your thoughts out there. Fear of being judged for how you look, for how you sound, for how you think. Thank you, Wisdom for Wannabes, lovely community, for your support and for helping me get past that fear. I've posted interviews, videos, spoken essays... Imperfect, evolving, very human work. I still don't know exactly where this is all going, but I do know this:
Every day is new, every day is interesting. Thank you, social media. That's why I love you. Each platform is also its own unique world. YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, different audiences, different languages, different energy, and I'm just mentioning a few. Podcasts add another layer entirely. Yes, it is this tangled web that we weave, but it's also a super powerful one. Opportunities appear that simply would not exist otherwise. Here's where my gratitude deepens. In the last six months, I had the opportunity to study social media academically, really study it, research it, question it. Learn from data, not just intuition. And what I learned is something that every business owner needs to know. For every 1 % increase in your social media activity, there is a measurable increase in your revenue. That impact has grown over time. So Social Media doesn't just feel good or look good for your brand. It actually moves your bottom line, which makes it low-hanging fruit. Be creative, be consistent. be moderately frequent. There is a sweet spot where engagement thrives. Research shows (Colliander, & Marder, 2018) that raw, imperfect phone photos on Instagram actually outperform the polished, expensive looking studio shot photos. Why? Because people see themselves in realness. Authenticity attracts connection. And that's why we're here after all. Then there's a future: AI. Did you know that it's already here on social media? AI influencers exist and they hold surprising amounts of trust, especially when it comes to investments made in tools and technology (Belanche, Casaló, & Flavián, 2024). Humans still lead the emotional decision making when it comes to influencers, but influence itself is evolving and fast. It's fascinating, it's a little bit scary. So I will end where I began. I love social media. Without it, I wouldn't be connected to people around the world, people like you, people who've been following Wisdom for Wannabes. Thank you so much for building this community with me. As someone who spent over 20 years in marketing, I am endlessly grateful to witness and test how this amazing medium of social media works. It changes daily, and it's moving at the speed of light. And if you are a business owner, a creator, or someone with a message to share, use it.
So now you know. Have a wonderful day.  Further Reading on Social Media Balabanis, J., & Chatzopoulou, E. (2025). The value of social media content to browsing and searching consumers of luxury products on Instagram. European Journal of Marketing, 59(5), 1227–1246. https://www.emerald.com/ejm/article/59/5/1227/1246548/The-value-of-social-media-content-to-browsing-and Belanche, D., Casaló, L. V., & Flavián, M. (2024). Human versus virtual influences, a comparative study. Journal of Business Research, 173, Article 114493. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296323008524 Bentley, K., Rajagopal, P., & Kulow, K. (2024). Unfaithful brands: How brand attachment can lead to negative responses to influencer marketing campaigns. Journal of Consumer Psychology. Advance online publication. https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcpy.1432 Casaló, L. V., Flavián, C., & Ibáñez‑Sánchez, S. (2020). Influencers on Instagram: Antecedents and consequences of opinion leadership. Journal of Business Research, 117, 510–519. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296318303187 Casaló, L. V., Flavián, C., & Ibáñez‑Sánchez, S. (2021). Be creative, my friend! Engaging users on Instagram by promoting positive emotions. Journal of Business Research, 130, 416–425. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296320301089 Chung, J. (J.), Ding, Y., & Kalra, A. (2023). I really know you: How influencers can increase audience engagement by referencing their close social ties. Journal of Consumer Research, 50(4), 683–703. https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/50/4/683/7077143 Colliander, J., & Marder, B. (2018). ‘Snap happy’ brands: Increasing publicity effectiveness through a snapshot aesthetic when marketing a brand on Instagram. Computers in Human Behavior, 78, 34–43. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2017.09.015 De Vries, L., Gensler, S., & Leeflang, P. S. H. (2017). Effects of traditional advertising and social messages on brand‑building metrics and customer acquisition. Journal of Marketing, 81(5), 1–15. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1509/jm.15.0178 Gambetti, R. C., & Kozinets, R. V. (2024). From killer bunnies to talking cupcakes: Theorizing the diverse universe of virtual influencers. European Journal of Marketing, 58(13), 205–251. https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/ccd7cce0-07e5-3e6a-8540-b798260e988a/ Hwang, K., & Zhang, Q. (2018). Influence of parasocial relationship between digital celebrities and their followers on followers’ purchase and electronic word‑of‑mouth intentions, and persuasion knowledge. Computers in Human Behavior, 87, 155–173. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563218302553 Kapoor, K., Tamilmani, K., Rana, N. P., Patil, P., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Nerur, S. (2017). Advances in social media research: Past, present and future. Information Systems Frontiers, 20, 531–558. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10796-017-9810-y Kim, H.J. & Chan-Olmsted, S. (2022). Influencer Marketing and Social Commerce: Exploring the Role of Influencer Communities in Predicting Usage Intent. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 22(3), 249-268. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15252019.2022.2111243 Kübler, R., Colicev, A., Pauwels, K., & Gándara, M. (2020). Social media’s impact on the consumer mindset: when to use which sentiment extraction tool? Journal of Interactive Marketing, 50, 136–155. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1094996819300933 Lee, J. K., & Junqué de Fortuny, E. (2021). Influencer‑Generated Reference Groups. Journal of Consumer Research, 49(1), 25–45. https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/49/1/25/6380146 Leung, F. F., Gu, F. F., & Palmatier, R. W. (2022). Online influencer marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 50(2), 226–251. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11747-021-00829-4 Leung, F. F., Gu, F.F., Li, Y., Zhang, J.Z., & Palmatier, R. W. (2022). Influencer marketing effectiveness. Journal of Marketing, 86(4), 94–114. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00222429221102889 Liadeli, G., Sotgiu, F., & Verlegh, P. W. J. (2023). A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Brands’ Owned Social Media on Social Media Engagement and Sales. Journal of Marketing, 87(3), 406–429. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00222429221123250 Meire, M., Hewett, K., Ballings, M., Kumar, V., & Van den Poel, D. (2019). The role of marketer‑generated content in customer engagement marketing. Journal of Marketing, 83(6), 21–42. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022242919873903 Möller-Herm, J., Gottschalk, S. A., & Mafael, A. (2025). To post or not to post: How minority opinion and posting frequency impact online review posting. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 42(1), 235-254. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167811624000661 Nistor, C., Selove, M., & Villas-Boas, J.M. (2024). Influencer Authenticity: To Grow or to Monetize. Management Science, 71(6), 5251-5267. https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.2023.03479 Pan, Y., Blut, M., Ghiassaleh, A., Lee, J., & Palmatier, R. W. (2024). Influencer marketing effectiveness: A meta‑analytic review. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 53, 52–78. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11747-024-01052-7 Pham, T. R., Septianto, F., Mathmann, F., Jin, H. S., & Higgins, E. T. (2023). How construal–regulatory mode fit increases social media sharing. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 33(4), 668–683. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcpy.1375 Reich, B. J., & Pittman, M. (2020). An appeal to intimacy: Consumer response to platform-appeal fit on social media. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 30(4), 660–670. https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcpy.1154 Shrum, L. J. (2024). The metaverse and consumer psychology: Introduction to Research Dialogue. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 34(1), 140–141. https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcpy.1355 Stathopoulou, A., Kreuzer, M., & Frisenberg, C. (2024). Is social media B2B engagement driven by impression management strategies? Understanding corporate‑driven versus individual‑driven LinkedIn profiles. Industrial Marketing Management, 121, 55‑73. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019850124001056 Tyrväinen, O., Karjaluoto, H., & Ukpabi, D. (2023). Understanding the role of social media content in brand loyalty: A meta-analysis of user‑generated content versus firm‑generated content. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 58(4), 400‑413. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10949968231157281 Unnava, V., & Aravindakshan, A. (2021). How does consumer engagement evolve when brands post across multiple social media? Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 49(5), 864–881. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11747-021-00785-z Van Reijmersdal, E. A., Aguiar, T. D., & Van Noort, G. (2024). How is influencer follower size related to brand responses? Explaining influencer follower size success through cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses. Journal of Advertising Research, 64(4), 451‑464. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2501/JAR-2024-024 Wies, S., Bleier, A., & Edeling, A. (2023). Finding Goldilocks Influencers: How Follower Count Drives Social Media Engagement. Journal of Marketing, 87(3), 383–405. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00222429221125131 Yannopoulou, N., Chandrasapth, K., Bian, X., Jin, B., Gupta, S., & Liu, M. (2024). How disinformation affects sales: Examining the advertising campaign of a socially responsible brand. Journal of Business Research, 182, 114789. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014829632400293  Summary: In this episode of Wisdom for Wannabes, Jackie Morreale discusses the challenges of fitting in, especially during the back-to-school transition. She reflects on her own experiences with self-doubt and the importance of growth through discomfort. Jackie offers valuable advice for middle schoolers, emphasizing the significance of belonging, being present, and embracing one's individuality. She encourages listeners to find their community, not sweat the small stuff, and enjoy the journey of personal development. These six areas of advice apply to not only starting middle school or a graduate degree program, but also to anyone starting a new role, business venture, or chapter in their life. This message has been lovingly made, and (thankfully) approved by my daughter. Go girl! Takeaways: • The transition back to school can be challenging for both parents and children. • Self-doubt about fitting in is a common experience at any age. • Growth often comes from discomfort and challenges. • Creativity can be a powerful outlet for frustration and anxiety. • You belong in the spaces you occupy; trust your journey. • Being present is crucial for personal development. • Embrace your uniqueness and let it shine. • Building a supportive community starts with being a good friend. • Don't let small setbacks overshadow your progress. • Enjoy the journey of growth and learning. Quotes: • "You belong here." • "Keep going." • "You got this." Chapters: 00:00 Navigating the Journey of Fit 04:14 Words of Wisdom for Middle Schoolers, especially my daughter! 08:35 Embracing the Journey Ahead  Transcript: Hi there, it's Jackie Morreale, the host of Wisdom for Wannabes. I am here today with some thoughts to continue in the area of fit. This time, let's talk more about fit in terms of fitting in. With back to school looming on most of us, here in Florida, we had back to school this week. We're on day three. To all the parents out there who have survived changing schools: Congratulations. This week some new stuff happened. I started middle school for the first time, for the second time in my life. I also started a graduate program for the second time in my life. It seemed to me that either being 40 years old or 30 years old or 20 or 10, where you're going into middle school for your first day and everything is brand new, social structure is brand new. It's totally different than the sheltered beautiful experience that hopefully you had in your elementary years. The question is always this: Am I going to fit in? Why is it that we place this self doubt on ourselves about our fit as an integral piece of whatever community we're in? So whether that means:
Why is this, that no matter what program in school it is. If we're starting a new program, we have all this programmed self-doubt into ourself about our fit. Is it the right fit for us? Will we fit in? Am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Am I dedicated enough? Am I interested enough? Do I even care? So let's talk about that for a second. Do I care? As parents, we care a whole lot. It really stinks when you see your child going through some of the stuff that you hoped were just part of your own experience of adolescence, that you're hoping will just be irrelevant. So why? Why God have you put this middle school experience into all of our lives? Why do we have to go through these years where we're constantly questioning ourselves and our fit and if we're wearing the "right" thing, if we're saying the "right" thing, if we're listening to the "right" music, if we're watching the "right" programs, if we have the "right" technology.... Why... can't we just skip it? Wouldn't that be nice, moms and dads out there? I have given this some thought. I think the reason is: Change is hard, but we're here on earth to learn. Our evolution is necessary. On the other side of discomfort, there's growth. If you are a creative person, try to take any sort of frustration that you might feel with going back to school or discomfort in a new role or a new situation, a new office. Try to take that extra energy that you're wasting on feeling frustrated, lost, anxious, and put it into your art, and create something really beautiful. Maybe you'll look back on it later in your journey and say, Wow, wasn't that an interesting time that I was able to take those emotions and really make something beautiful from it. There will be challenges, especially if you're a motivated person. If you're an ambitious person, expect challenges. How else are we to grow? Are we to go from cute little babies in elementary school to functioning adults? There has to be something in between. There has to be this weird, ugly growth period, this place with padded walls, and all these blessed individuals who have chosen to go work with all these pre-teen and teenage people that are experiencing things in their lives. Despite all these insecurities and trauma that comes out of this adolescent period in our life... How I can fit in my own way, and be myself authentically? At the end of the day, I would like to offer a few words of advice for my child who just started middle school that she can watch any time that she wants to and who knows, maybe think a little bit differently about her own experience. Words of advice that I wish that I could go back in time 30 years ago and tell myself on my first week of school. Number one. I just got this in my own graduate degree program orientation and it was a really great reminder. You belong here. You've already paved the way. You've worked so hard. You are an integral piece of this community that you just joined. You belong here. No self-doubt about it. You are in the right place, for the right reason. This is your path that has led you here. Everything that you have done up until this point has led you here. Just continue on your path. Stay positive. So lots of cliches coming our way. So first one, you belong here where you are. Number two. Be present. The past is over. Close it out. Close chapter. Learn from it. The future is a gift. Don't worry about it. It'll come. Be present. Today is the perfect opportunity to be the best version of you. Don't let anything behind you tie you down or anything in front of you slow you up. Be present today. Stay focused. Limit your distractions. Know what you want. Our life is about knowing what we want and paving the way there. In Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat asked where she wanted to go, because any other path will take you there if you don't know where you're going. But if you do know where you're going, you'll get there. It's about manifesting. So be present. Keep moving forward. Every day is a new opportunity to be you. Number three. Let's talk about you. You're amazing. Be yourself. Let yourself shine. Just like the Rihanna song, Shine bright like a diamond. Everybody else is taken. We're so worried about fitting into what our little small box is, that we can fit into. No small boxes. Be you. Be big, shine bright. Don't let anybody dull your sparkle, as one of my special colleagues has told me before. Don't let anybody tell you who you are. You are the only one who can define who you are at that moment in your life. Let's talk about community. Number four. Find your community. It all starts with One, really. You're never alone. If you want to find good friends, be a good friend. I wish somebody had told me that too. It's as simple as that. Put it out there, be a good friend, and you'll find your good friends back. Let's talk about the Mean Girls. Unfortunately, that is a reality. I thank Tina Fey for putting out there her Mean Girls movie that's gone to Broadway. It's such a quintessential adolescent drama that we can all watch and relate to. I love that she took that experience and made it creative, from a hardship that we can all identify with. Mean Girls. Are they your friends? Do you know their names? Do you know anything about them? If they're not your friend and you don't know anything about them, why would you care what they think? What does it matter? If we're not friends, whatever your thoughts are, are great for you only. Number five, speaking of small stuff. Don't dwell on the small stuff. You're on such a big journey, a big path. Don't let anything keep you down. It does not matter. If nine good things happen to us in one day. Why does the 10th thing anchor us and distract us from being productive or happy? Why can't we cut the cord with that one thing and just focus on the amazing other things that are happening on our path of growth? So don't sweat the small stuff. Don't dwell on it. It doesn't matter. We're talking big picture here. Three years of middle school, it's quick. It's this chapter that's amazing and you're learning so much. You're growing up, you're going from baby to now teenager. And it's scary for all of us, including you. Don't dwell on the small stuff. Dwell on the great stuff! In fact, if you have a mirror in the morning, tell yourself how great you are. You are so beautiful. This last one is probably the hardest because it's fleeting and we don't realize until afterwards. Number six, enjoy the journey. You're going to learn so much and do so great. This is a stepping stone towards the next stepping stone, towards the next stepping stone. So you belong here. In summary: Summary: Wisdom for Wannabes host Jackie Morreale reflects on the concept of fit, both in clothing and in life. She shares a personal story about an old suit that no longer fits her, prompting a deeper discussion about how our clothing choices reflect our personal growth and aspirations. Jackie emphasizes the importance of understanding apparel fit standards and how they relate to our self-image. She also explores the evolution of personal style and the need to reassess our roles and goals in life, encouraging listeners to consider what truly fits them as they strive for growth and fulfillment. Chapters 00:00 The Suit That No Longer Fits 02:04 Understanding Apparel Fit 04:18 The Evolution of Personal Style 06:19 Fit Beyond Clothing: Career Aspirations Dedicated to Susan P. Ashdown, PhD, fashion industry fit expert and Emerita Professor at Cornell University's Department of Human Centered Design.
Hello, my name is Jackie Morreale and I'm the host of Wisdom for Wannabes, a new podcast series that seeks to find wise words on business, beauty and betterment. I'm here today joined by an old friend: My pinstriped suit. Let me tell you a little bit about this suit. This suit was something I bought 15, 16 years ago. It's from Brooks Brothers. I spent what I thought was a lot of money on it back then. I had it tailored to fit my body after I bought it. The suit helped me get two corporate jobs. I wore this suit once a week for a corporate job for three years. We go way back. 15 years later, though, this suit does not fit. It does not fit my body. It does not fit my style. It doesn't fit where I'm trying to go as a creative person. It's unfortunately just taking up space in my closet. The reason I'm having this conversation showcasing my old suit today, is because I had a wonderful conversation with my mentor and professor from undergraduate and graduate degree programs, who is an expert in the field of apparel fit. We had this wonderful interview that is now posted on this channel. She posed the questions: What fits us? How much of our closet actually fits us? How much of our closet is just taking up space? It's an idea that I haven't thought about for a while. It made me go back in time 15 years when we worked on this together. A study based on how the fit of denim jeans on college-age women would improve their body image, called Relationships Between Perceived Fit of Denim Jeans and Body Satisfaction. In it, with statistics we proved, that the better the perceived fit of the jeans, the better the wearer would feel about their body. How amazing is that? To be able to use something like fit of clothing in order to feel better about our self and our body as a person. The issue here is, "Fit" is a major problem. Most clothes don't fit most bodies. Ready to wear is a broken system. Pretty much anything that you can buy off the shelf is not going to fit you unless you go through that extra step of investing in it and making sure that it's then custom tailored to your body. Bodies are always changing. Between the shape, the size, our posture, there are so many different facets that change the way a garment can fit you from one day to another. Years later, here I am holding onto this suit that's two sizes too small in the back of my closet because we have this beautiful history together. It doesn't fit me, it doesn't fit my body, it doesn't fit my style, it doesn't fit my career. It's ready to be passed on to the next person.  Traditional Suit FitLet's talk a little bit more about fit in terms of the technical standards of apparel. Since this is a suit, it's pretty standard in terms of how we measure the fit. When we're talking about a jacket like this:
Nothing should be too tight. Nothing should be too loose. Wrinkles always show where something is too tight or too loose. If there's a big wrinkle on your button, it is likely too tight. That's the very traditional version of what a women's or men's suit jacket should look like when it fits. No wrinkles, smooth lines, fitting the curves of your shoulder, fitting to the wrist bone, a little bit of protrusion around your neck as well as your wrist to show the shirt underneath. It's a very traditional, centuries old way of measuring fit. Again, nothing off the rack is going to look like that on you unless you are the fit model that the design was built around. If you have that fit model body, you are in luck. Find your store and buy it in every color. Either way, make sure you customize the fit of special pieces as things change with your own body to make it an investment piece.  On StyleLet's talk about the style. I'm no longer a pinstripe suit wearing kind of gal. I've been there, done that, and looking for more creative ways of expressing myself through clothes. I love to take it down to three basic questions, to determine if it is fitting me:
 Storytime! Learnings from Eric Carle, on Fit and Growth I also do a lot of reading, and I was reminded of one of my favorite authors / illustrators of all time, Eric Carle, and this wonderful book that he wrote for children. Eric Carle not only is a talented writer, illustrator, who changed the industry of children's books, but he was also a 40-year-old when he first published his book that everybody knows, 50 million copies have sold worldwide, his bestselling book, The Hungry Caterpillar. Many books later, we have this wonderful book, A House for Hermit Crab. As we go through the pages of this book, we find that it's about a hermit crab, who keeps outgrowing his own shell. As he's physically outgrowing his own shell, he needs to then find new shells to wear, right? But maybe it's not your style, so you're going to customize and make it your own. Then by the time you have this beautiful shell, your body has again changed or your career goals have changed and you need a new sense of style and by the time you've built up this beautiful fit and home and second skin and even built a little rock wall around it... you realize that you are not growing while you're wearing this non-fitting shell. Or jacket, in my case. Maybe you find a friend who still has some room to grow and it's time for this to stop taking up real estate in my closet and it's time for me to move on. It's time for the next person who has those goals to take over and do what they want with it.  Fit for Growth in Your LifeIf we think about clothing or we think about a home, it's our second skin. It's our immediate environment. We have to be comfortable in our skin in order to grow. Let's take it even further than that and say:
Something to think about. Is what you're watching or what you're scrolling fitting you, fitting your goals, fitting where you're going to be in the next 15 years? If it isn't, maybe it's time to donate it to the next person in line, and grow and figure out what your new fit is. Thank you, Eric Carle. May you rest in peace. Thank you for creating all these beautiful books and making me think bigger about growth and fit. And to Professor Ashdown, for always being there, with all your guidance in fit technology, and everything else that you've done. Have a wonderful day! Continue Learning About Fit and Growth:
Summary: In this voice note and mini research study, Wisdom for Wannabes podcast host Jackie Morreale discusses the importance of our energy on our interactions, particularly during the school year or when arriving to an office and greeting an administrative professional. She reflects on a note she found at her children's school that emphasizes the idea of matching energy with others. Through a social experiment, she explores how positivity can be contagious and how our energy affects those around us. The conversation encourages self-reflection on the energy we bring into different spaces and the impact it can have on our interactions. Takeaways:
Sound Bites:
 Transcript:
Hi and happy summer everybody! Parents out there and kids are super excited for the summer. Teachers who have off for the summer super excited. Lots of blue skies ahead of us as we refresh and recharge our batteries before the next year starts up again. I happened to find myself at school last week, on an errand. I encountered this cool note at the front desk, a laminated Post-it note that looked very similar to this one that I had to create just for myself. It says, I match energy, so you tell me how this will go. How cute is this person for making a Post-it note that's so truthful and putting it on for everyone to see, as they're checking their kids in late or dropping off glasses or lunch or a water bottle. This note really made me reflect. It was my first time seeing it. I've been there many, many times. I have never noticed it before. Could have very easily just written, Be kind, right? As we would see all over the place in school, which is true. We should be kind. Everyone's fighting their own battle. It is on us to be kind to everyone as we would expect them to be kind to us. But to say, "I match energy, so you tell me how this will go", really forces anyone to see it, to notice it, to reflect on themselves in such a smart way.
How great is this person that she knows that she's going to match this energy of the people that walk in. Is anyone really going to the main office in any organization and not asking for a favor? If you're asking for a favor, you might as well bring some light in, some smiles in, when you greet this person. We're all so wrapped up in our own deadlines and where we're trying to go that quite often it just slips through the cracks... and this person feels the brunt of that. This gatekeeping role is so important for every single organization. I know today is not Administrative Professionals Day, but I thank everyone in an administrative role for making my life easier, for making everyone's lives easier, for making magic happen every single day. Happy summer to them! I genuinely hope that you are able to come back to the new school year fully refreshed and revived. Let's think about this question a little bit more: What energy am I bringing with me when I walk into a room? Let's bring this to your house, your office, a Zoom call even.
Has anyone else in the room shown up where you've been and caused this chain reaction, caused this light to enter the room? If you have seen this, tell that person. Tell them to keep doing it, that they changed the room. It's hard to realize that we do match energies. Just look at your pet or your children or a meeting, right? If you get home and you've had a bad day, you kind of feel the entire vibe of the household shifting. Maybe you have a wonderful pet that'll come and greet you if he or she knows that you are sad. They know how to react to energy instinctively and it's an amazing thing. Thinking about how we create this chain reaction of positivity in the world. While we have hundreds, maybe thousands, of interactions, some of us, every day - whether it's in person, on the phone, email, text messages, online, however you communicate...
Let's bring ourselves up and let's bring other people up as well. I will keep that sticker. For those of us who want to create some positivity in the world and have that energy resound, for the sake of this conversation, did a little social experiment, with my daughter. Something like this, a little matrix if we have it here. We did a social experiment over three mornings last week. After we saw this sign we asked: What would happen if we just waved and said hello to everyone that we saw? What would happen? We did this over three days. The first day we went to the park, then we went for a walk around the community, and then we went to a camp drop-off. We charted it out based on other crazies like us who initiated a wave or a hello, those who matched our energy and said hi back in some way acknowledging us, or those who just had no response. The total was 30 people in our group. For the sake of conversation: If we're able to match negative energies, can we also match positive energies? Our results were interesting. They were situational. In terms of those others like us who initiate a hello, and this is just them, the park run had the most of them. There were two folks who were running and initiated the hello and it so great before we even had a chance to pick up our hands or smile. And one from the community walk initiated the hello. So of the 30, we have 10 % of people like us who are trying to put this positivity out there, these smiles out there first, because we know that other people are going to match our energy. Let's lead it with positivity! Thank you for that, 10 % of people. I really appreciated your hello. Right back at you. Let's talk about those who matched our positive energy, our hello or our smiles. In the park run, we had seven of the ten who matched our energy. This high energy group that are out there trying to find wellness and health. Thank you folks for smiling, thank you for waving, thank you for saying good morning. Next up was the community. Of the 10, five of them waved back or just matched our energy. Camp drop off, three, smiled or waved back. It's a little bit of a different group, less familiarity, more hustle, more bustle, more craziness happening to try to get kids to that camp drop off or to try to get back to your desk and pick up your next call. If I look at that group who match our energy in three different situations, with high energy, more familiarity, and more hustle bustle. We had a total of the seven + five + three = 15. 15 out of 30, 50 % mirrored our good energy. How great is that? It's not just about the bad energy that we're mirroring. If you put out there good energy, 50 % of the time, you will get it back. I would have done this mini research project if I had found that one person had mirrored my energy, it would have been worth it. Because maybe that one person takes it and has an exponential effect to their positivity. When I saw that 10 % initiated a hello just like us, and 50 % matched our positivity, that's incredible to me. No responders. In the park, we had one no responder. In the community, we had four no responders. At camp drop off, we had seven. People are in their own world. We can't affect everyone. We had 12 people out of the 30 who did not respond. Were not expecting this social experiment. Did not communicate back, 40%. But the majority did! Based on this cute little social experiment, I would say this: Put your best self forward. Think about every space that you put yourself in. When you walk into your house, when you walk into a boardroom, when you walk into a new office for an appointment and a gatekeeper welcomes you. Bring your smile, bring your positivity, because the majority of the time, they're going to send it right back to you. On those days where you just have abundant energy, bring it with you and share it with other people. If you feel it from that 10% of folks who already have the same and are putting it out there, just tell them they're doing a great job. Let's see how many people that we can spin the negative to positive, and have them be enjoying the fact that they match energy because it's important. Learnings from a Post-It note. I thank you for making me reflect and making me think about this a little scientifically and making me realize that we also match positivity and the majority of people do the same. Have a wonderful day! Have you ever just looked at the nature around you? Noticed how beautiful it is. Notice how everything's always changing, always growing, always evolving. How there are cycles, seasons, even if you live in a hot place like Florida, there are cycles and seasons. How everything comes from the sun. How animals behave, the harmony that it all finds with each other. There's this lake behind where I live and I go there quite often, usually for the very basic need to walk my dog. But I really enjoy being back there, looking at the water, observing nature around me and feeling like I'm at one with that energy of nature. That lake is my waterfront. When it gets low, when things dry up a bit, that's my beach. I love that there are lots and lots of birds and fish and animals that have found home in that source of water right there. Lucky for us thus far, I have never seen any creatures of the gator variety back there. It's just been lots of ducks and sandhill cranes. Tadpoles are there, turning into frogs. One day last week, I took my dog and my kids out for a walk by the lake. My doggie is very small. She's tiny but mighty. She may not be the sharpest, but she has a very sharp nose. If there's anything pungent, anything offensive in its smell whatsoever, she's going to find it. Found it, she did. She found this dead crow that was at the bottom of a tree. Of course, the tree that my children had started climbing. She identified this poor thing that was there at the base of the tree, a dead crow. Of course, my reaction is, Okay, we're going to move along from here, not get near it, plenty of other trees. Let's keep going. We moved along. We're just there, enjoying nature and the world around us, in our own little world of this lake. All of a sudden we hear this "panic squawk". We're looking around, my kids are playing on the tree and I'm with my dog and my dog starts barking in response. This panic squawk, what is that? We all looked down the way at the other side of the lake and there's this big majestic grayish-looking bird standing there on its skinny legs. A few feet tall, standing on the little beach of the lake. It's panic squawking. We're looking and we're like, What's going on? We see that the crows that are usually in the trees are flying from their perches in the trees, coming together as a flock to swoop down and within inches of this bird's head or body, swooping down very deliberately towards this bird. So, our gut reaction, whenever we see anything like this majestic bird, with all these birds, in essence, attacking it, my children and I start yelling, Go away, go away from that bird. Leave the big bird alone. Then it clicks. We were thinking about the tree that's just a few feet away with the dead crow at the bottom of it. We're watching all these crows come together as a flock and swooping down and dangerously close to this big bird, which is so much bigger than them. They're less than a foot each and they're coming together and creating it to feel this panic and to feel threatened. Then the flip switches because we're like... Look at them. They're also tiny but mighty and they're coming together in numbers. They're finding their power in their numbers. They're standing up for their flock in which this predator bird took out one of their own. Then we're like, Wow, this is nature. This is nature at its finest, with these birds banding together as a flock and protecting themselves, standing up to a bully, really. Then this majestic predator bird on the beach lifts off, takes flight and is still panic squawking. That's the only way I can describe it. Over the water as it's flying and from every direction, these crows are swooping at it from every tree. I didn't even know they were in these trees and they're just coming from every direction. It must have been 30, 40, 50 birds, crows, coming together to get this bully out of their lake. It was amazing to see. Whereas we had started saying, Get away from that big bird, now we're saying, Go birds, band together, you got this, get rid of that predator. It's funny how you can figure things out with a different perspective. Had we not seen that dead crow, poor thing, maybe we wouldn't have understood the motive behind that strength that they had to find in numbers to make their community safe again. So hard when you have kids thinking about bullies. All you want is for them to have this better life than you had. You just want them to have this wonderful, peaceful, loving life, lots of friends, learn lots, be happy. Then they grow up and there's complications and you hear about all these terrible things happening in schools, especially bigger kids, bigger problems, so much bullying. Even when they're little. Even as adults, even in the workplace, even socially, that's just kind of how we behave, right? There's bullying. I don't know why it's more prevalent now. But I know that what needs to change in order to combat against this is what we saw there in nature. We saw this flock of crows banding together to keep themselves safe and set a boundary. The boundary, this is our lake, this is our boundary. You can't just come here and pick one of us off. They had to stand up for themselves and band together for their power and numbers to get rid of this dangerous thing that was endangering their flock. I think about my younger brother, who has since passed away. When we were in high school, he was a gentle giant. He was so nice. If you can just picture a six-foot-three person who maybe was intimidating looking by his size, but who liked to laugh and like to read and like to play cards with his small but very loyal, fiercely loyal, group of friends. I can envision him as someone who was always light at heart and happy and inquisitive and really had so much thirst for knowledge. Anyway, that's a topic for a different day. This kid in high school was bothering him. They were both in the school band and this kid was just incessantly bothering him, bullying him. Making fun of him. He just wanted to irk my brother. One day it was too much. He didn't want to feel irked anymore. Maybe he had discussed it with his friends. Maybe that gave him the strength to stand up for himself. I don't know. But one day he just couldn't take this this kid irking him anymore. He gave him a quick punch in the mouth and the kid never – ever – bothered him again. In fact, he was quite nice to him after that. My brother set his boundary against this bully, and he never bothered him again. There's this senior pastor at Life.Church named Craig Groeschel, and I always enjoy hearing him speak. I also enjoy his podcast series on leadership. He always says, “I don't know who needs to hear this…”. So, I don't know who needs to hear this. I need to hear this. I think we all need to hear this. You need to find your flock. You need to find those people that make your heart sing. Doesn't have to be people who look like you, are similar to you by way of your interests or the way you think about things. It just has to be people that make your heart sing, make you feel good about yourself, make your energy resound and multiply. Somebody that has a deeper connection with you. It doesn't even need to be a big flock. It can just be One. I always tell my children this: It starts with One. Find somebody that you have a connection with. Don't let anybody make you feel alienated. As soon as you feel alienated, that is when the bullying is potentially going to happen, right? Find your power in numbers. Find somebody who loves you and will back you up. It could be a family member. It could be a friend. It doesn't matter. Be that person who helps somebody else if you feel that your friend has been in the same situation. Be that person who gives them strength and wind beneath their wings. So find your flock. Whether you're in the workplace, whether you're in school, whether you're on social media, whatever. Don't let bullies push you around. Set your boundaries. Find your flock. Make sure that that predator is pushed out of your lake and doesn't pick you off piece by piece like this one was trying to do to the flock of crows. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for your friends. You'll feel so much better at the end of the day. And I don't know who needs to hear this, but… You are awesome. You rock! Find your nature. Find your flock, find your people, find your harmony, and you'll find your flight. Just like that flock of crows. Have a wonderful day. Bye.
Beautiful crows at a park in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photos by Jackie Morreale.
If you're interested in learning more about crows and their behavior, here's an interesting article on AnimalResearcher.com: Crows: Unlocking the Secrets of Their Complex Social Behavior - animalresearcher.com Excerpt from link: "Crows are highly social birds that live in family groups, similar to humans. They form strong bonds, recognize each other's faces, and enjoy spending time together. They use different sounds to communicate, warn about danger, and find food. Their social structures are crucial for survival and success in various environments." Yesterday I took my children to this fun play place where they have climbing walls and ropes and slides and all sorts of other ways to spend the day. We have a ton of fun and use up a lot of their overflowing energy, which helps them sleep really well at night. We're there at this play place and it's all renovated, and both kids are so excited. Everything's brand new. What they thought it was going to be was different. They find this climbing section of the play place. The climbing section has five different climbing walls, as well as this set of stairs that are something like wooden pylons, obviously child-friendly version of wooden pylons, covered in some sort of a child-friendly material. They have these 10 pylons that are ascending like a staircase and maybe two or three feet away. A kid that's maybe around 10 would have the right leg span, or gait in order to get all the way to the top. Once you're at the top, you're in your harness and you just get to enjoy this lovely free fall feeling of enjoying going from about 20 feet up in the air back down to the ground, so that you can repeat the whole process over again and enjoy this ascending staircase and then the freefall at the end. My 10-year-old daughter, who's so brave in so many different ways, is attempting to do this pylon staircase over and over and over again. Every single time, she gets blocked at that ninth pylon. It was just the last pylon she could do. She's big enough to go from one to the other. She did nine previous steps, but there was something, some fear, something blocking her from getting to that final step, from breaking through to that final hurdle, from breaking through that glass ceiling, where she could enjoy that full free fall from the top. Must have gone on like this 20 times. She's one, two, three, four. Still going. Five, six, seven, eight. Then nine. Then I see her on the fifth or sixth time, I see her putting a foot up, okay, testing the waters. Then a couple more times, and I see her trying to sit on it. Okay, she's sitting on it. Yay, we're at the tenth, but we're kind of half invested in it. Then I see her put her feet back on nine and take the free fall from there. It went on like this for a few hours. We had a lot of fun. It wasn't the only activity that they did at this play place, but she kept returning to it. She was stuck on it. She wanted to get there so badly. It was just blocked, just a mental block, some sort of a fear of getting to that top rung and having nothing on the other side to and keep going. Had there been 10 more pylons after that 10th one, I am positive that she could have kept going. She would have gone to that 19th one and had that same feeling when she was about to go to that last pylon, of having nothing around it and the idea of putting two feet on a very small surface. There's about 10 minutes to go. I collect the kids and say, "Okay, 10 minutes, everybody. Let's get in whatever you want to get in." I see something click in her brain. I've just given her a deadline, a timeline, and she's like thinking about the staircase and how she wants to get to the 10th pylon. She says to me as somebody who documents every moment of her beautiful life, she says to me, okay, mom, get your phone. I'm ready. Record me. I see her go over there and she gets in the harness. She's ready. She's thinking about it, takes a deep breath. Does her ritual, whatever that is. She goes for the first one and steps up to the second one and the third one. Slowly, deliberately, she does her thing. She gets to the ninth one. She does what she's done before, puts one step up. I said, "Is she going to make it?" Then I'm yelling, "Go girl! You got this thing." And... she... did it! She got the second foot up there, all the way up to that last pylon! I see this look on her face that's pure joy and pure excitement at what she just did. I see that she's so surprised that she did it. She knew she could do it. She had done nine before, but she did the last one that had been this block for her. She got over her fear when she had a little timeline. A little enthusiasm behind it, a little challenge behind it, and she got over her fear. She's hanging out up there. Of course I captured it. She's so surprised. This is pure elation on her face. I see her take this amazing free fall and just enjoy herself on her descent back down to the bottom. Once she had done this, she decided to keep going. So if she had done this 20 times before and only gotten up to nine, now... She went 20 times again and gotten up to 10. Up until now, there's a line of very cute little kids who are inspired by her, wanting to do the same activity and waiting for her to be done. Made me think about creative projects:
Once you've done a project well and you've completed it, you know that you can take that next step. I think about it in my own running journeys. I've hit a lot of plateaus. I started running when I was young. I was on the track and field team. Now as an old lady, I think about some of those early on experiences of running because endurance has so much to do with your clarity, your confidence, your mental strength. I think even more so than your body, you just have to be able to plunge through it. I think about my high school coach and how did he work with this bunch of teenage kids that had so many different things going on and hormones and different levels of energy, how did he formulate us into a team? It seemed to me that whenever I was super tired, whenever we hit any sort of a plateau was when he took out something like a tool to change it up, right? Like a suicide, which for anybody who doesn't run, it's not that morbid. It's just basically the hardest training tool that I ever had to do. Running, sprinting for your life halfway through a field and back, and then sprinting all the way across the field and back. They usually came in groups of 10. By the time you're finished with the tenth one of going halfway through the field, all the way through and back as fast as you can, you're just ready to keel over and basically die, hence the name, suicides. But not that morbid. It builds you up and it gives you strength and it makes you better and faster. In high school I did hurdles and I did the high jump. Man. Falling down on a hurdle or hitting your back and taking down the bar as you're descending in this free fall and you know you're going to hit the bar with your back on this high jump. I have so many fears from that and mental hurdles to getting to that 10th rung, getting to that 10th pylon. In business, it's the same: - How do we take it from 90% to 100% and beyond? How do we break through that glass ceiling? - How do we see this bigger picture in which we can truly grow and do something that's unique and special in the marketplace? For everybody, it's different. I do think that you need to have that light, that clarity, that confidence in your thoughts. It's so important to believe in what you're doing because no matter whether you believe in it or you don't, you're right. There's something about having that little timeline. Give yourself a timeline and see if that will give you the strength to know that you can do it. You've already done this nine times. How do we get to the 10th? Believe in it, do it. It's as simple as that. Have a wonderful day!
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Jackie MorrealeJackie writes from her own experiences and reflections on her journey in seeking wisdom, creativity, spirituality, and life in general. This is "putting thyself out there" at its finest. 
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