Episode 1
with Stephanie Zito, purpose and passion coach, founder of Stephanie Zito Coaching and host of This Passionate Life · September 17, 2021 · 15 min
Intuitive coach Stephanie Zito says successful entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, and a gut feeling that a choice is right gives them a competitive edge.
Her first step for tapping into intuition is to slow down to speed up: notice where you feel fear and where you feel a clear yes in your body.
She suggests grounding outdoors, barefoot on grass, sand or dirt, plus meditation and noticing the ideas that come during mundane tasks like showering.
Her body test asks "Is it in my best and highest good?" and watches whether the body leans forward for yes or back for no.
Stephanie says a vision of what you really want, like freedom, family time or travel, keeps you on track and away from burnout better than a money goal.
Published · Updated
What is this episode about?
How do you trust your intuition when a big business decision is on the table? Kathi Burns, CPO®, Business FLOW Strategist, talks with intuitive coach Stephanie Zito, host of This Passionate Life, in a conversation recorded for Kathi's Productive Home Office Summit. Stephanie works with entrepreneurs and CEOs who want to move past the stories and blocks holding them back. You'll hear why she believes a gut feeling gives you a competitive edge, why she starts with "slow down to speed up," how getting outside and grounding helps quiet mind chatter, and a simple body test built on the question "Is it in my best and highest good?" Stephanie also explains why a vision beats a money goal, how to balance information with instinct, and the Belief Creator exercise she draws from neuro-linguistic programming.
Successful entrepreneurs make decisions quickly.Stephanie Zito
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What are the key takeaways?
- Stephanie Zito says entrepreneurs who can feel from the inside that a decision is right spend less time and stress mulling it over or asking other people.
- Her first step for using intuition is to slow down to speed up and notice where fear and excitement show up in your body.
- Grounding outside, meditating, walking and doing mundane tasks like showering give the mind room so ideas can come forward; even 5 minutes helps, she says.
- In her body test, a true statement tends to move the body forward and a false one tends to move it back; she asks "Is it in my best and highest good?" rather than "Do I want to?"
- Stephanie says a money-only goal can be a sad, stressful, lonely road, while a bigger vision drives you forward and keeps you from burning out.
- She recommends balancing information with instinct, because analytical people can get stuck in analysis paralysis and intuitive people still have to sit down and get the work done.
- Her free Belief Creator exercise, drawn from neuro-linguistic programming, helps place a belief you want into your belief field.
This episode is brought to you by the Business Logjam Session
A private 75-minute online session with Kathi Burns to find the one thing holding your business back and leave with your next steps. It is the same F.L.O.W. process Kathi uses with her own clients: Focus on your goals, Locate your logjams, Outline your solutions, Walk away knowing your next steps.
Find What's Holding Me BackInterested in sponsoring the show? Get in touch.How does intuition give you a competitive edge in business?
Intuition gives you a competitive edge because it lets you make big decisions quickly, Stephanie Zito says. When you have a lot of information and a big decision to make, a gut feeling from the inside that it's right saves you time and stress. You spend less of both mulling it over and asking other people.
How do you trust your intuition when you're busy?
Stephanie says you trust your intuition by learning to slow down to speed up, which feels counterintuitive when you're busy getting things done. Start by getting in touch with your body and noticing where you feel fear. Then notice where you feel a clear yes, the sense that something is a go.
Where do you feel your intuition in your body?
Stephanie says most people feel fear in the lower part of the body, often right in the gut, which she calls a lower vibration. Excitement about a good idea feels different even when a little fear is still there. Kathi says her yes shows up in her throat, her heart or even her head. Once you know your own signals, Stephanie says, it's much quicker to make a great decision.
How does grounding help you make better decisions?
Grounding gets you out of your head so your mind chatter can quiet down. Stephanie suggests going outside, walking barefoot on sand, grass or dirt rather than the sidewalk, and she says Steve Jobs walked barefoot around his neighborhood when he had a big decision to make. She also suggests meditation and paying attention to the ideas that come while you do something mundane, like showering. Even 5 minutes, she says, gives you back far more than it costs.
What is the body test for making decisions?
The body test is a simple form of muscle testing where a yes tends to move your body forward and a no tends to move it back. Stephanie suggests practicing standing up with true and false statements, like your own name. Then ask about bigger choices: "Is it in my best and highest good?"
Why is having a vision more important than a money goal?
Stephanie says a money-only goal can be a sad, stressful, lonely road, while a vision of what you really want drives you forward. That vision might be freedom, time with family and friends, or the ability to travel. Quoting the CEO of Zappos, she says to chase the vision, not the money, and the money will follow. Keeping the vision at the forefront helps you stay on track, avoid the next shiny object and keep from burning out.
How do you balance intuition and analysis in business?
Use both, because each style has a weak spot. Stephanie says analytical people can get stuck in analysis paralysis and following trends, while intuitive people like her still have to sit down and get things done. She points to Steve Jobs insisting on an iPhone with one real button when his programmers said it was impossible. The gut-led choice isn't always the popular route, she says, but it's often where innovation comes from.
What is the Belief Creator exercise from neuro-linguistic programming?
The Belief Creator is an exercise from neuro-linguistic programming that Stephanie uses to place a belief you want into your belief field. She says many of us carry beliefs handed down from the past, around money or moving to the next level, that get in the way. The exercise takes a belief you want and brings it into the same place where you hold things you simply know are true, like "this is a book." She offers it as a free gift.
Where does each part of the conversation start?
- 0:00 Meet Stephanie Zito
- 1:14 Intuition as a competitive edge
- 1:51 How to tap into your intuition
- 2:13 Slow down to speed up
- 3:37 Get outside and get grounded
- 5:50 A simple body test
- 6:56 Is it in your best and highest good?
- 7:52 Why vision matters more than money
- 9:57 Chase the vision, not the money
- 10:58 Balance information with instinct
- 13:26 Her Belief Creator exercise
- 14:50 Wrap-up
What resources were mentioned?
These episodes continue the same thread as this one: Lia Dunlap, Carly Church, Ginny Priem, Stephanie Wall Morrow also answer the question "How do I grow my business without burning out?", and the rest are the most recent conversations on the show.
MotherhoodEpisode 147How To Build a Village That Supports Your Business and Your Life with Carly Church
See every episode on the podcast archive or filter by topic on the How do I grow my business without burning out? hub.
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What did they say, word for word?
The transcript below is edited for readability: filler words and false starts are removed and speaker names are added. Nothing was added or summarized.
Read the full transcript +
Kathi: Hi everyone. I'm Kathi Burns with Organized and Energized, and I am so happy to introduce you to Stephanie Zito, who not only is a dear friend of mine, she is the intuitive soul purpose alchemist. She helps entrepreneurs and CEOs take quantum leaps to thrive in their soul purpose, and she does it really well. Her coaching is unique because she sees right through the stories and blocks that hold you back from success, and so she can intuitively know what's blocking you and help you move forward and jump over that hoop. So through intuitive insight, she helps clients quantum leap and make the shifts for them to increase their income and align with their big visions. She's also the host of a podcast which you might want to tune into, which is called The Passionate Life. She features guests who take quantum leaps to turn their passions into profits. Her vision is to help 1 million entrepreneurs find their inner spark and make their dreams a reality. Here is Stephanie Zito. Stephanie, thank you so much for being part of this summit.
Stephanie: Kathi, thank you. I'm so grateful to be here with you. It's a pleasure.
Kathi: I'm so excited about what we're going to talk about, and my first question for you is: how do you think intuition gives people a competitive edge?
Stephanie: I think it's very clear that successful entrepreneurs make decisions quickly. So when you're in a position where you have a lot of information and you have big decisions to make, you will have a competitive edge when you can get that gut feeling from the inside that it's right for you and for your business. You're going to spend a lot less time, a lot less stress thinking about it, mulling it over, asking other people, going outside, because you have that power within.
Successful entrepreneurs make decisions quickly.
Kathi: I love that, and I totally agree with you on that. The thing is, how do we tap into that intuition? That's always the big question, right? We know we need it, but what do you suggest is the best way to tap in?
Stephanie: Well, I look at it in three parts. The first step really is counterintuitive for a lot of us who are very busy, we're getting stuff done, and it's to slow down to speed up. So if you're taking notes, write that one down: slow down to speed up. The very first step is to really get in touch with your own body. Your body is giving you information. We know in our bodies when we're feeling fear. I don't know for you, Kathi, where you notice that. Where for you do you notice fear in your body?
Kathi: Right in the gut.
Stephanie: It goes right in the gut, right? Most people are going to feel that in the lower part of their body. Fear is like a lower vibration. Everything is a vibration. This computer has vibration. I have a vibration. So we want to access our intuition. When we're sparked by something, when we're excited by something, we can still have that little bit of fear, but we're like, "Yeah." Where do you get that feeling, like, "Yes, this feels like a go. This feels like a hit"? Where is that for you?
Kathi: Sometimes it feels like it's in my throat area, in my heart area, or sometimes even my brain. I'm like, "Ooh, okay, that's a good one."
Stephanie: Excellent. So when you know that, it's just so much quicker to make a great decision. Even Steve Jobs, when he was making a big decision, would go and walk around in his neighborhood barefoot. And he would do that because he was slowing down to speed up. He was basically grounding. So one thing you can do is you can go outside, you can literally go for a walk, you can go barefoot. If you live by the beach, go out on the sand, go out on some grass, some dirt. It doesn't matter. If it's earth material more than the sidewalk, that's better. So go out and get grounded, because we can spend a lot of time in our brains and try to think things out, especially if you are an analytical type person. If you find yourself saying, "Oh, I'm not an intuitive person," then you are probably a person who wants to do this, because it's going to give you that competitive edge. We think we need to analyze things ad nauseam, and it's not true. There are studies that show that there's a part of the brain that goes quickly to decision-making. We can cultivate that. So you can meditate, you can go out for walks, you can even do something like when you're taking a shower. Maybe there are times where you're like, that's when you get that great idea. You clear out because you're doing something a little bit more mundane. So meditation, grounding, those are great ways to really start to tap into your intuition.
Slow down to speed up.
Kathi: I love that, in quieting your mind, and I agree with you, the slowing down to speed up. If you can just somehow turn off that monkey chatter in your brain and intentionally walk on the ground. I love walking in grass barefoot. It's totally my thing. Other people, they get a big thing on walking on the beach. I think whatever you can do to ground in is a great way. So I really appreciate that tip, and it affirms what I've liked all along, which is walking and laying in the grass for me.
Stephanie: Right? And it seems like these things are counterintuitive to business, like being lazy, doing something that doesn't feel like you're on task. But taking that time, even 5 minutes, will give you back so much more of that skill, because that's where your mind chatter starts to quiet. And then those real nuggets, those real drops of wisdom, those real things that you do want will come forward.
Stephanie: Another technique I really like in terms of decision-making is a very basic intuition technique, and it's to test your own body. It's like muscle testing. So if you have a yes, a yes will generally move your body forward, and a no will generally move your body backwards. So you can even play to begin with, with something as simple as "My name is Stephanie." And that's true, so my body, especially if I'm standing up, is going to move forward. And "My name is Joe," and then my body is going to move backward. So you can start with really simple things like "I like ice cream," "I don't like sardines," and then you can get into those bigger decisions. And it works because you will feel that hesitancy on those things that are just not a gut feel, like a partnership, some kind of business investment, whatever that might be. And then even all the decisions you're making in your business on a daily basis: what's the priority right now? And I really like the question, not so much "Do I want to?", because there are things we do sometimes that we actually don't feel like we want to in that moment, but it is the best for us. Like, I don't want to eat a salad, I want to eat a hamburger, but my body needs the salad. So if we say, "Is it in my best and highest good?" Like, "Is it in my best and highest good to make this investment?" Yes, I'm going to move forward. No, I'm going to move backwards. So that is a really great question to filter out some of the dances we can do around what we want and what we need. Some of those things can throw us off.
Is it in my best and highest good?
Kathi: I love it. What's my highest and best purpose, right? Is that what you said?
Stephanie: So if you were going to write this down, you would write down: is it in my best and highest good?
Kathi: Okay. So using that wording.
Stephanie: Yeah. Is it in my best and highest good to drink water or a soda right now? Okay, well, my body needs hydration. I mean, some of those seem really obvious.
Kathi: Sometimes you want to hear a different reason. You want to hear a different answer. But I think tapping in is great. Now, I know you talk a lot about vision. Why do you feel having a vision is the most important thing for your success?
Stephanie: There are so many ways out there to make money. There is no dearth of ways to make money out there. If you go down a road where your only goal is making money, it can be a very sad, stressful, lonely road. When your vision is the thing that's driving you forward, it's going to feel very different. So when we look at our businesses, there are probably a lot of things that we truly want that go beyond making money. We want freedom, we want time with family, we want time with friends, we want the ability to travel. Whatever those things are that go above and beyond the money making, that's going to be your big vision, and that's going to drive you forward, especially in times where maybe you need to make a big decision and your intuition needs to kick in. That's going to drive you forward, and it goes well beyond any goal that you want to make monthly or weekly. It's going to keep you from burning out.
If you go down a road where your only goal is making money, it can be a very sad, stressful, lonely road.
Kathi: It seems like a common theme of all the interviews I've been doing for the Productive Home Office Summit. We're always talking about what is your why, what's the reason behind what you're doing, and that is vision, of course. So what's the vision? It's not, "Oh, I'm going to make a million dollars." It's like, "Well, I want freedom so that I can retire," or "I want freedom so I can travel," or my big vision is freedom, right? And I think that's a lot of people's big vision. And being aware of that and keeping that in your mind, I totally agree, is a good thing to do, especially when things start getting mundane and you're doing all your busyness, so to speak. I always say getting stuck in your busyness and not really focusing on your business, which for me is the big vision behind why you're doing it. So I love that. Do you have any other nuggets to tell us about?
Stephanie: Well, on the vision, I love this. I'm just going to look at it for a moment. So, Tony, I'm going to say his name wrong. He's the CEO of Zappos.
Kathi: Tony. Okay.
Stephanie: He says to chase the vision, not the money. The money will follow you. And I really find this to be true. So of recent, it's very interesting to me as I look at my own self as a case study. When I started doing something very regularly, I started doing a manifesting playground, because to me, manifesting shouldn't be a challenge. It should not be challenging. The words we use really make a difference in our world. So when I started doing that daily, it's very interesting what started to show up and what started to shift. And I think it's very true: when we're looking at these daily tasks and these decisions that we have to make, when we keep that big vision at the forefront, that's going to help us stay on track. So we don't burn out. So we don't give up. So we don't just go to the next shiny object, right? We either can decide to stay the course or we can decide to shift.
Stephanie: And the next piece that is really helpful with this is balancing information with instinct. So once again, a lot of people here may consider themselves more analytical. Some of us just consider ourselves more like, "I'm left-handed, I'm intuitive." I just identify that way. And some people here are going to identify more on that analytical side. So it works either way. We really want to have that balance. If I'm out there being intuitive, I have to sit down and get stuff done, right? So I want to balance my information. Sometimes we can get stuck in analysis paralysis and following some trend, and we just want to see, well, what can I do to move the dial forward? And again, I'm going to bring up Steve Jobs, because he's a great one to study. He was very unpopular with his programmers, because you look at your iPhone, if you have an iPhone, which I do: it has one actual real button. And he went from the phones that had all sorts of buttons on them, and he said to the programmers, "No, I want one." And they're like, "That's impossible, not going to happen." He's like, "Yes, yes, it is." So he had that vision, right? He had that big picture, and he made it happen. And look at the technology that he's brought to so many people. So there are times where what you are doing may not be the most popular route, but if it's in your gut, if it's in that sense of "I know this is right," even if it seems harder in the moment, there's most likely a reason for that. So your instinct is really going to be innovative. Having that gut instinct is going to give you that innovation. Those are the people who have brought us above and beyond. We're not following the trend, we're creating new ones.
Kathi: Absolutely, absolutely. And I love what you're doing with your business. You're following your intuition and creating and serving the people that are drawn to you, and I know you've helped hundreds of people through this method. So there's something that I know that you want to give the guests here who are listening. What is it exactly that they're going to be able to download from you?
Stephanie: This is coming from neuro-linguistic programming. For many of us, we have these beliefs, perhaps that were handed down to us from our past or that are in our present, that can get in our way sometimes, like around making money or around jumping to that next level. So this is called the Belief Creator, and it comes from neuro-linguistic programming, and it literally helps us take a belief that we do want and place it into what we call our belief field. So we have a field that exists where we believe things to be true. Like, I believe this is a book. I'm not going to question that. So that seems so simple, right? What if I took this thing that I really want, this belief I really want to have, and I can bring it into that place where I believe things? It's fascinating, and it's really helped my business, and so I have it for you as a free gift as well.
Kathi: Oh, lovely. Okay, that's really, really good. So I think everybody should download that for sure, and check out Stephanie and see how she can help you. She is definitely a wealth of knowledge, and there's nothing better than having a coach that also is an intuitive, because she can tap into what you really need, and it might not really be what you think it is that you need, right?
Stephanie: Well, what I really love, because I work with some CEOs and entrepreneurs, is what I hear from clients. This is the thing: when we can look at all these analytical programs, you can follow the coaching, but what's unique to you is getting through those blocks, and we can get into them when we get into that intuitive piece.
Kathi: Love it. Love it. Well, thank you so much for being part of the Productive Home Office Summit, and we will see you soon. And everybody who's watching, make sure to tune in to tomorrow's recordings, because there's much, much more. So we'll see you then, and thank you so much, Steph.
Stephanie: Thank you, Kathi. It's been a pleasure.
Kathi: Absolutely.
Where can I find the links and resources from this episode?
Connect with Stephanie
Organizations and companies
Inspired? Here Are Your Action Steps:
- Write down "slow down to speed up" and keep it where you make decisions.
- Notice where you feel fear in your body and where you feel a clear yes.
- Before a big decision, take a walk outside, barefoot on grass, sand or dirt if you can.
- Give yourself 5 minutes of quiet, a short meditation or a mundane task to let your mind chatter settle.
- Practice the body test standing up with simple true and false statements, like your own name.
- Ask "Is it in my best and highest good?" instead of "Do I want to?" for your next business choice.
- Write down your big vision beyond money, such as freedom, family time or travel.
- When you feel stuck in analysis paralysis, ask what one step would move the dial forward.
- Download Stephanie's Belief Creator exercise from her website.
Frequently asked questions
What is intuition in business?
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In this episode, Stephanie Zito describes intuition in business as the gut feeling from the inside that a decision is right for you and your business. She says it lets entrepreneurs decide quickly when they have a lot of information and a big choice to make.
Can you really trust your intuition?
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Stephanie says you can learn to by getting to know your body's signals: where you feel fear and where you feel a clear yes. She suggests practicing with a simple body test on true and false statements before trying it on bigger decisions, and balancing instinct with information rather than using either alone.
Is it my gut or am I overthinking?
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Stephanie says we often think we need to analyze things ad nauseam, and analytical people can get stuck in analysis paralysis. Her fix is to slow down: get outside, ground yourself, meditate or do something mundane so the mind chatter quiets and the real answer can come forward.
How do you tap into your intuition?
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Slow down to speed up. Notice where you feel fear in your body and where you feel a clear yes. Then give your mind room: take a walk, get your bare feet on grass or sand, meditate, or notice the ideas that come in the shower.
Why does a vision matter more than a money goal?
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In Stephanie's view, chasing money alone can be a lonely, stressful road. A vision of what you really want, like freedom, time with family or travel, keeps you going when decisions get hard and helps you avoid burnout.
Who is talking in this episode?
About the Host, Kathi Burns
Kathi Burns, CPO®, is a Business FLOW Strategist based in San Diego. For the last 20+ years, Kathi has helped clients create systems they can stick to. She is the author of How to Master Your Muck, Organizing With Tetris and Home Organization, The Smart Guide, and co-author of four more titles; all are in Kathi's shop. Kathi's business has been featured on Good Morning America, and her advice has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes and Gardens and Entrepreneur Magazine.
More about Kathi · Shop Kathi's books · Business Logjam Session · Apply to be a guest
About Stephanie Zito
Stephanie Zito is a purpose and passion coach and the founder of Stephanie Zito Coaching. She describes herself as an intuitive soul purpose alchemist and works with entrepreneurs and CEOs who want to see past the stories and blocks that hold them back, make shifts that increase their income, and align with their big visions. She hosts the podcast This Passionate Life with Stephanie Zito, featuring guests who turn their passions into profits. On Insight Timer, where she leads live classes and guided meditations, she notes that she has practiced yoga for more than 20 years and is a certified yoga instructor. Her vision is to help one million entrepreneurs find their inner spark.
Want help putting this into practice?
Book a Business Logjam Session with Kathi
A private 75-minute online session to find the one thing holding your business back and leave with your next steps, using the same F.L.O.W. process Kathi uses with her own clients: Focus on your goals, Locate your logjams, Outline your solutions, Walk away knowing your next steps.
Prefer to start small? Download Kathi's free eBook 6 Steps to Organize Your Home Office.
Published · Updated
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