EPISODE · Dec 24, 2024 · 51 MIN
Ep. 45: Rachael O'Meara - PAUSE, the book
from Page One Podcast · host Rachael O'Meara, Holly Lynn Payne
Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.About the guest author:Rachael O’Meara is an author and transformational leadership and executive coach. Her book PAUSE, published by Penguin, was named one of the top business books for your career and featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Rachael worked as a sales executive at Google for more than a decade and hosted Google Author talks with thought leaders who have meaningful messages about mindfulness and emotional intelligence. She is certified in Transformational Coaching from the Wright Graduate University for the Realization of Human Potential (ICF certified), and has an MBA from Fordham University. In her spare time, she is an ardent rower and splits her time between Florida and San Francisco. She is the co-founder of SIC Venture Studio and the host and producer of the PAUSE Cast Podcast.About the host:Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, an AI powered book discovery platoform. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.Tune in and reach out:If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.Happy holidays everyone! ~Holly~ Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast! I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. Tell your friends. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.For the love of books and writers,Holly Lynn Payne@hollylynnpaynehost, author, writing coachwww.hollylynnpayne.com
What this episode covers
In Episode 45 of The Page One Podcast, we get to hear my dear friend and author Rachel O'Meara discuss her groundbreaking book, PAUSE, which explores the powerful impact of taking intentional breaks to avoid burnout and find fulfillment. Rachel shares her personal decades-long journey of corporate burnout at Google and how a three-month unpaid leave transformed her life, leading her to become a transformational leadership and executive coach. The conversation delves into the importance of self-awareness, courage, and the transformative power of pausing. Rachael discusses her process of writing the book over a five year period and how the process had a positive impact on her life. We take a moment to reminisce about our experiences working together on PAUSE—me as her writing coach and she as a first time author— and the significance of listening to one's inner voice and making space for personal growth. The episode provides valuable insights for anyone feeling overwhelmed and seeking a path to a more satisfying and balanced life. If you’re wondering what’s next for you in your life, take a moment to hear Rachael’s wisdom and wonderful laughter. This is a great one to hear on a walk between holiday gatherings. I hope you enjoy it and discover the delight of what’s PAUSE-able. There’s so much value in taking time to find out what you want! Learn how to do that and so much more in Ep. 45. 02:24 The Power of the Pause 04:46 Rachel's Personal Journey 07:34 The Writing Process and Coaching 09:46 Courage and Commitment 19:05 The Importance of Pausing 24:44 Rachel's Transformational Break 25:51 Creating Time for Self-Reflection 26:38 Returning to Google and Personal Growth 27:14 Birthday Reflections and Rose Girl 29:36 Navigating Career Changes and Coaching 30:32 The Importance of Pausing 33:31 Spirituality and Coaching 37:01 Embracing Change and Personal Development 40:43 The Power of Presence and Self-Awareness 43:20 The Magic of Pausing 45:02 Closing Thoughts and Book Recommendations
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Ep. 45: Rachael O'Meara - PAUSE, the book
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