Episode 18 - Authenticity, Boundaries & the Power of Saying No with Andrea Pass
By Jessica Garrison
We are joined this week by the honest, authentic, communicative, hardworking, friendly, responsible, thorough, caring, and strategic Andrea Pass. The way that Andrea weaves her layers through storytelling will capture your attention and create excitement to begin a journey of your own.
Like many of us, Andrea has experience working from home, so she understands the need for boundaries when work and home are in the same building. There didn’t used to be boundaries for Andrea when it came to work, but that never seems to work out in the person’s favor. One example she shared was not eating lunch until 3 PM because she wasn’t taking breaks, and I have to say that I’ve been there a time or two as well. Sometimes I tell myself I should complete just one more task before taking a break for lunch when I’m working from home, but one more task turns into ten and before I know it, it’s already a few hours into the afternoon. Although it may seem like it’s better for me to get the work done and eat later, I realized that my best work is done when my body is nourished and getting everything it needs. My brain can think more clearly and I’m not distracted by my stomach rumbling with hunger. It’s a good reminder that boundaries are just as important for yourself as they are for others.
Andrea has set times for calls and other work-related events, having a calendar with her availability handy so she isn’t overbooking herself. It’s up to her when she wants to have meetings or take work calls, and it’s important to remember that you have more control than you think. Even if you don’t work from home, you can take these lessons and apply them to your business site. Set boundaries for yourself when you’re going to take breaks, drink enough water, and don’t give more than you have to offer.
I loved that Andrea also said that she doesn’t tell people what they want to hear—she’s honest. As a P.R. agent, she can’t predict the future of how sales will go or assume a deal before it’s confirmed. Even if it’s with good intentions, false promises will lose you the respect and trust you’ve worked to achieve with people. Andrea reminds us to remember our character traits; remember who we are. Don’t change yourself for someone you may want to do business with or change it because you think it’s how someone else wants you to behave. There’s no need to worry about messing up if you’re yourself, and you don’t have to worry about which mask you’re supposed to be wearing at a given time.
This is such a valuable conversation to remember when you’re working towards your goals. Andrea lives her life authentically and unapologetically, and I look forward to everyone taking a piece of her advice with them after listening.
Ways to Engage: Create a schedule of when you’re available and when you’re not, and set boundaries for this. What can wait until tomorrow? What needs to be done today? Which items on your to do list are a priority? When it comes to work, boundaries and time management go hand in hand, and this can change everything for you.