Hello and welcome to our first ever GSD Factor Podcast. I’m your host, founder of GSD Factor, Misha Bleymaier-Farrish.
My life motto is GSD, “get sh*t done,” and I’ve brought that to my personal and professional life. My team would tell you I’m the GSD boss. My kids would tell you I’m the GSD Momma, which to them means “Get stuff done.”
So, I know you are all thinking this, what is the GSD Factor? Why do I need it and how will having a GSD mindset help me in the future? Well this is what the GSD Factor Podcasts are going to be all about. Sharing my experience and outlook on how to GSD, hearing from industry specialists as to how they GSD.
Also, I want to hear from you–the audience, about some of the situations and obstacles that you have faced in the past, how they were handled, and what the outcomes were.
I’m so excited about hearing from all of you so let’s get started.
GSD Factor is an attitude.
It’s a mindset.
It’s practical execution.
It’s activating tools in both your personal and professional life.
I believe that every single one of us has the GSD Factor within us, but perhaps it just hasn’t been activated. Maybe your journey has caused you to experience things that have muted your GSD Factor drive or motivation.
I’m not only a strong believer that you can learn something from any experience, I’m walking evidence that it’s true, whether it’s your own experience or something you hear along the way that makes an impact. You can learn what to do and what not to do.
Our daily lives and interactions provide opportunities to learn, it is these life lessons or nuggets of information that can rapidly change your life trajectory.
We have lined up some incredible guests that will be featured on the GSD Factor Podcast throughout the year. We have hand selected leaders in their community, trailblazers in their industries, individuals from around the world in an effort to share their stories with you. Also, if there is anyone that you would like me to feature, then let me know, and we’ll try to set it up.
We want to help reignite the GSD Factor within you.
We want to help you realize that you are the key to changing your outcomes.
We want to help you jump start that new chapter or new career.
Whatever your story is, we are ready to listen and encourage you along the way.
So a little about me….I’m an Entrepreneur, CEO, career coach, speaker, technology strategist, insurance expert, program management specialist, military family member, board member of a non-profit organization, mentor, wife and mother, so you can tell, I wear many hats.
I’m an advocate for the under-voiced, mentoring the next generation of business leaders across insurance and technology, and equipping those that need professional direction and clarity.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to dream big, question the status quo and just GSD. Some have even used the verb, there goes Misha, GSDing.
Early in my career I started out in Sales and Marketing for an Insurance + Financial Institution Organization and during this time I was often told I’m too bossy or too confident. My favorite is….“your reputation precedes you and not in a good way.” When i asked why, my boss told me “it was because if I was asked to join a project, call or meeting it’s because something had to be fixed, the project or audit was behind and needed to get back on track, or the impossible needed to be made possible and well this makes people feel uncomfortable.” I was also told that’s not how women act in corporate. On this front I am pleased that times have changed since then. There’s still room for improvement but as a society we are getting there.
The frequency of these comments placed me at a crossroads. Should I change me, my personality, my skills, even when I know that this is my true and authentic self. Or do I adapt and conform. I knew that I was not the typical business woman. I am a Type A personality, highly organized, who can get a lot of sh*t done by talking fast and acting even faster. I thrive on creating plans to solve chaotic situations. I have mobilized incredible teams to make the impossible possible over twenty years in operations and technology. This is me. This is who I am. I come from generations on both sides of my family that just Got Shit done. Do I change me because I don’t fit the typical model or do I remain steadfast, fully embracing my true authentic self.
You can guess which path I chose. It hasn’t always been the easiest, in fact there are not many easy days because there are stereotypes, perceptions, opinions that fly in my face on a daily basis. But this hasn’t stopped me. Many times this made me the solo girl on the tech team. Or the solo woman in the boardroom. But what I’ve experienced is that my colleagues, partners, and clients know they are always getting the true me and it has fostered deep trust and fierce loyalty over the years.
I understand the opportunities and challenges that come from being a working parent in both the insurance industry and technology space. Both industries demand long days, sprints or enrollment seasons, overnight releases, you name it.
For those of you fellow parents you know that raising your children is the hardest job because you are faced with your tiny human version of yourself daily. Have you ever tried arguing with yourself!!! I’m pleased to be blessed with two children, even after the doctor’s told me I could not have them after battling and recovering from a life threatening illness. When faced with your own mortality and the prognosis of not being a parent, I stand before you on the other side of those journeys. I feel so grateful and blessed to be able to put this behind me, and as a result I have learnt to be sure that I’m present with my family, friends, colleagues in my life but especially with my kids. Once you are open to the process you will be amazed at what you can relearn by looking at things through the eyes of a child!
Also, if you didn’t know this already, you are being watched, by your kids, your friends, and colleagues. What are they going to see in your life? My daughter plays softball but one recent season there weren’t enough girls to make a team so they asked her if she wanted to join the boys team. Without hesitation she said “Momma, you are the only girl on your work calls and I want to be brave just like you so I want to play with the boys and it’s ok that I’m the solo girl on the baseball team.” A few years ago she came home from her first karate lesson and was so excited because she learned from her Sensai that her voice is her strongest weapon. Now that will stay with her for the rest of her life and that’s what I want for each of you listening today….be bold, be brave, be courageous, use your voice, we want to hear you…the world NEEDS to hear you! Are you being your true authentic
These GSD Factor podcasts will always be small lessons or stories, -providing nuggets that we hope will encourage and empower you to activate that GSD Factor within you, so be sure to visit us at gsdfactor.com where you can find more content for your NEW or RENEWED GSD Factor life, like the GSD Factor Spotify playlists found on the resources page. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter where we will be featuring a GSD leader, organization, or non-profit each month to encourage you that you are not alone and expose you to other GSDers that you may want to support and partner with. We are grateful that you have chosen to embark on this journey with us, so let’s stay connected so we can collaborate to harness the power of teamwork or as we like to say here: Let’s GSD!