Ditch the Struggle with Alana Ruoso | Career & Success Coaching for Personal Growth
If you feel lost and trapped in your career, frustrated with your life, stuck in a state of struggle, or, like me, scared you’re not living up to your potential, then this is the place to be. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and then burned it–a few times over.
Hi! I'm Alana. I'm an award-winning graphic designer and certified career and success coach in Toronto, Canada. Get ready for personal stories about my journey through personal growth, career strategies, entrepreneurship, bad jobs and toxic bosses, anxiety, confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset, and healing.
Episodes
120 episodes
EP119: Cleaning Closets, Ditching Clothes & Building a New Identity | Personal Growth Coaching, Organization, Fashion & Energy
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:The sudden need I had to clean and clear my closetsGetting rid of clothes that no longer feel like 'you' (identity crisis alert!)Why purging is so emotional...
EP118: Empaths and Narcissists—What You Need to Know | Personal Growth Coaching, Energy & Self-care
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:The toxic relationship between an empath and a narcissistWhat is an empath?The narcissist's agendaThe article I read in 2015 that had a huge impact on my ...
EP117: Living in Ireland, Feeling Displaced and Absorbing the Magic | Personal Growth Coaching & Travel Stories
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Living in Ireland for 7 weeks!How I was deeply uncomfortable and ungrounded, but it was a good thingFeeling displaced in a new environment and making the most of i...
EP116: Please Stop People-Pleasing | Personal Growth Coaching & Tips
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:All things people-pleasing!The collateral damage from always putting others' needs firstHow to ditch this habit and behaviour
EP115: My Stupid Simple Strategy For Taking Risks | Career & Personal Growth
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:An easy way I talk myself into taking risks and trying new thingsThe mindset needed for transformationHow I ditched perfectionism
EP114: How Self-Compassion (Finally) Got Easier For Me | Personal Growth
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A mindset shift that made me look at self-compassion differentlyHow can still be affected by our past experiences–even when we think we are 'older and wiser'
EP113: One Shift That Transforms Your Relationship with Money | Finance & Mindset
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:How one thing my friend said changed my perspective on money foreverHaving a new article published on Addicted2SuccessLosing a chunk of money at th...
EP112: Joe's "Prison Break" & Leaving Corporate Without a Plan | Career Coaching & Personal Growth
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:The story of Joe, who just left his (awful) corporate job unexpectedlyHow friends have lots to say when you 'take time off'Why you can take time to figure t...
EP111: Mantras & Affirmations--A Waste of Time? | Personal Growth & Mindset
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Mantras & affirmations-do they even do anything?Breaking destructive thought loops and catastrophic thinkingHow I personally use them and the benefits I've dis...
EP110: Terrified of Self-Promotion? How to Put Yourself Out There | Business & Personal Growth
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Being terrified to promote yourself and/or businessWhey it easier to promote other people's products or servicesIt's time to BUY NOW--step up your game!
EP109: My J.Crew Job & Side Gig Advice | Job Stories & Career Strategy
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Taking a part-time retail job at J. Crew in 2013 (yes, a mall job!)The stories we tell ourselves when we "need to get more work"Going from a fancy art director job...
EP108: How Ditch Resentment and "Must Be Nice" Thinking | Personal Growth & Mindset
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Ever found yourself saying, "Must be nice?" when someone has it easier than you?Realizing that not everyone is meant to have the same struggles as you–and that is ok...
EP107: Keep Your "Judgmental" Friends Close--Especially At Work | Personal & Corporate Stories
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Is it judgment or intuition?When you know something is up with someone, but people assume you are being judgmentalWork stories where my intuition was on poi...
EP106: Grief is a B*tch--I'm Back! | Personal Update
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A personal update Moving through the grief of losing our dog DollyHow it's affected podcast production and moving through life/work🌈 🐶
EP105: From Exhausted Pilot to Thriving Photographer | with David Enloe, The Enloe Creative
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A conversation with David Enloe, a Marin and San Francisco family photographer who traded the cockpit for the coastlineAfter years in aviation — a career that looked...
EP104: Feng Shui to Bring Harmony, Energy & Magic to Your Space | with Laura Morris, Morris Feng Shui
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A conversation with Laura Morris, co-founder of the Mindful Design Feng Shui school, co-host of the Holistic Spaces podcast and co-author of Mindful Living: a Guide to the Ev...
EP103: Addicted to Working Under Extreme Pressure? | Work Strategy & Personal Growth
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:The habit of working under high pressure/last minute deadlinesUsing cortisol to fuel your task completion
EP102: Get Unstuck & Move Through Change with Confidence | with Jyoti Pannu, Career Coach & Realtor
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A conversation with Jyoti Pannu, Career Coach & RealtorJyoti is a Career & Transition Coach and Realtor® who helps women move through big life changes with c...
EP101: Interview Red Flags & Running Away From the Cray | Job Interview Stories & Career
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Interviewing at a beauty brand where there were tons of red flagsThe interviewer who had a 'streak of cray'Paying attention to red flags in interviewsKnow...
EP100: Celebrating Episode 100--Podcasting, Intuition & Not Being Famous | with Sue Ruhe, My Producer
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle:We celebrate 100 episodes of Ditch the Struggle!This episode is a fun one: my podcast producer and editor Sue Ruhe interviews ME, so the tables are turnedIt's casual co...
EP99: Career Clarity! When You Don't Know What You Want | Career & Manifesting
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:How to figure out what you want in a new job or career, even if you don't know what you wantMy go-to career "manifesting" exercise Why you need to writ...
EP98: Quitting Lululemon & Building an Underwear Revolution | with Sara Jonsdottir, Founder Revol Cares
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A conversation with Sara Jonsdottir, the visionary Founder & CEO of Revol Cares, a company revolutionizing menstrual care with medically recognized, toxin-free leak proof...
EP97: You're Not Failing--It's an "Ugly Art Day" | Personal Growth & Work Stories
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:The concept of "Ugly Art Day" – a term coined at my job as as Art Director at Harlequin BooksThe pressure we put on ourselves to always be perfect, especially as a h...
EP96: How Understanding Toxic Relationships Helps Me Navigate Social Media | Personal Growth & Business
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:My thoughts on social media--is it a toxic relationship at its core?How I became at peace with using it as a tool, but it still drives me nutsReflecting on ...
EP95: You CAN Change Your Reality & Identity | with Daniel Cianci, Coach & Speaker
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A conversation with Daniel Cianci, keynote speaker, coach and host of the Redefining Wisdom podcastKnown as a Reality Architect, Daniel helps high performers, entrep...
