Ditch the Struggle with Alana Ruoso | Career & Success Coaching for Personal Growth
If you’ve ever felt lost and trapped in your career, frustrated with the life you’re living, stuck in a state of struggle and maybe even–like me–haunted by the fear of unfulfilled potential, then you’re definitely in the right place. 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 & success coach in Toronto, Canada. I can’t wait to share personal stories from my deep dive into personal development work, career growth and strategies, entrepreneurship, toxic jobs and nightmare bosses (yes, I’m going there), anxiety, self-esteem and confidence, self-sabotage, life coaching, mindset and healing modalities.
Episodes
115 episodes
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 & 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]
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]
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 Not to Resent Others--Ditching "Must Be Nice" Thinking [Personal Growth]
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 [Convo with David Enloe]
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 [Convo with Laura Morris]
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 & 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 [Convo 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]
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 [Convo with Me & 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 [Convo 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 [Conversation 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...
EP94: The Moment You Realize You Ruined Your Life (or--Desk Jobs Suck) [Personal Growth & Health]
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:One big way I have 'ruined my life'–and how I'm course correctingWhy being a graphic designer turns you into a pretzelHow I'm trying to stretch out my fasci...
EP93: A Pawn Shop, Raisin Pie & Vibes Are Everything [Personal Stories & Energy]
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:Stories of experiencing intense energy in different locations - including a pawn shop, private school and a creepy basementHow energy is really everything and we are...
EP92: Falling Apart & Rebuilding Yourself After a Toxic Boss [Convo with Jenn Verser, Life Coach]
In this episode of Ditch the Struggle we dive into:A conversation with Jenn Verser, Life CoachHow Jenn ended up with a toxic boss (retail corporate) and experienced devastating physical and emotional symptoms as a re...
