Creative Burnout & Getting Your Spark Back With Mia Rae Stephens

Creative blocks happen to everyone — even the people who create for a living.

In this powerful conversation, I talk to brand strategist Mia Rae Stephens and unpack the emotional side of content creation, burnout, and the pressure entrepreneurs place on themselves to always be “on.” Mia shares how personal hardship forced her to rethink creativity, lean on her team, and reconnect with purpose in a whole new way.

You’ll learn:

•  Why creative blocks are normal 
•  How overconsuming content creates confusion 
•  The importance of rest and movement for creativity 
•  How to create authentic content without forcing it 
•  Why repeating your message is actually a good thing 
•  How AI can support — not replace — your creativity 

If you’ve been feeling uninspired, exhausted, or stuck in your content creation journey, this episode will remind you that your creativity isn’t gone — it just needs space to breathe.

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

True Fashionistas – SWFL’s largest designer resale store, where fashion meets sustainability.

Golden Acorn Publishing (formerly O’Leary Publishing) – Empowering authors to tell their stories and publish with purpose.

Reinvention Studio Lab – A creative hub for transformation, innovation, and bold new beginnings.

Wizard of Ads - Online marketing that will have you at the top of the search.

Visit us at jenniferannjohnson.com and learn how Jennifer can help you build the life you dream of with her online academy, blog, one-on-one coaching, and a variety of other resources!

Transcript

Why Creative Blocks Feel So Brutal

Jennifer Johnson 0:01

We have all been there staring at a blank screen, feeling like we have absolutely nothing interesting to say. Wondering if we've run out of ideas forever. Content creation can feel incredibly overwhelming, especially when you're in one of those creative ruts where everything feels forced or uninspired. But here's the thing I've learned creative blocks and feeling stuck aren't permanent states. They're actually a normal part of the creative process, and there's strategies to work through them and rediscover that spark. Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Mia Ray Stevens, who is a brand strategist and creative director who helps businesses fix the message behind the marketing. So what they actually say will actually sell. We're going to explore practical ways to break through creative blocks and find inspiration when it feels like there's absolutely none to be found. And create content that feels real, that feels authentic, even when you're not feeling your most creative. Thank you so much for being with us today. I'm really excited to just delve into content creation.

Mia Rae Stephens 1:15

Yeah, thanks so much for having me. Um, creative blocks are not just common. They are definitely part of the process, like you mentioned. And the key is not avoiding them, but leading in and having the right strategies in place. So I'm excited to dive in.

Jennifer Johnson 1:29

Well, we're gonna talk about really normalizing that experience because you said that's a very normal process, but really, how common is it for content creators to feel stuck and uninspired and feel like, man, this has never happened to me before. Is this supposed to happen? Why do you think it's supposed to?

Mia Rae Stephens 1:49

Yes, the answer is yes. It's extremely common for people who create for a living, but especially for someone who creates for a living because it's output all the time. And it's not normally because you ran out of ideas, but because you're maybe overthinking it. Sometimes it's overconsumption, you're taking

What Actually Causes Getting Stuck

Mia Rae Stephens 2:06

in a little too much information, and it's can create some um confusion in what you're trying to put out there. And then sometimes your nervous system is tapped out, or we'll call it burnout. So our brains are not meant to be in this constant output mode with no periods of input and rest. We have to fill that well as well.

Jennifer Johnson 2:26

We all need rest. We do, even when it's content creation. So I'm curious about your own experience with this. Have you faced it before? Is this something that happens too often or is it seldom?

Mia Rae Stephens 2:40

Yeah, I have faced it before. I'm gonna be completely transparent. I'm uh this question brings up a very specific time in my life. I was going through um a big shock. My world had been turned upside down, my um marriage ended unexpectedly. And so I was picking up the pieces for me and my children who were also in shock. And when you were in a place like that,

Leaning On Help During Life Shocks

Mia Rae Stephens 3:03

the last thing you're thinking about is creating content. Of course, definitely, definitely I've been there. Um what got me through it were a few things. One, I leaned on my team and didn't try to carry it all myself. And actually, this was the first time in my life that I was forced to do this, was to not carry things myself. I had no other choice. I had three little ones who were depending on me. And isn't that the hardest lesson to learn? Yes. Sometimes it does have to be forced. Right. Because I've never done that before on my own, is lean on other people fully. And these people are capable. So I have my right hand, her name is Brianna. She's been my right hand for about seven years now. And I I pulled her in. She didn't know everything that was going on, but she knew that I needed to lean on her more. And she rose to that occasion. I gave myself space to heal. I I had to, right? I couldn't just force output. There's just no way at when you're going through certain things to continue forcing it. And a lot of times when you give yourself that space to heal, the spark can come back when you take the pressure off. And it can come back in an unexpected moments. It can come back on the walk on the beach, or I threw myself into the gym to help me mentally. And my best ideas came while lifting weights or on the treadmill, right? So just pouring into yourself a lot of times can bring that spark back. And then I think most importantly is turning that pain for me, it was pain that caused that creative block, turning that into purpose. So at the time I was running a marketing team for a mortgage company. And what I realized was I must not be the only person going through something like this. And while I'm not like gonna go out there and talk about divorce to the clients, what I realized was there's a lot of other single women trying to figure out how they're gonna run a household or buy a home for their kids. And I did some research and found out that single women, at least at that time when I did that research, were the fastest group, fastest growing group of homeowners. So I created content around that. And would you believe it? It ended up being our best content up until that point. Realtors were sharing it because it resonated with them and it helped them, you know, reach a certain clientele. And it did, it did really well. And there came back my spark.

Jennifer Johnson 5:23

You know, you mentioned something interesting where you said that you had to lean on someone else. So many times we, as not just individuals, but as women specifically, I think, feel like because we have to go to someone else for help, that it's a sign of weakness when in fact it's being very smart.

Mia Rae Stephens 5:42

Yeah.

Jennifer Johnson 5:43

Right? In the fact that you can actually ask for help.

Mia Rae Stephens 5:47

Yeah, it feels weak in that moment because I feel like women are still trying to prove themselves, right? Like we we do it all at home and we do it all at work, and um, we're just kind of still in this place of trying to prove that we belong in this space.

Jennifer Johnson 6:02

Very true.

Mia Rae Stephens 6:03

But yeah, it is, I I will say, what felt like could have been a weakness leaning on someone else, it took more strength than anything else I had done. And so I pulled from that power to keep propelling me forward because it was hard. It's hard. It's like having self-control, right? It's a hard thing.

Jennifer Johnson 6:22

But you can do hard things.

Mia Rae Stephens 6:24

You can always do hard things.

Jennifer Johnson 6:25

Yeah. You know, when you're looking at consuming other people's content, right? I call it the fake the Facebook white picket fence syndrome where you're looking at what everyone else is doing, you're consuming their content, and you're like, I'm at a at a content drought because I feel like everything has been done before. What's your take on that, that um mental state that people get in, kind of rut, I guess, that they get in from consuming other people's content?

Mia Rae Stephens 6:54

Yeah, I think sometimes that's the worst thing you can do. Like I love taking in other people's content. You find inspiration in places you don't realize, even

Overconsumption And Comparison Traps

Mia Rae Stephens 7:02

if it's not in your field sometimes, especially if it's not in your field. But what happens sometimes if you're taking in too much content and comparing yourself to other people or comparing the business you're running to other businesses, you might not realize it, but you then kind of piggyback on what they're doing, and you think what I'm doing is not working, so let me do that. And then someone else comes along and you're like, Well, this isn't working, so let me do that. And what you're doing is creating whiplash for your buyers, right? Like they're coming to you, they're getting to know you. They might be right here on the buying journey from here, and you're trying to get them here, and then you cut them off because you're starting all over again and you're creating confusion. And when you cut off someone on a buying journey, you've lost them most of the time. Now you're starting over, so then it feels like you're getting nowhere. So, yes, overconsumption is is a big trap.

Jennifer Johnson 7:54

It is, but I I do agree. I mean, I look at things that other people are doing, and sometimes I take a variation of it and I use it because I'm like, oh my gosh. And and I know that it's been done a million times before, but it's never been done my way or with me or with my team, right? And that kind of for me, that breaks it up. Yeah. How do you tap? I know you kind of touched on this a little bit because you said you said that you were using your experience of your relationship, and that kind of catapulted something for your business, but how do you tap into your own experiences, even when you're like people aren't going to be interested in that or or it's not relevant? How do you tap into that and how do you plug it in to make it work with your business?

Mia Rae Stephens 8:41

Well, first of all, I think you can make anything work. Like you can apply any story right to your clients one way or another. I think sometimes it's taking yourself out of your environment, going for a walk outside, like really stepping away. For me, that's what works. It might not be what works for everyone else, but not forcing yourself to try to create content and just kind of work through what you're what's going on in your life. And I feel like for me, those connections come very easily.

Jennifer Johnson 9:10

So I don't know if that's helpful, but for me, it's just a very natural but that makes sense because I know sometimes like people say, Oh, my best ideas come to me in the shower, right? Out on a walk, fresh air, and we're gonna talk about some strategies in a little bit, but that makes sense. It's getting you out of where you were and just kind of changing the playing field, yeah, I guess. Wouldn't you say?

Mia Rae Stephens 9:35

It does wonders, yes, absolutely.

Jennifer Johnson 9:38

So, okay, this leads into systems or processes that you can put in place when you're actually feeling stuck. Like, you know, do you have a I call them a tickle folder where you can go to to be like, all right, this is gonna help me? Or do you leverage the use of AI? Because that's something that that we probably do need to talk about in this conversation, right? Because that is the the biggest thing happening right now.

Mia Rae Stephens 10:07

Yeah. I know there's a lot of concern over AI taking our jobs. And what I really is AI will not take your job, but the person who learns

AI Content Banks And Reuse Strategies

Mia Rae Stephens 10:15

how to use AI will take your job. So if you can't beat them, join them. Learn as much as you can. We're still early in this game. Learn as much as you can about AI and how it can help you in your role. I I view it as my broke little assistant, who I don't have to pay, or maybe I pay a little bit a month for my subscription, but um definitely lean on that. Um, but yeah, having a content bank is very helpful. So getting ideas in, um, even if it's a note on your phone or when you're driving, you just voice note yourself. Just keep anytime ideas come to you, even if you don't know how it's going to play into your marketing just yet, but you know it's a good idea, jot it down because maybe in a few weeks something will happen, you'll realize this is where this fits in. And then also, I think people shy away from reusing content. You can reuse content. Oh my gosh, you're so right. Yes, reuse content. I Instagram right now has trial reels, most people have access to it. You can take a reel and repost it every single day and just change the cover or change the background music, like play around with different things, change the hook at the front and see what works, and it won't show it to the same people every day. It's beautiful, it's like magic. So you get to test things out and you're producing content. But even for your followers or people who like actually using it and showing it to the people who've already seen the stuff before, how many times do we have to hear something before it sticks? Right. Is it eight? Is it eight? I the rule is seven. For me, it might be 40. I don't know. For my kids, a million. But yeah, it's the the rule of seven. We've all we've all heard of that. It takes seven times before a concept or a thought really sticks. But how many times do we like see something and we're like, oh, I did see this before, and I meant to save it? So reuse content, switch something up a little bit, maybe a little something in the caption, maybe different pieces, but reuse that it that is absolutely acceptable. I wish people did more of that, and then also normalize pauses. Like it's okay to take a little step back, it's part of the process. Sometimes I said this already, but don't push. You sometimes you step back.

Jennifer Johnson 12:21

Step back right. And that's gonna I that's another question I have for you, but but back on the topic of reusing content, okay, because I'm gonna ask you a question that it's it's social media specific. And so many of us feel like we have to post something on Facebook and then something completely different on Instagram and something completely different on LinkedIn. Does it matter? Can we just post the same thing to every channel?

Mia Rae Stephens 12:49

Yeah, I mean, there's two answers. I think it is there is value in switching things up. Like if you have if you're posting three things for the week, three things, maybe slightly change it up. And maybe if you're posting something on LinkedIn on Monday, take that, switch it up a little bit for Instagram because the caption is going to be different, right? You're gonna do a longer caption on LinkedIn than you would do on Instagram because you realize that people on Instagram are there for and or no read at all on LinkedIn or maybe learn and engage with that content a little bit more. So you can use the same content. Sometimes I like to switch the day up a little bit, but even if you're posting the same piece of content on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, just switch it up for that platform because the people on that platform have different needs and desires with the content that they're taking in.

Jennifer Johnson 13:49

Yeah. So you also mentioned something about taking a break, and that taking a break is fine. But at some point, where how do you, or what advice I should say, do you have for people who want to create content that it's obviously authentic, that's who they are, but they feel like they're forced to produce it. They feel like I can't be sitting in this chair being forced to do it. Now I know that you mentioned, you know, keep a little file for things later, much like I take a picture of something, I will be on a trip, or I'll just be out for a walk, or I'll be doing something.

Authentic Posts Without The Pressure

Jennifer Johnson 14:27

And I'll be like, huh.

Mia Rae Stephens 14:28

Yeah.

Jennifer Johnson 14:29

I have a thought and I take a picture of something, and then I post it like three, four weeks later, or whatever, when I'm doing my content, and I'm like, I have the great picture for this caption. I have the great, you know, this great post. What is your suggestion around that?

Mia Rae Stephens 14:45

So specifically the question of when it feels hard to continue making or that pressure to make content.

Jennifer Johnson 14:51

Yeah. Right. And the pressure to make authentic posts because you can do superficial stuff that just doesn't really matter. But to really make the the posts that are gonna help you move the needle when you're feeling like I just don't, I don't feel this is authentic.

Mia Rae Stephens 15:10

Right. I think you kind of go into your own experiences, and obviously this changes depending on what business you have or what brand or service you're offering, but think about what could have helped you in this stage of life, even if it was six months ago. Like go back to what helped you, what you heard that propelled you forward, um, what got you out of a rut, and then kind of reframe that for your clients or your audience.

Jennifer Johnson 15:38

Kind of the serving others attitude versus why I'm, you know, I'm posting it for publicity, but if you come at it to the point of I am doing this to serve someone else who probably feels like I did, is that kind of what you're saying?

Mia Rae Stephens 15:53

Yeah, I think it's it's looking at it from what could I have used at this point? Sure. Because then someone else wants needs to hear that as well. So just kind of going back into your own experience, and then when you're speaking from your own experience, even if you're not saying it's your experience, right? But you know where you're gathering this information from, it's going to automatically become more authentic. And then also I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves and things do come across performative, and we don't want that. So I I don't do it. Like I think that there's we have options, right? Like we can I see some wonderful interaction on reels and posts where it's literally someone like driving their car, they're not looking at the camera and stuff like that, but it's just b-roll footage, or it's them just walking into a room, and so um, yeah, sometimes it can feel hard to create content and like try to feel and look your best self. First of all, a lot of content that does really well is when people aren't feeling or looking their best self because it's more relatable. So maybe take that pressure off yourself, and I need to maybe practice what I preach on that, but we all do it's it's true. Like I would tell somebody that to unflue in the face, but then myself, I'm like, I can't go on camera because of this. Take 50.

Jennifer Johnson 17:16

Take 49, take 50. Oh my gosh.

Mia Rae Stephens 17:19

Yeah, and then sometimes you just don't have it in yourself to like take a million photos or videos and edit a bunch of stuff. So then then don't like go through your camera roll and see what sparks in your mind and just use that. It doesn't have to be a whole big to-do all the time because that will burn you out.

Jennifer Johnson 17:40

So, talking about pressure, what are some low pressure ways that the low pressure content formats, I guess, that you can get back into creating when you've gone through that block and you've taken a break?

Mia Rae Stephens 17:56

Um, yeah, so if you have gone through that block and you've taken a break, hopefully you've you went out and lived your life a little bit. Even if it's just, you know, you took yourself on a date to downtown Naples. It's my favorite thing to do for myself, right? And sit with my thoughts and sit on the beach. And um, hopefully doing something like that will give you some content. Uh, but low pressure, some some b-roll or even just a photo of you that you scroll through your camera roll and you're like, I actually feel great here. Like just post that one photo with text on it or Canva. I mean, go to Canva and create just um some informational posts with I mean, you can make some beautiful posts on Canva. And like carousels. I love carousels with information because it's like storytelling and it keeps people engaged. Right. Those are low pressure, and then also maybe take that break to just interact with other people. Like both genuinely take in their content and and like and comment and interact with them and build that community, and that will spark something in itself. But then also when you come back, you have these people waiting for you to applaud you. Nobody's going anywhere, by the way. Like, I don't mean, I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a week. Like, trust me. Unless you like left them on a cliffhanger and with the most like incredible story ever, they didn't notice. They had no idea you were gone for a week or maybe even a month at times. Like they they really don't know.

Jennifer Johnson 19:22

And thank you, Mia, for pointing that out because so many people think that you know the social media revolves around them, and you know, half the time your stuff isn't served up to half of the people, three-quarters of the people that are that like you or are friends with you on social media. So there's that too, right?

Mia Rae Stephens 19:42

And there's always new um audiences, like you have new followers and that's brand new to them. You can take an old post, put it on your stories, and ask a poll question about it, or ask, would you like to see more of this? Or do you remember when I posted this? I'm gonna come out with something similar, or you know, reuse that content and get interaction on that and and send people to something old and create conversation there.

Jennifer Johnson 20:07

And and that this whole conversation right here that we're having about you know, people don't see you all the time or know that you're you're missing from social media, hopefully will bring someone's anxiety down a little bit when they're like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, my business is over, my life is over because I haven't been posting on a regular basis on social. Because I know that a lot of people have high anxiety over that. That's a thing. Uh, they feel like if they're gone for two days or they go on vacation for a week, that their account is done and they're gonna have to start all over.

Mia Rae Stephens 20:42

Yeah, everything's

Low Pressure Formats That Still Work

Mia Rae Stephens 20:43

burned to the ground. No, that pressure in itself will keep you suck. Like we're we are past that, I think. Just as like, I don't know, this generation. I I we're past that. Like everybody's out there trying to live their life where nobody, nobody notices.

Jennifer Johnson 21:02

They really don't.

Mia Rae Stephens 21:03

They really don't. I mean, they might notice a little bit if you're gone for months and months and then they're worried about you. But if you go take a break and you come back like with this renewed energy, that's what people are gonna notice is your renewed energy. They're not gonna notice that you didn't post for two days.

Jennifer Johnson 21:19

Mm-hmm. What habits or practices do you see practiced a lot that have actually help you prevent from being stuck in the first place?

Mia Rae Stephens 21:32

Um, I think so. I I'm kind of speaking from both sides of NLP here. I'm saying don't overconsume content or information. Sometimes that can burn you out. But at the same time, I make sure that I am consuming things in my industry. So I obviously am in marketing and I have marketing for Chapman Insurance Group. So it's important for me to keep this flow of information and stay on top of my game. Like what's going on in the SEO world and what are the trends on Instagram and What trial reels? What's this? And how can we use that? Right. You know, like just learning things about psychology. I have my team reading a book that has nothing to do with marketing, and we are relating it to marketing and psychology. Um, just taking in, and you need to stay fresh. You do. I love podcasts. Love the story podcasts.

Jennifer Johnson 22:20

Because it just it's one form of you're just sitting there listening. You're not having to read and absorb and you're just listening.

Mia Rae Stephens 22:27

And then also, we're busy. Like we're so busy running to work after dropping the kids off. Where I even if you don't have kids, like life is just so so busy. So that's lifey. Yeah. Yes. It's lifey. Absolutely. Yeah. I there is a podcaster I listened to. Her name is Caitlin Rhodes. She has her creator. And I've known Caitlin for a while now. I and I seeing her grow has been incredible. She's done big things. Instagram actually did a collaborative post with her recently. She's just taken off. But her podcast is phenomenal. And she has this thing called Money Walks that she coined, which we've all done this, right? But she actually put a name to it, which I love when people put a name to something. And she says, listen to a podcast, go for a walk, and see what comes from that. And her like lucrative ideas came from her going for a walk and listening to a podcast, or maybe sometimes not listening to anything, going for a walk. I think that is listening to podcasts and taking in content or taking in information but while you are on the move, it does something so different. That's why my best ideas came on the treadmill. But go outside. I mean, it's even better.

Jennifer Johnson 23:41

Exactly. See? So this may go hand in hand with that, but what is your advice for content creators who feel that they have shared everything that they possibly know? And I have nothing left to say. What's your advice?

Mia Rae Stephens 23:56

Um, well, you have a new audience, hopefully. And you think about brands that I mean, everyone knows Nikes just do it.

Jennifer Johnson 24:07

Like everybody else.

Mia Rae Stephens 24:08

Repetition builds trust. They have been repeating this for decades. They're not switching it up. Now they apply it to different things, right? They'll apply it to different campaigns, but it goes back to just do it. We we get what that means. So, yes, they've said that

Repetition Builds Trust So Keep Saying It

Mia Rae Stephens 24:22

a million times. Do you think they're stopping that anytime soon?

Jennifer Johnson 24:25

I don't think so. Because it works.

Mia Rae Stephens 24:27

And confusion often happens when you reinvent yourself too much. So I think a lot of times people put pressure on themselves to say something new. And I even, there are times where I have to remind myself of my own principles that I preach, right? I and go back to that because I'll put that pressure on myself. But when you are switching your message so often or trying to reinvent yourself, you confuse your client. And sometimes you just need to keep saying the same thing over and over again. And you referenced it, the rule of seven earlier. That repeated exposure builds trust. And trust is the step that happens right before someone hits by, right? Or becomes a client. So I my advice is say it way more than you think you need to, because that message might be old to you, but it's made by someone else. And someone who is not the expert on what you're speaking on, they do need to hear it over and over again. And they need to hear it applied to different wins or applied to, I mean, obviously it depends on the industry you're in, but um, I mean, I run the marketing for Chapman Insurance Group. Now I'm very blessed to have a really good product to work with. We are the number one rated insurance agency in Southwest, Florida. We have an in-house claims department. Not many people can say that. We have the most carriers, uh, most access to carriers than any other insurance agency in Florida. And we have really, really good people, right? I have a really good product to work with and I am blessed.

Jennifer Johnson 26:02

And I've heard commercials that you do. And oh my gosh, they are phenomenal.

Mia Rae Stephens 26:08

Thank you. And but but why, like, what am I gonna reinvent there? These are the things that people care about and they're true. So why reinvent it? Like, why, yes, do we freshen things up? And yes, do we change our strategy from time to time if we feel like we need to move in a little bit of a different direction or we're we're getting attention but not clicks? Um, yeah, we'll we'll do, we'll switch things up so that the right people are hearing the message the right way. But I'm not gonna reinvent like what the actual message is. This is what makes us different. We're we're we're wonderful because of that. So what if you get bored with that? What if I get bored?

Jennifer Johnson 26:47

What if you get bored with yeah, like is it important? I mean, does it matter that as content creators we're bored with the message? Or does it not matter because you stay the course?

Mia Rae Stephens 26:58

Well, you yeah, you remember, you have to remember the why and purpose of your business, right? So maybe you need to go back and reread your mission statement or or sit with it and see if if it still aligns, right? But you're not saying the exact same thing every day. Like maybe go out there and meet other people in in the industry, or go meet other people in like I like going to chamber events, meet other people in other industries and see how you talk about your business with them and what makes their eyes go, right? Um, and and that kind of puts a a different spin on the things you can take that back to your marketing, but you're not changing really the message, you're changing how you say it or what you apply it to. But like what points you stand out, don't change that because that's who you are. But if you, if you know, all of a sudden you're changing what makes you valuable and you're not talking about the things that you were talking about before because you're bored with it, like, okay, but but there are so many people who need to hear this. Like, what is your why? Like, we want to be there for Southwest Florida. We want them to have an insurance agency that they can pick up the phone and call who will answer the phone, right? We want to be that company who is that lighthouse after a storm, and that is our why, right?

Jennifer Johnson 28:19

That's it was very clear in all of your commercials, like that. You drove that home in all of your commercials, and everyone was different, but it still had the same base layer, right? Yeah, so I get that.

Mia Rae Stephens 28:33

Yeah, we're different, we are superheroes in our own right, right? Just getting that message out there, but the it really is the same message, it's just you're switching it up, right?

Jennifer Johnson 28:42

So get out of your own way, kind of get out of the way of you thinking, oh, I'm bored with this.

Mia Rae Stephens 28:48

Right.

Jennifer Johnson 28:48

Because it's not about you, it's about them.

Mia Rae Stephens 28:50

Yeah, and you can put a different spin on the same message, and you can apply it to something different. Obviously, you know, I'm I'm trying to say something that would relate to any industry that you're in. Um, but but don't don't go changing everything all the time. Like don't get stuck in that trap because or caught in that trap, because that's where you lose people. That makes sense. Yeah, say it so many more times and you think it needs to be said, bore yourself. That might mean that you're on the right track. Do that. I like that.

Jennifer Johnson 29:21

That's good advice. Be bored. So if someone is listening right now and they're feeling completely stuck with their content creation, what would you what would one piece of advice be to them to get unstuck?

Mia Rae Stephens 29:37

Stop, go move, go move your body, get outside, go do a stretch, shape, dance around in your living room or your office, let people watch, whatever it is. Um, go move and then think later. Take that pressure off yourself, remove it, take a step away. Um, and then like sometimes if it's a long stop, like you're a long period of being stuck, you know, you might need just a little bit of a pause, or you might need to learn things from other industries and see how you can apply it, apply it to your yourself and to your product.

Jennifer Johnson 30:10

But yeah, go move. Great advice, great advice. Well, we're going to do what I do with everybody that's on my podcast. It's what I call the final four, and it's four questions. And I'm always intrigued as to how they're they're answered because it seems like there's always something different that I learn. Are you ready?

Mia Rae Stephens 30:28

I think so.

Jennifer Johnson 30:30

So the first question is what is your favorite book that you've read, and what was it that made it stick with you?

Mia Rae Stephens 30:39

Okay, so um I'm gonna be honest, I'm more of a podcast girly for obvious reasons. I have started a few books recently, and it's kind of like the same thing of me trying to watch a television show because I try to watch a show and I don't have the time for it. Um I started your book and it is phenomenal, and it hooked me in right at the beginning, and we'll have to have another conversation about that on a in a different day, different topic, different days. I really, really love the heart behind the book and your transparency. And honestly, um there if no one, if people listening have not heard read this book, go get it. It was very brave how you started this story off, and I want to thank you for that.

Jennifer Johnson 31:21

Thank you. Thank you about that.

Mia Rae Stephens 31:23

I think another time we will address my full thoughts there. But yeah, I listen to a lot of podcasts, and if it's an audio, or if it's a book, it's normally an audiobook. So I've been listening to a lot of um The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph. And um I am listening to like different clips, honestly, from YouTube, like not even the whole book, but it has like blown my mind open, and it's all about mindset. All about mindset.

Jennifer Johnson 31:49

So perfect. Yeah, awesome. Do you have a favorite quote or piece of advice that you find yourself coming back to time and time again?

Mia Rae Stephens 31:59

Yes, just say the thing. Okay, clarity beats cleverness every time. Now, that one's my quote, but I'll give you another quote. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. That's Albert Einstein.

Jennifer Johnson 32:15

So, one of those, you take your that's so true. Both of them are great.

Mia Rae Stephens 32:20

Clarity.

Jennifer Johnson 32:22

Exactly, clarity. What is one habit or practice that you have picked up that's genuinely changed your life?

Mia Rae Stephens 32:30

Um, so EFT tapping, I don't know if you've heard of it. No through sequences, and it's kind of like a form of therapy. It really has changed my life. It helps you like move past like maybe subconscious thoughts, and you kind of work through sequences and um you follow a script, and that helps a lot. You can feel like heaviness being removed from you at that moment, or if you are having a creative block, like you can tap the ribs, you you kind of acknowledge what you're feeling, and then you kind of like let it go, right? Um that and grounding. So I'm sorry, I'm getting woo-woo on you guys, but it's not really woo-woo. It's actually science, this is all rooted in science. But if you don't understand it, it sounds a little weird. But going to the beach and putting my feet on the sand, going for a walk, or sitting in in my own thoughts, but with my feet on the sand

Final Four Mindset Habits And Grounding

Mia Rae Stephens 33:19

and the sun shining, because we live in the most beautiful place. I like it.

Jennifer Johnson 33:22

We do.

Mia Rae Stephens 33:26

I'm one person who you will find at the beach many times a week. But that's those those things have changed my life. That tapping kind of awareness, so you're acknowledging what you're feeling and going through, and you're allowing yourself to let that go. And that's going to the beach and kind of being alone with my thoughts.

Jennifer Johnson 33:44

That's wonderful. And if you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

Mia Rae Stephens 33:50

Uh, my grandmother. She uh she passed away when I was 13 and she was my hero. Her and my grandfather, he's still alive, but they were my heroes, and he's still my hero, um, whether he knows that or not. But she was so wise, and um, I remember reading things that she wrote, and she she never like had her own career, but she was incredible at writing, like incredible, like poems and stories. And I like to think that's where I got my love of writing from and my ability to put thoughts on paper in a way that connects with the reader. Um, I like to think I came from her. So I wish I could have a chance to have dinner with her and ask her all the things I never got to.

Jennifer Johnson 34:34

That's hard. And you know, we always look back in retrospect, right? And think, if only I would have asked more questions, right? They're they're be uh wise beyond their years for sure. This has been such a wonderful uh conversation with you, Mia. It's been wonderful and I've um I've learned a lot, actually. I'm gonna let that guilt go. I'm gonna let it go. Let it go. If our listeners would like to get in touch with you, how can they do so?

Mia Rae Stephens 35:10

Yeah, um I am posting some just free informational marketing tips on my Instagram. It's MiaRay.stevens on Instagram. That's the best place right now. Um, and then you can catch me in the office of Chapman Insurance Group and about every chamber event in Southwest Florida as I try to um get fully involved in the community.

Jennifer Johnson 35:33

And when you hear those commercials, you need to think of Mia.

Mia Rae Stephens 35:37

Think of me, hopefully. And the full team. Thank you. I really appreciate that.

Jennifer Johnson 35:41

Thank you again, Mia, and thank you to all of my listeners.