67: Libby Ludlow on Finding Happiness by Accepting Change

A former professional ski racer and Olympian realized her destructive self talk was practically ruining her life. If we stop clinging to things that are not permanent, learn to take control of our thoughts and adapt to change, it’s pretty amazing how much happier we can be.   Libby Ludlow retired from the U.S. Ski team 10 years ago. She was in the 2006 Olympics, is the 2004 U.S. giant slalom champion, raced around the world with 45 top-30 World Cup results, three of which were finishes within the top 10. Libby was a member of the 2007 and 2003 World Championships teams. At the 2007 Alpine World Championships in Sweden, she finished ninth in super G and was ranked 10th in the world in the discipline heading into the 2007 season.    As a professional racer, Libby was hard on herself. Harder than perhaps she should be.  After earning her degree at Dartmouth in philosophy modified with Eastern religion, she learned about the impermanence of things and that understanding was key to unlocking potential and opportunity. This eventually led to her co-founding ZGirls, a non-profit organization that empowers teenagers to change their own self talk and boost their self confidence.   She eventually carries these principles forward to her own child and we talk about how she worked very hard to maintain her identity as she transitioned to motherhood. We had some real talk about becoming a mom - not the kinds of unicorns and rainbows you see on Instagram - If you are considering having children (or have young babies) and you love the outdoor active lifestyle, you’ll want to hear this. Too often, you don’t get the real picture and we think it’s important you do.    Today, she is a full-time paralegal for Backcountry.com and is also a mom, and soon to be author of a children’s book called A-B-SKIS.    Like so many guests on this show, she had a roundabout way of getting to where she is today and each one of those experiences has informed who she is today in a fascinating way. Hope you love this conversation as much as I do and with that, let’s listen in and gear up for what’s next.    Where to find Libby: Her website Instagram Pre-order A-B-Skis!   BEFORE YOU LEAVE - If you are enjoying the shows, I hope you’ll subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends!   About Lisa Gerber: Lisa advises CEOs and senior level management on how to use the power of storytelling and effective communication to influence action and bring ideas to life.   She guides companies through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps.   When she is not in her office, she might be out skiing or trail running. This is where she does her best creative problem-solving.   To learn more about booking Lisa for consulting, speaking or workshops, visit www.bigleapcreative.com.