Community Highlights: Meet Sharon Weinstein of SMW Group LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Weinstein.

Hi Sharon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career in nursing and have worked in academia, practice, and within the community. My niche was “infusion therapy,” and I had a prolific career in that space, including teaching in over 40 countries across the globe. I worked in three countries per week, 100 hours per week for two weeks of every month for over twelve years, out of a 43-meter apartment in Moscow, Russia. My job was to help create the healthcare infrastructure for the newly independent countries of the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe. During one of those international events, the aircraft on which I was scheduled to depart had contraband on board (not drugs – but butter and sausage – high commodities in Yerevan, Armenia, at the time). I missed my flight and returned to the local hospital to work. After 48 hours, our team was sent back to North America through Kyiv, Ukraine, and Frankfurt, Germany. Missing the original flight also caused me to miss a family event – making me “rethink” my purpose and life. I decided that if I were to have a life, I’d need to “get a life,” and that’s exactly what I did. I quit my job, formed an LLC, and established myself as a “stressbuster” with a unique approach to managing and beating stress. I partnered with Dina Readinger in 2022, and we co-authored “Think Differently: 18 Strategies to Fix Broken Thinking.” The book has been a great success and has received media attention. Our new book, “Healing Healthcare Evidence-Based Strategies to Mend Our Broken System,” will be published in 2024. I’m on a roll!

Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road to success is always bumpy; many of those bumps occurred during my global travels. Within countries, local aircraft carriers did not always provide two parts of a seatbelt, nor were the seats attached to the floor. In the friendly skies, I once evacuated a plane that lost its fuselage over Siberia, and then, too, I helped evacuate the Russian Government Hospital during an insurrection. Before anyone ever heard of Sochi, Russia, I was arrested there for taking a photo of a traffic backup, which I thought would make a great addition to a slide deck on stress. A physician friend from the U.S. Embassy came to my rescue. Many folks won’t travel with me because of my war stories. The important thing is that I am making a difference in the lives of so many professionals across the globe and loving it!

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about SMW Group LLC?
Stress is constantly affecting relationships, work, health, and finances. Every year, workplace stress costs escalate. The pandemic caused stress to skyrocket. I work with high-stress industries like healthcare, hospitality, and human capital to create a strong workforce, boost workplace engagement, and ensure staff well-being. Leaders must overcome the overwhelm, identify triggers, develop a stress-reduction plan, and generate a culture of mental well-being. I build on my career in infusion nursing by infusing health and reducing stress in workplaces worldwide. Are you ready to manage stress and burnout, infuse health, and reduce stress within your workplace and workforce? That’s where I come in. For four decades, my name has been synonymous with mastering stress/crises, turning pain into purpose, and adversity into opportunities for growth. Through personal struggles and turning points, I’ve embraced stress as a catalyst for growth. I hold the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation and am one of only four nurses worldwide with a combined CSP/FAAN. A prolific author of 22 books and master storyteller, I’ll add value to your conference and credibility to your event.

What can you expect?
-Boundless energy, great storytelling, humor, interaction, and
-A four-part formula for managing stress
-A toolbox to overcome the overwhelm
-Five steps to tune in to thoughts, feelings, behaviors
-An understanding of psychological safety
-Methods to achieve more despite disruption, not because of it

Within SMW Group LLC, I invite you to explore a transformative journey with our team, which boasts over a century of collective expertise in speaking, consulting, training, and business coaching. Whether you seek heightened self-confidence, life balance, or a career reinvention, our tailored coaching programs are your pathway to elevated performance and tangible results. Traditional solutions fall short in a world marked by social disruptions, upheavals, pandemics, and disconnection. Embrace innovation that disrupts the old norms, providing fresh, effective ideas aligned with your evolving needs. Our services cater to senior managers, business owners, C-Suite professionals, entrepreneurs, and individuals navigating transitions or crafting their success stories.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was the black sheep of the family – the bad kid who did not listen. In the middle of five, I often felt like an only child. Behind closed doors, my upbringing seemed normal, but the truth was far from it. Despite projecting confidence outwardly, my life was a maze of stress, assault, and disruption. Struggling with self-doubt, I concealed my inner struggles, afraid to reveal my true self. A once difficult child and runaway, I faced family struggles head-on, ultimately forging a four-decade global healthcare career. My siblings disliked me because I moved as far away as possible. We were estranged for many years, and only when my nephew ended his life in 2011 did the 5 of us reconnect. I masterminded Zoom calls for the 5 of us every 6 weeks, and we can discuss our past and envision our respective futures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smwgroupllc.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonmweinstein/
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sharonweinstein
• Youtube: https://www.youtubecom/sharonmweinsteincsp

Image Credits
Hilary Schwab Photography and Kimb Williams, Graphic Design