In the season one finale of Strengths on Fire, Sarah and Bill welcome the remarkable Liz Volker—homeschooling mom, strengths enthusiast, and graduate of Sarah’s “Strong as a Mother” program. Liz shares how discovering and intentionally applying her top 15 strengths has been truly life-changing, not only for her but for her family. From household systems and values walls to bedtime journals and emotional check-ins, Liz’s strengths-led approach to motherhood is a masterclass in intentional living. This episode is packed with laughs, heartfelt moments, and a fresh take on what it means to be a strong mom who leads with her strengths. Whether you’re a parent or simply someone who wants to live more authentically, this episode is an inspiring reminder that strengths don’t stop at the office door—they’re everywhere we show up in life.

Takeaways

• Your strengths don’t just show up at work—they show up in how you parent, partner, and lead at home.
• Leading with strategic thinking can help you intentionally shape your family life with purpose and vision.
• Learner and Input together can turn everyday motherhood into a beautiful, strengths-based experiment.
• Activator energy in parenting means starting bold traditions and building meaningful family rituals.
• Self-assurance doesn’t have to mean being perfect—it can mean confidently evolving while parenting.
• Using individualization at home helps you connect with each child in ways that uniquely speak to them.
• Strengths-based parenting isn’t about fixing kids—it’s about seeing, naming, and growing what’s already strong.
• Building a culture of recognition at home helps your kids feel seen, valued, and emotionally safe.
• Homeschooling can be a dream playground for context and futuristic thinkers to shape long-term impact.
• Command and empathy can coexist—setting boundaries and holding space are both powerful.
• A bedtime journal is a simple but profound way to nurture connection and recognize your child’s character.
• Strengths language helps couples better understand and support each other’s different needs.
• Recognizing your own strengths as a parent gives you confidence and a sense of purpose in the chaos.
• Knowing what energizes and depletes each family member helps everyone show up as their best selves.
• Living out your values through systems and rituals is one of the best ways to create a strengths-based home.

Sound Bites

• I don’t want to just be a memory giver—I want to be a memory recipient too.
• My motherhood is going to outlive me—so how am I shaping it today?
• When I learned my strengths could be my superpowers, it changed everything.
• I’m not trying to be like other moms—I’m trying to be the best version of me.
• Strong as a Mother gave me the language to see myself and my family in a whole new way.
• The more I understand my strengths, the more permission I give my kids to be fully themselves.
• Recognition isn’t just for work—it’s how we build love, trust, and confidence at home.

Liz's Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Strategic
2) Learner
3) Relator
4) Input
5) Responsibility
6) Individualization
7) Self-Assurance
8) Command
9) Activator
10) Futuristic

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

In this episode of Strengths on Fire, Sarah and Bill welcome Lizzie Vietz—strengths superfan, marketing strategist, and the official “Mother of the Arsonists.” With warmth, humor, and incredible insight, Lizzie shares how her strengths have evolved through college, career pivots, marriage, and grad school. The trio dives into the power of knowing yourself, setting intentional goals, and embracing who you are—flaws, focus blocks, and all. With a heavy dose of positivity, peach rings, and real-life WOO, this episode will leave you inspired to flex your strengths and find joy in who you’re becoming.

To contact Lizzie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-vietz/

Takeaways

• Your strengths aren’t just professional tools—they’re personal superpowers in your daily life.
• Woo might win hearts, but strategy makes the plan stick.
• Career transitions are smoother when guided by your values and strengths.
• Communication is more than just words—when it’s done right, it sings.
• Positivity doesn’t always look like pep—it often shows up in purpose and presence.
• Strengths evolve as you evolve—embrace the shift.
• Knowing when to dream and when to do is the secret sauce of futuristic.
• Focus is the quiet strength behind getting real work done.
• Weekly reflections help high-achievers slow down and actually celebrate.
• Developer and empathy aren’t always flashy—but they fuel connection and care.
• Boundaries are essential for people with high empathy to thrive.
• When your strengths are misused, even your best traits can become a dumpster fire.
• Relationships thrive when both partners understand and leverage each other’s strengths.
• You’re your longest relationship—get curious about who you are becoming.
• Sometimes, all you need is a coffee-flavored candy and a podcast to remember your power.

Sound Bites

• My futuristic motivates me in the present—not to dream, but to do.
• When I want to be focused, I calendar block. I’m not half-doing a million things—I’m whole-doing one.
• Every week, I sit down with my coffee and ask: where did my strengths help me, and where did they get in the way?
• My husband and I rate house project ideas with percentages. This dream is only 40% serious.
• Your strengths might shift, but that doesn’t mean you’re inauthentic. It means you’re growing.
• If I’m not careful, WOO tries to hijack the room—but strategy reminds me to serve, not perform.
• Empathy can be a sixth sense, or a floodgate. I’ve learned which strengths help me build the boundaries I need.

Lizzie's Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Futuristic
2) Woo
3) Strategic
4) Communication
5) Positivity
6) Competition
7) Focus
8) Achiever
9) Empathy
10) Developer

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

This episode is a heart-filled, strength-fueled reunion between Sarah, Bill, and one of Sarah’s former career coaching clients turned certified CliftonStrengths coach, Alex Philipps. Alex shares her powerful story of transforming her career by leaning into her strengths—going from feeling unfulfilled to pitching and landing a role that didn’t even exist yet. Today, she’s bringing strengths to life at a company with over 1,500 employees. Whether you’re curious how to use your own strengths more intentionally, create a dream job inside your current company, or simply love a good competition-meets-harmony story, this one’s packed with wisdom, humor, and proof that investing in your strengths truly changes everything.

Takeaways

• Your CliftonStrengths can help you identify roles that better match your skills and passions—even if they don’t exist yet.
• When you truly understand your talents, you can advocate for yourself with confidence and clarity.
• Competition doesn’t have to be cutthroat; it can drive performance, recognition, and self-belief.
• Harmony isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about addressing it to return to peace faster.
• When Harmony and Competition work together, you get someone who wants to win the right way.
• Individualization is a superpower for coaches, managers, and anyone who wants to truly see people.
• Relator can sometimes overshare—know when it’s building connection vs. derailing conversation.
• You don’t have to have high Strategic Thinking themes to be strategic—Futuristic plus Executing themes can do the job.
• Discipline and Consistency can turn dreams into action steps.
• Mature Harmony runs toward conflict—not away from it—to create lasting alignment.
• When you read fiction or choose podcasts, your dominant domains might show up in your preferences.
• Interns benefit from strengths development early—setting them up for long-term confidence and success.
• Knowing your partner’s strengths can help you navigate everyday tension with more grace.
• Creating habits tied to your strengths leads to more sustainable growth.
• Your strengths don’t have to be perfect—they just need to be understood, developed, and used intentionally.

Sound Bites

• I don’t start anything with the intention to lose.
• If I tell you I’m going to do it, it’s going to get done.
• I pitched a job that didn’t exist—and they said yes.
• I literally have a folder for kind emails—I go back to them when I need to refuel.
• My Harmony makes me want to fix the conflict fast, so I can breathe again.
• I plan a vacation while I’m on vacation.
• Individualization would win tug-of-ware—it’s my superpower.

Alexandra’s Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Competition
2) Harmony
3) Relator
4) Individualization
5) Consistency
6) Responsibility
7) Futuristic
8) Maximizer
9) Belief
10) Discipline

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

In this energizing and heartfelt episode, Sarah and Bill sit down with internal Gallup-certified coach Alyssa Thelen, whose strengths-packed combo of Woo, Communication, and Positivity lights up every room—especially this podcast. Alyssa shares her journey from the cornfields of Nebraska to coaching leaders at fast-growing startups, how her talents fuel her both personally and professionally, and how she’s navigated an incredibly tough season with grace, humor, and vulnerability.

Whether you’re an internal coach, a strengths lover, or someone going through unexpected change, this conversation is a masterclass in leading with strengths, asking for help, and staying true to who you are, especially when the storms hit. Walk away with a fresh perspective on navigating change using your strengths, insight into the unique experience of being an internal coach, encouragement to lean into who you are and ask for what you need, and a reminder that positivity is powerful—even when it’s hard-earned

To contact Alyssaa:
https://gusto.com/

Takeaways

• Your strengths are your most powerful tools—especially during seasons of change.
• Positivity doesn’t mean pretending everything’s fine; it means finding light even in the hard.
• If you’re an internal coach, seek out other “closet enthusiasts” to build momentum and connection.
• When in doubt, lean into what’s in your toolbelt, not what looks shiny in someone else’s.
• You don’t have to do it all—ask for help and let others shine through their strengths.
• Woo + Communication + Positivity is a high-voltage combo for influence and morale.
• Change tests your adaptability, but it also opens space to grow, lead, and stretch.
• Even activators need to slow down and regroup when life throws curveballs.
• When you step into hard moments, you give others permission to do the same.
• There’s power in recognizing your limits and calling in others with strengths you lack.
• Relational connection fuels high-performing teams—people follow people, not just titles.
• High Woo doesn’t mean you can do all the things—boundaries are a growth edge, too.
• Leading with belief and significance creates deep commitment to mission and people.
• Internal coaches have a unique vantage point to drive culture and influence from within.
• Strengths aren’t just about productivity—they’re about getting through life with purpose and resilience.

Sound Bites

• Positivity needs positivity to blossom.
• I’ve been grasping for every ounce of positivity I can get these last few weeks.
• Don’t reach for tools in the shed you don’t know how to use—grab what’s in your toolbelt.
• People want to help you. Asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s actually a gift to them.
• Woo, Communication, Activator, I say yes, and then adaptability shows up and changes the plan.
• Find your internal network—there are always other people who geek out on strengths, too.
• Focus on your strengths, not the storm.

Alyssa’s Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1. Woo
2. Communication
3. Activator
4. Competition
5. Adaptability
6. Belief
7. Command
8. Significance
9. Harmony
10. Positivity

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/

What do a photographer-turned-entrepreneur, a free CliftonStrengths coaching session, and a boomer with futuristic vision have in common? This episode of Strengths on Fire brings all that and more. You’ll hear how Peter Lars, founder of a wildly creative photography company, uses his top 10 strengths to lead with fun, spark innovation, and build a company culture people want to be part of. Whether you’re a business owner, team leader, or someone trying to figure out your strengths in action, this conversation is packed with real-life ways strengths show up in leadership, growth, and everyday decisions. You’ll laugh, learn, and walk away inspired to lean into your talents and maybe even start a strengths board of your own.

To contact Peter:
https://cornerstone.photo/

Takeaways

• When you know your top strengths, you can stop trying to fix your weaknesses and start growing with intention.
• Investing in what you do naturally well makes leading and building a business feel energizing, not exhausting.
• You don’t need all the Influencing themes to be influential—relationships and passion speak volumes.
• Knowing your team’s strengths gives you a roadmap for better communication, delegation, and success.
• A strengths-based culture is built by weaving recognition into everyday work—not just once a year.
• Entrepreneurs thrive when they double down on the zones where they find flow, fun, and impact.
• Strengths like Woo and Positivity aren’t just “nice”—they’re business drivers that attract both clients and talent.
• Leaders with Developer sometimes hold on too long—knowing when to let go is part of strengths maturity.
• When Ideation runs wild, structure and intentional timing are key to getting buy-in and execution.
• Being in the trenches with your team builds trust and loyalty that no policy can replicate.
• Strengths awareness helps you see where you shine and where others need to step in, no one does it all alone.
• Even the best strengths can be a dumpster fire if not filtered through self-awareness.
• You can be successful and still have fun—joy, laughter, and strength-based strategy go hand in hand.
• The right environment amplifies your talents, especially when you’ve created it with purpose.
• Strengths give you the language and clarity to build a company where people want to stay and grow.

Sound Bites

• My whole life I was focused on what I wasn’t good. Turns out, I should’ve just let that go.
• We don’t just know our strengths—we talk about them, recognize them, and celebrate them.
• That positivity strength? It’s how I turn crying toddlers into giggles and smiles.
• Ideation can be a dumpster fire—I’ve got three-year-old ideas just waiting for the right moment.
• Our team puts strengths colors on balloons, cream cheese, and grapes. We live this stuff.
• Strengths changed the way we hire—now we put the right people in the right seats from the start.
• The photos we reprint after a fire—that’s significance in action. That’s why I do this.

Peters Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Futuristic
2) Positivity
3) Communication
4) Adaptability
5) Ideation
6) Woo
7) Developer
8) Activator
9) Maximizer
10) Significance

Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Individualization

2) Developer

3) Activator

4) Woo

5) Restorative

6) Empathy

7) Harmony

8) Connectedness

9) Relator

10) Learner

Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

1) Positivity

2) Woo

3) Communication

4) Harmony

5) Activator

6) Developer

7) Input

8) Individualization

9) Responsibility

10) Arranger

Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/