Nicole Bensen

the Tea Time blog

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Do you feel successful? What’s your definition of success? Has that definition changed as you’ve grown? In a recent survey, small business owners defined success to mean “comfort, happiness, and freedom,” with 74% of respondents saying their perception of the American dream had changed. When I was a kid, I thought success looked like wearing a […]

Do you hide your joy to make others more comfortable? Let’s commit to supporting AND celebrating ourselves (and friends)?

Since moving, I’ve been looking to make local friends, and I (randomly) grabbed this book and opened to a page about friendship. Woah.

Last week I shared that we went from Californians to Washingtonians, and how grateful I am to now see this beautiful greenery outside my office window. (If you missed last week’s note, catch up here to see who visited our backyard). if you were to look out your dream window, what would you see? Tall high-rises in […]

Hello from The Evergreen State! Last week I relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area to the greater Seattle area, and I’m calling it a great experiment. (Not to be confused with Queen Charlotte and King Edward’s great experiment. Anyone else a Bridgerton fan?) It’s no secret that I intentionally seek awe to boost my happiness—I […]

Last week I led a workshop for a team at eBay, and one of the things we talked about was building resilience for when things inevitably don’t go the way we want them too; whether that’s not getting the job, the project, or the relationship. In my self-paced, online program, Next Level You (open to teams and […]

I’ve asked hundreds, if not thousands, of corporate employees what they would do with their time if they could have any job in the world (time, money and skill notwithstanding). Common answers include: What do you think it is about these professions that is so appealing? This is a twist on the “Best Possible Self” […]

We often think we have to wait for something great for us to feel awe. What if I told you it’s easier? Here is your awe-some permission slip.

Did you know that those who are lonely live shorter lives?! I didn’t either. Read on to follow these three steps of squashing loneliness.

Three years ago, I launched my dream of running luxury retreats for women all over the globe. In the world’s most-ironic timing, day 1 of being a travel entrepreneur (March 16, 2020) was day 1 of shelter-in-place in the Bay Area. At first we thought we’d be home for three weeks…then six weeks…and you all […]