The Centennial Milestone: Refusing to Let the Pain Go to Waste with Ruth Hankin | Episode 100
The Centennial Milestone: Refusing to Let the Pain Go to Waste with Ruth Hankin
One hundred episodes. For some, it’s a digital metric. For the Invisible CEO, it’s a "Centennial" marker of a journey that has been paved with equal parts struggle and secondary-cradle success.
In Episode 100, I’m joined by Ruth Hankin to reflect on the reality of the kinship mission. This episode is a deep dive into the "State of the Union" for the 2.7 Million Project, but more importantly, it is a declaration: We will not let our pain go to waste.
🎧 LISTEN TO THE CENTENNIAL EPISODE
The CEO Perspective: The ROI of Lived Experience
In business, "sunk costs" are investments you can't get back. But in the life of a kinship caregiver, there is no such thing as a sunk cost if you convert your struggle into strategy. Every tear, every legal battle, and every sleepless night is data. Ruth Hankin’s story reminds us that our "pain" is actually the raw material for our Manifesto.
The Boardroom Brief: Lessons from the First 100
The Centennial Perspective: Reaching this point is about acknowledging the endurance it takes to raise a second generation. Ruth and I discuss how to look back at the "miles" traveled and see them as a badge of expertise, not just a burden.
The "Waste Not" Doctrine: If we simply suffer in silence, the pain wins. But when we speak, when we record, and when we build the 2.7 Million Project, we ensure that our struggle serves as a map for the next grandmother who gets "the call."
Ruth’s Journey as a Mirror: Ruth shares the tactical and soulful ways she has navigated her own journey, proving that the "Invisible CEO" is the most resilient leader in the modern economy.
The Toolbox: Tactical Moves
Perform a Pain Audit: What is the hardest part of your journey right now? Ask yourself: "How can I use this experience to help someone else in the 2.7 Million?"
Celebrate Your Centennial: Whether you are on day 100 or year 10 of caregiving, take a moment to acknowledge your "Operational Wins." You are still standing. That is a victory.
Invest in the Manifesto: Episode 100 is just the beginning. Join us as we move from "Surviving" to "Strategic Advocacy."
CEO/Host
Host- Host / Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity podcast.
Laura Brazan is the founder of The 2.7 Million Project and the voice of the Invisible CEO. After trading her own "planned retirement" for the high-stakes mission of kinship care, she now empowers grandparents to reclaim their identity as the chief executives of their family’s future. Laura provides the tactical frameworks and "Executive Soul" required to lead the next generation with resilience, intentionality, and a clear vision.
