Managing stress, overload to be discussed at July luncheon

Everyone needs a lunch break, and Birmingham-based executive liaison, speaker and author Joyce Brooks hopes Trussville-area business leaders and residents will join her July 19 at the monthly Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon where she plans to share a message on avoiding “Self-Inflicted Overload,” the title of her first book. 

The luncheon, sponsored by St. Vincent’s East, will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Trussville Civic Center, 5381 Trussville-Clay Road.

“A lot of people don’t even take a lunch break or even take 30 minutes away from their day,” said Brooks, adding she likes to point out even Auburn and Alabama football need a halftime to regroup.  

Brooks said she plans to share with Trussville business leaders how to set the tone for a more productive business and work environment by starting with their own personal wellbeing. 

“They always say oil and water cannot mix, nor does peace and stress. They’re opposing forces, so if I can help someone achieve peace on a daily basis, they’re less likely to be stressed, and if they’re less likely to be stressed, they’ll be living their best life,” Brooks said. “When you’re in business, you’re providing a service or a product. That customer is depending on you and you, as the owner, the manager, the president, need to be in your best mental, physical and spiritual state. It passes on to your team.”

Brooks, who graduated from the University of South Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham with electrical engineering degrees, worked 21 years with Alabama Power, but a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2008 redirected her course. After learning she was cancer-free in 2009, she was then diagnosed with shingles. 

Brooks said before the diagnoses, she was “running the rat race and pretending to live” to get ahead at work, but she realized stress was a culprit in her health. Now, she said, she is walking in her purpose to raise awareness about unmanaged stress and work/life balance.

“It was my wakeup call … [Cancer] makes you change your priorities and perspective. It made me step back and evaluate the things that I was doing,” Brooks said. “It’s so easy for people to become overwhelmed, overloaded and stressed out. Usually we’re not aware of the physical, mental and sometimes financial implications until we’ve done something [to ourselves].” 

Today, Brooks runs her own consulting business as a speaker, executive liaison and project manager, while also authoring five books. She released her first book, “Self-Inflicted Overload,” in 2012, followed by a desktop, pocket reminder book of 52 stress tips titled “Stress Less and Live More” and then “It Ain’t Over!” in 2016. 

Since 2017, she has also released two children’s books: “The Power of Two Words – A Little Motherly Advice” and “Mr. Brown, Will You Please Open The Door!,” a book she said teaches children they — not others  — hold the key to their dreams. 

Each month, the chamber luncheon begins with a 30-minute network development time during which members and guests can network and exchange business cards with the estimated 80-100 individuals expected to attend. After lunch, the chamber honors its monthly Customer Service Award winners. Door prizes will also be given away.  

To register, visit trussvillechamber.com or contact June Mathews by calling 655-7535 or emailing june.mathews@trussvillechamber.com. 

Cost for the luncheon is $17 (cash, debit or check) or $17.68 if paying by credit card (includes a 4 percent processing fee). Online registration closes at midnight July 16, but the chamber office will accept registration by phone until noon July 17. All non-members must pay in advance.