In episode 99, we’re talking about what happens when you’re the one holding everything together, but no one sees it.

Whether you’re the go-to person on your team, the emotional glue in your family, or the one who fixes every problem before it’s noticed, this episode explores how invisible over-functioning can lead to burnout, resentment, and missed opportunities for growth.

I share client stories and coaching insights about what happens when doing “everything” doesn’t lead to recognition, and how to start resetting expectations, boundaries, and visibility so your effort actually moves you forward.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why invisible over-functioning hurts your visibility and your career

• How to clarify your role so you can stop doing work that no one sees

• The cost of being the “go-to” person for everything—and how to break that loop

• How boundaries (or “guidelines”) create room for leadership and strategic work

• A client example of creating a visibility plan that led to a promotion

Key Takeaways:

• Recognition requires visibility, not just hard work

• Over-functioning isn’t leadership—it’s unsustainable

• Boundaries protect your energy and your reputation

• Visibility conversations lead to advancement opportunities

• You don’t have to burn it all down to make a change, just start with one small reset

Chapters:

00:46 Invisible Over-Functioning Hurts Career Visibility

04:11 Clarifying Roles to Prevent Burnout

06:50 Extra Work Erodes Boundaries and Sustainability

10:53 Redefining Boundaries to Lead Strategically

18:01 Visibility Plan Leads to Promotion

18:42 Resetting Scope Through Small, Concrete Steps

Learn more and stay connected:

www.danitan.com

www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan

Join my weekly newsletter

In episode 98, we’re talking about the reason you might feel stuck or “confused” about your next move. Most of the time, confusion isn’t about not knowing, it’s about fear.

Whether it’s fear of disappointing others, making the wrong choice, or stepping into something uncertain, what we often label as confusion is really a way of avoiding discomfort. In this episode, I share how to identify the difference between genuine uncertainty and emotional avoidance and what to do when overthinking keeps you from moving forward.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why confusion often masks fear and indecision

• How “research mode” becomes a way to delay taking action

• The connection between fear, perfectionism, and safety for women and women of color

• How to narrow down multiple options by using your values as a filter

• Why commitment, not clarity, creates confidence and momentum

You’ll hear client stories about navigating career pivots, side businesses, and big life decisions, and how choosing a direction, even when it’s imperfect, always leads to greater clarity than waiting ever could.

If you’ve been circling the same decisions, hoping to feel “ready,” this episode will help you recognize what’s really holding you back and take your next step with confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Confusion is often fear in disguise

• Commitment creates clarity, not the other way around

• You don’t need more research, you need one clear action

• Discomfort is part of growth, not a sign to stop

• Trusting your decision-making changes everything

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Confusion as Avoidance

09:47 Overcoming Analysis Paralysis from Too Many Options

17:50 Commitment as a Catalyst for Clarity

25:45 Next Steps and Reflection

Learn more and stay connected:

www.danitan.com

www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan

Join my weekly newsletter

In episode 97, I’m joined by Errika S. Brooks, founder of Gen Z Times (GZT), a platform created to amplify and empower Gen Z by helping them navigate career challenges, build meaningful connections, and define success in their own way.

With over seven years of experience across higher education, nonprofit leadership, and youth-focused partnerships, Errika blends strategy, creativity, and student development to design spaces that reflect the needs and values of Gen Z, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ audiences. As a youth advocate, community strategist, and Gen Z’s biggest cheerleader, she brings an authentic and heart-centered perspective to every conversation about connection and belonging.

Together, we explore how Gen Z is redefining networking, moving beyond the question “What do you do?” toward authentic, community-driven connection. Networking has long been seen as awkward or transactional, but Gen Z is shifting that narrative by focusing on shared interests, values, and belonging. Errika shares how her After 5 Experiment networking events help people connect without the pressure of titles or business cards and what professionals of all generations can learn from this human-centered approach to building relationships.

In this episode, I cover:

• How Gen Z is moving beyond the question “What do you do?”

• Why authentic networking starts with shared humanity, not hierarchy

• What it looks like to create safety and inclusion in professional spaces

• How to network across, not just up, and why peer connections matter

• The mindset shift needed to make networking feel natural instead of forced

Key Takeaways:

• Networking doesn’t have to be transactional—it can start with friendship

• You don’t need to “network up” to grow; building across your peers matters just as much

• Authenticity and inclusion make spaces safer and more effective for everyone

• Community and consistency are key to meaningful connections

Chapters:

00:12 Guest Introduction and Networking Shift

02:32 Errika Brooks’s Career Journey

05:39 Critique of Prescriptive Networking

09:14 Gen Z Networking Principles

12:53 DC Networking Experiment Format

17:52 Prompt Effects and Accessibility

22:37 Networking as Peer Community

26:53 Alignment, Career Pivots, and Next Steps

Learn more and stay connected:

www.danitan.com

www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan

Join my weekly newsletter