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

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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

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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

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In episode 96, we’re talking about how to make bold career moves without spiraling into overthinking or second-guessing every step.

Big decisions, whether it’s pivoting industries, leaving corporate, or starting a business, will always come with fear and uncertainty. That’s why I use a framework with my clients called the ABC Plan, designed to help you name what you really want, prepare for the hard moments, and create the safety net you need to move forward with confidence.

In this episode, I cover:

• How to define your Plan A, your boldest vision, without worrying about practicality

• Why creating a Plan B helps you navigate the messy middle when things get tough

• How Plan C builds the psychological safety to take risks without panic

• Real client stories of making big career pivots, from corporate jobs to new cities and businesses

• Practical ways to reduce stress, detach from outcomes, and keep momentum even when challenges show up

If you’ve been stuck in hesitation or caught in loops of “what ifs,” this episode will show you how to ground your decisions in clarity and create the confidence to finally move forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Your boldest goals must be named before they can be achieved

• Challenges are inevitable, prepare for them instead of quitting when they come

• A safety net creates the confidence to take calculated risks

• Detaching from outcomes helps you show up with clarity and energy

Chapters:

00:00 ABC Plan: Define Plan A Vision

04:06 Start with a Bold Desired Outcome

06:41 Plan B: Prepare for Hard Moments

09:50 Navigating the Messy Middle

15:04 Plan C: Build Psychological Safety

18:28 Managing Uncertainty with a Safety Net

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So many people sit on a side business idea for months or even years because they think they need the perfect plan before taking the first step.

If you’ve been circling your idea, asking yourself if you’re “ready,” or stuck in research mode, this episode is your reminder that clarity comes from action, not overthinking.

I’m sharing client stories and my own experience of waiting too long to start, along with the practical steps I now guide clients through to move from hesitation into momentum.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why hesitation and self-doubt keep you stuck in the “what ifs”

• How to start small by offering one simple service with skills you already have

• The first concrete steps to test your idea with real feedback instead of procrastinating

• How to identify your first clients and where to find them

• Why consistency, not intensity, is what builds a sustainable side business

If you’ve been sitting on an idea but don’t know where to start, this episode will help you move forward with clarity, strategy, and energy that lasts.

Key Takeaways:

• The first version of your business won’t be the final version, start anyway

• You don’t need a perfect plan, you need one clear step

• Testing with real people builds clarity faster than more research

• Consistency is what creates momentum

Chapters:

00:00 Internal Hesitation Blocking Side Businesses

03:17 Start Small Using Existing Expertise

07:38 Concrete First Steps to Avoid Procrastination

11:17 Define Ideal Client and Test Reach Channels

13:50 Start Small and Protect Energy

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In episode 94, we’re talking about what happens when career clarity sparks something bigger, a vision for your life.

For many of my clients, clarity doesn’t just lead to the next job title or salary increase. It opens the door to freedom, creativity, and the possibility of building a business alongside their career. In this episode, I share how clients are exploring both paths at once, from testing side business ideas to creating boundaries that prevent burnout, and why you don’t have to choose between being a leader in your career and building something of your own.

In this episode, I cover:

• How career clarity often reveals deeper values and life goals beyond titles and paychecks

• Why you don’t need to quit your job to start a side business

• The mindset shift required to move away from “all or nothing” thinking

• How to experiment with small projects before going all in

• Practical strategies to balance career advancement with entrepreneurship

  
  

If you’ve been wondering whether you have to choose between stability and freedom, or career growth and entrepreneurship, this conversation will show you that it’s possible to build both, without burning yourself out.

Key Takeaways:

• Career clarity can reveal bigger life visions, not just job titles

• You don’t need to burn it all down to start a side business

• Experimentation creates clarity without the pressure of full commitment

• Boundaries, timelines, and support systems make balancing both paths possible

Chapters:

00:00 Career Clarity Reveals Life Vision

03:44 Transition Toward Wellness-Focused Work

07:13 Reframing Mindset for Side Businesses

11:47 Experimentation Over Full Commitment

17:01 Parallel Career Advancement and Ventures

20:42 Practical Pathways for Dual Careers

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In episode 93, we’re talking about how AI can actually support your job search and why it’s a tool, not a strategy.

If you’ve been stuck in research mode, endlessly tweaking your resume, or wondering if using AI is “cheating,” this episode will give you a grounded perspective on how to use it effectively. I share how my clients integrate AI into their job search and career pivots, from resumes and cover letters to networking and interview prep, so they can move faster and with more clarity.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why AI alone won’t get you unstuck in your job search

• How my clients use AI to streamline resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn updates

• Ways AI can make networking and interview prep less overwhelming

• How workshops and accountability create space to learn and apply new tools

Key Takeaways:

• AI is a tool, not a job search strategy

• Clarity must come first, AI amplifies what you bring to it

• Using AI can speed up tedious tasks so you can focus on strategy and confidence

• Accountability and community make learning new tools more effective

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI in Job Search

07:16 AI as a Tool, Not a Strategy

15:10 Streamlining Job Search with AI

21:44 Workshops and Continuous Learning

Learn more and stay connected:

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In episode 92, I’m joined by my client, Jasmine, who shares her journey from feeling stuck at the manager level to stepping into leadership, building confidence in networking, and navigating a major industry transition.

Over the last year and a half, Jasmine has transformed how she approaches her career, from advocating for promotions and leading with visibility to embracing new opportunities with clarity and confidence. In this conversation, we explore what it looks like to set clear goals, push past perfectionism, and build a leadership style rooted in trust and celebration.

In this episode, I cover:

• How Jasmine went from dreading networking to becoming a city ambassador for a women’s networking group

• The strategies she used to advocate for a promotion and increase her visibility at work

• Why direct, concise communication and accountability shifted her confidence in leadership

• What it looks like to embrace an industry change and lean on transferable skills

• The role coaching played in helping her stay accountable, celebrate wins, and step into her leadership voice

Key Takeaways:

• Networking confidence can be built step by step with the right strategies

• Visibility and self-advocacy are essential for career growth

• Celebrating small wins fuels confidence and momentum

• Transferable skills allow you to thrive, even when changing industries

Chapters:

01:32 Introductions and Coaching Context

04:11 Clarifying Career Goals and Plan

10:17 Networking Transformation and Strategies

14:29 Developing Direct, Concise Communication

19:29 Advocating for Promotion Through Visibility

25:49 Practical Leadership Development and Decision-Making

31:19 Emotional Arc of Industry Transition

34:28 Onboarding Strategies and Managing Perfectionism

38:44 Changing Industries and Transferable Skills

44:01 Evaluating Coaching Fit and Next Steps

Learn more and stay connected:

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