There are two big reasons why I do what I do:

1. I believe every person deserves to feel free and have a life they love.

2. We need more women’s voices in the world. And not the cookie cutter voices – your true, authentic voice.

You know what gets in the way of both? Putting constant pressure on yourself to succeed. Imposter syndrome and doubting your brilliance. Holding yourself to ridiculously high standards in every area of your life, from work to exercise to being a ‘good’ mother, daughter, friend, employee, leader and any other role you might fulfill!

I know this because I see it in my clients, I saw it in the women in my corporate leadership development programs – and I experienced it myself. An overachiever since birth, I drove myself hard to succeed no matter what. I worked way too many nights and weekends, was always the first to volunteer for yet another project, and even suffered from shingles when I was just 30.

The pressure I felt to fulfill expectations was holding me back from joy, fulfillment, and my true potential – in my work and life as a whole. I knew I wanted to change.

I also began to understand it wasn't my fault I felt this way. I saw the messages we get every day to "Coffee. Hustle. Repeat." I remembered the times I got feedback that I was too direct. And then too accommodating. And then too direct again. I heard the subtle and not-so-subtle voices telling me they needed to be responsible for everything, take care of everyone, and never disappoint anyone.

These messages had become rules I was following, without even knowing it.

As I started to break these rules, I began to feel like I could take a breath and release the pressure valve.

I could fail without feeling like I was a failure. I could go hiking on a Wednesday afternoon without feeling guilty. I started following my own knowing instead of what I ‘should’ be doing. I still overcommitted sometimes (that one might always be a work in progress!), but the difference was amazing.

Seeing my own challenges in so many other women led me to speak on imposter syndrome, burnout, creating your own rules for success, and using your authentic voice to create change — and audience members saw results too.

They grew their careers because they had the tools they needed to let go of imposter feelings and perfectionism so they could focus on high-impact work. They walked into meetings and shared new ideas instead of nodding and going along. They broke the rules they'd been taught and stood in their unique strengths.