What do you really want? (And why that question feels so hard)

We can all list what we don’t want…burnout, bad bosses, endless countdowns to Friday. But when it comes to answering “What do I want?” most people find it harder to answer than expected. In fact, over 85% of people admit they don’t know what they truly want in life or their career. In this episode, I share why focusing on what you don’t want keeps you stuck…and how shifting to what you do want points you toward a more fulfilling personal and professional life. Feeling stuck? Find yourself saying, “I don’t want this…” more than “I do want that…”? Tired of running on autopilot? Take a listen.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why focusing on what you don’t want keeps you in the very place you’re trying to escape
• How the “pink elephant” effect hijacks your attention
• Three clarifying questions that unlock what you really want
• How small, everyday clues (like what lights you up) point to bigger patterns
• Why writing it down matters (and how it helps create direction without needing a perfect plan)

Two takeaways you can try today:

1. When you catch yourself focusing on what you don’t want, pause and ask: “Okay, then what DO I want?
2. Answer these three questions in writing (no editing, no disclaimers):
   1. When have I felt most alive or fulfilled in the past year?
   2. If I could wave a magic wand, what would my ideal personal and professional life look like?
   3. What do I want to experience more of?

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend, and subscribe for future insights and inspiration!

If you love The DASH Mindset Podcast, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a quick rating and review. On iTunes, scroll down, tap to give five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” On Spotify, just select “Rate Show.” Your support helps more people lead their lives…and lead others…in a way that truly matters.

Let’s Connect:

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset website.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn.
• Reach out if you’d like to explore how I can be a resource for you.
• Have an idea for a future episode? I’d love to hear it!

What happens when you stop waiting for permission, start asking better questions, and lean into what’s always come naturally to you?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michael White – someone who turned curiosity and asking the right questions into a career that fits. From corporate analyst to CEO of his own training company, Michael’s story is a reminder: your strengths are always showing up. The key is being curious enough to notice.

What You’ll Learn:

In this conversation, we explore how curiosity, asking the right questions, and paying attention to what comes naturally can create new opportunities – sometimes in unexpected ways.

You'll hear:

• How Michael’s curiosity and love of asking questions led him to build a whole new career
• The surprising parallels between business analysis, coaching, matchmaking – and how it all comes down to asking better questions
• Why you don’t need to wait for permission to try something new
• How peeling back the layers often leads to clarity (in work, life, and relationships)
• The myth of job security and how to trust yourself to take the next step
• How connecting the dots backward often reveals how aligned you already are with what you’re meant to do

If you’re interested in business analysis, you’ll appreciate this one. But even if you’re not, this conversation goes beyond the technical. It’s really about curiosity, confidence, and creating a career – and life – that aligns with who you are.

Because your dash deserves more than autopilot.

About Dr. Michael White:

Dr. Michael F. White is the founder of The Business Analysis Doctor, LLC, a global business analysis (BA) training provider specializing in certifications administered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) as well as hands-on business analysis training.

Through his rich and consistent content, Michael has transformed social media into an educational platform for individuals pursuing a BA certification and those wanting to learn more about the BA profession.

His training programs offer a unique blend of flexibility, application, and practicality, presenting course material to adult learners in ways they can easily incorporate into daily life. With an incredible thirst for knowledge, Michael holds a Doctor of Business Administration, CBAP, IIBA-AAC, IIBA-CBDA, and CSSGB.

Where to Find Dr. Michael White

• Website: TheBadoc.com
• LinkedIn: Michael White
• YouTube: The Business Analysis Doctor - IIBA Certification
• Podcast: The Business Analysis Doctor Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend, and subscribe for future insights and inspiration!

If you love The DASH Mindset Podcast, I’d be so grateful if you’d rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts! On iTunes, simply scroll down, tap to give it a five star rating, then tap “Write a Review.” On Spotify, select “Rate show.” Your rating and review will help more people lead their lives and lead others in a way that truly matters.

Let’s Connect!

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset website.
• Find me on LinkedIn.
• Contact me here to schedule a free consult, gain clarity, and determine if we’re a good fit.
• Contact me here to share your ideas for future episodes!

Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The DASH Mindset Podcast!

Why would you want to quit being a CPA to be a glorified waitress?

This is one of the questions Kathy Healy was asked after making the decision to leave her public accounting career and become a flight attendant. And she did it anyway.

In this episode, I'm joined by Kathy Healy and her daughter Dana for a fun conversation about making bold moves later in life. After more than 20 years as a CPA, Kathy made the decision to become a flight attendant at age 52. While most people her age are counting down to retirement, she left her job just months before 9/11 turned the airline industry upside down.

We Talk About:

• What motivated her to make the change
• The surprising challenges and rewards of flight attendant training
• What it’s like to completely shift your day-to-day life and start over
• How age doesn’t have to be a limitation (unless you decide it does)
• Why it’s okay to want something different — and actually go for it

Kathy shares her story with honesty, humor, and the kind of perspective that only comes from doing the thing most people talk themselves out of.

If you’ve ever thought you’re not the “right” age for something, or you just want to hear from someone who took a risk and doesn’t regret it…This is proof that possibility doesn’t expire. And the best chapters of your story might be the ones you haven't written yet.

🎥 Watch the short video from Kathy’s final flight (also her YouTube debut) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g8rTeeR9VU

About Kathy Healy

Kathy Healy spent over 20 years as a CPA, including roles in corporate accounting, teaching, and public accounting (McGladrey & Pullen brought her back three separate times - but that's another story!). In 2001, at age 52, she traded spreadsheets for airplane aisles, becoming a Southwest Airlines flight attendant until her retirement in 2022. She now enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, attending Iowa women's basketball games, cheering on Caitlin Clark, and spending time with family and friends.

If this conversation with Kathy inspired you to think differently about what's possible, please share with a friend who might need to hear it too, and subscribe for future insights and inspiration!

If you love The DASH Mindset Podcast, I’d be so grateful if you’d rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts! On iTunes, simply scroll down, tap to give it a five star rating, then tap “Write a Review.” On Spotify, select “Rate show.” Your rating and review will help more people lead their lives and lead others in a way that truly matters.

Let’s Connect!

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset website.
• Find me on LinkedIn.
• Contact me here to schedule a free consult, gain clarity, and determine if we’re a good fit.
• Contact me here to share your ideas for future episodes!

Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The DASH Mindset Podcast!

Ever feel like you're living the same day over and over? Wake up, check email, coffee, shuffle kids to practice or a game, try to get a few more things done, collapse into bed, repeat.

In this episode, we explore why high-achieving professionals get trapped in cycles of autopilot living, both at work and at home. The very traits that drove your success (ambition, discipline, consistency, drive) can become the prison bars that keep you stuck in predictable routines that drain rather than energize you.

We'll dive into examples of how successful professionals find themselves in cruise control at work despite their achievements, and how that same autopilot energy extends to their personal lives, turning relationships into logistics coordination and weekends into just another to-do list. And we'll discuss three specific strategies to introduce intentional change without overhauling your entire life.

This episode is for you if you're killing it professionally but feel like you're disappearing from your own life. If you're tired of feeling like an efficient hamster on an expensive wheel and want to feel alive in both the career and personal life you've already built, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• How to recognize when success has shifted into autopilot mode and why it's draining your energy across all areas of life.
• Why high achievers get trapped in predictable patterns and how this affects both work satisfaction and personal relationships.
• Small adjustments that create ripple effects without overwhelming your schedule.
• Three practical approaches: Do something surprising, incorporate adventure into your day, and have a two-minute conversation.
• How to redirect existing energy rather than adding new tasks to your already full life.

Check in with yourself this week: What's one small shift you can make that breaks your current pattern? Pick the strategy that excited you most and commit to trying it for four weeks.

If you found value in today’s episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from hearing this message!

And if you loved it, I’d be so grateful if you’d rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts! On iTunes, simply scroll down, tap to give it a five-star rating, then tap “Write a Review.” On Spotify, select “Rate show.” Your rating and review will help more people lead their lives and lead others in a way that truly matters.

Let’s Connect!

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset website.
• Find me on LinkedIn.
• Contact me here to schedule a free consult, gain clarity, and determine if we’re a good fit.
• Contact me here to share your ideas for future episodes!

Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The DASH Mindset Podcast!

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of proving your worth?

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked, yet constant need to prove ourselves. Whether it’s proving our worth to others or to ourselves, this mindset can lead to burnout, frustration, and a sense of emptiness—despite all the achievements we accumulate along the way.

We’ll dive into real-life examples of how high-performers often find themselves stuck in the endless cycle of over-proving and why this habit can be so exhausting. And we’ll discuss why it’s important to shift from proving yourself to intentionally choosing what aligns with your true desires and values. It’s all about moving from “I CAN do this” to “Do I WANT to do this?”

This episode is for you if you’ve ever felt compelled to prove your worth in your career, relationships, or any other aspect of life, even to yourself. If you're tired of running on empty and want to align your choices with what truly matters, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• How to recognize the cycle of proving yourself and how it affects your well-being.
• Why it’s easy to get stuck in “proving mode” and how this leads to burnout.
• The power of shifting from “I CAN” to “Do I WANT?” and how it changes the way you approach decisions.
• Practical tips on setting boundaries and aligning your choices with what energizes and fulfills you.

Check in with yourself this week: What’s one area where you’re still trying to prove yourself? Take action and start making intentional choices that align with your true self!

If you found value in today’s episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from hearing this message!

And if you loved it, I’d be so grateful if you’d rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts! On iTunes, simply scroll down, tap to give it a five-star rating, then tap “Write a Review.” On Spotify, select “Rate show.” Your rating and review will help more people lead their lives and lead others in a way that truly matters.

Let’s Connect!

• Learn more about working with me at The DASH Mindset website.
• Find me on LinkedIn.
• Contact me here to schedule a free consult, gain clarity, and determine if we’re a good fit.
• Contact me here to share your ideas for future episodes!

Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The DASH Mindset Podcast!