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If you’ve ever looked at your winding path and wondered whether it “counts,” this conversation is your green light. We trade birthday cake for straight talk about nonlinear careers, hard-won leadership lessons, and the boundaries that keep purpose intact when the world pushes for more, faster, always.

We start with early ambition—the kind that outruns experience—and the moment confidence meets humility. From switching majors and industries to rejecting career shame, we unpack why generalist skills and learning agility are powerful in an AI-driven workplace. Then we tackle leadership: the difference between managing people and actually leading. Not everyone should be a manager. Influence, impact, and relationship-building can move work further than titles ever will, and we share messy truths about getting that wrong and how we repaired trust.

Burnout and boundaries take center stage as we redefine success. Saying no became a survival skill. Leaving misaligned cultures wasn’t quitting; it was choosing health, values, and a life we recognize as ours. We talk about entrepreneurship’s paradox—more pressure, better sleep—and why ownership can turn stress into focus. Curiosity pulls us forward: ongoing classes, new frameworks, and a commitment to keep growing so the work stays meaningful and the mind stays sharp.

Next week, we’ll dig into personality and behavioral assessments—CliftonStrengths, Working Genius, and more—where they help, where they hinder, and how to use them wisely. If this resonated, share it with someone on the edge of a pivot, subscribe for more candid leadership fuel, and leave a review so others can find the show. What definition of success are you ready to rewrite?

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Measure what matters. Lead with purpose. Take the LEADERs Catalyst Index: https://katieervin.com/catalyst-score/

Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

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Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens on messy days, under tight deadlines, and in the middle of real emotion. We’re unpacking growth, fixed, and neutral mindsets with honest stories about fear, feedback, and the quiet work of choosing action when your brain begs for safety. No slogans. Just practical ways to lead yourself when the stakes feel high.

We start by separating growth mindset from toxic positivity. Growth isn’t cheerleading; it’s learning with intention, especially when you’re tired or hurt. From energy leadership levels to the brain’s negativity bias, we explore why it’s normal to dip into withdrawal or anger under stress—and how to shorten that dip by naming emotions, adjusting your state, and returning to purpose. You’ll hear how criticism can sting for years, why courage walks beside fear, and how realism can make optimism stronger instead of softer.

We also dig into comparison and jealousy. Fixed mindset treats other people’s wins as threats; growth mindset treats them as clues. Use that signal to define a next small move, not a final judgment. When positivity feels out of reach, neutral mindset helps: stay present, avoid spirals, and focus on the next right step. Our go-to practices—pause to change your state, reframe when ready, and make one daily choice aligned with your values—turn mindset from a concept into a habit you can actually repeat.

If you’re ready to move from rumination to action, this conversation offers tools you can try today: simple state shifts, smarter feedback, and proof-finding routines that train your attention toward progress. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a reset, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What’s your next right step?

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Measure what matters. Lead with purpose. Take the LEADERs Catalyst Index: https://katieervin.com/catalyst-score/

Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/

Send us a text

Start 2026 with a steadier compass, not a louder calendar. When the world feels heavy and noisy, we dig into how leaders can stay grounded by pairing a real growth mindset with practical, intentional choices that cut through uncertainty. Instead of sugarcoating hardship, we redefine growth mindset as curiosity over judgment—asking what can be learned, where grace belongs, and how to move forward when confidence wobbles.

We talk candidly about the hidden cost of negativity and disengagement. Burnout rarely shows up as flames; it shows up as numbness, cynicism, and reactive decisions. From missed opportunities to rooms we weren’t invited into, we name the moments that push us from curiosity into self‑protection and share how to spot that shift before it hardens into a fixed identity. You’ll hear why openness beats having all the answers, and how leaders who listen, question, and reflect create psychological safety and better decisions.

Then we get practical. Intentional leadership isn’t a grand plan—it’s the small, repeatable behaviors that shape culture: pausing before you respond, preparing for hard conversations, holding people kindly to high standards, and protecting capacity through clear boundaries. We introduce three grounding questions to regain agency: what’s within my control, what story am I telling myself, and what’s the most intentional next step. These tools help you challenge worst‑case thinking, focus your energy, and build momentum without waiting for perfect conditions.

If you’re ready to trade autopilot for purpose, hit play and take the next right step with us. Share this episode with someone who needs a reset, and leave a five‑star review so more leaders can choose growth this year.

Follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajhale/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieervin/

www.jolyean.com

www.katieervin.com

Measure what matters. Lead with purpose. Take the LEADERs Catalyst Index: https://katieervin.com/catalyst-score/

Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/