Episode 55: The Hidden cost of making it look easy

Episode 55: The Hidden cost of making it look easy

Summary: In this solo episode of The Joy CEO Podcast, I’m sharing a conversation that hit me harder than I expected. A mentor once told me, “Your biggest problem is that you make it look easy.” At first, I took it as a compliment. But the more I reflected on it, the more I realized it was actually pointing to a hidden challenge many ambitious women face. When you’re known as the person who always has it together, people stop checking in. And eventually, you stop checking in with yourself. In this episode, I unpack what I call the Permission Problem—the belief that because we’re capable, we shouldn’t need support. I share my own experience leading a large, travel-heavy team while silently battling exhaustion, and why burnout isn’t always about workload. Sometimes it’s about feeling like you’re not allowed to struggle. If you've ever been the strong one, the reliable one, or the person everyone depends on, this episode is an invitation to stop performing fine and start being honest about what you need. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS MAKING IT LOOK EASY CAN BECOME A TRAP For years, I wore competence like armor. The problem? When you make everything look effortless, people assume you don’t need help. Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you performing strength instead of allowing support? BURNOUT ISN'T ALWAYS A TIME MANAGEMENT PROBLEM Research shows that burnout is rising among high performers, especially women leaders. The issue often isn't productivity—it’s carrying everything alone. Audience follow-up → Are you overwhelmed because of your workload, or because you're trying to carry it without support? THE STRONGEST PERSON IN THE ROOM STILL NEEDS SOMEONE I share a season in 2019 when I was traveling constantly, leading a large team, and outwardly succeeding while privately feeling depleted. Audience follow-up → Who knows how you're really doing right now? STOP PERFORMING COMPETENCE YOU DON'T FEEL There's a difference between being capable and pretending everything is okay. Leadership doesn't require perfection. Audience follow-up → What truth have you been editing out when someone asks, "How are you?" BUILD AN INNER CIRCLE BEFORE YOU NEED ONE Whether it's a partner, friend, therapist, mentor, or coach, every leader needs people who can hold space for honesty. Audience follow-up → Do you have a circle where you can be fully yourself—not just your professional self? PERMISSION STARTS WITHIN No title, promotion, or achievement will give you permission to rest, receive support, or be human. That permission has to come from you. Audience follow-up → What would change if you gave yourself permission to ask for help today? 🔎 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE * Gallup workplace burnout research * McKinsey research on women in leadership * Lori's 2019 leadership experience managing a large, travel-heavy team * The concept of the "Load-Bearing Wall" leader * Building a personal support system and inner circle ✨ REFLECTION PROMPTS * Have I become so good at coping that people no longer know when I'm struggling? * Where am I performing competence instead of telling the truth? * Who are the people I trust enough to be honest with? * What support do I need that I haven't asked for? * What would it look like to pursue ambition without carrying everything alone? 🧠 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR * High-achieving women in corporate leadership * Entrepreneurs carrying the weight of their business alone * Leaders experiencing burnout despite external success * Women who struggle to ask for help * Anyone who feels responsible for holding everything together 📩 WANT TO GO DEEPER? Follow Lori on https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripineLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripine] to continue the conversation * Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: https://www.loripine.com/discovery-callloripine.com [https://www.loripine.com/discovery-call] 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-ceo/id1817292260] to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

Episode 54: What It Actually Means To Go All In - With Leanne Wynne-Davies

SUMMARY: IN THIS INSPIRING AND DEEPLY PERSONAL CONVERSATION, I SIT DOWN WITH MY FRIEND AND COACHING CLIENT, LEANNE WYNN DAVIES—A GOOGLE SALES LEADER, MARATHON RUNNER, ADVOCATE, AND SOMEONE WHO EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO GO ALL IN ON A DREAM. LEANNE SHARES HER 11-YEAR JOURNEY TO QUALIFYING FOR AND FINALLY RUNNING THE BOSTON MARATHON. WHAT BEGAN AS A NEAR MISS AFTER HER FIRST NEW YORK CITY MARATHON BECAME A DECADE-LONG LESSON IN RESILIENCE, COMMITMENT, AND REFUSING TO SETTLE FOR "GOOD ENOUGH." ALONG THE WAY, SHE FACED RACE CANCELLATIONS, MISSED OPPORTUNITIES, CHANGING QUALIFICATION STANDARDS, PREGNANCY, AND COUNTLESS SETBACKS. BUT THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT MORE THAN RUNNING. IT'S ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE STOP TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING ALONE, INVEST IN SUPPORT, AND DECIDE THAT OUR GOALS ARE WORTH PURSUING WHOLEHEARTEDLY. WHETHER YOU'RE CHASING A PERSONAL MILESTONE, LEADING A TEAM, OR WONDERING WHAT YOUR NEXT LEVEL REQUIRES OF YOU, THIS CONVERSATION WILL CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK BIGGER ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS: GOING ALL IN REQUIRES MORE THAN EFFORT FOR YEARS, LEANNE TRAINED HARD BUT APPROACHED MARATHON QUALIFYING AS SOMETHING SHE'D FIGURE OUT ON HER OWN. THE BREAKTHROUGH CAME WHEN SHE DECIDED TO STOP RELYING SOLELY ON EFFORT AND START INVESTING IN EXPERTISE. HITTING THE TARGET ISN'T ALWAYS ENOUGH ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING MOMENTS IN LEANNE'S JOURNEY CAME WHEN SHE TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED FOR BOSTON—ONLY TO LEARN HER TIME STILL WASN'T FAST ENOUGH BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITIVE CUTOFF. THE LESSON? IN LEADERSHIP AND LIFE, MEETING EXPECTATIONS ISN'T ALWAYS WHAT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO EXCEED THEM. COACHING CAN ACCELERATE GROWTH AFTER ONE PIVOTAL COACHING SESSION, LEANNE HIRED A PROFESSIONAL RUNNING COACH, REVAMPED HER TRAINING AND FUELING STRATEGY, AND ULTIMATELY QUALIFIED BY AN IMPRESSIVE 11-MINUTE MARGIN. THE RIGHT COACH DOESN'T DO THE WORK FOR YOU—THEY HELP YOU SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND GUIDE YOU TOWARD IT. NO BIG GOAL HAPPENS ALONE FROM HER HUSBAND AND FAMILY TO COACHES, FRIENDS, AND RUNNING COMMUNITIES, LEANNE CREDITS MUCH OF HER SUCCESS TO THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED HER JOURNEY. WE OFTEN CELEBRATE INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT, BUT BEHIND EVERY BREAKTHROUGH IS A TEAM. LIFE DOESN'T FOLLOW THE TIMELINE YOU PLANNED JUST AFTER QUALIFYING, LEANNE BECAME PREGNANT AND DEFERRED HER BOSTON MARATHON ENTRY UNDER THE RACE'S PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM POLICY. INSTEAD OF SEEING IT AS A SETBACK, SHE EMBRACED THE SEASON SHE WAS IN AND RETURNED STRONGER. SOMETIMES PROGRESS LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN WE EXPECTED—AND THAT'S OKAY. PURPOSE MAKES THE JOURNEY BIGGER THAN YOU LEANNE'S RUNNING JOURNEY IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO HER ADVOCACY FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS. INSPIRED BY HER SISTERS AND HER WORK WITH THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION, SHE USES MARATHON FUNDRAISING TO CREATE IMPACT BEYOND THE FINISH LINE. PURPOSE HAS A WAY OF CARRYING US THROUGH CHALLENGES THAT MOTIVATION ALONE CAN'T SUSTAIN. 🔎 MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: THE BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFICATION PROCESS AND COMPETITIVE CUTOFF SYSTEM THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, CHICAGO MARATHON, LONDON MARATHON, WILMINGTON MARATHON, TOKYO MARATHON, AND BOSTON MARATHON PROFESSIONAL RUN COACHING AND PERFORMANCE-BASED TRAINING PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM RACE DEFERRAL POLICIES FUNDRAISING AND ADVOCACY THROUGH THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM SPORTS, COACHING, AND PERSONAL GROWTH ✨ REFLECTION PROMPTS: WHAT GOAL HAVE YOU BEEN PURSUING HALFWAY THAT DESERVES YOUR FULL COMMITMENT? WHERE ARE YOU TRYING TO SUCCEED ALONE INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR SUPPORT? WHAT WOULD "ALL IN" LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR NEXT LEVEL OF GROWTH? ARE YOU MEASURING SUCCESS BY EFFORT—OR BY RESULTS? WHO COULD HELP YOU BREAK THROUGH THE CEILING YOU'RE CURRENTLY FACING? 🧠 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR: LEADERS STRIVING FOR THEIR NEXT LEVEL OF GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE PROFESSIONALS WHO WANT TO STOP DOING EVERYTHING ALONE WOMEN BALANCING AMBITIOUS GOALS WITH CHANGING LIFE SEASONS ATHLETES, RUNNERS, AND ANYONE PURSUING A LONG-TERM DREAM PEOPLE CONSIDERING COACHING, MENTORSHIP, OR INVESTING IN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ANYONE WHO NEEDS A REMINDER THAT PERSISTENCE, SUPPORT, AND PURPOSE CAN TAKE YOU FURTHER THAN TALENT ALONE 📩 WANT TO GO DEEPER? Follow Lori on https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripineLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripine] to continue the conversation * Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: https://www.loripine.com/discovery-callloripine.com [https://www.loripine.com/discovery-call] 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-ceo/id1817292260] to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace Connect with Leanne on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanne-wynne-davies-27071152/]

Episode 53: Why Independent Women Feel Lonely | The Leadership Power of Community

Summary: In this episode, I reflect on the hidden cost of wearing independence as a badge of honor and why I’ve come to believe community is essential for sustainable leadership. After years of moving cities for corporate opportunities and believing strength meant handling everything on my own, I realized my independence had quietly turned into isolation. I share the moments that forced me to confront the limits of “doing it all yourself,” from not knowing who to list as an emergency contact for my children to navigating divorce and the sudden loss of my mother. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what strength really looks like and why meaningful connection—not isolation—is what truly supports ambitious women. 🔑 Key Takeaways: INDEPENDENCE ISN’T THE SAME AS STRENGTH For years, I believed being self-sufficient meant I was successful. But over time, I realized independence can become a coping mechanism that disconnects us from the support we actually need. Audience follow-up → Where in your life have you mistaken isolation for strength? AMBITION WITHOUT COMMUNITY BECOMES UNSUSTAINABLE I share how relocating seven times for career advancement slowly eroded my sense of rootedness and belonging. Audience follow-up → What relationships or communities have you unintentionally sacrificed in pursuit of success? THE EMERGENCY CONTACT MOMENT CHANGED EVERYTHING One of the most confronting moments came when I realized I didn’t know who I could list as an emergency contact for my children. That question exposed just how alone I had become. Audience follow-up → If life became difficult tomorrow, who could you truly call for support? COMMUNITY EXPANDS WHAT FEELS POSSIBLE Real connection doesn’t weaken ambition—it strengthens it. Being around women who see you fully creates safety, perspective, and possibility. Audience follow-up → Who in your life makes you feel more like yourself when you’re around them? YOU DESERVE TO BE SEEN BEYOND YOUR RESUME So many accomplished women are celebrated for what they produce while quietly feeling unseen in who they are. I believe we need spaces where honesty matters more than performance. Audience follow-up → Where are you craving deeper connection—not networking, but genuine belonging? 🔎 Mentioned in the Episode: THE CONNECT A peer community Lori created for ambitious, accomplished women seeking honest conversations, meaningful support, and deeper connection beyond surface-level networking. LORI’S CORPORATE RELOCATIONS Over the course of her corporate career, Lori relocated seven different times in pursuit of advancement and opportunity—an experience that shaped both her ambition and her loneliness. THE TURNING POINT The combination of divorce and the sudden loss of Lori’s mother forced her to reevaluate what true support, resilience, and leadership really mean. ✨ Reflection Prompts: * What have you been carrying alone because you thought you “should” be able to? * When was the last time you felt genuinely supported? * Are you building a successful life—or a connected one? * What would change if you stopped treating vulnerability like weakness? 🧠 Who This Episode Is For: * Ambitious women who feel lonely despite their success * Leaders navigating life transitions, grief, or burnout * Professionals craving deeper connection and community * Women redefining what strength and leadership look like * Anyone tired of carrying the weight of independence alone 📩 WANT TO GO DEEPER? Follow Lori on https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripineLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripine] to continue the conversation * Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: https://www.loripine.com/discovery-callloripine.com [https://www.loripine.com/discovery-call] 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-ceo/id1817292260] to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

Episode 52: One Year of the Joy CEO Podcast: 6 Leadership Lessons on Joy, Growth & Momentum

SUMMARY: In this special one-year anniversary episode of the Joy CEO Podcast, I’m reflecting on what it’s meant to show up consistently for 52 straight weeks of long-form conversations around leadership, growth, joy, and becoming the woman you’re meant to be. I share why I started this podcast in the first place: to create a space where you could truly get to know me, my coaching philosophy, and the work I care deeply about. This episode is more personal, conversational, and completely off-script as I walk through six leadership lessons that have shaped me this past year. From learning that growth happens faster through people—not isolation—to redefining joy as something we already carry within us, these lessons have impacted how I lead, work, and live. I also talk about why careers are rarely linear, how adopting an athlete’s mindset changed my perspective on resilience, and why challenging yourself beyond your comfort zone is necessary for growth. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed by figuring everything out alone, or disconnected from joy, I hope this episode reminds you that you don’t have to have all the answers to move forward. 🔑 Key Takeaways: “WHO, NOT HOW” CHANGED THE WAY I GROW One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that I don’t need to have every answer myself. Growth happens faster when I stop obsessing over the “how” and start finding the right people to support, guide, and collaborate with me. Audience follow-up → Where are you trying to do everything alone instead of asking for support? JOY ISN’T SOMETHING I HAVE TO EARN For so long, I thought joy came after the achievement, the milestone, or the success. But I’ve learned that love, joy, and fulfillment already exist within us—we don’t have to prove ourselves worthy of experiencing them. Audience follow-up → What would change if you stopped delaying joy until “someday”? I WANT TO LEAD PEOPLE FIRST The older I get, the more I believe leadership is about making people feel seen, valued, and safe. Whether in business or everyday life, people remember how you made them feel. Audience follow-up → Who in your life could feel more appreciated or acknowledged by you this week? MY CAREER HASN’T BEEN LINEAR—AND THAT’S OKAY I’ve had pivots, unexpected turns, and moments where things didn’t go according to plan. This year reminded me that careers and personal growth are rarely straight lines, and sometimes the detours shape us the most. Audience follow-up → What if your current transition is leading you somewhere better than you expected? ADOPTING AN ATHLETE’S MINDSET CHANGED ME I talk about how sports and athletic discipline influenced the way I approach leadership, consistency, and resilience. Leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, practicing, and learning how to work as part of a team. Audience follow-up → What habits are helping you build resilience in your daily life? GROWTH REQUIRES ME TO CHALLENGE MYSELF Some of the biggest breakthroughs in my life came from doing things that felt uncomfortable or bigger than I thought I was ready for. I’ve learned that growth often lives on the other side of challenge—and that I don’t have to navigate it alone. Audience follow-up → What challenge have you been avoiding because it feels too big or uncertain? 🔎 Mentioned in the Episode: * Celebrating 52 episodes and one full year of the Joy CEO Podcast * Why I committed to weekly long-form content * The “Who Not How” mindset and asking for support * Leadership through connection, joy, and resilience * Lessons from athletics and teamwork applied to business and life * The importance of embracing pivots and personal growth ✨ Reflection Prompts: * Where am I making things harder by trying to do everything myself? * What does joy look like for me outside of achievement? * How do I want people to feel after interacting with me? * Am I resisting change—or allowing myself to evolve? * What challenge could help me grow into the next version of myself? 🧠 Who This Episode Is For: * Women navigating career pivots or reinvention * Entrepreneurs and leaders craving more joy and alignment * High achievers learning to ask for support * Professionals rebuilding confidence after setbacks * Anyone wanting leadership lessons grounded in connection, growth, and humanity ⏱ Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Anniversary Kickoff 00:48 Why I Started 03:06 Who Not How 06:53 Love And Joy 08:20 People First 09:39 Careers Aren't Linear 11:37 Find The Athlete 13:25 Challenge Yourself 14:48 Wrap Up And Next Steps 📩 WANT TO GO DEEPER? Follow Lori on https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripineLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripine] to continue the conversation * Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: https://www.loripine.com/discovery-callloripine.com [https://www.loripine.com/discovery-call] 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-ceo/id1817292260] to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

Episode 51: Divorce, Identity & Reclaiming Your Power: How to Stop People Pleasing with Kara Francis

SUMMARY: In this honest and deeply empowering conversation, Lori sits down with divorce and relationship coach Kara Francis to talk about what really happens when women stop living the life they’re “supposed” to live—and start choosing themselves instead. Kara shares how witnessing her sister’s divorce first inspired her to become a divorce attorney, and how years later, her own divorce pushed her into a profound identity reckoning. After realizing many women didn’t just need legal guidance—but emotional support, clarity, and healing—she transitioned from law into coaching. Together, Lori and Kara unpack the fear, grief, people-pleasing, and identity loss that often come with unhappy marriages and major life transitions. Kara walks listeners through her four-phase coaching framework and explains why reclaiming your truth is often the first step toward reclaiming your power. This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t need permission to want a different life—and that choosing yourself doesn’t make you selfish. It makes you honest. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS: YOUR IDENTITY CAN GET LOST INSIDE “SUPPOSED TO” Kara shares how years of people-pleasing and following a traditional life script left her disconnected from herself before her divorce. Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you making choices based on expectation instead of truth? DIVORCE IS EMOTIONAL—NOT JUST LEGAL As a former attorney, Kara realized many women weren’t struggling most with paperwork—they were struggling with fear, shame, grief, and uncertainty. Audience follow-up → What kind of emotional support do you need during hard transitions that logic alone can’t solve? FEAR USUALLY CENTERS AROUND KIDS AND FINANCES Kara explains that the two biggest fears women often face when considering divorce are: * “Will my kids be okay?” * “Will I be financially okay?” She shares why clarity and support matter more than having every answer figured out upfront. Audience follow-up → Are you waiting to feel 100% certain before allowing yourself to make a decision? YOU DON’T NEED A “BAD” PARTNER TO LEAVE One of the most powerful parts of the conversation centers around women feeling guilty for leaving relationships that look “fine” from the outside. Kara reminds listeners that unhappiness, disconnection, or losing yourself are valid reasons to reevaluate your relationship. Audience follow-up → Have you been minimizing your own needs because someone else isn’t “bad enough” to justify change? RECLAIMING YOUR POWER HAPPENS IN PHASES Kara walks through her four-phase coaching framework: 1. Own Your Reality 2. Return to Your Truth 3. Reclaim Your Power 4. Move Forward in Wholeness She explains why healing isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about reconnecting with who you already are. Audience follow-up → Which phase are you currently in right now? STAYING SMALL IN RELATIONSHIPS DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE WEAK Many high-achieving women feel confident professionally but small, silenced, or disconnected inside their relationships. Kara explains how self-abandonment can quietly happen over time—and why awareness is the first step toward change. Audience follow-up → Where have you learned to shrink yourself to maintain peace or approval? 🔎 MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: * Kara’s transition from divorce attorney to coach after recognizing the emotional gaps in traditional divorce support * Her personal divorce journey during 2020 and major move from Chicago to New York City * The emotional toll of people-pleasing and losing your sense of self in relationships * Kara’s four-phase coaching framework for navigating divorce and identity rebuilding * Listener Q&A about long-term unhappy marriages, “good” partners, and fear around leaving * The importance of building support, clarity, and self-trust before making major life decisions ✨ REFLECTION PROMPTS: * What truth about your life have you been avoiding? * Are you making decisions from fear—or from alignment? * Where have you confused keeping the peace with keeping yourself? * What would choosing yourself actually look like right now? * If you fully trusted yourself, what decision would become clearer? 🧠 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR: * Women navigating divorce, separation, or relationship uncertainty * High-achieving women struggling with people-pleasing or identity loss * Anyone feeling disconnected from themselves inside a relationship * Women questioning whether they’re allowed to want something different * Listeners rebuilding confidence, self-trust, and emotional clarity after major life transitions 📩 WANT TO GO DEEPER? Follow Lori on https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripineLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripine] to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: https://www.loripine.com/discovery-callloripine.com [http://loripine.com] Connect with Kara Francis on her Website [http://karafranciscoaching.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/karafranciscoach/] 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-ceo/id1817292260] to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace