Is Your Success Just Survival on Autopilot

Is It Time For Professional Suicide

Is it time to commit "professional suicide"? If you’ve ever felt like your career identity is a noose instead of a safety net, this episode is your wake-up call. ⁠Grab the episode activation guide here⁠ [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] Host Rita Ernst sits down with Tiffany Ramos-Cardwell, an HR powerhouse with over 30 years of experience, to discuss the terrifying and transformative shift from the corporate "grind" to a life of intentionality. Triggered by her father’s health crisis and eventual passing, she had to confront the internal critic that insisted backing off professionally to make space to be his caregiver was career suicide. Instead, she discovered the power of The Harvest—learning to stop generating endless energy and start plucking the fruit from the roots she had nourished for decades. Key Takeaways include: * The Apple Tree Analogy: Why you don't need to work as hard today as you did 20 years ago to see results. * Relationship Capital: Using your Emotional Bank Account as a "rainy day fund" during life’s storms. * The "Messy Middle": How to find peace when everything feels like it’s blowing up. * Redefining Success: Why you don't need a flashy website or a big title to be impactful. This isn't just another self-improvement podcast; it’s a masterclass in mindset for professional women who are ready to trade hyper-responsiveness for true presence. Join us for this strategic permission to reclaim "professional suicide" and let go of what’s making you miserable. Connect with Tiffany [http://linkedin.com/in/tiffanycardwell] Connect with host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

Are You Betting on You?

Are you standing in your own way, or are you ready to finally bet on yourself? Grab the episode companion activation guide. [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, we sit down with Ann Njoroge, a Nairobi-based creative who made the radical leap from the "safe" world of accounting to the freedom of podcast and social media management. If you’ve been searching for a mindset podcast that cuts through the fluff, this conversation is your wake-up call. Ann shares the raw, unpolished reality of her personal transformation, including the "rock bottom" moments that required her to move back home and delete her "Plan B" entirely to make her dream a reality. This isn't just another self-help podcast; it’s a masterclass in personal growth for any professional woman feeling trapped by a "logical" career path. Ann and host Rita discuss the 5-Year Lifestyle Framework—the essential practice of choosing a career based on the life you want to live in five years, rather than just the paycheck you need today. Key Takeaways: * Why your first career doesn’t have to be your forever career. * How to drown out external noise and stop comparing your timeline to others. * The Peter Block philosophy: Why choosing safety means giving up your power. * Navigating the financial and emotional "runway" of entrepreneurship. Subscribe to this self-development podcast today for your weekly dose of positivity and the courage to rewrite your own story. It’s time for your ultimate personal development breakthrough. Connect with Ann [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-njoroge-491b2b162/] Connect with host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

Are You the Architect of Your Unwellness?

Are you the architect of your own unwellness?. Grab the episode companion self-reflection guide here [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c]. Many high-achieving women are trapped in a cycle of "Human Doing" rather than "Human Being," believing their worth is strictly tied to their productivity. In this personal growth episode of our podcast, we sit down with Monique Helstrom, former Chief of Staff to the legendary Simon Sinek, to discuss the dangerous breaking point of perfectionism. Monique shares the pivotal moment she found herself in an emergency room at age 36, facing a potential heart attack while still frantically checking work emails. This conversation is a deep dive into the Unreliable Narrator's internal shame story that tells us mistakes are fatal and vulnerability is weakness. As a premier mindset podcast, you'll learn Monique's Roadmap for: * Transitioning from a "Human Doing" to a "Human Being." * Dismantling the "shame backpack" of perfectionism through radical accountability. * Using "Aversion Therapy" to kill shame by owning mistakes out loud. * Navigating Courageous Conversations to turn invisible expectations into respected boundaries. It’s time to stop performing and start being. Grab your permission slip to find your joy again. Connect with Monique Hellstrom [www.MoniqueHelstrom.com] Access her On-Demand AI Course for Executive Assistants [https://www.moniquehelstrom.com/ai-powered-assistant] Connect with your host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

Are You Uncomfortable Enough?

Is your career success outrunning your own biography? Grab your complimentary episode self-reflection guide here [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in a high-level meeting—maybe you have the degree, the signing authority, and the title—yet you feel like the outsider who doesn't belong, this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself is for you. In this powerful installment of our mindset podcast, host Rita Ernst sits down with global technology executive and career advisor Mike Dwyer. Mike opens up about his journey from the "triple-deckers" of Somerville to the elite yacht clubs of Bermuda, revealing the profound discomfort of having his professional progress outpace his personal history. This isn’t just another self-help podcast; it’s a masterclass in personal transformation. Mike shares his "Daily Fear Challenge"—the practice of doing the one thing you are most afraid of first every morning—and explains how to build a "Personal Board of Directors" to provide the feedback and judgment you need to stay unstuck. Stop letting your internal narrator keep you in a lane that is too small for your potential. Join us for this deep dive into self-improvement and self-development. Listen now and subscribe to the mindset podcast that helps you change the story you’re telling yourself. Connect with Mike Dwyer [emplanacareer.com] Connect with your host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]

Do I Actively Participate in My Life?

Are you an active participant in your life, or are you waiting for a "tap on the shoulder" that might never come?. Grab the episode companion journal here [https://vod.hbportal.co/public/6966ae2985755800334a023c] In this personal growth episode, host Rita Ernst is joined by Nancy Griffin, founder of Women Worth and Wellness, to explore her journey from a corporate clerk to a community leader. Nancy shares her story of rising through the ranks at Procter & Gamble, only to discover that her career was being managed by others rather than herself. This conversation on mindset dives into the internal narratives and scars that stop high-achieving women from advocating for their own worth. Nancy introduces her 360-degree approach to navigating professional transitions and explains the vital shift from passive observer to active participant. Listeners will learn how to identify self-limiting stories, find internal champions, and finally give themselves permission to pivot when a path no longer serves them. This is more than just a self-improvement podcast; it is a provocative invitation to treat yourself like the "treasure" you truly are. Whether you are a young professional in your first decade or a seasoned leader looking to reach back and pull forward, you'll walk away with the positive energy and actionable wisdom needed to reclaim your agency. Stop waiting for permission and start leading your own adventure. Connect with Nancy Griffin [https://womenworthwellness.com/7000-jars-of-jam/ ] Connect with your host, Rita Ernst [https://www.igniteextraordinary.com/]