She Feared Investing in Herself and Not Succeeding (Maureen’s Story)

Ep: 175

Have you ever known in your gut that you should do something, but your fear of the unknown holds you back?

Do you feel like your case is unique and worry that if you invest in yourself, you might not get the results you’re looking for?

If there’s one thing we know to be true from the clients we’ve helped, it’s this: It’s time to stop overthinking and choose change.

Today on The Bridge to Fulfillment, Blake welcomes Maureen to tell her story. Like so many women you’ve heard in our client success stories, she wasn’t sure at first that career coaching could help her. But something told her that it was time to make an investment in herself. And today, she’s here to share how career coaching has changed her life for the better.

In this episode, you’ll learn where Maureen started and the fears she was experiencing prior to joining the program. She explains what convinced her to finally make the investment in herself and to get in the driver’s seat of her life and career. She shares the lessons she’s learned, how she applies them to her daily life and decision-making process, and how the program has changed her understanding of what she truly desires out of life.

What You’ll Learn:

Where the journey began for Maureen (2:47)
The root cause of the fear she was experiencing (8:54)
Regaining control after spiraling out (15:26)
What the program taught her about what she really wants out of life (21:03)

Favorite Quotes:

If you are willing to invest in yourself, you will get exactly what you want out of the program. It’s ultimately up to you. You’re the driver of it. -Maureen
Even now, I don’t have perfect weeks, I don’t have perfect days. But what I do have now is the clarity and the wherewithal to recognize that and say, ‘Okay, this is happening. This is how I’m going to get back on track. This is how I need to get back to my foundations and schedule and routine to get back to where I need to be’. -Maureen
I know I just needed to reach out, ask for help, and lean on others to get the help advice and direction that I really was missing and needed. Together, we all can help each other and get to where we want to be and live our best, most amazing, happiest lives. -Maureen
I felt like my situation was unique, like I was the only person that was drowning in work and not believing in myself and just feeling stuck. Coming into this program and meeting all the other amazing women, now I know I’m not alone. -Maureen

Additional Resources:

Rather than hoping the grass will be greener, identify what the RIGHT next step is.

We can help you do just that.

Get clarity on where you are on your journey to career fulfillment, where you’re headed, optional paths to get there, and the right next step to take.

Start your complimentary, Personalized Career Fulfillment Plan by going to www.thebridgetofulfillment.com/plan

Want free resources to set your job search up for success? You can get them by going to: https://thebridgetofulfillment.com/mistakes

Transcript

Maureen 0:02 I was making myself crazy just waffling on the decision. When I knew after a first meeting in my gut that this is the right thing for me, I knew I was like in such a tough place and so burnt out and tired and exhausted. I was worried that like, I wasn’t going to put in enough effort to get out what I wanted. I felt like my situation was unique. I was the only person that was drowning in work and not believing in myself and just feeling really stuck. And coming into this program and meeting all the other amazing women in the program hearing Blake story. I know I’m not alone. And I know I just needed to reach out ask for help and lean on others to get the help advice and direction that I really was missing in needed. I can’t say enough great things about this program, I think it really, truly changed my life.

Blake Schofield 1:08 Hi, I’m Blake Schofield, founder and CEO of The Bridge to Fulfillment, mom to three, USA Today top 10 professional coach, and former corporate executive who got tired of sacrificing my life for a comfortable paycheck. My mission is to expand women’s perspectives and empower them to achieve greater impact at home and work without sacrifice. This is The Bridge to Fulfillment. Hello, and welcome to The Bridge to Fulfillment. I’m really excited to have my client Maureen on the show today sharing her success story. You know, just even walking through some of the lessons and the things she’s learned. There’s so much that was going on in her life, so much about her perspective about her career and her life that I think really will resonate with you. And so I’m excited for her to be able to share. And with that said, welcome Miss Maureen happy to have you.

Maureen 2:10 Hi, Blake, thank you so much for having me. I’m very excited to be here to talk with you again today. See you again.

Blake Schofield 2:15 I know me too. Well, lady. As always, I’d love to give the audience a little bit of an understanding about who you are, what was going on in your life when we connected. And just a little bit about your background. So I’m gonna turn it over to you to share.

Maureen 2:28 Sure, Blake can reach out to me on LinkedIn back in February, so about five months ago at this point, and I remember seeing your message I don’t think I responded right away. But she really reached out to me at a point when I was having a hard time I wasn’t in the best mental place. So to back up a little bit. I have been at the same company for just about 10 years now. So it was really my first job out of college, I have worked my way up through the organization, I’ve had some amazing opportunities have really positioned myself as a leader in the company and a business driver. And I’ve achieved so much in my in my 10 years. But with that came a lot of hard work and prioritizing work above all else a lot of times and when Blake could reach out to me, I was really tired. I just was in a place where I didn’t have a lot of motivation during work outside of work, I was lacking energy, I really was having a lot of the feelings of burnout, I felt like I wasn’t performing and I wasn’t happy. And I felt really trapped and not sure where to go. I had started my job search a little bit, I had gotten some interviews actually was offered a role but ended up turning them down. The company just didn’t feel like a good fit. And I interviewed another place and ultimately did not get that job. But it was really uncertain about what I wanted to do. I was uncertain whether I wanted to stay in retail to explore something different. You know, I was just feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was already tired as is with after work and drained all day. So job searching and hunting just felt like a lot. I really wasn’t sure what to do. Should I just keep working on my resume, keep searching on LinkedIn do what I was doing. And what I get an extra job was that what I wanted, I knew I didn’t want to just jump into another role another company just to do it just to leave. I knew I wanted to be somewhere that was right for me. So you know I toyed with the idea a little bit, but ultimately, I knew I needed some help and like it was serendipitous that she reached out to me and I figured you know what, what the heck, we’ll talk and see what she has to say.

Blake Schofield 4:38 So as you went through this, it seems like in some ways, the timing to your point, just sort of perfect. You’re like I’m feeling this and here’s this opportunity and why not explore why not identify if that’s the right thing. You as you went through that process and we had some conversations and talked about your experience and you know, potentially working together what was that experience like? like for you, and what questions or things were you debating about in your mind?

Maureen 5:04 Yeah. So like I mentioned, this has been my first job out of college. So I am in my early 30s. I was wondering, is this investment it is it is an investment in myself is this? Am I too young for this? Like, is this the best way for me to spend my time spent my money on myself? Right? That was daunting. I’ve never done anything like this, my friends had never done anything family, you know, I didn’t have many points of reference. So it felt like a big leap. At first, I also was nervous about, like, how much time I would have with Blake, I really wanted to understand the ROI. I know, we had a lot of conversations around that. And what am I going to get out of this program, I was really trying to push and understand what I was gonna get out of it. And I really liked how you would say you get what you put into it. And if you are willing to invest in yourself, you will get exactly what you want out of the program. It’s ultimately up to you. You’re the driver of it. Those are some of the big questions I had in the beginning of the program. I just remember the first time that we met and you walked me through, like that spoke to my core, I was a little scared about how much you spoke to me and like got through to me. And it shocked me that you were speaking directly to me, we hadn’t even met and you were speaking to all the things that I was feeling thinking that made me a little uneasy, too, because I was like how how so once I ultimately thought and put a lot of thought on it. I know, you went back and forth a couple of times. And that was waffling on my decision, I was having a really hard time making the decision. And we’re on a call, I had a week to think about it. I was researching on my own trying to make sure this is the best investment for myself. And you looked at me and you were like, what other information do you need to make this decision? What do you need? What’s left, because if there’s something else left, then I’m happy to provide it. But if there’s nothing else, then I think you need to make your gut decision and go with your gut. And ultimately, my gut was screaming, this is the right decision. There’s nothing else there was fear holding you back. That was really the only thing that was holding me back. And I’m just so glad that I made that decision today.

Blake Schofield 7:08 That’s awesome. Thank you for sharing that I think you going through that brought back some memories flooding to me of that conversation. And it was very clear to me that this was the right partnership. But there were to your point, so many barriers in your way. You had no experience with anybody else that had done this. And you’re like me, your natural researchers who want to feel like you’ve done your due diligence you did if I remember correctly, do I remember this correctly that you did either speak with some other coaches who are researching other coaches, too? Yes, yes. And I remember kind of going through that process. And it’s like, I’ll answer any question that you have. And I’m one of the things I think it’s really important to kind of understand and highlight here is how often fear causes us to make really poor decisions. When we lean into it. I can’t tell you the number of women I’ve talked to who out of fear, don’t ask the questions they need to ask, don’t share what they’re experiencing or feeling and actually identify, is it true or not? And what I remember from our conversation was just your openness to saying this is what I’m struggling with, or this is what I’m dealing with. And we would have you would not be here today in the circumstance that you are if you weren’t willing to have that conversation with me, where it was like, Listen, if we uncover something that says this isn’t the right partnership, I’ll tell you, but I can’t help you make a decision or get clear. You’re getting unstuck if I don’t know what you’re struggling you’re dealing with and I think it just reminds me so much of that conversation, which I guess much like childbirth. Sometimes you forget some of these things. I’ve forgotten some of that into so that I’m like, Oh, yes, I remember. Yeah. Remember now that journey, your tenacity and your openness to be willing to walk through talk through investigate? It is why you’re here today. Because if you wouldn’t have and there are many women I’ve talked to will shut down and I’m like, you have to be willing to start to challenge sometimes what things say to you, what was your biggest fear knowing that you okay, you’re missing context, I don’t have any friends, family, parents, etc. who have done this, it is an investment in my too young, right? What was the real root cause of the fear that was causing you to doubt yourself and spend all of this time researching and in your head?

Maureen 9:12 And not to mention the stress and worry that I was just absolutely torturing myself with because I internalized it so much like that is a big point that I was struggling with. I was making myself crazy just waffling on the decision. When I knew after a first meeting in my gut that this is the right thing for me. I was worried that I wasn’t going to come in retail like ROI metrics are really important to me. I knew I was like in such a tough place and so burnt out and tired and exhausted. I was worried that like I wasn’t going to put in enough effort to get out what I wanted. I was worried that I had been an achiever, and will continue to be an achiever for my whole life. But I was worried I wasn’t going to achieve what I wanted to in this goal because I was just not in a good place when we feel first met, and I didn’t want to come to the end of the three months and feel like I had wasted my time, your time, the money, which doesn’t even matter anymore. But you know, I was nervous about that, in general.

Blake Schofield 10:14 I think that’s a really common fear. And now that you have been through this journey, what would you say back to the old you that was worried because of how you felt then about your ability to be successful in the program?

Maureen 10:27 I learned the first lesson in that call with you with the decision making, like I just think I was focused on getting a new role a new job, and I didn’t understand the immense impact this would have on my entire life, I just was too narrowly focused on the work on the outputs. And I didn’t even realize that there’s so many small steps along the way, it’s not as big of a lift, it seems overwhelming at the beginning, but it’s broken down. And there are so many small wins along the way that carry you and start to get the wind under your sails that give you the momentum to want to continue to do better and better and do more and invest in yourself more as you go.

Blake Schofield 11:10 Awesome. I often think we have what’s called recency bias, where we make decisions from how we feel today, assuming how we feel today is what will continue for the rest of our future. Is it possible when you looked at how exhausted and drained you were that you thought, Well, gosh, if I’m this exhausted and drained the entire three months of the program, there’s no way I’m going to have the energy to do it. And so what didn’t you know, how long did it take you in the program? Looking back, do you think to shift, though, that lack of energy and lack of motivation? At which point do you think that shifted for you?

Maureen 11:47 I think I saw I had a lot of progress quickly, or I felt immediate shift quickly. But then I and then I hit a roadblock. And I think you and I talked about it, it’s not all about there’s going to be ebbs and flows throughout the journey, right. And so I felt a lot of momentum the first couple of weeks, and then probably a month and I was like, oh, wait a second, I’m slipping back into old habits. I felt like I lost my momentum. And that was demotivating for me, and it was a little bit challenging. And I started getting into my head again and thinking these thoughts where I’m not doing a good job I’m behind on the program, I’m not getting out what I need to I’m not working hard enough. All of these limiting beliefs that were distracting me from just getting myself back on track. I think once I was able to work through that with you and kind of get over those obstacles, I really think you know, right after a month, I really felt such an immense shift in perspective. Like I said, it ebbs and flows. So I mean, sometimes I would take five steps forward, and seven steps back. And I think the thing that, especially reflecting now that I’ve seen is, even now I don’t have perfect weeks, I don’t have perfect days. But what I do have now is the clarity and the wherewithal to recognize that and say, Okay, this is happening. This is how I’m going to get back on track. This is how I need to get back to my foundations and schedule and routine to get back to where I need to be. And that will set me up to be successful again, I just get back into a better rhythm much, much quicker than I used to.

Blake Schofield 13:23 My mentor this week was talking about how we’re never going to be able to stop all the self doubt and the things that will come our way. We’re human beings. That’s just how we’re built. But faster recovery is immense progress as a human being. Yes. And I think back to my days before I had these tools, and when I got into what I would call a mental spiral. Right? And hopefully those of you listening, understand what I mean, right? It’s when you start second guessing everything. And you’re exactly what you said, Maurine, all this stress, all these feelings of I feel trapped, I don’t know what to do. I would be trapped in those form weeks or months of this anxiety and it would eat at my entire life because all I could do was think in a spiral. And I haven’t done that in years. Now do I still get into mental spirals? Sure had one this week. But I got in and out of it in 24 hours. And what I love about what you shared is an add think that this is such an important thing is people often look at what this program is from such a limited perspective. And I’m always hoping that these stories will help women really understand what it really is. What I heard from you is I now have a I have the self awareness to understand what stories I’m telling myself and start to challenge whether they’re true or not be I have the tools that I know work for me. So when I end see I now no longer expect myself to be perfect. I accept that life is not a straight line that It is gonna be right good days and bad days. But as long as I’m improving, raising the floor is what my mentor calls right and raising the floor, my lows are less low, and I keep getting better than everything improves in my life. It’s an I give myself the grace to not get into guilt and shame spirals, beat myself up, etc. Because I feel in control of my ability to get what I want in my life and in control of how I feel or how I’m managing my feelings. Is that right? Or am I overstepping?

Maureen 15:26 No, no, that’s totally right. And I think what you just started to speak about is something that I felt like I didn’t have when it first started, I was letting life control me, I was letting my days control me, I was not in charge of my life, I was not in charge of my day. And you know, from just the affirmations in the morning magic every day, like that’s my favorite one that I read every single day, I’m in control of my life, I’m in control of my day. And I am the one who’s driving the train here, no one else I can’t let it get derailed. And I think that it’s been just such an important mind shift for me, to not let life happen to me to make sure that I’m in the driver’s seat, and I’m doing what I need to do what I want to do to ultimately get where I want to be, because otherwise, I’m never going to get there. If I let things get in my way.

Blake Schofield 16:21 You shared a little bit about some of your learnings. How has this program and this work changed your life? Like what are some tangible things that have happened in your life as a result of it?

Maureen 16:30 I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting, especially this last week, when like, asked me to be on this podcast. And I mean, there’s just so many, and I just keep having more and more. It’s amazing. I mean, I just would have never never imagined the type of things that would affect me. And you know, I think I’ve learned so many skills in terms of positioning myself for the right role networking, communicating what I really want, and those are really setting me up during my job search. But I think the biggest things that I learned are really more holistic for my entire life, I have more energy every day, like I don’t sign off and feel totally drained and like, be lying to the couch anymore, I take my dog for a walk, I make dinner with my husband, you know, I meet up with friends, like I just have more of a zest for life, I got that back again, I have boundaries, and I know how to prioritize my day my work schedule, then those around me so that I can do what I really want. And I can prioritize my family, my friends, exercising my mental health, travel, you know, things that are really important to me and make me happy, I now feel like I have the tools to be able to prioritize those. I think I have been become more productive at work, I am still in my role that I was when I started. But I have the tools and the skills to be able to be more productive and to be engaged at work and motivated. Ultimately, knowing that like this is not gonna be my job for forever. But right now, I can do what I need to do. And I do not feel drained. And I do not feel like I am stuck and just underwater everyday like I was before. And I think the biggest thing, you know, we touched on a little bit, I was really, really struggling with impostor syndrome, I really doubted myself. And looking back I know I have achieved so much I have results on paper. But I didn’t believe in myself. I lost the spark. And I remember one session with Brett that really, really moved me and she had us think back to when we were little girls six or seven years old and to look at yourself now from that lens of a little girl and just look at your life. Look at what you’ve accomplished. Look at where you are right now. And I remember it like it brought me to tears because I was like, why am I beating myself up for where I am like, I would have had no idea as a young girl like, this is where I am. This is all I’ve achieved. And just understanding that there’s so much more for me to achieve in my life. I’m not done yet. And I it really shifted my mindset to be proud of where I am and what I’ve done and just excited for what’s to come. I’m still in the job search, like I was saying, but I think my mind shift is that I have absolute confidence that I will find the next role. I know that I have the tools and skills to present myself, well I know how to network with others. I know how to make connections. And that’s what’s really going to get me to where I want to go. But I think the shift also is that I’m not rushing myself I am not I did not give myself a deadline and have to get a job by this date. I’m enjoying the process of learning and researching because that’s always been really fun for me. I’m an inquisitive person and I love digging into things and researching so I’m really just enjoying that right now and I would have had I not taken this program. I sure I would have been just beating myself up for now. I in a new role not progressing in my career search as I would have thought I needed to, or what society or friends or whatever outside beliefs may have directed to me.

Blake Schofield 20:14 You mentioned early on that one of the reasons you came and ended up ultimately joining the bridge to fulfillment was you just lacked clarity on what that right next path was for you whether you should stay in the industry or do something different. Often I hear from women that listen to success stories, and they’re like, I just don’t understand how this works. I just don’t understand how you can get clarity. And I just point them back to the six steps we do and the bridge to fulfillment. But I’m interested to hear you share a little bit, is there anything you could share to help illuminate what that experience has been like for you? And what’s the impact that you now understand, on lack of clarity or lack of alignment in your life versus actually understanding what it is you want need in order to be aligned in your life?

Maureen 21:00 Yeah. So I think it’s broken, the clarity portion of the program is broken down into so many different aspects. But I think just understanding what ultimately drives you as an individual, what’s important to you? Where do you succeed, and where do you not succeed. So you know, upfront, this is what I need in a role, this is what I need to avoid as much as possible. And those things may have shifted, I found, you know, when doing this work that like some things that I thought I loved, or that I had loved when I was 22, when I first came into this role are not true now, right? My life has evolved and my needs and my wants and desires and dreams have evolved. And so I need to shift what I’m looking for. And what’s important to me. I think you also just dig into what’s the right work environment? What’s the right company type, what’s the right size, hybrid versus in person remote, like things that, obviously are important, but I’ve may not have even like really dug into that and thought about it in detail like we did. So I think it just really breaks it down into all the different aspects that you need in order to make not just the next job, but the right next job for you.

Blake Schofield 22:13 Lady, you have been so articulate that I cannot think of anything else to ask you other than Is there anything I haven’t asked you that I should have, or anything that’s just on your heart that you would like to share?

Maureen 22:28 I just think we covered a lot. But I think it’s just so, so important to know that it’s okay to ask for help. And it’s important to ask for help. I felt like my situation was unique. I was the only person that was drowning in work and not believing in myself and just feeling really stuck. And coming into this program and meeting all the other amazing women in the program. Hearing Blake’s story. I know I’m not alone. And I know I just needed to reach out, ask for help and lean on others to get the help advice and direction that I really was missing and needed. I think together like we all can help each other and get to where we want to be to be living our best, most amazing, happiest lives. And so I just, I can’t say enough great things about this program. I think it really, truly changed my life. And my husband knows and my family knows everyone around me has really, you know, shared that they’ve seen such a shift in me in the last couple of months. And you know, I just can’t say enough great things. And I highly recommend I think everyone should go through this program. And I really loved my time in the program.

Blake Schofield 23:38 Thank you. It’s been an honor, and I can’t wait. So we get to maximize your path when the right opportunity comes. Right. And I know that you have, I think what you said, it’s not just that you have the confidence, you have the proof that shows that you’ve learned the skills, and you’re applying them to find the right thing. And at the end of the day, desperation rarely yields the right result. Right. But being clear headed, having the right strategy understanding what you really need does. So I can’t wait to see where you end up landing and helping you win that place and time comes. With that said, I hope those of you guys listening were really inspired by what Maureen had to share. I think there’s so many lessons to be gleaned here about the ways of which sometimes we are unnecessarily creating our own suffering, the ways of which being willing to share how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing and ask for support and help will open up avenues in ways you probably couldn’t have never expected and what I often see right I guess the third thing I would say is what I often see is this very black and white perspective of well what if I do this and I don’t get that? What if right exactly how I feel right now is exactly how I’m gonna feel later. What if I do this and I’m not successful at all. It’s it’s very black and white perspective that very rarely is true. That creates a lot of suffering. And what I think’s really beautiful is that you’ve been able to really shift from that to a place of grace and a place of self trust and a place of having the tools to actually really create what you want. So thank you so much for joining me. And for those of you guys listening, I hope you have a fabulous week ahead. Thanks for joining me today. Rather than hope the grass will be greener identify what the right next step is. We can help you do just that. Get clarity on where you are in your journey to career fulfillment, where you’re headed, optimal paths to get there, and the right next step to take. Start your complimentary personalized career fulfillment plan at www.thebridgetofulfillment.com/plan Again, you can get your personalized career fulfillment plan at www.thebridgetofulfillment.com/plan Thanks again for joining and have a great week ahead.

Melissa

See Melissa's story!

“This program is the most valuable thing I have done in my entire career. It has already paid for itself in spades whether I transitioned into another job or made more money. I believe every single woman should go through The Bridge to Fulfillment.

I was able to go into my interviews with such a different sense of self than I had before & it really propelled me to do things differently. Within 7 weeks, I landed a new role that I know is the right next step for me & increases my income by nearly 24%. With the negotiations assistance, I got an additional $25k/yr, moved up one level in paygrade and was awarded stock options.

I feel like everything connected with me during the work in the program. I’m excited that the program isn’t over yet & I can continue to learn and be a part of it.”

Dawn

See Dawn's story!

“This program has given me a voice, if that makes sense, that allows me to say, ‘Dawn this is what you do well,’ and I feel like I almost have permission to say that out loud & own it.

Thanks to The Bridge to Fulfillment team, I’ve jumped two levels to Vice President & the company literally created a role for me. I think if I didn’t have this program & this team to help me, I would have had a drastically different outcome. The fact that you are in it with us, lockstep, hand-in-hand every step of the way is incredible. I know I wouldn’t have been as successful doing this if I didn’t have you kind of on my shoulder, if you will, like an angel guiding me along.

I would tell any woman out there who is considering this program—do it. You will be so happy & thankful you did.”

Meghan

See Meghan's story!

“Within just a few months of working with Blake, I secured a new role that is scarily close to the dream job I envisioned (& thought wasn’t possible) AND was able to negotiate a 40% pay increase with an additional $36k MORE than I would have gotten on my own.

I made tons of new connections and finally broke into a new industry with the confidence I was lacking before. I am grateful this program has opened up doors, given me a long term career vision, and continues to help me craft a plan that evolves with me over time.”

Amanda

See Amanda's story!

“I feel so lucky to have found you & this program because it has changed & impacted my life in so many incredible ways.

I am happier & more positive. I’m actually excited about the future, whereas before I entered this program, I was nervous & didn’t know what was going to happen. I feel like I can communicate better. I ask better questions. And then on the other side of it, my personal life is better. I’m fighting less with my husband & with my family. I’m able to be more present in situations that I wasn’t in the past. I’m able to enjoy doing little things & not feel tired all the time. I feel more productive & excited to start the day.

It used to be a cycle that just kept going & going. And I’m glad that I don’t feel like I’m in that cycle anymore. Just that alone has been worth everything.”

Karen

See Karen's story!

“It’s helped me regain my confidence & reassure me of what I have to bring to the table, which is a gift all in itself.”

Robin

See Robin's story!

“This program was the best investment that I’ve ever made in and for myself! I am eternally grateful for Blake and Team at The Bridge to Fulfillment!”

Sandra

See Sandra's story!

“I came into this program looking for guidance on the job process & honing in on the skills that I was missing. I achieved what I was looking for & even more. Throughout my career I’d been given feedback that I’m not communicating with enough scope. The framework provided completely changed the way that I communicate both professionally & personally. I’ve already seen the improvement in the interview process & my day to day life. Honestly, I learned something from every single piece of the program.

This program also (unexpectedly) helped me obtain something I didn’t even know was possible. It’s almost as if my thought process, emotions & ability to make decisions moved up into another level, allowing me to gain so much more joy & peace than I had before.

The Bridge to Fulfillment has shown me that I can truly have what I need & want without sacrificing. I think if every woman took this program & applied what they learned, we not only would be living better lives, but I truly think we could run the world.”

Donna

See Donna's story!

“This program has had a profound impact on my life, professionally & personally.

I was at a place in my career where I was tired of giving 150%, but not really feeling valued or satisfied in what I was doing. After watching your client stories, I felt like, ‘Well, that’s great for them, but that’s not going to work for me’. Part of me was skeptical because I had a good job, was getting paid decent money & should be grateful.

I couldn’t figure out how to maintain the level of professional role that I had & balance everything. It didn’t feel realistic that I could have my cake & eat it too.

The program directed me to think about what I really wanted, gave me tools to speak my voice & ask for the things that I needed. I learned how to shut down so I’m present with my daughter & my husband at home. It took away so much anxiety & made me a better employee, co-worker, wife & mother.

I’m really living the dream. I got a pay increase working full time remote from home & I get to build and expand my new role at a great company.”

Kenzie

See Kenzie's story!

“The Bridge to Fulfillment isn’t just about getting a new job – it’s much more holistic than that. It’s a launchpad, setting you up with tools you can use for life.

I felt like I was in the wrong role, but I thought a change would mean a serious pay cut of tens of 1000s of dollars. It took me awhile to join the program because I thought I could do it on my own & looked at it as a cost instead of an investment…that was my biggest mistake.

At the time, I didn’t actually realize how much I needed.

In my first week, we spoke about asking for a salary increase & that conversation alone paid for the program & then some. Soon, I began to see a return in my personal life, work, & relationships. I learned how to set better boundaries, alleviate mental blocks I didn’t know I had & advocate for myself. I used to think my skills weren’t that unique. Now I know my worth & the value I add.

If you’re ready to move on, but you don’t know what’s next, take this program. You’ll be amazed at everything you get out of it.”

Maureen

See Maureen's story!

“From my very first call with Blake, I KNEW in my gut that The Bridge to Fulfillment was the right thing for me. But I kept waffling on my decision because I wasn’t sure if this was the right time for this kind of investment. I was also in such a tough place and so burnt out, tired, and exhausted that I was worried I wasn’t going to put in enough effort to get out what I wanted.

Today, I can’t say enough great things about this program. I’m so glad I decided to trust my gut because it has truly changed my life. My husband knows it, my family knows it, and everyone around me has shared that they’ve seen such a huge shift in me. I now have absolute confidence that I’ll find the right role because I know exactly what I’m looking for and have the tools to position myself. I’ve got my spark back, I have a much better rhythm & balance in my life, and am just excited for what’s to come.”

Emilee

See Emilee's story!

“I never thought this feeling would be possible for me—to feel this confident, successful, & just able to be my self.

And I honestly never would have gotten here if I didn’t invest in myself through this program. I feel like I owe you so much more of my life because of that and I’m so grateful to be able to have this time, money, & energy to be able to turn my life around completely. My husband made a joke halfway through the program. He’s like, ‘Well, can’t we make take this as an FSA deduction because it’s like therapy.’ I mean, that would be amazing. I think every person can benefit from what I have learned.”

Stephanie

See Stephanie's story!

“The return on my investment has been far greater than what I put in or what I even expected.

When I first started talking to Blake, I was experiencing all of the symptoms of what was sure to be burnout soon. But once I started working through the program & gaining clarity, the anxiety kind of melted away. I was amazed at how quickly it happened. Within just the first couple of weeks, my husband said, ‘You seem very different, you seem happier, more relaxed, less stressed out.’ He was right. My stress & anxiety levels have been reduced by at least 70%.

My mental & physical health have improved and I am honestly just floored by the progress I’ve made & what I’ve learned about myself. This program has changed aspects of my life that I honestly didn’t believe were changeable. It’s almost like not being in a dark hole anymore. My family can see the hope in my eyes again & that alone has made it worth it.”

Megan

See Megan's story!

“Going through this program has been life changing for me. I honestly wish I could give this program to every woman I know.

I had found myself in this constant cycle of being unfulfilled, but not knowing exactly what I wanted. Having been in the professional industry for a while, I thought I already knew all that I needed. But not only did I learn how to position myself in a career, I learned how to position myself as a person. I learned so many life-long skills that I didn’t even think I needed.

I thank God for getting me to the point where I met you, because I didn’t think I could actually find everything I was looking for at one company. I landed a hybrid role that I’m really excited about, with unlimited sick time, paid maternity leave, a phenomenal 401k match, and a 41% pay increase!

I got so many things that I didn’t think were possible & that I worried I’d have to compromise on. It’s all thanks to you & this program.”

Stephanie

See Stephanie's story!

“I’ve worked in HR for 25 years. I’ve negotiated many offers on the other side of the table, but it’s different when you’re doing it for yourself. Getting help really paid off because if I hadn’t been in this program and gotten the coaching from you, I think I probably would’ve negotiated a little more than what they offered, but certainly not all that I got. I was finally able to get that elusive VP title I always wanted, 1000s of dollars more, & the company’s first ever fully-remote role.

You said to me: “It’s not about what they’re willing to pay you, it’s what you are worth,” and you did the research to show me exactly what I was worth. That really shifted my thinking. It was a job search strategy I had never tried, nor imagined trying. I started to really stand in who I am, what I want, and what I knew would make me happy. I stopped trying to convince employers to hire me and just put out what I wanted and needed, whereas in the past I would’ve applied to any job I was remotely qualified for and hoped for the best.

The mindset shifts I had in this program alone were more than I ever expected to get out of it, but I also felt like the program was tailored towards me and met me where I was. It just wouldn’t have been effective for me to continue at the pace I was. I had to pivot and change, and you helped me do that. That was really important and valuable to me as I went through this journey.”

Kaytee

See Kaytee's story!

This program turned out to be one of the greatest things I’ve done for myself in a really long time.

The hardest part of this journey was joining… I kept waffling on my decision because I felt like I had tried everything & so nothing else would work.

Before the program, I constantly had the Sunday scaries to the point that I’d dream whether I had enough money to just stop showing up to work. I’d gone to therapy, hired a resume writer & even had someone optimize my LinkedIn. I felt like there was no end. I was applying to every job & just wanted OUT.

Once I made the decision & started the program, all of those fears melted away. Within the first few weeks, I began feeling more confident & better about my personal life & career.

Today, I feel like a completely different person. I’m engaged with my team & I’m more confident in meetings. I understand my value, what I’m good at & what I bring to the company.

I no longer feel like I have to prove myself. Even my boss & colleagues have noticed a difference.

I’m finally able to be intentional about my next opportunity because I now have the skills & tools to make a decision that’s right for me.

Kari

See Kari's story!

I’d been at my company my entire career & in the same role for the last 4 years. I felt at a standstill, just going through the motions, but even though I’d felt like this for a while, I never made any steps forward to try & figure it out. I felt lost, exhausted, & overwhelmed.

When I started the program, I honestly thought it was going to be solely focused on career coaching – & that’s certainly a part of it, but it was the life coaching parts that really created impact & helped unlock so much more for me.

Interestingly enough, the role I ended up moving into was a higher-level role within the same company, but I had spent so much time focusing on the title & whether it was for me that I realized I was actually getting in my own way.

This program helped me articulate exactly what I wanted & advocate for it with my boss. When I finally told her, she was able to easily help me find a new role that could be a great fit…and it all came down to having that conversation strategically.

Now, I’m showing up as a better leader, partner, & mother. The new skills I’ve gained help me show up & create better relationships. I used to feel stretched thin & always multitasking just to stay afloat. Now, I’m more patient & intentional about how I spend my time. I’m using the skills I’ve learned to help others & to create a more positive environment around me as well.

Lindsey

See Lindsey's story!

“I’m a person who gives their all & I care so much, but when it came to the interview process or things I really wanted, I just felt like I was always falling short. For the longest time,I believed I just couldn’t communicate because I had such difficulty fitting in & feeling judged.

This program has not only helped me triumph over a belief that has limited me for 30+ years, it’s also made me a better communicator.

Blake helped me realize that when I find my right people & the right environment, it’s like magic.

Being able to now show up as I am & communicate what & how I want has given me so much power. I’ve felt such joy in reaching out & talking to so many different people who speak the same language I do. It’s beautiful & it’s effortless. I no longer feel like I have to say certain things to fit a structured mold.

I honestly feel like I know how to win because I am aligned with my secret sauce & I’m having a lot of fun. I’m in complete awe at how you bring out the best in me & everyone in this program.”

Kathleen

See Kathleen's story!

I wish I had reached out to Blake a lot sooner, but I wasn’t sure that it would work for someone like me who had a more creative background. Even though I identified with a lot of what she talked about on the podcast, I didn’t see myself in the same realm as the powerful & inspirational women who shared their experiences.

After I made the call, I was totally put at ease. Speaking with Blake was like talking to an unbiased friend.I began to feel hope almost immediately. I felt like I had some clarity prior to the program, but Blake helped me dig even deeper & uncover my value. She helped me realize I was going against my grain for so long & that when I finally allowed myself to relax & do things my way…everything became so much simpler & the floodgates of opportunity opened.

I’ve been able to quadruple the amount of clients I have in my side business & have two great potential consulting positions in the works.

I now know my value & am seeing things in a completely different light where I’m in charge at the table, not just the person interviewing me. I can go in knowing my value, my credentials, & feel more confident about myself so I can set down my own rules.

Blake challenged me & helped me become the version of myself I knew existed deep down.

Michelle

See Michelle's story!

I wish I had met you 20 years ago. What you have done for me personally outweighs any career or financial gain I could have ever gotten through this program. I came into The Bridge to Fulfillment® thinking the career was the Holy Grail, & that you were going to fix my career. But really, you fixed me.

You fixed the way I perceive people looking at me & how I can help others. I’ve learned that I’m not perfect & I don’t have to strive to be. Unlocking some of those perfectionism roadblocks for me has been so darn freeing. As a result, I’m a whole lot more confident. It’s beautiful. And all of that happened in just the first month.

When I first started, I felt stuck & unhappy, but I didn’t know why…I was in the C-suite of a fantastic company & I just couldn’t put my finger on why. That feeling has dissipated now. I don’t feel stuck anymore. I feel excited that I have all these abundant opportunities.

I’m excited to ask questions, to network, to get help…because I’ve realized the beauty in not being perfect & that’s been life-changing. It’s helped me heal & finally step out of the box I’d created that was keeping me trapped.

Melissa

See Melissa's story!

I came into The Bridge to Fulfillment® when I was working 60+ hour weeks consistently, feeling completely consumed by work, & ready to quit my job. At first, the program seemed too good to be true, but the way it is structured actually helped me take baby steps to slowly take back control of my calendar & life. For people in more structured jobs like accounting or finance, you can trust the process and not worry about the how of the program, because you will get there.

I’ve worked with therapists in the past & everything, and nothing has been as tangible as the results I’ve seen here. I’ve noticed growth both professionally & personally, from mindset shifts to daily habits & beliefs. I’m bringing a better Melissa to work, to my deliverables, relationships – everything – and everyone recognizes it! Because I’m clear on my secret sauce, I can ask for what I want and actually get it without needing to take on more responsibilities.

I came in thinking success would mean finding a new job by the end of the program and moving on, but I got out so much more than a new job – in fact, I’m still in the same job & much happier than before, doing work that I am more aligned with & passionate about…

My results in this program exceeded any expectations I could’ve had.

Angie

See Angie's story!

“I felt stagnant & over-consumed by work, constantly making trade offs with my personal life. I felt like I should be happy & grateful for the opportunities, but I knew deep down that I wasn’t fulfilled, & I was unsure how to break out of that burnout cycle. It took me 9 months to finally commit to & invest in the program because I was so worried about my lack of energy & how little time I had for myself. There was a lot of fear & self doubt around my abilities to create change.

I only wish I would have known that this program would give me the tools and resources to create action. I spent so much time in my head, overwhelmed, spinning my wheels to create change when, within just the first month of The Bridge to Fulfillment® program, I was amazed at how much time I was able to create for myself– not just for the program, but my family, my relationships, my self care, my hobbies, & just being able to be really present in life.

I was able to get such clear direction on what paths were most aligned with what I desired & what my true strengths & passions were, that I now have a very clear roadmap & know exactly what I need to create my dreams. I’ve learned that I am so much more than just my role & I’m in a really great place where I can follow the breadcrumbs & have a world of opportunity right in front of me… Regardless of whatever situation I may be in, I now have the tools in place to really step into my work & feel empowered to make decisions based on what is most important to ME in life.”

Danielle

See Danielle's story!

“I had just switched jobs & was 4 months into a new career path when we connected. I was tired of feeling emotionally & mentally plateaued. There was still a lot of upward mobility & growth in my career, but I wasn’t really invested in it. I wanted to regain the drive around what I was spending the bulk of my hours doing every day. Soon after I started the program, I got a random call from a doctor’s appointment & received some earth shattering news & I wondered if investing my time in the program was really worth it when I needed to take care of my health.

Honestly, it ended up being an incredibly supportive thing in my life, helping me realize I wasn’t alone & without it the whole situation would have been significantly worse… This program has not only helped me take care of my health – my stress level now is very low & I’ve been able to create boundaries with others at work – it’s given me a ton of clarity on the aspects of my job that I actually really love that I don’t think I would’ve identified on my own.

It’s also helped me change the story of what I’m telling others, shifting the focus from low-level tactical things to the huge strategy things I actually really love doing. This has made a tremendous impact in how I communicate my worth. But most importantly, it’s helped me realize that I’ve figured my way out of every situation. So regardless of what happens, the good and the bad, I’ll figure it out. And because of that, I have a lot less fear about my future.“

Brittany

See Brittany's story!

“I went through 6 months of coaching at my old job & didn’t get anywhere compared to where I got within just 45 days in your program. I’ve already transitioned into a dream role that I never expected to have at this stage in my life.

I feel completely confident in my ability to market myself. I’m in control of my work, my clients, my time & how I manage my day, how I show up and support, & it’s just incredible for me to feel that way… Because that’s when I’m able to do my best work.

Thanks to this program, I’ve moved up from manager to a director-level role with an increase in my base salary, but with this type of role, I also have the potential to make additional money, an opportunity which I’ve never had before in a corporate manufacturing role. It’s really unlimited potential and I’m still in shock that I even had this opportunity.”

UPDATE: “I’m pleased to say in my first year in this role, I increased my income by over 50%.”

Christine

See Christine's story!

I was at an impasse & wanted to make sure that the next move I made would set me up for the next 10-15 years of my career… I just wasn’t sure what that move should be. I’d spoken with so many different people, peers, mentors, & job placement resources to help me decipher what my skills were, but all of these were very surface level… I needed someone that could look at me from a different lens.

The Bridge to Fulfillment® did just that. It wasn’t cookie cutter – it dove down deeper than surface level & helped me explore the deeper meanings of what was really driving me, what made me happy, my values, while having intentional conversations about it all. I was able to come in & be vulnerable in a way I had never been able to before…and yet still feel supported & not feel alone in the journey because we had a group of women going through similar experiences. I came in hoping to gain clarity on what I enjoyed doing & what my next step was, honestly thinking I needed to change industries. What I uncovered was that what I needed was a role where I could bring my whole self, not just parts of me. That & the mindset shifts I have taken away from this program have been game-changing. So much of the way I was operating was out of fear, & when I realized I had nothing to lose & everything to gain, it changed my outlook completely.

I’ve gotten much more comfortable reaching out to strangers when networking & standing in my value. I now feel more motivated & free to try something new, even though it may scare me. I have clarity on my path & what I need to feel fulfilled, & I’m confident in what my future holds.

Kimberly

See Kimberly's story!

“I wish this program had been around 10 years ago when I first needed it, but I’m glad I did it now because it will drastically change the rest of my life. When I joined, I’d been struggling with severe burnout, anxiety, & not sleeping well for years. There would be periods of time when all I could manage to do was get up in the morning, work, & go to bed at night. I was exhausted & didn’t have time for anything else. And yet, from the outside, I looked successful. I was growing in my career & getting promotions. I kept climbing the corporate ladder, but it was not necessarily in the direction I wanted to go. Inside, I felt out of control & guilty for not being happy with my success.

I’d worked with other coaches before & knew I needed more personalized & tailored support than what I’d gotten elsewhere. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this program, but I really thought it would largely be about my career. I thought it would just give me a path in corporate to follow. But it ended up giving me so much more. It opened up how to look at industries differently, how to look at when I’m in my realm of genius, and what I really excel at. It gave me much deeper clarity about myself & how I work best. It helped me take control of my calendar & become more productive, a better leader, and so much more in control of my life.

When I started, I dreaded what the future was going to look like. I was just hoping to survive to retirement. Now I feel comfortable that no matter what comes, I have transferable skills & know how to move forward. So I don’t want to retire – I want to be doing this for the rest of my life!”

Sharon

See Sharon's story!

“The Bridge to Fulfillment program is different because it has more to do with the human attachment to your job than just a set of skills and a resume. It’s so much bigger than that. When I walk away from my desk & put my pen down at the end of the day, I want to feel good about what I did. Other job coaches don’t necessarily cover that.

With this new job, I’m getting a 30%+ increase to what I was making before & really feel a part of the team. It still blows me away to think of all that I’ve been able to get thanks to this program.

So today, I no longer have fear—my future is full of my hope. I feel confident and that, even if I don’t know something, I’ll find it out. I’ll learn it. I’ll seek it. And it’ll be okay.

The impact of this program has been so infinite, so great, that it needs to be brought into companies, universities, & into places where women can start out KNOWING their value and what they need to truly be fulfilled.

I’m incredibly grateful, you’ve really changed my life & my family’s life.”

Pam

See Pam's story!

“I’ve gone from feeling almost desperate, like, ‘I can’t do this anymore’ to ‘I can stick this out, I have it under control.’ I never thought I’d be able to make a career change that made sense financially & from a skill set standpoint, that would also be in line with my values & allow me to do something that felt like it was in line with my passions, but this program taught me otherwise.

I’ve grown more confident in what I want out of my life & I’m owning it…that has been a huge shift. It’s allowed me not only to control the situation at work while I job search, it’s also positively impacted my health immensely.

I’ve gained a lot out of this program in regards to my career, but the unexpected personal shifts that came with it made it truly life-changing.”

Monique

See Monique's story!

“With Blake’s help, I was able to land a new role within 12 weeks of starting the program & the financial package was honestly more than I had ever hoped or expected. It came out to be about a 50% increase from what I was previously making, not to mention unlimited vacation days & the ability to work remotely when needed!

I had made a career switch & it was clearly not right for me. I reached a level of burnout I don’t ever want to experience again. I was constantly working evenings & weekends. I was getting messages on the weekends & expected to reply… It was just really stressing me out. I like to be able to show up for my kids & I’ve been able to do that in the past by having a bit more separation and balance in my work & life, but I just wasn’t getting that break.

That’s when I finally said to myself, ‘let me make sure this next switch is the right one’ & reached out to Blake. And I’m so glad I did, because I honestly don’t think I would have ever been able to do it on my own.

Without Blake & the Bridge to Fulfillment, I don’t think I would’ve gotten even half of what I did in my new role.”

Ashley

See Ashley's story!

“My biggest fear was that I had to find a job that also had flexibility & allowed me to work remotely… but I wasn’t sure whether I could realistically have all of that.

Without The Bridge to Fulfillment, I don’t think I would have gotten to where I am now & felt confident that it was the right decision, but I do.

Within just 2 months of working with Blake, I’m moving into a role that fulfills all the criteria I set out to achieve from the beginning—remote work, flexibility, tons of growth opportunity, AND a salary that’s more than double my previous income (with the negotiation skills I learned in the course, I was able to increase my income by $58k, get an additional week of vacation AND a sign-on bonus).

There’s no way I could have ever done this on my own & replicated these results.”

Charlotte

See Charlotte's story!

“Joining this program was the single best thing I did for my family AND my career.

Initially, I balked at the investment and thought I could do it myself. What I realized though was that it’s not the exercises and homework that provide real insights, it’s the conversations, tough reflections, and frankly, the boost of confidence and cheerleading that we all need to get outside of our comfort zones and into the good stuff.

I was able to land my dream job, in a dream location, all with greater confidence that I am doing what I truly want & am capable of. Having this framework has helped me navigate & continues to help me navigate my professional career.

As I look at the impact the overall experience had on where I am now— I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Amy

See Amy's story!

“I feel safe & secure again in my career & financial situation.

The difference between my old toxic environment and where I am now could not be more night and day. The people are so supportive & really invested in my growth & I’m already making more than I was at my old job with fewer expenses like monthly subway fare. The culture of the company is great—they literally live their values & my co-workers actually behave as a team.

In just 11 weeks, I moved to a new industry working 100% remotely with amazing benefits. I went from having a lot of anxiety about my future & dealing with chronic pains & migraines on the regular to having more energy, feeling a lot better overall (I haven’t had a migraine in over 8 months!), & waking up in the morning excited to start my day.”