Impact with Ease

Puzzles, Not Goals: Rethinking How Teams Succeed with guest expert, Radhika Dutt Puzzle-driven leadership challenges goal-setting at a time when pressure, burnout, and uncertainty are reshaping how teams succeed. When you set targets, you rarely get the reality from the trenches. Instead, you create incentives for people to give you a falsely rosy picture. And leaders become the last to know what's really happening. In this episode of Impact With Ease, Blake is joined by Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, intentionality, and why traditional goal setting fails teams. If you're navigating rapid change, new technology, rising burnout, or a growing sense that "the old ways" no longer work, this episode offers clarity and a new way forward. You'll hear why traditional goal setting isn't working and how puzzle driven leadership vs goal setting creates accountability without fear, restores curiosity, and builds teams capable of adapting in real time. Episode Highlights Intentionality and Responsibility in Leadership [08:24] - Why technology is a tool and how intention determines its impact [10:21] - How corporate responsibility goes beyond individual choice [12:09] - The role leaders take on: like doctors prescribing solutions Technology, AI, and the Limits of Goal-Driven Thinking [14:24] - The FOMO trap: "AI first" isn't a strategy [16:30] - Where AI actually belongs in your vision and strategy [17:30] - Why decisions from fear never create optimal outcomes Why Goals Create Pressure, Burnout, and Blind Spots [20:32] - How aspirational targets create exhaustion and a cycle of marathons [22:30] - Going from knowing the answer to staying curious [23:30] - Goals vs. puzzles: pressure and importance vs. creativity and curiosity The Shift From Goals to Puzzles [24:30] - How puzzle-thinking doubled sales  [27:21] - Why proven principles show up in different methodologies [30:58] - How puzzles offer scaffolding without rigidity Accountability Without Performance Theater [33:11] - The three big questions [37:55] - How survival mode shuts down creative problem-solving [39:53] - Practical next steps: the OLA framework Powerful Quotes "When you set targets, you rarely get the reality from the trenches. Instead, you create incentives for people to give you a falsely rosy picture." -Radhika Dutt "When you have puzzles, people bring curiosity. And curiosity is what keeps teams in the problem long enough to actually learn." -Radhika Dutt "When people are in survival mode, their ability to problem-solve and think creatively shuts down—and that's a massive risk for organizations right now." -Blake Schofield "We vote with our labor for the world that we want to produce. If you don't reflect on your intention, how do you know if you're casting the right vote for the world you want to create?" -Radhika Dutt "Goals trigger pressure and importance. Puzzles trigger creativity and curiosity." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

When It All Feels Like Too Much Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain right now?  If the world feels heavier, more unsettled, or harder to process than usual, you're not alone.  When what we thought was stable no longer feels certain, our nervous systems respond with stress, fear, and powerlessness.  These reactions are not personal failings. They're natural biological responses to uncertainty. In this episode, Blake names what so many people are experiencing right now and explains how to cope when everything feels overwhelming. She offers a grounded perspective and practical ways to find calm and perspective in uncertain times, helping you find steadiness and agency when the stress and uncertainty feels like too much.   Episode Highlights Why Everything Feels So Hard Right Now [01:30] - Understanding fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses [03:45] - Why most people are cycling between multiple survival responses [04:30] - How awareness creates self-compassion and clarity Division, Information Overload, and Where Trust Begins [05:20] - The Edelman Trust Barometer [06:16] - Why companies are best positioned to bridge divides [07:00] - Where safety and trust really begin The River Story: A Powerful Metaphor for Uncertain Times [10:15] - The moment of danger that shifted the entire journey [12:30] - When trying to control exhausts us more than the danger itself [14:00] - The shift from panic to presence and strategic action Finding Steadiness in the Middle of Uncertainty [17:45] - What we can control when we can't control the river [19:30] - Why slowing down is strategic, not passive [22:30] - Change as the gift that opens possibility   Powerful Quotes "If you've been feeling unsettled, reactive, angry, exhausted, overwhelmed, numb, or emotionally raw lately, I want to say this first: there's nothing wrong with you." -Blake Schofield "We can't control the level of unrest, division, and challenges that we are under globally, economically, and everything else. The only thing we can control is how we go through it." -Blake Schofield "Change actually is the gift. It is the only place of which we're able to create what it is that we want." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Edelman Trust Barometer   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Successful, But Unfulfilled: Corrie's Leadership Turning Point Are you a successful, but unfulfilled, leader?  Corrie wasn't burned out or failing, but she was unfulfilled, questioning herself, and missing the spark that once made her work feel meaningful. This is the story of how one woman stopped trying to "push through" and started realigning how she worked, led, and carried responsibility. Fulfillment doesn't require walking away from success. Sometimes, it requires learning how to lead and work differently from the inside out. In this episode, Blake helps unpack a real leadership success story. Corrie was successful by every external measure—strong leader, solid career, flexibility, income, and trust. And yet, she felt drained, disengaged, and quietly questioning herself.  You'll hear why successful leaders feel unfulfilled at work and how she found leadership fulfillment without changing jobs. Instead, she found clarity, gained energy, and reignited the spark that once made her work meaningful.   Episode Highlights The Hidden Struggle of Successful Leaders [01:55] - Dreading getting out of bed despite driving results [03:20] - When job searching becomes a cycle of rejection [04:38] - The belief that "this is just how it is" once you climb the ladder When Job Changes Don't Fix the Problem [16:49] - How constant rejection erodes confidence [18:50] - Missing the signs to stop and ask "What am I missing?" [20:10] - The frustration of wanting results now vs. reflection The Perspective Shift That Changed Everything [25:01] - Realizing misalignment was the real problem [27:04] - Understanding what truly motivates you beyond revenue [30:34] - Taking back your power from external circumstances Becoming a Better Leader by Carrying Less [44:37] - Getting the same results in fewer hours by working differently [48:41] - Learning you have more control than you thought Fulfillment Without Sacrificing Career or Family [50:46] - Moving from personal to seeing the bigger picture [53:26] - Shifting from desperation mode to empowered [55:51] - Why the journey was worth it   Powerful Quotes " I kept thinking I'm okay. And then I got to a point where I just wasn't happy anymore. I wasn't excited to go to work. I wasn't excited about, you know, those results I was driving. I was just dreading getting out of bed. And it was more than just like depression or anything like that. It was like, I really had nothing to look forward to.  And I just noticed it was impacting my life, my relationships. And I'm like, I need to make a change." -Corrie  "I didn't realize that you can be happy in your career once you climb the ladder, but this whole process has really just opened up my eyes. And not just in my career, but like in life in general with my family and my friends and hobbies and everything." -Corrie  "It's okay to ask for help. I was always the person who had the answers. So when it came to the point where I needed help, I didn't even know what to do or where to turn." -Corrie  "The only way we really can truly create change is to understand what we need and how we can be empowered to create that change for ourselves." -Blake Schofield "Your career is not in your manager's hands. It's in your hands. You have control of this." -Corrie      Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Support Without Solving: Stop Carrying It All as a Leader   Serial fixers often experience leadership burnout which quietly shows up as emotional over-responsibility, exhaustion, and feeling like everything depends on you. You care deeply about your people. You want to be supportive, responsive, and present. But somewhere along the way, that helpfulness starts to feel heavy.   Being helpful shouldn't drain you.You weren't meant to carry everything. And pretending you can could be what's breaking you.   In this episode of Impact With Ease, Blake Schofield sits down with psychotherapist and corporate mental wellness expert Leah Marone to explore why so many leaders feel responsible for everything. You'll learn how to lead in a way that supports others without carrying it all yourself.   Episode Highlights   Why Leaders End Up Carrying Everything [06:34] - How empathy and competence turn into over-responsibility [09:20] - The unspoken pressure leaders feel to "hold it all together" [11:31] - Why this pattern is so common in high-performing leaders The Hidden Cost of Being the Helper [13:56] - How solving for others actually increases exhaustion [16:20] - Why teams become dependent instead of empowered [17:26] - The emotional labor leaders rarely name out loud Support Without Solving: What Changes [18:58] - The difference between being supportive and being responsible [20:22] - How validation builds trust without taking ownership [22:20] - What leaders can do instead of fixing Helping Teams Build Confidence and Ownership [27:04] - Why discomfort is part of growth for teams [28:04] - How leaders unintentionally block development [31:44] - Simple shifts that create capability instead of dependence Leading with Boundaries That Actually Work [34:38] - Internal boundaries that reduce emotional load [37:10] - How to stay caring without carrying everything [42:27] - Why presence matters more than perfect answers The Power of Micro-Resets [48:48] - Using daily transitions as opportunities to release stress [47:28] - How small shifts compound into significant change [51:28] - Building the muscle of being present without being perfect   Powerful Quotes "Support doesn't mean solving. It means creating space for someone to build their own confidence." – Leah Marone "It's the thing that helped you feel successful and loved and a sense of belonging. And then it is the thing that becomes cycles of burnout, overwhelm, over-responsibility, worrying about everyone else's feelings while dishonoring your own." – Blake Schofield "People have to have our ownership, we have to hear ourselves, it has to get pocketed away internally for us to be able then to activate." – Leah Marone "You cannot receive when your hands are full. Life is always going to give you something that's unexpected. And when you are so busy and so full that you don't have space for that, then it makes it really hard to manage your emotions, to help deal with and manage other people's emotions, to be present to the greater opportunities." – Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Why Does Success Feel So Hard (When You're Good at Your Job)? You're successful. You're respected. So why does work feel heavier, more exhausting, and less fulfilling than it should? Burnout in capable professionals rarely comes from failure. It comes from years of being the person who steps in, figures it out, and carries more than their share. In this episode, Blake explores why high performers feel exhausted even when they're doing everything "right". You'll hear why common fixes like rest, boundaries, or a new role rarely create lasting change, and you'll learn what actually does.   Episode Highlights When Success Starts Feeling Heavy [01:00] - A client who did everything right but felt exhausted [02:15] - "I keep over-giving and I don't know how to stop" [03:20] - When caring deeply still leaves you drained How Being Capable Becomes Costly [04:10] - The ability that made you successful started costing you [05:30] - When success strategies quietly turn into stress patterns Why Change Doesn't Stick [06:45] - Changing environments but finding the same cycles [08:20] - Root patterns driven by the subconscious What Actually Creates Sustainable Success [09:45] - How to change the patterns keeping you stuck [10:50] - Success doesn't have to require self-sacrifice Powerful Quotes "This isn't the kind of burnout where you hate your job. It's the kind where you care deeply and you're still drained." -Blake Schofield "Over-responsibility and hyper-performance aren't personality traits. They're actually ways of living that you learned how to do in order to adapt." -Blake Schofield "This is not a willpower problem. It's not a discipline problem. And it's not a capability problem. It's a root pattern problem." -Blake Schofield "Success does not have to feel this hard. And nothing's wrong with you. You're not lazy or ungrateful and you're not failing. You're just operating from a pattern that's outlived its usefulness." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Imposter Syndrome in Leadership: Why Even Experienced Leaders Struggle Imposter syndrome in leadership doesn't disappear with experience. It often shows up when the pressure is highest. Even the most capable leaders can find themselves questioning their confidence under stress. Self-doubt doesn't mean you're incapable. It means you're human—and often, that you're growing. In this episode, Blake sits down with Jenn Donahue, retired U.S. Navy Captain, keynote speaker, and author, to unpack why experienced leaders feel imposter syndrome and how leaders overcome imposter syndrome under pressure. From life-or-death decisions in Afghanistan to navigating misogyny in male-dominated environments, Jenn shares grounded, real-world insight on leading with clarity, confidence, and alignment. Episode Highlights When Imposter Syndrome Hijacks Your Brain [10:56] - Facing an assassination threat in Afghanistan [11:37] - What happens when your brain goes to "Who am I to be in charge?" [14:33] - Why this is the human condition, not a weakness [18:04] - When it shows up at a conference invitation The Cost of Trying to Lead Like Everyone Else [26:49] - Early mistakes in leadership [27:45] - The mentor who helped her find quiet leadership [29:45] - Your unique fingerprint for success [31:27] - The admiral who wished he'd figured it out sooner Navigating Misogyny with Strategy, Not Reaction [34:57] - "Because that's what men do"—handling blatant disrespect [37:50] - Why having allies in the room matters [40:51] - The power of pausing before responding The Warrior Framework [42:47] - Four steps to quiet your inner critic [43:30] - Friend or foe? Identifying the voices in your head [44:50] - Just take the first step—it doesn't have to be perfect Powerful Quotes "You have to be yourself in order to be effective. Trying to be like everyone else doesn't work." -Jenn Donahue "Imposter syndrome doesn't mean you're not ready. It usually means you're growing." -Jenn Donahue "Pain is inevitable. But suffering is a choice. Right before our breakthrough is always surrender." -Blake Schofield "So often in our society, we are trying to remove the challenges that we face. But we grow through our challenges and growth comes through discomfort." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Before Setting New Goals, Listen to This  Before setting goals for the new year, there's an important step most leaders miss. Rather than rushing to define what's next, gaining clarity is key. Career clarity doesn't come from pushing harder. It comes from pausing long enough to notice what no longer fits. In this reflective episode, Blake invites you to look back at the patterns you've been carrying and consider what may be quietly draining your energy. If you feel on the brink of change, this conversation will meet you right where you are. This is about creating impact with more ease, not more effort. Episode Highlights A Different Kind of Year-End Pause [01:15] - Why it isn't about doing more [02:10] - The power of listening before planning The Hidden Patterns Leaders Carry [03:30] - Why we cling to what once worked [04:20] - How outdated success rules drain energy [05:10] - When something no longer fits The "Brink" of Change [05:45] - Why uncertainty often feels quiet [06:15] - The space between clarity and confusion [06:40] - Trusting the signals you're receiving A New Way for Leaders [07:50] - Raising the floor vs. reaching higher [08:10] - Three questions before you set goals   Powerful Quotes "We don't cling to things because we're stuck. We cling to them because they once worked." -Blake Schofield "Ease doesn't come from doing less of what matters. It comes from letting go of what no longer does." -Blake Schofield "Clarity often comes after we let go, not before." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned  Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type  The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Is This As Good As It Gets?" Why Leaders Think Fulfillment Isn't Possible If you've ever caught yourself wondering why fulfillment doesn't feel possible at work, you're not alone. When success no longer brings the clarity, satisfaction, or peace they expected, many leaders quietly reach a point where they think, "Is this as good as it gets in my career?"  Most leaders don't struggle because they haven't tried hard enough. They struggle because they've tried everything.  Promotions, coaching, and therapy don't work long term because they address symptoms without resolving the deeper operating system driving stress, dissatisfaction, and over-effort.  In this episode of Impact With Ease, Blake Schofield breaks down why so many traditional solutions fail to create lasting change and what actually makes it possible to have both.  You'll hear how fulfillment becomes impossible when leadership and career decisions are built on outdated belief systems, nervous system patterns, and misalignment. You'll learn why willpower, mindset shifts, and surface-level tools can't override an internal system that was never designed for ease, clarity, or sustainable success.  Can you have a fulfilling career and a life you love? Yes. And it starts with understanding what's really been holding you back. Episode Highlights Why "Doing Everything Right" Still Feels Wrong [01:15] - The quiet cycle leaders don't talk about [02:10] - Why good intentions don't create lasting change [03:20] - The boat with 20 holes: why temporary fixes fail Why Career Fixes Don't Work Long Term [04:35] - How siloed solutions keep you stuck [05:40] - The real reason your patterns keep repeating [07:15] - Why you can't outwork a misaligned operating system The Hidden Operating System Running Your Career [08:25] - How early beliefs shape your leadership today [09:30] - The survival strategies that stop serving you [10:45] - Why overachieving becomes your biggest obstacle What Actually Makes Fulfillment Possible [12:15] - Aligning with how you're naturally wired to thrive [13:40] - Your unique fingerprint for success [15:20] - Why understanding yourself creates career safety [17:10] - The power of rewiring limiting beliefs at the root Leading and Living Without the Tradeoff [19:15] - Showing up as your authentic self vs. using scripts [20:30] - Why vulnerability creates better leaders [21:45] - How alignment creates rapid transformation Powerful Quotes "You cannot outwork or outsmart an operating system that was never built for ease, flow, alignment, or sustainable success." -Blake Schofield "You are not broken and there isn't anything wrong with you. You have never been the problem. What you're experiencing are signs and symptoms of misalignment in your life." -Blake Schofield "People can tell when you're honest and vulnerable and you show up as your full self and people can tell when you are approaching things from a script or feeling like you have to show up in a certain way in order to be successful." -Blake Schofield Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

The Future of Leadership: How to Thrive in a Changing World with Steve Cadigan Do you feel like you're leading through more uncertainty than ever before? Wondering how to navigate AI disruption, team burnout, and constant transformation without completely losing yourself in the process? If you're a leader right now, you're facing something unprecedented. You're being asked to do more with less, lead through chaos you've never experienced, and somehow keep your team engaged—all while trying not to burn out yourself.  And the truth is, most leaders haven't been given the tools or support they actually need for this moment. In this episode, you'll hear from one of the world's foremost experts on what it actually takes to lead well right now. Blake sits down with Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first Chief HR Officer who helped scale the company from 400 to 4,000 employees and shaped a culture so impactful it became a Stanford course. Named a top 100 global thought leader in people and talent since 2021, Steve brings over 30 years of leading through transformation across six different industries. Together, they explore why this moment—despite the chaos—is actually one of the greatest opportunities for leaders. You'll discover why hard work doesn't build careers, how to create stability when everything feels uncertain, and the human skills that will set you apart in the decade ahead. Today's conversation offers something leaders desperately need: hope, clarity, and a roadmap for what's possible when you lead differently. Episode Highlights Leading Through Uncertainty & the Future of Work [06:52] - The rise of workforce fluidity and what it signals [08:55] - Why moving companies accelerates career growth [10:32] - Three pathways to close the growing skill gap AI, Anxiety & Building Career Security [14:24] - Why universities and businesses must merge to solve skill gaps [17:48] - The disappearing function of leadership development [19:31] - Creating workplaces where people are passionate, not just present Human Skills That Will Define the Next Decade [27:12] - The power of saying "no"  [29:54] - Understanding your unique pattern for creating success [33:12] - How to become a faster learner in a world of constant change Leading People (and Yourself) in a Changing World [40:50] - Why most people don't know how to interview  [43:09] - Your boss shapes your culture more than any company values [45:22] - The art of "leading the leader" and managing up effectively [52:40] - The most critical skill for leaders today   Powerful Quotes "Hard work doesn't build careers — trust does." – Steve Cadigan "We've optimized systems for decades, but we haven't optimized people." – Blake Schofield "If you're managing people today, you know they're not okay. And that's hard." —Steve Cadigan "In a world of chaos, the people who win are the ones who can simplify." —Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Connect with Steve Cadigan: ● https://stevecadigan.com ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/cadigan ● Workquake book on Amazon ● Workquake Weekly podcast   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

The Silent Signs of Survival Mode: Why You're Drained Feeling exhausted, unfocused, or emotionally overwhelmed, even though you're still performing? You may be in survival mode at work without realizing it. That's where so many leaders are right now. On the outside, you're delivering. You're holding everything together.  But inside? There's this quiet whisper: "I can't keep doing this." For so many high-achieving leaders, the challenge isn't a lack of capability. It's that your nervous system is stuck in protective mode. Constant change, uncertainty, restructures, and the weight of responsibility have all pushed your system into a place it was never designed to live. In this episode, Blake breaks down the signs you're stuck in survival mode. She explains why responsible leaders are most at risk and what it really takes to reclaim your clarity and energy. If you've ever wondered why rest doesn't fix the problem or why everything feels heavier than it should, this conversation is for you. Episode Highlights What Survival Mode Really Looks Like  [01:45] - Why it doesn't look dramatic  [02:20] - The functional version most leaders miss  [02:50] - Signs you're stuck in survival mode   Why Strong, Capable Leaders Get Trapped Here [05:45] - How strengths become coping strategies  [06:15] - The nervous system's learned patterns  [06:50] - The pressure-performance cycle that keeps you on edge   The Deeper Root: Lifelong Patterns of Survival  [07:30] - Early wiring and identity  [08:10] - How your body keeps trying to protect you  [08:45] - The real reason rest doesn't fix the problem   The Hope: What's Possible When You Shift Out of Survival Mode  [09:25] - More clarity, energy, and creativity  [09:55] - Returning to presence and confidence  [10:20] - Why transformation can be faster than you think   Powerful Quotes "You're not broken, and nothing about you has ever been the problem." -Blake Schofield "Survival mode isn't dramatic. It looks functional—until you realize you don't feel like you anymore." -Blake Schofield "If you've been operating in some version of survival mode for most of your life, you have no idea how much more capability, clarity, energy, creativity, and confidence are actually available to you." -Blake Schofield Resources Mentioned Take the Burnout Type™ Quiz Discover your unique burnout pattern so you can finally solve the real issue. Go to www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type/  Work With Blake (1:1 Coaching) For leaders ready to regain clarity, energy, and sustainable success. Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Corporate Leadership Development Support your teams with practical, neuroscience-backed tools to reduce stress, navigate uncertainty and communicate effectively. go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

ALIGNMENT 101: Why Doing Everything 'Right' Still Leads to Burnout Why do so many driven, successful professionals burn out, even when they're doing everything "right"? In this episode of Impact With Ease, Blake reveals the hidden reason why high performers are silently struggling with exhaustion, overthinking, and loss of clarity. What's really happening is misalignment. You'll learn how misalignment quietly infiltrates your work, belief systems, and daily environment, and why working harder only makes things worse. Blake breaks down the brain science of burnout, explains why you can't override your natural wiring, and shares the critical first step to move from depletion to sustainable energy. If you're running on fumes or just know deep down there has to be a better way, this conversation will shift your entire perspective.   Episode Highlights Clarity Through Alignment, Not Just Process [01:19] - What alignment really is and why it's not a fluffy concept [02:28] - What alignment feels like in daily life [03:18] - Why leaders miss the signs of misalignment [04:32] - Understanding functional survival mode   The Neuroscience of Alignment [05:32] - How your brain operates when aligned vs. misaligned [06:13] - Why your wiring will always win   The 3 Core Forms of Misalignment [07:03] - Doing work that fights your natural wiring [09:44] - Misaligned beliefs and conditioning: the invisible patterns we form [11:42] - How to shift beliefs without years of therapy [12:28] - Why leaving isn't always the answer [14:06] - How stressed leaders unintentionally create negative cultures   What Alignment Looks Like in Action [15:13] - Client story: Evan's transformation from burnout to reclaiming 20 hours per week [16:23] - The one simple shift to get more in alignment   Powerful Quotes "You burn out because you've been trying to succeed while working against the very way you are naturally wired to thrive." —Blake Schofield "Alignment is where your peace, purpose, and progress finally meet. It's the shift from just living to fully being alive." —Blake Schofield "Your wiring will always win. You can push against it for a season or even years...but in the end, your wiring will always win." —Blake Schofield "Every single moment of friction, stress, or anxiety is data and a lesson to be learned." —Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Creating Career Safety: Future-Proof Your Career & Leadership skills The old rulebook said: work hard, deliver results, stay loyal, and your career will be safe. But that rulebook? It's obsolete. Today, even the best leaders are getting blindsided by layoffs, burnout, and change they didn't see coming. Target, Amazon, Meta, consulting firms—massive waves of restructuring are reshaping how organizations operate. The question isn't "How do I keep my job?" anymore. It's "How do I create safety, clarity, and growth no matter what changes around me?" In this episode, Blake reveals why the traditional model of job security no longer works and introduces the five essential skills that will define the next decade of leadership. You'll discover how to build real career safety in a world where certainty no longer exists, not by working harder, but by learning to optimize your energy, align with how you're wired, and navigate change with confidence. If you're a high-achieving leader feeling the weight of uncertainty, this episode will help you move from survival mode to strategic leadership.   Episode Highlights   The New Reality of Work [00:45] - Why the old career safety model is obsolete [01:15] - What's happening across corporate America [02:30] - The most significant transition in the history of work   Building Career Safety from the Inside Out [03:45] - What career safety really means  [04:20] - The three foundations of career safety [05:10] - Why you can't future-proof your career from survival mode [06:15] The Torchlight Framework: 5 Skills to Master   Playing Offense, Not Defense [10:00] - Skating to where the puck is going  [10:45] - Moving from protection to creation   Powerful Quotes "When you're aligned with how you're wired to work best, stress becomes fuel. When you're not, it becomes exhaustion. And that's the invisible line between leaders who adapt and those who burn out." -Blake Schofield "The leaders who thrive in this next decade won't be the ones who push harder. They'll be the ones who learn how to optimize their skills, their energy, and their path, and realign faster when things get off track." -Blake Schofield  "What used to make you successful was endurance. What will make you successful now is alignment." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned  Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

The Psychology of Leadership: Turn Stress into Peak Performance, with Sebastien Page,  a $500 billion fund manager How do top leaders and athletes use stress to boost performance instead of burning out?  Most high-achieving leaders believe they have to eliminate stress to perform their best—but sports psychology reveals the opposite is true.  The real problem isn't stress itself; it's operating too close to the edge without understanding your optimal performance zone, leading to burnout, lost creativity, and goal-induced blindness. In this episode of Impact with Ease, Blake talks with Sebastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, about the neuroscience and psychology of peak performance. Sebastien shares insights from 25 years as a leader in high-pressure finance, revealing how research from elite athletes like Simone Biles and Roger Federer can transform how you lead. You'll learn why zero stress isn't the goal, how to turn stress into energy, and the framework for sustainable success that helps you thrive at work while protecting what matters most in life.   Episode Highlights   Turning Stress Into Peak Performance [00:04] – Why zero stress isn't the goal for optimal performance [06:33] – The "second layer" of stress that leads to burnout [08:15] – The performance curve: when stress helps vs. harms your leadership   Sports Psychology Meets Executive Leadership [11:18] – Zone pacing: finding your optimal speed as a leader  [13:47] – Flow state and the balance between challenge and capability [15:20] – What Simone Biles teaches us about overtraining, rest, and coming back stronger   Deep Work, AI, and the Future of Leadership [23:35] – Deep work vs. shallow work for high-performing leaders [27:28] – The optimistic case for AI [30:00] – Why burned-out leaders can't innovate in the AI era [32:29] – Eric Hoffer's wisdom: "Learners inherit the earth"   Rethinking Success and the Psychology of Goals [34:15] – You're not burned out—you're addicted to the wrong goals [36:30] – The Harvard happiness study: what really predicts long-term fulfillment [38:48] – Achievement doesn't fix a misaligned life   Resilience, Failure, and Sustainable Success [48:23] – How small daily misalignments drain your energy [50:07] – Addressing small stressors [51:06] – Roger Federer and learning to lose well [55:31] – The one habit that predicts thriving   Powerful Quotes "What sports psychologists found is that optimal performance isn't at zero stress — it's at the point of healthy activation." – Sebastian Page "Achievement doesn't fix a misaligned life. How you feel day to day is what matters most." – Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned  Connect with Sebastian Page: https://www.psychologyofleadership.net/ https://www.instagram.com/sebastienpagebook?igsh=MWk2cWV2c2JmNGhiNA%3D%3D https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3mpHw7hFLiqCSawsBkK11g   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Leading Through Fear — How to Guide Your Team (and Yourself) Through Uncertainty    Have you been asking yourself, "How can I lead when everyone, including me, is afraid?" We're living in a time of extraordinary change, and with change often comes fear. It's felt at every level of organizations, from executives making tough decisions to employees wondering what tomorrow will bring.  Layoffs, restructuring, and constant change have left many anxious, disengaged, and uncertain about the future. But here's what leaders often don't realize… Pushing harder when fear is high doesn't create results. It creates burnout. So, how should leaders respond when employees are scared or feeling unsettled? In this episode, Blake shares how to lead effectively when fear and uncertainty are high  so you and your team can move from survival mode to sustainable success. Learn how fear impacts the brain, why survival mode kills innovation, and practical strategies for leading through change with trust, calm, and clarity.   Episode Highlights   Why Fear Shuts Down Your Team's Best Thinking  [02:15] - How uncertainty triggers survival mode in leaders and teams  [03:45] - What happens in the brain when people feel unsafe  [04:30] - Why pushing harder amplifies the problem   Four Practical Leadership Moves for Navigating Uncertainty  [06:20] - Why honesty builds credibility  [08:15] - The importance of acknowledging fear  [09:45] - How to spot your survival mode triggers  [11:30] - Rebuilding trust daily through micro moments  [13:00] - Creating psychological safety and clear micro goals   Real-World Example: Leading Through Layoffs  [10:15] - Blake's experience navigating 1,700 layoffs at Target  [11:45] - How acknowledging fear transformed team performance   Powerful Quotes "You can't calm a room if you're in chaos. Your calm is contagious — and so is your chaos." -Blake Schofield "Most people prefer the certainty of misery to the misery of uncertainty." —Virginia Satir "When people feel unsafe, their nervous system reads it as a threat, not leadership." -Blake Schofield "Trust isn't a one-time action. It's built in micro moments." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type/    The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

Turning Insight into Tangible, Real-World Change  Alignment Accelerator (part 2) Inside Jaime's private coaching session   What does real transformation look like? Just two weeks after her first call with Blake, Jaime was maintaining her energy, honoring her personal routines, and creating more balance than ever before- during her busiest season at work. The clarity she gained around her work relationships also deepened her understanding of what she truly wants in her personal life—and how to ask for it without compromise.   This is what alignment looks like in motion. Real, sustainable change that helps you work smarter, strengthen relationships, and show up with more energy for what matters most, at work and beyond. She was also facing another challenge that so many high-achievers can relate to: daily interactions with her boss that left her drained, second-guessing herself, and spinning in frustration. In this episode, you'll hear how we transformed what looked like a personality conflict into more effective leadership communication strategies. Through small shifts in awareness and communication, Jaime learned how to lead "up" more effectively, reduce unnecessary rework, and turn draining meetings into collaborative partnerships. If you've ever wondered about finding clarity and energy for meaningful relationships while succeeding in your career, or what executive coaching actually looks like in practice, this conversation is for you.   Episode Highlights   Small Changes, Big Impact  [03:00] - How two daily breaks transformed Jaime's energy [06:00] - Grouping tasks and protecting focus time   Transforming Draining Relationships  [10:00] - The real reason why your boss might be draining you  [17:00] - Understanding visionaries vs. implementers  [23:00] - The one-page recap that changed everything   Leadership Communication That Works  [29:00] - Being specific vs. staying vague when workload is unrealistic  [37:00] - How to have the conversation that changes the dynamic  [45:00] - Leading with humanity instead of blame   From Career Clarity to Personal Clarity  [52:00] - What do you really want in a partner?  [58:00] - The power of not compromising  [1:05:00] - Trusting what your body tells you: calm vs. chaos   Key Wins & Takeaways  [1:14:00] - Jaime's biggest transformations  [1:16:00] - The underlying pattern of it all   Powerful Quotes "The best leaders I know know how to lead the people around them." — Blake Schofield "Longer hours doesn't mean that I'm being efficient with my time." — Jaime "How we do one thing is how we do everything. The lessons that we get always show up in multiple places." — Blake Schofield "The right person for you will feel calm, peaceful. You will not feel confused or chaotic or any of those things." — Blake Schofield "I truly believe everyone is doing the best that they can. Usually when we're having the biggest issues, it's because somebody is in survival mode or they're just lacking awareness of how what they're doing has impacts on other people." — Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type/  The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

From Career Clarity to Relationship Breakthrough -   Alignment Accelerator (part 1): Inside Jaime's private coaching session   Jaime had finally built the career she always wanted — meaningful work, strong performance, balance she never had before. But between back-to-back meetings and long days, she didn't have the energy or headspace to focus on the part of life that mattered most to her — finding the right long-term relationship. In this behind-the-scenes Alignment Accelerator private coaching session, you'll hear Blake work with Jaime in real time to uncover the subtle habits and belief patterns that have been quietly draining her energy and keeping love on the back burner.  Together they explore how high performers can create the same clarity and alignment in their personal lives that they've mastered at work, without losing momentum or sacrificing success.  This is a real coaching example for high-achieving women navigating the tension between thriving at work and making space for meaningful relationships. If you've ever wondered how to designate space for what you want most while continuing to thrive in your career, this conversation shows what's possible when you align your life from the inside out.   Episode Highlights Great Career, But A Missing Piece  [02:45] - Jaime's wins: career clarity, balance & momentum  [04:30] - Energy drain keeping relationships on hold  [06:15] - Why time feels like the biggest barrier   What's Really Draining Your Energy  [08:20] - Belief patterns that block relationships  [11:00] - The inner bully: "I can't juggle it all"  [14:15] - The problem with back-to-back schedules    How to Reclaim Energy & Clarity  [19:00] - Simple calendar shifts  [20:12] - The power of nervous system regulation  [24:26] - Tracking energy patterns   The Relationship Breakthrough: Beliefs, Attachment & Love Languages  [26:17] - Unpacking the fear  [29:27] - How childhood patterns shape adult relationship beliefs  [43:38] - Understanding attachment styles  [50:22] - Knowing your love languages   Getting Clear on What You Actually Want  [36:06] - Moving from general to specific  [37:20] - Designing your ideal life and relationship with intentionality  [41:20] - The delicate balance: ambition vs. living a relaxed life   Powerful Quotes "When we want to shift something in our lives but we don't have energy on a daily basis already, it's near impossible." —Blake Schofield "Our emotions and what's happening in our energy, they're just data. They're not showing you a weakness in who you are. They're information your body is sending you." —Blake Schofield "Relationships really are a vehicle for growth. And they are also mirrors to every one of the things we have not worked through." —Blake Schofield "The more clarity you really have on who you are and what you need and what kind of life you want to bring to somebody, the more clearly you can find the right person." —Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type/    The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

The Hidden Key to Sustainable Growth High achievers are taught to "raise the bar" — to outdo their best performance and push harder for the next goal. But what if that approach is actually what's keeping you stuck in cycles of leadership burnout, frustration, and exhaustion? The problem is that the "raise the bar" model only focuses on your ceiling — your best. It completely ignores your floor. It puts all the focus on having to overachieve what you've already done without recognizing the biggest opportunity in front of you. But what happens after years of operating that way? At some point, the effort it takes to beat your best starts to outweigh the return. You're putting in more hours, more thought, more energy, but the results start to flatten out. You might hit the goal, but it costs you peace of mind, presence, or health to maintain it. In this episode, Blake shares a concept that will completely shift how you approach growth – something that has helped create sustainable success and inspire personal growth for executives. She explains why the more you can shorten the depth & duration of your most challenging moments, the higher everything else rises. And it rises with far less effort. You'll learn how to identify & remove the hidden misalignments that drain your energy and slow your growth and discover how to create more momentum, impact & peace without pushing harder or "doing more." Because when you raise your floor, you're not just increasing your capacity. You're reclaiming your energy, your clarity & your peace of mind.   Episode Highlights   The Problem with "Raising the Bar"  [01:15] - Why the traditional achievement model leads to burnout  [02:00] - What happens after years of pushing harder  [02:45] - The hidden cost of always beating your best   The Power of Raising Your Floor  [03:30] - Why your lowest lows determine your long-term success  [04:15] - How sustainable success comes from minimizing friction  [05:00] - Research on burnout & productivity loss in the workplace   What Stops Us from Raising the Floor  [06:30] - The wrong questions we ask when we feel stuck  [07:15] - Shifting from "what's in my way" to "what do I need to operate at my best"  [08:00] - Real coaching example: identifying energy drains in 10 minutes A Real-Time Coaching Story  [08:45] - How one leader transformed her relationship with her boss  [09:30] - Using your body & emotions as data, not judgment  [11:00] - The pattern of misalignment & how it shows up everywhere   How to Start Raising Your Floor Today  [12:30] - A simple exercise to identify your top 2-3 energy drains  [13:30] - Recognizing the difference between flow & friction  [14:15] - How small shifts create powerful change   Powerful Quotes "Your long-term success, growth, and well-being are not determined by your highest highs. They're actually determined by your lowest lows." —Blake Schofield "Our emotions and what's happening in our energy, they're just data. They're not showing you a weakness in who you are or a judgment of who you are. They're just information your body is sending you." —Blake Schofield "Most people spend their lives trying to beat their best. But leaders who truly thrive learn to minimize their worst and optimize based on how they're naturally wired to thrive." —Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type/  The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

The Leadership Advantage No One's Talking About Your mornings start with good intentions, but then, it's back-to-back meetings, lunch at your desk answering emails, fires to put out. You're busy all day, but you're not actually in flow or building momentum. By evening, you're exhausted, and the creative work that really matters is still waiting for you. But by then, your brain is already completely fried.  If you think this is just part of the job, think again. It's actually what happens when you're working against how your brain is naturally wired to function. For so many high-achieving leaders, the challenge isn't a lack of skill or drive — it's the invisible misalignment between how you're built to thrive & how you're actually working and living. In this episode of Impact with Ease, Blake Schofield explores what distinguishes transformational leaders in a world speeding toward automation/AI. Many of today's best leaders are secretly running on empty — not because they lack talent or discipline, but because they're leading against how humans are actually wired to thrive. You'll learn a fresh approach that goes beyond systems and tools, and instead focuses on aligning your inner wiring, beliefs, and environment — so you lead with ease, energy, and creativity. Whether you're a C-suite executive, leader, or individual high performer, this conversation will shift how you see burnout, leadership development, and the future of work. Episode Highlights Why Burnout Is Really About Misalignment  [02:30] - Why leaders don't burn out from doing too much  [03:15] - The three domains of performance: wiring, beliefs, environment  [04:00] - How misalignment steals energy, clarity & creativity   Your Internal Operating System  [05:15] - How most leaders work against their natural strengths  [06:30] - Understanding conation & your unique method of operation  [08:00] - Real example: How Blake's wiring as an innovator shaped her leadership style   The Subconscious Rules Running the Show  [11:30] - How subconscious beliefs undermine your best efforts  [12:45] - Why high achievers equate busyness with worth  [13:30] - Client story: Michelle's transformation from perfectionism to confidence   Environment — When Systems Sabotage Success  [15:00] - Why the wrong environment drains you, even when you "know better"  [16:15] - How to optimize human performance through alignment  [17:00] - The ripple effect: team dynamics & organizational impact   Powerful Quotes "Burnout is not about working too hard or too long. It's a chronic misalignment between how you're wired to thrive and how you're actually leading and living." —Blake Schofield "I went from going through the motions and feeling invisible to becoming the kind of leader I've always aspired to be. This program helped me reconnect to the passion I have for business and leaders." —Robin, client "I wish I'd met you 20 years ago. What you have done for me personally outweighs any career or financial gain I could have gotten through this program. I came in thinking the career was a holy grail and you were going to fix my career. But really you fixed me." —Michelle, C-suite leader   Resources Mentioned Kathy Kolbe > http://www.kolbe.com/aboutUs/kathy-kolbe.cfm Conation > http://www.kolbe.com/theKolbeConcept/what-is-conation.cfm   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

The Breakdown Moment: How High Achievers Miss the Warning Signs  Do you know the signs that indicate you're near a breakdown moment? For high achievers, it's rarely obvious. We don't see it coming because we're so used to pushing through.  We normalize the stress, telling ourselves it's just this project or it's just a busy season. Or we believe that the next promotion, the next job, or the next vacation will finally make it better. But here's the warning most people miss: If you're in misalignment or you're making changes that don't solve the root cause, it's not a matter of if you'll hit the breakdown moment, it's a matter of when.  The problem for so many high-achieving leaders is the quiet normalization of exhaustion & the belief that pushing through will eventually pay off. But when you're in chronic misalignment, burnout at work isn't temporary — it's inevitable. In this episode, I share my own story of hitting breakdown three times in my career. Then my coach asked me the question that changed everything: "Blake, why are you willing to sacrifice your health and your life for a company that isn't willing to give you what you need?" That question changed everything. Logging back on to work at night to "catch up", feeling the "Sunday Scaries", asking for help but not receiving it and pushing through anyway, or waking up more drained than restored, these are all high achiever burnout symptoms signaling you're on the path to your own breakdown moment. If you're asking "How do I know if I'm headed for burnout?", this episode will give you the tools to catch the warning signs before something breaks.  Episode Highlights The 3-Question Burnout Risk Assessment  [01:15] - How to know if you're at serious risk of a breakdown moment  [01:45] - Signs of burnout most high achievers miss  [02:30] - Scores that are blazing red warning signs   My Breakdown Story [03:00] - Six months into my "dream job" & more miserable than ever  [04:15] - Crying in bathroom stalls & working till midnight  [05:30] - The Sunday Scaries & feeling trapped in an unsustainable cycle   The Question That Changed Everything  [06:45] - How my coach shifted my perspective  [07:30] - Recognizing 17+ years of sacrificing my life for my career  [08:15] - Why so many leaders reach this same breaking point   Why Burnout Cycles Get Worse Over Time  [10:00] - The gradual buildup of misalignment  [10:45] - Going through multiple burnouts [11:15] - Executive burnout signs that show you're in chronic misalignment   Powerful Quotes "The real question is, why are you willing to sacrifice your health and your life for a company that isn't willing to give you what you need?" —Blake's coach "If you're in misalignment or you're making changes that don't solve the root cause, it's not a matter of if you'll hit the breakdown moment, it's a matter of when." —Blake Schofield "The longer we stay in misalignment, it's like filling a glass higher and higher and higher with water until it spills over. We have to start reducing the water in that glass so that there's space to be able to start to create more positive momentum forward." —Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type Join our FREE live workshop & reclaim your energy (closes Oct 8th @ 11:59 pm). You'll uncover the 3 silent misalignments that create burnout, complete a live Energy Leak Audit to identify your biggest energy drains, and leave with a One-Move Action Plan. Save your spot at https://impactwithease.com/group-coaching-community-waitlist/  The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply!

The Burnout Epidemic: Why 8 in 10 Employees Are at Risk: What leaders must know to prevent burnout at work Ever wonder why work feels harder now than during the height of the pandemic? You're not imagining it. Employee burnout isn't new, but it has reached a boiling point. Recent research shows that 44% of employees are more stressed today than they were five years ago, and 8 in 10 are now at risk of burnout in the workplace. The reality is that workplace burnout has reached epidemic proportions.  In this episode, Blake Schofield unpacks the latest 2025 employee burnout statistics, explores the true causes of burnout at work, and explains why old solutions like vacations, perks, therapy or productivity hacks don't work. You'll learn effective burnout recovery strategies that yield real results so you can finally find relief and a path forward.   Episode Highlights The Real Causes of Burnout at Work: [02:45] Why burnout isn't just about working too hard for too long [04:20] The difference between burnout symptoms and chronic misalignment [05:35] Why 90% of workplace stress comes from misalignment, not workload Signs of Burnout at Work Most Leaders Miss: [06:50] The "backpack getting heavier" analogy [07:40] Why top performers don't realize they're in burnout [08:25] The unsettled feeling that signals misalignment Why Traditional Solutions Don't Work: [09:15] Why vacations, wellness apps, and office perks are just band-aids [10:05] The cycle of temporary relief without root cause solutions [10:45] Why switching jobs doesn't solve the real problem The Path Forward: [11:10] Understanding how you're naturally wired to work [11:35] Identifying belief systems that create misalignment [11:55] How quickly transformation can happen with the right approach Powerful Quotes "Most people believe burnout happens after working too hard for too long, but that's too simplistic. The real problem is chronic misalignment." "Burnout is not caused by a period of overwork. It's a chronic condition caused by leading and living in ways that are misaligned from how we're wired to thrive." "Most successful people don't realize they're in burnout because stress and exhaustion have become so normalized."   Resources Mentioned If you've been searching for ways to prevent burnout or you've been wondering how to increase employee engagement & reduce turnover and burnout in your organization, I'd love to support you.  Explore a partnership together at https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/. Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type Join our FREE live workshop & gain VIP 24-hour early access to our community launch (closes Oct 8th @ 11:59 pm). You'll uncover the 3 silent misalignments that create burnout, complete a live Energy Leak Audit to identify your biggest energy drains, and leave with a One-Move Action Plan. Save your spot at https://impactwithease.com/group-coaching-community-waitlist The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching/ to apply!