Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

What happens when the very idea of "success" you've chased your whole life suddenly disappears? Maybe you're standing at a career crossroads and wondering, "Who am I if I'm not climbing the next mountain?" The pressure to "level up" can be exhausting. If you're feeling that nudge to redefine success and finally build a life that feels like yours, this episode is for you.

Meet Kevin Lingg, founder of Loaded Dough Cookie Co. After more than 20 years in leadership roles, Kevin's life and career took an unexpected turn. He lost his job. And like many of us, he thought the next step was to find another one, a bigger role, a new challenge, another title. Underneath that drive was a lot of ego. At the time, Kevin had a cookie business, a small, joyful side venture he couldn't imagine turning into his next chapter. It felt too small. But eventually, he let go of what success was supposed to look like and started asking a different question — What if smaller could actually mean freer?

Kevin shares what he's learned about redefining identity, letting go of ego to embrace a more fulfilling path, and applying decades of leadership lessons when you are your own team of one.

We're not romanticizing loss or glossing over real fears about money, ego, and uncertainty. We're exploring what it means to redefine success on your own terms, without burning the boats or taking risks that don't fit your wiring.

Chapter Highlights

(00:00) What happens when everything you've built your identity around suddenly disappears?

(03:50) How we get caught in the trap of leveling up and achieving "more"

(05:51) How smart money moves create future options

(10:22) Turning "just a fun project" into a sustainable business without all the pressure

(20:10) The mindset shift Kevin made about his own value

(21:36) Kevin's step-by-step, low-risk approach to creating a business that fit his life

(26:16) What to do when you're feeling the nudge to leave your corporate role

Connect with Kevin Lingg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlingg/

https://loadeddough.com/

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

Connect with Andrea Butcher on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.

About Andrea Butcher

Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).

Connect with Andrea

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/

Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events

https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events