What happens when your coworker says "she's always smiling" and your husband looks confused because he doesn't recognize that version of you? That's the moment Sarah Kinlin realized her corporate job was getting the best of her while her family got the worst. After 20+ years following all the rules, leading teams of 70 people working 24/7 in manufacturing, she was the happy, smiling leader at work - and grouchy, stressed, exhausted at home. The wake-up call at that Christmas party changed everything. She took a lateral move from 70 people to 2, got paid the same money, and suddenly had TIME. Time to ask "who is Sarah Kinlin?" Time to put herself first. Time to build a business as a speaker and coach. She started with one mindset coach, then another for business strategy, another for speaking craft, and eventually a spiritual coach to trust her own intuition. Her original plan? Manufacturing consultant. But that wasn't what lit her up. What she really wanted was to be a world-renowned speaker - and now she's living it. She went from needing to qualify herself with "I used to work at Johnson & Johnson for 25 years" to simply saying "I'm Sarah Kinlin. I get paid to show up and light up rooms." The most profound part? Her vision for the future isn't speaking to 20,000 people in an arena - it's facilitating experiences outside, with people's bare feet in the grass, more silence than speaking. Because she's learned that getting outside, grounding herself barefoot before every speaking engagement, is her secret to showing up fully. This conversation is about recognizing when success is costing you what matters most, understanding that putting yourself first strengthens every relationship, and knowing that your best life comes from balancing grit (relentless pursuit) with grace (forgiveness and rest).

Key Takeaways:

• When work gets your best self and family gets your worst, something needs to change
• Taking a lateral move can buy you time to build what you actually want
• Putting yourself first isn't selfish - it strengthens all your relationships
• You might need multiple coaches for different aspects of your growth journey
• Your business evolution might surprise you - trust what lights you up over what makes logical sense
• Letting go of your corporate identity takes time, but eventually you just become YOU
• Think "I get to do this" instead of "I have to do this" - reframe everything
• Grit (relentless action) + Grace (loving yourself, taking breaks) = achieving big scary goals with ease
• Your vision might need to evolve - if you can't hold it, it might not be the right one

Learn More About Sarah:

Sarah Kinlin is a professional speaker, coach, educator, and author who helps leaders move from overwhelmed to focused with the right balance of grit and grace. After 20+ years in corporate manufacturing and warehousing leadership, she left to build Pearl Performance Inc. (named after her daughter's middle name). She speaks to audiences about living their best lives, coaches on mindset and leadership, and works with youth hockey teams on mental performance. Her book "Grit, Grace, and Goals: Lessons from my Dad, Leader of Nine Kids and a Nuclear Station" published in April 2025. Sarah's unique grounding practice: taking her shoes off and walking barefoot outside before every speaking engagement. She lives just outside Guelph, Ontario with her husband Steve and three kids (ages 21, 18, and 11).

Connect with Sarah:

• Website: sarahkinlin.com
• Instagram: @pearlperformanceinc (active daily)
• Book: "Grit, Grace, and Goals" available on Amazon and sarahkinlin.com
• FREE: Audio of first chapter (read by Sarah): share.hsforms.com/1gYudCk_0Ri65WsbBsrdx6Qqwt29
• Upcoming: Grit, Grace & Goals Workshop Series - November 18, 25 & December 2