Have you ever secretly loved being underestimated? That feeling of having nothing to lose and everything to prove. But what happens when you start to succeed, and that pressure of being watched threatens to sabotage your progress?

This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her dear friend, author, and speaker Mary Marantz, whose new book Underestimated explores how to break free from the fears that hold us back. Mary gets candid about her journey, from being told by a high school teacher that she wouldn't make it, to the destructive cycle of perfectionism and self-sabotage that comes with success.

She shares how she's learned to embrace a new kind of fuel for her ambition and why she believes the very act of facing fear means you're about to do work that truly matters.

Tune in for:

• Why being an underdog is a "role of a lifetime" that can destroy your ambition if you aren’t careful.
• The surprising connection between childhood chaos and the urge to self-sabotage as an adult.
• The "Motivation-Defeat Cycle" and how to break free from the all-or-nothing mindset.
• Why consistency will always beat excellence in the long run.
• Mary’s powerful reframe: Fear isn't a creative force; it's a "boring liar" that uses the same broken scripts on everyone.
• How to identify your "achiever type" and use that knowledge to overcome your unique fears.
• The truth about asking for help and why we’re often our own worst enemies when it comes to showing vulnerability.

About Mary Marantz:

Mary Marantz is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur whose work empowers people to unlock their purpose and do the work they were put on this earth to do. She is a New York Times bestselling author of Dirt and Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots, and her newest book is titled Underestimated.

Resources & Links:

• Get Mary's free first chapter and Achiever Quiz: https://namethefear.com
• Follow Mary Marantz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marymarantz/
• Follow Mary Marantz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-marantz-726461b/
• Listen to the Mary Marantz Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mary-marantz-show/id1454133596
• Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.