Great morning, world—welcome back to Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick, where confusion dies and progress thrives.

Today, I’m joined by someone who has changed the way thousands of people think about motivation, achievement, and the stories we tell ourselves about success—Nic Voge.

Nic is a Senior Lecturer at Princeton University and one of the foremost voices on Self-Worth Theory, a framework first developed by Dr. Martin Covington. His work brings this theory to life, helping students, professionals, and leaders understand how the drive to protect our self-worth often hides beneath patterns like procrastination, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome.

You may know Nic from his viral TED Talk, where he reveals why high achievers often struggle the most—and how true confidence comes not from doing more, but from redefining where our sense of worth comes from.

This isn’t just a conversation about productivity—it’s about identity.
It’s about how we relate to failure, success, and the quiet belief that we are—or aren’t—enough.

So take a deep breath.
Because today, we’re going to make sense of the stories that shape our self-worth—with Nic Voge.

Contact Nic Voge

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MAKES SENSE PODCAST

Welcome to the Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick Podcast. This podcast explores topics that expand human consciousness and enhance performance. On the Makes Sense Podcast, we acknowledge that it's who you are that determines how well what you do works, and that perception is a subjective and acquired taste. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at begin to change. Welcome to the uprising of the sleepwalking masses. Welcome to the Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick Podcast.

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3:49 - Procrastination and Self-Worth Theory

9:12 - Self-Worth Theory Lens - How can we see things in people they can’t see?

12:36 - What is Self-Worth Theory - The Why behind our actions

20:16 - Strategic Self-Handicapping

27:38 - What are your thoughts on participation awards? Good or Bad?

35:08 - Imposter Syndrome

46:24 - My little Secret of overcoming Stage Fright.

48:35 - What’s Next For Nic Voge?

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