Introduction

This week on Spirit of the Deal, we're diving deep with Laura Dionisio, a powerhouse coach who helps high achievers break free from "soul-sucking" success. Ever feel like you're climbing the ladder only to realize it's leaning against the wrong wall? Laura's been there, and she's here to guide you through a career pivot that feels not just successful, but genuinely *good*.

We're talking about:

• The "speed dating" of our intro: Get ready for rapid-fire insights into what makes Laura tick.
• Alchemizing stubbornness: Discover how a shadow trait became her superpower in sales and life.
• The ultimate sales question: Learn how Laura flips the script to get clients to ask themselves the *real* question.
• From aerospace to alignment: Laura shares the courageous leap she took from a stable corporate career to building her dream business, Lead Intact.
• Embodying your future self: We explore the neuroscience and mindset shifts required to truly step into the identity you desire.
• The "cha-cha" childhood and its impact: How a nomadic upbringing shaped Laura's global perspective and innate resilience.
• The spirit of the deal, redefined: Laura breaks down her "Why, What, How" framework and how it applies to every exchange.

If you're ready to ditch the burnout, reclaim your career, and build a life with purpose and passion, this episode is your blueprint. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and aligned.

Honest Overview

Laura Dionisio brings a powerful perspective on career transitions, rooted in her own journey from eighteen years in corporate engineering to becoming a purposeful career coach. The core insight is that true success isn't about climbing a ladder, but about aligning your career with what actually feels good and brings you joy. She emphasizes ditching the "shiny but soul-sucking" versions of success that society often pushes.

The emotional stakes here are high. For so many high achievers, there's a gnawing feeling of misalignment, a sense of "is this all there is?" Laura experienced this herself, leading to a period of "reverse bedtime procrastination" and a profound sense of being out of sync with her own needs. Her decision to leave a long, established corporate career for her own business, Lead Intact, was a massive leap of faith. She highlights the relief and liberation that came with finally aligning her actions with her inner truth.

Key takeaways from the conversation include:

• The Power of Embodiment: Laura, like many in the "Spirit of the Deal" community, understands that visualizing success isn't enough; you have to embody your future self. This means not just seeing it, but feeling it and acting from that place.
• Stubbornness as a Strength: She candidly shares her "shadow trait" of stubbornness, which she's powerfully alchemized into determination. When faced with doubt, her stubbornness kicks in, pushing her forward, often against the odds.
• "Are You Worth It?": The boldest sales conversation takeaway is the question, "The program's worth it, are you worth it?" This flips the script, forcing potential clients to confront their own self-worth and readiness to invest in themselves.
• Cultural Resilience and Adaptability: Her "cha-cha childhood," moving between the Philippines and the US multiple times, built incredible resilience and an open-mindedness to different ways of being. This has translated into her coaching, allowing her to be deeply understanding of diverse perspectives.
• The "Why" and "What" of the Deal: Laura's framework for "Spirit of the Deal" centers on understanding the intention behind any exchange – the "why" (your core motivation) and the "what" (your desired outcome), as opposed to just the "how" (the transaction itself).
• Leaving the Spreadsheet Behind: Her significant career pivot was the first time she didn't create a spreadsheet. This signifies a move from purely logical, data-driven decisions to trusting her intuition and inner knowing.

The conversation powerfully illustrates how embracing your authentic identity, even when it means defying expectations and societal norms, leads to a more energized, aligned, and ultimately, more successful life and career. It's about doing the brave work of excavating your own truth and then building your life from that foundation.