When I was 18, I accidentally joined a cult. This left me with one indelible lesson that has shaped my entire career as a business coach: people are astonishingly quick to give away their power.
In this episode, I unpack what that early experience taught me about authority, hierarchy, and how easily we project extraordinary qualities onto other people, especially in the coaching and online business world.
We’re talking about pedestal-building, guru culture, quantum leaps, collapsed timelines, and why this dynamic is dangerous for clients as well as for coaches. Because when someone puts you on a pedestal, they’re not just flattering you. They’re relinquishing responsibility. And the fall, when it comes, can be brutal.
If you’re a coach, consultant, leader, or ambitious woman building something meaningful, this important conversation will have you rethinking your views on power, impact, influence and psychology.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why my experience teaching meditation at 18 revealed a hidden dynamic about authority that most business owners never question
The subtle but dangerous difference between respecting expertise and projecting magical thinking onto someone
How pedestal-building actually gives you a “get out of jail free” card (and why that’s more costly than you think)
The early warning signs you’re dealing with a guru, not a leader
The small boundary violations that often precede the biggest coaching horror stories
Why “just copy my blueprint” ignores systemic privilege, context, and lived reality
The mature relationship to power that most values-based business owners were never taught
A simple but powerful question to ask when a client puts you on a pedestal — and how it changes the dynamic instantly
This episode is for you if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “She’s just different. I could never do that.” It's especially for you if you’ve experienced an energy vampire client, struggled with boundaries, or want to lead without becoming authoritarian.
Many thoughtful, intelligent women in business have a complicated relationship with power. We’ve seen it abused. We may have experienced manipulation from others multiple times. We’ve been undermined. It's time for a new vision of power.