In this episode, I dive into Chapter 7 of my bestselling book  Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. I share practical strategies for running a tight ship in both your work and personal life. I open up about my own journey with boundaries, time management, and the lessons I’ve learned from clients and personal experience. If you’re ready to stop overworking, reclaim your time, and shine brighter, this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why Boundaries Matter: Ishare how setting boundaries has helped me (and my clients) avoid burnout and reclaim joy in work and life.
• Parkinson’s Law: I explain how work expands to fill the time we give it, and why limiting our thinking time" to four hours a day can boost creativity and effectiveness.

• Production Line Analogy: I use my experience in manufacturing to illustrate how we can manage ourworkload, avoid bottlenecks, and prevent overwhelm.
• Saying No (Without Guilt): I talk about the importance of saying no, even when it feels uncomfortable.
• Time and People Boundaries: I reflect on how I’ve learned to protect my time from "time stealers" and set healthy boundaries with people who drain my energy.
• Delegation and Letting Go of Perfectionism: I discuss how perfectionism and the need to please can lead to overwork, and how I’ve helped clients (and myself) delegate and trust others.
• Owning Your Space: I share stories about how body language, mindset, and language can help us projectconfidence and claim our space, at work and beyond.
• Recognising When You’ve Used Up Your ‘Help Quota’: I talk about the importance of fair exchange in relationships and knowing when to step back from living too much.

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle Read x

Bestselling Author, Coach &Speaker

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction & episode overview
• 02:01 – Antidote #7: Run a Tight Ship
• 04:44 – Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill time
• 06:49 – The four-hour productivity rule
• 08:12 – Managing your “production line” (workload)
• 13:15 – Overcoming perfectionism and people-pleasing
• 18:10 – Learning to say no
• 20:58 – Time stealers and digital boundaries
• 22:12 – Setting people boundaries
• 32:51 – Summary & key takeaways
• 33:48 – Next episode preview & closing

Listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch onYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead⁠ 

Connect with Estelle Read:
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit. For free resources, to join the SHINE Coaching Programme or to apply for a discovery call, visit www.EstelleRead.com 

Thanks for listening to the Optimising Your BrilliancePodcast!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

In this episode, I dive into Antidote #6 from my book, "Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine" which is about offloading excess baggage.

Key Topics Covered:

• I share personal stories from my coaching practice, highlighting how emotional baggage can hold us back in both our work and personal lives.
• I introduce you to Havening, a technique that has transformed not only my clients' lives but mine too.
• I explain the science behind Havening, how it was developed, and why it's my go-to tool for helping people release limiting beliefs and emotional pain in order to transform performance and personal lives.
• I also guide you through the process of identifying the root causes of recurring patterns and emotions, especially those that stem from childhood.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction to the podcast and Estelle Reed
• 01:04 – What is “offloading excess baggage”?
• 03:00 – Real-life stories of overcoming emotional baggage
• 06:23 – The science behind emotional baggage (ACE study)
• 10:49 – How to identify and release limiting beliefs
• 16:06 – What is Havening and how does it work?
• 27:43 – What to expect from Havening
• 39:14 – Summary and key takeaways
• 41:56 – Preview of next episode and closing

Listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead⁠  

Connect with Estelle Read:
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit. For free resources, to join the SHINE Coaching Programme or to apply for a discovery call, visit www.EstelleRead.com 

Thanks for listening to the Optimising Your Brilliance Podcast!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

In this episode of the Optimising Your Brilliance Podcast Idive into Antidote #5: Navigate to Destination Joy.

Discover how to move from feeling stuck or overwhelmed tofinding true fulfilment in work and life. Through real-life stories, practical strategies, and personal reflections, I share how setting a clear vision, aligning your goals with your values, and taking small, consistent steps can help you reach your own ‘Destination Joy.’

Start charting your course to a more joyful, purpose-driven work-life.

Key Topics:

• The difference between vision and mission, and why both matter.

• Real-life coaching stories, including Jennifer’s journey from “Destination Grim” to “Destination Joy.”
• The dangers of drifting through life on “autopilot” and how to become the captain of your own ship.
• The pitfalls of fantasising about outcomes without taking action, supported by neuroscience research.
• The importance of setting specific, measurable, relevant, and time-bound (SMRT) Goals.
• How to break down big goals into manageable tasks and the power of accountability.
• The role of values and purpose in aligning your goals and vision.
• Personal anecdotes about vision boards, serendipity, and making congruent life decisions.
• What the science says about how to increase your chances of goal attainment.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction & podcast overview

03:28 – Chapter 5: “Navigate to Destination Joy”

03:58 – Jennifer’s story: from stress to joy

07:32 – Why vision needs action (research insights)

08:31 – Small steps and resilience

11:09 – Vision vs. mission; being congruent

13:20 – Overcoming self-sabotage

16:41 – Aligning vision with family and values

19:07 – Setting and writing down goals

21:11 – Breaking goals into tasks; accountability

28:54 – Visualising and drawing your goals

30:16 – Summary and key action points

31:17 – The SHINE Coaching Programme and free resources

32:03 – Closing and next episode teaser

Listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead  

Connect with Estelle Read:
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit. For free resources, to join the SHINE Coaching Programme or to apply for a discovery call, visit www.EstelleRead.com 

Thanks for listening to the Optimising Your Brilliance Podcast!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

I’m reading Chapter 4: Align Towards Your Stars from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development.

The goal of this chapter is to help you tune into every thing that is brilliant about you and important to you, so that you are super-powered towards what makes you shine. In this episode, we’ll explore:

• What happens when our shine is dulled.
• What makes you amazing: your strengths.
• How to accept and understand nature-based weaknesses.
• How we can ‘fix’ nature-based weaknesses.
• How to recognise when your stars align.
• What happens when we overdo our strengths.
• Working out what’s important to you: your values.
• What happens when we are misaligned with our values.
• The different types of values: towards and away from values.
• The consequence of over-doing values.
• Understanding your purpose

I have permission from my publisher to read most of my book aloud. If you'd like to access the parts I’ve omitted, you can download the accompanying workbook and journal here: https://estelleread.com/resources/

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle x
Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker
Connect & access free resources here: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

Hello there!

In this episode, I read Chapter 3: Understand What Causes You to Sink from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress.

I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development.

The goal of this chapter is to help you understand the root cause of your stress, workaholism and imposter syndrome. In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The Nature vs Nurture Model of Personality

• Whether you grew up in a safe and stable environment or wasit unsafe and unpredictable one
• Whether you felt loved or rejected
• Whether you felt like a success or failure
• What happens when faking it doesn’t help you make it
• How we can ‘cheat’ change and update outdated beliefs and coping strategies

I have permission from my publisher to read most of my book aloud. If you'd like to access the parts I’ve omitted, you can download the accompanying workbook and journal here: https://estelleread.com/resources/

Here’s to your shining!

Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker
Connect & access free resources here: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

Hello there!

In this episode, I read Chapter 2: Captain Your Ship from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development.

The goal of this chapter is to help you realise you have more control over your conscious and unconscious mind—and how your thoughts and attitudes influence your results.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The importance of coming off autopilot and how you can make yourself 4% better!
• How your conscious and unconscious minds work

• How to be more consciously in charge and how processing through our senses influences our outcomes
• Shifting from a victim or persecutor mindset toward being your own Brave Captain [of your ship].

I have permission from my publisher to read most of my book aloud. If you'd like to access the parts I’ve omitted, you can download yourself-coaching tools here: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle x
Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker
Connect & access free resources here: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

Hello there!

In this episode, I read Chapter 1: Know Your Co-ordinates from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development.

The goal of this chapter is to help you establish where you are right now, so you can start reflecting on what you’d like to change.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• How we get stuck in Groundhog Day with our stress patterns
• What burnout and stress really are
• Why moving beyond stress, workaholism, and imposter syndrome is an inside job - we have to take charge of our ‘ship’
• Why reassurance-seeking doesn’t work to make us feel good enough
• How we shrink our space and limit ourselves
• What imposter syndrome is and how it connects to not feeling good enough
• Why denial only prolongs our suffering and how to break free

I have permission from my publisher to read most of my book aloud. If you'd like to access the parts I’ve omitted, you can download them from my Workbook and Journal, which serves as a self-coaching model, available here: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle x
Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker

Connect & Access Free Resources here: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

Hello there!

I’m so excited to re-launch my podcast under a new title: Optimising Your Brilliance. To celebrate, I’ve received permission from my publisher to share from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. I thought it would be a great way to support your summer growth.

In this first episode, I read the introduction to my book and share an overview of what you can expect from future chapters. See if you can relate to 'Charlotte'.

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle x

Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker

Access Free Resources, Connect or Find Out More Here: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

Roz very kindly endorsed my book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress. We trained together as coaches 18 years ago and what’s always impressed me about her, is that she makes a success of whatever she turns her hand to.

She’s been a partner in a firm of patent attorneys in Derby, run a coaching business and is now an award-winning crime author with Harper Collins with her DI Meg Dalton Crime Series.

This episode of Leader Insider Secrets was recorded from her writing shed overlooking a field where she thinks about murder plots. We talk about:

· Her murder board.

· How she uses repetitive activities to think creatively.

· How she knows when it’s time to change something in her work or life.

· Her tips for focusing and concentrating.

· The positive childhood experience which taught her to ask for help and to trust people.

· How she doesn’t get hung up on goals which she can’t control. She focuses on things she can make happen.

· How she handles 1 star reviews.

· How it’s important to let yourself feel ‘it’ and be genuine in your emotions.

· How she cheers herself up if she feels down, when she needs to get a job done.

· The worst piece of advice she’s been given.

Roz is one of the most interesting people I know and has a brilliant brain. It was easy to see, listening to her, why she makes a success of things.

The best place to connect with Roz is on Twitter. You can find out more about her books here, the first in the series is The Devils Dice.

You can connect with me Estelle Read, book a free 30 minute discovery session, get free resources or order my book Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress here.

Thank you for listening to Leader Insider Secrets. You can help this podcast grow by leaving an honest review.

Also, if you want to get future episodes remember to hit subscribe.

I was privileged to interview podcasting royalty Professor Damian Hughes. He’s the co-host of UK’s most popular pod, The High Performance Podcast with Jake Humphrey and they’ve interviewed some amazing guests ranging from Mathew McConaughey, Rio Ferdinand, Alastair Campbell, Dame Kelly Holmes and Mel Robins.

Damian is an international speaker and the author of many best-selling books. I was therefore honoured when Damian agreed to come on my podcast AND endorse my book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress.

As you might expect with Damian, this episode is jam-packed with thought provoking statements and advice about recreating high performance.  We talk about:

· How success leaves clues.

· How to establish a culture of high performance.

· The person Damian thinks of when he thinks about success.

· How imposter syndrome at school, positively drove him on to where he is today.

· How confidence comes from evidence.

· How to create psychological safety.

· The importance of a ‘blueprint’ for high performance, which is based on strengths and looking for what has already been done successfully.

· And of course, sport! He has worked with and interviewed many international sporting heroes.

Damian is someone I’ve looked up to for a long time. We first met 16 years ago at the launch of his first book and I can remember thinking wow back then. I was left feeling even more impressed following our conversation. He’s candid, funny, holds a wealth of knowledge and generously shares his time and expertise.

You can connect with Damian on LinkedIn, Instagram or find out more about him here. This is where you can listen to his podcast and find his latest best-selling book.

You can connect with me Estelle Read, book a free 30 minute discovery session, get free resources or order my book Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress here.

Thank you for listening to Leader Insider Secrets. You can help this podcast grow by leaving an honest review.

Also, if you want to get future episodes remember to hit subscribe.