In this episode, Heather and Jenny get real about one of the hardest leadership skills for women: saying no—clearly, calmly, and without guilt.

Because the truth is: women don’t just overcommit… we yes ourselves into resentment. We say yes to be accommodating, flexible, and “a team player,” then end up exhausted, bitter, and stretched thin.

This episode is practical and tactical. You’ll walk away with ready-to-use scripts for saying no at work and at home, plus simple strategies to protect your priorities, set boundaries, and stop letting “time vampires” hijack your day.

• Why saying no is a disciplined behavior, not a personality trait

• How to prepare for predictable requests so you don’t default to yes

• The role of priorities + boundaries in making “no” easier (and cleaner)

• What to say when someone asks, “Do you have a minute?” (you don’t)

• How to respond when something gets dumped on your desk that isn’t your job

• How to avoid the “soft no” that sounds like a yes

• Delegation scripts—especially if you’re the “she’ll figure it out” person

• How to handle hallway meetings, gossip, and other time vampires

• Boundary-setting at home: family calls, time limits, and honoring relationships without being drained

• “We yes ourselves to death.”

• “Don’t prolong the pain—say no upfront.”

• “I’ve got three minutes. What you got?”

• “If you don’t see me write it down, it’s not happening.”

• “This is a predictable event. Be prepared.”

This week, pick one situation where you usually default to yes—and script your no ahead of time.
Then use it once. Clean. Clear. No guilt.

In This Episode, You’ll LearnFavorite Lines / Quote PullsListener Challenge

Episode 2 of the Relentless & Real Podcast is live: “Take the Damn Nap: Self-Care for Women Who Lead.”

In this episode of the Relentless & Real Podcast, Heather and Jenny get brutally honest about something most women leaders struggle with but rarely talk about without guilt: rest.

From near-death health scares to returning to work days after major surgery, they unpack why so many women confuse availability with value—and how that mentality is literally costing us our health, our energy, and our joy.

This conversation is part story, part wake-up call, and part practical toolkit for women who lead and are tired of being tired.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why so many women leaders struggle to prioritize rest without guilt

• How “availability = value” shows up in our careers, homes, and relationships

• Heather’s life-altering medical emergency at 17 and what it taught her about rest

• Jenny’s story of returning to work days after surgery—and the long-term cost

• How martyrdom, perfectionism, and people-pleasing keep women exhausted

• Why outsourcing (house cleaning, groceries, meals) is self-care, not a luxury

• Practical ways to build self-care into your day:

  • A consistent, intentional morning routine

  • Midday “press pause” moments and micro-naps

  • Real lunch breaks (not eating over your keyboard)

  • Evenings that actually refill your tank

• The myth of “work–life balance” and a healthier way to think about work and life

• Why you must come first if you want to lead well at home and at work

  
  

Listen on your favorite platform:

🎧 Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relentless-real/id1851878107⁠

🎧 Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4t9ewaWfp6nvwrJ2GNraCy?si=51fe0273cf014759⁠

Connect with Focus 3:

🌐 Website: https://focus3.com/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-3/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus3team/

Ep. 1 – The Power of Clarity: Why Leadership Starts Within

In our inaugural episode of Relentless & Real, hosts Heather Verity (CEO & Owner of Focus 3) and Jennifer Lawson (Senior Education Consultant) break down the foundational leadership skill most people skip: clarity.

Through personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and decades of lived leadership experience, Heather and Jenny open up about what it really takes to build culture, hire well, trust your intuition, and lead without apology—especially as women in positions where women remain drastically underrepresented.

• Why women dominate education but hold only 7% of superintendent roles

• The story behind Heather purchasing Focus 3—a “30-year-old startup”

• Why leadership isn’t about being in front of the room

• The three-part hiring philosophy that drives organizational trust

  • Find the right people

  • Give them the tools

  • Get out of their way

• How intuition becomes a superpower for women leaders

• Why culture must come before revenue (and why Focus 3 will walk away from the wrong client)

• The truth about ego, authenticity, and being the same person “everywhere you go”

• Why clarity is the foundation for consistency and trust

• 01:20 – Why the world needs more visible female leaders

• 03:40 – The staggering stats about women in education leadership

• 04:50 – How Heather ended up buying Focus 3

• 07:30 – The difference between being a visionary and being a CEO

• 10:00 – “99% of success is selection” — Heather’s hiring philosophy

• 14:00 – Why culture breaks when leaders operate from ego

• 18:45 – Why intuition isn’t “soft” — it’s strategic

• 27:00 – The role of family in long-term career fit

• 35:00 – What clarity does for team trust, loyalty, and performance

• “Clarity is consistency, and consistency builds trust.”

• “You attract, not attack.”

• “People support what they help create.”

• “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no.”

• “Leadership isn’t about doing everything—it’s about conducting the orchestra.”

Listen on your favorite platform:

🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relentless-real/id1851878107
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4t9ewaWfp6nvwrJ2GNraCy?si=51fe0273cf014759

Connect with Focus 3:
🌐 Website: https://focus3.com/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-3/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus3team/

Welcome to Relentless & Real — the podcast for women who lead, women who rise, and women who are absolutely done shrinking themselves to fit places they’ve outgrown.

I’m Jennifer Lawson — educator, consultant, mom, and professional boundary-setter. With me is my co-host, Heather Verity — CEO, owner, and unapologetic champion of women who choose courage over comfort every single day.

Together, we’re pulling back the curtain on leadership, motherhood, ambition, and the messy middle where real growth happens.

Because let’s be honest — leadership isn’t all highlight reels and motivational memes.

Sometimes it’s grit, grace, and breathing through the chaos while you answer emails at the soccer field or fix your mascara between meetings and dinner duty.

This show is for women building lives and careers on purpose — the ones who refuse to play small, who stand firm in their values, and who lead with strength, humor, and heart.

If you’re craving honest conversation, a little sass, real-world strategy, and encouragement that doesn’t sound like a Pinterest sticker — you’re exactly where you belong.

This is Relentless & Real — where we don’t just talk about intentional leadership and disciplined living...we live it.

New episodes coming to you soon.