In today's episode, Cindy Esliger challenges the myth that all successful people have everything figured out. The belief that at some point in our career, we will cease to struggle and achieve clarity on every front is a narrative that distorts our perception of success. Cindy debunks the notion of a one-size-fits-all path to professional success and explores how continuing experiences contribute to wisdom. 

Believing in a secret blueprint, precise formula, or hidden manual for success creates unnecessary pressure and unrealistic expectations for us. Instead, what truly matters is our own journey and the adaptation and self-discovery we navigate along the way. Cindy discusses the relationship between experience and wisdom, promoting the necessity of striving and lifelong learning to attain career success. 

Cindy believes we must challenge ourselves at every stage of our careers and embrace the complexity of what achievement requires. She explains why the journey outside our comfort zone opens us to opportunities and knowledge. How do we embrace this uncertainty and retain optimism? She outlines three practical steps: 1. Set achievable goals, 2. Develop a flexible mindset, and 3. Visualize success and plan for challenges. This episode will challenge our ideas of unlocking a secret formula to success that negates challenges and shows why the continuing journey is so vital.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Figuring It Out
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger challenges the belief that achieving future success will be what makes us happy. Achieving a goal is a milestone but if we don’t value the journey along the way as much as the end result, we won’t be happy when we get there. Cindy examines why the journey, especially the first part of a journey full of obstacles, is important to our career development and success and how determination factors in. 

Determination is a life skill that’s key to overcoming challenges and obstacles in our paths. Since it’s through adversity that we more clearly understand our strengths and potential, determination is a skill we should look to cultivate. Cindy discusses why the discouragement of mistakes and fear of failure instilled in us in youth follows us into adulthood and robs us of our determination. She has advice on how to regain that determination. 

Fostering determination is what aids us in pushing through adversity and adversity is what teaches us, shapes us, and builds our strength throughout our journey. Appreciating this journey is key to appreciating our experiences and potential, and discovering who we really are. Cindy explores the many setbacks and failures that are inevitable as well as how our determination drives us toward our goal. Her advice is vital to acknowledging that success lies as much in the journey as in achieving the goal. 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Developing Your Determination
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger examines how our patterns of behavior and decision-making are ingrained along the course of our lives and can influence outcomes on our journey. How do we recognize these patterns that are often deeply ingrained and subtle? Identifying them will help us single out limiting behaviors and free us to achieve greater success. Cindy guides us in finding and working on our innate patterns. 

There is a direct relationship between patterns and possibilities. When we can understand what our habits are and how those habits and decision-making processes operate, we can start to anticipate what comes next and steer our futures. Cindy sets us the challenge of recognizing our patterns. In women especially, there are often two limiting patterns in the workplace that we need to single out. 

Change is difficult so Cindy offers advice on how to overcome our comfort in habits and resistance to change. Part of it is building resilience to setbacks and finding the stepping stones in failure that drive us forward. Her three tips for enhancing an ability after experiencing a setback are 1. Content learning, 2. Flexibility and planning, and 3. Developing emotional intelligence. Cindy discusses the importance of self-compassion, cultivating pattern recognition skills, and finding ways to adapt when challenging the patterns holding us back. Learn how these skills can free us from limiting behaviors and propel us to success.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Noticing Your Patterns
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger introduces us to the notion of the productivity illusion in today’s episode. The productivity illusion is the mindset that says the primary goal of work is to increase output and gather a list of accomplishments. However, productivity should exist in a balance between being productive for its own sake and harnessing efficiency as a tool to reclaim time for other things in life. Cindy explores productivity and how to make our days more fulfilling.  

The drive to push, do more, be more, and achieve more is largely fueled by the productivity illusion which equates being productive with the ultimate goal of happiness, success, and fulfillment. It celebrates being busy as a badge of honor. Cindy unravels the productivity illusion to show how it can be misleading and discusses productivity as a purposeful journey instead of an endless chase.  

She explores the need to delegate and deprioritize tasks that don’t contribute to our career objectives, rather than simply chalking them up as things to do. She explains the concept of the 80/20 rule, or the Pareto Principle, and identifies how the greatest achievements often come from the least amount of tasks. Cindy offers the idea of personalizing productivity, simplifying our approaches, and enjoying free time guilt-free as part of her explanation of how to break the productivity illusion. 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Intentional Productivity
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective
• “The 80/20 Rule And How It Can Change Your Life” by Kevin Kruse for Forbes.com (Pareto Principle)

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today’s episode, Cindy Esliger talks about fear, specifically the fear that can hinder career growth. It may appear as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or questioning self-worth, but it can take a toll. Sometimes it can be overcome by reframing it. Words have power and Cindy explains why the way you talk to yourself matters.  

The three major fears - imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and questioning self-worth - can impact success in professional settings. Cindy offers a three-step process to help overcome them: 1. Name it, 2. Tame it, and 3. Claim it. She discusses each step in depth, exploring where each of the fears stems from, their impacts, and why the power of words can combat the fear. A shift in language encourages a mindset of progress and resilience.  

Cindy’s advice identifies where the pain points in our professional lives arise. We tend to let the fear take over, internalizing it instead of reframing it. The power of language, using words to acknowledge our fear and address the feelings surrounding it, can make a difference and spark self-confidence in us. This is what Cindy talks about, where within ourselves the transformative key lies and how to access it. Overcoming fear means harnessing power and overcoming obstacles and both are required to achieve successful career growth. 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Overcoming Your Fear
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today’s episode, Cindy Esliger addresses the subject of gaslighting. Gaslighting is a term that’s used a lot because it is a prevalent form of undermining and manipulation that often exists in professional environments. Why do people employ the use of gaslighting? How can we recognize it? And what long-term impact does it have on us? Cindy dives into the explanations and advice surrounding gaslighting.  

Gaslighting can take various forms, from dismissing or trivializing our concerns to denying facts or events that have happened. People use gaslighting to maintain or advance their own position in the workplace and it’s effective because it sows doubt in the target and disempowers them. Cindy explains how gaslighting works to erode confidence and details the ways it can cause cumulative stress and an emotional toll that can contribute to mental health issues.  

Cindy’s advice for counteracting gaslighting partially involves conducting a self-assessment that builds belief in ourselves that is independent of the opinions of others. Relying on external validation can open the door for gaslighting to be effective. Cindy’s five tips and strategies for building that belief are, 1. Self-reflection, 2. Constructive feedback, 3. Setting personal goals, 4. Self-compassion, and 5. Developing our skills. She shares warning signs, advice for empowerment, and ways to restore lost self-confidence in this necessary and important episode. 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Break the Spell
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about two challenges commonly faced in the workplace, burnout and feelings of betrayal, and explores the distinctions between the two. Each has unique characteristics that are important to recognize to protect ourselves from their detrimental effects. Cindy carefully defines burnout and betrayal with advice on how to identify symptoms and contributing factors. 

Cindy details three characteristics of burnout: 1) exhaustion, 2) cynicism and detachment, and 3) feelings of ineffectiveness. She then discusses four distinct characteristics that differentiate burnout from feelings of betrayal: 1) origin and focus, 2) internal versus external factors, 3) physical and emotional impact, and 4) responsibility and blame. Understanding the differences is key to promoting a supportive and healthy work environment.

Trust is one of the fundamental elements forming the groundwork for all successful professional relationships in the workplace. Cindy explains why trust and trust violations profoundly impact us and how the erosion of trust leads to toxic work environments that include burnout and feelings of betrayal. She highlights ways for us to express our concerns and take proactive steps to protect ourselves and offers advice on how not to give in to feelings of helplessness. This episode is an important resource for finding our footing through deliberate action and setting boundaries against burnout and betrayal.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Reclaiming Your Power
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger discusses office politics and the necessity of engaging in them with integrity. While the term often carries a negative connotation, office politics can positively impact your career and recognizing the dynamics of office politics is crucial for anyone with ambition. It is possible to be strategic and ethical and Cindy shares exactly how to do this within your organization. 

Right away Cindy lists four benefits of engaging in office politics with integrity: 1. Builds trust and credibility, 2. Enhances political reputation, 3. Strengthens interpersonal relationships, and 4. Mitigates risks and challenges. Maintaining ethical standards allows us to form positive connections without getting entangled in behaviors that lead to damaged reputations or unpleasant consequences. 

Cindy details the behaviors we want to avoid engaging in as they are likely to contribute to a toxic workplace. Genuine relationships are always preferable and those are founded by seeking common ground and showing sincere interest in colleagues. When conflicts do arise, however, Cindy has advice for how to handle them: 1. Actively listen, 2. Choose the right place and time, 3. Focus on the issue, not the person, and 4. Involve others in finding a solution. Cindy’s experience shows how to have a proactive approach to prevent misunderstandings and forge a supportive network. Following her advice will aid in becoming more politically savvy. 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Fighting Fair
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the pivotal role asking open-ended questions and keenly listening to the answers plays, not just in effective communication, but in navigating office politics. Why should we learn to listen better and why would we want to keep colleagues talking? As Cindy points out, learning more about people’s views and motives leads to understanding what drives them and being able to connect.  

Cultivating active listening skills is how we elevate our communication strategies. Active listening is not just hearing the words being said but involves a genuine effort to understand the speaker’s perspective and message. Coupled with reflective listening, summarizing what was said to ensure you understand, this is a powerful tool for improving office politics. Cindy explains all the nuances of engagement, including focus and body language, that improve our listening.

There is so much more to listening than simply not talking. Cindy lays out all the tools at our disposal, all the ways in which we can school ourselves to listen openly, ask open questions, reflect the speaker’s words to ensure understanding, and move the listening into a collaborative conversation. She narrows in on how to teach ourselves to modulate our voice and tone while also interpreting the tone others use and picking up subtle communication cues that allow deeper insight into a colleague’s stance. These are the ways in which we make progress through office dynamics and form valuable connections to aid in our growth.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Becoming A Better Listener
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about the pivotal role feedback plays in professional growth. However, while constructive feedback is important, it’s equally important to learn how to navigate the critiques and understand who is offering the feedback. Not everyone will have our best interests at heart, so how can we learn to be more self-reliant and critical in assessing feedback?  

The mutual exchange of constructive feedback is key to innovation and collaboration in the workplace. It lays the groundwork for growth and success. The challenge lies in distinguishing between well-intentioned feedback and feedback that has ulterior motives behind it. Cindy discusses the importance of trusting our instincts and learning not to constantly need external validation to make our decisions.

When we receive unwarranted negative criticism, it’s key not to internalize that negativity. Cindy shares five tips for navigating harmful criticism: 1. Pause and reflect, 2. Seek clarification, 3. Focus on the constructive elements, 4. Engage trusted advisors, and 5. Learn to disregard. She elaborates on how to put these tips into action and discusses how to develop a strong positive self-image, one that bolsters confidence. Learn how to seek and respond to the right feedback with Cindy.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Guide to Considering the Source
• Astronomic Audio
• Confidence Collective

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Contact Cindy Esliger 

Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email