Meet Elliott. He puts his pen down and feels a sharp twist in his stomach. After a brief call with his director, Elliott, a top-performing account executive for three years, realizes the career advancement he’s been working for might never come. His director tells him there are no management openings, but Elliott’s been hearing that for months, while new managers are hired from outside the team. Frustrated, Elliott reflects on the last three years. He’s worked relentlessly—rising to the top of his team in his first year, pushing himself harder each year to stay at the top. But his drive for perfection began to create friction. He was at odds with colleagues like Kevin, the IT manager, whose slow responses to emails and attitude only fueled Elliott’s determination to work harder. Now, as he reads through his journal, the painful realization hits him: his ambition may have cost him his reputation. His approach, while driven by a desire for success, has rubbed people the wrong way and may be the reason he’s not getting promoted. Jay sits down with Sara Westbrook, a professional speaker and emotional resilience strategist, to unpack Elliott’s situation. Sara, drawing from her own experience on Canadian Idol, shares how emotional awareness and the power of choice shaped her journey toward self-worth and resilience. She offers valuable advice on how Elliott—and anyone facing similar challenges—can rebuild their reputation, improve emotional awareness, and move toward career growth with confidence. If you’re struggling to break through career roadblocks, this conversation is for you. Tune in for Sara’s insightful take on how emotional intelligence and resilience can unlock the next step in your career. Timestamps [00:01] Elliott’s story [01:10] Elliott's work ethic [02:18] Reputation reflection [03:46] Introduction of Sarah Westbrook [04:14] Sarah's Canadian Idol story [09:31] The power of choice [12:21] Building emotional awareness [15:08] Defining character traits [19:25] Emotional vocabulary [22:21] Self-worth and enoughness [25:33] Validating emotions [26:22] The importance of community [28:20] Stress as a connection tool [29:36] Emotions as information [30:23] Acceptance of current feelings [34:35] Intent vs. impact [37:29] Ownership of impact [49:19] Self-compassion in relationships [50:31] Empathy and connection [52:18] Accolades and reflection [54:54] Insights on decision-making [55:05] Actionable takeaways [56:16] Upcoming episode preview Notable Quotes [05:53] "You’re so afraid of failure that you can’t just go for it. How will you ever know?" — Sara Westbrook [48:15] "All I really needed to do was shift my perception. That’s what I needed to do, and when I did that, I realized I was in the right job, working with the right manager." — Jay Abbasi [52:44] "I don’t believe life is about perfection, but I do believe it’s about reflection, redirection, and progress." — Sara Westbrook About Our Guest Sara Westbrook is a professional speaker, author, singer, and emotional resilience strategist with over 17 years of experience. She focuses on the impact of emotions on choices, well-being, and resilience, offering keynotes, presentations, and workshops tailored for companies, organizations, schools, and parents. Her work helps both adults and children navigate emotional challenges and build resilience through self-awareness and positive decision-making. Resources and Link Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Sara Westbrook Website: https://sarawestbrook.com/ LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawestbrook/?originalSubdomain=ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsarawestbrook/ Mentioned Canadian Idol Kelly McGonigal's TED Talk Dr. Dan Siegel
