Self-employment has been heralded as the ultimate power move. Be your own boss! Monetize who you are! These are the messages we here that glorify moving from employee to entrepreneur. In this episode, Kim talks about the shame associated with moving in the opposite direction. She shares why there are many positive and healthy reasons you may want to go back to working for someone else, including her own personal story of accepting an employment offer after promising to never go back. This episode is for anyone who feels pressure to make it work on their own even—and especially when—they're feeling called back to a more traditional role. Kim emphasizes the importance of flexibility in career paths and describes exactly why the future of work is impermanent.

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Are your proud that, unlike your peers, you aren't using AI? Does it make you feel like a more honest, capable professional? Or could it actually be an excuse like "I'm just not good at tech" that's keeping you behind? This is what we're exploring on today's episode of Why Is Nobody Talking About This with my special guest, Karen Sergeant. Karen's career has taken her from tech to the CIA to founder operations. Through that journey, she's gotten really good at change—and helping others move through ambiguity as well. This conversation changed Kim's entire outlook on adopting AI into her business systems. If you're looking to make the biggest impact you can without burning out or getting in the way of your team, this is your next listen. 

KAREN'S QUOTES

AI can feel like a loss of relevance when you’re being asked to let go of things that made you once feel indispensable

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Do you feel like you have to shape shift at work? Act a certain way because that's what clients expect a very serious businessperson to do? Whether we like it or not, corporate America takes a masculine approach to leadership. And that, my friend, has trickle down effects to even the smallest businesses. What if I told you things are changing? That by leaning into your soft power and creativity, you could be part of a massive shift—one that asks for presence over power, taking time off over hustling and grinding your way through.

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From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks

Episode 9: The Traditional Path Rewards People Pleasing

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

The Bench community for women

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We laugh about being recovering people pleasers, but where do those tendencies come from? Are we born this way or did we learn to people please as a safety mechanism? In today's episode, Kim speaks openly about events in her younger years that led her to become a people pleaser and how this was reinforced at work. If you've ever wondered why you're motivated to do or say things that appeal to others but aren't necessarily true to you, this is a must listen.

Trigger warning: domestic violence is discussed. This episode may not be appropriate for younger listeners.

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It feels good to have a plan. When we know where we're headed it's easy to believe we're in control. But, of course, we're not. In this solo episode, Kim talks about how planning too far out can keep us from seeing the opportunities right in front of us. She also uncovers how relying too much on planning can prevent us from ever slowing down and what the fear of success actually looks like.

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In this episode we're joined by Jess Harrell of The Styled Domicile. You might know her for her bold pattern choices or signature cheetah statue. Or perhaps it's her tagline that called you in: let your freak flag fly in your home...because if you can't be yourself there, where can you? In case you didn't already notice, Jess is someone who enjoys coloring outside the lines...with bright colors. We talk about why trends like white on beige on taupe home decor have become so popular, being comfortable taking up space, and why being different might actually be the goal.

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Now that the word “pivot” is part of our daily lexicon, we assume we know what it takes to move from one thing to the next. And why wouldn’t we? There are plenty of talks, books, and masterclasses on the topic. But for some reason we’re still stuck.

In this episode, Kim talks through her experiences of pivoting, shedding identities that no longer serve you, and the unmarketable messy middle.

THIS EPISODE COVERS

+ How Kim unknowingly was clutching to the identify of “fixer”

+ The importance of recognizing what we gain from our identities

+ What happens when we delay setting boundaries

+ Why the fear of uncertainty will keep us safe and unhappy

+ The most important question you must be willing to ask yourself when  you’re yearning for change.

For more information about this show, Kim’s work, or The Bench, visit www.kimwensel.com.

Sure, there are courses on email marketing, growing your following, and launching something new. But the people who tend to teach these topics have built a business through a one-to-many model, focusing first and foremost on follower count. So following their advice will never translate directly if you don’t have the reach they have. I’m someone who’s run a referral-heavy business for seven years, without focusing on building an audience and honestly that’s held me back from visibility, marketing, and asking for business. If you’ve held back because you’re used to doing the work rather than than selling the work, get ready because I’m talking to you!

I’m sharing the real numbers, timeline, and results of my recent launch for The Bench community. You’ll hear about:

+ My founding membership goal and where I ended up

+ The role of a waitlist and application and how these impacted enrollment

+ The role of personal connection and scrappiness in launching

+ Getting comfortable being visible and embodying what you’re selling

+ How much money I invested in the launch

+ Future plans for The Bench

As always, you can get on my email list to get first in line for updates and announcements like my book launch, in-person programming, and when The Bench opens back up for membership enrollment in fall 2025.

Personal branding is a complex topic. One that if you get it, you get it. But if you don’t, it can seem self-indulgent, unimportant, and trendy. Today I’m challenging the common misconceptions about personal branding and how this view has gained traction. If you’ve ever wanted to step more into the spotlight but were hesitant for fear of coming across as fake or having to spend all day posting content, this solo episode is for you. A few highlights include:

+ The reason personal branding is your career insurance policy

+ Disentangling your reputation from your brand

+ Why monetizing who you are can be problematic

+ What it looks like to be authentic rather than dogmatic

+ The role of social media for people who are allergic to self promotion

+ Why the future demands transparency and connection

+ How to embrace the idea of a portfolio career

For more on this topic and to be the first to hear about launch dates for my upcoming book and The Bench, our community for women, visit KimWensel.com.

Diehard Cleveland Cavaliers fan and creative powerhouse, Abra Said is a self-professed eternal optimist. But that doesn’t mean her path has turned out as she expected. On this episode of Why is Nobody Talking About This?, Abra and Kim discuss loss, the challenges of making new friends as adults, and financial security as a creative person.

THIS CONVERSATION COVERS

+ Holding firm with boundaries when your work seems “fun”

+ The profound impact and imprint of loss

+ Celebrating platonic love as much as romantic love

+ What we get wrong about people without kids

+ How we can unknowingly lose ourselves in marriage and parenthood and why that’s such a risk

+ The awkwardness of making new friends as an adult

+ Starting something new and being okay with the uncertainty of it

+ Having enough and still wanting more—money, work, friends, and opportunities

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You can find Abra on her newly launched, beautiful website and on Instagram.

For more about The Bench, a community for women who love their work but want it to come at less of a cost, visit kimwensel.com/thebench.