Episode Description:
As women entrepreneurs, we are often told that scaling a business requires personal sacrifice—that success comes at the cost of our well-being, time, and relationships. But what if that wasn’t true? What if personal fulfillment and business success could go hand in hand?
What You'll Gain By Listening In:
In this powerful episode of the #WisdomOfWomen Show, host Coco Sellman—5x founder, impact investor, and creator of the Force for Good System™—sits down with Nadine Nicholson, master certified coach and founder of Ascend Leadership, to uncover how visionary women founders can achieve what Nadine calls "Impossible Freedom."
Nadine shares the personal wake-up call that transformed her approach to business and life, how she helps high-performing women entrepreneurs reclaim their time, and the Five Forces of Ascended Leadership—a framework for scaling a business without burning out. If you’re ready to grow your company and your freedom, this episode is for you!
Chapters:
00:37 Introducing Our Inspirational Guest
04:15 Nadine's Transformational Journey
18:04 Breaking Free from the Middle Zone
38:27 Building Trust and Courageous Conversations
43:37 Launching the Roundtable: A New Opportunity for Entrepreneurs
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of amplifying women's voices in leadership roles.
- Nadine Nicholson discusses her transformation from corporate life to founding Ascend Leadership after a personal crisis.
- The concept of 'impossible freedom' is explored, highlighting the balance between business success and personal fulfillment.
- Listeners are encouraged to embrace vulnerability as a strength in leadership, drawing from Brene Brown's work.
- Nadine's five forces of ascended leadership include time mastery and creating united teams for sustainable success.
- Coco and Nadine advocate for self-trust and brave actions as essential for achieving one's goals.
Burning Questions Answered:
1.How can women founders escape the cycle of exhaustion while still scaling their businesses?
- Many entrepreneurs believe they must sacrifice their personal well-being to achieve business success. Nadine challenges this myth and introduces the concept of Impossible Freedom.
- Learn why overworking isn’t the cause of exhaustion—and what truly is.
2.What are the Five Forces of Ascended Leadership, and how can they help entrepreneurs grow with ease?
- Nadine introduces her Five Forces of Ascended Leadership, including Time Mastery, United Team, Wild Wisdom, Brave Action, and Courageous Conversations.
- Discover how aligning your calendar with your values creates more energy, focus, and business acceleration.
3.What is "Wild Wisdom," and why is it essential for confident leadership?
- Nadine reveals how tapping into your inner wisdom—without fear, external validation, or over-analysis—can revolutionize decision-making.
- Learn why self-trust is the key to unlocking your highest leadership potential.
4.How do you shift from leading with fear and doubt to leading with confidence and clarity?
- Most women founders make 80% of their decisions from a place of fear. Nadine shares how to flip this, so 80% of decisions come from self-trust and wisdom instead.
- Hear how even multi-million-dollar founders struggle with self-doubt—and how they overcome it.
5.Why do so many women founders get "stuck in the middle zone"—and how do you break free?
- Nadine describes the Middle Zone of Success, where entrepreneurs feel they’ve come too far to quit but know their current pace isn’t sustainable.
- Discover the strategies to "lift off the plateau" and move into sustainable exponential growth.
6.How can courageous conversations help you scale your business?
- Whether it’s negotiating big deals, restructuring teams, or setting boundaries, clear and bold communication is essential.
- Learn why fear-based decision-making keeps businesses stuck and how courageous conversations unlock the next level of success.
Favorite Quotes:
🔹 "Working harder isn’t what’s making you exhausted. It’s the lack of alignment between your time and your values." – Nadine Nicholson
🔹 "Women founders don’t have to choose between business growth and personal fulfillment. They can have both—if they lead with intention." – Coco Sellman
🔹 "Self-trust doesn’t come first. You build it one courageous decision at a time." – Nadine Nicholson
🔹 "The world is made better by women-led businesses. But only if we build them in a way that is sustainable—for ourselves, our teams, and our vision." – Coco Sellman
Closing Thoughts:
This episode is a must-listen for visionary women founders who are scaling their businesses but refuse to accept burnout as the price of success. Nadine Nicholson's Five Forces of Ascended Leadership provide a powerful roadmap for reclaiming time, building a thriving team, and stepping into true leadership.
Want to take the first step toward your own Impossible Freedom? Join Nadine’s exclusive Ascend Leadership Roundtable—a free, no-pitch, high-impact event where women founders connect, learn, and grow together. Reserve your spot at ascendleadership.com/roundtable.
And if this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, share, and leave a review for the #WisdomOfWomen Show. Let’s continue amplifying the voices of trailblazing women founders, investors, and growth experts—because together, we make the world a better place.
💡 Next step: Take the Force for Good Growth Readiness Quiz at www.aforceforgood.biz to uncover the next breakthrough for your business.
🚀 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! 🎙️💫
Offers & Contact Information:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadinenicholson/
LinkedIn – Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascend-leadership-co
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AscendLeadershipCo
Website: https://www.ascendleadership.com/
Email: [email protected]
Follow the #WisdomOfWomen show for more inspiring stories and insights from trailblazing women founders, investors, and experts in growth and prosperity.
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Coco Sellman, the host of #WisdomOfWomen, believes business is a force for good, especially with visionary women at the helm. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, she has launched five companies and guided over 500 startups. As Founder & CEO of A Force for Good, Coco supports purpose-driven women founders in unlocking exponential growth and prosperity. Her recent venture, Allumé Home Care, reached eight-figure revenues and seven-figure profits in just four years before a successful exit in 2024. A venture investor and board director, Coco’s book, *A Force for Good*, reveals a roadmap for women to lead high-impact, high-growth companies.
Learn more about A Force for Good:
Website: https://aforceforgood.biz/
Are Your GROWING or PLATEAUING? https://aforceforgood.biz/quiz/
1-Day Growth Plan: https://aforceforgood.biz/free-plan/
FFG Tool of the Week: https://aforceforgood.biz/weekly-tool/
The Book: https://aforceforgood.biz/book/
Growth Accelerator: https://aforceforgood.biz/accelerator/
