Okay, so here's the truth. If you're exhausted all the time, the answer isn't more discipline or another 5 a.m. cold plunge. It's how you manage your energy, not just your time. In this one I walk you through the low-tech habits I've run for two years and coach my CEOs and founders on: my sleep wind-down, the boundaries that make it stick, and the 20-minute afternoon reset most high performers won't give themselves permission to take.

Key Topics:

- Energy management techniques
- The importance of sleep and routines
- Midday reset practices
- Setting boundaries for better productivity
- Debunking online wellness noise
- Practical tips for sustainable high performance

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Busting the Myth of Hustle Culture
00:26 Who Amy Evans Is and Who This Episode Is For
01:24 Habits That Keep Energy High: What Amy Wishes She Knew a Decade Ago
02:21 The Truth About Extreme Wellness Trends
03:16 How to Feel Good and Stay Energized All Day
04:12 The Role of Boundaries and Learning Tools for Effectiveness
05:09 The Critical Role of Consistent Sleep
06:08 Amy’s Personal Sleep Routine and Wind-Down Strategies
09:01 The 20-Minute Afternoon Reset for Sustained Energy
13:00 Science Behind the Midday Energy Dip and How to Reset
14:28 Amy’s Power Nap Technique and Its Benefits
16:28 Managing Screen Time and Digital Boundaries at Night
18:22 Practical Tips for a Nighttime Routine and Transition to Rest
19:20 Invitation to Grow Your Business or Career and Final Thoughts

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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In this one I'm naming something almost every high achiever feels and nobody says out loud. You hit the number, maybe the biggest of your career, and instead of elation you feel a whole lot of nothing. The win washes right over you and you're already onto what's next. I walk you through why that empty feeling isn't a flaw, it's a thinking trap, what the research on the gap and the gain and the arrival fallacy actually says about it, and the one simple practice I give my CEO and founder clients to start feeling their wins again.

Key Takeaways:

- Measuring progress backward against your starting point provides true perspective.
- Celebrating small wins weekly can boost fulfillment and energy.
- The brain is wired for dopamine hits during pursuit, not achievement.
- Hitting a goal provides a fleeting high, not lasting happiness.
- Reflecting on your journey helps reduce burnout and gap thinking.
- Self-worth is rooted in contribution, not just numbers.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 The emptiness after big wins
00:30 Understanding the anticlimactic feeling
01:01 Amy's background and purpose
01:30 Why winning can feel empty
02:12 Measuring your life in progress
02:39 A practice to fill your energy bucket
03:08 Reducing burnout and emptiness
03:35 The concept of you win but don't feel it
04:06 The chase and dopamine peaks
04:30 The brain's wiring for pursuit
05:00 Measuring backward for perspective
05:29 The journey versus the goal
06:26 The trap of gap thinking
07:22 Progress as a core human need
08:22 Measuring backward against your start
09:19 The arrival fallacy and fleeting happiness
10:16 The physiological response to achievement
11:42 The cost of constant striving
12:24 Self-worth and productivity
13:50 Reflecting on your journey
14:20 Celebrating your progress over time
16:17 Practicing weekly wins
17:14 Fulfillment in the journey
17:44 Sharing this message with others
18:00 Final encouragement to lead with strength

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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We're halfway through the year, and if you missed your number in the first half, this one's for you. I'm not going to make you feel good about it, but I am going to give you the exact game plan I use, and the one I give my CEOs and sales leaders, to regroup, get your team's head back in the game, and actually close the gap in the back half. I walk you through owning it without excuses, building a bottoms-up gap plan down to the deal, and the belief it takes to come from behind. Then I share a turnaround I've never fully told before, including the one comp move that changed everything.

Key Takeaways:

- Own the results without excuses and accept reality.
- Create a detailed, actionable gap plan involving the entire team.
- Use incentives and team bonuses to motivate and align efforts.
- Reforecast and adjust expectations transparently with leadership.
- Build belief and confidence through visualization and integrity.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Mid-Year Reflection and Opportunity
00:29 The Reality of Missed Targets and Moving Forward
00:59 The Power of Owning Your Results
01:28 How to Regroup and Replan After a Setback
02:28 The Importance of Honesty and Self-Compassion
04:26 Building a Detailed Gap Plan
05:53 The Role of Visualization and Belief
07:23 Stretch Goals and Overperformance
08:47 Getting Buy-In and Team Alignment
12:04 Reforecasting and Adjusting Expectations
13:00 Turning Challenges into Opportunities with Incentives
18:21 Creating a Team Bonus Structure
20:06 Achieving and Surpassing Goals
21:12 Closing Remarks and Next Steps

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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This one's personal. I'm in the middle of a pivot myself, shifting my business to focus on coaching founders and CEOs while still championing the sales leaders I love. In this quick solo I talk about the fear that shows up every time you bet on yourself, why it never fully goes away, and why that's good news. I share the CEO turnaround that changed how I see this work, the Brene Brown line I come back to, and the Cornell research on what we regret most.

Key Topics:

- The persistent role of fear in making change
- Recognizing and accepting fear as part of growth
- The importance of action in overcoming uncertainty
- Amy's personal journey of pivoting in her career
- Strategies for renegotiating deals and expanding business
- The significance of self-trust and listening to your heart
- Research on regret and the cost of inaction
- The role of courage versus comfort in decision-making
- Practical steps for leaders to embrace change
- The impact of coaching and self-coaching in leadership

Episode Chapters:

00:00 The Courage to Change
02:56 Facing Fear in Leadership
06:01 The Power of Action
08:53 Navigating Opportunities
11:58 The Impact of Consulting
15:01 Embracing Change and Growth
17:48 Overcoming Perfectionism
20:47 Taking Action Towards Your Goals

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

Book your complimentary career planning call: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

Follow the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-in-sales-leadership/id1765026855
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In this one I'm doing something I've never done on the show. I'm walking you through a pivot I'm in the middle of right now, live, before it's tied up in a perfect bow. We get into why change is so terrifying even when you know it's time, why limbo is the most expensive place you can stand, and how perfectionism keeps you curled up in a ball instead of in action. I share the career mistakes I used to be ashamed of, the CEO who chased me for a year, and the 20% revenue win that came from getting past my own fear.

Key Takeaways:

- Fear of change is universal, but it doesn't have to stop you.
- Running small experiments can lead to big insights and wins.
- Mistakes are part of growth; they don't define your worth.
- Trust your standards and values to guide tough decisions.
- Support and feedback are crucial for successful pivots.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Embracing Change: The Fear of Pivots
02:48 The Challenge of Making Change
06:09 Navigating Fear and Certainty
09:06 The Journey of Self-Discovery
12:02 Learning from Mistakes
14:54 The Power of Experimentation
18:03 Finding Support in Leadership
21:05 The Importance of Taking Action
24:00 Celebrating Wins and Growth
26:59 The Commitment to Make a Difference

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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Follow the show:
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In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, we go where most women in sales leadership refuse to go on record. Forty five percent of women now out-earn their husbands, and almost half of those marriages end. In this episode I share something about my own marriage I have not talked about publicly before, Alexandra reframes what it actually means for a man to provide in a modern relationship, and I get coached, live on air, on what to say to my ex husband. If you are the higher earner in your relationship, or you have ever felt the quiet cost of being the strong one, this is the episode.

Dr. Alexandra Stockwell is a physician who left clinical medicine to become one of the country's leading relationship and intimacy coaches for high functioning, career driven couples. She is the author of Uncompromising Intimacy and the host of The Intimate Marriage podcast, where she helps couples move beyond the toleration relationship most marriages settle into and build what she calls a Conscious Partnership: the kind of passionate, alive, communicative relationship that most couples do not realize is a learnable skill. Married for 29 years to her husband, whom she met during the first week of medical school, and a mother of four, Alexandra has been interviewed more than 400 times and has guided thousands of couples through the work of bringing their full selves into intimacy.

Visit her website: https://alexandrastockwell.com

Key Takeaways:

- Growth and transformation look different for each partner and should be respected.
- Income disparity can be a source of conflict but can be managed with understanding and communication.
- Men's identity is often tied to being a provider, which requires alternative ways to find purpose and self-respect.
- Women often carry emotional labor that is undervalued financially, impacting relationship dynamics.
- Authentic vulnerability and honesty can strengthen relationships and facilitate healing.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation
01:27 Emotional Costs of Relationship Dynamics
09:54 Navigating Income Disparities in Relationships
11:20 The Impact of Financial Roles on Identity
21:24 Understanding and Valuing Contributions Beyond Income
27:23 Personal Growth and Healing in Relationships
32:38 Resources and Conclusion

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

Book your complimentary career planning call: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-in-sales-leadership/id1765026855
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In Part 1 of this two part series, I sit down with Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, the physician turned intimacy coach behind Uncompromising Intimacy, to talk about the part of life nobody warns the high performing woman about. The very leadership skills that make you successful at work are the same skills quietly killing the connection at home. Alexandra walks us through the Four Types of Relationships, the Manager Mode trap that emasculates the men we love, and the exact communication tool to use the next time something small, like dishes in the sink, blows up into something big.

Dr. Alexandra Stockwell is a physician who left clinical medicine to become one of the country's leading relationship and intimacy coaches for high functioning, career driven couples. She is the author of Uncompromising Intimacy and the host of The Intimate Marriage podcast, where she helps couples move beyond the toleration relationship most marriages settle into and build what she calls a Conscious Partnership: the kind of passionate, alive, communicative relationship that most couples do not realize is a learnable skill. Married for 29 years to her husband, whom she met during the first week of medical school, and a mother of four, Alexandra has been interviewed more than 400 times and has guided thousands of couples through the work of bringing their full selves into intimacy.

Key Takeaways:

- Understanding the four relationship types helps identify your current state.
- Effective communication involves vulnerability and sharing impact, not blame.
- Transforming toleration into conscious partnership requires skill development.
- Leadership skills can be applied to personal relationships for better connection.
- Responsibility for your own experience is key to healthier communication.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Relationship Dynamics
03:04 The Impact of Leadership Skills on Personal Relationships
05:58 Childhood Influences on Love and Partnership
08:54 The Journey to Understanding Intimacy
11:53 The Role of Communication in Relationships
14:52 Types of Relationships: Toxic, Termination, Toleration, and Conscious Partnership
17:46 The Importance of Vulnerable Communication
21:07 Practical Tools for Relationship Improvement
24:01 The Challenge of Balancing Leadership and Intimacy
26:50 Conclusion and Next Steps

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

Book your complimentary career planning call: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

Follow the show:
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In this episode, Amy Evans interviews Ali Rizacos to explore her journey from Salesforce sales leadership to coaching and personal branding mastery. They discuss overcoming imposter syndrome, the power of storytelling on LinkedIn, and strategies for building a personal brand that opens new career opportunities.

Alli Rizacos spent eight years at Salesforce, mostly in sales and sales leadership, in the Toronto office. While there she went through the existential crisis so many high performers feel, found coaching, and realized it was the thread that had run through her whole life. In 2021, in the depths of the pandemic, she left corporate to start her coaching business, beginning as an imposter syndrome coach for sales leaders. As her own LinkedIn-driven success grew, her clients asked her to teach them, so in December 2023 she pivoted overnight to coaching sales leaders on building their personal brand and coaching business on LinkedIn. She runs her entire business through LinkedIn alone, no ads, no other platforms.

Key Topics:

- Overcoming imposter syndrome
- Building a personal brand on LinkedIn
- Strategic career pivots and startovers

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Women in Sales Leadership Podcast
00:29 Meet Ali Rizacos: A Journey from Salesforce to Coaching
03:10 The Transition from Sales Leadership to Coaching
06:50 Building a Coaching Business: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
09:34 The Power of Personal Branding and Starting Over
12:55 Unlearning Perfectionism: Embracing Imperfections
16:17 Navigating Life Changes and Building Community
19:34 Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Growth
23:24 The Importance of Personal Branding in Sales
26:33 Overcoming Corporate Ownership Mentality
29:43 Effective LinkedIn Strategies for Sales Leaders
33:02 Traveling and Building Community as an Entrepreneur
40:05 Conclusion and Resources for Further Learning

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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In this inspiring episode, Amy Evans interviews Erica Ettore, a top-performing sales leader, about balancing high performance with well-being, motherhood, and boundaries. Erica shares her journey from Wall Street to tech, her leadership philosophy, and practical strategies for women in sales leadership to thrive without sacrificing themselves.

Erica Ettore is a global sales executive at Workiva and the leader behind its high-growth multi-entity reporting business. Known for tripling win rates and scaling top-performing teams, she blends sharp strategy with a uniquely intuitive leadership style that has made her one of the company's most influential voices. Her career began on Wall Street working with some of the world's most prominent companies before she moved to Morgan Stanley, where she built B2B programs for brands like Pinterest, Airbnb, and Google. At Workiva, she's earned recognition as a transformational leader, most recently being named Manager of the Year. Erica is also a champion for high-achieving women balancing ambition, motherhood, and identity. She brings honesty, humor, and actionable insight to everything she does, whether she's coaching global teams or raising her son Joey. Her mission is simple: help people rise, professionally, personally, and powerfully.

Key Topics:

- Leadership evolution from individual contributor to manager
- Balancing motherhood and high-stakes sales leadership
- The importance of boundaries and self-care
- Strategies for managing a global sales team
- Mindset shifts for sustained high performance

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Intentions
02:50 Leadership and Team Culture
06:11 Personal Growth and Team Evolution
09:03 The Journey from Individual Contributor to Leader
11:56 Motherhood and Work-Life Balance
14:49 Mindset Shifts and Self-Reflection
18:07 Establishing Boundaries and Rituals
21:08 Advice for Women in Sales Leadership

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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In this episode I'm digging into something I think every high performer wrestles with quietly, usually in their own head: what career growth actually means once you're past the early, climb-fast years. I walk you through the five things high performers truly want, and the one that surprises everyone because it isn't money, plus why turning down a promotion can be exactly the right call. I share my own story of massive change, getting laid off, working through a divorce, selling the family home, and starting a business, and why none of it killed me. If you've been wondering whether you should be reaching for the next rung or whether where you are is enough, this one is for you.

Key Takeaways:

- Why the growth conversation is really happening inside your own head, and why that's worth paying attention to
- The shift Amy noticed in hiring: tenured leaders quietly resenting young reps for wanting the exact thing they once wanted
- The job-hopping red flag, and the moment her boss told her her thinking was "so outdated"
- Why growth is a steep climb early that naturally tapers, and why a plateau is not the same as failure
- The friend who turned down a promotion to protect her last three years with her son at home, and why that was right
- The five things every high performer actually wants, and the one that is NOT at the top of the list
- Why fearing growth is legitimate, and the reframe that there is no "change monster" hiding under the bed

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Growth and Career Trajectory
02:56 Reflections on Early Career Ambitions
05:46 The Shift in Career Growth Perspectives
09:08 The Importance of Stability in Career Moves
12:07 Understanding Growth Mindset in Sales
15:01 High Performers and Their Career Aspirations
18:11 The Five Key Desires of High Performers
20:50 The Role of Autonomy and Accountability
24:03 Recognition and Influence in Career Growth
27:08 Alignment of Purpose in Professional Life
29:51 The Need for Upward Mobility and Reward
32:47 Embracing Change and Growth Opportunities
35:50 Conclusion: The Nature of Growth and Change

Work with Amy: amyevanscoaching.com/workwithme

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Follow the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-in-sales-leadership/id1765026855
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