In this episode of Big Meaningful Life, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the insightful and deeply grounded Natalie Siston—author, coach, and founder of Small Town Leadership.

We explored what it really takes to pursue your dreams without burning everything down first. Natalie shared how one pivotal lunch conversation changed the trajectory of her career, and we talked candidly about what gets in the way for so many high-achievers—especially women—when it comes to giving ourselves permission to want more.

As someone who’s navigated the leap from corporate to coaching, this conversation struck a personal chord. Natalie reminded me that change doesn't always require a drastic overhaul. Sometimes, the most powerful shifts happen in quiet, intentional steps.

5 Key Takeaways:

• Parallel pathing is a powerful strategy for creating change without sacrificing security.
• The fear of trying is often more paralyzing than the fear of failure.
• We don’t need to start from scratch—most of us already have what we need to begin.
• Women often wait for permission to pursue their dreams. The truth? You can give it to yourself.
• Daily introspection builds clarity—and clarity builds courage.

If you've been waiting for a sign to explore your next chapter, let this conversation be it.

Connect with Natalie Siston:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliesiston/

Let Her Out Reclaim Who You Have Always Been

Connect with me on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallymahamdeh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sally_mahamdeh/

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Send me an email with ideas for future episodes: sally@hayatti.co

Music Credit:
This episode features ''Je n'y suis jamais allé'' by Yann Tiersen.