In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about the necessity of learning how to collaborate effectively with coworkers. We need to learn how agreeable we need to be in the workplace and understand how to adjust that for circumstances: turning it up to build social capital or down to establish boundaries. When difficult personalities cross the line, Cindy advises us on how to stay professional and reset boundaries. There will always be people we need to work with; this episode establishes how to do that smoothly.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger addresses emotional numbness: that lack of joy and quiet disconnection from the person we once were. It often begins as a way to cope with deadlines, expectations, and the constant pressure to prove ourselves. Then staying busy becomes an acceptable way to avoid feeling our feelings. We’re polished on the outside, numb on the inside. How exactly does it show up, and why are high-achieving women especially prone to it? Cindy explores the origins of this numbness and what it means for our futures when feeling nothing starts to feel normal.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger asks ‘What if work could actually be fun?’ She’s talking about finding room satisfaction, creativity, and fun in our careers instead of simply viewing work as an endless, stressful grind keeping us from the weekend. When we make work more enjoyable and better suited to us, we reduce our stress, protect our spark, and perform better as well. It may sound like a radical mindset shift, but Cindy walks us through exactly how to approach it.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger addresses what she calls ‘work albatrosses’, the hidden burdens that steal our time and focus and derail our long-term goals. It’s tempting to always say yes, but the more we do, the more we become an albatross. She explores how to identify the early warning signs and subtle red flags that show up before the burdens become our problems. She identifies what an energy vampire looks like and shines a light on how to avoid the work albatross, protect our energy, and realign our work with what actually fuels us.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger challenges the mindset that the need to rest, recharge, and reset is an indulgence: it is a necessity. Constant burnout and chronic stress are not normal. We can’t sustain staying in survival mode forever. So how do we recognize the signs of being on the brink of a crash? How do we break the burnout cycle? Cindy defines what we should feel like when rested and explains how to stop seeing exhaustion as a badge of honor. It’s time to abandon chronic stress for a healthy reset.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger explores identity, not the curated professional version of ourselves, but the real and evolving true version of ourselves. We often get shaped by outdated assumptions and everything we’ve been praised for or paid to do, and we end up losing sight of what we actually want and who we genuinely want to become. Self-awareness is something we give lip service to but require more of to assess where we are in our careers.. Cindy offers advice on how to get curious about ourselves and realign our goals to match our values and authentic selves.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger discusses how workplace drama casts us in the role of victim, villain, or rescuer. Sometimes we stick to one role, but usually we bounce between all three. We tend to think other people are guilty of being a victim or a villain or even a rescuer, but at one point or another, we’re all in one of the roles. Cindy examines how the roles show up and what we can do to change the patterns that lead us to play roles at all.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger breaks down all the meanings behind the deceptively innocent phrase “It must be nice”. We were taught not to say certain things aloud, so often this little phrase gets used as a passive-aggressive dig or expression of envy. Cindy lays out all the things really being said when people say “It must be nice”, from discomfort to unmet needs to jealousy, and offers advice on how to deal with hearing it and saying it. It’s time to learn more honest, respectful ways of communicating with each other.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger explores how we can dare to be more at work and avoid slipping into the conformity we think is expected. We’re conditioned to believe we need to keep our heads down, fit in, and work longer and harder than anyone else in order to succeed. But we were hired because of something unique that we brought to the company. Cindy dives into how we can reclaim the parts of ourselves that we’ve been hiding for a more authentic and rewarding work experience.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about hope. Hope is complicated. It keeps us going, but it can also sometimes feel dangerous. Hope spurs us onward when we meet resistance, but it also opens the door to disappointment, so we learn not to expect too much. Cindy counters this by asking what if hope isn’t some fragile emotion that leaves us vulnerable, but instead is a fierce and necessary force that drives us to act with clarity? She examines how to embrace hope not as a risk but as a strategy, and offers us tips on how to make hope work for us.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger looks at a better way we can choose to respond when things go wrong. We tend to spin out in overthinking or tighten our grip on control when setbacks happen at work, but neither of those responses leads to meaningful progress. Cindy suggests focusing on what’s actually within our control by reclaiming our power. It’s not about pretending everything is fine; it’s about learning to move forward with clarity by reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger discusses how the “always on” hustle culture mindset in society is pushing us steadily towards burnout. We’re running on empty, and what are we rushing towards? She explores the transformative idea of doing less, more slowly. A mindset shift towards doing what matters most with intention instead of simply working harder, faster, and longer for no good reason. How do we break free of the hustle culture habits and switch to a calmer and more sustainable approach to work? Cindy has some ideas for us.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about the invisible barrier of our own thinking that can be in the way of progressing in our careers. Our brains are wired for self-preservation, not bold career leaps, so even though we say we want impact or recognition, we are likely being steered away from risk and discomfort by our thoughts. So what do we do? How do we identify this kind of thinking and challenge those patterns? Cindy describes what the self-preservation thinking looks like, how to develop our self-awareness, and ways to start to take risks in our careers.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger examines micromanagement at work and when it might turn from a misguided attempt at mentorship to a more sinister form of intentional misdirection. In matrix environments, roles and responsibilities are fluid, and we tend to get input from all directions. We want to please people, so we internalize every correction as encouragement, even when it isn’t. Micromanagement is subtle but powerful. Cindy demonstrates how to identify it and how to break the pattern with a radical shift in focus.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about how our natural instinct to feel safe can turn into a trap by silencing our bold ideas and keeping us in a role that no longer challenges us. She differentiates between blowing up our lives and doing small low stakes change experiments to reconnect to intuition. Stability is inviting but it can lead to too much safety. Cindy offers a way to push ourselves past that instinct for predictable comfort into discovering new possibilities.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger addresses the belief that if one generation of women endured suffering in order to succeed, the next generation must too. Some women, consciously or not, believe that hardship is a necessary rite of passage. They gatekeep and end up reinforcing a toxic culture instead of paving the way for women coming up after them to succeed with fewer obstacles. Cindy looks at how to break this cycle, how to redefine the goal as not just enduring the hardships of the system, but to change the system. With this in mind, a future of thriving, not simply surviving, can exist between generations in the workplace.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger explores the idea that shifting our attention away from self-criticism can lead to a career that is both sustainable and futureproof. This happens through intentional, visible effort and starts with recognizing that momentum is about reclaiming minutes and tracking effort over perfection. We all have those voices in our heads criticizing what we do, but Cindy emphasizes that we can train ourselves to celebrate progress instead of wallowing in self-criticism. And it’s that celebration and retraining our use of time that Cindy says leads us to a better career.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger examines the difference between actionable feedback and constant validation. While it’s always wonderful to get compliments on work, and those are necessary to boost morale, seeking only positive praise will inhibit meaningful growth. It’s the honest critique and useful feedback that helps us course correct and sharpen our strengths. Cindy discusses how to break free of compliment-only cravings to seek out and embrace critical feedback for growth. She lays out a plan for obtaining the right kind of input.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger discusses negativity bias, the tendency we have to look for what’s going wrong when we’re in an environment that doesn’t affirm or value our contributions. This focus on the negative isn’t out of pessimism, but is a survival strategy. However, the more we allow ourselves to focus on the negative, the more it feels like the truth. Cindy examines how this happens and what it takes to change our mindset and challenge the negative patterns. Breaking free of self-limiting narratives is possible, and Cindy explains how it’s done.

In this episode, Cindy Esliger explores the power of words and why language is about more than communication. The words we choose shape how we view ourselves and what we believe is possible. By using more empowering words, we can open ourselves to new options and reclaim our sense of agency. Cindy offers insight into how different words impact our mindset and how to go about reframing our thoughts from a more positive perspective. It’s not just about the meaning of our words, but the words themselves.