Ever find yourself trying to be someone you're not because you think that's what success demands? After a challenging year filled with unexpected setbacks and profound self-doubt, I'm breaking my silence to share what happens when you abandon your authentic self in pursuit of others' definitions of success.

This raw, unfiltered conversation explores the identity crisis that paralyzed both my content creation and leadership effectiveness. I reveal how attempting to follow mentors' advice to "stop being reckless" and "get more leverage" led me to abandon the very activities that had previously driven my success – coaching team members, creating content, and building a distinctive culture.

The truth hit me like a ton of bricks during a recent leadership meeting: what I considered my greatest strengths had become our company's most glaring weaknesses. Why? Because I'd been trying to operate as a $100 million CEO when my business and leadership weren't ready for that level. In trying to skip ahead, I'd created gaps that undermined everything we'd built.

This episode marks a return to authenticity – a recommitment to the leadership approach that feels natural rather than forced. I share how taking extreme ownership means acknowledging that the failures in my business reflected my own shortcomings as a leader, but it also means accepting that the path forward isn't about transformation into someone else.

For any entrepreneur feeling pressured to abandon their natural strengths and leadership style to "level up," this conversation offers a powerful reminder: the most valuable thing you can do is get really good at being YOU before trying to become someone else. The dragons you slay along your journey become evidence of who you're becoming – but only if you face them as your authentic self.

Thank you for listening to The Reckless CEO Podcast

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