I chose a career to prove I was smart enough

I chose a career to prove I was smart enough

As a kid, I was different from most of my family. 

I was emotional, sensitive, and intuitive. They were more practical or intellectual.

The school I went to in France emphasized rational and analytical intelligence.
This is the case with the French education system in general. 

As I reflect back on it now, I did not feel like I fully fit in or that being me was okay. 

So, I started to work hard to “fit in,” to feel loved and seen…and to prove I was “intelligent.” In school, I worked hard to be #1, unconsciously hoping I would finally be seen and accepted by doing so. 

But, it felt like it was never enough, so I kept working harder and harder…to be the best, to succeed, and to be seen.

To belong.

All of this was unconscious, yet it was driving a lot of my decisions and ways of being. Including my college and grad school choices.

And ultimately my career. 

I followed the same patterns of behavior in my career choices for 10+ years.

Either choosing career options to prove I was smart enough.
Or, when doing work I liked, such as User Experience research, putting lots of pressure on myself…

  • to prove I was intelligent enough.
  • to belong and be accepted by my colleagues and my managers, the same way I was longing to be accepted in my family.

I achieved great success in my career and life, working for one of the biggest Internet companies in the world at the time–Yahoo!–, becoming bilingual, and moving from France to Canada, and then the US.

But I reached a point where the “proving to be smart” was just not working anymore.

I was miserable at work. I knew this was not the right career path for me long term. This was just not sustainable. 

Something else was calling me.

Something, where I could be my full self at work–100% myself–without having to prove anymore, and where I could use ALL my natural gifts and fulfill my purpose.
Something that would allow me to leave my mark in the world, not someone else’s mark. 

Can you relate?

⏩ Are you a high achiever who is unconsciously using your career or business to prove you are intelligent enough? or to belong? to fit in?
⏩ Have your career decisions up to now been driven by that desire? 
⏩ Or, if you somewhat like your work, is there still a big part of you who is trying to prove that who you are is enough? 
⏩ Are you in a career where you cannot bring your whole self? and you have to pretend or put a mask on, leaving some parts of you behind?

I feel the pain of that. I get it. 

You are not alone. I’ve been there… and also, out of it.

I know the path out of this! 

Through my own journey, my training, and through guiding hundreds of people in my coaching practice, I’ve discovered the keys to getting out of this vicious cycle once and for all…
…So that you can finally uncover and live the career of your dreams, bring your full self, live your purpose, and make the contribution you are here to make.

This is why I’m taught my free masterclass “Unlock Your Next Level Dream Career” on Thursday, July 8.

To help you…or if not you, maybe someone you know–spouse, friend, relative, co-worker. 

In the masterclass, you will discover the secrets to aligning your unique talents with your unique purpose, so you can have a dream career making a positive difference in the world.

I share more about my own journey and my proven approach to supporting high-achieving professionals land the next career of their dreams.

>>  You can watch the replay until Monday July 12, 2021 at 11:59pm PT by signing up here

I’d love to have you watch it!
…or people you know who could benefit from it. Please do share this email with them. 

It is possible for you to have a dream career where you can bring your whole self, make a meaningful difference. and feel more than enough exactly as you are.

I want that for you. 

Isabelle 

P.S. In this masterclass, you will also learn: 

  • The #1 mistake high-achieving professionals make when trying to find their next career and how to avoid it.
  • A decision framework for reaching total clarity and confidence about your next career, no matter how long you’ve been searching.
  • The four elements of your unique career blueprint that will unlock your next dream career, most impactful work, and the confidence to go for it.
  • The five steps to go from bored and trapped in your career to thriving in a career you absolutely love that allows you to live your purpose and make the difference you are here to make.

>> Watch the replay now!

It’s here!! Live from Hawaii… my brand new masterclass

It’s here!! Live from Hawaii… my brand new masterclass

I’m excited to announce my brand new masterclass!

 I’ll be delivering it LIVE from Maui.

It’s FREE to attend. 

It will take place on Thursday, July 8 at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET.
If you cannot join live, the replay will be available, so don’t let the day and time stop you from signing up!

I would love for you to join!

This training is the result of some labor of love I’ve been engaged in the past four months to provide even more value to you. The content is brand new and I’ll share things I’ve never shared before

—> If you have been curious about my approach and what gets my clients such powerful results, this is the BEST way to experience it at no cost.

—> If you already know and have experienced my work as a client, in my workshops, or on a private call, this is a great opportunity to deepen the work and get a new influx of inspiration on your journey.

This free masterclass is perfect for you if…

  • You are a high-achieving professional, entrepreneur, manager, or executive who has achieved great success but is bored and lacking passion for your current role or industry.
  • You feel trapped, lost, or confused in your career.
  • You want meaningful work that allows you to make a contribution and impact in the world, maybe leave a legacy, but you can’t figure out what that next work or career is.
  • You have so many ideas that you don’t know how to choose the right one.
  • You don’t know whether your current career, business, or industry is the right path for you or not.

* Even if this masterclass is primarily geared towards high-achieving and successful professionals, you will still get value from it even if you don’t identify as such. 


In this masterclass, I’ll share with you…

the secrets to aligning your unique talents with your unique purpose, so you can have a dream career making a positive difference in the world.
If you’ve been searching for this kind of meaning and freedom for a while and are starting to feel stuck or hopeless, I know this promise can seem far-fetched. But after years of helping hundreds of clients successfully land their dream careers, I know there truly is one key element that consistently unlocks this hidden path and I can’t wait to share it with you!
 

You will learn:

  • The #1 mistake high-achieving professionals make when trying to find their next career and how to avoid it.
  • A decision framework for reaching total clarity and confidence about your next career, no matter how long you’ve been searching.
  • The four elements of your unique career blueprint that will unlock your next dream career, most impactful work, and the confidence to go for it.
  • The five steps to go from bored and trapped in your career to thriving in a career you absolutely love that allows you to live your purpose and make the difference you are here to make.

—> Share with people you know (friends, family, spouse, coworkers) who may benefit from it.
You can forward them this email or share the registration page: https://mailchi.mp/brilliantseeds/dreamcareer

I can’t wait to share this powerful content with you!

Isabelle

I don’t do “regular” career coaching.

I don’t do “regular” career coaching.

I don’t do quick fixes.
I don’t help you find a career just to bolster your resume. 
I don’t help you find a new career that matches your conditioned notion of “success.”  
I don’t help you find a career based on your current or old conditioning and limiting beliefs.
I don’t help you find your next career based on the market, what jobs or industries are “hot”, what “makes sense”, what you “should do.”
I don’t help you stay in the false belief that something is wrong with you and you must work harder to fix yourself and find work you love.

Why? 
Because all of these don’t work.
It’s by following these scripts that many high-achieving and “successful” professionals stay stuck in careers that don’t work for them for years, even decades.


 I help you unlock and step into your next-level career dream that allows you to live your purpose and make the difference you are here to make on the planet… without sacrificing your lifestyle and balance. 

As a result of working with me…
My clients start their nonprofit.
They realize their long-time dream of moving to another country and finding their dream career there. 
They are well on the path to their next dream career they will have for the next 25 years.
They find their true calling and North Star, once and for all.
They are crystal clear about the legacy they want to leave behind.
They find the courage and confidence to step into the career of their dreams.
They step into their multiple-career dreams, combining multiple passions into work.
They negotiate their ideal role and schedule in their company and get it. 
They reach career certainty, clarity, and confidence for the first time in their lives.
They uncover their own unique compass to make career decisions for the rest of their lives.
They publish their first book.
They make it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. 
Their work gets showcased in the press.
They start their dream business. 
They unlock the artist within, create their own studio, and start selling their art. 
They make plans to retire early to implement their big visions.
They leave toxic working environments they have been stuck in for decades.
They land some amazing work opportunities because of how aligned they are with their unique talents and purpose.
They create their ultimate dream lifestyle. 
They start living a life truly aligned with their values. 
They discover their authentic self that has been buried under decades of trying to be somebody else.
They heal childhood wounds that years of therapy have not touched or transformed.

When they first come to me…
My clients are scared.
They doubt the process will work for them.
They feel hopeless.
They may be burned out.
They don’t think this is possible for them.

Despite their fears and doubts…
They commit to doing the work.
They take one step after another.
They understand that real change does not come from a quick fix.
They step into the unknown despite their doubts.
They know they need guidance and that doing it alone has not worked.
They are ready to look honestly at themselves to find the answers that have been hidden for long.

This is why working with me privately is an investment, an investment that will serve you for the rest of your career and life.
…so that you stop the cycle of being trapped in the wrong career once and for all.
…so that you start living your purpose and make the contribution you are here to make. 


I have space for 2 new clients in my private coaching before I raise my current price.

>> Apply here if you want to explore the possibility of working together.

Or share with someone you know (friend, spouse, relative, coworker) who is ready to embark on that journey.

To your dream career and calling,

Isabelle 

I used to hide this part of myself

I used to hide this part of myself

I would push it down. Make it small.

To be loved and accepted.
To be approved.
To conform.
To belong.

This part that was different than most of my family.
This part that was not welcomed.

Because it was going against the status quo.
Against the family’s norms and expectations.
Against the way…

  • …things “should” be.
  • …people “should” live their lives.
  • …I ‘should” be a good daughter, niece, and granddaughter.
  • …I ‘should” live my life.


This part of me that craves adventure and freedom.


North Coast of California during my vacation last week 

This part of me that loves…

  • traveling around the world.
  • living in foreign counties. 
  • discovering new places, new cultures, new experiences.
  • going on new adventures whether it’s kayaking, camping, or climbing a peak.

Kayaking on the Gualala River during my vacation last week 


Camping by the Pacific Ocean – North Coast of California

This part of me that loves living my life…

  • out loud
  • fully expressed 
  • joyful and happy 
  • away from the “shoulds” and “have to”

Making a campfire at the campsite


The TRUTH is…

I am an adventurous spirit. 
I am a FREE spirit.


This is a BIG PART of who I am. Not ALL of who I am, but a bit part. 

To claim and embrace it, I had to break through the norms and shoulds of my family conditioning. 

It takes courage to do that.

But on the other side of it, I found the career and life of my dreams, the work I absolutely love that brings me joy and meaning every day. 

Have you ever wondered where to find the career and life of your dreams? The type of work and lifestyle that brings you true joy and fulfillment?

Well, if you are like most of the people I’m here to serve, the answer is…

  • …on the other side of your “shoulds” and “have to.”
  • …on the other side of the conditioning, you have taken from family, school, society, culture.
  • …on the other side of proving that you are lovable and intelligent.
  • …on the other side of proving that you belong.

I know.
I have been there… and back.
This is the story of my life.
I know the terrain well.
I’ve traveled it so many times… and I keep traveling it. 

If you need help going on the other side of the shoulds to find the work and life you truly LOVE,

I can guide you there.

This is the terrain I love travelling with my clients. 
The terrain through which I’ve guided hundreds of clients who are now living the work and life of their dreams.

I can hold your hand through it. This is what I’m the best at.

If you want to explore how I could help, apply for a “Discover the Career You Absolutely Love” Complimentary Breakthrough Session. I currently have 3 spots open for new clients

Wherever you are on your journey, I wish for you to have work and life you truly love, free of the shoulds and conditioning that keep you bound and unhappy.

What are you going to do this week that brings you joy independently of what you think you should do?

Comment below and tell me! I want to hear

To your full expression, 

Isabelle 

Want more meaning? Ask THIS.

Want more meaning? Ask THIS.

Are you looking for more meaning and purpose in your career and in your life?

If you are like many of the clients I support and people I talk to, you probably are.

Well, if you are, there is a good question to ask yourself. 

This is a question I often ask my private VIP clients looking for meaningful work.
This is a topic we uncover that is deeply intertwined with their purpose and calling. 


It was the case with one of my clients recently…

She came to me four months ago to find her career path and the meaning of her life. She said she had always been looking for the meaning of her life, but could never find it.

Well, after four months of deep dive into her core values and drivers, her natural talents, passions, and essence, we just clarified her biggest calling… Her mission is to help girls succeed and realize their dreams.

This is deeply resonant for her. 

And I know this is it.

Do you know why I know it?

It is directly linked to her own life journey and her wounds from the past.

The biggest calling and purpose of your career and life is often linked to your biggest childhood wound OR to one of the biggest challenges you had to overcome in your life so far, and how you overcome it. 

So here is the question for you to ponder…

>>  What is the biggest life challenge or biggest childhood wound you had to overcome, and how you overcame it?
What did you learn from it? 


There is a gift in it. A gift for you and for the world.

I can’t wait for you to find it. 

Isabelle 

P.S. If you need help clarifying your career calling, or your meaningful career and life, I’d love to help.
I’m currently accepting applications for private clients. 3 clients recently graduated; so I’ve 3 spots currently open.
>> Apply here and I’ll be in touch.