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Inspired Authority

Inspired Authority

by Laura Lynn Colon

Careers Self-Improvement

Called Before Qualified: Building a Movement on Faith, Not Fear

“It doesn’t matter what people say or what people think about me, because at the end of the day, I’m honoring the Lord.” This episode reminded me that God often calls us into places that feel bigger than us. Not because we are already fully ready, but because He wants our heart, our yes, and our willingness to trust Him. In this episode of Inspired Authority, I talk with Gracie Formsma, co-founder of Love Gives, a faith-driven brand she created with her brother, Drew. Gracie inspired me by how honest she was about fear, failure, identity, and calling. She did not pretend that stepping into purpose is easy. She shared how she felt unqualified, how she worried about what people would think, and how she still had to choose obedience anyway. 5 Key Takeaways Your identity has to come from God first Gracie shared that before she is a founder, student, or leader, she is a child of God. Fear does not mean you are on the wrong path Sometimes fear shows up right before obedience. Gracie reminded us not to confuse being scared with being out of alignment. Failure is not your identity One of my favorite moments was when Gracie said failure is a circumstance you move through, not a reflection of who God made you to be. Closed doors can make space for the right doors Gracie talked about getting denied opportunities in college, only to later realize those “nos” gave her room to build Love Gives. Speaking truth over yourself matters Gracie shared how standing in the mirror and speaking God’s truth over herself helped her heal, grow, and walk in freedom. 5 Chapters and Timestamps [00:00] Gracie’s heart for honoring God [00:03] The story behind Love Gives [00:09] Finding her relationship with God [00:13] Learning through business, fear, and failure [00:31] Identity, courage, and walking in freedom

Stop Believing the Stories That Keep You Small

“When you slow down, you actually go faster.” I had the pleasure of having a discussion with Carole Mahoney, author of Buyer First and Harvard Business School sales coach, for a conversation that went far beyond sales, performance, or success. We talked about the beliefs we carry, the fears we don’t always name, and the old stories that quietly shape how we show up in our lives. Carole brought such a grounded perspective on why so many capable people still feel stuck, even when they have the experience, intelligence, and potential to move forward. This episode reminded me that authority is not about being fearless. It is about learning to trust yourself, understand yourself, and stop handing your power over to old fears or other people’s opinions. 5 Key Takeaways High performers still question themselves: Success does not erase doubt. Even capable people struggle with belonging, visibility, and fear of judgment. Limiting beliefs often sound like logic: The stories we repeat to ourselves can feel like facts, but many of them were built from old experiences, old voices, and outdated fears. Slowing down creates clarity: Carole shared that some of the biggest breakthroughs happen in stillness. When we pause, breathe, and stop rushing, we can see what is right in front of us. Fear needs to be named before it can be managed: Whether through journaling, box breathing, movement, or talking to trusted people, naming fear helps us stop letting it run the show. Buyer First is not just a sales philosophy: Putting other people’s needs first can change how we sell, lead, parent, partner, and live. It reminds us that real fulfillment comes from service, not just self-focus. Chapters 00:00:00 - Meet Carole Mahoney 00:01:20 - Life, Partnership, Gardening, and Growth 00:06:10 - Why High Performers Still Feel Stuck 00:13:10 - Limiting Beliefs, Fear, and Slowing Down 00:38:00 - Authority, Buyer First, and Living Your Values

Why Most People Never Become Who They Could Be

“At one point, I was working eight different jobs just trying to survive. People thought I was successful because I was doing so much. The reality was, I wasn't doing any of it very well.” Most people think confidence comes from knowing exactly who you are, but what if confidence is actually built every time you choose to do something that scares you? In this episode, Laura sits down with me to explore reinvention, identity, confidence, entrepreneurship, and the uncomfortable decisions that shape our lives. We talk about everything from leaving Scotland and moving across the world, to losing my dream job during COVID, performing stand-up comedy, building a podcast business, and learning why saying no can be more powerful than saying yes. What stood out to me most is that growth rarely comes from certainty. It comes from putting yourself in situations that challenge you, stretch you, and force you to become someone new. Whether it's moving countries, stepping onto a comedy stage, starting a business, or launching a podcast, the biggest breakthroughs often happen when you stop waiting to feel ready and simply begin. This conversation is a reminder that confidence is not the absence of fear. It's the willingness to act despite it. Key Takeaways Growth happens outside your comfort zone** The moments that changed my life most were the moments when I chose to do something uncomfortable, even when I felt completely unprepared. Confidence and self-doubt can exist together People often assume confident people don't struggle with fear or uncertainty. The reality is that confidence is often built by repeatedly acting in spite of those feelings. You can't do everything well Trying to do eight different jobs taught me that focus is a superpower. Growth accelerated the moment I started saying no to distractions and yes to what mattered most. Your mindset shapes your results Whether in fundraising, comedy, business, or podcasting, I learned that taking responsibility for my attitude and actions creates better outcomes than blaming circumstances. Listening is one of the most valuable skills you can develop The best conversations, relationships, and opportunities come from genuine curiosity and active listening rather than waiting for your turn to speak. Chapters 02:00 Who I am beyond "The Podcast Guy" 04:00 Losing my dream job and starting over 06:30 My journey into stand-up comedy 10:00 Why my 15-year-old self would be shocked by my life today 13:00 The difference between changing careers and changing identity 15:00 The fundraising job that transformed my confidence 18:00 Why most people choose comfort over growth 21:00 What people misunderstand about confidence 25:00 Personal standards, mindset, and accountability 30:00 What makes someone memorable on a podcast 35:00 Lessons from interviewing hundreds of people 39:00 Advice for anyone waiting for permission to start 41:00 Going from eight jobs to one focused business 45:00 Why saying no changed everything 48:00 What to do when you feel stuck 51:00 Goal setting, vision boards, and creating momentum

Authority Starts With Self Trust

“Most people think burnout comes from working too hard, but what if burnout is actually the result of abandoning yourself for too long?” Amy brings such a powerful perspective on burnout, self-trust, nervous system regulation, boundaries, and the hidden patterns that keep women performing instead of actually feeling grounded. What stood out to me most is that authority does not come from pushing harder. It comes from trusting yourself enough to stop abandoning yourself. This conversation is a reminder that stress, people-pleasing, and over-performing are not just personality traits. They are often survival patterns. And when we begin to notice them, regulate our bodies, set boundaries, and close the loops we keep breaking with ourselves, we start rebuilding real authority from the inside out. 5 Key Takeaways Burnout can come from self-abandonment: Burnout is not always about doing too much. Sometimes it is the result of ignoring your needs, your body, your values, and your truth for too long. High achievers often normalize chronic stress: Many of us have been taught that being busy, needed, and constantly pushing means we are successful. But that pattern can quietly lead to burnout and identity loss. Your body keeps the score: Chronic stress, overthinking, people-pleasing, and survival mode can show up through pain, exhaustion, hormonal issues, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation. Boundaries are part of leadership: Boundaries are not selfish. They protect your energy, your time, your calling, and your ability to show up in alignment. Self-trust is built through small moments of integrity: Every time you do what you said you were going to do, even in small ways, you rebuild trust with yourself. Chapters 03:00 Amy’s journey from sales leadership to resilience coaching 06:00 Why high achievers normalize stress and anxiety 18:00 Self-betrayal, professionalism, and letting go of the rule book 25:00 Boundaries, breath, and nervous system regulation 38:00 Rebuilding self-trust after years of overriding yourself 48:00 What authority means when it starts with obedience, impact, and alignment

The Story That’s Keeping You Invisible

“You don’t have a personal brand. You are a brand.” I loved this conversation with Melanie Borden because it gets to the real reason so many people stay invisible. It is not always a strategy problem. It is often a story problem. Melanie reminded me that before we post, speak, lead, or build authority, we have already decided who we are allowed to be. That decision shapes how much we share, how much we hold back, and whether we let other people define our value. What stood out to me most is that visibility is not about ego. It is about creating trust, building a safety net, and letting the right people understand who you are before they ever meet you. 5 Key Takeaways You are already a brand:Personal branding is not about becoming someone else. It is about showing the value, experience, and perspective you already have. Visibility starts with your internal story: Before anyone else sees you, you have already decided what is safe to say and who you are allowed to be. Fear is part of the process: Showing up will feel uncomfortable. Like Melanie said, if you are running a 100-mile race, you have to expect blisters. Your personal brand is a safety net: Whether you work in corporate, own a business, or are making a pivot, being visible helps people discover, understand, and trust you. No one is thinking about you as much as you are: Most people are focused on themselves. That means the fear of being judged is often bigger in your mind than it is in real life. Chapters 00:00 The story that keeps you invisible 03:00 What internal theater means and how identity shapes visibility 13:00 Why personal branding matters for everyone 22:00 How to start showing up without feeling ready 41:00 Letting go of fear, owning your value, and taking the first step

Why High Performers Quietly Lose Themselves

“You are not what people say you are. You are who you decide to become.” In this episode of Inspired Authority, I sat down with Jamie Diglio to talk about what really happens when high performers step into bigger roles, bigger pressure, and bigger expectations. What stood out to me most is that success does not start with strategy. It starts with identity. Jamie’s story is powerful because she has lived the work she now teaches. From burnout and self-doubt to building the Win Room, she shows us that the first leadership reset is not external. It is internal. This conversation reminded me that we cannot build real authority if we are still operating from old narratives, outdated data, and someone else’s definition of success. 5 Key Takeaways Your identity has to grow with your success: Many high performers do not fail because they lack talent. The first sales conversation is with yourself: Before you can sell your ideas, your value, or your leadership to others, you have to believe and trust who you are. Most people are living in the War Room: The War Room is where self-doubt, comparison, fear, and head trash take over. Career pivots should be intentional, not reactive: Instead of waiting until burnout or crisis forces a change, Jamie encourages us to look at our strengths, our patterns, and the work people naturally come to us for. Real leadership requires consistency: Trust is built when who you say you are matches how you show up. Chapters and Timestamps: 00:00 Identity, authority, and who you decide to become 09:00 The War Room, the Win Room, and the cost of self-doubt 18:00 Outgrowing old identities and recognizing misalignment 25:00 What an intentional career pivot really looks like 45:00 Resetting your operating system and rebuilding self-trust

The People Winning Aren’t More Ready Than You

“You can’t be an expert if you don’t get started.” In this episode of Inspired Authority, I sat down with Dalia, a content creator, confidence builder, and self-described joy fairy. What I loved most about this conversation is how much Dalia reminds us that authority does not have to be stiff, polished, or perfect. It can be joyful. It can be warm. It can be built through action. Dalia’s story is such a powerful reminder that confidence comes from repetition. She moved from Peru to the U.S., built community from scratch, said yes before she had it all figured out, and slowly created a business that helps women show up with more presence and trust in themselves. What stood out to me most is this: you do not become confident by waiting until you are ready. You become confident by doing the thing, again and again, until it starts to feel like yours. 5 Key Takeaways Say yes, then figure it out: Dalia started creating video content before she knew every detail. She trusted herself enough to begin. Confidence is built through repetition: The more you show up, the easier it gets. You do not need to be an expert on day one. Mindset is not a one-time thing: Dalia shared that mindset has to be practiced daily through journaling, gratitude, movement, and protecting your energy. Community changes everything: From her family in Peru to entrepreneur communities in San Diego, Dalia shows how support can keep you going when business feels hard. Perfect content is not the goal: People want to connect with real humans. Sometimes the simple, imperfect post is the one that builds the most trust. Chapters 00:00:00 - Meet Dalia 00:03:55 - From Peru to the U.S. 00:06:35 - Saying Yes During the Pandemic 00:10:15 - Mindset, Energy, and Community 00:21:15 - Content, Confidence, and Taking the Jump

How Trauma Shapes Ambitious People

“Once you taste peace and joy, there’s not one thing in this world that can take it away.” Talking with Stephanie Martin felt like sitting in the middle of truth. Not polished truth. Not performative truth. Real truth. The kind that comes from walking through heartbreak, grief, codependency, identity loss, and still choosing to rise. What struck me most was how honestly Stephanie talked about pain, faith, and the courage it takes to look inward. This conversation reminded me that grief may change us, but it does not have to define us. We always have a choice in how we respond, how we heal, and how we lead ourselves forward. We talk about what grief reveals, how codependency keeps us stuck, why alignment matters, and how faith can become the source that carries us when life feels too heavy to hold. This is a conversation about surrender, healing, boundaries, purpose, and the decision to turn pain into something meaningful. 5 key takeaways Grief is a mirror: Stephanie explains that grief does not just show us what we lost. It reveals who we are, what we believe, and where we are still unhealed. Healing starts with responsibility: Not everything that happens to us is our fault, but it is our responsibility to acknowledge it and heal it if we want a different life. Codependency can hide behind strength: Even high-achieving, independent women can be deeply codependent when their worth is tied to fixing, helping, or being needed by others. Boundaries are not rejection: Stephanie reframes boundaries as permission for people to stay in our lives in a healthy way. They protect peace, energy, and truth. Faith and surrender change everything: Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is put the backpack down, stop carrying every burden, and trust God with what we cannot control. Chapters 00:00 - Stephanie’s story and the identities we hold 07:50 - What grief reveals about who we are 26:55 - From codependency to courage 36:00 - Misalignment, healing, and boundaries 43:35 - Purpose, arrows up, and honoring Cade

She Had the Career Everyone Wanted, But Was Miserable

“The stress and anxiety of being in a sales profession was starting to come at me at like, at what cost is this?” This episode felt honest in a way that I think a lot of women need right now. Kelli, founder of Empress Skin Studio, joins me for a conversation about what it really looks like to leave a high-achieving career and build a life rooted in wellness, intention, and alignment. We talk about the pressure of performance-driven environments, the financial and emotional reality of starting over, and the health struggles that pushed Kelli to rethink everything she believed about success. She also shares how her personal healing journey led her to naturopathic care, nervous system support, and the work she does today helping women reconnect with their bodies. 5 key takeaways Success is not always alignment: Kelli had a strong career in tech, but she reached a point where she had to ask herself what the stress was really costing her. That question changed everything. Health can force a bigger wake-up call: Her experience with hormonal imbalance, disordered eating, chronic stress, and being dismissed by traditional doctors pushed her to look deeper and rebuild her health in a more holistic way. Entrepreneurship is freedom and responsibility: Owning a business gives you more control over your time and energy, but it also means wearing every hat, managing uncertainty, and learning fast. The right support system matters: Kelli makes it clear that having a supportive partner and trusted people around you can make all the difference when you are taking a big risk. Alignment starts with what gives you energy: A powerful question from this episode is this: what do you talk about outside of work that lights you up? Chapters 00:00 - A health scare changes everything 06:50 - Falling into tech and thriving in sales 12:00 - Leaving corporate to choose alignment 18:45 - Health, hormones, and healing from the inside out 39:00 - Building a life that feels like yours

The Hidden Cost of Being Reliable

“If it doesn’t light you up, it’s gonna burn you out.” This time, I sat down with Rema, founder of Unstoppable Leadership, for a real conversation about burnout, identity, and what it takes to lead with more honesty and ownership. What stood out to me most is how many of us chase success by trying to prove ourselves, only to realize too late that we are following someone else’s definition of success. Rema shares how burnout forced her to stop, reflect, and rebuild from the inside out. More than anything, I think this episode is a wake-up call. Not in a harsh way, but in a necessary one. It invites us to pay attention to the patterns we normalize, the stress we excuse, and the ways we abandon ourselves just to keep up. 5 key takeaways Burnout often starts when we keep saying yes and stop setting boundaries. Success is personal. It cannot be built only on outside validation. Comparison, people pleasing, and perfectionism quietly drain energy. Strong teams need clarity, ownership, and honest communication. Great leadership starts with leading yourself first. Chapters 00:00 Burnout, pressure, and doing work that lights you up 04:00 Not fitting in and how identity shapes ambition 09:00 Achievement vs proving your worth 17:00 Burnout warning signs and learning to set boundaries 21:00 Building Unstoppable Leadership and fixing team dynamics

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