Show Notes
Your ambition has not gone anywhere. Life just pulled the handbrake.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Nicki Bedford, founder of Founders Official and former Head of Asia Pacific at BuzzFeed, for one of the most honest conversations about what ambition actually looks like when life forces you to slow down. This is not a conversation about giving up or settling. It is about what happens when your drive is bigger than your current capacity and how slowing down might be the very thing that gets you there faster.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"I can't afford to slow down right now"
"I wish I could do more but something keeps holding me back"
"I feel behind no matter how hard I work"
"I know where I am going but I can't move at the pace I want"
"My identity feels tied to my output and I don't know who I am without it"
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Nicki cover:
- What the forced slowdown actually does to your ambition and why it is not what you think
- Why your identity being tied to your output is keeping you stuck not moving forward
- How to move through inner conflict when your ambition and your capacity are at war
- Why slowing down will catapult your success faster than grinding ever will
- The two questions to ask yourself when your behaviour is contradicting your goals
- What happens right before people make it and how to recognise that season
- How to hold space for big ambition and presence with yourself at the same time
- Why there is no deadline to figuring out your life and what that actually means
- The sales skill everyone needs and how to pitch yourself without feeling pushy
- Where AI is a no-go and why your humanness is your biggest competitive advantage
You do not have to choose between your ambition and your wellbeing. This episode is the proof.
SPONSORS:
⚪ HUEL - Limited Time Offer - Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code BALANCE at huel.com/BALANCE. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show!
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TIMESTAMP
(00:00) Introduction
(06:45) The Forced Slow down
(10:21 ) Moving through your inner conflict
(15:20) Change the 'how' not the 'what'
(18:39) The Balance Theory
(20:13) I used to think 'hustle' culture was a positive
(21:16) 2 questions to ask yourself
(23:34) Your successful trait blocked you doing THIS
(29:05) Give yourself permission to be slower with YOURSELF
(31:44) Are you contradicting your goals?
(36:41) Success then versus now
(38:33) This is most predictable in an entrepreneur's mindset
(41:51) THIS Happens right before people make it
(44:59) How to stop thinking about the 'timeline'
(47:45) You need 3 things to be good at Sales (#1 skill everyone needs)
(51:14) Pitch yourself using these tactics / steps
(56:34) AI is a NO-GO In these areas
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
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RESOURCES
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