The Hidden Cost of Chasing Your Dreams

My love, I want to bring back a conversation from the Confidence Chronicles archives because I think it's a reminder so many ambitious women need.

Have you ever been so focused on what's next that you've forgotten how far you've already come? I'm coming to you from Florida, where I had a moment by the pool that completely broke me open. Years ago, I looked up at the Florida sky screaming and crying after losing my husband. This week, I looked up at that same sky and cried again. But this time, it was because I finally stopped long enough to see the life I've created. My husband. My beautiful children. My business. Speaking on stages across America. There was a time when I genuinely thought I was cursed. That I wasn't worthy. That my life would never turn out the way I dreamed. And now? I can't believe how far I've come. This episode is a reminder for every woman who's been working so hard to build her future that she's forgotten to acknowledge everything she's already survived, overcome and achieved. IN THIS EPISODE: The emotional moment in Florida that brought my past and present together Why ambitious women struggle to celebrate how far they've come How the hardest chapters of your life can shape who you become Why you can be grateful for what you have and still want more Please take a moment today to look at your life and say, “I'm proud of me.” Because I am so fucking proud of you 👑 🌴 AND WHILE I'M HERE IN MIAMI… If you've been following this journey, you know how much it means to me to be back in America, sharing my story, speaking on stages and doing work I once never imagined would be possible. And if you didn't know already, while I'm here in Miami, I'm hosting something really special with Maha Abouelenein! It's called Positioned, Paid & Published, an intimate, full-day personal branding workshop for women who are ready to stop being overlooked and start becoming known for what they do. We're getting hands-on with your personal brand, your story, your visibility and your next moves. Think media, stages, building your reputation and creating a real 90-day action plan. I'd absolutely love to have you in the room with us. 🎟️ Use code PPP20 for your special listener offer. 👉🏽 https://courses.thequeenofconfidence.com/positioned-paid-published READY TO BUILD YOUR AUTHORITY, CONFIDENCE & PERSONAL BRAND? 📖 GET ERIKA'S BOOKS → Becoming Magnetic (Penguin Random House, 2025) → Confidence Feels Like Shit (2020) Available here: https://shop.thequeenofconfidence.com/collections/book Amazon, Barnes & Noble or any audiobook app 📩 GROW YOUR FANBASE Learn the timeless skill that turned my 1,000 followers into a 7-figure global business. → https://courses.thequeenofconfidence.com/offers/TKhTxM3n/checkout ♟️ THE QUEEN'S TABLE My high-level mentorship for women ready to step into leadership, visibility and legacy. → https://thequeenofconfidence.com/the-queens-table/ ✨ THE NEXT LEVEL Build your confidence, audience and income. → https://thequeenofconfidence.com/the-next-level/ 🎤 BOOK ERIKA TO SPEAK For keynotes, corporate events and women's leadership conferences in Australia and the USA. → https://thequeenofconfidence.com/speaking/ 📲 FOLLOW ERIKA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeenofconfidence/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-cramer-queenconfidence/ Website: https://thequeenofconfidence.com/about/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequeenofconfidence 👑 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO THE CONFIDENCE CHRONICLES Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MUxtupRLNGB8cuNC9mwXI Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-confidence-chronicles/id1439434022 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtf2VIsUYg-vkERa16r_VcFNz3Bt6kLI All platforms: https://thequeenofconfidence.com/podcast/ 🙏🏽 ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? Please subscribe so you never miss one. It takes 30 seconds and it means everything to us! Chapters

I'm in Miami, and I want YOU in the room! 🌴👑 I'm hosting a special full-day event with Maha Abouelenein called Positioned, Paid & Published. If you're ready to build your personal brand, get visible, land stages, pitch the media and become the obvious choice in your industry, this is for you. This is an intimate, hands-on workshop where you'll leave with a 90-day action plan for your personal brand. 🎟️ Use code PPP20 for your special Confidence Chronicles listener offer. 👉🏽 https://courses.thequeenofconfidence.com/positioned-paid-published

Everyone wants the big vision.

Gina Zapanta is a lawyer, entrepreneur, mother of four and founder of Empowered with Gina.