Today, I want to share something I originally wrote as an email to one of my coaching clients. It touches on something that shapes nearly everything we do: the pursuit of happiness.

Here’s the context. One of my clients is an executive at a major tech company. She’s leading a bold new initiative that involves hiring, retaining, and coaching a team of sharp, high-performing people who can deliver results fast.

She’s working hard. She’s making real progress. And in one of our sessions, a powerful question came up:

How do I maximize happiness in this role?

In this episode you'll learn:

• The difference between transactional and inherent happiness—and why most of us are addicted to the former
• A personal story about the moment that shifted my perspective on success and fulfillment
• What a rickshaw driver taught me about joy, even in the absence of wealth or status
• Why chasing happiness through promotions, praise, and paychecks can quietly lead to burnout
• How embracing complexity and paradox can unlock a more sustainable sense of well-being
• What I told a tech executive client who asked how to maximize happiness in a high-pressure leadership role
• The surprising reason my clients often reach their goals faster when they stop clinging to specific outcomes
• A practical invitation to map your own Blueprint to Confidence—and redefine success on your terms: https://www.jamieleecoach.com/apply

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• Email me at jamie@jamieleecoach.com

This year, I'm turning Buddhist, meditating with a sangha (a community of Buddhist practitioners), bowing in the morning, and taking lessons from Buddhist teachers.

This happened because I started reading Billy Seol's Substack (https://substack.com/@julylifecoach), which he writes every single day (impressive!)

I've come to consider Billy as a kind of spiritual god brother.

In this deep dive into the intersection of Buddhism, coaching, and personal growth, Billy takes us through his journey of:

• Early experiences with depression
• Career in tech companies (Apple, Disney)
• Searching for a comprehensive approach to understanding life and ending suffering
• Embracing Buddhism as a practical life approach

And we have a brainy debate about applying Buddhist principles to real-life workplace challenges for women and people of marginalized identities:

• Dealing with discrimination and marginalization
• Finding agency under challenging situations
• Doing hard things on purpose as a path to growth

Mentioned in the podcast:

• Billy's website: https://www.julylifecoach.com/
• Zen And The Art of Dealing with Office Politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcmoJuGwm4o
• HOME with Simone Seol (Billy's sister): https://www.simonegraceseol.com/come-home

Text me your thoughts on this episode!

Enjoy the show?

• Don't miss an episode, listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
• Leave me a review in Apple Podcasts.

Connect with me

• Book a free hour-long consultation with me. You'll leave with your custom blueprint to confidence, and we'll ensure it's a slam-dunk fit for you before you commit to working with me 1:1.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Email me at jamie@jamieleecoach.com

I recently led a group session called Zen and the Art of Dealing with Office Politics, where I helped professionals—especially women and underrepresented folks—navigate the messiness of workplace dynamics with more calm and clarity.

We kicked off with a guided brain exercise to shift out of high-frequency beta brain waves (you know, that anxious, go-go-go energy) and into a slower, more grounded alpha state. It’s a small shift that opens up space for creativity and better problem-solving.

Then I walked folks through three key ideas:

1. Power Differential
We named the real (or perceived) authority gaps in the workplace—how power plays out, and why it matters when you're trying to be heard or make change.

2. Conflict Styles
Using the Thomas-Kilman model, I explained the five common ways people handle conflict:

• Compete
• Collaborate
• Compromise
• Avoid
• Accommodate

I talked about how being “conflict flexible” is a leadership superpower—especially if you’re someone who usually avoids or accommodates by default.

3. Personal Interpretation
We explored how your story about what’s happening can either fuel stress or open up new choices. The way you interpret workplace friction directly impacts how you feel and what you do next.

All throughout, I brought in Zen metaphors and references from Asian culture to drive the point home: You don’t have to control every outcome. The goal is to stay present, stay adaptable, and not let office politics hijack your peace.

Download the companion guide HERE.

Watch the full replay on YouTube HERE.

Learn more about my 1:1 coaching HERE.

Text me your thoughts on this episode!

Enjoy the show?

• Don't miss an episode, listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
• Leave me a review in Apple Podcasts.

Connect with me

• Book a free hour-long consultation with me. You'll leave with your custom blueprint to confidence, and we'll ensure it's a slam-dunk fit for you before you commit to working with me 1:1.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Email me at jamie@jamieleecoach.com