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

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

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

In this captivating episode, Emily Maggiotto shares her inspiring story of navigating pivotal career and life decisions guided by her insatiable curiosity.

From leaving a stable finance job to pursue a musical adventure, to leading HR teams through challenging times, Emily's journey exemplifies the power of embracing risk, learning continuously, and finding fulfillment on one's own terms.

This conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone seeking to redefine their career and life path.

• Connect with Emily on LinkedIn HERE
• Learn more about The Wild Unicorn 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

Did you know that a survey of over 4,100 young men from Brazil, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and Uganda revealed that menstruation is still considered taboo around the world? In fact, many associate periods with words like ‘dirty,’ ‘embarrassing,’ and ‘disgusting.’ This deep-seated stigma is something women and girls are taught to internalize, making us feel shame around a natural biological process.

But today, we’re changing that narrative.

Welcome to Risky Conversations. I’m Jamie Lee, a certified integrative hypnotist and executive coach, and I work with women to help them achieve career growth, even when they’re the only one—or one of the few—in the room.

In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Lizzy Palmer, Founder and CEO of Sync N, a fitness app designed specifically for women’s menstrual cycles. We dive into

• The challenges of talking about periods, uteruses, and hormonal fluctuations without them becoming punchlines in male-dominated spaces.
• We also explore the risky conversations Lizzy has taken as an entrepreneur
• The value of asserting your desires (even if it means being labeled unlikable as a woman leader)
• And the health benefits of adapting both your fitness and work schedules to your cycle.

Learn more about Sync N:

• Website https://syncnapp.com/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/syncnapp/

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 work with a sex coach, not because I have sex problems, but because the coach and I are on a similar wavelength. My coach, Michaelann Gardner, is a deeply compassionate and fascinating person who has studied hypnosis under Melissa Tiers, just like I have.

(To give you an idea of what our coaching sessions are like: Michaelann guides me through hypnotic trances where we meditate on death, on the impermanence of life. I emerge from these meditations with a profound appreciation for my earthly existence.)

Michaelann has written a powerful book called Sovereign, a poignant memoir that delves into the taboo topics of bodies, relationships, sex, and spirituality.

In this candid conversation, Michaelann and I discuss what it means to question culture and religion in the journey towards self-sovereignty.

We explore the complexities of reclaiming personal authority and the courage it takes to forge one's own path. This is a thought-provoking dialogue you won't want to miss.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sovereign by Michaelann Gardner on Amazon
• Michaelann's website: https://michaelanngardner.com/
• Michaelann's Substack: https://michaelann.substack.com/
• Michaelann's Instagram: @michaelann.gardner
• Home by Simone Seol, the community Michaelann and I belong to

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'm a coach who helps smart folks who don't like office politics get promoted and better paid. Part of that work is helping professionals negotiate their salary.

98% of my clients are women, and I often hear this objection when I coach on salary negotiation: "I feel guilty for asking for the money I want."

In this episode, I share insights on how to shift your mindset, presence, and strategy to approach salary discussions with poise and confidence.

You'll learn:

• Why focusing on using the "right words" is a losing proposition
• Why self-advocacy (when done right) is an act of service
• A framework for negotiating from a grounded, spirited place that makes the words flow right out of you

In case you missed it:

• Watch my most recent salary negotiation workshop on YouTube HERE
• You can also listen to the audio recording of that same workshop HERE
• Take my Leadership Archetype quiz and get custom advice for improving your self-advocacy in the workplace 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

Since 2011, I've hosted negotiation trainings that can be best described as scrappy, pragmatic, and useful.

It started with humble Meetups where I got a bunch of the smartest women I know into a room and had them practice asking for what they wanted -- out loud.

When the pandemic hit, I consciously decided to focus primarily on my 1:1 executive coaching, and everything moved to Zoom.

(You can read about my coaching philosophy, process, and pricing right over here on the website)

Since then, I've continued to host free negotiation webinars that have reached thousands.

Why? Because a rising tide lifts all boats.

Career advancement is already gate-kept enough for women and minorities. Simple, time-tested strategies for self-advocacy shouldn't be.

Way back when I was getting started, I made a promise to myself that the measure of my success would be the extent to which my free subscribers get real VALUE out of what I share freely.

That’s why, in this episode, I’m sharing a replay of my most recent webinar: 7 Winning Steps for Salary Negotiation.

You'll learn:

• How to overcome common challenges including confidence and mindset, so you avoid common pitfalls of playing too small and leaving money on the table.
• A simple 3-step framework for making the ask, whether you're negotiating an offer or a pay raise.
• How to write smart ChatGPT prompts that make you sound human, relatable, and compelling when you ask for what you want.
• Real-life client case studies, and specific how-to's you can implement right away.

If you found this helpful, please leave a five-star review on either the podcasting platform of your choice or on Google.

• Leave a five-star Google Business review right over here: https://g.page/r/CQasFRu9OrcuEAE/review
• Watch the video replay of this webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zk4Q5aj6jQ

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