Send us a text

Paula explores the complex emotions surrounding success, including guilt and shame, despite achieving personal and professional milestones. She highlights the importance of defining success personally and acknowledging the mixed emotions that can arise. Paula shares a few personal experiences, such as earning degrees and starting a business, for context, and the challenges of navigating societal expectations and intergenerational messages. She emphasizes the need for self-compassion, reflection, and community support to celebrate achievements without apology.

In this episode, you will hear:
+ the relationship between shame and success
+ defining success personally
+ emotional dissonance and multiple feelings
+ cultural and intergenerational challenges
+ normalizing success and celebrating without apology
+ reflecting on success and overcoming shame

Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod

Send us a text

Paula explores the concept of expertise, emphasizing the importance of specific knowledge and experience. She highlights different viewpoints regarding the title of expert and the challenges associated with differing perceptions. Paula breaks down the 10,000-hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell and offers the critique of Anders Ericsson as an additional perspective to consider. She emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating self-proclaimed experts, taking into account factors such as education, professional experience, licenses, certifications, and reputation. Paula also warns against overconfidence and the potential for fraud, urging listeners to trust their instincts and do a little digging.

In this episode, you will hear:
+ the 10,000-hour rule and its limitations
+ evaluating expertise: education, training, and experience
+ professional reputation and publications
+ red flags and self-proclaimed experts
+ the role of self-awareness and ambition

Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod

Send us a text

Paula discusses the importance of taking paid time off (PTO) in the U.S., highlighting that 5.5% of American workers did not take any PTO in 2023, and 62% of those who did not use all their allotted days. She explains that PTO can be used for various reasons, including sick days and vacations, and the availability of PTO varies by employer policy. She notes that PTO usage is influenced by factors such as job security, income, and cultural pressures, and emphasizes the need for employees to prioritize their rest and well-being. She compares U.S. PTO policies unfavorably to those in other countries, which often mandate more paid vacation.

In this episode, you will hear:
+ overview of paid time off (PTO)
+ types of PTO policies
+ challenges and statistics of PTO usage
+ cultural and personal barriers to PTO
+ legal and international comparisons

Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod