86. You Can Be a Great Mom and Still Be Ambitious with Dr. Anne Welsh
You can be a deeply devoted mom and still love your work, have big ambitions, and want a life outside of motherhood. Dr. Anne Welsh, clinical psychologist, certified executive coach, and author of Ambitious Mother, joins me to unpack why so many high-achieving moms feel like they’re failing, even when they’re doing objectively well. We talk about the ambition paradox, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and pretending, along with the guilt that can come with putting your child in childcare, prioritizing your career, or simply putting yourself first. Dr. Anne also shares how our own ambition can spill over into the expectations we have for our children, from youth sports to college, and why it’s worth asking whether those expectations are really theirs or ours. Plus, we talk about using podcast guesting as a powerful way to grow your reach, promote a book or business, and connect with new audiences without relying entirely on social media.
We Cover:
Why ambitious moms can feel like they’re failing even when they’re high-achieving
The ambition paradox and redefining what success can look like
Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and pretending, and how these tendencies show up in motherhood
The guilt that can come with childcare, prioritizing your career, and putting yourself first
How our own ambitions and expectations can shape the way we parent our children
Rethinking youth sports, college, and the pressure we place on our kids
Using podcast guesting and cold pitching to promote a book, business, or area of expertise
Motherhood doesn’t have to mean putting your ambition on the shelf, and ambition doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the parts of motherhood that matter most to you. This conversation is a reminder that we can create our own definition of success and give ourselves, and our children, permission to do the same.
