117. Cracks in the Armor: How Disruption Builds Stronger Leaders

In this powerful episode of Embracing Enough, I sit down with my friend and fellow coach, Meredith Waters - a high-performance coach, strategic consultant, and founder of Thriving at Waters Edge. With nearly two decades of leading international development projects across more than 25 countries, Meredith brings a unique blend of global perspective, hard-won wisdom, and heart-centered leadership.Together, we dive deep into the concept of the fallow period - those seasons of life and career when ambition gets disrupted, whether by external shocks or internal misalignment. Meredith vulnerably shares her own journey through disruption, from missing her ROTC run time by 21 seconds to navigating a blood disorder, unexpected career pivots, and even being fired. Each disruption cracked the “armor of achievement” she had built - and taught her to embrace those cracks as places of growth, resilience, and ultimately becoming shatterproof.We also unpack the recent upheaval in the international development consulting industry and what it means to redefine productivity, reclaim joy, and give yourself permission to pause. Meredith introduces us to her “sandbox” approach - experimenting, playing, and replenishing in ways that help you realign your compass and rediscover what truly lights you up.This conversation is an invitation to rethink what ambition looks like when life doesn’t go as planned, and to honor the sacredness of the pause. Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is stop, breathe, and allow ourselves to be reshaped.This episode is an invitation to rethink what ambition looks like when life doesn’t go as planned, and to honor the sacredness of the pause. This episode is for you if you’re navigating a career disruption, questioning your next step, or simply craving permission to slow down and rediscover what lights you up.Follow Meredith Waters and her work through Thriving Edgehttps://www.thrivingatwatersedge.com/ and follow her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithwaters/*************Ready to dive deeper? If you're ready to stop chasing someone else's definition of success and start creating your own, you don' t have to do it alone. Whether it's ⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Leadership Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠ there's a space for you to step into your power and lead with confidence.And to get you started, I've got a free resource just for you! Download the Unstoppable Leaders Blueprint to help you kick perfectionism to the curb and lead with bold, grounded confidence. Grab it now at the⁠⁠⁠⁠ link⁠⁠⁠⁠.