Press Pause on Autopilot: Nicole Donnelly on Reinventing What No Longer Works

Send us Fan Mail What happens when everything that’s worked your entire career… suddenly stops working? In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen sits down with Nicole Donnelly, co-founder of Cardinal Search Partners, to unpack a deeply human and vulnerable moment in her career, when success stalled, confidence wavered, and nothing seemed to move forward. After nearly two decades of success in legal recruiting, Nicole found herself in unfamiliar territory: stuck, uncertain, and questioning everything. Instead of pushing harder in the same direction, she did something most high-performers avoid, she paused. What followed was a powerful shift:  From autopilot → intentional action  From comparison → self-awareness  From comfort → growth through discomfort Nicole shares how leaning into discomfort, building her personal brand, and changing her daily actions helped her rebuild momentum and become a stronger leader in the process. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in sales, leadership, or high-performance roles who feels stuck despite doing “everything right.” What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why success can suddenly stop working (even after years of results)  The difference between a forced pause and a conscious pause  How comparison kills momentum and how to break free from it  Practical ways to “get comfortable with the uncomfortable”  How LinkedIn and personal branding can reignite growth  Why vulnerability makes you a stronger leader Key Takeaways: “What worked before won’t always work next.”  Growth often starts where comfort ends  Comparison is one of the biggest blockers to progress  Small daily shifts can completely change your trajectory  Connect & Learn More:Guest:Nicole Donnelly: Company: https://www.cardinalsp.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleldonnelly/Host:Ellen WilliamsLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Time-Ellen-Williams/dp/1637778481/ If this episode resonated with you: Follow the show, share it with someone who needs a reset, and take a moment to reflect, where in your life is it time to press pause?