How to Manage Your Ambition When Life Forces You To Slow Down

Your ambition has not gone anywhere. Life just pulled the handbrake. In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Nicki Bedford, founder of Founders Official and former Head of Asia Pacific at BuzzFeed, for one of the most honest conversations about what ambition actually looks like when life forces you to slow down. This is not a conversation about giving up or settling. It is about what happens when your drive is bigger than your current capacity and how slowing down might be the very thing that gets you there faster. If you have ever caught yourself thinking: "I can't afford to slow down right now" "I wish I could do more but something keeps holding me back" "I feel behind no matter how hard I work" "I know where I am going but I can't move at the pace I want" "My identity feels tied to my output and I don't know who I am without it" Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Nicki cover: - What the forced slowdown actually does to your ambition and why it is not what you think - Why your identity being tied to your output is keeping you stuck not moving forward - How to move through inner conflict when your ambition and your capacity are at war - Why slowing down will catapult your success faster than grinding ever will - The two questions to ask yourself when your behaviour is contradicting your goals - What happens right before people make it and how to recognise that season - How to hold space for big ambition and presence with yourself at the same time - Why there is no deadline to figuring out your life and what that actually means - The sales skill everyone needs and how to pitch yourself without feeling pushy - Where AI is a no-go and why your humanness is your biggest competitive advantage You do not have to choose between your ambition and your wellbeing. This episode is the proof. SPONSORS:   ⚪ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HUEL⁠ ⁠- Limited Time Offer - Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code BALANCE at ⁠huel.com/BALANCE⁠. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! 🫧 OAK ESSENTIALS - Use code BALANCE at oakessentials.com to get 15% off your first purchase! #OakEssentials #ad CONNECT 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIMESTAMP (00:00) Introduction (06:45) The Forced Slow down (10:21 ) Moving through your inner conflict (15:20) Change the 'how' not the 'what' (18:39) The Balance Theory (20:13) I used to think 'hustle' culture was a positive (21:16) 2 questions to ask yourself (23:34) Your successful trait blocked you doing THIS (29:05) Give yourself permission to be slower with YOURSELF (31:44) Are you contradicting your goals? (36:41) Success then versus now (38:33) This is most predictable in an entrepreneur's mindset (41:51) THIS Happens right before people make it (44:59) How to stop thinking about the 'timeline' (47:45) You need 3 things to be good at Sales (#1 skill everyone needs) (51:14) Pitch yourself using these tactics / steps (56:34) AI is a NO-GO In these areas WHO AM I? My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RESOURCES ▶︎⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LET’S BE FRIENDS 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📱⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🧡 This description may contain affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices