The 4 Habits Holding Your Career Back & How to Break Them (Stop Saying Sorry)

Most people don’t realize they’re giving away their power every single day – starting with one simple word: sorry. In this episode of Tiger Sisters, we reveal the three hidden ways women (and men) sabotage their success. Plus one toxic habit you definitely don’t realize you’re doing and teach you how to flip the script with clarity and confidence.We share: ✅ The “sorry reflex” and how it destroys authority ✅ Why women shrink themselves to be liked – and how to stop doing it ✅ Permission-seeking language that quietly erodes your credibility ✅ The hidden trap of toxic gratitude and how it keeps you stuck ✅ Mini-exercises to help you build a stronger, more powerful leadership voice🐯👯‍♀️ We’re the Tiger Sisters — Your Wall Street & Silicon Valley big sistersDecoding Money • Power • Love✨ New episodes every Monday | Shorts all week ✨🎯 This episode is sponsored by Read AI, a meeting co-pilot that takes notes, analyzes meeting sentiment, and shares smart next steps for you and your team. Try our favorite productivity tool free for 30 days: http://read.ai/tigersisters💌 Want to partner with us? Sponsorships: [email protected]⏰ Timestamps0:00 Three ways women undermine their own power1:57 Framework #1: The Sorry Reflex3:03 How women are conditioned into self-monitoring5:17 Workplace example: Jean's first corporate manager7:33 Practical swaps for I'm “sorry9:56 Mini Exercise: Rewrite your top “sorry” phrases10:47 Ad Break: Read AI12:22 Framework #2: Shrink to Fit12:54 Michelle Obama’s power-at-the-table quote14:07 Cherie’s early-career example of shrinking in meetings16:31 Being respected vs. liked17:07 Mini Exercise: Where you’re minimizing ambition + one win to own 20:13 Framework #3: Asking for Permission21:46 Jean’s story: waiting for the “perfect” idea23:55 How allies can reinforce your voice27:02 Mini Exercise: Say your idea without hedging27:44 Bonus Framework: Toxic Gratitude31:14 Recap and this week’s Power Moves👀 Newsletter: https://cherieluo.substack.com/Why trust us?▫️ Cherie Brooke Luo – 100M+ views demystifying big tech, finance & MBAs▫️ Jean Luo – ex-Goldman, ex-Snapchat exec, 50+ AI patents, startup investor▫️ Together: 4 Ivy degrees • built billion-dollar products • two startups — decoded for youWhat you’ll get (and keep):▫️ 🚀 Ivy League cheat sheets – no $250K tuition required▫️ Personal finance playbooks – salary jumps, investing, money psychology▫️ Networking scripts – behind $100M+ deals, job offers & VC intros▫️ Real talk with unicorn founders, VCs, and billionaires▫️ Mindset resets – clarity minus the pricey life coach▫️ Lifestyle, wellness, and productivity hacks that actually work💛 LET'S CONNECT:~ CHERIE ~🤳🏻 Instagram – / cherie.brooke📱 TikTok – / cherie.brooke✍🏻 Substack – cherieluo.substack.com👩🏻‍💻 LinkedIn – / cherie-luo~ JEAN ~🤳🏻 Instagram – / jeanluo_👩🏻‍💻 LinkedIn – / jeanluo👉 Hit Subscribe & tap the 🔔, then WRITE A REVIEW and rate us ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on Spotify & Apple Podcasts!Share this with someone who deserves to be seen as a leader.🎵 Music: Sammy Signal – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HsyknHuxhT8RoZfn5rqMS 🛍️ Items: 🍵 Sisters Matcha – www.sistersmatcha.com🌀 Everything else – https://amzn.to/3z0dx5b