What If You Stopped Taking Yourself So Seriously?

What if taking yourself - and your work - less seriously actually made you more effective?Before speaking to a room of MBA students at INSEAD, Catherine found herself acting from an old identity: polished, controlled and focused on performing well. Then during the Uber ride there, she made a different choice - to stop performing, have fun and just be present.The result was one of the most connected and enjoyable speaking experiences of her life.In this episode, Catherine and Ariana explore:• The difference between performance and presence• Why we believe seriousness makes us more credible• How external validation disconnects us from ourselves• Letting go of the outcome without letting go of excellence• Learning to receive recognition instead of deflecting it• Why play, authenticity, and enjoyment often create better resultsYou can care deeply about your work without sucking the joy out of your life. The real win isn’t only reaching the destination - it’s becoming someone who actually enjoys the journey on the way there.Where in your life could you stop performing and let yourself play?