You Have To Be Selfish To Be Selfless ft. Espree Devora

What if the biggest thing standing between you and your potential is your own belief system and you've never been taught how to change it? In this rich and wide-ranging episode, Richard is joined by Espree Devora, founder of the Women in Tech and We Are LA Tech podcasts, entrepreneur, and fierce champion of human potential. Espree shares the daily practices that have transformed how she operates, from breathwork and nervous system regulation to the two-minute task method and the radical power of boundaries.This is a conversation about far more than tech or women in business. It's about what it takes to show up fully and what gets in the way. Espree opens up about years of burnout from self-sacrifice, her ongoing recovery, and how learning to be selfish in the right way is the key to being truly selfless. Key TakeawaysSelf-limiting beliefs are the primary barrier between people and their potential — seeing others succeed is one of the most powerful ways to expand what you believe is possible for yourself.Regulating your nervous system through breathwork is not woo-woo - it is a practical, tactical tool used by elite military units and high performers worldwide. The two-minute method removes the resistance to starting small consistent actions compound into significant progress. Good, kind, generous people are often the worst at boundaries and mastering them is essential to avoid burnout and resentment. You have to be selfish in order to be selfless - taking care of yourself first is what enables you to serve others well.Episode HighlightsEspree's founding story - why she created Women in Tech after noticing the conversation was focused on what wasn't possible for women. The four-minute mile analogy and how one person breaking a barrier unlocks it for thousands.How breathwork, Reality Transurfing, and nervous system regulation form Espree's daily morning ritual. Burnout, resentment, and the long road back, Espree's honest account of years of self-sacrifice and recovery. Social media as drug addiction — and the two-phone system Espree uses to take back control of her attention.Timestamps00:00 Introduction —  Creating Women in Tech and We Are LA Tech 02:32 Self-limiting beliefs — the real barrier to achievement 03:56 Nervous system regulation and why Espree studies it daily 05:23 Breathwork — not woo-woo, used by the Navy SEALs 07:08 Reality Transurfing and daily rituals to rewire perspective 08:10 Daniel Kahneman — System One, System Two and breathwork 11:11 Why breathwork has been unfairly positioned as far out there 12:20 Binaural beats, undiagnosed ADHD and learning how your brain works 15:16 Human design, anger, and embracing emotions rather than fighting them 17:06 Emotions are information — what you do with them is the work 18:55 The 18-year-old founder Espree wants to champion 20:46 Boundaries — the master skill for kind and generous people 26:11 Burnout, resentment, and the long road back 31:11 Writing your own headline — your career doesn't have to look a certain way 34:43 Social media as addiction — and the two-phone system 38:52 Self-medicating with screens — and the clarity on the other side 42:40 The book — principles, sincerity, and a promise to publish🔗 Connect with Espree Devora Website: podcast.womenintechshow.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/espree Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_jI2v-PHf_/ Connect and SubscribeThank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid's work at www.richard-reid.com.Download the first two chapters of Richard's "Charisma Unlocked", audio or PDF version for free and begin your transformation towards authentic charisma:https://richard-reid.com/master-authentic-charisma/Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/