The thing I finally admitted to myself in 2021

Over the last month, I’ve been part of a cohort with 31 other small business owners here in San Diego, and the experience has sparked a lot of reflection for me. I’ve loved connecting with people from different backgrounds and perspectives, while also navigating some very human moments of comparison and self-doubt -- wondering if I’m doing "enough" or growing fast enough.

But I think it’s important to normalize that even when you’re building something meaningful, you can still question yourself. #vulnerability

This whole experience has gotten me reflecting more deeply on why I started Incredibly Emily Coaching in the first place.

And truth be told, this journey has been years in the making.

Throughout my 13+ year career in HR, I had moments where I questioned whether it was really what I wanted to be doing long-term.

From the outside, things looked “fine.”

But inside, shit felt off 💯.

I found myself jumping from company to company every 1.5 years or so, constantly thinking maybe the next role, leader, or work environment would finally fix the feeling. 

But it never did.

At the time, I couldn’t fully explain it....but I just knew I wasn’t happy, I didn’t feel valued, and I wasn’t looking forward to work anymore.

Quick question for you: Have you ever looked at your career and thought:

“I worked so hard to get here… so why doesn’t it feel right anymore?”

Hit reply and tell me:

• Yes, I'm feeling that right now

• I’ve definitely felt that before

• Not in my career, but in other areas of my life

• No, but I still really relate to this

Then in early 2021, I had a life-changing coaching call with a coach friend, and for the first time, I finally said out loud what I had been thinking internally for years:

“I want to help people… and I can’t do it the way I want to in my current line of work.”

That was the moment things really started shifting for me. 

I finally realized that the work I was doing no longer aligned with my values, my strengths, or the kind of impact that I genuinely wanted to make.

So I enrolled in a year-long coach training program, and things slowly started clicking into place.

What’s funny, and something that most people probably don’t know, is I actually bought the incrediblyemily.com domain name back in 2016 because I wanted to start a career blog sharing job search and career tips.

(Spoiler alert: the blog never actually happened 😂)

But I held onto the domain name all those years.

And during coach training, something started shifting in me.

For the first time in a long time, I felt connected to myself again - energized and inspired. 🔥

I realized my passion was helping people recognize their value, trust their voice, and take a stand for themselves. To stop abandoning what's important to them just to keep the peace, prove their worth, or survive environments that leave them feeling burned out, disconnected, and unfulfilled.

Because I know firsthand what it feels like to second guess yourself, or feel unfulfilled, or wonder if you’re the problem, and try to convince yourself you “should” be happy.

And I also know what happens when someone reconnects with themselves again.

That’s the work I care about most.💜