214 - Imagine Not Always Being On The Defensive

Stop Sabotaging Your Success · Apr 16, 2026 · 20m

In this episode, Cindy Esliger challenges how we tend towards defensive career management and invites us to consider what it would look like to build a career from a position of strength instead of constant protection. She describes how many professionals, especially in demanding or biased environments, are conditioned to anticipate criticism and brace for pushback before it even happens. These behaviors may start as survival strategies, but Cindy explains how they quietly shift our energy away from growth and toward self-protection. They keep us stuck in cycles of overpreparing, staying…