Your Why...Why Do You Do What You Do?

Dear CEOs, founders, and leaders,

Why do you do what you do?

Before you answer, let me share why I do what I do.

The short and long of it is, I’ve always been an overachiever—ever since I was a child. My goal was to excel at everything I did, and I never allowed myself to rest or appreciate my successes. I was always moving forward.

(I could list my accomplishments here—but that's not what's important.)

This relentless pursuit of achievement created anxiety and a lack of peace and joy. My sense of self-worth became tied to my successes or failures.

My emotions were all over the place, and my relationships suffered. I prioritized work and winning over everything else

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This pattern started in elementary school. If my teachers saw me as the best leader, student, athlete, musician, speaker, singer, writer, or reader, then I would feel accepted, appreciated, and even loved. My self-worth was entirely connected to my achievements. Being the best meant I was valuable and worthy. It felt good—temporarily. But this was a very conditional way of seeking approval.

As I moved through life, I kept striving—to have the best marriage, to raise children who excelled at homeschooling, to make sure they were the best at everything they pursued. The pressure to succeed spilled over into my home, affecting my marriage and putting strain on my kids.

This pressure reached a breaking point when I was training to podium in a competitive cycling race, and I found myself unexpectedly fighting for my life. On that June day in 2013, I was placed in a coma—completely unaware that my life was slipping away, unaware that I wasn’t expected to live. When you’re in a coma, you’re unaware of yourself in every way.

That was a turning point for me. Not only was my life as a competitive cyclist at risk, but my entire sense of purpose had been wiped out by my constant doing.

In the process of recovering from my medical coma, I learned how to be present with myself—how to value who I am without attaching my worth to what I achieve. As you can imagine, this took intense focus, rewiring my mind, and getting to the root of that relentless drive. But I’m joyful to say that I’ve reached a place of peace, where I love myself simply for being. I’m no longer tied to my achievements for my sense of significance.

The journey that brought me here is the practice I now share with highly successful people who, like me, find themselves unfulfilled—constantly doing, but never at rest.

The gift—I was given my life back over a decade ago. I discovered that my purpose and genius is waking up the most successful CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs to their purpose and calling.

Those who come to me learn how to break free from limiting beliefs and patterns. They rewire their thoughts, process their feelings, and ultimately come to believe they are enough—just as they are. The inner drive is no longer about seeking external validation.

Peace and joy become sustainable.

Unconditional love becomes heartfelt.

Leaders transform their relationship with themselves, and with the people who matter most in their lives. They gain the spacious freedom to be present. I show them how to fill their own cup, rather than constantly seeking fulfillment from external sources. And as they grow, the culture of their organization shifts with them. Thriving and well-being replace scarcity-driven motivation.

I believe my life was spared to wake you up to yours, and my genius is seeing yours.

If you find yourself caught in a cycle of doing—pushing through just one more task, waiting for the moment when you can finally rest or take a vacation—pause.

Take a deep breath.

In this moment, pause. Look at your life and all you’ve achieved. Celebrate yourself!

And now, I ask you to wonder: Is there more? Is there more to who you want to become, and how you want to relate to the people in your life?

Is your sense of worth only tied to reaching your goals?

Do you believe you are enough, right here, right now?

Do you know how to love yourself just for being you?

If not, that’s okay. You’re okay.

If you’re interested in discovering who you’re truly meant to be and what you’re called to do in this world, I celebrate you!

Let’s take 45 minutes for a discovery call to see if we’re a good fit to work together.

I’ve discovered who I’m called to be, and how to be enough just by being. Appreciating that I’m alive, that I have moments—that’s enough. This place has moved me from anxiety and overwhelm to joy and peace.

And I’ve achieved so much more with ease by being motivated by my purpose. I am fulfilled. I am enough, regardless of what I accomplish.

I know it might seem impossible to feel valuable without having to earn it. But that is the biggest shift you’ll ever make—changing that belief!

I’m not saying you shouldn’t work hard. I’m saying that how you work, and what drives you, shapes your outcomes—your well-being, your relationships, and your results.

Let’s grab that 45-minute discovery call now. Letting go of that anxiety-driven pressure cooker is a constant practice that will transform every part of your life.

Together, we’ll develop the tools you need to escape anxiety and truly live.

You are valuable. End of story. If you struggle to believe this, I understand.

I know it’s possible because I’ve made that shift myself. And I get excited thinking about how your life and work can transform too. But I can’t want it more than you do. You have to do the work, and I’m here to walk this journey with you.

Xxoo

Joy to you,

Debra