I used to believe that I have to work twice as hard because I am a woman, an Asian, middle daughter of non-English speaking immigrants who worked seven days a week.

Like all humans, I had absorbed messages from society that other people decide my worth. And to prove my worth, while being different and female, I had to do twice as much while taking up half the space of other people. As if my life didn't matter as much…

How do you negotiate when emotions are running high? 

My clients sometimes worry that asserting themselves will make their manager angry, and that this will lead to retaliation or backlash. 

Even if heated words have already been exchanged, it’s possible for you to neutralize tension and get to agreement. 

Read more for five simple steps I walk my clients through.

“People don't like me when I'm assertive.” 

Wait, is that even true? 

Read on for two stories of how I got over the fear of being disliked for my assertiveness, and what you can do to apply this to your own life and career for more growth, more fun, and more money.

"I'm afraid being assertive means I'll be like the A-hole that I don't respect at work."

"Being assertive is just WRONG, in the middle of a pandemic and in economic uncertainty."

The fear of taking a stand for you shows up in a hundred and one ways.

Are you pushy or a pushover?

Read on for what you can gain from being on either side of the pushy-pushover spectrum.

Ellen's story in the book How Women Rise resonates with smart ambitious women I coach. See if it resonates with you, too.

When Ellen, a software engineer, got feedback from her boss that she wasn't doing enough to keep stakeholders updated, she couldn't believe it.

A client told me she felt like a polar bear on a melting ice cube.

Helpless. Stuck. Anxious.

Her company was restructuring, and the people brought on to manage the entire process were, in her words, "buffoons."

Are you at the mercy of other people’s opinions about you when it comes to getting promoted and better paid?

Well, duh, you might say. 360 reviews would prove that.

So how do you get people to see you in a new light?

There's a simple strategy -- 51% rule of Political Savvy -- that you can start implementing right way to improve results...WITHOUT being machiavellian and WITHOUT manipulative or playing games. 

Read on for how my client applied this simple strategy to get support, get buy-in, and get recognized as a leader, changing the trajectory of her career. 

Looking to external things for confidence is not an option.

This has always been the case, but with everything going on, it's become abundantly clear.

Disagree? So did I.

When fear runs the show, write a love letter. 

Read more for the love letter I wrote them, and prompts to write your own today.

Being home all day can make ruminating and beating yourself up as easy as eating out of the pantry. 

Except you don’t grow… other than exhaustion, self-doubt and maybe your pant size. 

Self-criticism blinds you from your own value. 

Read on for one simple way to reconnect with your value…and the grace you need today.

Don't wait to see "where things settle" to start advocating for yourself. 

If you wait, the big decisions will be made for you. 

You'll be told again, "You're doing great, and we can revisit your promotion next year." 

The time to start becoming your own best advocate is NOW, not later. 

Read more for four steps you can take THIS WEEK.

What do you do when you think you're 50% qualified for the leadership role that just opened up?

Read on for 3 simple questions and 1 sample script to get you moving forward and getting the help of decision-makers.

It's okay to feel scared, anxious, and a whole lot of love right now.

It’s okay to feel scared and anxious. 

And so is fierce. 

My clients are doubling down on making a contribution right now. Coronavirus is not stopping them.

In this dead-simple five minute video lesson, you’ll learn:

- Why NOT talking about what's not done can slow your career growth

- What you can do about it

- 3 key things to address when talking about what's not done so you look good

- Sample script so you know exactly how it's done

Being nice can create results you DON’T want.

Read more for how being nice can look like in the workplace, why it creates not-nice results, and what you can do instead.

What do you do when you're tapped to consult on a brand-new project, and you're just not sure what's the right fee? Read on for my suggestions, two sample scripts, and advice on how to create confidence for the conversation

Here's my DEAD-SIMPLE five-minute lesson on how to articulate your value in one sentence.