Perfectionism might wear a mask of ambition, but underneath, it’s often fear in disguise. In this powerful episode, Valerie shares how striving for perfection keeps high-achieving women stuck, over-preparing, overthinking, and under-creating.

You’ll learn why courage is always more effective than perfection when it comes to building a business and living your truth. This isn’t about being reckless; it’s about being real. Your next level doesn’t require flawlessness. It requires movement.

What You’ll Learn:

• The sneaky ways perfectionism shows up (especially in high achievers)
• How chasing perfection keeps you invisible and burned out
• The belief shift that helps you choose courage instead
• 3 practical ways to start practicing courage over perfection now

3 Practical Tips You Can Use Today:
1. The 80% Rule
If it’s 80% ready, it’s ready. Give yourself permission to launch, post, speak, or act without endless polishing.
2. Practice Micro-Courage
Do one small thing each day that feels slightly brave. Send the pitch. Record the voice memo. Speak your truth.
3. Celebrate Imperfect Action
Keep a daily log of things you did without over-perfecting. Celebrate your courage, not the outcome.

Key Quote:
"Perfection is a moving target, but courage is always available right now."

Resources:

• Download the free guide: [Break Through Your Confidence Plateau]
• Connect with Valerie on Instagram: @vpriester
• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode
• Leave a review to support the show and help others discover it!

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed, uncertain, or like you’re spinning your wheels, this episode is for you. What we often label as “being stuck” is really a quiet fear we haven’t named yet. In today’s episode, Valerie unpacks how to recognize when fear is masquerading as stuck-ness and how to gently begin moving forward, even if fear still lingers.

This is a loving truth-telling conversation that reframes self-judgment and offers tools to break the freeze.

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between true stuck-ness and fear-based pause
• Why labeling ourselves as "stuck" can reinforce inaction
• How to name the root fear and reclaim your power
• 3 practical ways to move forward even when fear is present

Key Takeaway:
Fear doesn’t mean you’re off-track. It means you’re growing. And you don’t have to be fearless to take your next step.

Resources & Links:

• Download the free guide: [Break Through Your Confidence Plateau]
• Connect with Valerie on Instagram: @vpriester
• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode
• Leave a review to support the show and help others discover it!

What if confidence isn’t something you’re born with but something you build?

In this powerful opening episode, Valerie Priester dismantles the biggest myths about confidence and reveals what it really takes to show up, speak up, and lead with boldness.
Whether you're second-guessing your next move or struggling to charge your worth, this episode offers a grounded reframe and simple steps to help you take action with self-trust.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why confidence isn’t the prerequisite, it’s the result
• The real reason high-achieving women still feel self-doubt
• How to take micro-brave steps that reinforce your inner belief
• The difference between waiting to feel ready and becoming ready through action
• A simple daily confidence check-in to shift your energy

Practical Takeaways:

• Redefine confidence as a practice, not a personality trait.
• Use the “micro-brave move” method to build trust in yourself daily.
• Ask yourself: “What would I do today if I already trusted myself?” and do a small version of it.

Resources & Links:

• Download the free guide: [Break Through Your Confidence Plateau]

• Connect with Valerie on Instagram: @vpriester
• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode
• Leave a review to support the show and help others discover it!

Intentions are powerful, but identity is what sustains action. In this final January episode, Valerie brings the month together by exploring how becoming the woman who follows through changes everything.

This episode invites you to stop negotiating with your goals and start embodying the version of you who moves with clarity and conviction.

What You’ll Learn

• The difference between intention and identity
• Why identity-based action creates lasting change
• How to shift from “trying” to becoming
• A reflective question to anchor your next level

Ideal For
Women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop restarting and begin showing up as the woman they say they want to be.

Starting is celebrated. Finishing is transformational. In this episode, Valerie explores why so many women struggle to complete what they begin and how finishing builds confidence, clarity, and momentum.

You will learn why finishing is a skill you can practice and how closing loops changes how you see yourself.

What You’ll Learn

• Why finishing feels harder than starting
• How unfinished work impacts confidence
• The emotional payoff of completion
• One simple way to practice finishing this week

Ideal For
Women entrepreneurs with lots of ideas and unfinished projects who want to rebuild self-trust.

Many women wait to feel confident before they show up consistently. In this episode, Valerie flips that belief and explains why confidence is built through consistency, not the other way around.

This is a powerful reminder that messy action builds trust with yourself faster than perfect plans ever will.

What You’ll Learn

• Why confidence often comes after you act
• How inconsistency erodes self-trust
• What consistency really looks like in real life
• How to keep showing up even when doubt is present

Ideal For
Women entrepreneurs who start strong but struggle to stay consistent.

If you constantly feel behind, overwhelmed, or pressed for time, this episode will change how you see your schedule. Valerie breaks down why time is rarely the real issue and how clarity and boundaries create space for what matters most.
This conversation is about reclaiming your time without doing more or pushing harder.

What You’ll Learn

• Why “I don’t have time” is usually a signal, not a fact
• How misaligned priorities drain energy
• The role clarity plays in reducing overwhelm
• One practical way to protect your focus this week

Ideal For
Women entrepreneurs who feel stretched thin and want to simplify without sacrificing momentum.

So many women believe they are stuck because they lack motivation. In reality, motivation is rarely the issue. In this episode of Business by Design, Valerie reframes the conversation and reveals what actually keeps women from moving forward on their goals.

You will learn why waiting to feel ready delays momentum, how action creates clarity, and what to do when motivation feels inconsistent. This episode is an empowering reset for anyone who keeps telling themselves, “I just need to feel more motivated.”

What You’ll Learn

• Why motivation is unreliable and not required for progress
• The real reason action feels hard to start
• How to move forward even when energy is low
• A simple mindset shift to help you take the first step

Ideal For
Women entrepreneurs who feel stuck, uninspired, or frustrated by their lack of follow-through.