Sabra Meretab describes herself as someone who has always worked hard, often too hard. “I work hard in a way that makes my body scream in protest. It’s a double-edged sword I keep enthusiastically sharpening,” she says.

Her story will feel familiar to anyone who’s experienced the dark side of high-achievement, ambition, and success.

The Question That Changed Everything

During a particularly difficult time, she asked herself a simple but life-changing question: “Have I ever made a decision for myself in my entire life?”

That question led her to step away from her job, take time off, and start writing.

In this episode, Sabra describes what it feels like to realize that you’ve been following the path you were “supposed to” follow but not the path that’s right for you.

Writing as a Way Back to Yourself

Sabra didn’t plan to become a writer with a book on the way and a Substack full of her beautiful writing. She first turned to journaling because she was desperate to feel better and she was willing to try anything.

As the words spilled onto the pages of her journals, she quickly craved time with her journal because it helped her understand her life and herself.

If you’re feeling stuck between achievement and meaning, journaling can help you be honest with yourself in ways your mind might avoid.

The Message She Wants You to Take With You

At the end of the episode, Sabra shares the idea she hopes people remember: Optimism is not naive. Optimism is what makes action possible. If you believe things can change, you start making different choices. And those small choices can change everything.

Key Quotes

“Have I ever made a decision for myself in my entire life?”

“I work hard in the way that makes my body scream in protest.”

“The world is filled with so many non-skipping things.”

“I started writing because I was desperate to feel better.”

“If you don’t believe things can be better, you won’t act.”

About Sabra Meretab

Sabra Meretab has spent her career building payments products and leading engineering teams in Fintech. When she's not debugging technical infrastructure, she's debugging her own understanding of the world around her through writing. Sabra writes essays on ambition, burnout, and the achievement complex in her spare time and is currently working on publishing her first book, a memoir. Follow her on Substack: https://snackablegrowth.substack.com/

Ready to be HUGE?

I coach extraordinary voices.

I can help you find your mission and message, build your thought-leadership platform, and launch your voice into the world.

I earned the nickname "speaker whisperer" as a conference designer so I created a whole new event to help you get in front of the trail angels who can open doors to bigger stages and broader impact at the Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest. The Gathering includes information and inspiration on public speaking and getting seen and a pitch fest...(think Shark Tank!) Come for the learning or raise your hand to pitch the head of all TED conferences, literary and speaker agents, entertainment execs, and more.

Follow me on LinkedIn.

Sign up for my newsletter.

Apply for coaching.

Get on the waitlist for the next Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest.

Lately I’ve been ringing the bell a lot.

For a client who posted something brave.
And another who finished a book.
And a third who was asked to speak at a huge conference in her industry.

And I want to ring the bell for you too.

In this episode, I’m talking about why so many talented, thoughtful, accomplished people still hesitate to go after the thing they really want.
Not because they aren’t capable. Because it doesn't even occur to them to go after the biggest version of their goals.

The Big Domino

I recently heard a story from two speakers who decided they weren’t going to climb the ladder one rung at a time.

Instead, they went after the biggest stage in their industry.

It took them 18 months —
but when they knocked down that one domino, everything else started falling into place.

That got me thinking:

What is your big domino?

What is the goal that feels exciting, scary, and a little bit unreasonable?

Why We Shrink Our Dreams

Most people don’t go after big goals because visibility feels risky or impossible. Or we don't consider our biggest dreams a close-up possibility. Instead, we take tiny steps toward our goals. Which can work, of course, over time.

Be Specific About What You Want

I once said I wanted to speak in a stadium, and technically I did, but not in the way I hoped. This taught me something important. If you want a big life, you have to be specific about the vision.

Creativity Turns Off Fear

One of the most powerful ideas in this episode: You can't be anxious and creative at the same time.

When you start brainstorming audacious, playful, and creative ways to reach your dream, your brain shifts out of fear or limited thinking and into big-sky possibility.

So if you have a goal of getting your leadership voice into the world in a bigger way ask yourself: What would be the most creative way to make this happen?

Say It Out Loud

One of the fastest ways to make a dream real: Tell someone.

Tell your community.
Tell your friends.
Say it where people can hear it.

Because once your voice is out in the world, things start moving. You can share your big dream with all of us here. I'll be listening to all of your messages and I might play yours on the air!

Ideas love community.

Dreams do too.

Ready to be HUGE?

I coach extraordinary voices.

I can help you find your mission and message, build your thought-leadership platform, and launch your voice into the world.

I earned the nickname "speaker whisperer" as a conference designer so I created a whole new event to help you get in front of the trail angels who can open doors to bigger stages and broader impact at the Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest. The Gathering includes information and inspiration on public speaking and getting seen and a pitch fest...(think Shark Tank!) Come for the learning or raise your hand to pitch the head of all TED conferences, literary and speaker agents, entertainment execs, and more.

Follow me on LinkedIn.

Sign up for my newsletter.

Apply for coaching.

Get on the waitlist for the next Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest.