The Week Everything Changed (And What's Next)
What this week taught me about community, courage, and what's coming next
Tuesday, July 29th, Shine Brighter officially launched into the world. Wednesday, I found myself on Fox9 Good Day talking about the quiet epidemic of burnout. And that same evening, we celebrated together at the most incredible launch party I could have imagined.
Here's what continues to amaze me: the incredible power of authentic community and what happens when you stop performing and chasing and striving and start showing up as exactly who you are.
The Outpouring That Made Me Cry (Happy Tears)
When I first wrote Shine Brighter, I thought it was just for me. A way to process my own journey from high-functioning burnout to something that felt more like… actually living, being the real me in the world. But the messages that started flowing in this week? They've completely overwhelmed me in the best possible way.
"This is exactly what I needed to hear right now."
"I felt like you were talking directly to me.”
"I didn't realize how much I'd been performing my own life."
What moves me most is seeing how the message resonates differently with everyone. Some people connect with the Four A’s framework. Others find themselves in the vulnerable stories. Some love the practical tools, while others just needed permission to stop trying so hard.
There really is something for everyone in this book, and honestly, that tells me this message is bigger than any of us realized. Get your copy here
A Party in a 1920s Fire Station (Because Of Course)
When I was looking for a venue for the launch celebration, I kept thinking: "Not a ballroom. Not a boardroom." I wanted a space where conversations would flow as naturally as old friends catching up, where the energy would match what Shine Brighter is really about—authentic connection and community.
Gatherings at Station 10, with its soaring ceilings, exposed brick, and gorgeous wood floors that have witnessed decades of stories, felt like the perfect backdrop for what we were creating together.
And what we created? Pure magic.
The conversations weren't surface-level networking. People were sharing real stories of transformation. One woman told me about finally leaving a job that was slowly killing her soul. A business leader talked about how he's learning to lead from presence instead of pressure. Someone else shared how they're redefining success with their teenage daughter.
These weren't just party conversations. They were life conversations. And watching our community come together around this shared understanding that success should feel as good on the inside as it looks on paper? That's the stuff that reminds me why we're doing this work. And so many people truly are!
Speaking Truth on Live TV
Being on Fox9 Good Day was surreal in the best way. When they asked me about high-functioning burnout being a "quiet epidemic," I got to share something I've been seeing for years through my executive recruiting work…many of the highest performers are also the most exhausted.
We discussed the tell-tale signs: that persistent tiredness that sleep doesn't alleviate, the disconnection from what used to bring you joy, and the feeling that you're going through the motions instead of actually living your life. And Sunday Scaries. You know those?
And then we dove into my Four A's process—Awareness, Attitude, Action, and Alignment—as a roadmap back to feeling fulfilled in both work and life.
What I loved most was getting to say on live television: "You're not broken. You're just misaligned." Because that's the truth I want every high-achiever to hear.
What's Next: The Real Work Begins
Here's what I know: getting the book out into the world was just the beginning. Now comes the part I'm most passionate about: spreading this message in a way that creates real change. Lasting change.
I’m diving headfirst into keynote speaking and customized workshops, focusing specifically on helping leaders identify and address burnout in their organizations before it's too late. Because here's the thing—workers are either leaving or quiet-quitting at an alarming rate. What if we could help people find alignment in their current roles, rather than watching them burn out and having to replace them?
I'm also expanding (and BIG curriculum upgrade) my workshops. The next Pursue Your Purpose workshop will take place on September 11th and 12th. These intimate sessions have become some of my favorite work—watching people reconnect with who they really are underneath all the expectations and shoulds? That never gets old. Everyone needs this workshop. Heck, if you’ve done it once, you can do it again. Repetition is the mother of all learning. You take away something new each time. Register for The Workshop
And for those of you who've been asking about individual coaching, I'm working with a focused group of leaders who want to align their success with their souls. Not because you need "fixing" but because you're ready to stop swimming upstream and start moving with your natural current. If you're curious about what this looks like, I'm offering Activation Sessions—a simple way to explore if this work resonates with where you are right now. Book an Activation Session
The Micro-Move That Changed Everything
You know what's funny? None of this would have happened if I hadn't made one small decision in May 2023….to actually listen when my body and soul were trying to tell me something important.
That ranking email that left me sobbing in Miami. Then, the triple threat diagnosis of high anxiety, not sleeping, and ADHD. The breakdown that felt like the end of everything? It was actually the beginning of the most authentic chapter of my life.
Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is simply stop pretending everything is fine and start telling the truth, even just to ourselves.
What I Want You to Know
If any part of this week, this message, or this journey resonates with you, trust that feeling. Your inner wisdom is already pointing you toward what you need.
Maybe it's the permission to redefine what success looks like in your life. Maybe it's the courage to have that conversation you've been avoiding. Perhaps it's simply a reminder that you don't have to burn out to shine brightly.
Whatever it is, you don't have to figure it all out alone. That's what this community is for. That's what this work is about. That's why we're here together.
With deep gratitude for this incredible week and excitement for what's ahead,
Laura
P.S. If you want to stay connected as this journey unfolds—the speaking engagements, the workshop dates, the behind-the-scenes moments of building something meaningful—you're already in the right place. And if you know someone who needs to hear that they're not broken, just misaligned, would you share this with them? Sometimes the most powerful transformation starts with a simple "you're not alone in this."
Want to dive deeper? Join the next Pursue Your Purpose workshop where we'll spend two half-days redefining what success looks, sounds, and feels like in your life. Because YOU are your greatest project, and it's time to start treating yourself that way.