Your Brain's BFF

Most high achievers are allergic to celebrating their successes.At best, celebrating feels corny and fake. It feels like something you “should” do, like your gratitude journal.(And then you feel kind of bad for not doing it.)At worst, celebrating feels dangerous. Resting on your laurels will make you arrogant and complacent… Pride goeth before the fall… The moment you relax is the moment the other shoe is going to drop…And yet, there is GOLD waiting for you inside your successes.Gold that you are MISSING because your brain is so busy focusing on the 1 thing that didn't go well.80% of my success (at least!) has come from extending and deepening WHAT'S WORKING – not fixing what's not.So in today's episode, I give you a simple way to extract and apply your Success Gold without feeling corny and without triggering your fears.If you're a female HBS alum, come to my monthly roundtable this Thursday Feb 26, and we'll work together to extract your own success playbook AND you'll get to grab from the success playbooks of others.Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/845yKxNERTqy5jQXI6UZRQ#/registrationAnd if you want to go beyond extracting just one success playbook and make building on your strengths and extending what's working a core part of how you operate day-to-day and how you set your career strategy overall…Book a free coaching consult and let's talk about working together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact That's exactly what I do with my clients.And that's exactly what I use my own coaches to do for me. Because building around your strengths is way easier when you have an objective third party to help you identify them and time set aside to strategize and make it happen.And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you'd like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

Tomorrow (Feb 18), executive coach Megan Porter and I kick off a three-part series for the HBS Women's Association called Charting Your Course to the C-Suite.Register here: www.hbswa.org/csuiteFeb2026 But before you get busy charting your course to the C-suite…I want you to make sure that you actually want to be there.And so, this week's podcast episode is all about 5 TERRIBLE reasons to aim for the C-suite.Listen in and see if any of them apply to you.(It's okay if they do. I also tell you what to do to adjust your reasons so they support you instead of working against you :) And then once you've gotten your reasoning for aiming for the C-suite strong and clear…Come to our three-part event series, where we'll help you: ✅ Survey the landscape of C-suite roles ✅ Define the C-suite role that's right for you✅ Make a plan to land it – and crush it in the role Register here: www.hbswa.org/csuiteFeb2026 If you're not a female HBS alum, or the event is already done, but you're still interested in what we shared, shoot me an email at pooja@poojavcoaching.com and I'll see what I can do!And if this podcast episode made you realize that you're not quite sure WHAT you want, and you want some help getting clear and confident on your path… Book a free consult call with me, and let's talk: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Okay, one thing I want to tell you before I let you loose to listen to this week's podcast episode.This episode is just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to hear from two women who have actually done this…Come to my workshop: Intergenerational Wisdom for High Achieving MomsIt's a fireside chat featuring my mom (senior leader at a Wall St bank for 20+ years) and Kelly Huang (HBS MBA, board leader, and professor).Two hardworking Asian immigrant moms that balanced their careers with parenting and raised two happy, successful children each.Ask them your questions. Get advice directly from the women who have done it.Register here: https://luma.com/s9v850p4(We'll be sending a replay to everyone who registers, so make sure to register even if you can't make it live!)Okay, now you can listen to find out the 5 unintuitive things my parents did to raise two daughters with four Ivy League degrees.Because my parents didn't…❌ Tell us what we had to do❌ Force us down pre-determined “success pathways”❌ Yell at us all the time and make us scared of them❌ Tell us it was their way or the highwayInstead…they did these 5 things.Listen to find out :) To chat about how you can implement these ideas in your life, book a free coaching consult and let's talk about working together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you'd like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

This week's podcast episode is about ambition — and what happens when the things you want to be ambitious about no longer fit into a narrow, career-only definition.I talk about:Why ambition doesn't disappear when you stop wanting the corner office and the C-suite jobHow to redirect ambition instead of abandoning itA simple thought exercise for making this concept come to life in your brain and reignite your spark

This episode is about why it's so hard to get clear on what you actually want, especially as a high achiever.I talk about:How subtle peer pressure distorts your true desiresTwo questions that help you separate what you want from what looks impressiveHow to work with status consciously instead of pretending it doesn't matterIf you've ever felt unsure whether you genuinely want to be on the path you're on…Or whether you're just being driven by social pressure… This episode will give you a clean, simple way to tell the difference.And if asking these questions cracks open a can of worms… If you realize you're not sure what you want, or you're not sure whether you want to stay on your current path…You're not alone.That exact moment is where coaching was most helpful for me.You don't need to make a rash decision. You don't need to quit your job.You do need space to think clearly, untangle what's driving what, and make a grounded decision you can stand behind.If that's where you are, book a free coaching consult and let's talk: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you'd like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

You don't see the world as it is. You filter reality through the state of your nervous system.That's why this week's podcast episode zooms in on stress.I talk about:Why the headspace you're in is more important than what you doThe two broad categories your thoughts & emotions fall into – stress and flowHow to build a personal playbook you can use to reliably shift out of fight-or-flight and back into calm, clarity, and momentumThis is so simple and so effective, and I cannot WAIT to share it with you.I also help my clients build and use these playbooks – customized to their nervous system, their goals, and their reality.If you want to be able to toggle your brain reliably from stress to flow on a daily basis…And change the filter you're putting on your reality on demand…Book a free coaching consult and let's talk about how we can work together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact The ROI on this work is enormous – not just in the end results you achieve, but in how you feel every step of the way.Come talk to me, and let's get you moving forward smoothly and effectively today :)And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you'd like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

In this episode, I talk about the productivity and performance side of aligned ambition.Specifically, I introduce a distinction that comes up all the time in my work with clients – and that I use constantly in my own life:Me Problem vs. Process ProblemThis distinction matters any time something doesn't go the way you wanted it to.A meeting doesn't landA project doesn't get the result you expectedYou miss something you “should have” anticipatedYou procrastinate, get distracted, or don't follow through the way you intendedBefore you jump into tactics, fixes, or self-improvement plans…There's one critical step that determines whether your troubleshooting will actually help — or just burn you out.Book a free coaching consult, and let's talk about how we could work together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact Email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you'd like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠ 

A few big things that are changing around here!First, I'm changing how I'm putting out content across all my platforms.And second, as you may have noticed, I've retitled the podcast Aligned Ambition.Today's podcast episode explains both of those shifts. I talk about:Why I'm moving to a podcast-first approach this yearWhat I mean by Aligned Ambition and why it's the perfect umbrella term to encompass all my workThe 4 key ingredients of aligned ambition – and why it has to be continuously created and maintainedThe 4 key moments when coaching can accelerate your careerAn awesome resource I'm putting together for you, that I can't wait to share with you soon! :)Email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you'd like to see covered on the podcast! pooja@poojavcoaching.com And if you don't want to wait, and you'd like to get unstuck today…Book a free coaching consult, and let's talk about how we could work together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

1 question you MUST include when evaluating yourselfThat you are definitely not asking nowBook a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“I would recommend Pooja to anyone who feels like there is a part of their life where they feel stuck — either stuck in a vicious thought cycle, or stuck at work, or stuck in some sort of unhealthy personal relationship, or not able to improve some aspect of their life that they want to.Honestly that's probably everybody, because everyone's probably stuck in some aspect of their life.”—Client | Head of Business Development at MedTech CompanyRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

You're already living your worst case scenario.Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“Everything in the world is about feelings. At the end of the day, that's the reality of the human condition. And so to get to this level of analytical rigor around my feelings is just so helpful.”—Client | CEO, PE-backed companyRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

This is my only sports metaphor ⚾️Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“Pooja has a really good balance of validating your emotions but also giving feedback and being upfront like, ‘Hey, I've seen this pattern in you.'That made me trust her and her frameworks — she is really looking out long term for the client's best interest.”—Client | CEO, PE-backed companyRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

How to spend more time in flowAll it takes is a simple conversation with yourself.Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“Some weeks, I have a very specific thing that is troubling me, and I'm excited to talk about it.And there are other times where I came in and I didn't quite know what I wanted to talk about, and those were the sessions where Pooja was able to help me unpack something that I didn't even know was there.It surprised me that I didn't have to do all the work in advance to come in with the agenda of what I needed to talk about, and that there are nuggets and insights to get, no matter how clearly I even see the problem coming in.”—Client | Early-Stage Tech Startup Director turned Design ConsultantRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

Your self-criticism isn't helping youIt's like trying to run a race with a broken legBook a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“I have a healthier internal monologue. I still have an internal monologue, but it's a positive one.And there are moments where I slip back into some of the negative thought cycles I used to be in, and it's almost like I can hear—‘Pooja would tell me to stop assuming that everyone thinks I'm annoying.And Pooja would tell me to advocate for myself, because what's the worst that could happen?And Pooja would tell me to take a break and acknowledge that thought, but not get sucked into it and move on with my day.'There's a second layer now of my internal monologue that is the healthy helper, which I developed from coaching, that just stops me from ever regressing too far into those negative thoughts.”—Client | Head of Business Development at MedTech CompanyRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

What matters ≠ which strategy you pick. What matters = what you think about yourself when that strategy stops working.Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“It's honestly fun. You're working on the most important thing in your life — your goals and your aspirations. And you're doing it in a manner that is not harsh or strict. It's like a video game, and you get to gently make progress towards the things that matter.”—Client | Solutions Engineer at Fintech CompanyRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

That you can ask yourself too :)Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“I realized that I wasn't alone in a lot of my situations. In fact, what I was going through was very common.And that there were tools that I could use to get out of this, and that I wasn't the first person in the world to go through and I'm not going to be the last.And that Pooja has seen this before and that she is very well equipped and familiar with how to troubleshoot these things. That helped so much.”—Ashley | VP at Major Financial InstitutionRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

It's not achieve thing ➡️ feel better. It's feel better ➡️ achieve thing.Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact———What my clients have to say…“I would in particular recommend Pooja to this specific phenotype of high achievers.We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and the outside world might never understand that our lives are not as perfect as they seem, or that we struggle as much as we do.I think that phenotype in particular, would benefit a ton from working with Pooja specifically.”—Client | Head of Business Development at MedTech CompanyRead more client testimonials here: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page———I help high achievers get clear on what's next and make that next step happen…Whether that's leveling up where they are, or making their next career move.Did you know I have 400+ articles covering every possible angle of this topic? Check them out at my Table of Contents, where all my work is organized by theme so you can easily find what you need today: https://poojav.substack.com/p/welcome-to-your-brains-bffAnd if you want to make sure you never miss a post, subscribe to my email newsletter: https://poojav.substack.com/

A little exercise for you to do todayLet's just notice

3 ways to think about doing something "different" in your careerAnd kill the compare and despairBook a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Register for my workshop, Surviving (And Maybe Even Enjoying) The Holidays here: https://partiful.com/e/iql7IdUvmdxmdBmH4JbwI can't wait to see you there! :)

Register for my workshop, Surviving (And Maybe Even Enjoying) The Holidays, here: https://partiful.com/e/iql7IdUvmdxmdBmH4Jbw

You'll probably relate to this

The best stress-fighting duo in the biz

I know it sounds unsexy, un-magical, and all too corporate, but…I know you.You THRIVE with a plan, some structure, and clear targets to aim for.So let's just put those in place.We only need an hour to do it.Because that's what we're going to do in the Surviving (And Maybe Even Enjoying) The Holidays workshop next week.Register here! https://partiful.com/e/iql7IdUvmdxmdBmH4Jbw?

here's what I'm up to!And register now for the Surviving (And Maybe Even Enjoying) The Holidays workshop: https://partiful.com/e/iql7IdUvmdxmdBmH4JbwYou're going to walk away with Want Mode activated and your Holiday Magic plan in place :)(And don't worry if you can't make it live – we'll be sending a replay to everyone who registers. So register today!)

and btw it's my bday tomorrow :)Register for the Surviving (And Maybe Even Enjoying) The Holidays workshop here! https://partiful.com/e/iql7IdUvmdxmdBmH4JbwAnd if you're wondering what I decided to do for my birthday, anchored 100% in Wants, not Should's…I'll tell you all about it tomorrow :) Subscribe to my email newsletter so you don't miss a thing: https://poojav.substack.com/

The holidays are billed as the happiest time of year – but for many of us, they're also the most stressful. Join me and Harvard-educated therapist Margaret Wang, LMFT, for a practical workshop designed for high achievers and overthinkers. You'll learn simple, evidence-based tools to manage overwhelm, redefine success, and bring more calm, intention, and even joy. Register here and tell your friends! :) https://partiful.com/e/iql7IdUvmdxmdBmH4Jbw

Op Model Flip #1: “I don't know” is an asset, not a liability.————Knowing what the op model flips are is just the first step. You also have to: → Customize the flips to your situation→ Test and experiment with your new operating model without taking undue risk→ Stay emotionally resilient through the unfamiliarity, uncertainty, and occasional failure of building a new way of workingAll of which is a million times easier with a coach. I help my clients consolidate all that work into one hour a week, with intentional experiments to try between sessions and a regular cadence of after-action reviews and targeted adjustments.All of which ensures the level-up gets done, instead of just being a someday dream.And it also saves you a ton of time, bandwidth, and headache – because you have enough to do already.Op Model Flip #2 is coming tomorrow - make sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you don't miss it: https://poojav.substack.com/ And if you want to get this level-up done and not just read about it, come talk to me and let's put together your custom plan and make it happen: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

It's not just leveling up...–––––Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

To level up your performance, that's the best advice I can give you.————Tomorrow, I'll tell you the real prize that's waiting on the other side of your 100 failures.Because it's not just increased capacity, leveled-up performance, or a successful pivot.It's something even better :)Subscribe to my email newsletter so you don't miss a thing: https://poojav.substack.com/ And if you're ready to get started on your 100 failure journey through the inflection point you're in…And you want some expertise and support to keep you on track and help you do this as painlessly as possible…Come talk to me and let's make it happen: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Are you in one right now?——————Tomorrow, I'm going to give you a 5 step process that you can use to generate and rack up your 100 failures.Subscribe to my email newsletter so you don't miss a thing: https://poojav.substack.com/ And if you found yourself nodding along as I described the 3 inflection points because you're realizing you might be at one (or multiple at the same time)... Come talk to me and let's make this inflection point as smooth and hockey-stick-like as possible :) https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

And when you need each———Tomorrow, I'm going to tell you about the 3 kinds of inflection points high achievers face in their careers, and why you need Exploratory Mode when you're in them.Subscribe to my email newsletter so you don't miss a thing: https://poojav.substack.com/And if you've been stuck for more than two weeks on a stress, productivity, performance, or purpose question…Come talk to me and let's crack it together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Subscribe to my email newsletter so you don't miss a thing: https://poojav.substack.com/ And if you've also been secretly spinning on existential questions and reaching for a sense of “more” without knowing how to get there…Come talk to me and let me help you figure it out: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Courtesy of Dr. Becky :)Come talk to me and let's separate the signal from the noise…And use your negative emotions to map your path forward today.Book your free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

This is a good thing :)And if you want to work through the conflict and churn up the answer, come talk to me, and let's get started. Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Let me tell you how.I saw this 2x2 on Instagram recently, and I had to share it with you…Because it perfectly encompasses your 4 strategic options when you're deciding what to do next in your career.So if you've been feeling stressed and stuck in your career for a while…And you feel like you're wandering in circles trying to get clear on what's next…Book a free consult call with me, and let's get you clear, confident, and moving forward today.Grab your call right here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Telling you so you don't make it too

You need to build around your unique Flow MO

It might surprise you to learn that I have QUITE a negative brain.If you want my help getting clear on what's next in your career, book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contactI can't wait to talk to you! :)

You know the answer. You're just afraid to do it.This is what I looked like with the produce bag over my head: https://tinyurl.com/dfps6md4Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Your A+ next job, not your “good enough” next jobBook a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

The people you're jealous of are probably clearer✨ than you areBook a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Don't get mad at me for this one

Get those Disney Defaults out of your brain.Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

Clarity and security don't come from the plan – they come from the pivots.Book a free consult call here: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact5 quick and easy career experiments you could do this week: https://poojavcoaching.myflodesk.com/5-quick-career-experiments

Over the next few days, I'm going to share the most common emotional cobwebs that keep people stuck and confused about their next career step.Make sure you're subscribed to my email newsletter so you don't miss a thing: poojav.substack.com

You have to take one hand off the monkey bar to reach for what's next

A simple exercise to help you figure that outBook a free consult call here! https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

The overlooked form of athleticism that you need to create the life you wantCoffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

And how to break its spell