Unmask Yourself This Halloween and Lead with Style
Updated: Oct 2
Summary: Do you ever feel like your life has become a costume party? You’re putting on a face, trying to be something you’re not, or trying to live by other people’s rules that don’t work for you. In this blog, Kimberly Parry talks about her appearance on The Room podcast with Jenny DuFresne, where they discuss why women in leadership are especially prone to burnout and how women can lead and Succeed with Style™ without burning themselves out in the process.
With Halloween upon us, my kids were eagerly planning their costumes, excited to be anything they dream of for the day. I mean, costumes are fun, right?
Not when you’re an adult and your entire life has started feeling like a costume party. Many high-achieving adults spend their days wearing masks trying to look like we’ve got it all together, when we secretly feel burned out trying to fit into roles and meet expectations that simply don’t match who we really are. When that happens, life starts feeling like a hamster wheel that keeps us running at full steam but not really getting anywhere. The result? Exhaustion, frustration, and even situational depression.
I recently had a discussion on The Room podcast with Jenny DuFresne, about how female leaders are especially prone to burnout as they try to fit into masculine models of leadership and try to be everything to everyone. However, it's not a condition that's limited to CEO's. Many of us, regardless of our life circumstances, are feeling more and more depleted as we chase perfectionistic standards and lose sight of who we are in the process.
If that sounds like you, here’s the truth: it’s time to take off the masks, stop trying to wear all the hats . You don’t need to be anything other than who you really are. Coming to believe that and live that is true freedom. And another truth? The more you live authentically and simply do you more fully, the greater success, peace, and freedom you'll enjoy.
When you own your style, it's magnetic.
Instead of disguising who you really are, it's time to step out of the costume party and to discover your signature soul style: one you can wear every day and in any situation. (And, with Your Real Life Fairy Godmother™ by your side, you can have a ball doing it!)
That’s a real treat. (No sugar rush).
About the Author
Kimberly Parry is a TEDx speaker and Style-Driven Success™ expert. She blends 16 years of leadership experience with her training as an ICF-trained Certified Master Professional Coach and Certified Personal Stylist to help women Succeed with Style™ in business, and in the business of life.
Through speaking, coaching, and styling, Kimberly helps her clients gain the confidence, clarity, and visibility they need to attract success that feels as good as it looks.
Why are women more vulnerable to burnout?
Women often juggle competing expectations at work, at home, and in their relationships while feeling pressure to excel at all of them. Trying to be everything to everyone can leave women physically and emotionally depleted, making burnout increasingly difficult to avoid.
Why are women in leadership especially prone to burnout?
Women leaders can face pressure to adapt to traditional, masculine models of leadership while also navigating different expectations around confidence, ambition, authority, and likability. Constantly adjusting how you lead to meet those expectations can be exhausting and contribute to burnout.
Can body insecurity hold women back professionally?
Yes. A woman can be confident in her abilities and still feel uncomfortable being seen. Body insecurity can make it harder to speak up, get on camera, network, take the stage, promote yourself, or pursue opportunities that put you in the spotlight.
How can fear of visibility hold women back in business?
Fear of being seen, judged, or criticized can keep women from promoting their expertise, building their personal brands, pursuing leadership opportunities, and asking for what they want. Skill confidence and visibility confidence aren’t the same thing, and professional growth increasingly requires both.
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