Ep. 65 - Finding Your Worth Beyond Societal Expectations: Conversation with Career & Confidence Coach, Ken Li

The End of the Day Podcast with Kari Watterson: Using Mindset Work to Live Your Best Life

What do you do when you're 5 years into a Ph.D. program in a field you know is not meant for you?
In this episode, I talk to Career & Confidence Coach, Ken Li, who spent his formative years being groomed for a life in the sciences. From math camps in the summers to undergrad at Cornell University where he received degrees in chemistry and biochemistry, his relentless pursuit of academic achievement resulted in crippling depression that ultimately led him to drop out of his biochemistry Ph.D. program at Purdue University during his fifth and final year because he realized science wasn't a fit.
After taking a career aptitude test, Ken pivoted to public relations where he excelled the next 20 years.
Though outwardly successful, Ken was in inner turmoil. Desperate to prove himself after dropping out of his Ph.D. program, he spent his time in PR, in the words of Brené Brown, "hustling for his worthiness."
It wasn't until he happened to meet a life coach in his 40s that he realized what he wanted most in life was to follow a path that felt true to him.
In 2020, Ken became a certified life coach with The Life Coach School. His mission? To help those with similar stories get to the place where they feel safe to truly decide their next steps in life.
If you've ever felt you were following someone else's path, not your own; if you've ever felt the crippling effects of impostor syndrome and depression; if you've ever questioned your worthiness or wondered if it was okay to want something different, join Ken and I for this vulnerable, candid conversation about the pain of perfectionism and the incredible consequences of living in fear of other people's opinions -- until you realize the approval you've been longing for all along is your own.
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Ken Li
Career & Confidence Coach
Website: https://donthatethejob.com/
Email: [e-mail]
Can life coaching really change your life? Read Ken's e-book on LinkedIn.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 IS LIFE COACHING DAY.
"I truly believe this work has the power to transform people's lives," he said. "But you need to experience coaching to appreciate it."
That's why Ken Li, Denita Bremer, Denon Alderson, and I are offering free coaching sessions on this day. We want people to experience the power of owning what they truly want in life. To book your free call, reach out to any one of us below:
Ken Li - Career & Confidence Coach
Denita Bremer - Shame & Trauma Coach for LDS women
Denon Alderson - Soul Cheerleader (Actively Choose Your Life)
Kari Watterson - Thoughtwork and Self-Belief coach
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Cited in this episode / Recommended:
Before You Blame Your Job, Do This First: Wash Your Dirty Windows by Ken Li
Positive Intelligence (Shirzad Chamine)

The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy, Ph.D.
Being Happy by Andrew Matthews
What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson
The Mind-Made Prison by Mateo Tabatabai

章

1. Ken Lee's Story (00:00:00)

2. Dirty Windows' Impact on Career Choices (00:07:40)

3. Reflections on Therapy, Coaching, and Self-Study (00:20:00)

4. Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Growth (00:35:49)

5. Career Transition and Fear of Judgment (00:46:29)

6. Career Growth and Self-Reflection in PR (00:55:38)

7. Build a Positive Mindset With Expectations (01:03:49)

8. The Power of Coaching and Self-Awareness (01:20:25)

9. Challenging Beliefs and Transforming Perspectives (01:30:29)

10. Coaching Clients on Career Transitions (01:40:24)

11. Life Coaching & Top Five Concerns (01:49:26)