The moment I caught myself googling program titles I didn't even like, I knew I was stalling.

For weeks, I've been working on naming my new coaching program.

Every single option? Taken. 😤

Not kind of taken. Fully trademarked, in use, or already claimed by someone doing something adjacent enough to make it complicated.

Even the painfully simple, safe options I was willing to settle for were already spoken for.

After ten rounds of this, that familiar tightening crept into my chest.

The quiet thought that shows up when you're building something new:

“Maybe this is a sign I'm moving in the wrong direction.” 😬

Here's what I realized: I wasn't researching. I was hiding.

It felt responsible to keep searching. It looked like progress. But underneath it, I was waiting for certainty to show up before I moved forward.

And certainty isn't how leadership works. 

So I stopped trying to find something untouched and made a decision that felt risky as hell:

I created my own word. 🤓

Google. Hulu. Häagen-Dazs. All made-up words that we don't even question today. They worked because the companies stood behind them with conviction and clarity.

That's my goal. Risky? Yes. Audacious? Maybe. But that's what makes building fun. 😎

I'm not creating a made-up word because it's clever or because it breaks marketing rules. (I’m usually a rule follower when it comes to marketing!)

I'm doing it because it forced me to lead instead of wait.

Here's the thing: I can make up a word and then clearly tell you exactly what it means and who it's for.

Clarity doesn't come from the name. It comes from how you stand behind it.

Yes, I'll use a strong subtitle so there's zero confusion. I know the saying: If you confuse, you lose. That part still matters.

But the bigger lesson here surprised me.

Leadership often looks like choosing before you feel fully ready. 

It looks like moving forward without the perfect signal, the perfect name, or the perfect reassurance that this will work.

If you're waiting for something to feel completely new before you share it, launch it, or sell it… this is your reminder:

You don't need everything to feel brand new. You need to make a decision.

Move first. Clarity will follow. 

(Want to know the new name? Stay tuned to this newsletter! 👀)

How to Become the Podcast Guest Hosts Actually Want to Book 🎧

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Last week, I saw a post from Maggie Sellersreum, host of the very popular Hot Smart Rich podcast, breaking down what she looks for before booking a guest.

And honestly? It's a masterclass in what separates the guests who get booked once from the ones who get invited back again and again.

If you've been pitching podcasts (or thinking about it), here are the four things that actually matter:

1️⃣ You can hold attention and take people on a journey.
Most podcast episodes run 45-60 minutes. Can you keep someone engaged that long without rambling or losing the thread? This is about pacing, storytelling, and knowing when to go deep versus when to move on.

If you can't do this yet, practice it in your social media posts first.

2️⃣ You're brave enough to share the lows, not just the highs.
The real learning happens in the mistakes, the failures, the messy middle. Hosts want guests who are transparent about what didn't work, not just what did.

Vulnerability beats highlight reels every time.

3️⃣ You have opinions, and you're not afraid to share them.
Hosts don't want safe, watered-down answers. They want guests with a point of view who aren't worried about what the internet will think.

If you find yourself censoring before you even get on the mic, that's your signal to practice being bolder.

4️⃣ You know how to have a conversation, not deliver a sermon.
The best guests don't just answer questions; they engage. They ask questions back. They go off script.

The best guests make it feel like a real conversation, not a rehearsed pitch.

📍Here's the thing: these four qualities aren't just about getting booked on podcasts. They're about how you show up everywhere, including on your social, in your courses, and how you show up IRL.

The more you lean into being real, opinionated, and valuable, the more opportunities will come your way.

Want to see all nine things Maggie looks for? [Check out her full post here.]

The ‘Perfect Sleep’ Cheat Code 😴

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The older I get, the more I obsess about sleep. 🙋🏻‍♀️

In my 20s, I could stay out until 2 am, sleep in my makeup, wake up at 6 am, and rush into work like it's just another Tuesday.

Now? My favorite pastime is calculating how many hours of sleep I'm about to get.

Since I now consider myself a total pro sleeper, here are my three must-haves. (Just a little nudge… consider gifting one of the gems below to yourself. You deserve a holiday treat!)

1: Serotonin Soak Salt 🛁
I'm not really a bath girl, but I make an exception for this little biohack from Higher Dose. Anytime my mind is racing before bedtime, I soak in this magic concoction, and I swear, it knocks me out cold. The deepest sleep ever. [Worth every penny.]

2: Ozlo Sleepbuds 🎧
Guess who's a verrrrry loud snorer the minute his head hits the pillow? Lucky me, it's Hobie. Years ago he bought me Ozlo Sleepbuds for my birthday, and honestly? Best present I've ever received. He said he got them because his arm was bruised from me hitting him in the middle of the night to shut up. These saved our marriage. [Check them out here.]

3: Mouth Tape 👄
If you're an OG, you know I love mouth tape. If you haven't tried it yet, I need you to trust me on this one. It's the sleep hack your nightly routine is missing. [Thank me later.]

Nice chat. Let’s do it again next week!

Until then, make your decision without waiting for certainty, become the podcast guest hosts fight over, and for the love of sleep… try the mouth tape already.

Amy