Be a Goldfish: The 10-Second Memory That Will Save Your Career

What do you do the day after you fall on your face in front of everyone? In this episode, Erin shares powerful stories about her daughters' moments of failure and comeback—and introduces The Goldfish Method, a three-step framework for bouncing back from setbacks. Learn why your perfectionism is killing your resilience, the neuroscience behind why trying again feels so hard, and how to separate your identity from your performance so one bad day doesn't derail your career.

Chapters

00:00
Welcome Back and Reflections on Podcasting

02:53
The Goldfish Analogy: Memory and Resilience

05:42
Overcoming Fear of Failure

08:52
Lessons from My Daughter's Public Speaking Experience

14:21
The Goldfish Method: Reset, Reframe, Return

23:08
Neuroscience of Resilience and Courage

29:03
Identity vs. Performance: Separating Self-Worth from Outcomes

38:00
Actionable Steps: Try Again and Accountability

41:49
Closing Thoughts and Legally Blonde Moment

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Andrew Huberman's work on neuroplasticity
• Dr. Kristin Neff's research on self-compassion
• Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset
• Angela Duckworth's "Grit"
• Brené Brown's work on perfectionism

Connect with Erin:

• Website: eringerner.com
• Instagram: @eringerner
• LinkedIn: Erin Gerner