Ep178: How to Manage An Identity Crisis (Especially When You Know You’re Meant For Something More) | with Erica Wernick Optimize Yourself

"In this industry we are conditioned to believe that our voice is not important."Erica Wernick, former graphic designer and founder of Hollywood Success Coach, has always been goal-oriented, systems-based, and a Type-A personality (at this point I’m convinced we’re separated at birth). But when she found herself during the pandemic wandering aimlessly without a clear goal and unable to “fix it” with her usual strategies and frameworks, she quickly spiraled down into the dark holes of doubt, insecurity, and ultimately a deep depression.
Identity can be a double-edged sword, especially when your livelihood is creative work. No doubt like me at one point or another you’ve said “What I do isn’t just a job, it’s who I am.” Yes your identity can help guide and motivate you to achieve the success you’ve always dreamed of, but it can also be incredibly dangerous when you completely define yourself by what you do, especially during unemployment..and especially during pandemics.
It wasn't until Erica learned to let go of her long held identities and listen to something deeper that she could lift herself out of the darkness, accept help, and become herself again. This conversation dares you (and me!) to test your beliefs about who you are and what you do beyond your job. Erica challenges me on my own beliefs about what the success path for creative professionals really looks like and questions whether it can truly be distilled into simple action steps. And most importantly, Erica and I hope to normalize the discussion of mental health and depression and remind anyone who’s struggling with their own issues to know you are absolutely not alone - there are resources to support you.
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Here's What You'll Learn:Erica no longer identifies herself as a graphic designer.Erica’s thoughts on how dangerous it can be to assign your identity to your career.How Erica got her start in Hollywood and fell in love with Los Angeles.The book that was pivotal in influencing her career path to coaching.What Erica’s purpose is and how she identified it.What the #wins channel in my Slack community means to me.The Ripple Effect: what it means and how it helps others.My 3 step process for climbing the success ladder in Hollywood.Erica calls me out for “mansplaining” and challenges my “simplified process.”KEY TAKEAWAY: A coach’s number one priority should be to help people believe in themselves.How Erica fell into a depression prior to writing her latest book, You are the Magic.The decision to take medication for her depression.The challenges she faced with her physical health during her depression.How she recorded and produced her own audio books.Useful Resources Mentioned:The Hollywood Success Podcast: How To Change The Culture In Hollywood With Zack Arnold on Apple Podcasts
Meant For This by Erica Wernick
You Are The Magic by Erica Wernick — Hollywood's Success Coach | Official Website of Author + Coach Erica Wernick
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