Impact with Ease

Blake Schofield

No more choosing between your career and your life. Here you'll find honest conversations, science-backed strategies, and inspiring stories to help you thrive at work and truly enjoy your life outside of it.

  1. Puzzles, Not Goals: Rethinking How Teams Succeed With guest expert, Radhika Dutt

    2D AGO

    Puzzles, Not Goals: Rethinking How Teams Succeed With guest expert, Radhika Dutt

    Puzzles, Not Goals: Rethinking How Teams Succeed with guest expert, Radhika Dutt Puzzle-driven leadership challenges goal-setting at a time when pressure, burnout, and uncertainty are reshaping how teams succeed. When you set targets, you rarely get the reality from the trenches. Instead, you create incentives for people to give you a falsely rosy picture. And leaders become the last to know what's really happening. In this episode of Impact With Ease, Blake is joined by Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, intentionality, and why traditional goal setting fails teams. If you're navigating rapid change, new technology, rising burnout, or a growing sense that "the old ways" no longer work, this episode offers clarity and a new way forward. You'll hear why traditional goal setting isn't working and how puzzle driven leadership vs goal setting creates accountability without fear, restores curiosity, and builds teams capable of adapting in real time. Episode Highlights Intentionality and Responsibility in Leadership [08:24] - Why technology is a tool and how intention determines its impact [10:21] - How corporate responsibility goes beyond individual choice [12:09] - The role leaders take on: like doctors prescribing solutions Technology, AI, and the Limits of Goal-Driven Thinking [14:24] - The FOMO trap: "AI first" isn't a strategy [16:30] - Where AI actually belongs in your vision and strategy [17:30] - Why decisions from fear never create optimal outcomes Why Goals Create Pressure, Burnout, and Blind Spots [20:32] - How aspirational targets create exhaustion and a cycle of marathons [22:30] - Going from knowing the answer to staying curious [23:30] - Goals vs. puzzles: pressure and importance vs. creativity and curiosity The Shift From Goals to Puzzles [24:30] - How puzzle-thinking doubled sales  [27:21] - Why proven principles show up in different methodologies [30:58] - How puzzles offer scaffolding without rigidity Accountability Without Performance Theater [33:11] - The three big questions [37:55] - How survival mode shuts down creative problem-solving [39:53] - Practical next steps: the OLA framework Powerful Quotes "When you set targets, you rarely get the reality from the trenches. Instead, you create incentives for people to give you a falsely rosy picture." -Radhika Dutt "When you have puzzles, people bring curiosity. And curiosity is what keeps teams in the problem long enough to actually learn." -Radhika Dutt "When people are in survival mode, their ability to problem-solve and think creatively shuts down—and that's a massive risk for organizations right now." -Blake Schofield "We vote with our labor for the world that we want to produce. If you don't reflect on your intention, how do you know if you're casting the right vote for the world you want to create?" -Radhika Dutt "Goals trigger pressure and importance. Puzzles trigger creativity and curiosity." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    46 min
  2. When it all feels like too much

    JAN 29

    When it all feels like too much

    When It All Feels Like Too Much Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain right now?  If the world feels heavier, more unsettled, or harder to process than usual, you're not alone.  When what we thought was stable no longer feels certain, our nervous systems respond with stress, fear, and powerlessness.  These reactions are not personal failings. They're natural biological responses to uncertainty. In this episode, Blake names what so many people are experiencing right now and explains how to cope when everything feels overwhelming. She offers a grounded perspective and practical ways to find calm and perspective in uncertain times, helping you find steadiness and agency when the stress and uncertainty feels like too much.   Episode Highlights Why Everything Feels So Hard Right Now [01:30] - Understanding fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses [03:45] - Why most people are cycling between multiple survival responses [04:30] - How awareness creates self-compassion and clarity Division, Information Overload, and Where Trust Begins [05:20] - The Edelman Trust Barometer [06:16] - Why companies are best positioned to bridge divides [07:00] - Where safety and trust really begin The River Story: A Powerful Metaphor for Uncertain Times [10:15] - The moment of danger that shifted the entire journey [12:30] - When trying to control exhausts us more than the danger itself [14:00] - The shift from panic to presence and strategic action Finding Steadiness in the Middle of Uncertainty [17:45] - What we can control when we can't control the river [19:30] - Why slowing down is strategic, not passive [22:30] - Change as the gift that opens possibility   Powerful Quotes "If you've been feeling unsettled, reactive, angry, exhausted, overwhelmed, numb, or emotionally raw lately, I want to say this first: there's nothing wrong with you." -Blake Schofield "We can't control the level of unrest, division, and challenges that we are under globally, economically, and everything else. The only thing we can control is how we go through it." -Blake Schofield "Change actually is the gift. It is the only place of which we're able to create what it is that we want." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Edelman Trust Barometer   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    29 min
  3. Successful, But Unfulfilled: Corrie's Leadership Turning Point

    JAN 22

    Successful, But Unfulfilled: Corrie's Leadership Turning Point

    Successful, But Unfulfilled: Corrie's Leadership Turning Point Are you a successful, but unfulfilled, leader?  Corrie wasn't burned out or failing, but she was unfulfilled, questioning herself, and missing the spark that once made her work feel meaningful. This is the story of how one woman stopped trying to "push through" and started realigning how she worked, led, and carried responsibility. Fulfillment doesn't require walking away from success. Sometimes, it requires learning how to lead and work differently from the inside out. In this episode, Blake helps unpack a real leadership success story. Corrie was successful by every external measure—strong leader, solid career, flexibility, income, and trust. And yet, she felt drained, disengaged, and quietly questioning herself.  You'll hear why successful leaders feel unfulfilled at work and how she found leadership fulfillment without changing jobs. Instead, she found clarity, gained energy, and reignited the spark that once made her work meaningful.   Episode Highlights The Hidden Struggle of Successful Leaders [01:55] - Dreading getting out of bed despite driving results [03:20] - When job searching becomes a cycle of rejection [04:38] - The belief that "this is just how it is" once you climb the ladder When Job Changes Don't Fix the Problem [16:49] - How constant rejection erodes confidence [18:50] - Missing the signs to stop and ask "What am I missing?" [20:10] - The frustration of wanting results now vs. reflection The Perspective Shift That Changed Everything [25:01] - Realizing misalignment was the real problem [27:04] - Understanding what truly motivates you beyond revenue [30:34] - Taking back your power from external circumstances Becoming a Better Leader by Carrying Less [44:37] - Getting the same results in fewer hours by working differently [48:41] - Learning you have more control than you thought Fulfillment Without Sacrificing Career or Family [50:46] - Moving from personal to seeing the bigger picture [53:26] - Shifting from desperation mode to empowered [55:51] - Why the journey was worth it   Powerful Quotes " I kept thinking I'm okay. And then I got to a point where I just wasn't happy anymore. I wasn't excited to go to work. I wasn't excited about, you know, those results I was driving. I was just dreading getting out of bed. And it was more than just like depression or anything like that. It was like, I really had nothing to look forward to.  And I just noticed it was impacting my life, my relationships. And I'm like, I need to make a change." -Corrie  "I didn't realize that you can be happy in your career once you climb the ladder, but this whole process has really just opened up my eyes. And not just in my career, but like in life in general with my family and my friends and hobbies and everything." -Corrie  "It's okay to ask for help. I was always the person who had the answers. So when it came to the point where I needed help, I didn't even know what to do or where to turn." -Corrie  "The only way we really can truly create change is to understand what we need and how we can be empowered to create that change for ourselves." -Blake Schofield "Your career is not in your manager's hands. It's in your hands. You have control of this." -Corrie      Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    58 min
  4. Support Without Solving: Stop Carrying It All as a Leader

    JAN 15

    Support Without Solving: Stop Carrying It All as a Leader

    Support Without Solving: Stop Carrying It All as a Leader   Serial fixers often experience leadership burnout which quietly shows up as emotional over-responsibility, exhaustion, and feeling like everything depends on you. You care deeply about your people. You want to be supportive, responsive, and present. But somewhere along the way, that helpfulness starts to feel heavy.   Being helpful shouldn't drain you.You weren't meant to carry everything. And pretending you can could be what's breaking you.   In this episode of Impact With Ease, Blake Schofield sits down with psychotherapist and corporate mental wellness expert Leah Marone to explore why so many leaders feel responsible for everything. You'll learn how to lead in a way that supports others without carrying it all yourself.   Episode Highlights   Why Leaders End Up Carrying Everything [06:34] - How empathy and competence turn into over-responsibility [09:20] - The unspoken pressure leaders feel to "hold it all together" [11:31] - Why this pattern is so common in high-performing leaders The Hidden Cost of Being the Helper [13:56] - How solving for others actually increases exhaustion [16:20] - Why teams become dependent instead of empowered [17:26] - The emotional labor leaders rarely name out loud Support Without Solving: What Changes [18:58] - The difference between being supportive and being responsible [20:22] - How validation builds trust without taking ownership [22:20] - What leaders can do instead of fixing Helping Teams Build Confidence and Ownership [27:04] - Why discomfort is part of growth for teams [28:04] - How leaders unintentionally block development [31:44] - Simple shifts that create capability instead of dependence Leading with Boundaries That Actually Work [34:38] - Internal boundaries that reduce emotional load [37:10] - How to stay caring without carrying everything [42:27] - Why presence matters more than perfect answers The Power of Micro-Resets [48:48] - Using daily transitions as opportunities to release stress [47:28] - How small shifts compound into significant change [51:28] - Building the muscle of being present without being perfect   Powerful Quotes "Support doesn't mean solving. It means creating space for someone to build their own confidence." – Leah Marone "It's the thing that helped you feel successful and loved and a sense of belonging. And then it is the thing that becomes cycles of burnout, overwhelm, over-responsibility, worrying about everyone else's feelings while dishonoring your own." – Blake Schofield "People have to have our ownership, we have to hear ourselves, it has to get pocketed away internally for us to be able then to activate." – Leah Marone "You cannot receive when your hands are full. Life is always going to give you something that's unexpected. And when you are so busy and so full that you don't have space for that, then it makes it really hard to manage your emotions, to help deal with and manage other people's emotions, to be present to the greater opportunities." – Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    51 min
  5. Why Does Success Feel So Hard (When You're Good at Your Job)?

    JAN 8

    Why Does Success Feel So Hard (When You're Good at Your Job)?

    Why Does Success Feel So Hard (When You're Good at Your Job)? You're successful. You're respected. So why does work feel heavier, more exhausting, and less fulfilling than it should? Burnout in capable professionals rarely comes from failure. It comes from years of being the person who steps in, figures it out, and carries more than their share. In this episode, Blake explores why high performers feel exhausted even when they're doing everything "right". You'll hear why common fixes like rest, boundaries, or a new role rarely create lasting change, and you'll learn what actually does.   Episode Highlights When Success Starts Feeling Heavy [01:00] - A client who did everything right but felt exhausted [02:15] - "I keep over-giving and I don't know how to stop" [03:20] - When caring deeply still leaves you drained How Being Capable Becomes Costly [04:10] - The ability that made you successful started costing you [05:30] - When success strategies quietly turn into stress patterns Why Change Doesn't Stick [06:45] - Changing environments but finding the same cycles [08:20] - Root patterns driven by the subconscious What Actually Creates Sustainable Success [09:45] - How to change the patterns keeping you stuck [10:50] - Success doesn't have to require self-sacrifice Powerful Quotes "This isn't the kind of burnout where you hate your job. It's the kind where you care deeply and you're still drained." -Blake Schofield "Over-responsibility and hyper-performance aren't personality traits. They're actually ways of living that you learned how to do in order to adapt." -Blake Schofield "This is not a willpower problem. It's not a discipline problem. And it's not a capability problem. It's a root pattern problem." -Blake Schofield "Success does not have to feel this hard. And nothing's wrong with you. You're not lazy or ungrateful and you're not failing. You're just operating from a pattern that's outlived its usefulness." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    11 min
  6. Imposter Syndrome in Leadership: Why Even Experienced Leaders Struggle

    JAN 1

    Imposter Syndrome in Leadership: Why Even Experienced Leaders Struggle

    Imposter Syndrome in Leadership: Why Even Experienced Leaders Struggle Imposter syndrome in leadership doesn't disappear with experience. It often shows up when the pressure is highest. Even the most capable leaders can find themselves questioning their confidence under stress. Self-doubt doesn't mean you're incapable. It means you're human—and often, that you're growing. In this episode, Blake sits down with Jenn Donahue, retired U.S. Navy Captain, keynote speaker, and author, to unpack why experienced leaders feel imposter syndrome and how leaders overcome imposter syndrome under pressure. From life-or-death decisions in Afghanistan to navigating misogyny in male-dominated environments, Jenn shares grounded, real-world insight on leading with clarity, confidence, and alignment. Episode Highlights When Imposter Syndrome Hijacks Your Brain [10:56] - Facing an assassination threat in Afghanistan [11:37] - What happens when your brain goes to "Who am I to be in charge?" [14:33] - Why this is the human condition, not a weakness [18:04] - When it shows up at a conference invitation The Cost of Trying to Lead Like Everyone Else [26:49] - Early mistakes in leadership [27:45] - The mentor who helped her find quiet leadership [29:45] - Your unique fingerprint for success [31:27] - The admiral who wished he'd figured it out sooner Navigating Misogyny with Strategy, Not Reaction [34:57] - "Because that's what men do"—handling blatant disrespect [37:50] - Why having allies in the room matters [40:51] - The power of pausing before responding The Warrior Framework [42:47] - Four steps to quiet your inner critic [43:30] - Friend or foe? Identifying the voices in your head [44:50] - Just take the first step—it doesn't have to be perfect Powerful Quotes "You have to be yourself in order to be effective. Trying to be like everyone else doesn't work." -Jenn Donahue "Imposter syndrome doesn't mean you're not ready. It usually means you're growing." -Jenn Donahue "Pain is inevitable. But suffering is a choice. Right before our breakthrough is always surrender." -Blake Schofield "So often in our society, we are trying to remove the challenges that we face. But we grow through our challenges and growth comes through discomfort." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned   Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type   The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    46 min
  7. Before Setting New Goals, Listen to This

    12/25/2025

    Before Setting New Goals, Listen to This

    Before Setting New Goals, Listen to This  Before setting goals for the new year, there's an important step most leaders miss. Rather than rushing to define what's next, gaining clarity is key. Career clarity doesn't come from pushing harder. It comes from pausing long enough to notice what no longer fits. In this reflective episode, Blake invites you to look back at the patterns you've been carrying and consider what may be quietly draining your energy. If you feel on the brink of change, this conversation will meet you right where you are. This is about creating impact with more ease, not more effort. Episode Highlights A Different Kind of Year-End Pause [01:15] - Why it isn't about doing more [02:10] - The power of listening before planning The Hidden Patterns Leaders Carry [03:30] - Why we cling to what once worked [04:20] - How outdated success rules drain energy [05:10] - When something no longer fits The "Brink" of Change [05:45] - Why uncertainty often feels quiet [06:15] - The space between clarity and confusion [06:40] - Trusting the signals you're receiving A New Way for Leaders [07:50] - Raising the floor vs. reaching higher [08:10] - Three questions before you set goals   Powerful Quotes "We don't cling to things because we're stuck. We cling to them because they once worked." -Blake Schofield "Ease doesn't come from doing less of what matters. It comes from letting go of what no longer does." -Blake Schofield "Clarity often comes after we let go, not before." -Blake Schofield   Resources Mentioned  Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type  The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    9 min
  8. Is This As Good As It Gets?" Why Leaders Think Fulfillment Isn't Possible

    12/18/2025

    Is This As Good As It Gets?" Why Leaders Think Fulfillment Isn't Possible

    Is This As Good As It Gets?" Why Leaders Think Fulfillment Isn't Possible If you've ever caught yourself wondering why fulfillment doesn't feel possible at work, you're not alone. When success no longer brings the clarity, satisfaction, or peace they expected, many leaders quietly reach a point where they think, "Is this as good as it gets in my career?"  Most leaders don't struggle because they haven't tried hard enough. They struggle because they've tried everything.  Promotions, coaching, and therapy don't work long term because they address symptoms without resolving the deeper operating system driving stress, dissatisfaction, and over-effort.  In this episode of Impact With Ease, Blake Schofield breaks down why so many traditional solutions fail to create lasting change and what actually makes it possible to have both.  You'll hear how fulfillment becomes impossible when leadership and career decisions are built on outdated belief systems, nervous system patterns, and misalignment. You'll learn why willpower, mindset shifts, and surface-level tools can't override an internal system that was never designed for ease, clarity, or sustainable success.  Can you have a fulfilling career and a life you love? Yes. And it starts with understanding what's really been holding you back. Episode Highlights Why "Doing Everything Right" Still Feels Wrong [01:15] - The quiet cycle leaders don't talk about [02:10] - Why good intentions don't create lasting change [03:20] - The boat with 20 holes: why temporary fixes fail Why Career Fixes Don't Work Long Term [04:35] - How siloed solutions keep you stuck [05:40] - The real reason your patterns keep repeating [07:15] - Why you can't outwork a misaligned operating system The Hidden Operating System Running Your Career [08:25] - How early beliefs shape your leadership today [09:30] - The survival strategies that stop serving you [10:45] - Why overachieving becomes your biggest obstacle What Actually Makes Fulfillment Possible [12:15] - Aligning with how you're naturally wired to thrive [13:40] - Your unique fingerprint for success [15:20] - Why understanding yourself creates career safety [17:10] - The power of rewiring limiting beliefs at the root Leading and Living Without the Tradeoff [19:15] - Showing up as your authentic self vs. using scripts [20:30] - Why vulnerability creates better leaders [21:45] - How alignment creates rapid transformation Powerful Quotes "You cannot outwork or outsmart an operating system that was never built for ease, flow, alignment, or sustainable success." -Blake Schofield "You are not broken and there isn't anything wrong with you. You have never been the problem. What you're experiencing are signs and symptoms of misalignment in your life." -Blake Schofield "People can tell when you're honest and vulnerable and you show up as your full self and people can tell when you are approaching things from a script or feeling like you have to show up in a certain way in order to be successful." -Blake Schofield Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success:  executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone.  Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership?  Let's explore what's possible for your team.  Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out,  go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/

    22 min
4.9
out of 5
108 Ratings

About

No more choosing between your career and your life. Here you'll find honest conversations, science-backed strategies, and inspiring stories to help you thrive at work and truly enjoy your life outside of it.