This Wasn't My Plan

Ashlee
  • 4.8 (8)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This Wasn’t My Plan is the career podcast for high-achievers who’ve checked all the boxes (and done all the right things!) but still feel something’s missing. Hosted by Career Strategist and Performance Consultant and Advisor, RX Ashlee, it’s your no-BS roadmap to redefining success on your terms. Whether you’re pivoting, scaling your business, or ready for work that works for you, this show delivers sharp strategy, smart scripts, and real talk. No fluff, no filler, just focused guidance to help you lead, own your voice, and win with intention.

  1. Why This Show Exists

    FEB 6

    Why This Show Exists

    This episode is about what happens when your plan falls apart, and you stop treating that as a problem to fix. It’s about the quiet, unglamorous moments where identity shifts, careers reroute, and life asks you to grow up faster than expected. And what becomes possible when you stop performing a polished narrative and start telling the real one. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the throughline behind the pivots, losses, relocations, and decisions that shaped who I am and why this show exists. This episode is for you if: You’re realizing your life or career didn’t follow the blueprint you once trusted You’ve made choices that didn’t make sense to other people You’ve outgrown an identity that once fit, but no longer does You’re standing at a decision point and questioning what comes next After listening, you will understand: Why plans falling apart often create more alignment than success ever could How non-linear paths quietly build leadership, resilience, and perspective What most people miss about identity when titles, roles, or stability disappear The shift from chasing the “right” path to building something that can’t be taken away Follow This Wasn’t My Plan. Share this episode with someone navigating a pivot they didn’t ask for.

    31 min

  2. FEB 6

    Why This Show Exists

    This episode is about what happens when your plan falls apart, and you stop treating that as a problem to fix. It’s about the quiet, unglamorous moments where identity shifts, careers reroute, and life asks you to grow up faster than expected. And what becomes possible when you stop performing a polished narrative and start telling the real one. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the throughline behind the pivots, losses, relocations, and decisions that shaped who I am and why this show exists. This episode is for you if: You’re realizing your life or career didn’t follow the blueprint you once trusted You’ve made choices that didn’t make sense to other people You’ve outgrown an identity that once fit, but no longer does You’re standing at a decision point and questioning what comes next After listening, you will understand: Why plans falling apart often create more alignment than success ever could How non-linear paths quietly build leadership, resilience, and perspective What most people miss about identity when titles, roles, or stability disappear The shift from chasing the “right” path to building something that can’t be taken away Follow This Wasn’t My Plan. Share this episode with someone navigating a pivot they didn’t ask for.

    31 min
  3. Redefining Success

    JAN 30

    Redefining Success

    "If you’ve done everything “right” and it still doesn’t feel right… listen to this. Season Two opens with a reset. Not because something broke. Not because I’m burned out. But because the version of success I was chasing no longer fits the life I’m living. And if you’re feeling that same quiet tension, this episode is for you. This episode is about one distinction that changes everything Most high-achievers are incredibly accomplished. They’ve stacked credentials. Titles. Wins. Proof. But accomplishment isn’t the same as success. This conversation is about learning the difference, and what happens when you stop measuring your life by what looks impressive and start paying attention to what actually feels sustainable. You’ll resonate with this episode if: • You’ve built a career that works, but something still feels off • You’re not lost or starting over, you’re just recalibrating • You’re standing in the in-between, questioning old definitions of success • You know your values, but your life availability has changed What this episode will shift for you: • Why accomplishment can feel safe, but still leave you unsettled • How to recognize when you’re chasing validation instead of alignment • What “life leadership” actually looks like in this season • Why redefining success isn’t failure, it’s growth What Season Two is really about: This season is built around real conversations with people whose lives didn’t go according to plan. Founders. Leaders. Professionals. Partners. People who honored the pivot instead of fighting it. No polish. No pretending. Just honest conversations about evolution, recalibration, and building a life that fits. Before you go: Season Two episodes will be released as they’re recorded, there’s no fixed drop day. Make sure you’re following or subscribed so you don’t miss a conversation. Share this episode with someone navigating their own in-between season. And DM @rxashleehayes with this question: What does success feel like for you right now?

    21 min

  4. JAN 30

    Redefining Success

    "If you’ve done everything “right” and it still doesn’t feel right… listen to this. Season Two opens with a reset. Not because something broke. Not because I’m burned out. But because the version of success I was chasing no longer fits the life I’m living. And if you’re feeling that same quiet tension, this episode is for you. This episode is about one distinction that changes everything Most high-achievers are incredibly accomplished. They’ve stacked credentials. Titles. Wins. Proof. But accomplishment isn’t the same as success. This conversation is about learning the difference, and what happens when you stop measuring your life by what looks impressive and start paying attention to what actually feels sustainable. You’ll resonate with this episode if: • You’ve built a career that works, but something still feels off • You’re not lost or starting over, you’re just recalibrating • You’re standing in the in-between, questioning old definitions of success • You know your values, but your life availability has changed What this episode will shift for you: • Why accomplishment can feel safe, but still leave you unsettled • How to recognize when you’re chasing validation instead of alignment • What “life leadership” actually looks like in this season • Why redefining success isn’t failure, it’s growth What Season Two is really about: This season is built around real conversations with people whose lives didn’t go according to plan. Founders. Leaders. Professionals. Partners. People who honored the pivot instead of fighting it. No polish. No pretending. Just honest conversations about evolution, recalibration, and building a life that fits. Before you go: Season Two episodes will be released as they’re recorded, there’s no fixed drop day. Make sure you’re following or subscribed so you don’t miss a conversation. Share this episode with someone navigating their own in-between season. And DM @rxashleehayes with this question: What does success feel like for you right now?

    21 min
  5. Your Career Identity: Understanding Who You Are and Where You Belong

    12/22/2025

    Your Career Identity: Understanding Who You Are and Where You Belong

    Your Career Identity: Understanding Who You Are and Where You Belong  Season One Finale of This Wasn’t My Plan  In the final episode of Season One, Ashlee closes the year with a conversation every high-achiever needs but rarely makes space for: career identity.  If you’ve ever wondered:  Who am I professionally?  What do I actually bring to the table?  Where do I truly belong?  This episode is your mirror.  Ashlee takes you inside the mindset shifts, patterns, and lived experiences that shape how we show up in our careers — and why so many ambitious people feel mislabeled, misunderstood, or stuck in roles that no longer fit.  Through personal stories, client examples, and the emotional evolution behind her own career pivots, Ashlee breaks down:  1. What career identity really is and why it has nothing to do with your job title.  2. Why high-performers struggle to see their own strengths because adaptability becomes a double-edged sword.  3. How to identify the roles you naturally step into even when no one formally assigns them  4. The difference between skill and identity and why being good at something doesn’t mean it should define your life.  5. Why your next chapter requires letting go of outdated versions of yourself and how to recognize when it's time to pivot  This episode blends reflection, strategy, and storytelling including powerful identity shifts from real clients, plus Ashlee’s own journey from pharmacist to founder, operator, and clarity expert.  It’s the perfect closing chapter to a season built on evolution, ambition, and the  courage to rewrite your path.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn:  • How to recognize your real career identity  • What your behaviors reveal that your title doesn’t  • The three questions that help you define your next chapter  • Why proving yourself keeps you stuck  • How to trust your instincts when they feel risky  • What to do when your professional identity stops fitting  • Why nonlinear paths are becoming the new normal  Listener Takeaways:  • Your title doesn’t tell the full story — your patterns do.  • You’re not stuck — you’re evolving.  • You’re allowed to outgrow roles, labels, and expectations.  • Your career identity is already inside you — you’re learning how to name it.  Season Two Preview:  Next year, Ashlee brings on more than one hundred guests with real This Wasn’t My Plan stories — people who pivoted, rebuilt, paused, left, returned, and reinvented their careers in ways that don’t fit the traditional mold.  Consider this your permission to evolve.  Special Thank You:  Brittany — the creative engine and heartbeat behind Season One — thank you for shaping every episode behind the scenes.  And to every listener: every share, every message, every moment you pressed play… you built this season with us.  Stay Connected:  • Follow the show so you never miss a new episode  • Share this episode with someone navigating a pivot or identity shift  • DM Ashlee on Instagram @rxashleehayes and tell her:  What part of your career identity are you starting to outgrow?

    21 min

  6. 12/22/2025

    Your Career Identity: Understanding Who You Are and Where You Belong

    Your Career Identity: Understanding Who You Are and Where You Belong Season One Finale of This Wasn’t My Plan In the final episode of Season One, Ashlee closes the year with a conversation every high-achiever needs but rarely makes space for: career identity. If you’ve ever wondered: Who am I professionally? What do I actually bring to the table? Where do I truly belong? This episode is your mirror. Ashlee takes you inside the mindset shifts, patterns, and lived experiences that shape how we show up in our careers — and why so many ambitious people feel mislabeled, misunderstood, or stuck in roles that no longer fit. Through personal stories, client examples, and the emotional evolution behind her own career pivots, Ashlee breaks down: 1. What career identity really is and why it has nothing to do with your job title. 2. Why high-performers struggle to see their own strengths because adaptability becomes a double-edged sword. 3. How to identify the roles you naturally step into even when no one formally assigns them 4. The difference between skill and identity and why being good at something doesn’t mean it should define your life. 5. Why your next chapter requires letting go of outdated versions of yourself and how to recognize when it's time to pivot This episode blends reflection, strategy, and storytelling including powerful identity shifts from real clients, plus Ashlee’s own journey from pharmacist to founder, operator, and clarity expert. It’s the perfect closing chapter to a season built on evolution, ambition, and the courage to rewrite your path. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • How to recognize your real career identity • What your behaviors reveal that your title doesn’t • The three questions that help you define your next chapter • Why proving yourself keeps you stuck • How to trust your instincts when they feel risky • What to do when your professional identity stops fitting • Why nonlinear paths are becoming the new normal Listener Takeaways: • Your title doesn’t tell the full story — your patterns do. • You’re not stuck — you’re evolving. • You’re allowed to outgrow roles, labels, and expectations. • Your career identity is already inside you — you’re learning how to name it. Season Two Preview: Next year, Ashlee brings on more than one hundred guests with real This Wasn’t My Plan stories — people who pivoted, rebuilt, paused, left, returned, and reinvented their careers in ways that don’t fit the traditional mold. Consider this your permission to evolve. Special Thank You: Brittany — the creative engine and heartbeat behind Season One — thank you for shaping every episode behind the scenes. And to every listener: every share, every message, every moment you pressed play… you built this season with us. Stay Connected: • Follow the show so you never miss a new episode • Share this episode with someone navigating a pivot or identity shift • DM Ashlee on Instagram @rxashleehayes and tell her: What part of your career identity are you starting to outgrow?

    21 min
  7. The Bridge: Why All Businesses Need an Integrator

    12/15/2025

    The Bridge: Why All Businesses Need an Integrator

    If you’ve ever worked inside a business—big or small—and thought, “Why does everything feel so chaotic?” or “Why are we always reacting instead of leading?” this episode is going to make everything click.  Today we’re talking about the most overlooked role in organizations:  the Integrator.  The bridge between the people dreaming about the future… and the people responsible for building it.  Most leaders don’t know this role exists.  Most teams don’t realize they’re missing it.  But everyone feels the impact when it’s gone.  In this episode, I break down:  • What an Integrator actually is —not in MBA language, but in a way you can bring straight back to your team.  • Why big ideas fall flat without a translation layer and why execution suffers even when the talent is strong.  • The signs your organization is missing a bridge (overwhelm, rework, shifting priorities, recycled goals, decision fatigue).  • What changes when this role is in place  alignment, accountability, clarity, steadiness, and real momentum.  • How my entire career unknowingly trained me to be an Integrator  long before I had language for it— and how EOS finally gave me the name for the way my brain has always worked.  Whether you’re a high-achieving employee trying to understand why your team feels stuck… or a business owner wondering why your organization can’t seem to scale without burning your people out… this episode will help you identify the gap and understand what’s been missing.  Because every business—every single one—needs someone who:  • Translates the vision  • Creates the plan  • Holds the team accountable  • Removes obstacles  • Clarifies priorities  • Connects communication  • Protects momentum  That’s the Integrator.  That’s the bridge.  And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.  Mentions in this Episode:  • EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)  • The Visionary + Integrator dynamic  • My journey into operations, systems, and leadership clarity  Episode Takeaways:  • Big ideas aren’t the problem—lack of ownership is.  • Alignment is a leadership choice, not a mood.  • Businesses don’t burn out from growth—they burn out from unclear roles.  • You might already be acting like an Integrator without realizing it.  • Clarity is what makes execution sustainable.  Before you go:  If this episode hit home, here’s your next step:  • Follow the show so you never miss an episode.  • Share this with a friend, colleague, or teammate who’s navigating growth.  • DM me on Instagram @rxashleehayes and tell me: What part of your career are you beginning to outgrow?  Thank you for being here.  Thank you for pressing play.  You’re not stuck—you’re evolving.  And next week?  We’re talking about my divorce from my pharmacy profession—  a story I’ve never shared like this before.  You don’t want to miss it.

    19 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    The Bridge: Why All Businesses Need an Integrator

    If you’ve ever worked inside a business—big or small—and thought, “Why does everything feel so chaotic?” or “Why are we always reacting instead of leading?” this episode is going to make everything click. Today we’re talking about the most overlooked role in organizations: the Integrator. The bridge between the people dreaming about the future… and the people responsible for building it. Most leaders don’t know this role exists. Most teams don’t realize they’re missing it. But everyone feels the impact when it’s gone. In this episode, I break down: • What an Integrator actually is —not in MBA language, but in a way you can bring straight back to your team. • Why big ideas fall flat without a translation layer and why execution suffers even when the talent is strong. • The signs your organization is missing a bridge (overwhelm, rework, shifting priorities, recycled goals, decision fatigue). • What changes when this role is in place alignment, accountability, clarity, steadiness, and real momentum. • How my entire career unknowingly trained me to be an Integrator long before I had language for it— and how EOS finally gave me the name for the way my brain has always worked. Whether you’re a high-achieving employee trying to understand why your team feels stuck… or a business owner wondering why your organization can’t seem to scale without burning your people out… this episode will help you identify the gap and understand what’s been missing. Because every business—every single one—needs someone who: • Translates the vision • Creates the plan • Holds the team accountable • Removes obstacles • Clarifies priorities • Connects communication • Protects momentum That’s the Integrator. That’s the bridge. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Mentions in this Episode: • EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) • The Visionary + Integrator dynamic • My journey into operations, systems, and leadership clarity Episode Takeaways: • Big ideas aren’t the problem—lack of ownership is. • Alignment is a leadership choice, not a mood. • Businesses don’t burn out from growth—they burn out from unclear roles. • You might already be acting like an Integrator without realizing it. • Clarity is what makes execution sustainable. Before you go: If this episode hit home, here’s your next step: • Follow the show so you never miss an episode. • Share this with a friend, colleague, or teammate who’s navigating growth. • DM me on Instagram @rxashleehayes and tell me: What part of your career are you beginning to outgrow? Thank you for being here. Thank you for pressing play. You’re not stuck—you’re evolving. And next week? We’re talking about my divorce from my pharmacy profession— a story I’ve never shared like this before. You don’t want to miss it.

    19 min
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4.8
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

This Wasn’t My Plan is the career podcast for high-achievers who’ve checked all the boxes (and done all the right things!) but still feel something’s missing. Hosted by Career Strategist and Performance Consultant and Advisor, RX Ashlee, it’s your no-BS roadmap to redefining success on your terms. Whether you’re pivoting, scaling your business, or ready for work that works for you, this show delivers sharp strategy, smart scripts, and real talk. No fluff, no filler, just focused guidance to help you lead, own your voice, and win with intention.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashlee
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ashlee
  • Show Website
    This Wasn't My Plan