Advertise on podcast: Called to Confidence with Sharon Hughes

Living in the Grace of Being Human What if confidence was never about getting everything right? In the final episode of this Called to Confidence mini-series, Sharon shares a freeing perspective on personal development, confidence, and breaking free from perfectionism. If you’ve spent years putting pressure on yourself to perform, achieve, or “have it all together,” this episode is an invitation to breathe, heal, and move forward differently. Together, we explore what it means to release impossible standards, embrace emotional resilience, and build authentic confidence rooted in grace—not performance. Whether you’re navigating leadership, personal growth, or simply trying to trust yourself again, this conversation will encourage you to take your next brave step. Because confidence is not about becoming flawless—it’s being human - as messy as that is.  Download the bonus workbook here: https://bit.ly/C2Cbreakupwithperfection Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

Whose Voice Is Driving Your Life? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself whose expectations you’re actually living under? In part two of this powerful Called to Confidence mini-series, Sharon explores the deeper roots of perfectionism, performance pressure, and the hidden beliefs that shape our confidence. Many high-achieving women, leaders, and ambitious professionals aren’t actually chasing excellence—they’re chasing approval, safety, or validation they learned to seek long ago. This episode dives into personal development, emotional healing, mindset transformation, and leadership self-awareness as Sharon helps listeners uncover where their internal pressure may have started—and how inherited expectations may still be shaping their choices today. If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to prove yourself, this conversation is for you. Download the bonus workbook here: https://bit.ly/C2Cbreakupwithperfection   Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

When Success Feels Unsafe Have you ever worked hard for something you deeply wanted… only to walk away the moment success arrived? In this deeply personal episode of Called to Confidence, Sharon shares a surprising story from her own life: returning to college, making the Dean’s List, and then quitting—not because she failed, but because success felt terrifying. If you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, fear of failure, self-doubt, or the pressure to maintain impossible standards, this episode will resonate deeply. Together, we explore how confidence can be quietly sabotaged by performance pressure and the fear of not measuring up. This episode is a powerful conversation about personal development, emotional growth, and recognizing the hidden beliefs that keep us stuck. Because sometimes the thing holding us back isn’t failure—it’s the pressure success seems to create. Download the "Breakup with Perfectionism" bonus workbook HERE Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

Discover the power of development leadership with Scott Couchenour in this inspiring episode. Learn strategies for building confidence, personal growth, and leadership skills to help you lead with impact and authenticity. In this powerful episode of Called to Confidence, Scott Couchenour, also known as the 4th Quarter Coach, shares his experience when life stripped away his identity—and how he rebuilt it, and you can too! Scott shares his journey of losing his career, feeling like he had no agency, and spending nearly two years in what he describes as “the cave”—a season of deep uncertainty and internal struggle. Through that process, he developed a simple but profound framework: the 5 D’s—download, discern, design, do, and dig. This conversation is about redeeming loss, rediscovering purpose, and learning how to stop living by default and start living by design. Because at the heart of every decision, every relationship, and every business transaction… is you.   Connect with Scott Couchenour on LinkedIn Life By Design: More Freedom. Less Regret available on Amazon Work with Scott: https://www.servingstrong.com/ Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

This episode is one of the most honest and human conversations we’ve had on Called to Confidence. I sit down with Scott Warren—Leadership and Workplace Culture Speaker, author, and host of the Preach Where You Reach® Podcast—to talk about what it really looks like to love people when they’re hurting… and when we’ve been hurt ourselves. We dive into the reality of church hurt, the tension of navigating faith in a diverse world, and the importance of sharing our stories to bring hope—not pressure. This conversation is raw, candid, and deeply relatable as we explore how to lead with compassion without compromising who we are. You’ll hear powerful reminders like: your faith doesn’t have to be someone else’s, loving people doesn’t require fixing them, and sometimes growth comes down to one simple truth—choose your hard. Along the way, Scott shares impactful stories—including the Garth Brooks story and the Neil story—that will stay with you long after the episode ends. If you’ve ever wrestled with hurt, faith, or how to show up for others with both truth and grace… this episode is for you. Connect with Scott Warren on LinkedIn Order Scott's books: For The Love Of God, Care About Your People Preach Where You Reach     Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

In this candid conversation, Shannen Bryant shares her journey of overcoming jealousy and abandonment, examining subconscious programming's impact on personal development and leadership. Discover the power of self-reflection and relationship confidence for lasting change. Our Thoughts Are Relentless  Those little monsters taking up space in our heads love to work overtime concocting new ways to convince us that we're not good "enough".  Telling us we're not:  Smart enough Lovable enough Attractive enough Funny enough Skilled enough Worthy enough or any other soul-crushing blows they can lob your way.Jealousy is not the problem itself, but rather a solution to an underlying issue.  Shanenn and Sharon also touched on the idea that jealousy often stems from beliefs and the need to examine one's own thoughts and feelings.  Shanenn and Sharon discussed the societal pressure on women to be self-sufficient and its impact on their confidence and performance at work and emphasized the importance of focusing on the subconscious mind for lasting change. Take the FREE attachment quiz and discover if you have something you need to address. Connect with Shanenn Bryant at TopSelf.com    Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

In today’s episode, Rob Fornango, founder of F1 Analytics, shares his personal journey through extreme burnout and how he discovered the path to work-life balance. Rob doesn’t just share his own transformation but offers insight into recognizing burnout in your team and how to address it before it takes a toll on performance. From pivoting his career to find fulfillment to challenging the common "work hard, play hard" narrative, Rob’s story is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a healthier relationship with their work. Rob's wisdom: Burnout’s Impact on Performance: Rob emphasizes that it’s impossible to do your best work when you’re burnt out or stuck in a job you hate.   The Backlash of Staying for Money: There's a serious downside when you're paid more to do a job that doesn't align with you - when you come off the money high you're still burned out. The "Work Hard, Play Hard" Myth: Rob shares how easy it is to get caught in the work hard, play hard belief.  Career Pivot: Rob’s inspiring career shift—from building the criminology program at Arizona University to founding F1 Analytics—reveals the power of following what truly fulfills you. His story highlights the courage it takes to leave a prestigious role and pursue a passion that not only brought him peace but also allowed him to help others in a meaningful way.   Connect with Rob Fornango on LinkedIn  Visit F1 Analytics Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

In this heartfelt episode, I have a candid conversation with Chet Gladkowski—an author, hope dealer, and storyteller extraordinaire. Chet brings us along on a deeply personal journey, sharing stories that will resonate with anyone who has ever faced heartbreak, failure, or moments of doubt. Chet opens up about a pivotal moment during a ball game, where one simple comment from his father shifted the way he saw hope—and almost caused him to give up on hope entirely. It’s a powerful reminder of how words can shape us, for better or worse. Throughout our conversation, Chet candidly shares stories of hope, wisdom and leadership woven into his experiences with hopelessness, failure and heartbreak. But what’s even more inspiring is how he found hope on the other side. Chet reveals how his faith has been the anchor in his journey, leading him through the toughest times. One of the key takeaways from this episode is the gift of listening. Chet talks about how truly listening to others has transformed his relationships and given him the opportunity to love on a deeper level while building their trust. This episode is a raw and real look into the ups and downs of life, and how faith and hope can bring light even in the darkest moments. Connect with Chet here: www.ChetGlad.org  Enter HOPE at checkout and  save $5 on the purchase of his book. LinkedIn Facebook Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

In this episode, Sharon interviews Robert Christiansen a leadership and career coach, creator of The Gift app and founding partner of Motive For Life. They explore the deep connection between self-worth and career success, their personal journeys of overcoming self-confidence and self-worth issues and how these struggles shaped their careers. Robert discusses the creation of his self-worth app, The Gift, which offers daily affirmations to help users shift towards a more positive mindset and develop self-worth. Highlights of the conversation:  Your self-worth directly impacts your career success; how Robert came back from a "dark night of the soul" and $150K in debt Discover how The Gift app is transforming lives with daily affirmations that build self-worth and positivityThe pressures men face in work and life—and how self-sabotage can hold them backEver heard of the 'Red Zone'? Learn how emotional discomfort can sabotage your success when you’re reaching for big goalsConnect with Robert Christiansen: www.MotiveForLife.com LinkedIn.com/in/christiansen-robert Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

Join us for an inspiring and insightful conversation as I sit down with Kirsten Farrell, Director of The Goodman Center. Kirsten brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in communications and marketing, teaching professionals how to connect with their audience and make a significant impact. In this episode, Kirsten shares her journey from Hollywood actress to leading The Goodman Center, where she has facilitated countless workshops and webinars for prestigious clients like The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, UCLA, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Her expertise in storytelling has empowered public interest professionals to effectively convey their messages and drive positive change. We delve into the unexpected places Kirsten found hope, exploring her personal and professional transitions. Kirsten opens up about her decision to leave Hollywood, and what guided her onto a new path.  One of the standout moments of our conversation is Kirsten's powerful statement: "It can be important but doesn’t have to be serious." She discovered this perspective during a live workshop and this is definitely one of my favorite takeaways!  Tune in to discover how Kirsten's work at The Goodman Center and her experiences with programs like The Corporation for Supportive Housing’s Speak Up! Program LA have influenced her unique approach to storytelling and advocacy. Plus, hear about her creative endeavors with Impro Theatre, where she brings long-form narrative improv to life. Connect with Kirsten Farrell: www.thegoodmancenter.com On LinkedIn Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

In this episode of Called to Confidence, we delve into the powerful topic of shedding the harmful labels others place on us, such as "failure," and how to break free from their grip. Drawing insights from my book, The Girl in the Garage: 3 Steps to Letting Go of Your Past, I share actionable steps to break up with harmful labels.   Join me as we learn  to reclaim our identities and choose words that uplift and inspire us. Grab a copy of my book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8tbMc5S   Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

In this episode, I'm reading chapter 11 from my book, The Girl In The Garage: 3 Steps To Letting Go Of Your Past. Have you ever considered that the power to choose what you want is actually your superhuman power? It holds the ability to completely change the trajectory of your life.  In this episode I'll share with you how powerful your choices are and some things to consider about what you will hold onto and let go of.    Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

I'm a daydream believer...wanna know why? Because daydreams aren't just daydreams, they are snapshots of what God has planned for us. You may think that longing in your soul was from you, but God created you for a divine purpose and wired you different than the other 7 billion people on the planet. He created you for specific things that only you can do the way you do it. Think of a singer - many people can sing, but not just anyone can belt out 🎼 like Pavarotti or Luke Bryan. See how broad the range is? Grab your freebies at sharonhughes.net Grab a copy of my book, The Girl In The Garage: 3 Steps to Letting Go Of Your Past  Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

Here's a 2 minute tip on why you need to make decisions based on your core values. Need a confidence boost? Go to sharonhughes.net and grab your freebies: "4 Steps To A More Confident You" and "How To Work Through The Hard Things". Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook

Have you ever felt the sting of rejection? Unfortunately most of us have multiple times and quite often it can leave lasting emotional damage. Rejection expert, speaker and Bible teacher Ami Loper joins me for a candid conversation and shares her very personal struggle with rejection at a young age and how craving love changed her life.  Points from Ami: The symptoms of rejection Many are living in an emotional war zone How religion capitalizes on fear Believing you are loved and wanted by God Connect with Ami Loper: amiloper.com    Thank you for being a part of my community. Interested in personal development? Schedule a no pressure meeting with me. Connect with me here: https://sharonhughes.net Connect with me on LinkedIn Grab your FREE Confidence workbook