Overcomers Approach
“The Overcomers Approach” podcast showcases stories of resilience, where individuals transcend challenges to achieve personal and professional success. With a focus on spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, and financial growth, the podcast inspires listeners to embrace their potential and thrive in all areas of life. Join us to learn how overcoming adversity can lead to evolution, healing, and lasting success.
Overcomers Approach
Redefining Success Without Burnout
What if the version of success you’re chasing is the very thing draining you? Nichol sits down with Dorota, a former consultant and go-to-market leader who hit her “success wall” and rebuilt a life that performs at a high level without burning out. We unpack the turning points that matter: trading pride in five-hour nights for restorative sleep, swapping perfectionism for clear priorities, and using neuroscience-based tools to calm a busy mind.
You’ll hear how micro-habits like a book before bed, seven-hour sleep minimums, and a mindful morning routine created compounding gains in focus and energy. Dorota breaks down the elite mind approach—visualization, attention training, and habit stacking—to show how the brain learns, predicts, and can be retrained. If meditation never clicked, she offers alternatives that still regulate your nervous system and cut overthinking. We also get real about defining enough so your calendar and cash flow match your values, not someone else’s ladder.
For anyone feeling boxed in by fear—of failure, of success, or of outgrowing their environment—Dorota lays out a practical path forward. Start by changing your inputs with new communities and examples, interrogate your thoughts with simple questions that break fear loops, and run small experiments that build evidence and courage. Along the way, we talk leadership that protects energy, boundaries as performance tools, and why most work is not life-or-death—which is exactly why you can pause, reset, and choose a better way.
Ready to design success that feels as good as it looks? Listen, take one five-minute action today that honors your top value. If the conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more achievers can find their enough.
More on Dorota and her services at https://dorotakosiorek.com/
Thank you for listening!
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Thank you for listening!
Good day, everyone. My name is Nicole Ellis McGregor, and I am the founder of the Overcomers Approach podcast, where I meet with different people from different walks of life, different experiences, and different journeys. But the overarching theme is we all have the ability to overcome no matter where we're at in life, whether that's in your career, financially, spiritually, relationship-wise, but it all really falls into alignment because they're all really interconnected. And I know that all of us want to really get to that next level and overcome some challenges that we may have, whether that's starting a business, whether that's going to the next level at your career, uh, being a leader in whatever capacity that you're in. I'm just honored to have Dorota here. And Dorota, I hope I my apologies if I did not pronounce your name right, but thank you very much for showing me grace. I'm going to do a brief introduction of you and then we're just going to take it away. Thank you. Yeah, amazing. Thank you. Dorota is a former consultant and go-to-market leader, turned neuroscience-based coach for high achievers. After 15 years in high-pressure corporate and startup environments, she hit her own success wall and realized that achievement without peace isn't real success. A lifelong top performer herself, she learned how to rewire her mind to achieve more by doing less, and most importantly, without burning out. We can all relate to that. Today she coaches business leaders and entrepreneurs and helps them design success that feels as good as it looks. Using her neuroscience-backed elite mind framework, blending brain science with high performance strategy. Dorota helps ambitious thinkers unlock calm, confidence, strong boundaries, and lasting elite success. Welcome, Dorota. I am so happy to have you here today. Um, and just please give me a brief why as you went from consultant into startup leadership with incorporating neuroscience-based coaching. How did you get here?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, thank you so much for a very uh warm introduction. Uh so how did I how did I end up here? Um, you know, consulting world like super fast. And at some point I realized I've always been high achiever all my life. Yeah, so at some point in there I realized that okay, if I'm gonna keep going this way, I'm gonna be where my bosses were, right? Where people around me, partners were, and I didn't want that life. So I saw how they are working, how you know clients run their life, meetings are just scheduled, like no one is asking whether you can or cannot. You know, getting sick, it's it's just tough, right? You know, people just don't take sick leaves, and I knew I didn't want to work this way. Um, I was thinking about okay, what if I try to do it my way, right? Like consulting on my own terms. Yes, but I realized you know, I could have done that probably, at least that was my thinking, but I didn't want to waste that much energy, right? So I didn't want to, you know, just try to do it my way and then try to fight the system because you know, something has been created this way so many years ago, and it's just working this way, like people are not trying to change it. Uh, at least that was my impression. Yes, and I thought, okay, like I'm not gonna be that one, right? I think I want to do something different, and it was a coincident because uh someone from a startup reached out to me and you know, I end up working there um and leading go-to-market team. I'm still there, I'm still you know working uh nine to five, but uh alongside that I have my coaching practice and I work with uh high achievers. I coach a lot at my work, my team. Um, and I you know, through all that journey, I realized while moving to startup, a lot of things has changed. I was able to run my life, you know, to make more of my own choices and manage my time, my energy, and also lead the team and create the team the way I wanted. And then the way at least I thought, okay, this is the leadership, and I want people to have a good life, like similarly to what I was aiming for. Uh yeah, and it's been going this huge way for you know a few years now. Um and I think it worked out pretty well for me and for people around me.
SPEAKER_00:Awesome. You know, I love that. I love the fact that, and and I would agree with you too. Sometimes system corporations or environments function in a system that they might say they want change or it's gonna change, but it never really effectively does. Uh, and then you're just kind of there, you know, kind of existing in that framework, uh, moving into burnout, not taking the six sick days that you're, you know, that you have, which are really wellness days, you know, to maintain your wellness. And then just moving so fast, like no one pushes the pause but button for a moment. And the fact that you said you wanted to live your life and your career on your terms, with with still getting great outcomes, but without really impacting your sense of like who your identity and who you are and what you really wanted to do. I I love that. Um, and that really speaks to me, and I'm sure it resonates with other people. Um, I know that you had to really kind of rewire your mind to do that uh using neuroscience. How did you shift your mindset to get in position to that?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, um so it was a long journey, and I think it was a little bit step by step. Yes, but it's easier now to assess it from you know time distance for me. Yes, I think one big shift for me specifically, and that's something that I see a lot of high achievers are struggling with, is yes, just resting and allowing yourself to do something different. Yes. Um, like my mind is crazy, you know. I have that feeling that I cannot switch it off, right?
SPEAKER_00:Right.
SPEAKER_01:That you know, if I don't come home, uh there is something in the sink, I have to just like take care of it, right? So I have to do everything around me to then be able to sit down and rest, or maybe I'll find something else. Uh and always the same with work, right? You know, um, you were working in a fast-paced environment, and you don't want to say that you don't you can't do something or you don't have time because what other will think will think, right? Like people around you will do that. So whoever's doing a good job, they always do stuff. And I was like that, right? And I was super proud of myself that I could have you know slept five hours and I was full of energy, right? I could, you know, do everything, and now I think about it like how silly was that, right? How kind of you know, against everything what I know it was. Uh, so I was gradually changing some stuff. Uh, I was gradually learning a lot about neuroscience, brain. I got fascinated by that, and the more I learned, the more small things I changed in my life. Uh, I started with fixing my sleep. So instead of you know going to bed around midnight and sleeping really six hours, I shifted it to okay, let's go a bit earlier, let's read a book before uh bed to kind of calm my mind. And then I started like sleeping minimum seven hours, uh, and it helped me a lot. I was waking up like just like that, right? I didn't need you know, uh snooze button two or three times, which was so common for me. Uh, so that was like first shift. Then I shaped that morning ritual for myself with a little bit of visualization or some kind of form of mindfulness. I'm not really a person who meditates, but I'm more about you know, mindful morning on my own terms, uh, with some kind of focus training in the morning, that's my must-have. And then I was you know shaping the other part of routine, like small breakfast and things like that, having time for different things. Uh so you know, step by step, it helped me prioritize different things. And you know, at some point on the journey, I got a dog. I never expected uh I'm gonna have a dog, I never wanted to have a dog, but I have a vij and he's uh over four years old, and now like suddenly I have time for everything. You know, I have to take him for walks at least twice a day. Um, and I just find time, right? Like it's it's non-negotiable. So, you know, step by step, I was introducing different pieces to my life, and alongside I was learning about brain and neuroscience, and how with you know, tiny steps you can introduce things to your uh to your routine, how you can match it to other existing habits that you have, how you can create uh you know, uh visualization in your brain that's gonna help you keep going. Uh, so yeah, you know, that plus also learning about how powerful your thoughts are. You know, I started to realize how much my overthinking and my you know uh thinking loops in my head when I did something wrong, it was killing me. Uh so you know, all of that helped me step by step to get where I am now, and I can say that I really work in a healthy way. Um I I really don't stress about work. That's something, you know, maybe even consulting learned me that a bit, surprisingly. Uh, because there is using that saying that you know, we were not the doctors there or like firemen, we're not saving lives. So, okay, if someone makes a mistake, then it's just no one is gonna die, right? So there is nothing so serious to be stressed about, uh, and I use it until now every day, every project, and anything, okay. Like you know, something can happen, you can reschedule, you can say no, you can do things because I have my own priorities. Uh, yeah, so you know it was long drain, but I think successful. Uh I can't hear you. You think you're muted.
SPEAKER_00:There we go. Can you hear me? So sorry. I muted my microphone because I have three dogs. One of my dogs is outside my door crying. I'm I'm gonna let her in, give me one moment.
SPEAKER_01:No worries. I know that's pain.
SPEAKER_00:Oh my goodness. As you were talking about your dog, I could totally, totally relate. Um, so yeah, I was like, let me mute the uh let me mute the my mic. And this is just a real moment, like just what you were talking about. Like, what's the worst that can happen? No one's gonna die. Your dog may be crying at the door, but you're gonna be good. I love the fact that you said you made small incremental steps to getting to where you wanted to go. It was not anything that you had to solve like right away. Um, and so I love that, you know, like you said, uh how overachievers can be overthinkers, and that really pretty much could lead to burnout. Um, also, I think that a lot of overachievers want to operate in perfection too. I think, you know, and I think we're all coming to realize that perfection is really not the goal. Maybe, you know, operating in excellence on your own terms, which it's kind of sounded like what you did, and how impactful sleep is to our lives, like how important that is even for your brain function. And I love the fact that you brought that up. Um, when overachievers, and it can get very competitive in corporate environments as well, you know, because you're you're wanting to be the top, you want to exceed the outcomes, you want to remain on top, you know, and so I think kind of define life on your own terms gives you a little bit of flexibility and how you know how you redefine success for you. How did you, once you transitioned out of that corporate environment, how did you begin to redefine success, or how did that shift your mindset?
SPEAKER_01:Uh that was also coming alongside the whole journey. Um first of all, you know, that's saying grass is greener on the other side. Um, and I just discovered different types of garden, if I can say so, like different benefits. And that was first thing, you know, you have one corporate life and you have startup life, and then you were trying to build something as well. Um, so for me, it was discovering that startup work is different, yeah, but it's better for what I needed, right? And it was better aligned with my even at the time. Um, I was also building family house, so I was working kind of had my second job as a project manager, right? And I was able to, you know, link my priorities, and I know that I wouldn't be able to do the same incorporate. Um, so with that, you know, you start thinking, okay, what's really important to you? How do you want to uh keep living, you know, spending your days again? It was linked with when I got the dog. I was also around that time, like four plus years ago. Um, so I started shifting that. Um, I started enjoying different kinds of things at work because what my work was also different. I was much more working with clients, with team, um, just managing them a lot, also working remotely. Yeah, but so you you had a different uh kind of relationship building approach and also how to combine it, how to find human connections during pandemia as well, right? Outside of work, but that are still quality connections and that are filling um you know up your needs. Um, so step by step, everything was changing for me. Um, and I think what's what's really fascinating to me is that I've been doing a lot of things first myself, and then I was learning about science behind that, and I realized, okay, kind of I did that, right? I didn't know that, but it just all makes sense, yeah. Uh so I'm very proud of myself for exploring things that you know started working for me, but then the science came later. I started, you know, like reading like crazy about neuroscience, doing brain coaching certification, uh, reading books of you know Joe Dispenza and other people who are like so much into mindset. I started that three years ago, so it was kind of following my um first decisions, yes, and then it started just resonating with me so much, so I went deeper and then I was applying different stuff to my life to kind of take it to next level very slowly.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, I like that. I love the fact that you you started making these intentional shifts in your life, you know. Um, like you said, kind of working on the family home, like just things that still kind of bring you joy while you're still pursuing your goals. And I love the fact that you said that you just kind of begin to really make in yourself a priority. And I think sometimes people, high achievers, forget that, you know, forget that they are the most valuable uh component in the in the situation or in this situation that that you really are valued. And sometimes I don't think our values misalign with with with what we want to do, like being a high achiever. So if your value is, you know, you want to remain healthy, but there's this you're you're giving yourself a double message because you're not you're not portraying that out. There goes the dogs again. Sorry. So no problem. So if someone I know that's I know we're just gonna roll with it. So if someone is feeling stuck, uh, and they they're at that position where they're stuck in the space that they're in, and they don't what where should they start? What one small step that they could do?
SPEAKER_01:Very good question. I would say to start with what's the most important for me right now, and then what's the tiny thing I can do today to get closer to that? So, like five, ten minutes thing that I could do to cultivate that value that can be very, very small thing, uh, just to start to get going. Um and then I would really focus on on the values, like what's important to me and why? Because people often uh you know, you work for money, everyone does, right? To get money, but then what do you want to what do you need this money for? Like what's behind that? Whether it's exploring the world, whether it's I don't know, educating your children, whether it's helping your parents, so just understanding that why and you might realize that um maybe you have already enough of that money, and you actually start spend should start spending it for that specific purpose. And that was also my thing because um I'm thinking even right now, but a few years ago, um I was thinking, okay, like where I am financially and career-wise in my life, right? And I realized that thinking about myself when I was a kid, if I knew I'm gonna be here, I would have been thrilled. Yes, but then the more you have, the more you want.
SPEAKER_00:That's right.
SPEAKER_01:Because the level of life just keeps increasing and your demands keep increasing. So you know, just defining your enough, yes, of what would that be so that you can start living.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, I love that. I love you. Said a couple of things that really resonated with me is find out your why. You know, why are you doing this? Is it money? Is it family? What's your motivation? That sounds like a hard thing. Um, and to find out what your enough is, because you know, sometimes if you just keep chasing, chasing, chasing, you can end up burned out that way, you know. Um, and then you want to begin to be able to spend the money and live and find out what's enough for you. You know, what what can you what can you deal with? What do you need? What do you want? Like, what are those priorities for people to really start thinking about that? Because life goes by so fast. And then you could end up with all these accomplishments, all this money, and life when you when it's time to transition, none of that can go with you. And what what did you leave? You know, did you travel? Did you meet great connections? Like what was your relationship with your family? Um, or or what healing took place? What does that look like? Some real meaningful things could take place um when we really when we figure out what our priorities are, what our why is, and what our enough is. I like the fact that you brought clarity to that because I think some people need to slow down and understand that. Um, and and I had to do some some of that recently, um, because there was a shift in my life. My husband had a had a stroke, and um and life shifted and changed like in one day. And I had to figure out like what was my enough, what type of job did I want? Like, what did I want to do? And what could we live with, you know, because life is very, very precious. So I love the fact that you said that. I've also met very driven people that were young and died. And and some of those people I think died from burnout, from just being exhausted. You know, even young people can get very, very tired no matter what age you are. So I love the fact that you said that. Why do you think the brain, it's important to know how the brain works um when you're doing this work, like so people can really understand the mind-body connection. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Um, so I am a very analytical person and science speaks to me. Uh, and I think there are more people like this. So if this is your thinking, then understanding brain can be life-changing because you're gonna understand the mechanism behind things, and when you are, it's like with uh everything. If you can learn the rationale behind something, why something works or how it functions, it's easier for you to steer that, uh, it's easier for you to act. Uh, you know, doing anything or even uh trying to explain something to someone without understanding that it's hard. So for me, this is crucial. But I also know there are different things resonate with different people. Some people are more into spirituality, more into mind-body connection through breath work, and that's completely fine. To me, it's choosing something that resonates with you and go deeper, and then it's gonna work for you. I've chosen brain and mindset work because it's such a complex part of our body, and it's just running everything, right? Everything every second, it's so complicated, and it's more fascinating than I could have ever imagined. And I wish I had learned that at school, yes. But you know, I have it, yes, I have to catch up now, right? But I'm fascinated by elite athletes who are training their mental uh toughness to compete at elite level, yeah. And this is something I really want to bring to uh business world, yes, because this can make a difference and it can help us become more uh you know immune to things and better, it's not about maybe control, but better understand what's happening with us in different situations, and to be able to like have tools to react and to regulate yourself, um, because this way you are not getting into those you know loops of overthinking, yes. Um, and again, I'm speaking from a perspective of a high achiever, yes, and I know my brain is very busy, yes. Like I was trying mindfulness and meditation just like that, but it didn't work for me.
SPEAKER_00:That's good.
SPEAKER_01:I needed to understand a little bit more, like even why it should work or how come it can work, yeah, to be able to start um doing this, to be able to sit, you know, five minutes and doing either breath work or visualization. And yeah, visualization speaks to me because I learned that you can train your mind, it doesn't matter whether you do things or just imagine, like it's you are activating the same part of your brain, so you can actually learn things with that, yeah. And that resonates with me again. It might not resonate with with everyone, but um, but that's why we have a huge variety of uh uh tools uh to to work on yourself, like no matter what you choose, just choose something that you you can you know you can continue to do, not just try once and then forget about it, right?
SPEAKER_00:You know, I love you said a few things that I that really resonated with me, and I know it will some of my listeners as well. The fact that you said find something that works for you, you know, and you know, and it doesn't mean that there's nothing wrong with breath work or mindfulness or whatever that, but you know kind of what your calling is, you know what you're drawn to, you know what your strengths are. And I think the brain, I'm fascinated by the brain as well, because we don't even use the fullest capacity of our brain. We use a very, I think I don't know, I I can't remember, it was like 10%, somewhere around, it was a very small percent. Yes. So we have a lot going on in the brain, it's very complex, it does a lot of unique, different things. And I think the fact that we could tap into that and and really and really go to that next level, really, really um visualize where we want to go and train our brains to do that because we have the capability to do that, and really understanding that um, I think really is a mind shift change just by saying that, you know, like our brains can do amazing things, you know. Um, and when I think of you know, inventions that have been created, when I think about molecules, when I think about all these interactions that are going on in the atmosphere, um, a lot of people's brains was tied to inventions, creativity, imagination, and mindset that had to be like a mindset shift. Um, and I love that. And I love the fact that I think in order to stay, you know, in the know, in order to stay, you know, in a competitive market where there's different leaders everywhere, where we got AI, where we have all these things coming along now, we really need to tap into the genius of our brains that we have emotional intelligence. There's things that AI doesn't have, but we need to, AI is a tool like everything else, but we need to tap into the genius and the creativity and the mindset. And like you said, those elite leaders that really want to take it to the next level in the world that we're living in. You know, uh, there's pros and cons to technology. Now we could be interconnected in so many different ways. You're in one part of the world, I'm in another part of the world. It's daytime, it's nighttime here, but we're still coming together to talk about these great things that can happen for people and and the services that you offer. So I just I want to thank you for that. I'm gonna tie it up with with a with one last question. Um, you know, there are people who are out here and they know that they're they know that they they know what their calling is, they know what their gifts are, they know that they are leaders, but they want to take it to the next level. But there's a fear there that there's a fear, probably a failure. There's probably a fear of success too. Um, what would you recommend to people who know, you know, they know that they're leaders, they know that they're called, but they're in environments that are not conducive to that because now once they really tap into it, they may outgrow that environment. What do you think people could do to begin to transition like you did yourself to do what they want to do?
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yeah. Um, I have a couple of ideas, like one is to change the environment, right? Find people who are different than their corporate environment, right? Community, um go to the event, network with people just to see that this is possible because if you are like surrounded by people like you, right, you don't see that there are other possibilities, right? Finding examples, success stories, case studies can help someone who is afraid, yeah, and help them find the proof. Okay, it's possible. Yeah, that is the to me the the least scary step that they can do, right? Um, the second thing could be uh starting really exploring uh your thoughts and um how you are actually limiting yourself, right? So sit down with your thoughts and think, okay, what is that fear? Like what am I what am I actually afraid of? Yeah, because one thing that I think it's important to mention about brain, right? It's so powerful, but we are often actually using it negatively, yeah. So I think you have to overcome your own thoughts.
SPEAKER_00:That's right.
SPEAKER_01:Try to spot those negative. Thoughts and and ask yourself, okay, like, is it really true, right? Like, is it really true what I'm thinking? Like, how can I be sure that it's it's gonna happen? And what if actually I could succeed, or what if that fear like what materialized to start you know those tiny exercises? Uh, I think that's a second step that is uh again, maybe not so scary, right? It's not worth trying. Yeah, and if someone is a little bit more brave, then like taking a step to experiment with something, you know, try to think about side hustle, yes, do something, uh, or even try to find a coach and work with them. Yes, overcome those uh limiting thoughts. Um, like everything can work, it it all depends on you. What's the tiny step you're ready to take? Yes, and then just take it, take it. But find something small enough that's not gonna scare you.
SPEAKER_00:That's right. I love that. I love the fact that you said a lot of times we use our brain to think negative thoughts when we could be using that our brain to be to give more empowering thoughts to you know to really think it through. Is this really true? You know, you know, and so really kind of standing on that and and and understanding that use that negativity and just shift it over to the positive side and do that more repetition. I'm sure it's gonna shift your brain and how you process things. Um, if people want to get in contact with you to use your services, whether they do the cohort or one-on-one or other environments, how can they get connected to you? What is your web link?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so the best way is just go directly to my website. It's Dorotacoshorex, so asmyName.com. And in there you can book a free discovery call. Uh, I offer that, and on that call, we are discovering three main blockers and creating an action plan to help you keep going. And if we think it's gonna be a fit, I invite a person to work with me. If not, you have a great value of steps that you can still work on yourself if you want. Uh, and then I'm also on LinkedIn under my name and Instagram, uh Mind by Dorota.
SPEAKER_00:Awesome. And I'll make sure that is in the description of my podcast. Uh, when when I uh edit it and complete it, it should be out within the next week or two. Dorota, it was such a wonderful time talking with you. It was very impactful. I know my listeners will be inspired, and you gave some great tools and some great information on you know, finding out what our why is, what's enough, putting ourselves first, shifting our priorities. We could still be leaders and in our on our own terms and how we want to do things and really live life. I greatly, greatly appreciate that. Bringing clarity. Thank you again.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you so much. It was a pleasure, and thank you so much for inviting me as well.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you.