In today’s episode you’ll discover why you can be doing all the right things at work, yet something invisible is holding you back from enjoying the compensation you have earned.
In this episode, we dive deep with Doug Lynam—a Marine turned monk turned money manager—who shares how personality psychology, childhood trauma, and our unconscious beliefs about money can sabotage success for even the smartest, most driven professionals.
If you've ever struggled with asking for promotions, understanding your spending habits, or simply feeling secure in your financial life, this conversation will feel like a mirror.
By the end of today’s episode you’ll know:
🛠️ How an ancient tool reveals your core fears and how they're linked to your relationship with money and leadership
🎯Why traditional financial advice fails many high performers—and what actually works instead
🔥Powerful tools to reduce anxiety, communicate with confidence, and align your career with your deeper purpose
Press play to uncover the hidden psychological patterns driving your financial behavior and unlock a whole new level of clarity and confidence in both money and leadership.
Knowing your own signature communication orientation is essential for authentic and confident executive presence. Discover here your own signature communication style (free assessment) so your voice can begin to be heard and respected in meetings, you gain more influence, and understand better how to reach key stakeholders.
For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. Our Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.
About our guest:
Doug Lynam, in Taming Your Money Monster, defines the "money monster" as the internal, often subconscious, psychological and emotional barriers that sabotage one’s financial well-being. Drawing from his background as a former monk and his current role as a financial coach, Lynam frames it as a metaphorical beast born from a mix of fear, shame, guilt, and ingrained habits—like overspending, avoiding budgets, or equating self-worth with net worth. He suggests these "monsters" are unique to each person, shaped by their upbringing, experiences, and even spiritual beliefs about money.
In essence, the money monster isn’t just about poor financial choices; it’s the deeper mindset or emotional baggage that keeps someone stuck in repetitive, self-defeating money patterns.
For example, he might describe it as the voice that whispers, “You’ll never get ahead,” prompting reckless spending to feel in control, or the anxiety that avoids looking at bank statements because facing reality feels too daunting. Lynam’s approach, blending spiritual wisdom and practical tools, positions taming this monster as a journey of self-awareness—confronting those inner demons to align finances with one’s authentic values and goals.
Your relationship with money can reveal how you approach certain aspects of your career.
In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities.
By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.
Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style