From Inner Critic to Gratitude Champion - Katie Tyson (ep. 959)

Katie shares how years of personal struggle—living under a harsh inner critic and a relentless “must‑be‑hard‑on‑yourself” mindset—led her to discover the transformative practices of self‑love, gratitude, and intentional coaching.

She walks us through her “aha” moment while advising a fast‑growing startup, where she first saw how employees’ emotions directly fueled performance, teamwork, and retention.

We’ll also explore the science behind why money stops motivating after a certain threshold, how gratitude can become a company’s hidden asset, and the profound impact of supportive relationships—from mentors and coaches to partners, pups, and parents.

Questions you'll find answered:

1. How does cultivating gratitude transform personal performance and success at work? 

2. What simple daily practices can reliably embed gratitude into one’s routine? 

3. Why do feelings and emotions, especially gratitude, become more motivating than monetary rewards after a certain income level? 

4. How can companies integrate gratitude‑focused coaching to improve employee well‑being and productivity? 

5. In what ways does shifting from self‑criticism to gratitude reshape one’s beliefs and overall life experience?

Resources:

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What's your #1 takeaway from this interview? Would love to hear from you in the comments section on Spotify & Youtube!

Timestamps:

02:13 – Katie’s background as a life coach and desire to share her “pot of gold” knowledge.

03:07 – Launch of TheOther50 to bring coaching into the corporate world.

04:13 – First corporate coaching gig with Quickframe and its powerful employee impact.

05:54 – Insight: emotions matter more than skills or traits for workplace success.

06:31 – Gap: employees lack access to coaching; companies miss huge benefits.

07:45 – Gender lens: women tend to surface emotions more; men often repress them.

08:37 – Critique of static job descriptions; need to view people as three‑dimensional.

09:57 – Money plateau: beyond ~$100k, income no longer drives motivation.

10:29 – Gratitude identified as a core driver of employee happiness and performance.

12:39 – Katie’s past as her own harsh inner critic, fostering inadequacy and comparison.

14:18 – Breakthrough: during a painful breakup, coaching introduced self‑love and gratitude.

15:33 – Realization that simple, intentional practices can rewire the mind.

16:27 – The long‑term nature of the practice: not second nature, needs consistent work.

17:08 – Coaching tools used: affirmations, belief‑shifting, gratitude exercises.

18:12 – Connecting with inner wisdom, spirituality, and feeling universally supported.

20:10 – Beliefs shape reality; choosing gratitude creates a different lived experience.

21:45 – Neuroscience analogy: our eyes see through beliefs, our nose perceives directly.

24:10 – Stacking positives versus negatives influences overall life perception.

24:45 – Katie’s favorite gratitude habit: daily journaling (5+ items) and sharing via email.

26:35 – Morning gratitude journaling at work primes a positive, productive day.

30:13 – Leap of faith: quitting full‑time job; profound gratitude for the unfolding support.

33:33 – People Katie is grateful for: coaches Jamie Mendel & Caroline Zwickson, her boyfriend, her new puppy, and her supportive parents.

35:21 – Closing: thank‑you to Katie, invitation to share the episode, and reminder to keep seeking gratitude.

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