Breaking Free from the Gilded Cage: How to Escape External Validation & Find Real Freedom with Keren Eldad

You can have all the success in the world, but if you’re not free, what’s the point? 

Too many entrepreneurs build a life that looks great on the outside but feels empty on the inside. If you’ve ever hit a big milestone and still felt unfulfilled, this episode is for you.

Today, I sit down with Keren Eldad, high-performance coach for founders and CEOs, bestselling author of Gilded, and an expert in breaking people out of the toxic cycle of external validation.

We dive deep into:

• What the “gilded cage” is and how it keeps high achievers stuck
• The dangerous trap of chasing external validation
• Why comparison—even to your past self—is the thief of joy
• The three key pillars of personal mastery: self-compassion, authenticity, and equanimity
• How to shift from playing “not to lose” to playing to WIN
• The three most powerful questions that will instantly shift your mindset

If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing success but still feel trapped, this episode will help you break free and redefine what winning truly looks like.

Key Takeaways
✔️Success isn’t just about achievements—it’s about how free you feel in the process.
✔️If you’re playing to avoid failure instead of playing to win, you’re already losing.
✔️Self-compassion is the foundation of success. Stop beating yourself up and start speaking to yourself with kindness.
✔️Authenticity means aligning your thoughts, feelings, and actions—without making Faustian bargains.
✔️Equanimity (staying calm and unreactive) is your greatest business asset.
✔️The three mindset-shifting questions you must ask in any challenge:

1. Is the problem the problem, or is my response the problem?
2. Is there another way to see this?
3. Where is the opportunity in this situation?

Timestamps
[00:00] – Why success alone won’t set you free
[02:00] – The Gilded Cage: How high achievers get trapped
[06:30] – How to stop chasing external validation and redefine success
[10:00] – Why comparison—especially to your past self—steals your joy
[14:00] – The 3 pillars of personal mastery: self-compassion, authenticity, equanimity
[18:30] – How to stop reacting and start responding with clarity
[22:00] – Playing to win vs. playing not to lose—why it matters
[30:00] – The 3 questions that will instantly shift your mindset
[38:00] – How to implement these shifts in your business and leadership
[42:00] – Final thoughts: The key to freedom as an entrepreneur

Choose Your Next Steps
This week, I want you to:

• Pick one of the 3 mindset-shifting questions and use it in your business.
• Practice self-compassion—notice when you’re being too hard on yourself and shift the narrative.
• DM me or tag me on Instagram @itsGeorgeBryant and let me know which insight from this episode hit you the hardest.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Special Announcement: Keren’s New Book!

• Want to go deeper into breaking free from the Gilded Cage? Grab Keren Eldad’s new book Gilded, a #1 new release in business management and a Forbes top read of the year.