TLP455: Break Free from Self-imposed Limitations

Kasey D’Amato’s experience goes from launching a dermatology division and founding a global skincare brand to building a multi-seven-figure real estate portfolio. In this episode, Kasey shares her insights on how leaders can avoid burnout, overcome stagnation, and create a life that aligns with their true purpose.  She introduces her Holistic Leadership Mastery™ Framework, which breaks leadership into four essential quadrants and explains why so many leaders feel overwhelmed despite their achievements. We discuss why leaders should periodically disconnect, how to recalibrate every 90 days, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. She also shares her personal story of career reinvention, going from a physician assistant to a business leader and leadership coach. Kasey emphasizes that many successful professionals eventually feel stuck, questioning, "What’s the point?" even when they have achieved financial success. She explains how leaders can overcome this by focusing on emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-awareness. Kasey also talks about how leaders can break free from self-imposed limitations. She also discusses the importance of regularly evaluating time and energy allocation, challenging leaders to reassess 20% of their calendars every 90 days.  Whether you’re thinking about a career pivot or struggling with burnout, this episode provides actionable insights to help you lead a fulfilling life.     Key Takeaways [02:12] Kasey and her husband rescue and rehabilitate large dogs with difficult pasts. She finds that this requires calm, confident leadership, much like business leadership. [04:20] Many leaders neglect their personal well-being, relationships, and joy. Kasey’s framework breaks leadership into four quadrants: business acumen, self-leadership, team leadership, and industry leadership. A strong leader balances all four. [06:58] Kasey agrees that leaders often misallocate time and energy. Most spend too much time on tasks that don’t drive results. She recommends reviewing time allocation every 90 days to ensure alignment with goals. [08:24] Leaders often focus solely on strengths but may ignore personal weaknesses that could limit them in the long run. Kasey believes that while focusing on strengths is good, leaders should also be aware of what they are neglecting and consciously decide how to balance priorities. [14:15] She felt she had mastered her previous roles and began asking, “Is this all there is?” She realized she wanted to impact others in a broader way, leading her to reinvention. [19:21] Kasey advises completely disconnecting from routine for at least a week (ideally out of the country) to gain clarity. It takes about five days for the mind to stop focusing on daily work and start thinking about bigger questions like “Am I happy?” [24:35] Leaders often avoid tough decisions or self-improvement. Kasey recommends surrounding yourself with three types of accountability partners: mentors, peers, and direct reports. [28:34] Kasey plays the “What If” game with clients. If they say they don’t have time or money, she asks, “What if you did? What would you do differently?” This helps reverse engineer solutions and uncover creative options. [35:59] And remember, “When you have balance in your life, work becomes an entirely different experience. There is a passion that moves you to a whole new level of fulfillment and gratitude, and that's when you can do your best for yourself and for others.” - Cara Delevingne   Quotable Quotes “Am I happy? Is this the life I dreamed of?”  “We are our own problem. Look in the mirror.”  “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.”  “You need to recalibrate your time and energy every 90 days.”  “The first step to resilience is awareness. Just being aware changes everything.”  “What if you did have time? What would you do differently?”  “I’m the queen of reinvention.”  “Confidence is critical. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will.”    Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | Sponsored by | Rafti Advisors. LLC | Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | Kasey D’Amato Website | Kasey D’Amato Facebook | Kasey D’Amato LinkedIn | Kasey D’Amato Instagram |