Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition: Insights from Keren Eldad

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In this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge sits down with Keren Eldad, an executive coach, professional speaker, and author of the book Gilded: Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More. Keren shares profound insights on the pressures faced by high achievers, societal expectations that often lead to feelings of entrapment, and the importance of prioritizing happiness and well-being over constant work and external success markers. The conversation serves as a roadmap for anyone looking to break free from the cycle of ambition and perfectionism to live a more fulfilling and joyful life.

The Essence of Keren's Work: Helping High Achievers Find Fulfillment

Keren Eldad, also known as "Coach Keren," has dedicated her career to helping high achievers break free from the cycles of ambition, perfectionism, and the relentless pursuit of "more." Her clients include Olympic athletes, politicians, Hollywood stars, supermodels, Special Forces operatives, and serial entrepreneurs. Additionally, global organizations like Estée Lauder, J.P. Morgan, and Nike trust her expertise.

Her coaching approach focuses on identifying the self-imposed cages many high achievers find themselves in, where success is pursued relentlessly at the cost of happiness and fulfillment. Keren teaches that true success lies not in the relentless pursuit of more but in creating balance, realigning goals, and finding joy in the present. She emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, helping clients regularly assess their motivations and desires to determine whether they are aligned with their true selves or simply driven by societal pressures.

Keren’s book Gilded presents a 12-step program inspired by Alcoholics Anonymous, designed to guide individuals toward a more fulfilling existence. The book challenges the notion that success must come at the expense of happiness, offering readers a structured approach to reclaim their well-being and live a life that honors their true values.

About Keren Eldad

Keren Eldad, known as "Coach Keren," is a renowned executive coach, speaker, and author of Gilded. Recognized as a Top Ten Executive Coach by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Real Leaders Magazine, and Goop, Keren has made a significant impact on the coaching world. She works with high achievers globally, helping them overcome perfectionism and create more meaningful, balanced lives.

Keren’s clients range from Hollywood celebrities and Olympic athletes to leaders in major corporations like Estée Lauder, J.P. Morgan, and Nike. As a former C-suite executive with experience in 17 countries across four continents, Keren coaches in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and French. She also reaches a global audience through her TEDx talks, which have garnered half a million views.

Keren resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Ryan, and their many beloved pets.

About Gilded

*Keren Eldad’s book, Gilded: Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More, offers a transformative approach to helping individuals break free from the chains of relentless ambition and the pursuit of perfection. The 12-step program, inspired by the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, guides readers toward achieving a balanced and fulfilling life by aligning their actions with their deeper, more authentic values. Gilded challenges the belief that success must be sacrificed at the cost of happiness and shows how true fulfillment comes from living authentically, in alignment with one’s personal desires and goals.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Keren Eldad’s Website
• Keren Eldad's LinkedIn Profile
• Gilded: Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More

Key Episode Highlights:

• Breaking Free from Perfectionism: Keren explains how high achievers often become trapped by the cycle of perfectionism and how to break free from it.
• Redefining Success: True success comes not from endless achievement but from building meaningful relationships and finding joy in the present.
• The Importance of Happiness Now: Keren emphasizes the need to choose happiness in the moment, rather than postponing it for future goals.
• Workaholism as an Addiction: Keren highlights how workaholism is a form of addiction, driven by societal beliefs about hard work equating to success.
• Coaching for Clarity: The value of coaching is to gain self-awareness and align personal goals with deeper, more fulfilling desires.

Conclusion

In this episode, Keren Eldad provides invaluable insights into breaking free from ambition, perfectionism, and the relentless pursuit of “more.” By focusing on self-reflection, embracing happiness now, and redefining success, listeners can create lives of greater joy and fulfillment. Whether through Keren’s coaching or her book Gilded, the journey to a more balanced and meaningful life starts with recognizing the need for change and taking the first step toward living authentically.

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