When a Coach Fully Claims Her Authentic Way
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

When a Coach Fully Claims Her Authentic Way

And I've been there too. There were many years when I was caught in the loop of shoulds, trying to follow the rules, replicate what worked for someone else, and show up in ways that never felt quite right for me. The results? Disconnected. Scattered. Pretending. (Ouch, that one is hard to admit out loud.) And second-guessing everything.

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What If Stuckness Is Just A Waiting Room?
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

What If Stuckness Is Just A Waiting Room?

We’ve been taught to panic when things feel slow or when we have to wait.
To interpret stillness as failure or not-enoughness.
We’ve been trained to make it mean we’re not productive enough, not moving as fast as we should, not doing enough.

And I want to gently challenge that.

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The Number of Times I Want to Quit My Business (In a Day)
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

The Number of Times I Want to Quit My Business (In a Day)

Building a business, finding my voice, writing in a way that connects, figuring out what to say, keeping up with marketing trends, algorithms, and whatever Substack is doing this week... it’s exhausting. And some days I just want to lie down and read a book. (Okay, most days.)

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When the Past Feels Like Proof
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

When the Past Feels Like Proof

Hindsight bias is when the past feels like proof of what’s coming.

It convinces you that what happened before is exactly how it will go again.


And it makes the fact that things didn’t work out last time feel like a personal failure you should have definitely seen coming.

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How Coaching Changed the Way I Lead (And Why It Will Change Yours Too)
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

How Coaching Changed the Way I Lead (And Why It Will Change Yours Too)

When someone delays turning in part of a team project, it's easy to label them as disorganized, distracted, or just not committed. But if you pause long enough to consider what's underneath the surface, you might notice something entirely different. Maybe they're nervous about how their work will be received. Maybe they're unsure how to ask for help. Maybe they're mentally exhausted from something happening at home that has nothing to do with work.

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What If Being a Beginner Is Exactly Where You’re Meant to Be?
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

What If Being a Beginner Is Exactly Where You’re Meant to Be?

We’ve been taught to value certainty. To have the answer. To be the expert.

And especially if you’re a coach or someone who supports others for a living, there can be this unspoken pressure to always be one step ahead.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned again and again: Being a beginner is a gift—if we let it be.

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What If There’s Enough for Everyone?
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

What If There’s Enough for Everyone?

It’s a mindset that says that if someone else has more, I must have less.

And if I have more, someone else will go without.

This way of thinking is very sneaky. It hides underneath comparison, guilt, competition, and scarcity. And whether you’re a coach or not, it affects how you show up in your work, your relationships, and your decisions.

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What Happens When You Bet on You?
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

What Happens When You Bet on You?

Most people don’t hold themselves back because they lack ability. They hold themselves back because they focus more on what could go wrong than on what’s possible.

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The Relief You’re Feeling—Is It the Right Kind?
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

The Relief You’re Feeling—Is It the Right Kind?

Relief is a beautiful thing when it comes at the right time, in the right way. It can signal that you’ve honored your capacity, completed something important, or given yourself permission to move toward something you truly want (even when it feels very hard.)

But if your relief is coming from stepping back too soon, it might be worth staying with the discomfort just a little longer—because your success/dream/breakthrough/certainty may be right on the other side.

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Are You Overworking in Your Coaching Sessions?
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

Are You Overworking in Your Coaching Sessions?

Early in my coaching career, I worked with a client who had big dreams of leaving academia. She came to every session full of ideas but rarely took action to move forward. I cared deeply about her vision, so I pushed harder to help her create momentum. I asked more questions, introduced new tools, and even spent time outside our sessions brainstorming how to support her.

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What If the Best Thing You Could Do as a Coach Is Less?
Katie Pulsifer Katie Pulsifer

What If the Best Thing You Could Do as a Coach Is Less?

When you first start coaching, it's natural to equate effort with impact. You prepare extensively. You ask question after question. You introduce frameworks, suggest exercises, and make sure your client leaves with something tangible. It feels productive. It feels like you're earning your seat.

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