Tag: leadership

  • Why I’m Starting a 5AM Club

    Why I’m Starting a 5AM Club

    I’ve been thinking a lot about how loud life feels right now.

    Every day, there is something new to take in. The news is heavy. People are being laid off. AI is changing the way we work. Prices keep rising. Careers feel less predictable. And in the middle of all of that, we still have lives to live, people to love, bills to pay, bodies to care for, and dreams we’re trying not to give up on.

    It’s a lot.

    That’s why I’m starting a 5AM Club.

    Not because waking up at 5AM makes you better than anyone else. Not because I think everyone needs to become a strict morning person. And definitely not because I want another space where people feel like they aren’t doing enough.

    I’m starting it because I think a lot of us are craving a little more rhythm. A little more focus. A little more peace. A little more accountability that feels supportive, not stressful.

    The idea of a 5AM Club is not new. Long before it had a name, people used the early morning as a time for prayer, movement, writing, study, planning, and reflection. Spiritual communities, athletes, writers, entrepreneurs, and everyday people have all used the quiet of the morning to prepare themselves for the day ahead.

    The phrase “5AM Club” became more widely known through leadership and personal development author Robin Sharma, who popularized the idea of waking up early and using the first part of the day with intention. Over time, people began creating their own versions of 5AM clubs for fitness, prayer, studying, entrepreneurship, wellness, and accountability.

    That history matters to me because I do not see this as just a productivity trend. At its best, a 5AM Club is about choosing how you begin before the world starts choosing for you.

    For me, the morning has a certain kind of honesty to it. Before the phone starts ringing, before the emails come in, before the meetings, the errands, the responsibilities, and the noise of the world — there is a small window where you can hear yourself.

    That small window matters.

    A 5AM Club is about using that time to check in before the day takes over. It’s a place to ask yourself: How am I really doing? What do I need today? What am I focused on? What am I not carrying into this day? What is one small thing I can do for my mind, body, or spirit?

    This is not about being perfect.

    Some mornings you may wake up at 5. Some mornings it may be 6:30. Some mornings you may have a whole routine. Other mornings, all you may have is a few words, a prayer, a stretch, or a cup of coffee.

    That still counts.

    What matters is that you are choosing to show up for yourself.

    The world is changing quickly, and I don’t want us to feel like we are only reacting to everything around us. I want us to feel like we still have some say in how we begin. Some agency. Some grounding. Some support. Some quiet discipline.

    That is what this space is for.

    You can expect simple morning check-ins, honest reflection, encouragement, and a community of people who are trying to become more focused and grounded in real life. We’ll talk about wellness, discipline, goals, rest, responsibility, uncertainty, and how to keep going without abandoning ourselves.

    What you should not expect is shame.

    This is not hustle culture. This is not a competition. This is not a performance. This is not about waking up early just to do more and more and more.

    It’s about starting the day with yourself instead of starting the day already overwhelmed.

    So if life has felt loud lately, if your mornings have felt rushed, if you’ve been craving more focus, or if you just want to begin your day with a little more intention, I hope you’ll join us.

    Welcome to a 5AM Club.

    This is where we begin.

  • The Power Of Vulnerability

    At some point the mask must come off and we have to answer to our higher selves for emotional well being. Dr. Brené Brown, an author and research professor at the University of Houston, has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy.

    There are four areas in our daily lives in which the power of vulnerability can help us step forward if we are willing to bring down the walls: relationship, work, community, and mind and body.

    Vulnerability essentially is the uncertain fear of not knowing what will happen in these four areas. Interestingly, the more we learn and understand can allow realistic expectations associated with them. We are not of the business of getting hurt; we come at life with eyes wide open.

    Here are 5 powers that walking into vulnerability sheds light on:

    Super Power # 1 Gratitude It’s easy to hate life, become trapped in stoicism, or get easily jaded when we are ungrateful. Gratitude is needed but also empowering. When joy takes over gratitude builds no resentment and is a self-check on what matters most.

    Super Power # 2 Self-awareness Vulnerability makes us more aware of who we are, who we are not, and makes clear our proximal distance to the reality of that. This understanding can help us see where the gaps are that need our attention. Self-awareness helps us to mind the gaps.

    Super Power # 3 Intellectual Growth —Vulnerability enlightens us and develops the possibility of things unknown. Instead of hiding from the truth we seek answers. Failure is one of the biggest Achilles heals of the mind. Intellectual Growth builds on the capacity to overcome fear of failure in our professional and personal lives.

    Super Power # 4 Emotional IQ — When we are vulnerable we accept that we need others and they need us. This opens us up to being receptive to listening and taking contextual clues when receiving feedback. Having a deepened sense of emotional intelligence can help us identify red flags early on. It’s okay to acknowledge the roll others play in our daily lives, however picking up on social and interpersonal cues will benefit in days ahead.

    Super Power # 5 Affirms the need for our own existence — You matter…You should know that it’s not by chance that you are here. Vulnerability calls us to our purpose. This calling helps others to see us in our most genuine selves. When we acknowledge who we are others don’t seek to downgrade us, instead they can quickly recognize our real value. Focusing on your own strengths does not lead to overcompensating. When we affirm our value there’s no need to seek external validation.

    To wrap up, go hug someone today. Allow room for vulnerability. Unleash these 5 Super Powers.

  • Career Reinvention, Burnout, and Building Confidence: A Conversation with Karen Natasha

    CEO & Founder Karen Natasha Coaching — Toronto, Canada

    For many women, career transitions are no longer rare moments in life — they are becoming part of modern professional identity. Between burnout, workplace culture shifts, leadership barriers, and evolving personal priorities, more women are reevaluating what success truly means and how they want to experience work.

    As companies increasingly invest in coaching, leadership development, and employee wellness, conversations around professional fulfillment are becoming more necessary than ever. Recently, The Launch Table spoke with Karen Natasha, Founder and CEO of Karen Natasha Coaching, a leadership and career transition company focused on helping professionals elevate their careers with confidence and clarity. With more than two decades of corporate experience and a background in executive coaching, Karen brings both lived experience and strategic insight into what it means to navigate today’s workplace as a woman of color.

    Hannah Collier:

    Many people dream about leaving corporate environments to build something more aligned with their purpose, but few actually do it. What pushed you to make that transition?

    Karen Natasha:

    I spent over 20 years working in corporate environments, and honestly, I experienced deep burnout. I also had a very difficult experience with leadership and workplace culture that affected my confidence and overall well-being. During that time, I realized I didn’t see enough women who looked like me in spaces where mentorship, leadership, and career development were happening. I wanted to create the kind of support system I wish I had while navigating my own career journey.

    Hannah Collier:

    Burnout has become one of the defining workplace conversations of this generation. In your opinion, what are professionals getting wrong about burnout?

    Karen Natasha:

    A lot of people think burnout is simply about being tired, but it’s deeper than that. It’s emotional exhaustion, feeling unseen, lacking support, and constantly operating in environments where you don’t feel psychologically safe. Many professionals normalize stress because high performance has been glorified for so long. But eventually, your body and mind force you to pay attention.

    Hannah Collier:

    Your work focuses heavily on leadership and career advancement for BIPOC professionals. Why was it important for you to center that audience in your coaching practice?

    Karen Natasha:

    Because representation matters. Many BIPOC professionals are navigating environments where they may feel isolated, overlooked, or underestimated. I personally experienced that while climbing from receptionist to executive-level roles. There are often unspoken challenges people face around visibility, confidence, communication, and access to mentorship. I wanted to build a company that helps professionals recognize their value, strengthen their leadership presence, and feel empowered in their growth.

    Hannah Collier:

    What are some of the biggest mindset shifts people need to make when transitioning careers or trying to level up professionally?

    Karen Natasha:

    One of the biggest shifts is understanding that career growth doesn’t happen passively. Many professionals stay in roles for years waiting to be noticed instead of learning how to advocate for themselves. Another shift is realizing that confidence is built through action, not perfection. You have to be willing to have difficult conversations, take strategic risks, and position yourself differently if you want different results.

    Hannah Collier:

    There’s a growing conversation around emotional intelligence and leadership presence in the workplace. How important are those skills today?

    Karen Natasha:

    They’re critical. Technical skills may get you into the room, but emotional intelligence, communication, self-awareness, and leadership presence are what help people grow sustainably. Organizations are paying more attention to how leaders make people feel, not just what they produce. Professionals who can build trust, communicate effectively, and lead with emotional awareness are becoming incredibly valuable.

    Hannah Collier:

    What does transformation typically look like for clients after working with you?

    Karen Natasha:

    Transformation looks different for everyone, but one common theme is confidence. Many clients leave with more clarity around who they are, what they want, and how they want to show up professionally. We help people strengthen their voice, develop strategic goals, improve leadership skills, and create actionable plans that move them forward personally and professionally.

    Hannah Collier:

    What trends are you currently seeing in the workplace and career development space?

    Karen Natasha:

    A lot of professionals feel stuck. They’ve been in roles for several years but don’t know how to initiate conversations about advancement or navigate the next step. At the same time, companies are beginning to understand that development and wellness matter when it comes to retaining talent. Coaching is becoming less of a luxury and more of a leadership investment.

    Hannah Collier:

    What advice would you give to women currently questioning whether they should pivot in their careers?

    Karen Natasha:

    Don’t ignore the signs that something needs to change. Growth often starts with discomfort. Invest in yourself, seek support, and remember that your career journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Reinvention is possible at every stage of life.

    Karen Natasha Coaching offers coaching, leadership training, executive development, and organizational consulting designed to help professionals grow with intention and confidence. Her Elev8 program focuses on helping clients strengthen leadership capacity through a design-thinking approach to personal and professional development.

  • “Dial it in”— Peak Your Performance at Work

    Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Dial it In”? It’s a concept to help reach a state of high performance, focus, and expertise.

    To get better at what you do, figure out what your top priorities are. Give yourself time to create actionable tasks to contribute to the completion of your 20% vs 80%.

    Stop trying to be everything to everybody. Enable a work environment that allows you to get the right things done.