The Secret Saboteur at Work Isn’t What You Think

If you search for “business success tips,” you’ll find enough advice to keep you busy for years. Everyone has a new productivity hack, a must-have tool, or a strategy that promises to change everything.

What you won’t find much of is conversation about the emotional side of work. And yet, emotions in business often determine whether we show up boldly, second-guess ourselves, or give up before we even start.

I learned that one the hard way.

When Worry Hijacks Your Brain

When I’m in full freak-out mode, worrying about everything under the sun, my creativity vanishes. So does my ability to think outside the box or come up with unique solutions when troubleshooting.

I’ve spent hours convinced that the answer to a problem was hidden in some new software or tool. It never was. The real issue wasn’t about the tech at all. It was about my emotions running the show. That’s the part no one teaches you when you’re told how to “fix” your business.

The Inner Critic That Set My Prices

In my early years of business, I undercharged so badly it makes me cringe to think about it now. Not because I didn’t know better, but because of that little voice in my head saying, “Who are you to ask for that much? You’re new. No one will pay you.”

That same critic has talked me out of launching digital products, stopped me from promoting myself, and convinced me that posting on social media wasn’t worth it. Its favorite line? “You’re not bringing anything new to the table.”

And here’s the truth: that voice lies. Every single time.

Solving the Wrong Problem

Like so many business owners, I thought the solution to struggles was more knowledge, more tools, more techniques. If I could just master the next thing, I’d finally figure it all out.

But no matter what I learned, the same issues kept popping up. Because the real problem wasn’t my lack of skills. It was my own beliefs and the way I thought about myself and my business. No app or online course can fix that, because the real issue is how we handle emotions in business and the stories we tell ourselves about what is possible.

How the Work Energy Archetypes™ Show This in Action

This is exactly where the Work Energy Archetypes™ make so much sense.

The Survival Worker is the most likely to shove emotions aside. When survival is the focus, who has time for feelings? But ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear. They just go underground and cause chaos in other ways.

The Stability Seeker can fall into the same trap. They keep building something steady, until one day they realize “steady” has turned into “stuck.” That’s usually when the emotional side crashes the party and demands attention, nudging them toward fulfillment.

And the Fulfillment Seeker? They’re often the ones who’ve discovered what the others are still missing: emotions in business are not weaknesses. They’re guideposts.

The Career That Was Supposed to Save Me

This lesson goes back long before I owned a business. For years, I believed all I needed was a good-paying, stable career. I bounced from waitress to cashier to bank teller to customer service rep, until I finally landed a paralegal job in real estate.

That was supposed to be my golden ticket.

But instead of feeling secure and successful, I was stressed, discouraged, and emotionally wrecked. On paper, it was the perfect job. In reality, it was crushing me. Disconnecting my “work self” from my “real self” wasn’t healthy. It was exhausting.

That was the first time I realized something important: emotions in business don’t just tag along for the ride. They’re in the driver’s seat.

Why Emotions in Business Matter for You

Our culture tells us emotions have no place in business. Be professional. Be tough. Don’t let feelings get in the way.

But here’s the truth. Ignoring the emotional and psychological side of work is one of the biggest reasons people get stuck in jobs that drain them or businesses that never grow.

That’s why I created resources like my Banish Your Inner Critic. Because until we deal with the voices and beliefs underneath, ignoring emotions in business will keep us stuck in the same patterns no matter how many strategies we try.

A Question for You

So let me ask you this: What’s one way your emotions are shaping your career or business decisions this week?

The sooner you answer that honestly, the sooner you’ll start building a career or business that actually works for you, not against you.

If you’re noticing how often your own inner critic sneaks into your business decisions, you’ll love my Banish Your Inner Critic replay. It’s a gentle but powerful way to spot the patterns, quiet the voice that keeps you small, and finally give yourself permission to move forward. Watch the replay here →