I had the most inspiring conversation with my chief executive yesterday. It’s left me with so much to ponder that I’m left thinking about it (and feel called to talk about it) at 3am as I’m awake feeding and holding my son.

I’m sat here in appreciative thanks and gratitude that I’m in a role where I get time and insight into someone I see as deeply inspirational and wise. That I have the opportunity to learn from his wisdom and that I even get some of his time is not something I take for granted. It’s a privilege.

He’s the one who let me borrow the book ‘presence’ which I wrote about recently. And he is the one who yesterday articulated what I’ve sensed myself for a while:

The only thing that will hold you back is the stories you tell yourself

• The story that I’m not good enough
• The story that I can’t lead because of so many reasons – my call to explore and share my vulnerability, not having a ‘business’ background, not being the finished product
• The story that intrinsically being who I am (female, with a big heart, someone who cares, with a background of sometimes poor mental health) sets me up to have less impact on the world
• The story that I’m 34, it’s too late for me to start something big in life
• The story that I have to choose between being a great mum and making a difference in this world
• The story that I’m only as good as my most recent mistake
• The story that people will realise that I’m an imposter
• The story that I’m only as good as how much people like me
• The story that the deep work I do here will hold me back professionally
• The story that being vulnerable and real is weak