Your Thriving Matters to Everyone

What you're not doing for yourself is actually harming everyone around you. Kris knows what's happening. You're in survival mode. Not because your life is falling apart, but because the last decade has been relentless. Your business is affected. Your family is affected. Your nervous system is affected. And so you've locked into the question: how do I keep this afloat? But here's the truth she's naming: when you thrive, everything around you thrives. And when you don't, nothing can. The gap between knowing this and actually doing it is where most women live. You nod along, you agree with every word, and then you go back to putting everyone else first. You skip the haircut. You don't get your nails done. You don't take the trip. You tell yourself there's no time, and the weight of that unattended desire just sits there, reminding you that you're not worth your own investment. In this episode, Kris walks through her own year of being pulled away from her dreams and then choosing to pull herself back. She's not talking about inspiration. She's talking about reinvestment in your own joy as a non-negotiable act. What you'll learn: • Why survival mode is contagious and whose job it is to break the cycle • What the smallest acts of self-care are actually telling you • How to know if you're in confusion, avoidance, or victimhood about your own desires • What happens when you finally attend to yourself • Why this is the time, not the time to wait Nothing feels worse and heavier than having desire that is unattended to. The question isn't whether you have time. The question is whether you're willing to reclaim your own agency. Connect with Kris ·      Ready to get out of your own way? Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/hotseatsummer to register for four Fridays of coaching to get what you want. ·      Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. ·      If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Pinterest

If the pattern keeps repeating, it's time to turn up the heat. Kris has spent her entire career helping other people get what they want. And she's watching women do the same thing. Pouring everything into helping clients, employees, family, friends figure out what they want, while their own desires sit dormant on a shelf. Here's the truth she's naming: You know what you want. You've always known. The problem isn't figuring it out. The problem is you're scared. You have more to lose now than you did when you started, so you've tempered your dreams. You've muffled the joy and aspiration. You've told yourself it's too risky. And the pattern keeps repeating. In this episode, Kris walks through her own journey of learning to help people get what they really, truly want. Not the surface answer, but the real one. She shares the Zig Ziglar quote that's followed her for decades, why Martha Beck's ten-minute coaching principle changed everything, and what it actually takes to reclaim your own wants. What you'll learn: • Why you keep tempering what you want as you get older and more successful • How to ask yourself the real question and cut through the fluff • Why helping everyone else get what they want is actually keeping you stuck • What happens when someone really sees you and asks what you want • How patterns repeat until you decide to turn up the heat • About the four-week coaching experience happening this summer This is Kris reminding you that you have so much left to create, to be, to experience. And it starts with being honest about what you actually want. Connect with Kris Ready for the Hot Seat Summer? Head to www.thevisionary.ceo/hotseatsummer to register. If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters. Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Pinterest

You built something incredible. You made a thing that didn't exist. You're running a multi-million-dollar business, and yes, that's magic. But somewhere along the way, the dream you chased became a box you're trapped in. Kris calls this the quiet crisis. You've achieved the success you set out to create, but now you're drowning in it. You can't leave because too many people depend on you. You can't pivot because you're afraid of losing the revenue, the security, the key people. So you stay, spinning on all the ways it could fall apart. Sound familiar? In this episode, she's talking to the woman who built her empire and is now wondering if this is it. Is this the whole thing? Can you ever be free? And she's offering a completely different way to think about it. What you'll learn: Why the very thing that got you here (risk and adventure) is what you need to keep moving forward How fear becomes the cage you lock yourself into Why losing something might be the best thing that ever happened (and the evidence that proves it) The question she asked herself that changed everything Why you're more trapped when you're too close to the weeds What happens when you reframe from protection mode to belief mode There's a moment early in the episode where Kris talks about Elastigirl from the Incredibles, stretched so far she can't move. That's you right now. Completely maxed out because you've painted such a terrifying picture of what happens if you let go. But what if you're not done building? What if you don't have to just protect what you have, but build something on top of it? The woman who started this business would believe that. Connect with Kris Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes.   If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Here's the thing people get wrong. When you see someone doing well, the instinct is to copy what they do. That job they have, that approach they take, that course they're selling. If it works for them, it should work for you, right? Wrong. In this episode, Kris walks through why mimicking someone else's playbook will never be your answer, and why the real issue is that you're looking in the wrong place. She shares her early sales career story, when she was surrounded by people killing it and she was, in her own words, "pretty bad at it." She tried doing what they did and still failed. It wasn't until she stopped copying and started trusting her own instincts that things shifted. What she learned then became everything. The people who get results aren't successful because of what they do. They're successful because of who they are and what they believe. And that doesn't transfer. What you'll learn: — The difference between tactics and wisdom, and why wisdom wins every time — Why copying someone's recipe will always feel off — The ocean metaphor and the undercurrent beneath the noise — How to actually tap into what you already know instead of buying someone else's answer — What happens when you stop looking outside and start listening to yourself — Why you need to invest in your own mind, not the next $37 course The bottom line? You already know. Not in a vague, future-tense way. Right now. The answer lives in you. It might be uncomfortable. You might not like it. You might have already tried it. But you know. The work isn't finding the answer. The work is figuring out why you haven't taken action on what you already know. Connect with Kris- Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. -   If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Pinterest

If you followed Leadership is Feminine®️, this is going to feel different. Better, actually. Kris takes a beat to explain why she needed to hit pause on the podcast, why she's back, and why the conversation has changed altogether. Turns out, after 15 years in this work and thousands of hours of content, she had some things to sort through. Specifically, what does she actually want her life to look like now? This isn't a philosophical question for her. It's a real one. In this episode, you'll hear about: -Why she restructured her entire life at 53, including moving houses and letting go of almost everything she owned -How she's evolved her approach to coaching and why it requires being in the room with women -What a "wisdom cocktail" is and why you've already got one brewing inside you -Why the path forward for you isn't someone else's instructions, it's your own discover The core of what Kris is building here is space for women who already know the answers to their biggest questions live inside them. Not in a book. Not in someone else's playbook. In them. Because here's the thing. You didn't build a multi-million-dollar business by following instructions. You built it by trusting yourself. And if you're still second-guessing yourself in other areas of your life, she wants to talk about that If you've been listening for years, you know. If you're brand new, settle in. This is the space where women who are done with someone else's version of how to live actually get to design their own. Connect with Kris- Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. -  If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Pinterest

What if the bravest act of leadership is knowing when it's time to pause? In this deeply personal episode, Kris invites listeners into the raw, honest crossroads she's currently  navigating—one marked by completion, uncertainty, and a longing for deeper, more human connection. After nearly 400 episodes, thousands of hours of recording, and decades spent teaching leaders how to lead, she shares the truth many high-achieving women rarely admit out loud: sometimes the thing we've mastered is the very thing we're meant to release. Kris reflects on how leadership hasn't fundamentally changed—and on the bittersweet realization that she has said everything she came here to say. She talks openly about shifting away from the isolating online model that has defined the last several years and into work that brings her back into rooms, back into community, back into the presence she craves. She also guides listeners through a powerful reframing of accountability—not as pressure, but as profound self-care. Because when we don't follow through on the promises we make to ourselves, the weight of that avoidance becomes its own burden. Here's what we explore in this episode: The emotional and practical reality of feeling "complete" in a long-standing body of work Why accountability to yourself is one of the highest forms of self-care The difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it The discomfort, fear, and liberation of honoring the commitments you've ignored What it means to pause with integrity, clarity, and agency This episode is a pause, not a goodbye—a moment of truth-telling, gratitude, and trust in what comes next. Contact Information and Recommended Resources If you'd like to stay in touch to receive updates about what we've got coming up, visit www.thevisionary.ceo    Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

We love the idea of accountability—until it gets uncomfortable. Until it requires us to tell the truth and stop making excuses for what we've been tolerating. In this powerful episode, Kris Plachy explores the deep connection between accountability, self-trust, and personal agency—and why even the most successful women can find themselves over-tolerating, over-accommodating, and avoiding difficult conversations. Kris challenges high-achieving women to stop externalizing the problem ("Why won't they just…") and instead reclaim responsibility for their own responses, expectations, and results. The truth? Accountability isn't about controlling others—it's about your willingness to show up, follow through, and address what needs to be addressed, even when it's uncomfortable. She reminds listeners that every relationship, every result, and every outcome in your life begins with your own accountability—and that reclaiming this power is the most freeing leadership practice there is. Here's what we explore in this episode: The link between accountability, self-trust, and self-worth Why high-performing women often struggle to hold others accountable How to stop displacing responsibility and strengthen your personal agency What to ask yourself when someone doesn't meet expectations How radical accountability unlocks freedom, clarity, and growth This conversation is an invitation to take your power back—not by controlling others, but by mastering the only person you can truly lead: yourself. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Ready to tackle your biggest challenges and set yourself up for an incredible year ahead? Book a Visionary.CEO Starter Session with Kris Plachy to get personalized guidance and your own custom journal to keep you accountable—all designed to help you achieve what you really want. Reserve your spot today at www.theVisionary.CEO/starter!   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine®, Kris speaks straight to the hearts of high-achieving women who are carrying so much—the businesses they run, the households they manage, the people they care for, and the decisions they make every hour of the day. Kris argues that successful women don't just deserve joy. They require it. After years of hosting immersive client retreats, she's seen firsthand what happens when accomplished women are offered a space designed entirely for them: where they don't have to drive, plan, decide, or take care of anyone. They get to receive. And something powerful happens. They come back to themselves. These experiences aren't frivolous. They are healing. They restore the spirit of a woman who spends her life pouring into everyone else. Kris makes the case that joy is a strategic investment. And it is necessary if we want to lead sustainably. Here's what we explore in this episode: The invisible weight successful women silently carry What shifts when women are cared for instead of caretaking How play creates emotional spaciousness and clarity Why joyful rest is a strategic requirement—not a luxury The cultural and personal permission women need to take real breaks This is your invitation to recapture delight—to make room for play, presence, and wonder. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Are you on our list to get first-to-know updates? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/notes.    Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Kris is back with another round of the pet sitting saga—but this time, it's about more than just unreliable pet sitters. It's a story about accountability, boundaries, and leadership. Through a string of mishaps (and three fired sitters), Kris explores how these small, personal frustrations mirror the much larger issue of how we manage people in our lives and businesses. When expectations aren't met, many leaders justify, tolerate, or avoid confrontation. But as Kris shares, avoiding accountability—whether with a pet sitter or an employee—only recycles poor performance and creates a culture of tolerance instead of trust. Here's what we explore in this episode: Why unmet expectations persist, and what happens when you ignore them The emotional traps of people-pleasing, guilt, and "just letting it slide" How avoidance erodes both trust and leadership confidence The power of holding others—and yourself—accountable with grace, not anger Why mutual accountability is the missing ingredient in healthy workplaces This conversation is an invitation to protect your standards, honor your agreements, and lead with both compassion and clarity—because accountability isn't cruelty; it's integrity in action. Contact Information and Recommended Resources It's time to stop tolerating and start leading. Join me at www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm to learn more about the new Sage Mini-Mastermind that starts November 4th.  Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

This week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy and her Director of Operations, Michelle Arant, sit down for an unscripted conversation that captures leadership in its most human form. What started as a casual team discussion turned into a powerful reflection on how we handle discomfort, accountability, and growth — both in business and in life. Through the lens of a lighthearted story about a pet sitter, Kris and Michelle explore how everyday moments can reveal our relationship with responsibility and self-management. They discuss the tendency to over-accommodate others, the generational shifts in resilience and follow-through, and why true leadership demands that we get comfortable being uncomfortable. Their conversation is an honest reminder that friction isn't failure — it's feedback. Whether you're mentoring a new hire, raising kids, or running a multimillion-dollar company, the path to better leadership begins with allowing discomfort to do its work. Here's what we explore in this episode: How discomfort helps us build capacity for growth and leadership The difference between supporting someone and over-accommodating them Why avoiding friction can unintentionally stunt development — for ourselves and others How leaders can model resilience and self-accountability through their own behavior What small, everyday moments can reveal about how we handle responsibility Why embracing discomfort may be the most undervalued leadership skill of all This conversation invites you to pause and ask: Where am I protecting others — or myself — from the very discomfort that could lead to growth?  Contact Information and Recommended Resources Wanna join us for the Sage Mini Mastermind? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm to learn the details and register.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest