Ever achieve something massive… then immediately shove it into the “no big deal” bin? In this straight-talking solo episode, Hilary gets brutally honest about the habit high achievers (especially women) fall into - downplaying wins so fast you barely feel the glow before it fades. Fresh off a 30-hour trip home from New York (with five global Stevie Awards and an Able Book Award under her arm), Hilary realised she’d walked straight back into business-as-usual. No celebration. No pause. Not even a proper post. And that wake-up call sparked today’s episode: why we shrink our success and how it’s quietly sabotaging our identity, confidence, and momentum. Using behavioural psychology, lived experience, and her signature no-bullshit clarity, Hilary unpacks the real culprits - fear of judgment, tall poppy syndrome, imposter thoughts, invisibility conditioning, and survival mode - and how each one tricks your brain into believing your achievements are “irrelevant.” In this episode you’ll learn: Why achievement amnesia is real (and how your brain literally deletes your wins when you don’t honour them). The psychology behind shrinking your shine — tall poppy syndrome, fear of judgment, and the “don’t take up space” conditioning so many women have absorbed. How identity gets built (and destroyed) through repetition, celebration, and evidence. The exact phrases to stop using (“It was nothing… anyone could have… just lucky…”) and what to say instead to rewire confidence. How to show up unapologetically so your success fuels your next level instead of quietly dying in your laundry basket. Your Challenge This Week →Pick one win - big or small - that you brushed aside. Write it down. Say it out loud. Tell one person you trust. Then honour it with a small ritual: a toast, a walk, a moment of stillness, or a post if it matters. Bonus: Message someone else and celebrate their win. Evidence builds identity - yours and theirs. 🔗 More tools and resources: www.hilarysaxton.com📕 Grab your copy of 3 Wines In: hilarysaxton.com/product/3-wines-in✉️ Got a win to share? Email Hilary: [email protected] Know someone who needs this?Share this episode with the friend who keeps brushing off their brilliance. Remind them: you can’t build an empire by hiding your shine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related