I was mid-session with a client last week. The conversation was moving, and I felt this pull. My mind was already three questions ahead, mapping out the path I was sure they needed.

And then I stopped.

Because I recognized what was happening. That pull wasn’t about them. It was about me.

It was the inner voice that shows up when I most want to prove my worth as a coach: Am I asking the right question? Is there something better I could say? Am I giving them enough value right now?

All of that noise, all of that energy, pointed inward. At me. When the only place it needed to be was on them.

I took a breath. I gave it space. And I let my client lead.

Here’s the thing, though. That inner narrative isn’t just a coaching thing.

It shows up in the meeting where you’re half-listening because part of your brain is already rehearsing what you’ll say next. It shows up in the one-on-one with your direct report where you’re nodding along but internally calculating whether you’re coming across as a strong enough leader. It shows up in the conversation with your boss where the competing story running underneath is: do they think I’m good enough?

That’s the loop. And it is exhausting.

You know that feeling when you leave a full day of conversations completely drained, and you can’t quite explain why? That’s it. That’s the inner narrative pulling focus, burning energy, keeping you from actually being present with the person in front of you.

I’m not saying I’ve figured this out. I haven’t.

But I’m learning to notice when the story shifts from “them” to “me.” To take a breath. To recenter. To come back to the person in front of me.

That’s the work I do on myself so I can show up fully for the people I coach. And it’s the work that moves the needle, not just in coaching sessions, but in every conversation that matters.

I’m curious: where do you notice that inner narrative showing up most for you? Is it in meetings? With your team? With your boss?

If you recognize that exhaustion, I’d love to talk. I have a few spots open for complimentary coaching calls right now. Hit reply or send me a message and let’s find some time.

And if this resonated, share it with someone who might need to hear it too.

Until next time,
Jenny

Not because anything went wrong. Clients left feeling like they got something out of it. We covered a lot. We moved fast. On paper, it looked like a productive hour.

But I knew they could get more.

The real job of a coach

Here’s what I’ve been sitting with lately: being a coach means being a leader.

People come to me because they want to go somewhere they haven’t been yet. Somewhere they can’t get to on their own. That’s a very different job than covering all the topics in 60 minutes.

So I’ve been practicing something that doesn’t come naturally to most people, including me.

Slowing down.

Going deep on one thread instead of trying to prove my value across everything in a single conversation.

What that actually looks like

A client is talking about wanting a complete career change. And almost as an aside, she says:

“Honestly, this job is going to kill me.”

Old me moves right past it. New me stops.

“Tell me more about what that feels like.”

“What about this job makes you feel like you don’t have control?”

“Have you felt this before?”

“What pattern do you see playing out again?”

“What becomes possible if we break that pattern?”

That one throwaway line? It’s not throwaway. It’s the thread. And when you pull it, that’s where the real work lives.

Why I’m learning this slowly (and that’s okay)

I’m learning this partly from being coached myself.

Because growing as a coach and best serving my clients means I have to keep evolving too. I’m in it, right alongside them. The discomfort of sitting with one thread instead of filling the call with more topics? I feel that too.

The hardest part is trusting that I don’t have to prove I’m adding value in one conversation.

Going deep on one thing IS the value.

A real conversation, if you want one

If you’re curious what it looks like to slow down and actually get to the root of what’s holding you back -- in your career, your leadership, or your life –-I’d love to offer you a complimentary coaching session.

No pressure. No agenda. Just a real conversation where we pull the thread.

Reply to this email and we’ll find a time that works.

Someone I respected recommended a coach. The results they were getting looked incredible. That felt like enough.

I paid thousands of dollars. I didn’t pressure test it. I didn’t know what questions to ask. And while I got something out of it, I walked away feeling like something real was missing.

It felt tactical. I didn’t feel challenged at a deeper level. I didn’t walk away with a new way of thinking about myself or my patterns.

And I started to wonder…

Do they actually hear what I’m saying underneath what I’m saying?

I sat with that question for a long time.

The investment that almost didn’t happen

A few months ago, I was presented with a significant opportunity -- a coaching cohort focused on deepening my practice as a coach. The kind of investment that makes you pause.

My old story almost made me say no.

You know that voice. The one that says you’ve been burned before. You don’t really know what you’re getting. What if it’s the same thing again?

But something was different from the start.

The two women leading this program didn’t push. They didn’t rush. Over several conversations, they just… sat with me. They were patient. They recognized this was a big decision and they wanted to make sure it was right for me.

And then we did something I hadn’t experienced before.

We slowed down and talked through the financials together. Not in a sales-y way. In a real way.

What would I need to make to cover this investment? What becomes possible for me on the other side of this? We actually drilled down into the numbers.

That’s when I knew it was a yes.

What I know now

I’m one week in. I already see how I’m becoming a better coach. I have clear goals, I know what I’m building toward, and I’m more committed and excited than I’ve been about any investment I’ve made in myself.

And I keep coming back to this:

The bigger the investment, the more you need to slow down.

I almost let my old story make a decision for my future. If I had, I would have missed this.

If you’re sitting with a big decision right now…

Maybe it’s hiring a coach, investing in a program, pivoting your business, hiring someone – something that feels significant and a little scary -- and something feels off but you can’t quite name it.

That feeling is worth exploring. Not ignoring. Not rushing past.

I’d love to think through it with you. I offer complimentary coaching sessions for exactly this kind of moment, when you’re at a crossroads and need a clear head and an honest conversation.

Just message me and we’ll find a time for to meet for a complimentary coaching session.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

— Jenny

I did recently. And it changed the way I think about everything I do in my work.

I had to evaluate two very different facilities. The first was dated, worn around the edges. Not what you’d call impressive on the surface. But the moment we walked in, something shifted.

They had set up a conference room just for us. Folders were prepared. Their chef had made cookies, and sent us home with a box of them. Multiple team members stopped in just to say hello, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. People on their staff had been there 10, 15, 20 years.

You felt it the moment you walked in. Something quiet and certain. Like being seen before you even introduced yourself.

The second facility was brand new. The kind of place that looks like a resort or a magazine spread. I walked in and thought, okay, yes. This is it.

And then we met our point of contact.

Unprepared. Going through the motions. The kind of interaction that looks fine on paper but leaves you feeling strangely empty.

We left, and the first place, the dated one, the one that didn’t look the part, was our number one choice. Not even a question.

Here’s what that moment made me realize:

People don’t choose the most impressive option. They choose the one that made them feel seen.

I think about this constantly in my own work as a coach.

Anyone can show up with a perfect pitch. A polished deck. An impressive bio. But what actually stays with someone? What makes them think, yes, this is the person I want in my corner?

It’s the cookies.
It’s the prepared folder.
It’s the team member who stopped in just because they wanted to.

It’s the small, deliberate acts that say: you matter to me.

That’s what I work to bring to every conversation I have. A genuine attempt to make you feel like your situation (your goals, your struggles, your potential) actually matters to someone.

Because it does. To me, it really does.

If you’ve been feeling like something is off, in your work, your relationships, your sense of direction, I’d love to have a real conversation about it.

I offer a complimentary one-hour coaching session. No agenda, no pressure. Just an honest conversation about where you are, where you want to be, and what might be possible.

If that sounds like something you need right now, you can book directly here:
👉 https://calendly.com/jenny_bv/coaching-exploration-call

I can’t wait to meet you.

— Jenny

Most of us spend so much time in the weeds of our lives: working, parenting, caring for others, making decisions, and moving from one thing to the next. We don’t often give ourselves the time to step back and look at the full landscape.

That’s what these sessions are for.

Together, we reflect, coach, and brainstorm around what’s happening in your life, what this season might really be asking of you, and what a grounded path forward could look like.

If that sounds helpful, you can book a complimentary session here:

90-Minute Zoom Out Deep Dive Coaching Session - Jenny Bulgrin Venkat Coaching + Sales Training

We’ll spend 90 minutes together zooming out and looking at the different areas of your life, where you are today, where you want to be, and what may be getting in the way.We’ll explore the challenges you’re facing, notice patterns that may be showing up across multiple areas of your life, and

Calendly

Have questions? Just reply to this email. And if someone came to mind as you read this, please feel free to forward it along.

All my best,

Jenny

Not because I think every experience needs to be overanalyzed, but because I think we're often so busy moving forward that we miss what's trying to teach us something.

Reflection helps us notice patterns, make meaning, and ask better questions.

This past week, I took my own advice.

Over the last year, I've had hundreds of hours of coaching conversations. I spent time looking back through my notes for themes and observations.

What prompted me to do this?

I'd just had my fifth conversation with a client or prospective client who wanted to pivot into a Chief of Staff role.

That made me curious. What other conversations have I been having over and over again?

As I looked back, a few themes kept surfacing.

In no particular order...

Navigating life in the sandwich generation.

Trying to care for aging parents while also showing up for children, careers, marriages, and yourself. Carrying the emotional weight of everyone else's needs while wondering where your own fit in.

Feeling stagnant or burned out because your old ways of operating are no longer working.

My clients are incredibly capable people. The habits that got them to where they are: working harder, saying yes, solving every problem, pushing through, are often the very things keeping them stuck in this chapter.

Sitting with the discomfort of the unknown.

The messy middle, whether it's career transitions, starting a business, wondering whether to stay or leave.

It's knowing something needs to change but not yet knowing what that change looks like.

So now I'm curious.

Which of these themes feels most familiar to you right now?

I'd love to hear.

And if reading this made you think, "I wish I had someone to help me think through this," I'm continuing to offer complimentary one-hour coaching sessions.  Just a chance to slow down, think out loud, and see what becomes clearer when someone is deeply listening.

Grab a spot here, or forward to someone that came to mind:

One-hour Coaching Session - Jenny Bulgrin Venkat Coaching + Sales Training

Calendly

These are complimentary coaching sessions for people who are feeling a little stuck, at a crossroads, or simply sensing that something in their life may be ready to shift.

We’ll spend 90 minutes together zooming out and looking at the different areas of your life: where you are today, where you want to be, and what may be getting in the way.

Sometimes we start with work. Sometimes it’s a relationship, a decision, a transition, or just a feeling.

We’ll explore the challenges you’re facing, notice patterns that may be showing up across different areas of your life, and connect some dots that can be difficult to see when you’re in the middle of it all.

My hope is that you walk away with something meaningful, whether that’s a new perspective, a practical resource, a clearer path forward, or simply a better understanding of whether coaching would be helpful for you.

There’s no preparation or homework required. Just come with an open mind and a willingness to reflect.

I have 8 out of 10 spots left for this summer.

You can book yourself directly, or if someone came to mind while reading this, please feel free to forward this along.

https://calendly.com/jenny_bv/90-minute-zoom-out-deep-dive-coaching-session

From the outside, things probably look fine. Maybe even successful.

But lately, something feels... off.

Maybe it's your career. A relationship. A decision you keep circling back to but can't seem to make. Or maybe it's harder to name than that. Just a quiet sense that the life you're building doesn't fit quite the way it used to.

If you're anything like many of the people I work with, you've always been a doer.

When something isn't working, your instinct is to work harder, think harder, research more, make a plan, figure it out.

And for a long time, that served you well.

But eventually, many high achievers reach a point where doing more isn't what moves them forward.

Something has shifted.

Maybe you just stepped into a leadership role and you're realizing that the skills that got you promoted aren't the same skills required to lead.

Maybe you're considering starting a business and can't seem to take the leap.

Maybe you're navigating a major life transition, parenthood, caregiving, divorce, an empty nest, or a career change, and everything you thought you knew about yourself is quietly evolving.

Or maybe you've accomplished many of the things you set out to accomplish, and now you're asking a different question:

What do I want my next chapter to look like?

What I've learned through coaching is that the challenge in front of us is rarely just about the challenge in front of us.

A conversation about work becomes a conversation about confidence.

A conversation about confidence becomes a conversation about identity.

A conversation about identity becomes a conversation about how you've been relating to yourself for years.

When clients bring these moments into coaching, I often ask:

"Would you like to zoom out and see how this all connects?"

Because the patterns we see in one area of life tend to show up everywhere.

The overthinking.

The pressure we put on ourselves.

The need for certainty before taking action.

The tendency to take care of everyone else first.

The difficulty letting go.

The fear of disappointing people.

Everything is connected.

And often, the breakthrough doesn't come from pushing harder.

It comes from zooming out far enough to see the bigger picture.

To notice the patterns.

To understand what's really underneath the challenge.

And to get intentional about who and how you want to be moving forward.

That's why I'm opening 10 complimentary Zoom Out Deep Dive Coaching Sessions beginning in mid-July.

These are 90-minute conversations designed to help you step back, connect the dots, and gain clarity on what comes next.

If you're feeling stuck, at a crossroads, or simply sensing that something needs to change, I'd love to talk.

And if this doesn't describe you, but it reminds you of a friend, colleague, family member, or leader in your life who may be navigating one of these transitions, please feel free to pass this along.

Sometimes the people who need this kind of conversation the most are the ones who rarely ask for help.

If you'd like to reserve one of the 10 spots, send me a message or book directly through the link below.

Grab a spot here:https://calendly.com/d/cvr4-9f7-5vp/90-minute-zoom-out-deep-dive-coaching-session

Warmly,

Jenny Bulgrin Venkat
Leadership Coaching + Sales Training

It explained how, over the summer, kids can lose a bit of the progress they made during the school year. Especially in subjects like math and reading. Not in a dramatic way, but enough that it takes time to rebuild once school starts again.

I found myself thinking about it more than I expected.

So I ordered a few workbooks for my daughter.

Nothing intense or rigid. Just fun, engaging exercises she can do here and there. She actually loves that kind of thing, and it felt like a nice middle ground. She gets a real break, but she also stays connected to what she’s been learning.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, I had the thought:

I see a version of this all the time with adults.

Not just in the summer, but especially then.

We step out of our routines a bit. We spend more time outside. We travel. We say yes to things we don’t usually have time for.

All good things.

But without realizing it, we can drift a little too far from the things that were giving us clarity or momentum.

I hear it in conversations with clients all the time:

“I feel a little scattered.”
“I’m not sure what I’m focusing on right now.”
“It feels harder to get started again than I expected.”

It’s not about discipline.

It’s about staying connected.

And that connection doesn’t have to be heavy.

It can be surprisingly light.

A single conversation where you step back and look at your life from a slightly different angle.
A space where you can say things out loud and hear what’s actually true for you.
A moment to reconnect to what you were building before things got busy or diffuse.

That’s often enough to shift something.

To help you keep your rhythm, even in a season that naturally pulls you out of it.

If you’ve been feeling that subtle drift, or you just want a place to think things through, I’m opening up a handful of complimentary coaching conversations.

No pressure, no expectation to continue.

Just a thoughtful hour for you.

You can grab a time here: https://calendly.com/jenny_bv/coaching-exploration-call

Warmly,
Jenny

Play. Reveal. Slow down.

I’m part of a small group of coaches right now and we’ve been exploring these themes together. It’s been one of those experiences that is subtle but also quietly transformative, both for me and in how I’m showing up with clients.

I’m still in it. Figuring it out as I go. But I wanted to share a bit of what’s been coming up.

Reveal

This one has been more nuanced than I expected.

I’ve always felt like I wear my heart on my sleeve, that people can sense my intentions and how much thought I put into my work.

But the reality is, people only know what you choose to show them.

I’m learning to be more discerning. To reveal things intentionally in a way that actually serves the person I’m talking to. Not over-sharing. Not holding back.
Just choosing what is most useful in the moment.

Play

There is so much emphasis on efficiency in work. Frameworks, templates, repeatability.

And those things have their place.

But I’m noticing, especially in coaching, how limiting that can be when we are working with humans who are complex and different every single time.

I’ve been experimenting more. Letting myself follow intuition. Trying things and adjusting in real time.

Making it less about getting it right and more about being present and responsive.

Slow down

This might be the most challenging, and the most important.

Everything in our world is designed to move quickly.
But the moments that actually create change almost always require slowing down.

Pausing long enough to notice what is underneath.
Giving yourself space to think.
Letting something unfold instead of rushing to solve it.

I’ve been practicing this with clients and with myself. And every time I do, something shifts.

If any of this resonates, if you are craving a bit more space, clarity, or a different way of approaching something in your life or work, I’m offering a handful of complimentary coaching sessions. (link to book)

For you, or for someone you care about.

No pressure. Just a chance to slow down, play with ideas, and maybe reveal something new.

Warmly,
Jenny

My daughter recently started an all-girls kickball league.

The first practice was…uncomfortable.

She didn’t want to go onto the field. She felt embarrassed. She was worried people would laugh at her.

So I stood out there with her.

While the other parents were gathered along the sidelines, I was standing on the grass next to my six-year-old, trying to look casual while very much feeling like the only parent on the field.

And if I’m being honest, it was harder for me than it was for her.

I was very aware of the other parents standing along the sidelines. I found myself wondering what they were thinking.

Was I coddling her? Was I not pushing her enough? Was I preparing her for the real world?

It’s amazing how quickly your brain can spiral in moments like that.

She was actually fine, a little hesitant, but participating here and there. Meanwhile, I was the one sitting in the real discomfort.

Before the second practice this week, I told her, “We’ll just take it slow again like last time.”

But inside, I was honestly dreading it and already picturing the same scenario unfolding.

The whole situation made me realize something I witness all the time in coaching.

When someone we care about is struggling, whether it’s a child or a client, the instinct to fix shows up fast.

We want to give the advice, offer the reassurance, and solve the moment.

Sometimes that urge is about helping them. But sometimes it’s about relieving our own discomfort. And, quite often for me, about proving I'm capable.

One of the core principles of coaching is that people need space to have their own experience.

Not because we don’t care. But because growth usually comes from wrestling with something yourself, not from someone handing you the answer.

Parenting, I’m realizing, asks for the same discipline: staying close and offering support, while allowing the experience to unfold without trying to manage every moment.

What surprised me most is that when I stepped back a little, my daughter found her way just fine. And I can't rush the timeline.

And the bigger realization for me was this:

Sometimes the discomfort we’re trying to fix isn’t actually theirs. It’s ours. And sometimes what people really need, whether they’re six or fifty, isn’t advice or solutions.

It’s space. Space to think, to feel what they’re feeling, to arrive at their own next step.

That’s also the spirit behind something small I’m offering right now.

Through the end of March, I’m opening a handful of complimentary Clarity Conversations, simply a thoughtful space for someone to talk through something in work or life.

No pressure, no expectation, and no assumption that it leads to coaching. Just a real conversation.

If that would be helpful for you, you can book a time here:
https://calendly.com/jenny_bv/coaching-exploration-call

And if someone comes to mind who might appreciate that kind of space right now, feel free to forward this along.

Warmly,
Jenny

“I’m curious about coaching… I’m just not exactly sure what that means.”

Fair.

“Coaching” can sound abstract.
Or fluffy.
Or like advice in disguise.

So let me break it down. Here’s what it actually looks like when we work together.

Inside consistent coaching conversations, we’re doing things like:

• Clarifying what kind of leader you want to be
• Identifying where burnout is really coming from (it’s usually not just workload)
• Strengthening how you regulate under pressure and stress
• Untangling the over-functioning, micromanaging, or people-pleasing that’s quietly exhausting you
• Making decisions from intention instead of urgency

This is not surface-level productivity work. It’s operational, psychological, and strategic.

Sometimes this translates into revenue growth, or unlocks a promotion.
It could look like finally delegating in a way that actually works, or simply feeling steady in rooms that used to spike your nervous system.

The external outcomes vary, but it always comes down to an internal shift.

A feeling of clarity, self-trust. Being less reactive and more deliberate.

It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about changing how you operate so the same plate feels different.

If you’ve ever wondered whether coaching is “worth it,” a better question might be:

What would shift if you felt more aligned, more regulated, and more decisive in your work (or life)?

If you’re in a season where something feels tight, heavy, or unclear, I offer dedicated consultation calls where we map out what’s going on and what’s possible.

No pressure. No sales script. Just a real conversation.

You can book that here: https://calendly.com/jenny_bv/coaching-exploration-call

Warmly,
Jenny