Great paycheck, crap personal life? There's a life where professional success and fulfillment DO MIX. Let's craft it together💥 | Life & business coaching | Rich & Happy Club UAE | Founder The French Bijouterie 💎

Most people think the hardest part of success is building it.
It’s not.

The hardest part is knowing what to do once you’ve already won.

I work with founders, executives, and high performers who are doing well —
but feel a growing gap between the life they’ve built and the life they want to live next.

They’re not lost.
They’re at a crossroads.

The problem isn’t motivation or discipline.
It’s decision-making — when every option looks good, but each one creates a different life.

Before founding Changing Minds, I became a CFO at 26.
On paper, it was a win.
In reality, I wasn’t enjoying it — and I didn’t have a clear way to decide what came next.

That’s why I built Three-Dimensional Wealth™ Mentoring.

A decision-making process built on three pillars:

Meaning — what gives direction, energy, and long-term satisfaction
Mastery — how you regulate yourself, think clearly, and lead under pressure
Money — how you build and protect real wealth

Using concrete frameworks, tools, and structured introspection I use with my clients one-on-one, the goal is simple:

- make decisions faster
- get clarity on your next move
- feel confident committing to it
- be mentally ready to execute
- build wealth without sacrificing the life it creates

That’s the work I do.

This isn’t coaching for balance.
It’s for people who want more — and want to choose wisely.


If this reflects where you are and the next decision matters,
book a first call and get complimentary access to the Mindset Factor Assessment so we can get clear from day one.

-> https://calendly.com/l-lachaux/introduction-call

Lucie Lachaux

5 reasons smart people get confused about their next level
 
1️⃣ They have too many good options.  
Nothing is broken, so choosing feels risky.
 
2️⃣ What got them here still works.  
It pays the bills, looks fine, and keeps life stable — just not satisfying anymore.
 
3️⃣ Every option feels expensive.  
Change the job → risk income.  
Start the business → risk comfort. 
 Slow down → risk image.
 
4️⃣ They keep waiting for things to “slow down.”  
But life rarely does at this stage.
 
5️⃣ They’re mentally tired.  
Even when they have time, they don’t have the energy to think clearly.
 
Feeling confused here doesn’t mean you’re failing.  
It means you’ve reached a decision point.
 
P.S. What decision keeps coming back to your mind?

“Great Paycheck, Crap Life?” | Helping high-performing leaders facing pivotal life & career decisions — without losing what they’ve built | Creator of 3D Wealth™

This week, I felt completely flat.
 
No motivation. No direction. Just bored of my own life.
 
Here are 3 ways I wouldn’t recommend handling it:
 
1 - Push through with more work  
You think productivity will fix it. It won’t. You’re not tired from lack of output. You’re tired from lack of meaning.

2 - Distract yourself with plans  
Booking trips, starting projects, saying yes to everything. 
This just adds noise. It doesn’t solve the internal friction.

3 - Wait for it to pass  
You tell yourself it’s temporary. But if this feeling keeps showing up, it’s not a mood. It’s a signal.
 
This is how I’d do it instead:
 
1. Ask what’s missing — not what’s wrong.
 
• Money: Is this actually a money or growth problem?  
• Meaning: Do I still care about what I’m building?  
• Mastery: Are my thoughts and emotions running me?
 
2. Protect the silence. Don’t fill the void with people or plans. Sit with it. The answer is already there.
   
3. Make one small decision that feels true.  Not big. Not bold. Just honest.
 
Remember:
 
Flatness isn’t failure. It’s your system telling you something needs to shift.
 
👉 The next edition of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗚 is about rock bottom — and the advantage no one talks about.
Subscribe here : https://lnkd.in/dYgGPSGX

2 harsh truths most successful people don’t like hearing:
 
1- Working harder won’t fix a life that’s slightly misaligned.
 
You can keep hitting targets.  
Keep getting promoted.  
Keep being “the reliable one.”
 
And still feel off.
 
Because effort isn’t the issue.  
Direction is.
 
2- Intelligence becomes a trap when you use it to justify staying the same.
 
You can explain why now isn’t the right time.  
Why it’s “strategic” to wait.  
Why this is just a phase.
 
And five years pass.
 
Not because you weren’t capable.  
Because you let your blind spots run the show.
 
At a certain level, growth isn’t about doing more.
It’s about resetting:
 
• how you evaluate decisions  
• what you tolerate  
• what you believe you deserve
 
That’s the real upgrade.
 
Not a new job.  
Not a new title.  
A new standard for how you operate.
 
If you feel the gap between what you built and what you actually want next — that gap doesn’t close with more effort.
 
It closes when you reset how you think and decide.

👉 Every month, I work privately with a small number of executives and founders on going back to the foundation ( how they think, decide, and define success ) so they get clear on their next move and move forward with confidence.
 
DM 𝟯𝗗 𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 if you’re ready to reset instead of repeat.

The most expensive mistake smart leaders make?
 
Staying too long in something that already works.
 
On paper, everything is fine.
 
Good money.  
Strong team.  
Solid reputation.
 
Nothing is broken.
 
But you keep thinking about the next move.
 
Not because you’re unhappy.  
Because you know you’re capable of more.
 
This is where leaders get stuck.
 
They don’t lack strategy.  
They lack a decision.
 
So they optimize what exists.  
Improve margins.  
Restructure teams.  
Add initiatives.
 
But they avoid the real question:
 
Is this still the right vehicle for where I’m going?
 
At a certain level, growth isn’t about doing more inside the same model. 
It’s about deciding whether the model itself needs to change.
 
And that’s uncomfortable.
Because the current version works.
But working isn’t the same as expanding.

P.S. Are you still building — or just maintaining what already works?

I specialise in helping professional women 40+ who feel stuck, undervalued, or overlooked in their careers to reclaim their confidence, develop leadership presence, and build a personal brand that ensures they’re seen, heard, and respected. 

Through One-on One Coaching and  my flagship "Invisible to Influential Cohort Programme", I guide my clients to:

➡️ Strengthen their leadership presence and command respect in any room.
➡️ Build a personal brand that aligns with their values and career aspirations.
➡️ Enhance visibility and influence on platforms like LinkedIn to attract opportunities.
➡️ Future-proof their careers by developing adaptability, relevance, and confidence in their value.

I’m passionate about empowering women to stop playing small, embrace their unique strengths, and lead with purpose. 

My clients don’t just find jobs—they create careers where they thrive!  🔆 🔆 🔆 🔆

Personal Brand and Leadership Coach

At M2M, our goal is to help you and your organisation Move to More. Are you ready to build better business with exceptional people?

🟢 Employers
There's no talent shortage. Employers need to look where their competitors are not looking. M2M can help you unearth the right people with the best attitude and skills to move your business to more.

✅ Free yourself from recruiting and focus on growing your business
✅ Find productive, positive and proactive people to power your business
✅ Maximise your teams’ potential with training, coaching & development programs
 
➡️ Find out more: www.m2m.co.nz/im-hiring/


🟢 Whakapakari
See what others don't. Recognise opportunities, people, and roles that others miss. The old way of hiring is hit-and-miss. M2M creates a strategy that positions employers to attract and retain the best person for the role—the hidden diamonds that move your business to more.

✅ Unleash Whakapakari in your business and career
✅ Find, coach and recruit peak performers to power your business
✅ Enjoy the benefits of M2M’s TrustHire guarantee 

➡️ Find out more: www.m2m.co.nz/get-in-touch/

 
🟢 Job Seekers
Frustrated that employers can't see what you have to offer? Your confidence taken a knock? Too many job interviews and few offers, if any? Missed out on a job that should have been yours? CVs disappearing into a black hole? M2M will coach and guide you to high performance in your job interviews, career, and life.

✅ Supercharge your career and maximise your earning potential 
✅ Learn how to refine your job hunt and shine in interviews
✅ Online access our free career hub to unleash your potential and career opportunities

➡️ Find out more: www.m2m.co.nz/im-job-hunting/


☎️ Get in touch with us today!
Kathryn Sandford: 021 570 351 | kathryn@m2m.co.nz
Diella Gabelich: 021 570 357 | diella@m2m.co.nz

Managing Director

Dream Plan Act Ltd 

In my role as a Director at Dream Plan Act, I work with individuals seeking to live more fulfilling lives by implementing tools and strategies for personal transformation. By guiding clients through the change process, I help them achieve clarity, focus, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Director

Blue Sky Recruitment

Director-Auckland

Senior Consultant

Ames IT Academy

As the Relationship & Business Development Manager at AMES IT Academy, I played a pivotal role in generating growth and optimizing student numbers. By maintaining key industry relationships and collaborating with industry bodies, I helped enhance the academy's market position and revenue generation.

Relationship & Business Development Manager

Contracting

Lean & Continuous Improvement

Blueprint for Learning

I spearheaded the design and implementation of NZQA National Certificate programmes in Business and Management at Blueprint for Learning. My role involved creating and modeling assessment methodologies, implementing QMS, and evaluating moderation methodologies to ensure strategic learning and workplace assessment.

Project Manager/Facilitator

AltusQ Business and Leadership Coaching

Worked mainly with SME's within the Insurance & Professional Service Industry - Accountants & Lawyers. Also did specific Corporate work within the areas of Business Strategy, Workflow Management & Leadership Development.

Business Coach

Training Network

Business Development Manager

Department of Social Welfare

Training

A-Z Guide to Landing Your Dream Job with Personal Branding | LinkedIn & Career Development Strategist | Empowering You with the Tools for Success

Thanks for stopping by. 👋

I’m guessing you’re here because you’re asking yourself a few important questions:

→ How do I stay visible and relevant in a changing world of work?

→ How do I talk about myself without feeling like I'm bragging?

→ How do I stop being overlooked — and start being seen for who I really am?

If any of those feel true for you, you’re in the right place.

And maybe knowing a little more about me will help you find the next step forward.

I’m Kathryn — Personal Brand and Leadership Coach for women 45+ who are ready to reclaim visibility, voice, and career momentum.

After two decades plus in leadership and recruitment, I’ve seen firsthand what makes brilliant women stay stuck — and what helps them rise.
It’s not just skills.
It’s not just working harder.

It’s how you show up.
It’s how you’re positioned.
It’s the story people tell about you when you’re not in the room.

I’m not your typical coach.
I’ve been fired. Made redundant. Started businesses that didn’t work.
I’ve also built a career — and a voice — I’m proud of.

I’ve always been a square peg in a round hole — and now I help other women own what makes them different too.

Because personal branding isn’t about self-promotion.
It’s about self-respect.

And in today’s world, visibility isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a career advantage.

✨ Curious what it's like to work with me?
Take a look at my recommendations — my clients' words say it best.

If you're ready to be seen, heard, and highly sought after, DM me ‘Personal Branding’.
Let’s explore what’s possible for you.

Kathryn Sandford

This conversation meant a lot to me.
 
Serena Low 刘善明 ’s podcast is called The Quiet Warrior Podcast and that name says everything.
 
We talked about visibility, influence and personal brand.  

But not in a loud way.
 
We talked about thoughtful leadership.  

About being experienced and capable and still feeling invisible.  About building relevance without performing.
 
You do not have to become louder to become influential.  You have to become clearer.
 
Thank you Serena for creating space for real conversations about leadership at this stage of life.
 
If you are navigating change, questioning your relevance, or wanting to strengthen your influence, this episode is for you.

👉 Executive Leadership Positioning Coach | Hogan Certified Practitioner | Senior Leaders & Leadership Teams Under Pressure

The Quiet Warrior Coach | Building executive-ready visibility for senior introverted women | Advance without burnout or performative presence | Creator of The Visible Introvert | Trauma-informed S.E.E.N. Framework

7 key learnings from personal brand and leadership coach Kathryn Sandford, my guest on Ep. 113 of The Quiet Warrior Podcast:

☑️  How to go from being invisible to being influential 

☑️  Lessons on effective communication from an ex-teacher

☑️  What personal branding is

☑️  How to pivot your career later in life

☑️  Why we should all learn to be better storytellers

☑️  How to build your relevance muscle at every stage of your career (critical at a time when AI, massive job cuts, and anecdotes about ageism are making us nervous)

☑️  Practical networking tips (always talk to 1 or 3 people, never 2!)

P.S. Make sure to follow Kathryn Sandford's work here on LinkedIn.

A senior leader said to me recently:
 
“I don’t understand why the room went quiet.”
 
On paper, the message was clear.  The strategy made sense.  The numbers stacked up.
 
But the energy shifted.
 
What he couldn’t see was what everyone else could feel.
 
The pace.  The edge in his voice.  The subtle impatience when questioned.
 
Nothing dramatic.  No raised voice.  Just pressure leaking out sideways.
 
He left that meeting thinking he had been decisive.
 
The room left feeling shut down.
 
This is the gap we don’t often examine in leadership.  The space between intention and impact.
 
Under pressure, our behaviour narrows.  Our awareness narrows.  Our influence narrows.
 
Unless we build the muscle to notice it.
 
That’s the work Lili Mesesan and I are opening up in our upcoming leadership session. 

Not theory. Practical awareness tools you can apply immediately in high pressure moments.
 
If you’re presenting to boards, leading through change, or carrying more responsibility than ever, this will resonate.
 
Link in the comments.

“𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁.”
 
A senior leader said that to me recently.
 
Not anger.  Not overwhelm.  Not visible stress.
 
Just a constant low level edge.
 
Shorter answers.  Less tolerance for ambiguity.  Quicker decisions.
 
Nothing dramatic.  Just enough to change how she was experienced.
 
At senior level, emotions rarely explode.  They accumulate.
 
And when they accumulate, influence narrows.
 
Teams go quieter.  Debate reduces.  Authority starts to feel heavier.
 
Most leaders interpret this as style.
 
It is often state.
 
Unchecked state becomes culture.
 
Leadership is not just what you decide.  It is the emotional climate you create.
 
If you are not aware of your internal state, you are leading with partial visibility.
 
That’s the intersection Lili Mesesan and I are exploring on March 13.
 
What is happening beneath the surface.  How it translates into presence, judgement and commercial impact.
 
Because leadership is influence.  And influence is felt long before it is measured.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺, 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀.
 
I see this often with highly capable leaders.
 
The stakes rise. The questions stack up. They move quickly to stay on top of it.
 
Their answers are accurate. Commercially sound. Clear.
 
But the pace shifts.
 
And when pace shifts, the room shifts.
 
Not dramatically. Just enough.
 
Challenge softens. Fewer questions follow. Over time, people stop testing your thinking.
 
That’s the cost.
 
Speed can look like decisiveness.
 
At senior level, it can quietly reduce the quality of challenge around you.
 
The leaders who sustain authority understand this.
 
They don’t slow the meeting down.
 
They slow themselves down at the moment it matters.
 
A fraction of space before responding.
 
Enough to keep debate open.  Enough to protect judgement.  Enough to maintain trust.
 
Experience gives you judgement.
 
Pause protects it.
 
If you’re preparing for high-stakes conversations where scrutiny is strong, this is the space I work in with senior leaders.

𝗜 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆, “𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲.”
 
And they mean it.
 
They didn’t raise their voice.  They didn’t lose control.  They delivered the strategy clearly.
 
But afterwards someone says,  “You seemed sharp.”  “The room felt tense.”
 
This is the gap.
 
We understand our intention.  We rarely understand our impact.
 
Under pressure, emotions compress behaviour. Pace shortens. Curiosity narrows. Tone firms slightly.
 
Nothing dramatic. Just enough to shift influence.
 
Leadership is not about suppressing emotion.  It is about being informed by it.
 
Visibility at senior level is not about profile or polish. It is about knowing how your leadership is experienced when stakes are high.
 
Lili Mesesan and I are exploring this in our March 13 session, Informed Under Pressure: The Leadership Advantage.
 
What is happening beneath the surface.  How that translates into presence, judgement and commercial impact.
 
If you are operating at senior level, this is performance work.
 
You’re welcome in the room.  Link to webinar in comment 👇

One of the biggest barriers in senior leadership is this:
 
We feel something in the room, but we do not have language for it.
 
A board feels unsettled.  A team feels unclear.  A senior leader senses resistance.
 
But nobody names it.
 
Without language, we default to strategy.  We add more slides.  We push harder on delivery.  We tighten control.
 
And sometimes we unintentionally narrow our influence.
 
What is often needed is awareness.
 
The ability to say,  “I can feel tension rising.”  “I notice I am rushing.”  “I am reacting rather than responding.”
 
That level of awareness changes influence.
 
It slows the moment down.  It creates choice.  It protects reputation.
 
In our upcoming live session, Lili and I are exploring how leaders build that internal awareness and translate it into intentional impact.
 
Because leadership today is not just about what you decide.
 
It is about how you are experienced while deciding.
 
If this resonates with the level you are operating at, details are in the comments.

At senior level, speed can cost you influence.
 
I was sitting with a CEO after a board meeting recently.
 
She said, “I thought that went well.”
 
Technically, it had. The strategy was sound. The answers were clear.
 
But one board member had commented afterwards that she seemed impatient.
 
She was surprised by that.
 
She hadn’t felt impatient. She had felt focused.
 
What had shifted was her pace.
 
When the questions came quickly, she answered quickly.
 
And when pace increases, the pause disappears.
 
That’s usually where influence starts to change.
 
Not because capability drops.
 
Because there’s no space to choose your response.
 
The leaders who hold their authority at that level understand this.
 
They don’t rush to prove they’re right.
 
They create a fraction of space before they respond.
 
It’s barely noticeable. But it steadies the room.
 
Experience gives you judgement.
 
Pause protects it.

Intention does not protect your leadership reputation.
 
Most leaders I work with have good intentions.
 
They want to empower.  They want to listen.  They want to create clarity.
 
But intention is private.
 
Impact is public.
 
And under pressure, the gap between the two widens.
 
You can intend to be open, yet land as abrupt.  You can intend to be decisive, yet land as dismissive.  You can intend to be calm, yet create tension in the room.
 
This is not about capability.  It is about awareness.
 
Pressure compresses behaviour.  It reduces range.  It exposes patterns.
 
The question is not “Am I a good leader?”
 
The question is “How am I experienced when the stakes are high?”
 
That is the space Lili Mesesan and I are opening up in our upcoming leadership session.
 
Not performance tips.  Not personality theory.
 
Practical awareness tools that help you notice what is happening internally before it leaks into the room.
 
If you are leading in complexity right now, this conversation will feel relevant.
 
Details in the comments.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹, 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸.
 
In most boardrooms, nobody tells you when your tone tightens.
 
Nobody tells you when you answer too quickly.
 
Nobody tells you when the room stops asking questions.
 
But they notice.
 
At senior level, it’s rarely a capability issue.
 
It’s what happens to your behaviour when scrutiny rises.
 
When questions come quickly, most leaders speed up slightly. Answers shorten. Space narrows.
 
Not dramatically.
 
Just enough to change how authority is felt in the room.
 
The leaders who sustain influence create a fraction of space before they respond.
 
Not to delay.
 
To choose.
 
If you’re operating at CEO or board level, that fraction matters.

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Kathryn Sandford

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The Battle

Lucie Lachaux

Kathryn Sandford

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