In this episode of Project Confidence, Kathie gets real about the pressure to have a “perfect summer,” especially when everyone else’s feeds are full of waterfalls, beach days, and golden-hour glow. She shares her own behind-the-scenes moments, from falling and straining a muscle to kids bickering over snacks and a phone that took an unexpected swim.Social media might show the sunshine, but it rarely shows the stress, mess, and everyday chaos. Tune in to hear why comparing your summer to someone else’s highlight reel can steal your joy, and how to reclaim it with appreciation, gratitude, and confidence in your own unique story.
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15:41
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15:41
#36 - The Cost of Comparison at Work
In this episode of Project Confidence, we delve into how comparison in the workplace, particularly when it becomes ingrained in company culture, can subtly undermine collaboration, morale, and employee retention. While some comparison is natural behind closed doors during hiring or promotions, bringing it out into the open (like public rankings or performance charts) can do more harm than good.I share a real-life story about a company that posted everyone's billable hours each week, hoping to inspire productivity, but instead it sparked rivalry, project hoarding, and burnout. Rather than motivating employees, it created a toxic environment where competition replaced connection.Tune in for practical tips on how to remove harmful comparison from your workplace and build a culture of collaboration, appreciation, and shared success.
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15:22
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15:22
#35 - The Masculine Side of the Comparison Trap
Comparison isn’t just a woman’s issue—it’s a human one.This week on Project Confidence, we’re exploring how men experience comparison. It often hides behind ambition or the pressure to succeed, disguised as the rat race, the trophy wife, the perfect body, or the high-paying job.From status and career to sports and fatherhood, comparison affects men in powerful and harmful ways. Recognizing it is the first step toward rising above it.Tune in and discover how we can all begin to SOAR past it.
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16:53
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16:53
#34 - Coaching Without Comparison: The Power of AIR in Our Leadership
In this episode, Kathie shares two contrasting stories of youth soccer coaches, one who used comparison to motivate, leaving his players discouraged and defeated, and another who turned the game around by using appreciation, inspiration, and recognition. You’ll learn how powerful a leader's words can be, and how replacing comparison with encouragement can shift a team’s energy, build confidence, and lead to greater connection and performance. Whether you’re coaching on the field, in the workplace, or at home, this episode will help you lead with impact, without comparison.
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12:01
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12:01
#33 - Try It a New Way: When Comparison Keeps Showing Up
Have you ever loved something, but comparison kept stealing your joy?In this episode of Project Confidence, Kathie shares a personal story about starting Zumba and how constant comparison to the more experienced dancers nearly ruined it for her. Despite showing up week after week, the insecurity didn’t go away… until she tried something different: she moved to the front of the room.Sometimes, when comparison keeps showing up in the same setting, the solution isn’t to push through; it’s to change the way you engage with it. Whether it’s shifting your physical space, your focus, or your habits, doing things a new way can help you reclaim the joy and confidence that comparison tries to take.Tune in to hear how this small change made a big difference, and learn how to apply the same principle to your own life.
Project Confidence is your weekly guide to break free from the comparison trap and become confidently content. In digestible 10–15 minute episodes, we explore how comparison harms your self-worth, relationships, and joy. But we don’t stop at awareness, we’ll guide you in intentionally SOARing beyond comparative thinking. Learn to replace comparison with appreciation, inspiration, and self-recognition. New episodes drop every Thursday to help you reclaim confidence, embrace growth, and live a more fulfilled life.
Ireland