359: “You can’t give what you don’t have” — Expecting Greatness While Practicing Acceptance with Nataly Kogan

“You can’t give what you don’t have.” That’s just one of the powerful lessons that Nataly Kogan learned the hard way seven years ago, after suffering a debilitating phase of burnout. As a former refugee from the former Soviet Union, she began her American journey in the projects and on welfare, then going on to build an impressive career as a finance and tech executive and serial entrepreneur over the next 25 years. Until she crashed at thirty-eight years old and needed to find a new way of moving forward.
Today we’re talking about how she got through that tough burnout period, the ways she practices putting her full self into the world, why it’s never too late to start something new, and how to drop the self-care guilt when filling your own energy reserves.
More About Nataly: Nataly Kogan, a leading expert on emotional fitness and leadership, is a dynamic entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after international keynote speaker. Despite starting from challenging circumstances, Nataly achieved remarkable success in her career, reaching top positions at McKinsey, Microsoft, a venture capital fund, and founding/executing five startups and tech companies.
Her influential books, including HAPPIER NOW, GRATITUDE DAILY, THE AWESOME HUMAN PROJECT, THE AWESOME HUMAN JOURNAL, reflect her mission to help others thrive. Nataly hosts The Awesome Human Podcast, recognized as a transformative "best-self hour."

🌟 3 Key Takeaways



You can either spend energy talking about why you are where you are, or spend that energy taking steps toward where you want to go.


Don’t try to be anything you’re not. Embody the fullness of who you are, boldly and openly. Part of the reason, Nataly says, is that “We don’t expect enough of ourselves; we are capable of so much. In some ways we don’t expect enough greatness from ourselves.”


You can’t give what you don’t have. A holon is something that is both a whole in itself (like a bicycle wheel) and part of another whole (the bicycle; without the wheels, it can’t function). Get rid of the self-care guilt by recognizing the gifts that self-care gives you.


✅ Try This Next

“Don’t let the leftovers of yesterday spoil the freshness of today.” Fill-in this sentence: I am an awesome human because: ______________.

🔗 Resources Mentioned



Nataly on the web, IG, Twitter, LinkedIn



Articles: Entrepreneur Nataly Kogan Discovered That Well-Being Is Key to Success


6 Science-Backed Ways to Improve Your Well-Being at Work

Malcolm Gladwell's O, MG newsletter on being instrumentally difficult versus malignantly difficult when referencing this much discussed and debated New Yorker profile of Succession actor Jeremy Strong.


Videos: TEDxBoston—Sharer of Joy: Nataly Kogan, Author Nataly Kogan Shares No. 1 Tip To Live A Happier Life



Tools: Procreate for iPad


📚 Books Mentioned

The Awesome Human Journal: A Tool Kit for the Tough Days, the Good Days, and All the Days in Between

The Awesome Human Project: Break Free from Daily Burnout, Struggle Less, and Thrive More in Work and Life

Happier Now: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Everyday Moments (Even the Difficult Ones)

Gratitude Daily: 21 Days to More Joy and Less Stress

Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

Life After College


🎧 Related Episodes


Nataly’s The Awesome Human Podcast



Pivot: 282: The Honor Roll Hangover with Melody Wilding



Pivot x Career Pathfinder Series with Adrian (Spotify playlist)

329: Five Types of People-Pleasers from The Joy of Saying No with Natalie Lue


Free Time: 191: Structuring Free Time as a Single Parent while Grieving and Rebuilding with Karen Allen



📝 Check out full show notes at http://pivotmethod.com/359
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