In today’s episode you’ll discover why you can be doing all the right things at work, yet something invisible is holding you back from enjoying the compensation you have earned.

In this episode, we dive deep with Doug Lynam—a Marine turned monk turned money manager—who shares how personality psychology, childhood trauma, and our unconscious beliefs about money can sabotage success for even the smartest, most driven professionals.

If you've ever struggled with asking for promotions, understanding your spending habits, or simply feeling secure in your financial life, this conversation will feel like a mirror.

By the end of today’s episode you’ll know:

🛠️ How an ancient tool reveals your core fears and how they're linked to your relationship with money and leadership

🎯Why traditional financial advice fails many high performers—and what actually works instead

🔥Powerful tools to reduce anxiety, communicate with confidence, and align your career with your deeper purpose

Press play to uncover the hidden psychological patterns driving your financial behavior and unlock a whole new level of clarity and confidence in both money and leadership.

Knowing your own signature communication orientation is essential for authentic and confident executive presence. Discover here your own signature communication style (free assessment) so your voice can begin to be heard and respected in meetings, you gain more influence, and understand better how to reach key stakeholders.

For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. Our Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.

About our guest:

Doug Lynam, in Taming Your Money Monster, defines the "money monster" as the internal, often subconscious, psychological and emotional barriers that sabotage one’s financial well-being. Drawing from his background as a former monk and his current role as a financial coach, Lynam frames it as a metaphorical beast born from a mix of fear, shame, guilt, and ingrained habits—like overspending, avoiding budgets, or equating self-worth with net worth. He suggests these "monsters" are unique to each person, shaped by their upbringing, experiences, and even spiritual beliefs about money.

In essence, the money monster isn’t just about poor financial choices; it’s the deeper mindset or emotional baggage that keeps someone stuck in repetitive, self-defeating money patterns.

For example, he might describe it as the voice that whispers, “You’ll never get ahead,” prompting reckless spending to feel in control, or the anxiety that avoids looking at bank statements because facing reality feels too daunting. Lynam’s approach, blending spiritual wisdom and practical tools, positions taming this monster as a journey of self-awareness—confronting those inner demons to align finances with one’s authentic values and goals.

Your relationship with money can reveal how you approach certain aspects of your career.

In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion...

Have you ever left a meeting kicking yourself for not speaking up — even though you had the perfect response in your head after the fact?

If you’re a high-performing introvert or socially reserved leader, you already know how it feels to freeze when the pressure’s on. This episode breaks down exactly how to respond to unexpected questions or disagree with senior leadership — without triggering drama, fear, or regret.

By the end, you’ll know:

😅Learn the 4-step framework to handle tough conversations without losing your composure

1️⃣The first and only thing to do when you need to push back but feel unprepared

🧩How using this one simple strategy can 10x your confidence and leadership reputation in high-stakes moments.

To chat with Lara to see if her Executive Presence Mastery System is right for you click here.

Tune in now to transform uncomfortable moments into power moves that boost your executive presence.

So if you constantly replay tense conversations in your head because you didn’t say what needed to be said, and you're tired of conflict avoidance keeping you stuck in middle management—but deep down you know you’re capable of more…

That’s exactly why we designed the Executive Presence Mastery System—to help you speak up without sparking drama, so you can finally earn the respect, trust, and leadership clout your ideas deserve.:

If you want personalized guidance to help you build your influence, speak up strategically, and finally get the recognition you deserve, check out the link above in the show notes or go to www.speakupwithlaura.com to book your strategy call.

For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. Our Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.

In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities.

By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.

Ever feel like you're doing all the right things but still not being seen as leadership material?

If you're a high-performing introvert or someone told you to “speak up more” to be taken seriously, this episode is your game changer. Learn why being talkative isn’t the key — and how your mindset might be sabotaging your executive presence without you even knowing it.

To chat with Laura to see if her Executive Presence Mastery System is right for you click here.

By the end of this short episode, you’ll know:

😱3 specific behaviors to avoid because they scream “I lack confidence”

🎯The mindset you must permanently let go of to become an executive

🚀A mindset that super quickly builds personal connection and trust

Hit play now to upgrade your executive presence using strategies built for introverts who are ready to lead with confidence and authenticity.

FREE GIFT!! Download my The Practical Guide to Effective Communication here (it retails for $9.99 on Amazon!) and read chapter 4 all about choosing your mindset!! Everything else follows from mindset leading to your voice being heard and respected in meetings, gaining more influence, and understanding better how to reach key stakeholders.

For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. Our Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.

In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities.

By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.