062: Why Testing Your Vision Is A Trap
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Release Date: 11/10/2025
063: Confidence Won't Fix Your Imposter Syndrome
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Today, I'm diving deep into imposter syndrome, particularly for us Gen X entrepreneurs. Here's what I need you to understand: confidence alone won't fix feelings of fraudulence. Let me tell you why. I start with a question that might hit close to home: Do you ever feel like a fraud? Like someone's going to find out you don't really know what you're doing? If so, we need to talk. Because the real issue isn't a lack of confidence, it's unworthiness. That liar called unworthiness is at the core of imposter syndrome. Here's the distinction I want you to grasp: Self-confidence is about believing...
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062: Why Testing Your Vision Is A Trap
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
In this episode, I dive deep into a question that many entrepreneurs grapple with: Is the advice to test your niche or build a minimum viable product really serving your journey? I challenge the conventional wisdom that encourages constant testing rather than trusting your vision. While hustle culture pushes us toward validating our ideas through market trials, I argue that this approach can lead to burnout and diminished self-esteem, especially for those of us who have experienced the entrepreneurial grind with its accompanying pressures and fears. I reflect on the roots of this testing...
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061: I'm Back
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
In this episode, I reconnect with listeners after a significant seven-year hiatus since Episode 60, sharing my journey from health crisis to newfound clarity and purpose. I openly discuss the perilous moment when I was hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis, leading to my diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and having to take insulin. It served as a wake-up call, revealing that I had ignored my body’s warning signs and normalized my struggles. I emphasize the importance of not only listening to our bodies but also recognizing that our businesses communicate their own needs. I aim to speak...
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060: It's Time!
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Are you doing the same things and expecting different results? Are you hanging out with negative people and expecting positive results? What do we call this? I think you know. Get your pen and paper ready and listen up to get your prescription. If what you hear inspires you or can inspire someone else, then I would love for you to leave a Rating & Review, of course Subscribe. Thank you so very much! Get the transcript and access to more resources at
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059: Are You a Wimp?
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Are you a wimp? or Are you a winner? Are you behaving like a wimp? or Are you doing what winners do? Do you want to know the difference? Get your pen and paper ready and listen up to get your prescription. If what you hear inspires you or can inspire someone else, then I would love for you to leave a Rating & Review, of course Subscribe. Thank you so very much! Get the transcript and access to more resources at
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058: The Power of Mantra
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Do you have a mantra? Is it empowering you? Do you want to learn its power? Get your pen and paper ready and listen up to get your prescription. If what you hear inspires you or can inspire someone else, then I would love for you to leave a Rating & Review, of course Subscribe. Thank you so very much! Get the transcript and access to more resources at
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057: The Danger of Should
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Do you know that there is power in the word should? How do you you feel when you use it? What do you do next? Get your pen and paper ready and listen up to get your prescription. If what you hear inspires you or can inspire someone else, then I would love for you to leave a Rating & Review, of course Subscribe. Thank you so very much! Get the transcript and access to more resources at
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056: You Are More Than You Think You Are
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Who do you think you are when you look into the mirror? Who are you? What do you see? Get your pen and paper ready and listen up to get your prescription. If what you hear inspires you or can inspire someone else, then I would love for you to leave a Rating & Review, of course Subscribe. Thank you so very much! Get the transcript and access to more resources at
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055: They
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Have you ever asked yourself, who are they? What about who are them? Do they or them have your best interest? Get your pen and paper ready and listen up to get your prescription. If what you hear inspires you or can inspire someone else, then I would love for you to leave a Rating & Review, of course Subscribe. Thank you so very much! Get the transcript and access to more resources at
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054: Ache
It's All About SWAGGER with Marlena M.D. Kelley
Have you ever wanted something so bad that you ached inside? Did you ever go after something with all you had? Did you get it? Get your pen and paper ready and listen up to get your prescription. If what you hear inspires you or can inspire someone else, then I would love for you to leave a Rating & Review, of course Subscribe. Thank you so very much! Get the transcript and access to more resources at
info_outlineIn this episode, I dive deep into a question that many entrepreneurs grapple with: Is the advice to test your niche or build a minimum viable product really serving your journey? I challenge the conventional wisdom that encourages constant testing rather than trusting your vision. While hustle culture pushes us toward validating our ideas through market trials, I argue that this approach can lead to burnout and diminished self-esteem, especially for those of us who have experienced the entrepreneurial grind with its accompanying pressures and fears.
I reflect on the roots of this testing mentality, suggest that it stems from an underlying fear—that our ideas and visions are not valid unless proven through sales or approval from others. I emphasize that your vision is not merely a test; it is a divine assignment, a calling that you are uniquely equipped to manifest. Instead of seeking validation, I advocate for a shift towards trusting our innate wisdom and lived experiences, which fundamentally shapes our entrepreneurial endeavors.
My philosophy centers on the idea that when we prioritize our vision and work with purpose, we can truly harness the potential that comes from aligning our business goals with our personal values. Throughout my journey as a Gen X entrepreneur, I share personal anecdotes, including my transformative experience after a health crisis that forced me to reevaluate my relentless pursuit of hustle. As I navigated my recovery, I discovered the importance of trusting in a vision that connects my professional goals with my personal mission—helping others manage their health and build successful businesses without sacrificing their well-being.
It is this profound awareness that drives me to say that when we move away from testing towards embracing our calling, we can cultivate both clarity and peace of mind, which naturally leads to profit that follows purpose. To support this shift, I introduce my book, "Dear Entrepreneur," and my accompanying "Heart and Mind Business Playbook," designed as practical tools for the entrepreneurial journey. The book contains 52 letters of love and encouragement intended to remind you of your worth and the significance of your vision.
Along with this, the playbook serves as a guided system, providing structured weekly activities that allow you to reflect, write, and take action towards your goals—whether that means confronting feelings of unworthiness or navigating challenges like comparison. My aim is to help you create a stay-calm system that inspires you to take bold actions and ultimately honor your calling. As I encourage you to stop testing your vision, I also remind you that you possess the power to bring your dreams to fruition.
I believe wholeheartedly in your potential, and this episode serves as a heartfelt reminder that your vision is worthy, and you are deserving of the journey ahead.
Visit my site at MarlenaKelley.com to discover more about the resources available to you and to start taking empowered steps towards entrepreneurial success.