Choosing Purpose and Resilience with Laurie Powell

Some conversations stay with me because they press on something I know many of us are working through, even if we don’t always say it out loud.

My recent S.O. What! Success Stories conversation with Laurie Powell was one of those moments. It made me think about what leadership really looks like when things feel uncertain and how often the biggest decisions happen internally before anyone else sees them.

When You Start Questioning Yourself

One part of our conversation really stood out to me. When the opportunity to step into the CEO role came up, Laurie didn’t immediately step forward. She hesitated.

That matters because it’s real. It’s easy to assume that people in leadership always feel ready, but that’s not what she described. She described that internal tension that shows up when the next level is right in front of you.

If you’ve ever been in that space, you know how loud that voice can get. And hearing how she worked through that moment gives this conversation a different kind of weight.

What You Do in That Moment Matters

What stayed with me wasn’t just the hesitation. It was the decision that followed.

She didn’t wait for the doubt to disappear. She made a choice to move forward anyway. And that’s where I think a lot of people get stuck, waiting for clarity to feel complete before taking action.

This conversation made me think about how often growth requires us to move while things still feel uncertain. Not recklessly, but with intention. That distinction is important, and it’s something she speaks to in a very honest way.

How You Define Success Shapes How You Lead

Another part of our conversation that really made me pause was how her definition of success has changed.

There was a time when success looked like progress and advancement. Now, it’s more connected to purpose and the impact of the work itself.

That shift changes everything. When success becomes about helping others find stability and support, leadership becomes more personal. More grounded. And more meaningful.

It also raises a question for all of us about whether the way we define success is actually supporting the kind of leader we want to be.

Leadership That Stays Grounded in Service

What I appreciate most about Laurie’s perspective is how centered it is on service. The work she leads impacts people during some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

That requires more than experience. It requires consistency, awareness, and a real understanding of responsibility.

Listening to her talk about that responsibility made me think about how leadership shows up in everyday decisions, not just major ones. And that’s something this conversation brings into focus in a very practical way.

Reflection

This conversation made me take a step back and look at my own decisions a little differently.

Is there something in front of you right now that you’ve been holding back from? Not because you’re unprepared, but because you’re still questioning whether you should step into it?

That’s why this conversation stayed with me.

It speaks directly to those in-between moments. The ones where you’re deciding whether to move forward or stay where you are.

If you’re in that space, I want you to watch this conversation with Laurie Powell. There’s something in it that will meet you right where you are.

Watch Laurie’s interview here.👈🏽

Remember, new S.O. What! Success Stories are added every week! Subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss an episode filled with motivation, resilience, and real-life success strategies.

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S.O. What! Success Stories with Summer Owens is a series of casual conversations with overcomers about real life and resilience. Guests share their stories including some of the challenges they faced on their journeys to success. In each conversation, Summer breaks down the S.O. What! Success System and how implementing each of the elements leads to success in the face of even the greatest adversity.

THE S.O. WHAT! SUCCESS SYSTEM

Overcome Obstacles + Eliminate Excuses + Calculate Choices = S.O. What! Success

Learn more about Summer and how she helps individuals and organizations achieve S.O. What! Success.