I thought I knew exactly what this conversation was going to be about — identity loss.
Specifically, what happens when you go from high-performing athlete to... not.
For almost 18 years, I was “Cat who played soccer.” I played professionally in Europe after college, had my third knee surgery in a handful of years, and then that was it. I came home, got a job serving at a private beach club (think 90210, khaki skirt and green collared shirt and all), and had a full-body moment mid-summer: I have two degrees, I was just playing professional soccer, and now I'm scooping ice cream. What the f*ck am I doing with my life?
If I wasn't really good at soccer, what was I? It was a massive rebrand moment. I just didn't have the language for it yet.
So THAT’S the conversation I walked in expecting to have with Amanda Calabrese, Co-Founder and CMO of Sequel, because I knew she had gone through something similar. The identity crisis, the loss, the rebuild — the rebrand!
But that's not the conversation we had. We ended up talking about mentality. Hers, an athlete's, and the one women get taught from day one.
We’re all a little mental
After almost a decade competing for Team USA, Amanda didn't make the national team her senior year at Stanford. She struggled for a minute with the same question I had: am I still this person if I'm not on the team? But she took it in stride.
She and her co-founder Greta Meyer turned a class project into Sequel, and she kept competing for years while launching. Seven years in, they’re still building it with the same mentality she brought to every race — be prepared, make your own opportunity, and when it arrives, win!
And that’s what they did. She talks about walls and climbing over them — patents, FDA, manufacturing. They were two young women tackling an industry that had been largely untouched for nearly 100 years. (The first tampon was designed by a man in 1931 and mostly never changed!)
When I asked how she thinks about walking into the big moments, she didn't hesitate:
"I've left no stone unturned in my preparation for this moment. And so I will win, because I am the most prepared."
The inner athlete
That's the athlete in her, and I can see it because I resonate with it too. Call it reps, call it prep, call it a touch insane, it’s what it takes to compete at a high level. It was a JOY talking to her about it because it can be intense and unhinged, but game sees game — I loved it!! I was close to lacing up those boots again…close!
But the takeaway was clear and so important for us as women: you don't walk into the championship game, the boardroom, or the investor meeting just grateful to be there, you earned that seat!
Gratitude above all else
THAT part!! Women are taught to be grateful. Grateful for the invite, the opportunity, the shout out. Sure, gratitude journals, one thing I'm grateful for today, these habits are important. BUT not at the expense of owning our sh*t, our effort, our skill!
When I played, I was little for a long time, so my coach and then my parents used to repeat two phrases to me that has become a mantra (you’ve probably heard me and others say it before), “play big” and “get your elbows out.” We deserve the space we take up and Amanda’s decree to women to STOP saying “I’m so grateful” lives on the same plane to me. It carries a similar confident attitude.
Workarounds are their own version of this. We're so grateful to be in the game, we don't complain about the gear. Amanda and I both had them. Mine was the double sports bra. Hers was teammates wearing two tampons or sizing up because nothing worked. We make do, and we pass the fixes down the locker room like hand-me-downs. Why are we always building workarounds instead of products and policies that actually work for us from the start?
Amanda and Greta stopped working around it and built the thing. Nobody handed them that seat. They prepared, they earned it, and they pulled it up themselves. You don't owe anyone gratitude for a chair you carried in. 🎤
The 5 list
Ido this every episode now, create a list of 5 inspired by our guest. Sometimes actions, sometimes things I am giving up, whatever. THIS time it is 5 things I'm saying out loud this week with no apologies and cringe-free:
I'm really good at what I do.
I prepared for this. It wasn't luck.
I brought my own chair, thanks.
I deserve everything coming my way.
I'm done with workarounds. If it's not working, I'll build something better.
Watch + Listen to Amanda’s episode
Go watch or listen to the full episode with Amanda! It really got me in my feels and LIT me up to always be ready for when that opportunity knocks. Hope you enjoy!
Two more things:
1. Re:Wilding Workshop is coming up - Oct. 8th, for anyone feeling stuck in old ways and wants to feel FREE from old ways, patterns and limiting beliefs!
2. Re:Brand, the community that started it all, is now officially back open to receive new members! Apply and share with your friends.
xx,
Cat
