BLOG
Thoughts to Amplify your Life, Business, Health, Relationships, and Faith.
Why Values-Based Leadership Is the Key to Culture, Engagement, and Results
At The Amplified Life Company, we’re not here to sell. We’re here to serve—and to live a vision that is as aspirational as it is grounded: "To be the one that shows the world how truly great life can be." This isn’t a tagline. It’s the lens we bring to every...
From Control to Connection: Two Leadership Shifts That Changed Everything
In the middle of my corporate leadership career, I got hit with some honest feedback that changed the way I lead. A trusted team member pulled me aside and said, “Carmen, people call you Cruella DeVille at the other branch.” She meant it kindly—but the words...
6 CEO Habits That Stall Growth—And How to Shift Them
Let’s get honest. Most leadership problems aren’t mysterious. They’re patterns—things we keep doing (or not doing) that quietly slow us down. After coaching hundreds of founders and CEOs, we’ve seen the same six issues come up again and again. These aren’t...
Why “Good Enough” Wasn’t Enough
We were hitting the numbers. Customers weren’t complaining. Team dynamics were solid. From the outside, my JPMorgan Chase branch looked like it was thriving. But I could feel it—we were stuck. No energy. No breakthrough. Just… business as usual. And then it hit me:...
From the Stage to the C-Suite: What Bodybuilding Taught Me About Bold Leadership
Lately, I’ve been flirting with the idea of stepping back into the world of bodybuilding competition—not just to win or for a trophy, but as a personal science experiment in physical precision and mental mastery. Most people see bodybuilding as pure aesthetics. I see...
Full Circle Leadership: How a Childhood Dream at the 2025 Softball College World Series Became a Powerful Reminder for High-Performing Leaders
I started playing little league fast-pitch softball in third grade. It was more than a game to me—it was movement, momentum, and magic. That love stayed with me, even after my competitive days ended. Each year, I find myself captivated by the Women’s College World...
The Leadership Trap No One Talks About (And How to Escape It)
Most leaders don’t talk about this. Not in the boardroom. Not in team meetings. And certainly not in performance reviews. But it’s there—under the surface of high performers, executive teams, and startup founders alike: The silent fear that if you don’t know all...
I Forgot My Own Framework—On Live TV
“There are only two types of speakers in the world. The nervous and Liars.” — Mark Twain Let me take you behind the scenes of one of my most humbling leadership moments. I was sitting on set for a morning TV show, about to share a coaching framework I’d been...
The Trait That Top Leaders Use to Drive Growth (It’s Not Strategy)
If you’ve been leading long enough, you know this: Strategy alone doesn’t unlock success. The secret behind the leaders who innovate faster, build deeper relationships, and create lasting impact? Curiosity. Most people are chasing clarity, confidence, and...
The Real Reason Executives Burn Out (It’s Not the Workload)
Most executives aren’t burnt out because they’re doing too much. They’re burnt out because their nervous system has never learned how to pause. Here’s the truth most won’t say out loud: You can’t lead a high-performing team from a dysregulated state. And your...