In this week’s episode of Revenue Without Borders, I sat down with Dr. Nikia Smith—an anesthesiologist, coach, and powerhouse voice for high-achieving women who are tired of being told to “just be grateful” for jobs that are slowly draining them.
This conversation isn’t just about imposter syndrome. It’s about what we’re willing to risk by staying in spaces that don’t serve us—and what it takes to choose yourself, pivot boldly, and rewrite the script.
Because here’s the truth:
Staying in the wrong job just because it’s “good on paper” might be the most dangerous move you can make.
“Imposter syndrome doesn’t care about your job title. It follows you—until you decide to stop running.”
Highlights from the Episode
💥 Perfectionism Is Not a Flex
As Black women, many of us were raised to believe we had to be twice as good to get half as far. That conditioning becomes a perfectionist mindset—and perfectionism is fuel for imposter syndrome. It’s also a fast track to burnout, anxiety, and detachment from your real self.
Dr. Smith shares how she nearly walked away from medicine after years of internalizing stress, overworking, and losing her sense of identity. Her experience is not unique: high-achieving women in “good jobs” are silently suffering in systems that extract from them while offering little support in return.
“When you’re no longer yourself, when you feel like a shell… that’s not success. That’s survival.”
🧾 Collect Your Receipts, Not Just Titles
If you feel like an imposter, it’s time to start tracking the truth. Save the emails, the compliments, the testimonials, the wins—because your brain will forget how powerful you really are. And you’ll need that evidence when your inner critic comes for you.
🌱 You Can Design a New Exit Plan
Nikia didn’t just talk about leaving—she took action. She rewrote her life on her own terms, carving out a part-time physician role that gives her space to coach, rest, and live. She proves what Revenue Without Borders is all about: freedom through alignment.
What This Has to Do with Revenue Without Borders
This platform isn’t just about making money from anywhere in the world—it’s about doing it on your own terms. That means:
Leaving jobs that drain you
Creating work that reflects your values
Shifting from survival to intention
Refusing to shrink just to fit in
The border isn’t always physical.
Sometimes it’s your job. Sometimes it’s your mindset.
This episode helps you move both.
✨ Three Questions to Ask Yourself This Week
Where am I performing perfection instead of pursuing purpose?
What “good job” is quietly costing me joy, health, or freedom?
What’s the exit plan—and am I brave enough to commit to it?
🎧 Listen Now:
Your coworker who’s always “fine” but clearly burned out
Your friend who's thinking about leaving their job but scared to leap
Yourself—so you can stop asking for permission and start planning your exit