Woman of Influence with Julie Solomon
Episode: The Power of the Pause: Why You’re Not Behind!
Release Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In this powerful and deeply personal solo episode, host Julie Solomon invites listeners into her “Bedroom Floor Sessions,” offering soulful wisdom on why high-achieving women should embrace stillness and pause—especially at the start of a new year. Julie challenges the pervasive narrative of constant goal-chasing and “catching up,” making the case that true leadership and sustainable progress require pausing with intentionality. Through candid stories and actionable insights, she reframes what it means to measure success and guides listeners on redefining their year by leading from a place of stewardship, authentic voice, and gratitude—not urgency or comparison.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: Embracing Imperfection

[00:19–03:41]

• Julie shares her approach to the podcast this month—recording from the bedroom floor instead of the studio to model that imperfect action is powerful.
• "I believe in this idea of different place and different pace gives you a different perspective, even if that place is just a 30-inch move from a desk to a bedroom floor." (Julie, 01:03)
• The importance of adaptability and relinquishing the pursuit of perfection as a growth strategy, particularly for high-achieving women.

The Truth About The New Year’s Pressure

[03:41–06:46]

• Julie names the pressure many women feel in January to aggressively plan and “prove themselves” for the new year.
• Most aren't lacking strategy, but suffering from "nervous system dysregulation"—starting the year already tired and behind in their minds.
• Notable quote:

  "Most women don’t enter the new year with a strategy problem. Most women enter the new year with a nervous system dysregulation." (Julie, 04:21)

• Critique of comparing oneself against “what’s missing” instead of embracing gratitude.

Gap Thinking vs. Gain Thinking

[06:47–09:15]

• Julie introduces the concept from "The Gap and the Gain," explaining how constant measuring against the “gap” (what’s missing) robs women of fulfillment and momentum.
• Notable quote:

  "A lot of women are measuring their lives with a ruler that was never meant to measure their actual progress, their actual success." (Julie, 08:41)

• The antidote: Switch the ruler. Focus not on lack, but on wins, gratitude, and progress.

Gratitude as Leadership Discipline

[09:15–12:04]

• Julie asserts that gratitude isn't “just a mindset hack or journal prompt,” but a non-negotiable practice for powerful leadership.

• "If you don't practice gratitude, you will automatically practice comparison, because something's got to come in to fill that space." (Julie, 09:38)

• The danger of constantly measuring oneself against what “should” have been achieved; gratitude is foundational stewardship.

Reflecting to Find Contentment

[12:04–14:10]

• Happiness is not in the next launch or milestone—it’s wanting what you already have and being present.

• "Happiness is wanting what you already have. …because you’re actually present enough. You’ve paused to be present enough to experience your life as it is today." (Julie, 10:16)

• The role of reflection: looking back at what you've survived and learned is essential to appreciating your growth and blessings.

Provision vs. Process

[14:11–17:41]

• Many of Julie’s clients want results, outcomes, and visibility, but haven't learned to “hold the process”—the inner growth, identity work, and spiritual grounding that enables true leadership.
• Notable quote:

  "If you don’t know how to hold the process, not only will the provision never come, it will completely and utterly overwhelm you. …the pause, that’s where the identity process actually begins." (Julie, 13:35, 14:12)

• Without building the identity and capacity to steward blessings, those very blessings become sources of stress.

Julie’s Personal Story: Identity and Healing

[17:42–21:38]

• Julie vulnerably recounts a transformative retreat experience that helped her heal early childhood wounds and rethink how she leads.

• "There are always parts of us that keep working, that keep striving, that keep controlling. Because somewhere inside, all we’re trying to do is just create that safety that we couldn’t get within ourselves at some point in our lives." (Julie, 18:54)

• The takeaway: Pausing enables deep integration and clearer, lighter stewardship, letting go of striving and control.

Redefining Stewardship & Lessening the Weight

[21:39–25:55]

• Julie describes how accepting her unique gifts and limitations as a coach and entrepreneur lifted the heaviness of trying to be all things to all people.

• "My job, at the end of the day, as a steward of my work, is to help women become women of influence. Period. That is it." (Julie, 24:13)

• Encouragement for listeners: Stop forcing yourself into roles that aren’t yours—clarity, confidence, and impact come from owning your lane.

Discernment over Control

[25:55–29:55]

• As a woman evolves, her discernment sharpens. Pausing is where true discernment—leadership without control—emerges.
• The shadow side of strengths (e.g., “hustling”): until leaders pause, they can’t see where to release control or redirect their energy.

The Power of Pause in 2026: The True “Harvest”

[29:55–33:50]

• Julie reveals her word for the year: Harvest. The process—pausing, stewarding, and trusting rather than striving—is what brings about true abundance.
• Letting go of attachment to outcomes, being “everything to everyone,” or waiting for the next launch to feel happy.

• "Your next level isn’t waiting for more effort. It’s waiting for your power to come through in the pause." (Julie, 33:10)

• Listeners are encouraged to honor their own genius, get honest about what is and isn’t in their lane, and see the “itchiness” of January as preparation, not failure.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On perfectionism and starting:

  "80% good is better than 0% not started because I was striving for perfection." (Julie, 01:23)

• On January anxiety:

  "You do not need to sprint into the new year. You do not need to prove January. ...Most women are not behind. They're just measuring with the wrong ruler." (Julie, 05:00, 08:50)

• On gratitude vs. comparison:

  "If you don’t practice gratitude, you will automatically practice comparison." (Julie, 09:38)

• On provision vs. process:

  "You have to become the woman who can actually handle the process that it takes to actually get what you say it is that you want..." (Julie, 12:51)

• On finding her lane as a coach:

  "My job... is to help women become women of influence. Period. That is it." (Julie, 24:13)

• On control and discernment:

  "Discernment is not drama. Discernment is truly leadership without control." (Julie, 28:37)

• On visibility and purpose:

  "For me, my voice is my assignment... visibility supports the mission that I've been given." (Julie, 30:49)

• On preparation, not being behind:

  "If you are feeling itchy already into January… just remember you're not behind. I promise you, you are being prepared." (Julie, 33:05)

• On the power of the pause:

  "Your next level isn’t waiting for more effort. It’s waiting for your power to come through in the pause." (Julie, 33:10)

Essential Timestamps

• 01:03 – Julie discusses the importance of changing environment and imperfection.
• 04:21 – The real source of new year anxiety: nervous system dysregulation.
• 08:41–09:38 – The dangers of “gap thinking” and the necessity of gratitude.
• 10:16 – Redefining happiness as presence and contentment.
• 13:35–14:12 – The difference between chasing outcomes and holding space for growth.
• 18:54–21:38 – Julie’s personal revelation and healing journey.
• 24:13 – Clarifying her true role as a mentor and coach.
• 28:37 – Discernment as a result of pausing.
• 33:05–33:10 – Reassurance: You’re not behind, and your next level is found in the pause.

Final Takeaways

• The most overlooked leadership skill for women in 2026 is the intentional power of pause.
• True progress, clarity, and leadership arise not from hustling, but from authentic stewardship, reflection, and gratitude.
• You are not behind—you’re being prepared. The “itchiness” or pressure you feel is a call to go inward, not work harder.
• Stop measuring yourself with someone else’s ruler. Define your unique genius and honor that in your work and life.
• This year, let provision flow from presence, identity, and clear intention—not from urgency, comparison, or forcing outcomes.

For those feeling behind or overwhelmed at the year’s start, this episode offers both comfort and a blueprint for redefining leadership and ambition—one pause at a time.