🔹 Real Talk: The Pre-Meeting Pep Talk Is Real

By Alison Jones, Founder of Minds of Light

People assume that because I’m extroverted and love to talk, I’m always “on.”
That I glide into meetings effortlessly, deliver powerhouse ideas, and walk out like a corporate queen.

But what they don’t see is me in the mirror, hours before that meeting, whispering to myself like a coach in the locker room before a championship game:

“You’ve got this. You’re a winner. You know your stuff.”

That pep talk? It’s my lifeline.
Because the truth is, even after all these years—and even after becoming an executive—I still feel overwhelmed before serious meetings.

It’s not the people. It’s not the content.
It’s the pressure. The masking. The distractions. The unpredictability of how my brain might react when the energy in the room shifts without warning.

Burnout from Talking? Yep. It’s a Thing.

I love deep conversations. I thrive on real connection. I’ll talk your ear off about emotions, leadership, or how we can make workplaces more human.

But too much work talk—especially the kind that lacks meaning or structure—burns me out fast.

• Chaotic meetings? Exhausting.

• Surface-level chatter with no purpose? Drains my battery.

• Background noise, visual clutter, people fidgeting? Sensory overload.

If someone drops a water bottle or starts typing loudly mid-sentence? I can lose my entire train of thought. And then comes the panic spiral: “Wait, where was I? What was I saying?”

It doesn’t mean I’m not smart. It means my brain processes differently. And I’ve learned to stop apologizing for that.

How I Navigate It Now

Here’s what’s changed the game for me:

• I prepare early. I block out time before big meetings, not just to review notes, but to mentally prepare.

• I ask for agendas. I need structure like I need oxygen.

• I give myself permission to pause. Not every moment needs to be filled with words.

• I remind myself I don’t need to be perfect—just present.

I’ve also accepted that my pre-meeting rituals aren’t weird—they’re wise. They help me show up as the best version of me.

🔹 My Forever Mentor

Over the years, I’ve had a few really incredible mentors. But one stands above the rest.

She has walked beside me through growth, grief, success, and self-doubt.
She never made me feel like I had to “act normal” to be worthy.
She didn’t just teach me business—she taught me how to believe in myself again.

When I couldn’t see my value, she did.
When I was spinning from overload, she grounded me.
When I doubted my voice, she amplified it.

Her belief in me has shaped who I am today. And it’s taught me something powerful:

Real mentorship isn’t just about climbing a ladder.
It’s about growing into your power—with someone who sees your soul.

Final Thoughts

So if you’re neurodivergent, extroverted, and still exhausted from the workplace routine—you're not broken. You’re brilliant. And it’s okay if your path to the top doesn’t look like anyone else’s.

You don’t need to pretend. You don’t need to push through in silence. You need preparation, patience, and people who get you.

Find your rituals. Find your voice.
And if you’re lucky—find your mentor who sees the fire in you, even when you feel like you’re flickering.

Keep showing up.
Not perfectly.
But intentionally.

You’ve got this.

💛
— Alison Jones, Founder of Minds of Light