We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eileen Murphy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Eileen, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve never been one to take big risks. Uncertainty used to feel like something to avoid, not explore.

Then COVID happened.

While others turned to sourdough starters and ukuleles, I coped by doing more work. Work felt safe—predictable, productive, within my control. It distracted me from the news, from the loneliness of virtual everything, from the aching unknowns.

But as the year crept toward its end, I felt it—disappointment. Not in the world, but in myself.

I was disappointed in how tightly fear still gripped me.
Fear of change.
Fear of taking a chance.
Fear of getting it wrong.
(And if I’m honest—fear of getting it right, too.)

And then one day, something shifted. I felt a slow burn in my belly—like a little fire finally getting the oxygen it needed.
What was I really afraid of?
The world had literally turned upside down, and I had survived it.

If everything I once clung to could unravel so fast, maybe the opposite was also true—maybe something even better could unfold if I just let go of fear.

I don’t know what logic rooted that flame, but it anchored me. It burned through the fog of fear and revealed something clearer:
I wanted to live fearlessly.
To stop treating fear as fact.
To comfort that stress with self-compassion.
To choose curiosity over control.

Because I only get this one life—and what if it could be more beautiful than I imagined?

Since then, I’ve taken some pretty bold steps.
I moved to Denmark with my husband. Traveled through foreign landscapes with no language fluency and zero sense of direction. I found a community of creatives who taught me to play with clay and embrace imperfection.

I pivoted from HR to coaching—with a focus on mid-career professionals stuck in a similar loop I once lived. I returned to the U.S. to care for my family and create a life that feels more aligned, more grounded, more me.

Every day, I become more in awe of how much I’ve grown since I stopped letting fear call the shots.
Turns out, the biggest risk I took—was taking a chance on myself.

Eileen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a certified Health & Wellness and Stress Management Coach—and founder of Blackbird Life Coaching—specializing in helping mid-career professionals who are experiencing career burnout — feeling stuck, depleted, or like they’re just going through the motions at work. My work centers on guiding people through career crossroads, burnout recovery, and big-picture stress-proofing that looks at the interconnectedness of career, health, and wellness.

Before launching my coaching practice, I enjoyed nearly 20 years in Human Resources, working across recruitment, employee development, and total rewards. I’ve coached professionals at every stage—from interns to executives—and witnessed how often high-achieving individuals silently carry stress, burnout, or career confusion until they hit a breaking point.

I know that point intimately.

I was the one with the “can-do” face, showing up to lead and support others while quietly unraveling under the weight of stress, perfectionism, and people-pleasing.

I had to pause. Reflect. And rebuild.

That journey shifted everything. I realized my passion for helping others hadn’t disappeared—it had simply outgrown the corporate container. That’s what inspired me to create a space where professionals could reconnect with their energy, values, and voice—and learn to navigate stress with clarity and self-compassion.

Now, through one-on-one coaching, small group programs, and interactive workshops, I help people:

Stress better and lead with confidence,

Navigate career transitions without burning it all down (unless that’s what they want),

Redefine success on their terms,

Begin stress-proofing their life so they can bounce back better,

And build a professional presence they can carry anywhere.

What sets my work apart is that I coach the whole person. I blend research-backed tools with real-life moments, humor, and warmth. My clients often say it’s like talking to someone who gets it—who can challenge them while also reminding them they’re whole, not broken.

What I’m most proud of is watching people reclaim their energy and take brave steps they never thought possible—whether that’s setting boundaries, shifting careers, or simply learning to be instead of constantly do.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about my brand, it’s this:
You don’t have to be fearless to move forward. You just have to be willing.
And I’ll walk with you every step of the way.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Connection. Hands down, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been building genuine connections—whether through virtual networking, in-person conversations, or unexpected moments of connection in everyday life.

It definitely didn’t come naturally at first. I used to feel nervous putting myself out there. But over time, I realized that the more I showed up authentically—just as I am (brave face and all)—the more meaningful the conversations became. Now, it’s something I truly enjoy.

People don’t want a sales pitch—they want to feel seen, heard, and understood. So my approach has always been to listen first and let the conversation build. Some of my best client relationships started with a casual chat, a shared post, or someone saying, “I think you’re the person my friend needs to talk to.”

Coaching is deeply personal work, and so is how I grow my business—it’s rooted in trust, conversation, and real human connection.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I love this question—it’s actually a core focus in the work I do with clients, so I feel compelled to share one of my own.

In my past life, I was a classic overachiever and people-pleaser. I chased perfection, constantly trying to stay two or three steps ahead—making other people’s jobs easier, taking on more than I should, all in the name of being helpful and indispensable.

If you’ve ever worked on a small team, you know the drill: you become the person for a certain task, and suddenly you’re convinced no one else could possibly fill in for you. That mindset can feel noble, but over time, it’s physically and emotionally exhausting.

Eventually, my body made it clear: the “take it all on” mantra wasn’t sustainable. It was costing me my health, my energy, and—frankly—my joy.

So I had to unlearn the idea that my worth was tied to how much I could carry.

I started small. I began making daily lists centered on focus and intention—and gave myself permission to remove just two or three tasks so that the list was more attainable, lighter.

Next, I practiced naming realistic timelines. Instead of automatically saying yes, I’d respond with when I could complete something—and check whether that worked for the other person. Just that tiny pause created more breathing room.

And then I pulled back my hours. I went from working late four nights a week down to one. And that one night? I dedicated it to something creative within my own space—like optimizing a process, refining language that felt more connected, or exploring a passion project.

The transformation taught me something big:
What got me to that level in my career wasn’t going to get me to the next.
If I wanted to grow, I had to rework the way I worked.

So now, my motto?
Do less—with less fu#%$.
And somehow, everything gets done better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackbirdlifecoaching.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileenerinmurphy/

Image Credits
Eileen Murphy