Fine is a Trap

Believe in More

Executive Coaching &
Chief HR Officer Services

YOU'RE NOT FINE. NOBODY IS.

Have you ever heard anyone who has had an amazing experience tell you their experience was fine?

I bet not.

They’ll tell you it was phenomenal, awesome, incredible, successful, brilliant, fun, a freaking delight!

Then they’ll tell you why it was so great:

We all worked so well together on this project and everyone got to do the parts they loved!

The conference was so cool – I learned a ton and met such smart, creative people!

Taking vacation was so relaxing – I felt like I could breathe for the first time in forever!

I got a huge promotion and a big raise – I’m so excited!

I get to hire a whole team at this company – how cool is that?!

You would never expect someone to describe any of these incredible experiences as "fine".

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WHEN YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY TERRIBLE

When you say you’re fine, you’re struggling to accept what is because you don’t know how to change it.

You’re settling.

And you’re the person who knows how to fix everything. So, if you can’t fix it, then it’s not fixable, and you might as well deal with it.

You say:

It’s fine. Working in a small company means taking on more (hours, responsibility, stress).

It’s fine. Even though I didn’t get the raise, I got the title.

It’s fine. We’re bootstrapping this company, so of course I don’t get a team of people.

It’s fine. We’ll catch up on compliance later (hopefully before we get sued).

It’s fine. People leave companies all the time – we’ll just have to find and train new people.

FINE ISN'T A FEELING.
IT'S A DECISION YOU MAKE TO SETTLE FOR LESS

Fine is a Trap was built on the idea that we use the word “fine” far too often to cover up that something is not going well.

Instead of acknowledging that work, leadership, running a company or department, or being trapped in a toxic environment are simply awful, we justify that being an accomplished adult is just “how it is” or “what we signed up for.”

After all, it’s not killing you… It’s only making you miserable. And exhausted. And resentful.

FINE ISN'T THE ONLY WAY

In fact, “fine” is the fastest way to lead yourself, your team, and your company to burnout.

Executive Coaching clients go from “everything’s fine” to talking about all of the parts of their career and life they’re excited for.

They see higher pay, fewer work hours, better boundaries, new abilities to manage up, delegate, and self-advocate, and they like their jobs a whole lot more!

You can have the freedom to go out to dinner on a whim, without sneakily checking your phone under the table during the meal.
You'll feel the delight of going on vacation and actually seeing the sights, instead of ducking away for “quick meetings” that are never quick.
You'll have the ability to spend time on the things that matter to you outside of work – like family, friendships, and hobbies.
And you'll get the satisfaction of answering “amazing!” when someone asks how work is going.

Partnering with me, you'll get to choose where to spend your time and energy and how you want your career to grow and change.

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Fractional Human Resources clients get to take the work of figuring out how HR works by partnering with me to strategize, develop, and implement new processes, programs, and employee engagement strategies.

Your CEO gets to lead the company without having to dive into the weeds of reactive HR issues.
Your CFO is allowed to focus on numbers, reports, and analysis, instead of trying to discern why employees are disengaged.
Your COO has the time to spend in their areas of expertise, supporting the company’s operations and growth.
Your HR needs become structured, easily understandable, and manageable; and your team will be able to take on future HR needs in an integrated, employee-friendly way that promotes team, culture, and employee engagement.

In the end, your c-suite members and department leaders get to focus on what they’re best at – their own areas of expertise and interest.

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Whether you need executive coaching, strategic fractional support, or both, partnering with me helps you get out of the weeds on the things that bog you down the most, give you the support you need to thrive – individually or together – and build what you actually want and need.

ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Lauren, CEO of Fine is a Trap, and I’ve been there, lived that.

It wasn’t until a Roomba, a glass lamp, and a pair of socks taught me a giant lesson, that I realized I’d fallen face first into fine, and settled into it like it was my home.

Today, I’m living the life I never could have dreamed about when my brain was so busy with work. And I’m living authentically in a way that serves my clients in making powerful changes, and I also live and work in a way I’m proud of.