We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Megan Daley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Daley, how do you think about risk?
To be quite honest, being willing to take risks is the only reason I am at all able to do what I do now, not just from a career perspective (taking the leap from corporate to entrepreneur), but also the experiences I’ve been able to have in life, and the unconventional life I’ve built (rent out my Phoenix home and live full-time traveling in a converted rig).

Some of my earliest risks were actually surprisingly… not scary for me. For example, after finishing my mathematics degree, I immediately re-enrolled in the university to pivot completely and get the pre-reqs needed to then get a doctorate in physical therapy. On paper, it made no sense. I was turning down strong job offers, taking on more loans, and committing years of my life without income. But at the time, it didn’t feel terrifying. I just knew I needed to do it. (I didn’t have the verbiage of “aligned” yet but that’s what it was.) Same goes for when I decided to up and move to Belfast, Northern Ireland, for 6 months with just a suitcase and a contact person I hadn’t yet met. Those early “f*ck it, send it” type risks in my 20s taught me something invaluable: that I could trust myself to act on what felt right, even when no one else understood it. Because even if I didn’t succeed in the traditional sense, I always learned and grew in ways I wouldn’t want to take back.

By the time I hit mid-career, taking risks looked very different. Making the leap from corporate healthcare to running my own cash clinic for 4 years. Shutting down my in-person clinic, a place where I had built a reputation as a sought-after expert. Those were leaps that carried real fear and uncertainty. I was stepping away from something tangible, respected, and successful to fully pivot into what I do now: guiding women to break free from burnout, step into aligned careers and lives, and trust themselves. Unlike my early risks, I felt the weight of the unknown. Especially leaving clinic, I knew I would get criticized by colleagues, and others for that matter, who couldn’t understand any deviation from the expected, “normal” path associated with a particular degree/career. And I had to do a lot of work to unwrap my identity from my degree/title. But I also had a foundation of proof from my earlier leaps: I knew that even if it didn’t go exactly as planned, I could navigate the unknown, learn, and grow. That confidence made it possible to take bigger, more conscious risks with my life and business. Plus when I asked myself something I now ask a lot of clients: “If you were to keep on your current path for another 5 years, how would that feel?” The immediate gut punch I felt was enough of an answer to get me to take the first step towards my truth. Even though the journey to finding the answer to “if not this, then what?” was not an easy one. At all. It was expensive and messy and so much more. Yet I wouldn’t change a thing. All those risks and doing it the hard way is what now allows me to help others find their answers in a fraction of the time and cost.

For me, risk has never been about recklessness. It’s about stepping into the unknown when staying put would mean betraying what I knew deep down I needed. Each leap (whether a young, impulsive pivot or a calculated, aligned decision later) has opened doors to growth, freedom, and experiences I couldn’t have planned.

At the end of the day, I’d rather risk failure than risk regret. Every bold step has brought me closer to the life and work I was searching for. And that makes the discomfort of risk more than worth it.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
87% of high-achieving women report feeling dissatisfied with life, even when everything looks perfect on paper. Some don’t even realize they’re exhausted, settling, or burnt out. Many stay go-go-go to avoid noticing that something feels off. And they keep “searching” for that “something more” that will finally allow them to slow down and feel fulfilled, which often looks like chasing the next certificate, degree, promotion, or employer. You may think the next step will fix the emptiness, but it very rarely does.

That’s who I work with, as well as the woman who already has started to realize something is “off” but feels foggy as to what that is or where to go from here. The one who is beyond ready to finally get clarity and take aligned action. My proprietary methodology helps them break free from burnout, reclaim their energy, gain that clarity, set boundaries, and create careers and lives that actually feel deeply fulfilling and joyful. Often that’s through my deep dive one on one coaching, but I also run some retreats, team workshops, and group courses. What sets my work apart is that I combine practical tools, like nervous system regulation and boundary-setting, with guidance rooted in my own lived experience. I know what it’s like to be passionate about your work but constantly drained, chasing achievement and “shoulds,” and still feel like something is missing. My friends and clients like to joke that I’m “western medicine and logic meets woo woo spiritual alignment.” I love briding the gap into true guidance.

Like many entrepreneurs, I became the person I needed. I once was exactly where my clients are… One moment that changed everything for me was watching a PT colleague completely lit up by their work back when I still owned a clinic and was searching for what my “something more” was. That hit me like a lightning bolt: I wasn’t experiencing that kind of joy myself. Then, that same week interestingly enough (the universe is funny like that) patients I’d worked with told me that while I’d helped them physically, our conversations had also given them clarity, perspective, and personal growth that they felt was even more life changing. I realized I had been doing this work all along, just unintentionally. That insight led me to close my clinic and pivot fully into the business I run now, one aligned with freedom, joy, and impact.

As I mentioned before, I work with individuals one-on-one, but I also help groups and teams through keynote speaking and my signature workshops, guiding organizations to build alignment, resilience, and clarity, while helping leaders and teams step into their fullest potential.

I truly love and am lit up by the work I do, guiding women (and teams) to step fully into their aligned lives and careers. Whether you’re just starting to notice something’s off, or already aware that change is needed, I have somerthing for you that will catapult you into the life you truly want and are meant for. One with success without self sacrifice. My brand exists to show that high achievement doesn’t have to cost your health, joy, or freedom, and to help women step into that reality for themselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I really love staying super active, overpriced lattes, and supporting small businesses.

I’m a big fan of small local businesses such as Deseo Coffee Shack, Moxie Coffee, and Dark Hall (can you tell I have a thing for coffee drinks?). I also cannot recommend Persephsen and Latha enough for a nice dinner out! Even better if you hit up Latha on a night they have live music. And I feel like it’s so stereotypical of a local, but I love Kaleidescope Juice. My go-to order is the Cherry Pitch smoothie. Snag it to go and walk around town in the sunshine. For anyone into dancing, I love the latin nights at The Duce and taking hip hop classes from Michelle Tripp at Jukebox Studios on Saturdays. Farmers Markets: Uptown and Gilbert are the best IMO. And I honestly can’t remember the last time I chose Camelback for hiking over driving out to the Salt River or the Superstitions (but please follow LNT principles).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When asked who to shoutout as a part of my story, it’s really hard to narrow down because every interaction is a piece of it. But there are a few that stand out. My late father, who’s death forced me to slow down enough to even look at my life and begin to question “is this MY path?”. The books Untamed by Glennon Doyle and Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, both of which made me reflect a lot internally and lit a fire under me in very different ways. Gabor Mate’s books and a deep dive session with Enneagram expert (and friend) Tracy O’Malley, all of which helped me more deeply understand myself. And my bestie, Laura DeCesaris, who (outside of my fiance) is my biggest cheerleader and is always there to remind me who tf I am in those moments when I forget.

Website: moveonthedaley.com

Instagram: instagram.com/drmegandaley

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/megandaleydpt

Other: Free connection / clarity call: https://calendly.com/drmegandaley/15min

Image Credits
Cat Golden; Isa / Muse Haus

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