When Being Busy Stops Working: Curiosity, Connection, and Midlife Leadership
So many women in midlife are craving something they can’t quite name. It’s not another productivity system. It’s not better time management. And it’s definitely not one more thing to add to an already full plate. It’s genuine connection.
In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne is joined by Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, a leadership development expert who believes that when we center human connection in how we learn, lead, and live, everything changes.
Mickey’s journey is anything but typical. At fourteen years old she became the youngest professional bass fisherman in the country and was managing dozens of sponsors and speaking confidently to rooms full of adults while most teenagers were still figuring out who they were. Those early experiences shaped her understanding of leadership, credibility, and presence in powerful ways.
Years later, after building a successful career in higher education, educational technology, and corporate learning, Mickey found herself living the very patterns she now helps others break. Over-functioning. Burnout. And the deeply ingrained belief that busy equals valuable.
In this conversation, we explore why connection is often dismissed as a “soft skill” and why it may actually be the most essential leadership skill we have. We talk about work-life integration, identity shifts in midlife, and what it really takes to build a life and career that feels aligned.
Connect with Mickey:
htpps://www.learnit.com/mickey
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyfitchcollins/
Connect with Marianne:
- Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne
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- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966
- Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne
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