AUDREY WANG shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
AUDREY, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
As a Business and Leadership Coach for entrepreneurs, executives, and teams navigating pivotal transitions and determined to execute their biggest goals with precision and impact…I’d like to shine a light on this question.
The biggest misconception about my business which is centered on high performance…is that it’s about working harder, grinding longer, and living in permanent overdrive. Too many people still hear “high performance” and picture someone running on four hours of sleep, juggling endless tasks, and sacrificing their health or relationships for success. That’s not high performance, that’s burnout dressed up as ambition.
The world’s highest performers – the ones leading industries, innovating, and leaving legacies – aren’t the people sprinting toward exhaustion. They’re the ones who’ve built the habits of clarity, energy, courage, productivity, and influence that allow them to succeed again and again without losing themselves in the process. High performance isn’t about intensity, it’s about sustainability. It’s about designing a life and business where your success isn’t a lucky sprint, but a repeatable standard.
And here’s where a second big misconception comes in: people often assume coaching is a “one-and-done” thing. One session, one breakthrough, one notebook of strategies…and you’re set for life. But that’s like going to the gym once and expecting to stay fit forever, or reading one book and assuming you’ve mastered your industry. Growth doesn’t work that way, and neither does transformation.
As entrepreneurs, we know that every time you hit a new revenue milestone, you discover the challenges of scaling. Every time you step into a bigger role, you’re met with new pressures and blind spots. Every time you expand your vision, you realize you need new strategies and stronger habits to sustain it. That’s why coaching isn’t a one-time event; it’s a process of continuous realignment, recalibration, and reinforcement because your goals will always expand faster than your old systems can carry.
When I coach, I’m not just helping someone achieve one goal; I’m helping them build the foundation to achieve all the goals that come after. That means teaching them how to generate energy instead of consume it, how to lead with influence instead of force, and how to pursue growth in a way that doesn’t cost them their health, relationships, or sanity. High performance isn’t about doing more things faster, it’s about becoming the kind of person who can sustain excellence no matter what stage of business or life they’re in.
So if I could clear up one misunderstanding, it would be this: high performance is not hustle culture, and coaching is not a quick fix. High performance is about sustainable, holistic success…success that lasts. And coaching isn’t a one-time conversation; it’s an ongoing partnership that evolves as you and your vision evolve. If you’re an entrepreneur reading this, ask yourself: are you building a business that drains you, or one that sustains you? Because the next level of your success won’t come from more hustle, it will come from building the systems, habits, and mindset that allow you to thrive over the long haul.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Audrey Wang, founder of Invitation to Succeed, a coaching and leadership development company that helps high achievers and organizations create sustainable success. What makes my journey unique is where it started: I spent over 15 years as an Estate Director for some of the world’s most influential and high-net-worth families, serving as the gatekeeper, strategist, and right hand in both their professional and personal worlds. That role gave me a behind-the-scenes education in what it really takes to perform at the highest levels… and what can happen when success comes at the cost of health, purpose, and balance.
In 2014, I faced massive burnout that nearly cost me my life. That experience became a turning point and I rebuilt myself with clarity, energy, and intention, and made it my mission to help others avoid the same trap. Today, through Invitation to Succeed, I combine Certified High Performance Coaching™, CliftonStrengths®, and Everything DiSC® to guide executives, entrepreneurs, and teams to thrive with clarity, courage, productivity, and influence. Our work has been recognized globally, including the Stevie® Award for Best Entrepreneur in Business & Professional Services and the Global Recognition Award for Inclusion & Empowerment for 2025!
Beyond executive coaching, I am deeply passionate about empowering women. I’ve lived the challenges of balancing ambition, family, and health, and I believe that when women rise, they lift entire communities. Right now, I’m especially excited about a new program for teen girls that focuses on building resilience, self-worth, and leadership skills. This initiative matters to me because I’ve seen how early confidence (or lack of it) can shape a woman’s entire trajectory. Equipping girls with tools to lead, speak up, and trust themselves doesn’t just change their lives, it changes generations.
I’m also proud to serve as a BNI Trainer (Business Networking International, where I help train hundreds of entrepreneurs on how to network strategically, communicate with impact, and grow businesses through relationships. Supporting entrepreneurs in building both success and sustainability aligns perfectly with my mission: helping people achieve extraordinary results without sacrificing what matters most.
At its core, Invitation to Succeed isn’t just a coaching brand, it’s a movement. A movement to help leaders, entrepreneurs, and now the next generation rise above burnout, leverage their strengths, communicate with power, and create success that lasts.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The most powerful lessons I’ve learned about work didn’t come from a single person, but from what I noticed across people I worked with and observed throughout my career. There was always this fascinating contrast. On one side were the people who wore hard work like armor. They spoke constantly about how many hours they put in, how much they sacrificed, and how relentlessly they pushed. On the other side were the people who appeared to work with ease. They did not announce their effort. They simply produced results, often better and faster, with what looked like less strain.
At first, it felt almost unfair. How could someone who seemed so relaxed consistently outperform the one grinding nonstop? Then I realized the truth: the effortless worker was not working less, they were working in alignment. They had clarity on what mattered most, leveraged their strengths, managed their energy, and applied strategy instead of force. They had shifted from a mindset of effort equals value to one of results equal impact.
That realization was mind-blowing to me. It exposed a flaw in the way we’ve been taught to view success. From a young age, we’re conditioned to believe that the harder we work, the more deserving we are of reward. But in reality, hard work alone does not guarantee progress. In fact, without alignment and strategy, hard work often guarantees burnout. The people who thrive at the highest levels aren’t the ones grinding the hardest; they are the ones who learn how to direct their energy intelligently, to invest it where it multiplies, not just where it depletes.
This shifted the way I live and the way I coach. I no longer glorify exhaustion as proof of progress. Instead, I measure by momentum and results. When I coach entrepreneurs and leaders, I challenge them to stop asking, “How hard am I working?” and start asking, “Am I working in a way that actually moves me forward?” Because the truth is, no one remembers the hours you worked. They remember the results you created and the energy you carried while creating them.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned about work is this: it is not about effort alone. It is about alignment. It is about directing your strengths, your clarity, and your energy toward what actually matters. When you get that right, work stops being a grind and becomes a force multiplier and that is when results become extraordinary.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Like many people, I was taught early on that getting it wrong meant you weren’t good enough, that falling short was something to be embarrassed about, and that the safest way to succeed was to avoid risks altogether. That conditioning ran deep and I became someone who equated worth with performance, who believed that if I just worked hard enough and avoided mistakes, I would be safe, valued, and successful.
The problem with that belief is that it cages you. You become afraid to stretch, afraid to experiment, afraid to leap…because mistakes look like proof that you aren’t capable. For years, I chased perfection. And for years, I held myself back from opportunities that might have stretched me, simply because I didn’t want to risk the sting of failing.
But then life humbled me and I failed hard, in ways I couldn’t cover up or overcompensate for. And what surprised me was not the pain of failing (though it was there) but the gift hidden inside it. Failure revealed to me something my conditioning never had: mistakes aren’t the end, they’re the beginning. They aren’t shameful, they’re instructive. Failure is one of the most remarkable teachers we will ever have.
That realization completely shifted the way I live and work. Success can validate what you already know, but failure forces you to grow into what you didn’t. Success affirms, but failure transforms. It strips you down, humbles you, and rebuilds you with more depth, resilience, and clarity. And perhaps most importantly, it connects you to others. Failure is universal. It’s the one human experience no one escapes, which means it’s also one of the most powerful ways we can relate to one another.
Now, I don’t just accept mistakes – I LOVE them. I welcome failure because I know it refines me. Every stumble is data. Every setback is direction. And often, failure isn’t punishment at all…it’s divine redirection, steering you toward something better than you could have imagined.
The biggest shift I’ve made is this: I stopped letting failure define me, and I started letting it refine me. I stopped running from mistakes and started running through them, knowing I’d come out sharper on the other side. And I’ve learned that the true difference-maker in life isn’t whether you fail…it’s how fast you get back up, how willing you are to rise again, and how committed you are to keep moving forward with wisdom you didn’t have before.
So what did I change my mind about? Everything. I no longer see failure as a weakness. I see it as the doorway to strength, clarity, and courage. And once you learn to embrace that, failure stops being something you fear and becomes the very thing that fuels your growth.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The coaching and leadership space is full of powerful possibilities, but it is also full of myths that keep people stuck. The first lie is that transformation is quick and easy. You see it everywhere: the glossy ads that say, “One session will change your life,” or, “Take this course and you’ll never struggle again.” It is seductive because people want instant results. But here is the truth: there are no shortcuts to lasting change. Real transformation takes commitment, consistency, and courage. Coaching is not a one-and-done magic trick. It is a process of growth, recalibration, and resilience, because as you evolve, so do your challenges and your goals.
The second lie is that high performance equals hustle. Too many voices in this space glorify exhaustion, as if the one who sacrifices the most hours somehow wins. That narrative is not only false, it is dangerous. Brendan Burchard’s research on the world’s highest performers proves this clearly. The top leaders, innovators, and changemakers are not the ones burning themselves out. They are the ones who know how to protect their energy, direct their focus, and operate with intention. True high performance is not about running harder. It is about creating clarity, sustaining energy, leading with courage, increasing productivity with purpose, and building influence that inspires. That is the opposite of hustle culture. That is sustainable success.
And perhaps the most damaging lie of all is that success looks the same for everyone. Too many coaching programs push cookie-cutter solutions that try to mold people into a single formula. But real leaders and entrepreneurs are not carbon copies. They each bring unique strengths, motivators, and communication styles to the table. Ignoring that individuality is why so many people feel disconnected from the programs they invest in. This is why at Invitation to Succeed I integrate CliftonStrengths® and Everything DiSC®. Real transformation does not come from shoving someone into a box. It comes from helping them unlock the best version of themselves and build success around who they are, not who someone else tells them to be.
The truth is this: the coaching industry does not need more hype or empty promises. It needs more honesty, more depth, and more commitment to people’s long-term growth. Success is not instant. Growth is not linear. And the highest performance does not come from working yourself into the ground. It comes from alignment, intention, and the courage to build a life and business that are both extraordinary and sustainable.
That is the stand I take. And that is the stand I believe our industry must take if we want to serve people with integrity and create results that truly last.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think people may misunderstand my legacy by assuming that my drive for success has always been about becoming rich in the traditional sense, about money, status, or material rewards. And yes, financial success matters. It creates opportunities, it allows you to provide, and it gives you access to experiences. But if people stop there, they will miss the truth of what I actually consider wealth. Because the truth is, I am already rich.
I am rich in freedom. I get to design my life, choose the projects I take on, and align my time with my purpose instead of being trapped by someone else’s agenda. I am rich in flexibility. My work allows me to adapt, to pivot, and to build success without sacrificing my family, my health, or my values. I am rich in time, the most precious currency of all…time to be present with the people I love, time to invest in my clients’ growth, time to dream and create. And I am rich in health, because without it, none of the other riches can be enjoyed. After experiencing my own health crisis years ago, I learned that true success cannot exist without vitality and well-being at the center.
If people misunderstand anything about my legacy, it will be this: they may think I was chasing financial wealth, when in reality I was chasing something much greater. My legacy is not about how much money I made. It is about showing others that true wealth comes from building a life you do not need to escape from. It is about modeling that success is not measured in long hours, hustle, or burnout, but in freedom, health, choice, and impact.
I want to be remembered for helping people redefine what it means to live richly. To help them see that while money can create options, freedom creates fulfillment. That while financial wealth can open doors, time, health, and flexibility are what allow you to walk through those doors with peace and purpose. That is the kind of success that sustains, and that is the legacy I am building.
So yes, I want to be successful. But not because success will make me rich. I already am. My wealth is freedom, flexibility, health, and time, and my legacy is helping others claim the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.invitationtosucceed.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invitationtosucceed
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/invitationtosucceed/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/invitationtosucceed
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/invitationtosucceed
