Behind the Acronym: The Story of GLIMMER™ and Redefining Success After Burnout
The past year has been a journey.
I started Glimmer in August 2024, so it may seem like a weird time to write this post, but a few big things have been happening:
After 14 months of (painful) back and forth on getting the name formally registered, it finally came together this week (Incredibly grateful to that one CIPC call agent who finally knew what she was doing).
The Glimmer Snapshot released this week (more about that in the rest of the post).
I’ve been working with a graphic designer to help refresh the brand and we’re in the process of finalising that. Exciting new things to come.
So, all in all, now feels like the right time to put this out into the world.
When I left Accenture, all I knew is I wanted to rest and regroup after years of executive burnout. I had the coaching certifications, but wasn’t sure if I was going to use them. I wanted to be sure that, if/when I made the decision to do it, it would feel right. I wanted it to fully resonate with me.
So I planted the seed at the back of my mind that I wanted a name that felt right. I set the intention, put it out into the universe and believed that, when the time was right, the name would come to me.
Then I set about the process of 'retiring'. Lots of fantasy books, catching up on years of series, lying at the pool, reconnecting with friends, and the list goes on...
How GLIMMER™ Came to Be
After lots of intellectual conversations with ChatGPT, nothing quite felt right. AI couldn't solve this problem.
Then I saw that meme on what a ‘Glimmer’ is.
“It’s essentially the opposite of a trigger. Glimmers are those micro-moments in your day that make you feel joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude. The more you train your brain to be on the lookout for glimmers, the more these tiny moments will begin to appear.”
That clicked into place.
It’s what I’d just been through…
dealing with my triggers, finding joy, focusing on gratitude and training my brain to find the positive.
It’s the spark that returned when I exhaled.
When I stopped performing and started listening.
When I remembered who I was beneath the layers of expectation and pressure.
It’s the same patterns I noticed in women I worked with for years. They were accomplished, ambitious, and deeply driven. But somewhere along the way, they’d lost connection with themselves. Their energy was being spent on proving rather than feeling purposeful. They were excelling, but not fulfilled.
When I looked closer, I realised...
They weren’t broken or burned out beyond repair.
They were misaligned.
The light hadn’t gone out.
It was just buried under everything they thought they had to be.
Some conversations with trusted friends followed and that spark became the heartbeat of my work. GLIMMER™ Coaching and GLIMMER™ Consulting was born, not as a program model, but a philosophy for living and leading differently.
What GLIMMER™ Represents
After resonating with the original meaning of the word, I saw how the individual letters could speak to the elements of the larger philosophy. Each one represents a key part of what came to be a healing journey for me, and it’s now the pieces I focus on with my clients.
Together, they tell the story of what it means to come home to yourself again.
G – Goals → Clarity and purpose
Because when you know what truly matters, the noise gets quieter. You stop chasing every opportunity and start choosing with intention.
I got really clear on what my end goals were. This took out the noise of pressure to get more promotions, work harder, prove more. Knowing my North Star meant I could keep coming back to it when ego got in the way of end goals.
L – Liberation → Freedom from pressure and proving
It’s the permission to stop measuring your worth by your productivity or by others’ definitions of success. Liberation is where ease and authenticity begin to take root.
I gave myself permission to stop trying to prove myself to everyone else. I got really real on what was important to me and I doubled-down on focusing on that.
I – Identity → Authenticity and self-expression
The rediscovery of self, beyond job titles, accolades, or expectations. It’s remembering who you are when you’re not performing for anyone.
Rediscovering who I was took some doing, but it was worth it. When I figured out what brought joy and what my values actually were (as opposed to the values of the organisation I was working for), decisions became clearer.
M – Mindset → Perspective and resilience
Because the stories we tell ourselves shape how we experience everything. Shifting from self-criticism to self-trust changes the entire landscape.
I underestimated the power of thoughts and mindset. Trusting myself, trusting my instincts, focusing on positive changed the game. Science proves that your mind listens to what you tell it.
M – Motivation → Energy and inspiration
True motivation doesn’t come from pressure, it comes from alignment. When your values and vision connect, your energy expands instead of drains.
I found I didn’t need to force myself out of bed to push through things I didn’t want to do anymore. That shift in motivation in means I now want to do what I do every day. I’m naturally more productive.
E – Environment → Support and sustainability
We can’t thrive in isolation. The right environment (people, habits, and boundaries) creates the conditions for lasting wellbeing and success.
I re-evaluated who I spend time with, how I spend that time and I strengthened boundaries where they needed to be strengthened. My circle looks different, my days look different because my habits are healthier and I draw lines I never used to.
R – Reimagined Future → Vision and intentional direction
Because once you reconnect to who you are, you start to imagine what’s possible again. The future stops being something to chase, and becomes something you design.
This all comes together in a renewed vision for myself and my life. On a recent talk, I spoke about one of my biggest lessons in the last year.
It’s completely possibly to build work around life and not settle for having a life built around work.
It’s about having a vision for my life and working towards that.
Why GLIMMER™ Matters: Redefining Success After Burnout
For me, GLIMMER™ is more than an acronym. It’s a reflection of my own journey - from burnout and overachievement to alignment and freedom. It’s what helped me rebuild a life that feels both grounded and purpose-driven.
Every client I’ve worked with has their own version of that journey.
Some start by craving clarity.
Others begin with exhaustion.
But at some point, they all rediscover that same inner light.
And when they do, everything changes.
They lead differently.
They speak up more freely.
They stop apologising for what they need.
They find space again - for joy, for rest, for meaning.
That’s the power of a glimmer.
Introducing the Glimmer Snapshot™
The Glimmer Snapshot™ is the first step in this work. It’s a simple reflection tool designed to help you see where your own GLIMMER™ is shining brightly, and where it might need more attention.
It’s a starting point for awareness, not self-judgment.
Because awareness is where transformation begins.
If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your energy or purpose, or you’re craving a sense of direction that feels like you, the Glimmer Snapshot™ can help you see what’s ready to shift.
✨ Give it a shot. I'd love feedback.
