ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Your problem isn't that your life is a disaster. Your problem is that you have a pretty good situation, and you want a great one.
Welcome to Week 1 of the Alignment Edit, where we're tackling personal systems — the foundation for everything else. Most of you are already killing it. You're smart, you're capable, and you're checking all the boxes. But you're stuck in what Gay Hendricks calls the "zone of excellence" — doing what you're good at instead of what you're meant for. You've got the curse of competence, and it's keeping you comfortable but not fulfilled.
In this episode, Alexis breaks down why "good enough" is the real enemy, how to do an energy audit on your life, and the practical systems you need to clear out the mental clutter and make room for what you actually want. We're talking digital decluttering, building a second brain (yes, even if you think Notion is too hard), and creating routines that make your day feel as good as it possibly can.
This is for the ambitious material girls who are ready to turn their B+ life into an A+. Let's get aligned.
What You'll Learn:
Why the enemy of great is good — and how "pretty good" keeps you stuck
The difference between operating in survival mode vs. contributing to greatness
How to conduct an energy audit and identify what's draining you
Practical steps to clear your digital space and refresh your brain
How to build a second brain (even if you're not a Notion girlie)
Why the curse of competence is blocking your next level
The ambitious material girl commandment: you work hard so you can enjoy your life
EPISODE CHAPTERS
[1:01] - Welcome to the Alignment Edit: why you're already killing it (but want more)
[2:02] - The enemy of great is good — Melody Hobson on choosing greatness over "getting it done"
[5:50] - Good vs. great: when things feel functional but not fulfilling
[7:44] - The curse of competence and the zone of excellence
[11:44] - How to do an energy audit on your life
[17:29] - Personal systems 101: clearing your digital space
[17:52] - Building a second brain (yes, even if Notion scares you)
[19:09] - Wrapping up Week 1 + what's coming next in the Alignment Edit
WHERE TO FIND ALEXIS & TOO COLLECTIVE
Follow along with Alexis:
Instagram:
@alexisbarber: https://www.instagram.com/alexisbarber/?hl=en
@toocollective: https://www.instagram.com/toocollective/?hl=en
Substack:
Too Smart For This Newsletter: https://toocollective.substack.com/
TikTok:
@alexisbarber_: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisbarber_
YouTube:
Subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com/@alexis_barber
Shop the Episode: https://shopmy.us/shop?Curator_id=250549
Book Office Hours: Work with Alexis Here:
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22112790&appointmentType=79833937
Get the Journal: Too Smart For This: A Guided Journal Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761193/too-smart-for-this-by-alexis-barber/
Questions, thoughts, or want to collaborate with Alexis or Too Collective? Email Alexis at alexis@alexisbarber.com
ABOUT TOO SMART FOR THIS
You're ambitious. You're overwhelmed. And you're definitely too smart to keep sacrificing your well-being for someone else's definition of success.
Too Smart For This is the show for ambitious material girls just like you who are learning how to channel their chaotic energy into a more intentional and fun life.
Join your host, Alexis Barber (author, Wharton MBA, former Google/YouTube strategist, and certified ambitious material girl), every Monday for the frameworks, authentic conversations, and tangible tools you need to build a life that's both driven and deeply enjoyable. Because self-care is part of the business plan—and you're too smart to settle for anything less.
Subscribe now and follow @alexisbarber and @toocollective for more.
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Hello, love!
I'm an ambitious material girl obsessed with wellness, business, consumer culture, and the creator economy. I write from New York City, where I'm busy enjoying being young, gifted, and Black, oversharing online, and remembering that self-care is part of the business plan.
My career TLDR:
Bounced from Google Marketing to YouTube creator strategy before getting my MBA from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania.
Started and ran a premium bathrobe brand that collaborated with Rare Beauty & Bumble, and I'm the author of Too Smart for This: A Journal to Build Self-Trust and Stop Settling for Less Than You Deserve, published by Tarcher Books.
Been a lifestyle influencer for 5 years, collaborating with 75+ brands across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and was named by the American Influencer Council as a Trailblazer in the microinfluencer category.
This show is supported by Other Kind Media — otherkindmedia.com
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toocollective.substack.com/subscribe
