Ep 212 In Pursuit: Fulfillment Beyond Achievement with Jessica Smarro
Episode Description
What if the next goal isn’t the answer?
In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, host Dr. Amy Vertrees speaks with Jessica Smarro, licensed therapist, certified life coach, and author of In Pursuit: Go After What You Want, Alive, Aligned, and Fully You.
Jessica shares her journey from nearly 15 years working in jail diversion programs to helping high achievers “free themselves from the prison of an unmanaged mind.” Together, Amy and Jessica explore why so many accomplished professionals reach milestones only to feel disappointed, empty, or restless—and why this experience is far more common than we admit.
This conversation dives into the subtle but powerful shift from chasing achievements to understanding the feelings we’re actually pursuing. Jessica introduces her Freedom Framework, explains why self-worth must be uncoupled from accomplishment, and offers practical tools for navigating fear, imposter syndrome, and emotional discomfort without abandoning ambition.
This episode is especially resonant for surgeons and high achievers who are successful on paper—but quietly wondering if there’s more.
What You’ll Learn
Why achievement alone often fails to create fulfillment
How many goals are really about chasing feelings, not outcomes
Why feeling good before achieving doesn’t lead to complacency
The danger of “arrival addiction” and how to step off the treadmill
How to distinguish self-honoring goals from externally imposed ones
A healthier way to work with imposter syndrome
The difference between fixing yourself and understanding yourself
How to create emotional safety through self-compassion
Chapters / Timestamps
00:00:02 – Meet Jessica Smarro and the origin of In Pursuit
00:02:03 – The disappointment of achievement and chasing feelings
00:04:19 – The Freedom Framework: prison, path, and pursuit
00:09:34 – Addressing the fear of complacency
00:12:53 – Self-honoring vs. following predetermined paths
00:18:11 – Rethinking imposter syndrome as useful feedback
00:21:20 – Understanding yourself instead of fixing yourself
00:35:12 – Creating emotional safety through self-compassion
00:37:17 – Jessica’s work, podcast, and upcoming group program
Action Items
Reflect on whether your current goals are driven by fear/lack or curiosity/wholeness
Practice staying present with difficult emotions rather than bypassing them
Experiment with separating self-worth from outcomes
Use “compass checks” to assess alignment before setting your next goal
Resources
In Pursuit: Go After What You Want, Alive, Aligned, and Fully You – Jessica Smarro
Jessica’s podcast: Unblocked
About the Guest
Jessica Smarro is a licensed therapist, certified life coach, and author who helps high achievers pursue meaningful goals without abandoning themselves in the process. Her work focuses on identity, emotional safety, and sustainable fulfillment.
