Today we talk to Alyx Parks — fly fishing guide, TV host, career coach, photographer, professor, and the self-proclaimed “girl who falls in frog ponds”.
For most of us, the idea of creating a career out of what we love is a promise we gave up on long ago. But Alyx is living proof it can be done. And she’s here to show us it’s not too late to shape a career — and a life — that actually feels like you.
In this episode, we talk about the importance of conviction over confidence, how to answer, “what do you do?” in a way that makes people pay attention, and her lessons from the river that guide her work and her life. We also dive into burnout, imposter syndrome, personal branding, and why we need to rethink our Mondays.
If you’ve ever felt like your job no longer fits, or maybe that you’re running out of time to finally find a career that suits you, this conversation is for you.
Please enjoy, Alyx Parks.
Key Takeaways:
- Conviction over confidence: You don’t need to feel confident to move forward — just have conviction in who you are and what lights you up. The confidence will follow.
- “I’m the girl who falls in frog ponds”: Alyx shares how reframing the way you introduce yourself can open doors and make people truly listen.
- The 'why tree' exercise: A powerful way to go deeper into your values and passions to build a more authentic personal brand — from the inside out.
- Say “okay,” not “yes”: You don’t need to feel 100% ready. Just be open. A lot of Alyx’s best adventures began with an “okay, I’ll try.”
- Lessons from the river: Fly fishing is full of metaphors — about uncertainty, learning by doing, casting even when you can’t see what’s under the surface.
- The power of “Mediocre Mondays”: You don’t have to crush it every Monday. Permission to show up as you are and reset.
- We only accept the love we think we deserve: A beautiful reminder to stop pushing away compliments and start seeing yourself the way others already do.
- You are the bubble: We often chase a feeling of safety, energy, or connection — but that feeling can come from you. Let people into your world.
Links and Resources:
Alyx on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyxparks/
Alyx’s website: https://www.ontarioflygirl.com/
Alyx on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontarioflygirl/?hl=en
Alyx on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk2DJldSE7hhQTU8rjNHeYw
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