Welcome Storytellers:
Today's story comes from a woman who worked 80-hour weeks and stayed at her desk until 10 PM while everyone else went home—and still felt invisible.
You know that lie we tell ourselves? If I just work harder. If I just prove myself one more time. If I just stay later, deliver more, sacrifice more, then they'll see me. Then I'll get what I deserve.
Amy Belcher lived that lie for years. She was the ultimate "doer", the one who merged global organizations, juggled an executive MBA, and never said no. She thought loyalty and endless effort would be enough.
It wasn't.
Her Breaking Point:
Today's story comes from a woman who worked 80-hour weeks, prepared presentations for billionaires, and stayed at her desk until 10 PM while everyone else went home—and still remained invisible.
Then she broke.
"I just broke like a dam and started crying. I mean, ugly tears," Amy recalls.
Her 12-year-old son walked in and asked a question that would redirect her entire career trajectory:
"Mom, why are you doing this to yourself?"
The Invisible Worker Trap:
For years, Amy was what she calls "the doer" the loyal, steady Eddie who stayed until 9 or 10 PM while everyone else left at 5:30.
"I can be the hardest working person in the room. But if nobody knows who I am, it doesn't matter."
She learned the hard way that working harder doesn't equal moving forward. "For many years, I didn't declare what I wanted. I didn't ask. I just thought that someone would make it happen because they knew."
The Three Rules That Changed Everything:
After that breaking point, Amy created a framework that took her from behind-the-scenes doer to leading global teams at AWS:
1. Ask for what you want—repeatedly "I learned to be more vocal about what I want. And not just asking once and stating it once, but stating it repeatedly. This is what good looks like to me. This is my North Star."
2. Master the "Yes, And" "I don't believe in work-life balance. I believe in work-life integration, which means putting boundaries and saying either no or yes and. Yes, I can do that. And you've given me these other seven projects. I can complete two of them by Friday. Which two would you like?"
3. Know your non-negotiables Amy now evaluates every opportunity against three criteria:
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Trust and transparency with her manager
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Working with people she learns from
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Contributing to meaningful work
"Seven years ago, it was money. Money was number one. And I got a job where I was paid really well and was absolutely miserable."
What Women Need to Do Differently:
When women reach out for mentorship, Amy has clear conditions:
"Number one, you own the meeting cadence. Number two, come to the meeting knowing what the outcome is. Come knowing what you want from that mentorship relationship."
But mentorship isn't enough. "Women need to identify sponsors more and be more vocal about that because when they're not in the room is when people are voting for them."
The Question to Ask Yourself:
"Spend time self-reflecting and ask yourself: How do you work the best? What's the environment and the culture where you can contribute the most? I'm not talking about your degrees, your technical skills—I'm talking about the conditions where you thrive."
Meet Amy:
Amy Belcher is the Director of WW ISV Sales & Go To Market Strategy at AWS, where she leads a public sector organization.
She's proof that the system won't change for you, but you can change how you navigate it.
Amy's story isn't about working harder. It's about working smarter, asking loudly, and knowing your non-negotiables before you burn out trying to prove your worth to people who aren't paying attention.
The doer became the director—not by staying late, but by speaking up.
If this resonates with you, you're not alone.
This is exactly why we need spaces where women can share these experiences without judgment. Your story matters, and there are thousands of women who need to hear it.
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