Ever feel like your career is heading into apocalyptic mode—even when things aren’t actually that bad? Jessica McCarthy, CEO & Founder of Brand Energy, gets it. She believes there’s often a gap between what we feel and what’s really happening, especially in today’s hyper-connected, always-on world. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jessica opens up to Lisa Singer about navigating the unknown. From nearly becoming a brain surgeon to leading bold marketing campaigns for major brands, her path has been anything but conventional—and she credits that unexpected journey for teaching her the value of perspective, grit, and showing up even when it’s hard. Jessica also shares some no-nonsense advice on why doing the hard stuff early matters—explaining how it lays the groundwork for getting to where you want to go. Watch the full conversation in the video above.