Do What You Love: Interview with Dr. Caroline Leaf

Several years ago, I interviewed neuroscientist and mental health influencer Dr. Caroline Leaf in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Adam: What is something about you that would surprise people?

Caroline: I love watching The Good Doctor in the sauna to relax and rest! Rest is so important for our mental well-being and ability to think clearly, and I tend to work so much because I love what I do, that I often forget to take a break. I am working on this and learning to rest in my “busyness” by listening to my brain and body’s “I am tired” signals.

Adam: How did you become an “influencer”?

Caroline: It definitely wasn’t something that happened overnight. It was a process and it took me about 10 years to get where I am now. I initially just had a private practice in South Africa and occasionally spoke at conferences. I started getting more and more invites and I was eventually invited to come talk in the U.S. After that one visit, so many new opportunities came up and we (my family and I) moved to Texas. Every year now I am invited to speak at hundreds of different events, ranging from churches to schools to medical conferences and more. I also write books, have a podcast, and a YouTube channel. I think telling people that they are more than equipped mentally for life is a really encouraging message that speaks to people of all ages, abilities, races, and genders. It is very relatable because we all battle with life and how to improve our mental well-being in a stressful society – it’s the human condition and we need to know we have the ability to cope when we know how. I think the “inside story” is just doing something you love (And I absolutely love my work), and doing it because you love it. I want people to live up to their potential and love when they learn that they can succeed in every area of your life. I think if you have that passion and desire to give back into your community, people will just be attracted to that.

Adam: What is the biggest misconception about the influencer world and life as an influencer?

Caroline: That we live glamorous lives and travel all the time and that this is always fun. But it is hard work and we are constantly “on the go”—even though I travel a lot, it is for work and there are many times when I just miss my own bed. It is a very tiring job.

Adam: What advice do you have for those interested in working with influencers?

Caroline: Look out for people that are authentic and original. I think often people feel like they have to be like so and so to succeed in life, but we are all different—we all think differently. It is important to work with people that are confident enough to be themselves, aren’t envious of others, and appreciate people who are different.

Adam: What has being an influencer taught you about branding and marketing?

Caroline: It is very important to develop a brand that is authentic, consistent, unique, and tells a story. I always think in terms of “What is the problem people face” and “How can I help them/what is the solution.” I also think it is extremely important to be real, honest, and creative with marketing. People nowadays are very quick at picking up shady marketing tactics.

Adam: What advice do you have for those interested in becoming influencers?

Caroline: Do what you love. People are attracted to authentic passion and dedication that comes from loving where you are and what you are doing. It is also a lot easier to dedicate yourself to something and work hard to make it work when you love doing it. And be patient! It will take time and a lot of effort but if you are doing something you love it is worth it! Lastly, find that one thing that makes you unique and pursue that. It will not only help make you stand out but will also help with your personal brand.

Adam: Who have been the biggest influences in your life?

Caroline: My family and closest friends and certain amazing scientists whose work I passionately follow. They support and love me, but are always honest with me, and continually encourage me to improve myself and learn. This is exactly how I help others – both with my patients when I ran my clinical practice for 25 years, and now as I reach millions around the world with a message of love and hope through every possible medium. Paying it forward is the most natural part of operating in the wired-for-love design of our mind and brain. 


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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