You’re The Bad Guy Now(For Leader Only)

I once stayed in a relationship a full year past its expiration date — knowing, without a doubt, I needed to get out.

But I stayed.

You know why?

Because I couldn’t handle being “the bad guy.”

Even though we’d reached a point of no return — cheating, reactive fights, abusive patterns — part of me thought that staying was some kind of redemption. Staying gave the impression I was “all in,” hoping she wouldn’t paint me as the villain and herself as the victim.

I wasn’t ready to face the harsh truth: we were both playing ugly parts in the story.

This was before Johnny Depp and Amber Heard showed the world that relationships aren’t black and white. In the gray of trauma bonds, everyone plays both victim and perpetrator.

But in my mind, being seen as anything other than the “heroic angel” was a threat to my identity.

It’s amazing what lengths we’ll go to avoid the “villain” role.

Here’s the reality:That fear of being seen as the “bad guy” is a massive barrier.

It’s the mask that stops us from having secure relationships and from leading authentically.

And it’s not just in our personal lives — this same fear limits us as leaders, entrepreneurs, and public figures.

And this hit me hard recently when I was confronted, on stage, with the same “bad guy” role.

That’s when I realized:as leaders, we’re only as powerful as our ability to embrace our “inner villain.”

When we refuse to accept this part of ourselves, we hold back, hide our truth, and limit our potential. And the people we’re meant to impact?

They stay hidden, too.

So, what’s the takeaway?

On Friday’s “How to Become a Trigger-Proof Speaker” I shared this exact insight with my community: Embracing your inner Villian.

This is for leaders who want to own their truth, lead their teams, captivate audiences, and leave people talking long after they’ve left the room.

And because of the response from Friday’s talk,

I’m doing it again tomorrow night.

But let’s be clear — this isn’t for everyone.

This is for aspiring leaders, speakers, and entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid to confront their past and are ready to make their mess their message.

Here’s what you’ll get from this one-hour, no-recording session:

My raw, embarrassing story of embracing my “villain” moment.
The 3-step framework I discovered to speak with power, even when you’re terrified.
Practical tools to break free from people-pleasing and own your authentic voice.

If you’re ready to be seen — not just as the polished hero, but as the real, raw leader that you are — join me tomorrow night.

Reserve Your Spot for Wednesday Night: 5:30pm — 6:30PM PST (8:30–9:30PM EST)
That’s 12:30 -1:30pm in Sydney on Thursday afternoon)

No recordings, no second chances. This is for those who are ready to turn their past into purpose.

Let’s do this.

Register HERE.

Your wingman on this adventure,
Nima