Innovate Marquette recently hosted Women in Entrepreneurship, a morning event featuring Anti-Excellence with Lane Clark, CEO and Owner of Lane Clark Consulting and Knot Work Studio. A social-worker-turned-entrepreneur, Lane’s now the go-to support system for CEOs and leadership teams, combining her professional training as an MSW with over a decade of experience helping business owners grow with intention.
Lane’s talk offered a refreshing and much-needed perspective for perfectionists, overachievers, and anyone feeling the weight of “doing it all.” Her message was simple but powerful: we can’t do everything. Instead of glorifying hustle and constant performance, she encourages reflection on the cost of constantly doing 110%.
“Looking like you have it all together isn’t a compliment, it’s a red flag,” Lane shared. She speaks candidly about the exhaustion that comes from over functioning, burnout that stems from perfectionism, and decision fatigue.
Throughout her Anti-Excellence talk, Lane emphasized several key truths
- Effort doesn’t always need to be maximized to be valuable.
- Failure isn’t proof of incompetence – it’s data, creativity, and growth.
- You can care deeply without overfunctioning or abandoning yourself.
- You don’t owe your best self to every task.
- Some things are worth doing… even if you’re not great at them.
These core beliefs stand in contrast to the culture many women in leadership are steeped in. Where perfectionism says, “Do it right or don’t do it at all,” Anti-Excellence says, “Try it messy and see what you learn.” Where high-achieving culture rewards burnout as proof of commitment, Anti-Excellence encourages pause, curiosity, and boundaries as acts of leadership.
Lane invites anyone navigating entrepreneurship or leadership to ask: What if I gave 70% instead of 110%? What would happen if I delegated more, or even let someone fail? These aren’t just hypotheticals, they’re practical prompts to rethink how we define effort and success. Lane’s work grants permission to slow down, show up authentically, and redefine what thriving looks like.
Women in Entrepreneurship creates a space for meaningful connection and conversation. The event brings together women who are navigating the challenges of business and everyday life, giving a space to share real experiences, offer support, and learn from one another. Stay tuned for more Women in Entrepreneurship events in the future.
Learn more about how to work with Lane at laneclarkconsulting.com, and sign up for Lane’s very own Anti-Excellence lunch here.
