IMPOSSIBLE FREEDOM QUIZ

Success Shouldn’t Feel Like Survival—But for Many High Achievers, It Does.

You built a successful business. So why does it feel like it’s running you instead of the other way around?

Couple standing on a hill overlooking snow-capped mountains and a pine forest under a blue sky.

Many high-achieving leaders hit a hidden plateau—we call it The Middle Zone where success starts taking more than it gives.

It’s where:

  • Your calendar is packed, but your highest-impact priorities keep getting pushed aside.

  • You’ve built a team, yet key decisions and problems still land on your plate.

  • Success has come at a cost—to your time, energy, and personal freedom.

The harder you work, the harder it feels to break free—and that’s because the real problem isn’t a lack of effort—it’s the invisible leaks in your time and team keeping you stuck.


Which Stage of the Middle Zone Are You In?

Not all business owners experience the Middle Zone the same way. 

Some leaders are Momentum Builders, pushing forward with big goals. 

Others are Overworked Climbers, moving fast yet feeling the weight of increasing demands. 

And then there are Exhausted Explorers, who have reached impressive milestones but find themselves wondering: Where’s the freedom I’ve worked so hard for?

Each stage presents its own unique challenges—and opportunities. The question is: where are you now, and what’s your next move?

In less than 5 minutes, the Impossible Freedom Quiz will reveal:

  1. The stage of the Middle Zone you’re currently in.

  2. The hidden leaks in your time and team keeping you trapped by your business.

  3. Your best next step to regain control and scale with more freedom.

Success shouldn’t come at the cost of your time, energy, or freedom. Your path to Impossible Freedom starts here.


Man and woman smiling, sitting on stacked logs in a forest

We’re Nadine & Derek Nicholson, founders of Ascend Leadership Co. We guide powerhouse $1MM+ founders and CEOs out of the Middle Zone of time stress, guilt, and overworking—while climbing to never-before-seen levels of success.

Our clients refuse to settle for business success at the cost of their personal freedom—and are ready to embrace a new way of leading themselves, their time, and their team. NOW, not someday. 

Our signature Impossible Freedom Equation is a proven path to live your best life and drive next-level business growth. No trade-offs required.


The sooner you identify your biggest leadership gaps, the faster you step into a business that fuels your freedom—not one that drains it. In less than 5 minutes, the Impossible Freedom Quiz will reveal your best next step.