5 Secret Benefits About the Alli Worthington Internship You’ll Wish You’d Known Sooner

Guest Post by Liv Dooley

How do I describe Alli Worthington’s internship benefits? I’m an emotional person, it’s true. Even still, I did not prepare for the flood of emotions that would arise as I prepared to put my fingertips to the keyboard in preparation for this article.

I had the incredible honor to serve as an intern for Alli this year. Although I can’t say enough about the opportunity, I want to share a little story.

My husband was initially resistant to the idea of this internship. I put in an application, not ever really expecting to hear back from Alli and her team because I felt like it was a whim — one that I took seriously.

That being said, you can imagine how awkward the conversation was when I shared that I had become a new intern for Alli Worthington when I finally told him about my interest in it. 

As my husband, he questioned me about how I would accomplish everything with my schedule. I told him I would make it work because I needed a coach, and this opportunity was priceless. 

As all of us wives are (wink, wink), I was correct in my assessment. The value that I received through this internship was priceless. 

In fact, this past October, he asked me, “Is there any way for you to stay? You’ve gotten so much from that internship.” 

Y’all, my mouth almost hit the floor. 

I know that doesn’t seem like a big deal to you. But it honestly does speak to the power of this internship. This internship was so instrumental in my growth over the past year that others have also remarked on the shift in how I show up now, too.

I have identified five secret benefits you’ll enjoy if you become an intern. I guarantee you’ll wish you’d known them sooner. Don’t just take my word for it, though. Some of the other interns have also shared their favorite things about the internship, so let’s get into it.

Through this internship, you’ll have the opportunity to:

1. Become more self-aware;
2. Facilitate new collaborations;
3. Expand your skills and grow in expertise;
4. Receive trusted advice from industry insiders and strategize your latest project;
5. Position yourself as an expert in your field.

Internship Benefit #1: Become More Self-Aware

This internship helped me see how much I needed to practice setting healthy boundaries. 

Whether it was some elementary cry for friends or a middle school obsession to be liked, I found myself burning the candle at both ends to help others…who weren’t interested in receiving the help I was offering.

Unfortunately, my lack of boundaries often left me exhausted and unable to expend the same energy on the projects God had entrusted to me. 

It was through this internship that I learned how to set boundaries and invite those I felt called to help to invest in themselves through the effort they put forth. As a result, I found more time, less emotional overwhelm, and greater satisfaction in my work. 

I also discovered that I could help others more effectively, which felt good. The reciprocity I now enjoy with other interns feels good to my soul.  It no longer makes me feel as if I’m doing all the heavy lifting within my relationships. 

Internship Benefit #2: Facilitate New Collaborations

Alli is so intentional about fostering a culture that values and celebrates collaboration. Getting to know the other interns from the very beginning was a naturally enjoyable part of the process. 

She consistently encouraged us to support and assist one another through the expertise we’d each gained in our individual fields. It was so nice to learn from former public relations executives and experts on Pinterest.

One of the benefits many of the other women and I were surprised to enjoy was the ongoing ability to get to know one another, apart from the formal sessions offered with Alli. 

Many of us had the opportunity to join a mastermind group when we participated in The Coach School (another unique benefit). I enjoyed collaborating with others on my personal projects as we got to know one another better. 

Not once did I question whether collaborating with the other interns would be okay. The culture Alli facilitated always championed us to grow. 

Internship Benefit #3: Expand Your Skills & Grow In Expertise

I found myself asking, “This is what I’ve been missing?” countless times during the past year.

Within days of accepting the internship, I quickly realized there were so many components within my field of interest that I’d never taken the time to research.

I’m rather spontaneous, and I often step out on faith quickly. Personality trait. The internship gave me a deeper appreciation for research. It was one that I needed. 

As I learned to position myself as a lifelong learner through this internship, I encountered the freedom to feel less pressure about what I “should know” or where I “should be” by now. 

The research Alli required me to conduct to strengthen my skills helped me see that nothing we do is wasted. The moments we spend learning more about our subject matter are just as important (if not more) than the few moments we spend acting upon that knowledge.

I could not be more appreciative of receiving directives that required me to learn. Surprisingly, she made it easy. The internship provides all the classes you may need to grow in your field, including the opportunity to join The Coach School and Called Creatives. 

Internship Benefit #4: Receive Trusted Advice from Industry Insiders and Strategize Your Newest Project 

I signed a contract with my literary agent days before accepting the internship with Alli. And although I had other training opportunities, I knew I needed assistance from someone who knew the industry. 

I needed someone to bounce questions off of, and I needed to understand what to expect. 

Alli was always open and willing to share her knowledge. She demonstrated firsthand what it means to be a coach. I never once felt like there wasn’t anything that I couldn’t ask. I appreciated the straightforward answers she provided. 

When I got ready to create a proposal for a meeting with an editor I was excited about, Alli not only gave me a pep talk, but she reviewed the proposal. And gave me advice on what to change without any hesitation. 

It’s one thing to have your mom review your proposal (love you, mom). It’s an entirely different thing to have a best-selling author review it.

Whether I was speaking about a potential launch. Or a question about how to balance the demands on my schedule. Or the fear I was attempting to get over about stepping out of faith. I knew I could trust the advice Alli would give. 

The 1:1 and group calls were invaluable. They provided an excellent opportunity for me to learn directly from Alli and other women on the internship. I’ve enjoyed being part of a community of women who share the same values. 

I’m sure you know what it feels like to be the last to jump on the bandwagon. You can imagine what I felt when I confessed I thought my next step was to create a Facebook group. I wanted to attempt to facilitate a new community (in 2022, not 2015).

Thankfully, Alli never made me feel like I was crazy or late to the party. She shared tips she’d learned over the years about what it would look like to facilitate engagement in a market that was already full. 

Stepping into my newest project (one that I’d been avoiding for years) felt exhilarating. After talking it over with Alli and the group, it’s one that I’ve been able to maintain and develop over the year with the help of other women. 

Internship Benefit #5: Position Yourself As An Expert in Your Field

There is no way you’ll deny the knowledge you have cultivated throughout your life when you choose to step into this internship. 

So many times, Alli would invite me to share the progress I’d made over the month so that I could put my growth into perspective, and the accountability from month to month was invaluable. 

Unfortunately, imposter syndrome is a plague that women have been dealing with since Eve was tempted in the garden. It’s one we still struggle with today. However, hearing Alli normalize it, helped me put it in perspective.

Internship Benefits Also Included Gaining Confidence to Accept Invitations

Instead of passing over invitations to appear on other podcasts because of how much more I needed to grow. How many others were qualified to speak on the subject? I started accepting invitations with a newfound boldness. 

I began to invest in my website, and I took my newsletter seriously for the first time in my life (since its establishment eight years earlier). The more I shared the research I’d conducted or the studies I’d written, the more people I found gravitating to the message the Lord has given me. 

Recognizing that others want to hear from me has been the most transformational realization I’ve encountered over the past year. It’s led me to exercise greater caution and pray more diligently at the opportunities I accept and the information I share. An internship benefit I was not expecting.

Learn more about the internship.

Liv Dooley — host of The Best Kept Secret with Liv Dooley. You can connect with her at livdooley.com.