Beware the 40 Chicken Alligator: Setting Boundaries for Success

In this episode, Michelle O’Neil shares a lesson from her mother’s story about the “40 Chicken Alligator” to highlight how small commitments can grow into overwhelming responsibilities. She explains that, like a baby alligator, these obligations may seem manageable at first but can quickly spiral out of control if not kept in check. Michelle emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say no, ensuring you can give your best to the commitments that truly matter.

What is The Michelle May O'Neil Show?

The Michelle May O'Neil Show is where reinvention becomes more than an idea; it becomes a movement. If you are standing at the edge of what is next, this is where you will find the stories, strategies, and clarity to create your future by design instead of default. From boardrooms to personal crossroads, we confront the hard part of change: the failures that felt final, the resets that required courage, and the disciplined strategy that turns a comeback into a competitive edge.

Hosted by Michelle May O’Neil, a nationally recognized strategist and one of America’s leading lawyers, the show explores how top performers rebuild after real setbacks, reframe identity, and reimagine what success can look like in business and in life. Conversations with world-class entrepreneurs and cultural thought leaders go past the highlight reel to the moments they thought they were finished, how they clawed their way back, and achieved success greater than they could have imagined.

Between interviews, Michelle delivers solo episodes that translate decades of guiding leaders through high-stakes transitions into a clear playbook for navigating change with intention. Expect straight talk on resilience, leadership, culture, and the practical mechanics of designing a second act that actually works.

This is not theory. It is real stories, real strategy, and real transformation for people who have failed, fought, and forged ahead. If you are ready to stop drifting and start designing your next chapter, this show equips you with the insights and tools to make your next move count.