Your nervous system is sending you a message. Are you listening?

High performers are often the last people to admit they're burning out because they're still getting great performance reviews while their body quietly falls apart.

In this episode, Hannah responds to a listener who has been in back-to-back burnout cycles for two years. She's a project manager at a major financial institution - brilliant at her job, crossing time zones daily, triple-checking everything, answering Slack at 10pm and now dealing with stress-related stomach issues and anxiety more days than not.

She can't quit. She needs the salary. And she's tried therapy, tried saying no, and keeps ending up right back here.

Hannah uses Christina Maslach's clinical framework to diagnose exactly what's happening, and then gives a clear, no-fluff roadmap for getting out of it without torching your career.

In this episode, Hannah covers:

• Christina Maslach's 3-component burnout framework
• Why "greedy jobs" in finance, law, tech, and consulting are burnout factories
• How to separate job demands from personality patterns (and why you need to address both)
• The financial reality of burnout: the 15% salary hit most people don't see coming
• Tactical schedule changes to contain the time zone problem
• Why therapy alone isn't enough and what coaching does differently
• When to consider a lateral role change (and what you actually trade away)
• How to choose between career acceleration and your health

The truth: You can have a thriving career and not be sick. But you can't have both at the same time if you keep doing the same things.

Timestamps:

02:30 — Christina Maslach's 3-component burnout framework explained
04:00 — Diagnosing the listener: Does she qualify? (All three boxes ticked)
05:00 — "Greedy jobs" why finance, law, and tech normalise burnout
06:15 — Separating job demands from personality patterns: time zones vs. perfectionism
07:30 — The real question: is your priority health or the mortgage?
08:30 — The financial cost of burnout: the 15% salary hit nobody warns you about
09:15 — Tactical fix #1: condensing time zone work to specific days
10:00 — Tactical fix #2: negotiating with your manager + using health as a lever
11:00 — Why therapy alone isn't enough and what coaching does differently
12:30 — Considering a lateral role change: the trade-offs, honestly
13:45 — Career acceleration vs. health: you can't have both right now
14:30 — "You can have a thriving career and not be sick", Hannah's closing belief

Resources/ Links:

Christina Maslach is best known as one of the pioneering researchers on job burnout and the author of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the most widely used research measure in the burnout field.

https://maslach.socialpsychology.org/files

🚨 Got a career challenge?

Submit your questions and frustrations to the Hannah Hotline!

Email: hello@hannahkissel.com

Gain Access to the free Career Confidence Course: https://www.hannahkissel.com/careerconfidence

Follow Hannah Kissel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmaekissel/

Connect with Hannah Kissel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahkissel/

Visit Hannah's website: www.hannahkissel.com

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Hannah Hotline is sponsored by dominiquejingles.

DM Dominique on Instagram @dominiquejingles or email dominiqueenglish04@gmail.com.

#highperformer #burnoutprevention #burnoutrecovery #healthisthenewwealth #burnouttobreakthrough #workplaceadvice #thebodykeepsthescore #workplacewellness

Feeling overwhelmed? It's probably not what you think it is.

In this raw, unscripted solo episode, Hannah shares what came out of her most recent therapy session - a realisation that stopped her in her tracks.

She'd been feeling overwhelmed. Shutting down. Going full "sloth monster." And when she traced it back to the source, it wasn't burnout. It wasn't doing too much. It was the complete opposite - it was not making decisions.

If you're in a season of growth where everything feels uncertain, you have ten browser tabs open in your brain, and you can't seem to pick a direction. This episode is going to land hard.

The bottom line: Overwhelm isn't always about doing too much. Sometimes it's about deciding too little. Pick a direction, any direction and let the data tell you what to do next.

📩 DM Hannah if this hit home, she wants to hear from you.

Key Takeaways:

- Overwhelm is often indecision in disguise.
- Know your stress response.
- Open decisions are open wounds.
- Indecision has a massive opportunity cost.
- More research = more paralysis
- Ring-fence big decisions with a deadline.
- Cap your research time
- Execute to get data — not to get it perfect.
- Perfectionism is a momentum killer.
- You're better at executing than you think.

Timestamps:

02:00 — The window of tolerance: hyper-arousal vs. hypo-arousal explained
02:45 — Meet the "sloth monster": Hannah's hypo-arousal shutdown mode
03:30 — The root cause: overwhelm = indecision during hypergrowth
04:15 — Why being good at executing directives doesn't translate to open-ended decisions
04:45 — The "open tabs" problem and the opportunity cost of not deciding
05:30 — Real examples: evergreen vs. launch, program naming dilemmas
06:15 — The 3-step decision-making framework: ring-fence, cap research, execute
07:00 — Why more research leads to more paralysis (not better decisions)
07:45 — Perfectionism + the friend who joined the program for the same reason
08:15 — When big life decisions ARE worth more time (and when they're not)

#decisionmaking #overwhelmed #indecision #createyourownfuture #decisionsmatter #lifecoachforwomen #lifeworkbalance

You can be powerful. You can be liked. They're not opposites.

If you've just stepped into a bigger leadership role and you're about to have the hardest conversations of your career, this one's for you.

In this Hannah Hotline episode, Hannah coaches a listener who has rocketed from career-changer to C-suite executive in just three years, now managing nearly 30 people and reporting directly to the CEO. A major restructure is coming. Roles are being changed. A senior colleague is now reporting to her. And she has to deliver "you're in or you're out" messages to people she genuinely likes.

She feels like a fraud. Hannah's response? You're confusing people-pleasing with people-caring and they are not the same thing.

In this episode, Hannah covers:
- The critical difference between people-pleasing and people-caring (and why it changes everything)
- Why people-pleasing is actually protecting you, not them
- How to reframe "in or out" messages as giving people agency, not taking it away
- What to actually say to a senior colleague who now reports to you
- Why "clarity is the kindest thing you can do" as a leader
- The identity shift required to step into real leadership authority
- How to increase your tolerance for discomfort, without losing your character
- Situational leadership and nonviolent communication as practical tools

The truth about people-pleasing in leadership: avoiding hard conversations doesn't protect your team. It protects you and it costs your team clarity, direction, and respect.

Got a question for Hannah? Email hello@hannahkissel.com

Timestamps:

02:30 — First reframe: you can be powerful and likable, they're not opposites
04:00 — People-pleasing vs. people-caring: the distinction that changes everything
05:30 — "Clarity is the kindest thing you can do", why avoiding hard conversations hurts people
07:00 — Reframing "in or out" messages: giving people agency, not taking it away
08:15 — How to handle the senior colleague who now reports to you
09:45 — Using your C-suite influence to make the restructure more employee-friendly
11:00 — The identity shift: increasing your tolerance for discomfort
12:30 — Building your support system + tools (nonviolent communication, situational leadership)
13:30 — Send Hannah your questions + wrap up

#peoplepleasingrecovery #clarityiskey #careertransitions #workplaceadvice #highperformer

"How you do money is how you do everything."

If you've ever frozen when you should have acted, avoided looking at your bank account, or made a financial decision out of fear. This episode is going to hit differently.

Hannah sits down with Julia Scott, Sydney-based financial advisor, wealth mentor, chartered accountant, and founder of Love Luck Wealth and the upcoming FinTech platform Jane, to talk about the real reason so many high-performing women are secretly sabotaging themselves financially. This is not your standard money podcast. Julia brings together financial expertise and emotional intelligence to explain why the traditional finance industry was built for men, why women freeze instead of act, and what to actually do about it.

In this episode, they cover:

• Why self-sabotage shows up in your finances — and how to catch it
• The uncomfortable truth about women's historical relationship with money
• Julia's personal story: the divorce that tested everything she knew about finance — and why it became her mission
• Why you should never make a financial decision from a place of fear
• The case for prenuptial agreements (even if you're not wealthy)
• How to financially prepare for having children
• The 6–12 month safety cushion rule — and why most people skip it
• Practical tools for dealing with financial stress and anxiety
• The "50 ways to make money" exercise that unlocks creative income thinking
• Why perfectionism is an energy leak — and how to stop it costing you
• Raising your frequency to meet your financial goals (yes, there's science behind this)

Two thirds of the world's wealth is forecast to be in women's hands. The question is, are you ready to hold yours?

About Julia Scott

Julia Scott is a Chartered Accountant, wealth educator, and founder dedicated to helping women build financial confidence and long-term wealth.

After beginning her career advising ultra-high-net-worth families, Julia saw firsthand that many capable women had been left out of the financial conversations shaping their futures. Determined to change that, she founded Love Luck Wealth, where she teaches women how to overcome money blocks, invest wisely, and build meaningful wealth.

Julia is also the founder of Money by Jane, an upcoming financial platform designed to give women easier access to banking, investing, and financial education. Her work is driven by a simple belief: when women understand money, they change the trajectory of their lives and the generations that follow.

She lives in Sydney Australia and is passionate about empowering women everywhere to feel confident, capable, and in control of their financial future.

Connect with Julia

Love Luck Wealth: https://www.loveluckwealth.com/

hello@loveluckwealth.com

Being made redundant isn't just losing a pay cheque, it's being told you're no longer part of the tribe. And when your identity is tied to your work, that hits hard.

In this episode, Hannah responds to a listener who was recently made redundant, loved her job, is now terrified of falling behind in an AI-disrupted market, and is completely frozen when it comes to networking. Hannah breaks down exactly why this happens, and gives you a no-fluff framework to move through it — without white-knuckling it back to the market before you're ready.

In this episode, Hannah covers:

- Why redundancy can feel genuinely traumatic (and why that's not dramatic)
- The grieving process and why skipping it will cost you later
- How to tackle "the ick" around reaching out to your network
- The "weak ties" research that proves your second-degree network is your biggest asset right now
- Why you don't need to ask anyone for a job — and what to say instead
- The small goals strategy that builds momentum without overwhelming you
- How to use every networking conversation as live AI research

Timestamps:

00:55 — Today's listener question
02:00 — Why redundancy hits so hard (it's not just a job, it's identity)
03:15 — Step 1: Give yourself permission to grieve and how to do it without spiralling
04:50 — Step 2: The "ick" around networking and why it's not what you think
06:30 — Step 3: Set tiny, achievable goals and actually reward yourself
07:30 — Step 4: Use your networking conversations as live AI market research

📩 Got a question for the Hannah Hotline? Email hello@hannahkissel.com

#careercoaching #redundancy #howtorebuildconfidence #careeradvice #hannahkissel

In this episode, we unpack the sunk cost fallacy, the mental trap that keeps people stuck in jobs, relationships, projects, and decisions simply because they've already invested so much time, money, or energy.

We explore why walking away can feel so hard, even when something is no longer working, and how identity, fear, loyalty, and past effort can cloud clear decision-making. Through personal stories and real-world examples, this episode helps you recognize when you're holding on for the wrong reasons and how to make better choices based on where you want to go next, not just what you've already spent.

If you've ever thought, "I can't leave now. I've already put too much into this," this conversation is for you.

Key Takeaways:

- What the sunk cost fallacy actually is
- Why smart people stay stuck in the wrong things
- How this shows up in careers, relationships, and personal goals
- The role of identity, fear, and loyalty in bad decisions
- Practical ways to break out of the trap
- How to evaluate whether it's time to stay, pivot, or walk away

Timestamps:

1:35 – What the sunk cost fallacy actually means
2:35 – Real-life example: staying because of past investment
3:35 – Why people stay stuck in jobs they've outgrown
4:45 – How sunk cost shows up in more than just careers
5:30 – The personality patterns most affected by this trap
6:35 – Strategy #1: Set a decision deadline
7:30 – Strategy #2: The "Would I choose this today?" test
8:35 – Strategy #3: Calculate the cost of staying
9:45 – Strategy #4: Get an outside perspective
11:25 – Final thoughts and how to move forward

Loved this episode? Leave a comment below with what resonated most!
Rate & review the show on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It helps more big dreamers find us!
Share this episode on your stories and tag Hannah!
Slide into Hannah's DMs on Instagram or LinkedIn, she loves hearing from listeners!

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Gain Access to the free Career Confidence Course: https://www.hannahkissel.com/careerconfidence

The Truth About Imposter Syndrome: https://open.spotify.com/episode/129YgMPuJWGLQK5VB9CncR?si=a352646dfec6411a

Follow Hannah Kissel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmaekissel/

Connect with Hannah Kissel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahkissel/

Quiz: Discover Your Career Alignment Score: https://hannahkisselcareerquiz.scoreapp.com

#highperformer #sunkcostfallacy #careertransition #bigdreamer #workplaceadvice #careerdecision #hannahkissel

You're delivering excellent work, taking on more responsibilities, and getting glowing performance reviews, so why is your salary still lagging behind?

In this episode, Hannah responds to a listener who's 15K below the median for her level despite supporting nine executives and receiving zero critical feedback. Hannah breaks down exactly how to build a business case that gets results, even after you've already heard "no."

Key Takeaways
1. If you don't advocate for yourself, no one else will
2. The $15K gap is bigger than it looks
3. Build a business case, not a conversation
4. The business case framework
5. Schedule a dedicated meeting and don't back out
6. A "soft no" is not a final no
7. Over-delivering without being compensated is a pattern, break it

Timestamps:
00:45 - The most common salary question Hannah gets
01:00 - Two issues at play: practical skills vs. confidence and self-worth
01:30 - Listener question: underpaid HR Director, soft no from her boss
02:55 - Hannah's response: why you must re-approach this negotiation
04:10 - Step 1:Build your business case (the one-pager framework)
08:35 - How have YOU approached salary negotiation?
09:05 - Step 2:How to actually have the conversation
10:30 - Mindset: reinforcing your self-worth before you walk in the room

🚨 Got a career challenge?

Submit your questions and frustrations to the Hannah Hotline!

Email: hello@hannahkissel.com

Gain Access to the free Career Confidence Course: https://www.hannahkissel.com/careerconfidence

Follow Hannah Kissel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmaekissel/

Connect with Hannah Kissel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahkissel/

Visit Hannah's website: www.hannahkissel.com

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Hannah Hotline is sponsored by dominiquejingles - where quirky, clever, and corporate branding is reimagined. A client says, 'We just want something different.' Dominique turns that into a jingle that sticks in your head all day.

DM Dominique on Instagram @dominiquejingles or email dominiqueenglish04@gmail.com.

#salarynegotiation #underpaid #howtonegotiatesalary #highperformer #peoplepleasingrecovery #bigdreamer #hannahkissel

Rejection hurts, but it doesn't have to stop you.

In this episode, Hannah Kissel gets real about something she faces literally every single day as an entrepreneur and coach: rejection. If you've ever struggled with the fear of rejection or felt like being turned down means you're not good enough, this episode is for you.

Hannah breaks down the neuroscience behind why rejection feels so painful (hint: your brain thinks you're being kicked out of the tribe), and walks you through powerful mindset tools to help you bounce back faster, build resilience, and keep putting yourself out there — even when it's hard.

Whether you're job hunting, growing a business, navigating dating, or just trying to show up as your most ambitious self, learning how to deal with rejection is one of the most important skills you'll ever build. Because here's the truth: the more you go after big dreams, the more rejection you'll face.

That's not failure — that's proof you're in the game.

🎯 In this episode, Hannah covers:

- Why getting rejected is actually a sign you're doing it right
- The brain science behind why rejection feels like a threat to your survival
- 4 practical mindset tools to make rejection easier
- Why your growth mindset is your biggest asset when facing rejection
- How diversifying your identity beyond your career builds emotional resilience

If this episode resonates with you, share it on your stories, rate and review the show on Spotify, and drop a comment — Hannah reads them and uses your feedback to shape future episodes!

Timestamps:

00:27 — Introduction: Even coaches have bad days (and that's okay)
02:30 — Community shoutout & how to support the show
03:30 — Reframing rejection: Why getting rejected means you're doing it right
04:40 — The neuroscience of rejection: Why your brain treats it like a survival threat
06:10 — Focus on the process, not the outcome (the paperclip/pompom jar trick)
09:00 — Pause & understand your internal triggers (Internal Family Systems)
11:15 — Reconnect with your "why"
13:15 — Embrace a growth mindset (Carol Dweck's work)
15:10 — Why your career can't be your whole identity — and how to build emotional buffers

Key Takeaways:

1. Rejection = proof of effort.
2. Your brain is wired to fear rejection.
3. Focus on the process, not the outcome.
4. Understand what's getting triggered inside you.
5. Know your "why."
6. A growth mindset is your superpower.
7. Get a life outside your work.

Loved this episode? Leave a comment below with what resonated most!
Rate & review the show on Spotify — it helps more big dreamers find us!
Share this episode on your stories and tag Hannah!
Slide into Hannah's DMs on Instagram or LinkedIn — she loves hearing from listeners!

-------

Gain Access to the free Career Confidence Course: https://www.hannahkissel.com/careerconfidence

The Truth About Imposter Syndrome: https://open.spotify.com/episode/129YgMPuJWGLQK5VB9CncR?si=a352646dfec6411a

Follow Hannah Kissel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmaekissel/

Connect with Hannah Kissel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahkissel/

Quiz: Discover Your Career Alignment Score: https://hannahkisselcareerquiz.scoreapp.com

#fearofrejection #highperformer #dealingwithrejection #rejectiontosuccess #effortmatters #hannahkissel #bigdreamer