In this episode of Time Billionaires, Rebecca speaks with Naomi Midanik, a cancer survivor and Founder at Bright Balance Psychotherapy. As a registered psychotherapist practicing in Ontario, Canada, Naomi brings a unique perspective, having spent 17 years in corporate marketing before transitioning to therapy. Her specialty focuses on professionals, entrepreneurs, and working moms navigating career challenges and workplace burnout.

The conversation explores the reality many face: being stuck in a job they hate without the immediate option to quit. Naomi introduces the concept of radical acceptance from dialectical behavior therapy, explaining how to validate your negative feelings about work while simultaneously focusing energy on what you can actually control. She shares practical strategies for making the best of difficult situations, from reframing your commute to managing difficult boss relationships.

Timestamps:

• Opening question about hating your job but making the best of it – 0:00
• Introduction to Naomi and her background – 0:26
• Why people feel trapped in jobs they hate – 1:28
• What radical acceptance actually means and how to practice it – 2:39
• The "good" reframe vs. radical acceptance for different situations – 4:40
• Personal example: cancer diagnosis and appropriate responses – 5:32
• Toxic positivity vs. genuine acceptance in career situations – 7:42
• Understanding emotional numbness as an early burnout signal – 9:14
• Signs to watch for when going through the motions – 10:39

Connect with Naomi:

Bright Balance Psychotherapy: https://www.brightbalancetherapy.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/naomimidanik

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and the Time Billionaires Podcast on LinkedIn!

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow it.

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - How to Make a Living from Your Job
• (00:00:46) - What Radical Acceptance Can You Do For Your Job?
• (00:07:43) - How to Get Over a Hating Your Job
• (00:09:25) - The Signs That You're Starting to Burnout

Have you ever walked away from a discussion—about work, politics, parenting, or even something small—wondering how two reasonable people could hear the same words and leave with completely different conclusions?

After years studying how people interpret ideas, first in public policy, then in marketing, and eventually in her own family, Rebecca noticed a pattern: it’s often not what we’re saying that derails conversations, but the invisible opposite our words quietly introduce.

Whether you’re trying to advocate for something you care about, explain a decision at work, or stay connected with people who see the world differently, this episode offers an easy mental shift that can keep the people you’re interacting with engaged, curious, and willing to keep talking.

What you'll learn:

• Different brains naturally scan for different priorities (change vs. stability)
• How introducing the wrong frame can lose someone before the conversation starts
• The "Opposite Test": a simple way to strengthen your arguments before you make them
• Why repetition subtly legitimizes ideas, even wrong ones
• The connection between effective framing and building meaningful relationships

For more insights on turning small moments into your greatest asset, follow Rebecca and the Time Billionaires Podcast on LinkedIn!

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow it.

• (00:00:01) - How to Become a Billionaire in 31 Years
• (00:00:34) - The Only Way to Win a Political Argument
• (00:06:39) - The Micro-moment Exercise

In Part 2 of this Time Billionaires episode, Rebecca continues her conversation with Oren Shai, Co-Founder of Feeling School, exploring the deeper connections between nervous system regulation, success, and emotional well-being. Oren explains the difference between parasympathetic (rest and digest) and sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system states, offering practical techniques like elevating legs above the heart to quickly access parasympathetic responses.

The conversation takes a turn as they discuss how most people misunderstand success, operating from what Oren calls the "coffee and trauma" model, constantly medicating themselves with stimulants while chasing achievements that they believe will finally make them feel complete. Instead, he advocates for redefining success as living authentically, contributing meaningfully, and connecting with others.

Timestamps:

1. Understanding parasympathetic vs sympathetic nervous system states – 0:42
2. Contextual approaches to nervous system regulation – 2:30
3. The importance of experimenting with what works for you – 4:23
4. Why most careers are "fueled by coffee and trauma" – 6:33
5. Redefining success beyond achievement metrics – 7:47
6. Childhood conditioning and earning love patterns – 12:25
7. Moving beyond protective patterns without blame – 13:36
8. Final thoughts: The way you want to feel is on the other side of what you're not feeling – 14:40

If you'd like to connect with Oren, you can find Oren on LinkedIn and learn more about Feeling School here.

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and the Time Billionaires Podcast on LinkedIn!

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow it.

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - An Exercise for Connecting to Parasympathetic
• (00:06:13) - What Most People Don't Understand About Success
• (00:14:35) - How to Feel the Way You Want to Feel