#344: What to Do When You Can't Tell If You're Burned Out or Ready to Leave Your Career, with And...

Are you exhausted at work and already picturing the day you walk away, without really knowing what you would be walking toward? That one moment, when burnout and being truly ready for something new feel exactly the same, is where many smart, accomplished people make a decision they later wish they had taken more time with. In a midlife career and life transition, the stakes are high. The title, the structure, the social network, and the built-in sense of purpose all go when the work goes, and most of us plan our finances for years without giving a single thought to how we actually want to live. Today's conversation with Andrea Maizes, a former senior HR executive who left her 35-year career believing she was ready and quickly learned she was burned out, is an honest look at how to tell the difference before you leap, and how to design a next chapter that actually fits you. In this episode, you'll discover: • How to tell the difference between burnout and being truly ready to leave your career, before you make a decision you cannot easily undo • Why planning the life you want matters as much as planning your finances and the questions no financial planner is asking you • What "borrowed courage" is, and how watching one other person be brave can be the thing that moves you forward in your own midlife transition Press play and give yourself the honest pause this season of your life deserves, so your next chapter is one you choose on purpose. If Andrea's story resonates and you want to discover your Ikigai, your reason for being, and design your next chapter alongside other professional women doing the same work, add your name to the waiting list (https://imtncoach.com/bu-pc-gp-ka) for Kavita's new group program. And if you are wondering whether your career still fits the life you want, take the free Career and Life Fulfillment Quiz (https://kavita-ahuja.scoreapp.com/?ut...) as a starting point.  Resources mentioned in this episode: • Andrea's book, Your Next Edit (https://www.amazon.ca/Your-Next-Edit-...) , available on Amazon • Andrea's Substack newsletter, The Next Edit  (https://thenextedit.substack.com/p/th...) About the Guest After 35 years as a senior HR executive, Andrea Maizes walked away from her corporate career and quickly learned that exhaustion is not the same thing as being ready for what's next. Today, Andrea is a certified executive and retirement coach who works with founders, CEOs, and senior leaders navigating major transitions. She is the author of Your Next Edit and the creator of The Next Edit newsletter, where she focuses on the emotional, psychological, and social side of life after success. Website: https://www.andreamaizes.com/ LinkedIn:   / andreamaizes   _________________________ Take the Ikigai Clarity Assessment (https://imtncoach.com/bu-pc-ik-ka) and find out which of your four Ikigai dimensions may be out of alignment. Schedule a Clarity and Next Chapter Call (https://imtncoach.com/bu-pc-cc-ka) with Kavita New episodes every Monday and Thursday. This podcast explores career and life transitions, helping women find clarity, confidence, and purpose through Ikigai and self-discovery. We cover navigating change, overcoming self-doubt and limiting beliefs, finding your purpose-driven career, and building the courage to start your next chapter - whether you're facing a career transition, life transition, or midlife reinvention. itsmytimenowcoaching.com (https://itsmytimenowcoaching.com/) | LinkedIn (  / kavita-ahuja-coach  ) | Instagram (  / itsmytimenow.coaching  ) | YouTube (   / @itsmytimenowcoaching  )