008 Reinvention - from burnout to balance - Kathy Slack

In this episode, Lauren Eyles speaks with Kathy Slack about reinventing your life and career. They explore what it’s like when you’ve climbed the career ladder but realize that it’s against the wrong wall.

The conversation explores Kathy’s new book Rough Patch: How a year in the garden brought me back to life which explores her journey through burnout, depression and finding rejuvenation and healing in nature.

Topics discussed include how the pressure to be always on can contribute to burnout, and the solace and creativity that nature offers. Lauren and Kathy also talk about the transferable skills that we develop in our careers which can help us change direction, and advice for emerging executives navigating their careers.

 

Takeaways

• Reinvention is a universal experience that many can relate to.
• Nature played a significant role in Kathy's recovery from depression.
• It's important to give yourself space to reflect and discover your true self.
• Burnout often creeps up gradually and can be hard to recognize.
• Rest is essential for creativity and overall well-being.
• People are often more focused on their own lives than you think.
• Most people are also figuring things out as they go along.
• Your past experiences and skills are valuable in new career paths.
• It's okay to prioritize your health and happiness over societal expectations.

 

Sound Bites

• "Leadership can be lonely."
• "It's so rare for us to be faced with ourselves."
• "You're meant for other things."
• "Rest is good for your creativity."
• "Burnout is…was so predictable."
• "I wish I hadn't got myself into such a pickle."

 

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Reinvention

02:02 Kathy's Journey Through Depression

04:20 The Healing Power of Nature

07:32 Career Crossroads and Self-Discovery

10:50 The Impact of Corporate Culture

15:41 The Importance of Rest and Creativity

18:02 Recognizing Burnout and Its Signs

21:16 Connection to Nature and Self-Identity

24:08 Feminism and Personal Choices

27:29 Transferable Skills and New Beginnings

29:49 Advice for Emerging Executives

 

Keywords

reinvention, burnout, nature, corporate culture, creativity, self-discovery, feminism, transferable skills, mental health, leadership

 

Guest bio

Kathy Slack is the author of Rough Patch: How a year in the garden brought me back to life.

It’s a fabulous memoir with a lot of delicious recipes. It explores Kathy’s journey, from the dizzying heights of being a Global Strategy Director in a London advertising agency, through the bumpiness of burnout and depression, and finding rejuvenation in nature and coming home to herself.

Reinvention is something that all of us can relate to and this could be the Eat, Pray, Love of our time.

Connect with Kathy on Instagram at @gluts_gluttony or visit kathyslack.com where you can sign up to her weekly newsletter of seasonal recipes & veg patch tales.

Buy Kathy’s books here or on Amazon:

• ‘Rough Patch’a memoir with recipes 
• 'From the Veg Patch'cookbook

 

Host bio

Lauren Eyles is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change as an Executive Coach and Mentor.

She loves helping leaders find calm amid chaos, using her extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader.

She started this podcast to support and inspire women in their first few years of executive leadership, as she found that being the only woman on the senior leadership team was a bit lonely.

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has an MBA (Distinction), a Master of Sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Lauren would love to hear what you think of the podcast and what topics you'd like her to cover next. Please reach out via LinkedIn or Instagram.

 

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