Are you ready to plan a graceful corporate exit? Learn how to turn an unexpected layoff into a meaningful new chapter.

Being laid off after over a decade in the workforce can feel devastating, but for many, it serves as a necessary wake-up call. In this conversation, Shannon Baird shares her personal journey through job loss and how she moved from exhaustion to finding a new purpose. We discuss the reality of burnout recovery and how to reclaim your identity when your job title no longer defines you.

Whether you are currently feeling stuck or actively exploring a professional pivot, this episode offers practical guidance for your next steps. We talk about giving yourself permission to leave environments that no longer serve you and how to approach a career transition with curiosity instead of fear. You will walk away with a clearer perspective on how to design a life that aligns with who you want to be.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. You don't need a breakdown or a layoff to give yourself permission to leave. Building your plan first turns the exit into a decision instead of an emergency.
2. Confidence comes from taking action, so messy action beats waiting for the perfect plan.
3. Tapas and surrender go together: take the inspired action, then loosen your grip on the result, and process goals make that easier.
4. "Who do I want to be?" is a more useful question than "What do I want to do?"
5. Everyone has a slice of genius to build on, and it doesn't have to become a massive company.

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Shannon's Substack: https://shannonbaird.substack.com/
The 2-Hour Corporate Exit Launchpad: https://get.theshannonbaird.com/the-2-hour-corporate-exit-launchpad
Quiz, What Corporate Has Forced You to Abandon
Topics mentioned: leaving corporate, layoff, burnout, permission to leave, messy action, tapas, surrender, process goals, journaling, productivity poisoning. Book referenced: Reality Transurfing by Vadim Zeland.

ABOUT SHANNON BAIRD
Corporate Exit Strategist, Founder of The Clean Exit

After 11 years in corporate, I got laid off on Valentine's Day. Best thing that ever happened to me. Now I help burned-out corporate women build a Clean Exit: replace the paycheck first, then leave, so nobody has to blow up their life to get their life back.

Substack: https://shannonbaird.substack.com/
The 2-Hour Corporate Exit Launchpad: https://get.theshannonbaird.com/the-2-hour-corporate-exit-launchpad

HI, I'M RACHEL CLINE

I'm a life coach and yoga teacher, and I work with the woman who did everything right and built a life that looks good from the outside but can't quite find herself in it anymore. I spent years building exactly that life before I found my way back through yoga, the body, and a lot of deep inner work. Now I help you come home to yourself, so you can hear your own voice again, trust it, and feel whole right now.

Free classes and mindful tools
https://radiantlyrootedyoga.com/resources

Weekly reflections and practices
https://radiantlyrootedyoga.com/newsletter

Instagram (podcast)
https://www.instagram.com/radiantlyrootedwithrachel

Ready to hire a life coach? Don't just look at testimonials, learn how to find the right fit for your personal growth.It is easy to get swept up in a polished online presence or impressive testimonials when you are ready to make a change. But the reality of working with someone can look quite different once you are in the sessions. I want to help you move past the marketing and focus on whether a coach truly aligns with your needs.We will cover how to assess the coaching fit by paying attention to your own energy and intuition. You will learn specific questions to ask before signing a contract and how to identify coaching red flags that indicate a mismatch. Finding a mentor is a significant coaching investment, and this guide helps you ensure you are choosing a partner who supports your specific path.Subscribe for weekly personal growth tips, and let me know in the comments what qualities you prioritize when looking for support.00:00 Podcast Hire Life Coach01:58 Step 1: Get Clear on the Help You Need04:10 Step 2: Find a Coaching Style That Fits06:11 Step 3: Training & Lived Experience07:52 Step 4: Notice How You Feel Around the Coach09:37 Step 5: Questions to Ask Before You Hire13:55 Red Flags to Watch For17:12 Read Testimonials & Weigh the Investment18:44 How to Know You've Found the Right Coach19:21 Coach vs. Therapist & Other FAQs22:16 The Identity Reset & Closing

If you've been googling how much a life coach costs, I'm so glad you're here. I looked at publicly listed midlife coaching prices in 2026, and they run from $55 for a single session to more than $11,000 for six months of private coaching. In this episode we talk about what that range actually pays for.

I once spent a lot of money on a high-ticket business coach, and it went so badly that I seriously considered giving up on coaching altogether. A big part of it was that I had no idea what questions to ask before I signed up, which I think is far more common than most of us admit.

We get into whether coaching is worth the money, how a coach is different from a good friend and from therapy, the questions I wish I'd asked before hiring a coach (and how I'd answer each one myself), and the red flags I'd watch for, starting with pressure.

RESOURCES MENTIONED
My current coaching packages, including pricing, what's included, and my cancellation and refund policies: https://radiantlyrootedyoga.com/coaching
Apply for private coaching with me: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrG-7BwhijkanRP02fSHnYIq1dBYWX_MXjlKi-QJ9Xto7UvA/viewform
Do You Need a Life Coach? 7 Signs It's Time in Midlife: https://radiantlyrootedyoga.com/signs-you-need-a-midlife-transition-coach/
How to choose the right life coach for a midlife transition: https://radiantlyrootedyoga.com/how-to-choose-the-right-life-coach-for-a-midlife-transition/

ABOUT RACHEL
I'm Rachel Cline, a life coach and yoga teacher. I work with the woman who did everything right, checked every box, and built a life that looks good from the outside but can't quite find herself in it anymore. I help you get off the hamster wheel and come home to yourself, so you can hear your own voice again, trust it, and feel whole, not someday, but now.