In this episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt unpack what they call the “corporate personality hangover”, the lingering habits, people-pleasing instincts, and emotional masking that follow you long after leaving corporate life. Sparked by a difficult client situation, the Mandys explore how corporate conditioning shows up in conflict, communication, crisis management, and boundary-setting, even when you’re running your own business.

From phone voices and media training to over-apologizing, diffusing situations at your own expense, and struggling to separate professionalism from authenticity, this conversation dives deep into how years of corporate survival shape who we become. They talk honestly about client boundaries, firing the wrong clients, why “the client is always right” mentality causes burnout, and how prolonged masking erodes mental health over time.

The episode also touches on people-pleasing, brand identity, emotional labor, and learning how to be both direct and kind without abandoning yourself. If you’ve left corporate but still feel the reflex to over-perform, over-explain, or swallow your instincts to keep the peace, this episode will help you recognize the hangover, unlearn the damage, and redefine what healthy professionalism actually looks like.

Listen in, reflect on where you might still be masking, share this episode with someone navigating burnout or business ownership, and follow The Corporate Burnouts for honest conversations about work, identity, boundaries, and life after corporate.

And if you’re looking for inspiration and education that leads to actionable change, check out the Become Conference in St. Louis this March 12-13 and come say hi, we’d love to meet you. Here is the link to register for Become now - https://littleblackbook.wildapricot.org/event-6349380

In this episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt sit down with Joy Peterson to unpack what burnout really looks like when you’ve spent decades saying yes, grinding nonstop, and tying your entire identity to your job. Joy shares her journey from working 22 years in the service and hospitality industry, rising from server to director of restaurant training, to hitting a breaking point during COVID that forced her to quit without a backup plan.

Together, they explore how burnout sneaks up on high performers, why quitting can sometimes be a health decision, and what it looks like to take intentional time off to reset, recover, and rediscover who you are outside of work. The conversation dives into mental health, boundary-setting, redefining success, transferable skills from service industry careers, and why stepping away career-wise doesn’t mean moving backward.

Joy also shares how she rebuilt her career with clearer boundaries, predictable work hours, and a role that supports her life instead of consuming it. If you’re burned out, questioning your career path, coming from the service or hospitality industry, or wondering whether you’re tired or truly done, this episode offers permission, perspective, and practical reassurance.

Listen in, reflect on what boundaries you need to set, share this episode with someone who’s running on empty, and follow The Corporate Burnouts for honest conversations about work, burnout, and building a life that actually fits.

And if you’re looking for a reset, check out the Become Conference in St. Louis this March 12-13 and come say hi, we’d love to meet you. Here is the link to register for Become now - https://littleblackbook.wildapricot.org/event-6349380?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=3%2F7%2F2026

In this episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt kick off 2026 by flipping the usual New Year conversation on its head and focusing on what they’re not doing anymore at work. From people-pleasing, working outside of work hours, and operating on everyone else’s timeline to gatekeeping information, going above and beyond without return, and setting themselves on fire to keep others warm, the Mandys unpack the habits that quietly fuel burnout in corporate life and entrepreneurship.

Drawing from decades of leadership experience and real conversations with listeners, they explore why work is ultimately transactional, how loyalty can be unintentionally exploited, and why boundaries, delegation, and intentional priorities are essential for sustainability. They also share personal shifts around movement, routines, social energy, saying no without guilt, and redefining success in a way that protects time, health, and relationships.

If you’re burned out, feeling resentful at work, or realizing that over-investing hasn’t paid off the way you were promised, this episode will help you name what needs to stop so you can make room for what actually matters.

Listen in, reflect on what you’re done tolerating in 2026, share this episode with someone who needs permission to set boundaries, and follow The Corporate Burnouts for honest conversations about work, burnout, boundaries, and building a healthier way forward.

And if you’re looking for a reset in the new year, check out the Become Conference in St. Louis this March and come say hi, we’d love to meet you. Here is the link to register for Become now - https://littleblackbook.wildapricot.org/event-6349380