Happen To Your Career - Meaningful Work, Career Change, Career Design, & Job Search Letting go of the Executive Title: Creating your ideal job to fit your life - Katie's Career Transition Story
Dec 1, 2025
In this conversation, Katie Hyskill, a former sales executive turned career designer, opens up about her journey from burnout to a fulfilling work-life balance. She discusses the importance of redefining one's relationship with work and the challenges of setting boundaries. Katie shares how she constructed a custom role focused on personal values and family time, while navigating the emotional hurdles of saying no to traditional success. Her insights emphasize creating job security through measurable impact and embracing personal well-being over external pressures.
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Rapid Rise Led To Unsustainable Pace
- Katie moved into sales after the 2009 recession and advanced quickly, but the pace became unsustainable after she started a family.
- Shortening stints and rising burnout culminated in 2024 when her health forced a decisive career reassessment.
Rethink Your Relationship With Work
- Defining her relationship to work shifted Katie's focus from title and output to what work should bring into her life.
- She reframed accountability and ownership versus conflating self-worth with hours and results.
Prioritize Your Ideal Day In Job Search
- Do design your job search around your ideal day and non-negotiable life needs, not only title or pay.
- Say no more often to roles that fail your day-to-day requirements even if they look impressive on paper.
