The Cost of Staying: Choosing Yourself in Career and Life with Kristen Chimack

What if staying in a job or relationship is costing you more than leaving ever would? In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, I sit down with Kristen Chimack, author of The Cost of Staying: Find Your Courage, Choose Yourself, and Discover What Awaits in Life and Career. Kristen shares her powerful story of leaving a 30-year corporate career to pursue a life that aligned with her values and happiness.

We talk about the whispers of discontent, the fears that keep us stuck, and how Kristen made the bold choice to walk away from an executive-level role at a Fortune 40 company. Whether you're at a crossroads in your career, feeling stuck, or just starting to question what's next, this conversation will leave you feeling seen—and inspired to take your own next step.

We dive into:

• Why Kristen walked away from a 30-year career at the executive level
• How to recognize the “whispers” that signal you’re out of alignment
• The mindset shift from focusing on what you’ll lose to what you’re losing by staying
• Practical steps for building your “freedom fund” and preparing for change
• Coaching strategies to help you rediscover your values and design a fulfilling life
• How LinkedIn and authenticity helped her grow a coaching business from scratch

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Get Kristen’s book, The Cost of Staying on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4pk92rq
• Subscribe to Kristen’s newsletter, “Kicking It with Kristen” – Available at https://kristenchimack.com/
• Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-chimack/

If this episode made you reflect on your own journey and what it might be costing you to stay where you are, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need this conversation. For more tools to support your writing and author journey, visit kellyschuknecht.com.