Executive coach and former HR powerhouse Lauren Leftkowitz shares how chasing a Roomba (yes, really) became the metaphor—and the moment—that changed her life. After breaking both shoulders in a freak accident, Lauren was forced to stop doing what she’d always done: over-function, over-give, and overachieve.
What followed was a journey of rehab, recovery, and radical honesty. In this candid conversation, Lauren opens up about what it really takes to shift from high-performing burnout to a life that doesn’t require recovery. If you've ever been the “fixer,” the “go-to,” or the woman holding it all together—this one’s for you.
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Chapters and Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:56 Lauren's Journey: From Burnout to Breakthrough
02:37 The Turning Point: Breaking Both Shoulders
05:25 Realizations and Changes: Embracing Coaching
09:23 Balancing Work and Personal Life
13:07 The Importance of Asking for Help
23:02 Defining What You Don't Want29:12 Understanding What You Truly Want
30:13 Exploring Career Transitions
33:28 The Importance of Transferable Skills
38:52 Navigating Workplace Boundaries
54:00 Building a Support System
56:44 Final Thoughts and Advice
📈 Key Takeaways:
Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse—it often looks like high achievement.
Boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re sacred.
You don’t need a perfect plan—you need a clear “no.”
Over-functioning is not leadership.
You’re allowed to change without knowing every step first.
Recovery starts when you stop pretending “fine” is good enough.
Download the full transcript here:
Lauren Leftkowitz is the founder of Fine is a Trap Coaching, a leadership development firm helping high-achieving women break cycles of burnout and build careers rooted in clarity and courage. After two decades in corporate HR, Lauren now empowers women to own their “no” and reclaim their leadership on their own terms.
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