Tomorrow, it’ll be one year since I left my corporate job. My last day was November 4, 2024.

I struggled for a long time with the decision to stay or leave, tied to the paycheck, stability, and hypothetical safety.

I ebbed and flowed between coasting, working hard, and feelings of both guilt and numbness.

A few months before I left, I announced I was hosting an international business retreat to bring women together who wanted to “chart their course”.

While there was some interest, I had started too big. I hadn’t built up enough trust with my audience and when that offer flopped, I felt like I failed. Not only that, but I had announced it on LinkedIn so my friends, coworkers, and manager all saw it.

My affirmation (“this job is temporary”) that helped get me through tough times started to fade. It didn’t feel true after two years of saying it each week to myself.

I started to question myself: Would I ever be able to leave?

After some back and forth, I decided to take a leave of absence.

I wasn’t burned out from the work itself. I didn’t work an insane amount of hours. This was different than the type of burnout I had experienced before.

What was so exhausting was all of the pretending. Putting on a face that things were fine, even though I didn’t feel that way on the inside.

Turns out, I wasn’t alone.

According to Deloitte’s 2025 Women @ Work Survey, mental health is one of the top two personal concerns for women.

Yet, only one-third of women say they feel comfortable talking about their mental health in their workplace and only about one in four say they have felt/would feel comfortable disclosing the real reason when taking time off work for mental health reasons.

Now that I’ve stepped away from the situation, I can see that I was playing a bit of the victim. I could have left sooner, but I didn’t. I could have looked for a different job more intensely, but I didn’t.

And, at the same time, I wish I could have felt safe and comfortable talking about my mental health in the workplace.

One year later, I find it ironic that I’m at the “Beat Burnout” retreat in Lenox, MA this week. I’m attending stress management sessions, getting a physician consultation, and listening to thought leaders in the space discuss tactics for building resilience.

A few years ago I would have needed this. My sleep suffered because I was anxious about work. I felt depressed, even though it probably didn’t seem like it.

But the truth is even though I’m tired, and I do need a retreat, I don’t feel burned out like I was before. That’s because I’m doing impactful work I actually enjoy.

Leaving my job last year has forced me to:

And, it feels like I’m just getting started.

A year later, I don’t have regrets about my decision to step away.

The question was never, “Would I ever be able to leave?” It was, “Would I ever trust myself enough to be able to leave?”

How have you been affected by burnout? What did it look like and what did you learn from it?

Feeling like 2024 Maggie would feel pretty proud about this week.

I’m building a business even though I never considered myself an entrepreneur! It’s crazy what a year can do.

Events I’m attending or hosting in the coming weeks!

Lettuce Presents: Solo Summit 2025 (Virtual) | Nov 5
A virtual summit that brings together ambitious solopreneurs and industry innovators to uncover what truly drives success.
🔗 RSVP here

Corporate > Coffee Meet Up (NYC) - hosted by me! | Nov 7
Are you still in corporate but dreaming of carving your own path? Or have you already left corporate and eager to share your learnings with others? Join Claire King 🌿 and I at Soft Bar in Greenpoint to have a casual chat with people in your shoes (or one step ahead).
🔗 RSVP here

Build Your Sustainable Financial Strategy (Virtual) with Jenni Gritters | Nov 10
My biz coach will teach five key approaches to building a sustainable financial model, including both practical and energetic elements.
🔗 RSVP here

Future of Communities Summit with Circle (Virtual) | Nov 18
AI can create content in seconds. Ads can drive clicks. But connection and belonging? Those will truly set you apart—which is why communities are more transformational for businesses than ever. Join Circle to explore how creators and brands can lead that shift, and build what’s next.
🔗 RSVP here

Start Building Your Personal Brand with Maven | Nov 18
Identify your superpowers and unfair advantages, evaluate approaches to showing up, online and IRL, and attract the right people and opportunities.
🔗 RSVP here