Balm in the Burnout, Episode 9: Scaling Without Sacrificing Yourself, with Tina Rexing of T-Rex Cookie Show Notes: Welcome to Balm in the Burnout, the podcast for cross-sector humans navigating personal and systemic burnout. In this episode, host Megan Hadley talks with entrepreneur Tina Rexing, founder of the nationally recognized women-owned business T-Rex Cookie, about burnout in the food industry, entrepreneurship as an immigrant daughter, and what it takes to grow something big without losing yourself.In This Conversation:Tina’s leap from corporate life to launching T-Rex Cookie, and how a business plan (and a lot of grit) helped her land her first investmentThe evolution of T-Rex Cookie—from farmers’ markets to national features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, TimeOut Magazine, and moreWhy Tina says “no” to opportunities that compromise her values or brand identity—even when the world wants smaller cookiesHonest talk about entrepreneurship burnout, toxic kitchen culture, and why asking for help and setting boundaries are essentialHow Tina’s parents and sons became part of the business, and the emotional labor of mixing family and legacyNavigating growth and funding while staying in control—choosing investors who believe in your mission instead of diluting your valuesLessons on separating work and identity, protecting joy, and not turning every passion into a jobKey Takeaways:“Do what you love—but be careful what you turn into work.”Scaling a business doesn’t have to mean self-sacrificeBurnout in entrepreneurship is real—and rest, boundaries, and community are non-negotiableImmigrant hustle, family dynamics, and funding all shape the burnout experience differently than in other sectorsGuest Links:T-Rex Cookie: Website Tina Rexing: LinkedInFind T-Rex Cookie their shop in Eagan, at MSP Airport, Terminal 1, at retailers across Minnesota, and local direct shipping via their website.Connect with Host Megan Hadley:Support the Show: Balm in the Burnout is listener-supported. Contribute to our community scholarship or leave a tip on Venmo @HHW-LLC.Visit Harvest Health and Wellbeing for coaching, workshops, and mindfulness-based burnout support.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Balm in the Burnout  00:37 – Meet Tina Rexing: From corporate to cookie entrepreneur  01:57 – T-Rex Cookie’s rise: National features and business milestones  03:29 – Staying grounded: Yoga, physicality, presence practices  05:46 – The leap: Business planning, farmers' markets, early growth  09:45 – Grit, family values, and the immigrant work ethic  11:36 – Saying “no” and protecting your brand identity  14:05 – Burnout in entrepreneurship and the food industry  17:14 – Family labor, legacy, and sacrifice in small business  20:35 – Growth, investment, and choosing aligned funders  24:20 – Takeaways: What happens when hobbies become jobs

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