Burnout Didn’t Break Me — But It Woke Me Up

10/07/2025 11 min
Burnout Didn’t Break Me — But It Woke Me Up

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Episode Synopsis

In this deeply personal episode of Beyond Product Management, Heather opens up about her own experience with burnout—not just the professional kind, but the emotional and physical toll of misalignment over time.From 12-hour days and volunteer overload to pandemic parenting and launching a business, she shares how burnout crept in, what it looked like, and what finally broke the cycle.You’ll hear:The subtle signs of burnout (before the crash)Why “rest” isn’t always the solution—and what to try insteadHow she redefined her boundaries and reconnected with what actually mattersWhy burnout isn’t always doing too much… but doing too much of the wrong thingsWhether you’re a founder, a product leader, or a high-achiever trying to “do it all,” this is your reminder that rest isn’t a reward—it’s a requirement. You don’t have to wait for the breaking point to make a change.Mentioned in this episode:What burnout actually looked like behind the scenesPersonal stories from 2015–2021, including parenting during the pandemicHer Monday canoe trip that taught a surprising lesson about real restPDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management.Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations.You can follow us for more daily content:Instagram: @pdrmconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consultingJoin our Newsletter: https://pdrmconsulting.kit.com/a64c995683

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