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Let me ask you something…

What if the very thing that makes you successful…

is also the thing slowly burning you out?

Because if you’re in Learning and Development — or really any high-performing role — you’ve probably told yourself some version of this:

“I just need to push a little harder.”
“I care too much to step back.”
“I’ll rest when this is done.”

But what if that mindset is exactly what’s costing you your energy… your relationships… and eventually, your ability to do your best work?

Today’s guest, Erika Coleman, calls herself a recovering overachiever — and not in a cute, throwaway way.

She built a million-dollar training company…
worked with top organizations…
and then hit burnout so hard… she had to step away and rebuild from scratch.

And here’s where it gets interesting:

She didn’t just recover — she went deep into the science of stress, motivation, and performance…
and came back with a powerful idea:

You don’t have to give your all… to give your best.

So today, we’re digging into something every L&D professional — and honestly every high performer — struggles with:

How do you stay ambitious…
drive results…
and still build a life that doesn’t leave you completely depleted?

Because if success is costing you everything else…

Is it really success?

Let’s dive in.

Three Key Take-Aways

1. You don’t need 100% effort to deliver your best—sustainable energy beats burnout.

2. It’s the constant small stressors that drain you—build recovery into your day.

3. Stop competing with yourself—protect your energy like it’s your most valuable asset.

About Our Guest:

Erika is a speaker, consultant and recovering overachiever. She believes most successful people are getting accomplishment wrong. Erika founded a million-dollar virtual training company that serviced some of the top organizations in the world. Her curiosity about stress, motivation, and well-being led her to a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology from Harvard University. Her recent TEDx talk has reached more than 30,000 views in just 3 weeks. Erika imagines a world where no one needs to choose between achieving their goals and building a life worth living.

Join the Conversation:

Tune in, reflect, and take action — because success without the stress begins with you!

Connect with Erika:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-coleman-1591b435/
🎤 TEDx Talk: erikastedtalk.com
🌐 Website: erikacolemanspeaks.com
📸 Instagram: @evenachieving
📧 Email: erika@sageshipway.com

And she’s got a great free resource for you:
Take the Sustainable Performance Scorecard at 👉balanceyourteam.com
— to see if you or your team are thriving… or quietly heading toward burnout.

Connect with the NERDS:

Email: nerds@thelearningnerds.com
Facebook: Learning Nerds
Instagram: @FabLearningNerds
Website: www.thelearningnerds.com

🎧 Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,

#LearningAndDevelopment #workplaceburnout #stressmanagementatwork #highperformancehabits #employeewellbeing #leadershipdevelopment #productivitywithoutburnout #LDstrategy #professionalgrowth #worklifebalance

Ep 133 - Success without the Stress - Featuring Erika Coleman