Kendall Berg pulls no punches in this conversation with certified life coach and communication expert Amy Green Smith. From the outside, high achievers seem like they have it all together—but beneath the promotions and packed calendars is a brewing identity crisis. Amy unpacks why burnout hits the most accomplished professionals the hardest—and how tying your self-worth to your performance is the fastest way to lose yourself.

People-pleasing isn’t just a “nice girl” habit. According to Amy, it’s a survival strategy many of us learned as kids—and it’s still running the show in the boardroom. Together, Kendall and Amy break down how to recognize those self-sabotaging behaviors, communicate assertively without coming off like a jerk, and set boundaries that actually stick. Plus, Amy offers her go-to scripts and practical tips to help listeners reclaim their bandwidth and emotional space.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How do I stop tying my identity to my job?

• What are signs that I’m a people-pleaser at work?

• How can I be assertive without being aggressive?

• What’s the right way to set boundaries in the workplace?

• How can high performers avoid burnout?

⭐️Get our FREE Accomplishments Tracker: https://fabulous-butterfly-83716.myflodesk.com/n8yzvrtw9v

Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach?

Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_

Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

Build out the tools you need to navigate the corporate game: — Self Driven Mastermind

Amy Green Smith is a certified and credentialed life coach and hypnotherapist, masterful speaker, and personal empowerment expert. Amy uses her roles as coach, writer, podcaster, and speaker to move individuals to a place of radical personal empowerment and self-worth.

With acute focus on helping people “find their voice”, she is highly sought after for her uncommon style of irreverence, wisdom, and humor and has been a featured expert in Inspired Coach Magazine and on Fox 5 San Diego.

website: https://amygreensmith.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyamygreensmith

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyamygreensmith/

The smallest move in your career could change everything. That’s the power of the butterfly effect—and it’s already at work whether you realize it or not.

In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg unpacks how one tiny shift (a certification, a networking event, even a pause after a layoff) can ripple into massive career transformation. Drawing from real client stories and her own experience, Kendall challenges the panic-pivot and demotion route so many professionals take when facing burnout or job loss. Instead, she outlines the career strategy that actually works in 2025—and it has nothing to do with getting another degree or sending 50 applications a day.

This is your sign to stop waiting for permission and start building momentum. The butterfly effect is already happening—make sure it’s working in your favor.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why doesn’t stepping down the corporate ladder fix burnout?

• How do you pivot careers after a layoff or toxic job?

• What’s the real ROI of an MBA in today’s market?

• How can I network effectively (without cold LinkedIn DMs)?
  
  

⭐️Get our FREE Accomplishments Tracker: https://fabulous-butterfly-83716.myflodesk.com/n8yzvrtw9v

Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach?

Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_

Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

Build out the tools you need to navigate the corporate game: — Self Driven Mastermind

Kendall Berg doesn’t just coach careers—she rewrites the rules of corporate success. At her Tattered Cover book signing and live Q&A, she breaks down the unwritten rules no one teaches you: what leaders really say behind closed doors, how promotions actually happen, and why your job isn’t responsible for your growth—you are.

With humor, vulnerability, and hard-won experience, Kendall shares the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped her new book Secrets of the Career Game. From mispronouncing “hierarchical” her entire career to being stuck at the same level for 6 years before earning 5 promotions in a row, this episode is equal parts masterclass and memoir.

Whether you're wondering how to communicate your unique value, what’s keeping you stuck, or how to stop being emotionally wrecked by work—this is your wake-up call to treat your career like the business it is.

📚 Secrets of the Career Game is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and everywhere books are sold.

• What are the biggest mistakes to avoid if you want to get promoted?

• How do I position myself for career growth without burning out?

• What does it really mean to be the CEO of your career?

• How can I stand out in performance reviews or job interviews?

• Why does workplace gossip sabotage high performers?

The game is real—and most people are losing.
In this final secret of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg breaks down the ultimate truth of corporate life: if you don’t understand how leadership shapes culture, you will keep getting blindsided.
The real culture isn’t in the handbook—it’s in your manager’s behavior.

This is the sixth and final episode in our special podcast mini-series. And the book? It’s officially out now.

🎧 Stream this final secret and pick up your copy of Secrets of the Career Game—available wherever books are sold.

• What determines company culture?

• How does leadership impact team dynamics?

• Why is your hiring manager more important than the company?

• What’s the danger of taking a job when you don’t vibe with the manager?

• Why is cultural alignment the most overlooked part of the interview?

Natasha Cornstein didn’t set out to become a CEO—but when opportunity knocked, she was ready with a curious mind, a humble heart, and a killer red lip. In this episode, Kendall Berg sits down with the powerhouse behind Blushington to unpack how Natasha went from skeptic customer to transformational CEO of a brand redefining beauty for all.

With zero experience in the beauty industry and no prior CEO role, Natasha reveals how she prepared for leadership by reading voraciously, staying radically open to feedback, and rejecting the idea of transactional networking. Her philosophy? “Your next hello can be your future.” From navigating a pandemic pivot to launching a franchise model centered on inclusivity, Natasha breaks down what bold-yet-introspective leadership looks like—and why most women underestimate the power of franchising.

Whether you’re climbing the ladder, switching industries, or building from scratch, Natasha’s story is a reminder that resilience, curiosity, and relationships matter more than a perfect résumé.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How can I transition into a leadership role with no industry experience?

• What’s the best way to network without feeling fake?

• How do I know when to pivot my business model?

• What does servant leadership really look like in practice?

• How can women get started in franchising?

⭐️Get our FREE Accomplishments Tracker: https://fabulous-butterfly-83716.myflodesk.com/n8yzvrtw9v

Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach?

Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_

Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

Build out the tools you need to navigate the corporate game: — Self Driven Mastermind

Learn More About Natasha

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-cornstein-27317628/

Here’s the truth: managing and leading are not the same.
And if you’re only doing one—you’re not getting promoted.

In Secret #5 of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg breaks down the critical difference between management and leadership, and why so many professionals get stuck in middle management because they’ve mastered task execution but never learned how to create vision. Or vice versa.

If you’ve ever wondered why you’re not getting tapped for bigger roles, this episode might be the reason.

🎧 Listen to this fifth installment of the 6-part mini-series leading up to the launch of Secrets of the Career Game—dropping May 13.

📘 Pre-order the book and email your receipt to thatcareercoach@gmail.com to unlock bonus resources, live Q&As, and Slack access.

• What’s the difference between managing and leading?
• Why do people get stuck in middle management?
• How do I show leadership if I’m not in a leadership role?
• What does it take to move from manager to director?
• Why do some managers never get promoted?
  
  

⭐️Get our FREE Accomplishments Tracker: https://fabulous-butterfly-83716.myflodesk.com/n8yzvrtw9v

Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach?

Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_

Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

Build out the tools you need to navigate the corporate game: — Self Driven Mastermind

Burnout is everywhere—and I get why. We’ve wrapped our entire identity around our job titles, performance reviews, and LinkedIn headlines. I’ve been there. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many of us are teetering on the edge of burnout and how I’ve learned (the hard way) to separate who I am from what I do.

This isn’t your average career pep talk. I’m sharing how hobbies—yes, actual non-monetized hobbies—helped me reclaim my identity, prevent emotional exhaustion, and show up more powerfully at work and in life. From pageantry to paint-by-numbers to running a business on the side, I talk about why your post-5pm life matters just as much as your 9-to-5. Whether you're deep in the "lazy girl job" spiral or wondering how to pivot out of career-induced chaos, this one’s for you.

📚 In this episode, we discuss:

• What are signs your job has become your entire identity?

• How do I stop comparing my career to influencers online?

• Can hobbies actually help you get promoted?

• Why do high-achievers burn out faster?

• What are some good hobbies for people with high-stress jobs?

This might be the most misunderstood feedback in the workplace.

You’re not too direct. You’re not too opinionated.
You’re just communicating disagreement the wrong way.

In Secret #4 of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg unpacks the career-limiting communication habits that hold people back from promotions, leadership roles, and real influence. If you’ve ever been told to “work on your tone” or “be more collaborative”—this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen to this fourth episode in our 6-part mini-series leading up to the book launch on May 13.

📘 Pre-order the book now and email your receipt to thatcareercoach@gmail.com for exclusive access to a private Slack group, bonus tools, and live Q&As.

• Why is how you disagree more important than your opinion?

• What do people mean by “work on your communication”?

• How do I give feedback without sounding combative?

• What’s the best way to disagree with a senior leader?
  
  

⭐️Get our FREE Accomplishments Tracker: https://fabulous-butterfly-83716.myflodesk.com/n8yzvrtw9v

Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach?

Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_

Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

Build out the tools you need to navigate the corporate game: — Self Driven Mastermind