In this powerful episode of “The Story I’m Telling Myself,” host Rita sits down with global executive assistant trainer and bestselling author Bonnie Low-Kramen (Be the Ultimate Assistant, Staff Matters) to unpack the true cost of burnout, poor boundaries, and the internal narratives that keep high achievers—especially women—stuck in toxic work habits.

Bonnie shares her dramatic wake-up call after years of overwork as the longtime personal assistant to Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, including the moment a doctor linked her double pneumonia to extreme stress and lack of rest. Rita reflects on her own mental burnout during a demanding travel-heavy consulting role, revealing how “being indispensable” can drive us into exhaustion, resentment, and self-betrayal.

Together, they explore:

✨ Burnout warning signs and why high performers ignore them
✨ The myth of indispensability and how it harms women in the workplace
✨ How people-pleasing, overcommitment, and gratitude culture fuel burnout
✨ The employer’s duty of care vs. personal responsibility
✨ Why boundaries are essential for long-term career success
✨ Practical, real-world strategies to speak up, renegotiate expectations, and reset balance
✨ How AI tools can support smarter, more sustainable work
✨ Why “it’s a marathon, not a sprint” when it comes to career and wellbeing

If you’ve ever struggled with overworking, people-pleasing, feeling undervalued, or believing “they can’t do it without me,” this episode offers clarity, compassion, and actionable steps to help you reclaim your time, energy, and self-worth.