I wish I could say that I changed everything that day, but as with most change experiences, it took a few weeks for me to go back to working like I was the only person alive who could do the work. I continued working the way I did, more aware of what I was doing but not feeling capable of changing it.

My body started reacting to my way of working with a flare-up of eczema (that I used to have as a toddler), constant fatigue, headaches and regular visits to my doctor.

Gay Hendricks says when we are not in our Zone of Genius, we often suffer from illnesses that are hard to diagnose.

Looking back now, I know I wasn't in my Zone of Genius.

It all finally came to a head when I found myself in a toxic work environment working with a toxic leader who made me feel like I knew nothing and deserved even less.

There I was with a post-grad qualification and experience spanning over a decade, wondering if I was capable of doing the job I had been doing for years.

When we stay in toxic work environments long enough, we start to believe we are not good enough. We begin to think we are incapable, and we start losing ourselves.

I didn't recognise the person staring back at me when I looked in the mirror, but I felt so trapped by my circumstances that it seemed like I had no way out.

Crying in the office bathroom at 6:30 one morning, I asked myself if this was really the life I wanted. Could this really be it? The answer was a resounding no. I am not sure where the answer came from, but I started working on my exit strategy that day.

I officially became unemployable in 2018. I took my expertise and experience and created a four-part coaching framework for high-performing professionals working in a corporate environment. Supporting them to create a thriving career that lights them up, fulfils and rewards them. So they never have to miss dinner again.