If you’ve ever looked around and thought, “I worked my whole life for this?” — boy do I have a podcast for you.
Kurt Sassak knew from age 11 that he wanted to be a chef.
By 39, he’d cooked in luxury hotels across seven countries, climbing every mountain he could see.
On paper? Dream career.
In reality? Total burnout.
The passion was gone. The joy was gone.
And every Sunday night came with that quiet dread: “I can’t keep doing this.”
Most people in his position double down — push through, change jobs, chase the next promotion.
Kurt tried that too… until he finally realized the truth:
👉 The problem wasn’t the job. The problem was who he’d become inside it.
So he walked away.
And what came next turned his story — and his identity — upside down.
In this week’s episode of Redefining Retirement, we talk about what really happens when your “dream job” stops feeling like one, and how to rebuild from the inside out.
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The early warning signs you’re headed for burnout
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How ego + sunk cost keep Gen Xers stuck for years too long
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The “clarity first” mindset Kurt now teaches his clients
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Why starting over at 40+ doesn’t mean starting from zero
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How to reconnect your work with what actually gives you energy
This conversation isn’t about quitting — it’s about reclaiming your mojo, that feeling that gets you jumping out of bed in the morning.
If you’ve ever felt trapped by the very thing you once loved, this one will hit home.
Press play to watch on YouTube:
As always, if something hits home, drop a comment and let me know. And if you’re into these kinds of conversations, hit subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.
If you listen over there and if you could drop us a review. It would be SUPER helpful to get us rolling on those platforms.