What happens when the work you love becomes the very thing that's exhausting you? We're told that if we find our passion, we'll never work a day in our lives. But for many entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and purpose-driven professionals, doing meaningful work comes with an unspoken expectation: sacrifice yourself for the mission. And somewhere along the way, burnout becomes a badge of honor. But does it have to be that way? In this episode of The Purpose Profit Shift, host Rachel Bernier-Green sits down with Libby Smith, Founder of Work With Libby LLC, coach, facilitator, Circle keeper, and Senior Advisor at Viable Insights. With nearly 30 years of experience in organizational development and evaluation, Libby has witnessed how even organizations committed to doing good can create environments that leave their people exhausted, disconnected, and burned out. After stepping away from institutional academia, Libby began exploring a different approach to work, success, and personal well-being through breathwork, somatic practices, coaching, and meaningful human connection. Together, Rachel and Libby challenge conventional ideas about work life balance, hustle culture, productivity, and the belief that our worth is determined by how much we accomplish. They explore why purpose-driven work can lead to burnout, how organizations can unintentionally recreate toxic workplace environments, and why redefining success requires more than simply working fewer hours. The conversation also goes deeper into our relationship with money, the importance of rest, recognizing our own needs, and creating organizations that actually live by the values they promote. Because doing work that matters shouldn't require sacrificing yourself in the process. IN THIS EPISODEWhy doing what you love can still lead to burnout and emotional exhaustionHow hustle culture affects entrepreneurs and purpose-driven organizationsWhy work life balance requires rethinking our relationship with successThe disconnect between organizational values and workplace practicesHow money, productivity, and self-worth become intertwinedWhy rest and sustainable work practices matter for long-term successHow breathwork and somatic practices help us reconnect with ourselvesThe importance of recognizing grief, including grief within organizationsWhy building a meaningful body of work may matter more than simply building a business EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 – Introduction: Meet Libby Smith 02:37 – The Biggest Myth About Wellness and Coaching 05:29 – When Organizational Values Don't Match Reality 09:06 – The Hidden Cost of Purpose-Driven Work 12:05 – Should Organizations Stop Doing Work That Harms People? 15:02 – Redefining Success and Letting Go of the Corporate Ladder 18:13 – Money Trauma and Our Relationship With Finances 21:21 – Rethinking Retirement and Building a Lasting Legacy 23:42 – Why Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs Still Burn Out 25:02 – Hustle Culture, Survival, and Work Life Balance 27:26 – Why We Connect Our Self-Worth to Money 30:40 – Can You Make Money While Prioritizing Rest? 34:07 – Understanding What You Actually Need to Thrive 37:41 – Making Financial Decisions With Intention 40:53 – Breathwork, Coaching, and Creating Meaningful Connection 46:23 – Our Relationship With the Environment and Climate Grief 49:37 – Why We Struggle to Process Grief 53:47 – Organizational Grief and the Losses We Don't Acknowledge 56:48 – Discovering Who You Are Beyond Your Job Title 58:36 – Building a Legacy Beyond Business Success 59:49 – Rapid Fire: Rest, Profit, and Personal Growth 1:02:01 – Final Reflections and Connecting With Libby CONNECT WITH LIBBY SMITHWork With Libby LLC Website: WorkwithlibbyLibby Smith Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/work_with_libby LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/workwithlibby Explore Libby's coaching, facilitation, and breathwork offerings through her website, including information about her monthly group breathwork circles. FOLLOW RACHEL BERNIER-GREEN & THRYVOWebsite: JointhryvoThryvo Financial Advisory Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/jointhryvo LinkedIn: LinkedinThryvo Financial Advisory | LinkedIn Subscribe to The Purpose Profit Shift for conversations with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and changemakers who are challenging traditional business models and proving that purpose and profit can work together. If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that their well-being matters just as much as the work they do. What does a healthy work life balance actually look like for you? Let us know in the comments. #WorkLifeBalance #Burnout #HustleCulture #WorkplaceBurnout #PurposeDrivenBusiness
