139: Get Back in the Driver’s Seat

When life feels overwhelming, it’s often because no one is actually driving. Meet Hannah. She’s a driven single mom with two young boys and a demanding leadership role in retail operations. Her days are filled with meetings, fire drills, and constant pressure to perform. Despite strong reviews, promotions keep passing her by. At home, guilt sets in. At work, doubt creeps closer. Hannah isn’t lazy or unmotivated. She’s exhausted from reacting to everything around her and wants to prove to her sons that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of happiness. In this episode, Jay speaks with Dr. Lawana Gladney, also known as Dr. G, a success psychologist and leadership performance expert. Dr. G explains why burnout happens, how overwhelm hijacks the brain, and what it really means to get back in the driver’s seat of life. Through powerful metaphors, practical psychology, and deeply human insight, this conversation reframes control, time, and emotional regulation. Notable Quotes “People are reacting to life instead of planning their life.” —  Dr. Lawana Gladney “Burnout happens when the brain is overwhelmed and disorganized.” — Dr. Lawana Gladney “Make a plan, schedule it. If it's scheduled, then it happens. If it's not scheduled, it won't happen..” —  Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Dr. Lawana Gladney is a successful psychologist, leadership performance expert, speaker, and author. Through her Psychology of Success methodology, she helps leaders change behaviors that lead to burnout, stalled growth, and disengagement. Her work focuses on emotional regulation, mindset, time management, and helping people take control of their lives with clarity and intention. Resources & Links Dr. Lawana Gladney (Dr. G) Website – https://www.drgladney.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgladney/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/drgladney/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/drgladney/?hl=en YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@psychologyofsuccesswithdr.g Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story   Join Us Next Time This Friday, Jay goes deeper into the idea of planning life instead of reacting to it. He’ll share practical ways to organize time, protect attention, and create structure so work, family, and personal goals can coexist more sustainably.