Choosing Family Over Optics

Summary: Ever screamed at your kid on vacation and thought, "How did I get here?" Kim Gacso did and that moment cracked something open. In this episode, Kim shares how she went from breakdown to boundaries after her dream job nearly broke her. We talk about guilt, shame, healing, and what it really means to choose yourself without burning it all down. If you've ever been the "reliable one," this one hits home.Chapters: 00:00 – When the reliable one breaks down03:15 – Meet Kim: Executive titles and tennis shoes05:58 – The vacation meltdown that changed everything10:22 – Shame, guilt, and a moment of reckoning14:40 – From boardrooms to boundaries: Kim’s clarity journey20:00 – Why choosing family cost her professionally—and why it was worth it26:05 – What healing looks like in real life30:40 – Advice for the over-functioning achievers34:20 – Kim today: How she defines success nowHost Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmpGuest Kim Gacso: linkedin.com/in/kim-gacso-90a84a4Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka