Choosing Me: Why I Quit Retail After Three Decades

After three decades climbing the retail ladder, I did something I never thought I would — I quit. In this episode of Rock the Damn Boat, I share my story of building a career in retail leadership, the burnout that came with always saying yes, and the moment I realized it was time to start saying yes to myself instead.If you’ve ever wondered who you’d be without the job title, paycheck, or approval of others — this one’s for you. We’ll talk about identity, courage, and what it really means to put yourself first after years of people-pleasing.Keywords: retail burnout, career change, women in transition, people-pleasing recovery, self-worth, boundary setting, midlife reinvention, personal growth>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Welcome to Rock the Damn Boat — a podcast for women who’ve spent their lives keeping the peace, playing it safe, and putting everyone else first. I’m Christy Hughes — recovering people-pleaser, yoga teacher, and believer in doing the inner work that lets us live with more freedom and truth.Around here, we talk about the things we’ve been taught to avoid — boundaries, guilt, burnout, self-worth — and how to find your voice again, even when it shakes a little. This is your permission slip to stop apologizing, start speaking up, and trust that rocking the boat might just be how you find your calm.So take a deep breath, get grounded, and let’s rock the damn boat — together.