“Work-life balance” is one of the most overused phrases in modern careers.

Instead of treating balance as something you stumble across on a good week, this episode shows how to design it intentionally through structure, support, and mindset.

In this episode, Maya breaks down the systematic building blocks behind real work-life balance, and why surface-level advice like “set boundaries” or “switch off earlier” rarely solves the real problem.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why boundaries alone rarely fix the real work-life balance problem

• Why defining your own version of success changes how balance becomes possible

• Why trying to move too many priorities forward at once kills balance

• Why the right scaffolding typically matters more than mindset


Learn more about Maya’s Life Work Design Programme https://www.mayagudka.com/lifework-design 

As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1

For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com] 



Work-Life Balance Isn’t One Perfect Day — It’s a System You Build

If you’ve ever felt stuck between career options, overwhelmed by demands, or unsure which opportunities to pursue, this episode will help you zoom out and see the bigger picture.

Most ambitious professionals think about the next promotion, the next role, or the next opportunity.

But what if the real breakthrough comes from thinking much further ahead?

In this episode Maya shares a powerful framework used inside her Vision Code programme that helps high achievers design their career and life from the top down.

Instead of planning from your current situation upward, Maya explains how developing a 10-year vision unlocks clarity, better decision-making, and far greater long-term potential.

In this episode you’ll learn:

 * Why thinking only about your next career step can limit your potential

 * How creating a 10-year vision helps uncover opportunities you might otherwise miss

 * The difference between bottom-up career planning vs top-down vision planning

 * Why we overestimate what we can do in a day but underestimate what we can do in 10 years

 * How a long-term vision makes career decisions faster and clearer

 * How moments of envy or comparison can actually reveal clues about your deeper goals

As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1

For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com] 

And as mentioned in the episode, check out her recommendations: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/details/recommendations [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/details/recommendations/?detailScreenTabIndex=0]

Why High Achievers Need a 10-Year Vision (Not a 10-Year Plan)

Feeling overworked, undervalued, or like you’re constantly firefighting? You’re not alone and it’s not about ambition or poor time management. In this episode, Maya breaks down three hidden reasons high achievers get overloaded: weak or unspoken boundaries, over-investing in effort while under-investing in visibility and influence, and operating without a clear personal vision (so you default to everyone else’s priorities).



You’ll leave with practical scripts, mindset resets, and a simple way to reallocate time toward the work that actually moves your career forward.



You’ll Learn

 * How to say no (or “not now”) without damaging relationships
 * Why visibility and stakeholder buy-in should be 50% of the job (and how to plan for it)
 * The difference between promotable and non-promotable tasks — and how to ask for clarity
 * How a clear North Star stops you from becoming everyone else’s problem-solver
 * A weekly reset to protect your time, team, and energy



Results from participants of Vision Unblocked: https://www.mayagudka.com/vision-unblocked 

As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1

For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com] 



Why You’re Overworked (But Not Advancing in your Career)

In Part 2 of this conversation with Shirley Phillips from House of Colour, we move beyond colour palettes and into something deeper:

How your wardrobe supports leadership transitions, authority, authenticity — and promotion.

This episode explores how visual presence shapes perception in the workplace, particularly during: promotions, career pivots, returning from leave and navigating underrepresentation

If Part 1 introduced the science of colour, Part 2 explores the psychology.

What You’ll Learn

 * Why leadership presence is more visual than most professionals realise

 * The psychology behind first impressions (and the “5% rule”)

 * How colour and style can support authority without sacrificing authenticity

 * Why underrepresented professionals may need to be intentional about visual cues
   

 * What “clothing personality” means (Natural, Classic, Dramatic, Gamine, Ingenue, Romantic)

 * How to align your off-duty and on-duty identity

 * Why many professionals unknowingly wear a “mask” to work
   

To find out more about Maya you can connect with her at www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com/] and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1



The Psychology of Colour in the Workplace with Shirley Philips

Most high achievers obsess over performance, delivery, and strategic thinking.

But what about the visual signal you send before you even speak?

In this episode, Maya sits down with Shirley Phillips of House of Colour to explore how colour analysis and personal style influence confidence, credibility, and executive presence.

It’s about identity.

It’s about leadership.

And it’s about showing up as the most authentic version of yourself -  rather than dressing by accident.

What you’ll learn

 * How your wardrobe is already communicating your personal brand

 * Why colour analysis isn’t superficial

 * Why the wrong colours can make you look tired, harsh or even “sinister”

 * Dressing for a role vs dressing as yourself

 * Building a sustainable, joyful wardrobe

As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1

For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com] 



Own Your Personal Brand Through Colour Analysis with Shirley Phillips

What if the problem isn’t how much you spend, but where you spend it?



In this episode, Maya introduces the concept of Money Dials, a powerful framework popularised by Ramit Sethi, and explores how it can help high achievers spend with confidence, clarity, and intention

.

Rather than obsessing over budgets or cutting back everywhere, Money Dials help you identify the specific areas of life where spending genuinely adds value and where it doesn’t. Once you know your dials, you can turn them up unapologetically and cut back mercilessly on the rest, without guilt or resentment.



Maya shares her own biggest money dial (convenience), explains why this framework is especially helpful for high performers, and introduces a coaching twist: combining money dials to get the greatest return on your spending.



What You’ll Learn



 * What Money Dials are — and why they matter more than budgeting
 * The 10 most common money dials (including convenience, freedom, relationships, and health)

 * Why some spending feels expansive while other spending feels draining
 * How your money choices reflect what you truly value (even when you don’t realise it)
 * How combining money dials leads to elite level decisions

This episode is especially relevant if you often feel conflicted about spending money despite earning well and you want to align your finances with the life you’re building.

To find out more about Maya you can connect with her at www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com/] and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1



The 1% Approach to Spending — For Your Version of Wealth

Many high achievers are quietly working towards financial independence, whether they call it FIRE or not. But what happens when the goal becomes escaping work rather than designing a life you actually want to live?

In this episode Maya breaks down the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in a clear, grounded way without hype, extremes, or unrealistic assumptions.

We explore what FIRE really is, where it can be helpful, and where it can fall short for ambitious professionals who don’t actually want to stop working,  they want more autonomy, choice, and control.

What You’ll Learn

 * What FIRE actually means (and what it isn’t)

 * The different types of FIRE: Lean, Fat, Coast, and Barista

 * How your savings rate and lifestyle costs shape your freedom

 * The often-ignored emotional and psychological side of FIRE

 * Why many people feel flat or lost after hitting their “number”

To find out more about Maya you can connect with her at www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com/] and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1



The Missing Piece in the FIRE Conversation

Do morning routines really work if you’re not naturally disciplined, consistent, or living a perfectly predictable life?

In this episode Maya Gudka answers a listener question that captures why so many high achievers opt out of morning routines altogether and shows you a flexible, realistic alternative.

Rather than rigid schedules or 5am starts, Maya explains how to design mornings around a few high-impact cornerstones that support your energy, focus, and wellbeing, even if you have young children, variable mornings, or low tolerance for rigidity.

This episode reframes morning routines as something that should pull you out of bed, not feel like another performance metric.
What You’ll Learn

 * Why most people give up on morning routines

 * The difference between rigid routines and flexible cornerstones
 * How mornings support clarity, focus, and reduced overwork
 * Why cognitively demanding work is best done early
 * How to create a “pull factor” that makes mornings enjoyable



To find out more about Maya you can connect with her at www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com/] and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1



Designing a Morning That Works (Even If Life Is Messy)

By February, the shine of New Year goals has usually worn off.

Some things are working. Some things aren’t. And this is the moment where many high achievers either compound progress, or slowly disengage, telling themselves “it’s not working” or “I’m not working.”

In this episode Maya Gudka explains why February is one of the most powerful months of the year for progress, and why this is the perfect time to shift your focus from outcomes to small, repeatable processes.

You’ll learn the difference between outcome goals and process goals, why “trust the process” isn’t always helpful advice, and how to choose one simple process to commit to for the next 28 days, without burnout, pressure, or overhauling your life.

What You’ll Learn

 * Why February is a critical inflection point for goals
 * The difference between outcome goals and process goals
 * Why high achievers often over-control outcomes
 * Why “trust the process” only works if it’s the right process



To find out more about Maya you can connect with her at www.mayagudka.com [http://www.mayagudka.com/] and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/

And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1



The One Process That Will Change Your Year — Start in February

If your iPhone camera roll feels overwhelming — too many screenshots, duplicate photos, long videos, and thousands of images you never look at — this episode is for you.

In this episode, Maya shares a simple January routine for decluttering photos on your iPhone: a 5-minute daily photo delete habit that makes steady progress without turning into a huge digital clear-out.

This isn’t organising for the sake of it. It’s about organising your photos so your memories are usable again, freeing up iPhone storage, and reducing the mental load that comes from digital clutter.

Maya explains why digital photos become overwhelming, where to start for the biggest wins (duplicates, selfies, videos, screenshots, and storage-by-size), and how to delete photos without regret — including why starting one year back makes this process much easier.

If you’re looking for a calm, sustainable way to declutter your camera roll, clear iPhone storage, and feel more intentional about the photos you keep, this episode will give you a simple place to start.

What You’ll Learn

 * How to declutter photos on your iPhone in just 5 minutes a day
 * Why your camera roll feels overwhelming (and how to fix it)
 * The fastest way to free up iPhone storage using videos and duplicates
 * How to delete photos without regret
 * A sustainable digital declutter habit for busy professionals



This episode is part of Maya’s January series helping high achievers build clarity around money, career, and daily routines for 2026.

You can find the £33 Vision Unblocked programme here https://www.mayagudka.com/vision-unblocked

2024 Year End Review Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/02TyZAsVS7Qf8FTnudRcv0

What is Your Personal Rich Life Vision? Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/7KC86MbwBZhL6ExiSDGl8k

The Abundance Series - Start with these https://youtu.be/IZJJlI2mw_E?si=8BXyvpkcSb9bh4YU https://youtu.be/L67WF_2I9sk?si=HVDhSj17GN3gzfIv 

5 Ways to Effortlessly Achieve Your Goals Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/4l6zoSOQVzQTcSdxn8GCxZ

And download your free Vision Checklist here https://www.mayagudka.com/vision-checklist Connect with Maya on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/m/in/mayagudkaAnd subscribe to the pod YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1


The 5-Minute System for Getting on Top of Your Camera Roll

For intelligent leaders wishing to step up, craft, or transition into their dream roles, without burning out. Instead of pushing ourselves harder, we take a step back, find the less trodden path, and invite spaciousness & intentionality into our work and lives. Hosted by Maya, MSc, MA (Cantab) Master Accredited Coach (EMCC), seen in HBR, Stylist, Psychologies Mag, top Academic Journals. Clients include Sony, London Business School & Legal & General. Career Growth. Positive Leadership. Work/life balance. Virtual Work. Executive Coaching. Get Promoted. Earn More.

Maya Gudka

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