We talk to debut author and A Life Of Greatness podcast host Sarah Grynberg, who experienced burnout in a top, demanding career while she had two young kids and ended up upending her life for the better. She talks to Capsule about finding your way back to your right path, and how our career can form so much of our identity – and what it’s like when that changes.
Melbournian Sarah Grynberg is a busy, fulfilled woman. She’s the creator of internationally successful podcast A Life Of Greatness, speaking to global thought leaders, celebrities, authors and other stand-out guests who have insights that can help others. She is a mindset coach for people including athletes, senior executives and business owners, a keynote speaker who does other live events and talks, a wife, a mother of two, and now an author.
Sarah’s first book, Living A Life of Greatness: Steps to a Fulfilling Existence, comes out today. We speak to her about her chapters and ‘pillars’ which include living with conscious awareness, creating kindness, the gift of listening, the art of knowing, the fullness of gratitude, finding your people, and the power of your breath. How can we adopt new habits and change our lives?
Hi Sarah! Congratulations on your book.
Thank you! I’m excited about it coming out!
When I first saw the title Living A Life of Greatness, I wondered to myself: is greatness something else we need to try to achieve – as in, an added pressure? Or is it less about achieving and more about self-actualising?
Living a life of greatness isn’t about these massive things you need to be going out and achieving. Greatness is different for everyone, right? It’s a word we use to describe something positive we want to embody or already embody. I believe greatness is made up of the pillars that I write about. But I think the main thing is leading a life that’s authentic to yourself, and one where you are kind. When we touch each other’s lives in a positive way – and give information to help others – that, to me, is greatness. And physiologically, helping other people gives you a natural high. As working mums, we’re busy, but if I can pick up some kids and drive them home, that makes me feel good as well as helping other mums.
Why did you decide to write the book?
I didn’t want to write a book just to write a book. I wanted to show people what I’ve learned from being a mindset coach, my podcast and my own experiences. I wanted to share these key pillars that really helped me. The premise of the book is that we have everything inside us already. If someone feels their light has dimmed a little, I hope the book gives them tools and practices to help build up their light up again, because it’s always there.
How was the process of writing?
I loved it a lot. The actual writing process took about a year. I learned the idea of flow, and putting electronic devices away to really get into the momentum of writing. I enjoyed telling stories I hadn’t told before on the podcast about my own life, about my friends’ lives, and revisiting things I hadn’t thought about for a long time.
You write about a period when you were juggling getting up incredibly early for your job as a breakfast-radio producer, and also being mum to two young kids. All of a sudden, you knew you were burned out?
Yeah, I understood the concept of burnout as a chronic stress condition resulting in exhaustion. You don’t have to be a scientist to realise that – if you have a two-year-old and a four-year-old and you’re waking up at 3am – your body will be so out of whack. It feels like permanent jetlag to work those crazy hours when you’ve got little ones – and when you have to be around if something comes up in your job. It all led to that moment of complete and utter burnout, sitting on my couch. But I think that was meant to be, because I had the light-bulb moment that I needed to get myself on a different path.
You also mentioned you somewhat resisted making that change – choosing predictability and safety over uncertainty. But you got past that?
Yeah, I think you can ‘keep on keeping on’, and initially I didn’t let go of that job because I was a bit scared.
You were told you’d need to relocate from Melbourne to Sydney to stay in your job and you didn’t want to. So did the universe intervene in a way?
Yeah, thank goodness for that intervention! I’ve since learned that if something in life isn’t working for you, move away from it because, otherwise, it’s going to slam you. Even though I was a bit shattered by the news about my job, I also thought ‘well that’s okay’ and looking back, I can see it landed me where it was meant to.
You wrote something that resonated with me – ‘if I couldn’t work, what was my existence worth?’. Do you think a lot of us wrap up our identities in our job?
A lot of us do. I identified as the producer for this great radio show. I was going to parties and schmoozing with celebs, and everything looked so shiny from the outside – but I realised it wasn’t for me. I’ve coached people who worked in massive corporate roles for decades and get made redundant – and it’s tragic and difficult if their identity is wrapped up in their jobs. I’ve learned to make sure that, whatever is happening in my outer world, my internal world will be sturdy.
When you started your podcast six years ago, did you imagine it would be so successful with such an incredible calibre of guests, and ‘wisdom-keepers’? Actors Matthew McConaughey and Geena Davis, relationship/sexuality expert Esther Perel, holistic well-being expert Deepak Chopra, authors Johann Hari and Elizabeth Gilbert, sportswoman Stephanie Rice, humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the list goes on.
When I set up my podcast, I wanted to get the best guests in the world, no matter the country or their field, so I could share their stories and wisdoms. So I honestly wasn’t surprised the podcast did well, because when there’s something we really want to do, and we put our actions behind that, then it’s possible. I’m energised by the simple idea that my interviews might inspire one person to live a better life.
Have you ever felt like overawed talking to, say, Matthew McConaughey, or do you think ‘everyone’s just a person’?
Everyone’s just a person, and big names don’t faze me. I get excited about everyone I have on, because I’m really into what they’re doing.
You’re a busy person. What’s your take on whether women can ‘have it all’ – given trying to fit in everything can leave us over-stretched.
I think it’s very different for everyone, but, if I reflect on my own life, it’s about doing what makes you happy and what makes your family happy. Whatever happens to you happens to your family, too. I still do a lot now, but I’m doing things I’m really interested in. Also I’d spent so many years in corporates working under people and it’s just not my jam at this stage. Working for myself is the best thing for me. Other people will feel differently. But if you’re doing a job you dislike, why keep doing that? I understand the need to pay the bills, but why not try to find another job or career that will make you happier? I was lucky enough to do that and love what I do.
Look out for Part 2 of our interview with Sarah, as we discuss challenging our worry thoughts – and the power of knowing you’re enough.
Listen to Sarah’s podcast and check out her book here
