This week on Seriously, What Could They Be Thinking?, Jaime Peters (finance brain with a dry wit) and Cindy Goodwin-Sak (leadership expert and recovering overachiever) take on the myth that just won’t die: work–life balance.

Is it even real, or just a 1990s self-help fantasy with a corporate logo slapped on top? We trace where the concept came from, why flexibility didn’t fix it, and how the real model looks more like a pendulum than a scale.

Along the way, we dig into:

* Why Americans work 200–300 more hours a year than most Western countries

* What burnout is really costing companies (hint: it shows up on the P&L)

* Why managers set the tone for team health—often without realizing it

* How to replace “balance” with something more human: sprint, rest, repeat

You’ll also get our best real-world tips for protecting your time, scheduling “life” like a meeting, and redefining success so it doesn’t cost your sanity (or your weekends).

If you’ve ever been praised for being “dedicated” when you were actually just exhausted, this one’s for you.

🎙️ Seriously, What Could They Be Thinking?

Real business. Real data. Real humans trying to get it right.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatcouldtheybethinking.substack.com