<p>You know in <em>Legally Blonde</em> when Elle Woods walks into Harvard Law and everyone looks at her like she doesn’t belong? Yeah… that happened to me. Except it wasn’t Harvard. It was a very grumpy law firm in San Jose where people stole my mouse and threw staplers. And I remember thinking… wait. Why does everyone think this is normal?</p><p>In this episode, we’re talking about that moment. The moment something in your work life doesn’t feel right, but instead of speaking up, you start wondering if you’re the problem.<br></p><p>I’m taking you back to my very first “real” job. I was 21, tiny but mighty, and completely unprepared for what I walked into. A workplace where people weren’t kind, toxic behavior was normal, and I started questioning myself.<br>Until one night, I hit my limit. I quit. No notice. No plan.<br></p><p>And what happened next changed everything.<br></p><p><strong>We talk:</strong></p><ul><li> The moment you realize “this is not normal”… and what you do next </li><li> How we end up thinking <em>we’re</em> the problem in toxic environments </li><li> The difference between being “emotional” and knowing your worth </li><li> What it looks like to speak up… and romcom your work life </li></ul><p>I also share what happened when I went back to that job to explain myself… and how, for the first time, I realized I wasn’t the problem.<br></p><p>Here’s the truth I want you to walk away with: just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal. And just because everyone else is tolerating it doesn’t mean you have to. We spend more time working than we do in almost any other part of our lives, so why are we so quick to accept environments that make us miserable?<br></p><p>You are allowed to speak up. </p><p>You are allowed to ask for more. </p><p>You are allowed to leave. That’s what it means to romcom your work life.<br></p><p>If this episode landed for you, send it to someone who needs to hear this.<br></p><p>And if you’re in it right now, this is your reminder… you are not stuck. You are the main character. And you get to decide what happens next.<br></p><p>Watch the romcom live:</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwith_sheila">⁠https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwith_sheila⁠</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@smalltalkwithsheila">⁠https://www.youtube.com/@smalltalkwithsheila⁠</a></p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@smalltalkwithsheila">⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@smalltalkwithsheila⁠</a><br></p><p>Or email me directly at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><br></p><p><strong>End Credits “rolling like a romcom”</strong><br>Production and audience development by <a href="https://pod.vision/">PodVision</a><br>Created, written, and hosted by Sheila Kazan<br>Executive Producer of Her Own Life: Also Sheila Kazan<br>Emotional Support and Occasional Reality Check: Hezi (my husband)<br>Tiny but Mighty Energy: Love (my pup)<br>No staplers were thrown in the making of this episode.<br>But one very important boundary was.<br></p><p>This romcom is just getting started. 🤍<br></p>