Replaced by Three Employees and Called It a Badge of Honor with Amanda Van Der Heiden

Amanda Van Der Heiden could trot on a horse before she could walk. When she fell into a sandpit at age two, her parents put her right back on before she was done crying — no discussion, no choice. That lesson became the operating principle for the rest of her life, including a corporate career that hit the exact same burnout pattern three times in three different companies.

At 27, working 20-hour days with a team spanning two continents, she left one role and was replaced by three full-time employees. She saw it as a badge of honor for years, until the same thing happened again, and then again.

On this episode of FINE is a 4-Letter Word, Amanda talks with Lori Saitz about what executive presence actually looks like, the real difference between introversion and extroversion, and why she now measures success by whether she tried, not whether she succeeded.

What You'll Take Away

• Why chasing bigger networks misses the point when most people already have valuable relationships they've stopped tending
• What Amanda learned about executive presence by watching three tiers of leadership arrive at the same conference
• The real difference between introversion and extroversion — it's about how you refuel, not how social you are
• Why the same burnout pattern across three different companies pointed to one common denominator
• What Amanda means by 'win or learn,' and why it removes the fear of trying

Guest Bio

Amanda Van Der Heiden is a Chaos Organizer and Relationship Builder, and a passionate learning and development leader who enjoys energizing and enabling people to excel. She is an award-winning consultant, speaker, coach, and author who drives change, talent development, and effective leadership worldwide.

Chapters & Key Timestamps

01:05Raised on a horse farm: work ethic, determination, resilience

03:21Raised between Kentucky and Long Island, and how that shaped her adaptability

07:19The horse story: strapped into the stirrups before she could walk

08:06The sandpit: falling at two years old and being put right back on

18:09The leadership conference: watching executive presence across three tiers of seniority

22:03The burnout pattern: 20-hour days, a team across two continents, 17,000 people

23:17Getting replaced by three full-time employees, and thinking it was a compliment

25:41Introversion and extroversion explained correctly: it is about refueling, not sociability

28:01Win or learn: the redefinition of failure that removes the fear

Resources Mentioned

• Free Resource: goal-accomplishment giveaway for listeners — goGTDS.com
• Song: Get Things Done by Solyn — open.spotify.com/track/2WsizP4qoRB7rAZb3oxsRN

Connect With Amanda Van Der Heiden

Website: GTDScorp.com

Free Resource: goGTDS.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amandavanderheiden

Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573758719415

Instagram: gtds.LearnTuesday

Continue With Lori

Website: zenrabbit.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisaitz/

Email: Lori@ZenRabbit.com

Invitation From Lori

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Trust is the foundation of all great workplaces, and in today's hybrid, fast-moving work culture, it's built through consistent, clear, human communication.

Quarterly town halls, Slack messages, or team-building events are rarely enough to create the connection employees need. That's why forward-thinking companies are hiring Lori to create internal and private podcasts that bring leaders and employees together through authentic stories and real conversations.

Think of it as the old-school company newsletter reinvented for the modern workplace.

If your company wants to strengthen communication, connection, community, and culture, connect with Lori at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisaitz/

Related Conversation

Episode 238: Scott Doggett — on employee engagement, burnout, and treating people as more than resources to manage.

About FINE is a 4-Letter Word

FINE is a 4-Letter Word is the show for leaders who are tired of pretending everything is fine. We explore what it takes to lead with empathy, vulnerability, gratitude, and courage, especially during the seasons when life and leadership feel anything but fine. Listen for honest conversations about how human connection influences innovation, retention, leadership, and real impact. New episodes every week.

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