EP176: She Gave Herself One Year to Quit Corporate with Heather Romanowski

<p>Heather Romanowski, freelance editor and co-founder of Book Realm Revisions, left a decade-long corporate career at Audi not just because she burned out doing the work of six editors, a colleague told her that her side business would never be considered a real conflict of interest. That one comment lit a fire that led her to Magic: The Gathering, government contracts, and a nine-year freelance career she built entirely on her own terms. Her story is a masterclass in turning a childhood obsession into a sustainable, multi-faceted business in an industry being reshaped by AI and economic pressure.</p><p><br></p><p>Heather breaks down exactly how she networks her way into rooms most freelancers never reach, including why she stays up until 2 AM at Gen Con running side quests for her clients, how a chance library conversation in 2017 launched her entire editing career, and why she believes face-to-face connection is the single most important skill in the age of AI. She also gets candid about the fear of hating what you love if you turn it into a career, the burnout that finally pushed her out of corporate, and what it really looks like to give yourself one year to sink or swim as a full-time business owner. This one is raw, specific, and packed with the kind of insight you only get from someone who has actually lived it.</p><p><br></p><p>If Heather's story hit home, share it with someone who's been sitting on a decision they're afraid to make. You might be the nudge they needed.Don't forget to subscribe and give us a 5-star rating!</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Heather Romanowski:</p><p><br></p><p>Instagram: https://instagram.com/bookrealmrevisions</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherromanowski</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookRealmRevisions</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jeremyswick</p><p>Instagram: https://instagram.com/pod.intotheunkonwn</p><p>Instagram: https://instagram.com/theaveragehistorian</p><p>TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theaveragehistorian</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pod.intotheunknown</p><p><br></p>