I Want to Slow Down at Work, Not Derail My Career - How to Reduce Your Pace, Responsibilities, or Working Hours Without Burning Bridges or Feeling Like Every Calmer Choice Means Surrendering Your Career

By Max Paradox
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
Length6h 30m

About this audiobook

You've worked hard, earned promotions, gained responsibility, and built a successful career. Congratulations! Your reward is apparently... even more work. More meetings. More decisions. More people depending on you. More emails marked urgent by people who appear to believe that every minor inconvenience requires an executive-level emergency response. And somewhere along the way, you started wondering something rather inconvenient: What if I don't want the next promotion? What if I just want my evenings back? Perhaps you'd prefer fewer responsibilities, a smaller team, shorter working hours, or a specialist position where you can actually concentrate on work you enjoy. There's just one problem. The professional world has a strange habit of interpreting slowing down as giving up. Decline a promotion? You must lack ambition. Leave management? Something must have gone wrong. Ask for a four-day working week? People start wondering whether you're planning to retire before the next quarterly review. But choosing a calmer career doesn't mean abandoning a successful one. In I Want to Slow Down at Work, Not Derail My Career, Max Paradox offers a refreshingly practical, humorous guide to reducing professional pressure without destroying your reputation, burning bridges, or making financially reckless decisions. This isn't another book suggesting you quit your job tomorrow, move to a tropical island, and discover your true calling while drinking something served inside a coconut. It's a guide for people with actual responsibilities, mortgages, families, commitments, and careers worth preserving. Inside, you'll discover how to recognize which parts of your working life need changing. Is the problem your working hours, the number of people you manage, the weight of your decisions, or the endless interruptions that prevent you from finishing anything? You'll learn how to evaluate a less demanding position, understand the financial consequences of reduced responsibility, and prepare a realistic proposal for your employer. The book explores how to discuss your plans with your manager without sounding apologetic, issuing unnecessary ultimatums, or turning the conversation into a dramatic resignation announcement. You'll also discover why apparently attractive solutions sometimes fail. A four-day week can become five days of work squeezed into four. A specialist role can quietly inherit your previous management duties. And a new employer can offer exactly the same exhausting working culture with a more attractive office and different coffee. Max Paradox also examines the difficult situations that optimistic career advice conveniently ignores: employers who refuse to negotiate, organizational restructuring, disappointing career changes, financial constraints, and the uncomfortable possibility that you might eventually want greater responsibility again. Throughout the book, you'll find realistic examples, practical decisions, sharp observations, and plenty of humor about the absurdities of modern professional life. Because ambition doesn't have to mean accepting every opportunity. And professional success shouldn't require you to remain permanently available to everyone except the people you actually want to spend time with. You don't have to derail your career to take your foot off the accelerator. Maybe the smartest career move isn't another promotion. Maybe it's finally having a career you can enjoy without sacrificing everything around it. This publication was prepared using tools that support the creative process, including artificial intelligence solutions. The final concept, structure and editing are the responsibility of the author.

Audiobook details

GenreBusiness and Economics, Self-Help
Length6 hrs 30 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 24, 2026
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1INTRO
2Chapter 1 - When Being Successful Starts Getting Expensive
3Chapter 2 - Why Slowing Down Feels Like Losing, Even When You're Choosing Wisely
4Chapter 3 - Who Put Their Foot on Your Career's Accelerator?
5Chapter 4 - How to Slow Down on Paper While Remaining Completely Exhausted
Show all chapters
6Chapter 5 - The Guilt of Leaving People Who Depend on You
7Chapter 6 - Golden Handcuffs and the Price of a Calmer Career
8Chapter 7 - Just One More Project, and Then I'll Slow Down
9Chapter 8 - You Don't Have to Be in Every Room to Matter
10Chapter 9 - Design a Calmer Career Instead of Hoping One Appears
11Chapter 10 - How to Talk to Your Boss Without Begging or Threatening
12Chapter 11 - How to Hand Over Responsibility Without Becoming the Manager After Hours
13Chapter 12 - A Shorter Working Week That Actually Gives You More Life
14Chapter 13 - Change Your Career Without Leaving the Company
15Chapter 14 - Leave Your Employer Without Escaping Through the Fire Exit
16Chapter 15 - When Your Employer Says No and You Still Need Something to Change
17Chapter 16 - I Slowed Down. So Why Don't I Feel Any Better?
18Chapter 17 - When the Company Is Accelerating and You Need to Slow Down
19Chapter 18 - How to Keep Your Calmer Career From Quietly Becoming Your Old One
20Chapter 19 - When Ambition Returns, You Don't Have to Rejoin the Race
21Chapter 20 - Your Career Doesn't Need a Backseat Driver
My Income Is Irregular, but My Bills Are Regular - How to Budget with Fluctuating Income, Build a Buffer, and Pay Yourself a Predictable Amount Without Going from a Great Month to a Tough OneMax Paradox6h 28m$7.70 · $0.00
We Love Each Other, but Our Libidos Don't Share a Calendar - How to Talk About Different Needs, Closeness, Initiating and Saying No Without Pressure, Sulking, or Treating Desire Like a Quarterly KPIMax Paradox6h 34m$7.70 · $0.00
I Have Four Generations on My Team and Four Definitions of “Normal Work” - How to Bridge Different Expectations About Communication, Feedback, Working Hours, and Careers Without Putting Anyone’s Age on TrialMax Paradox6h 43m$7.70 · $0.00
I'm Going on Vacation with My Parents, and We All Move at Different Speeds - How to Agree on Plans, Rest, and Boundaries for a Trip with Your Adult Family Without Slipping Back into the Child's Role at Check-InMax Paradox6h 19m$7.70 · $0.00
Chcę Odejść z Pracy, Ale Jest Mi Głupio Wobec Zespołu - Jak odejść profesjonalnie, przygotować przekazanie obowiązków i poradzić sobie z poczuciem, że porzucasz ludzi zamiast po prostu zmieniać pracęMax Paradox6h 21m$7.70 · $0.00
Ja Oszczędzam, Partner Wydaje i Oboje Uważamy Się za Rozsądnych - Jak połączyć różne style finansowe, ustalić wspólne zasady i cele bez zamieniania każdego paragonu w debatę o charakterzeMax Paradox6h 6m$7.70 · $0.00
I Found Out How Much My Colleague Earns and Suddenly My Salary Looks Different - How to Separate Comparisons from Facts, Assess Your Market Value, and Prepare for a Salary Conversation Without Turning Your Colleague into Your Personal BenchmarkMax Paradox6h 22m$7.70 · $0.00
Jestem na Wypowiedzeniu i Moja Motywacja Też Już Odeszła - Jak przeżyć okres wypowiedzenia, domknąć najważniejsze sprawy i nie wybierać między sabotażem a heroicznym ratowaniem firmy do ostatniej minutyMax Paradox6h 21m$7.70 · $0.00
I'm Working My Notice, and My Motivation Has Already Left - How to Survive Your Notice Period, Wrap Up What Matters, and Avoid Choosing Between Sabotage and Heroically Saving the Company Until the Last MinuteMax Paradox6h 33m$7.70 · $0.00
We Love Each Other, But We Don't Have to Do Everything Together - How to Keep Your Own Interests, Your People, and Your Space in a Relationship Without Treating Separate Saturday Plans as a Red FlagMax Paradox6h 30m$7.70 · $0.00
Dyplom Mam, Ale Rekrutacja Pyta, Co Naprawdę Potrafię - Jak pokazywać umiejętności, rezultaty i portfolio, kiedy pracodawcy coraz mniej pytają o liniową karierę, a coraz bardziej o to, co potrafisz zrobićMax Paradox6h 4m$7.70 · $0.00
I Bought It Digitally. Which Apparently Means I Didn't Really Buy It - How to Tell a Purchase from a License or Subscription, Protect Important Files, and Know What You Actually Own Before a Platform Changes Its Terms or DisappearsMax Paradox6h 22m$7.70 · $0.00
I Love His Kids, But I Don't Know Who I'm Supposed to Be to Them - How to Find Your Own Role with Your Partner's Children, Support Them Without Taking Someone Else's Place, and Agree on Responsibilities with Their Biological ParentsMax Paradox6h 36m$7.70 · $0.00
I Have a Gap in My CV, and It Feels Like It's Written in Red Marker - How to Talk About a Career Break Calmly and Clearly, Show Your Current Skills, and Stop Treating Months or Years Away from Employment as a BlemishMax Paradox6h 43m$7.70 · $0.00
Chcę Zwolnić Zawodowo, Nie Wykoleić Kariery - Jak zmniejszyć tempo, odpowiedzialność lub wymiar pracy bez palenia mostów i bez poczucia, że każda spokojniejsza decyzja jest zawodową kapitulacjąMax Paradox6h 21m$7.70 · $0.00
Dowiedziałem Się, Ile Zarabia Kolega i Nagle Moja Pensja Wygląda Inaczej - Jak oddzielić porównanie od faktów, ocenić własną wartość rynkową i przygotować rozmowę o wynagrodzeniu bez robienia z kolegi osobistego benchmarkuMax Paradox6h 2m$7.70 · $0.00
I'm a Landlord and Every Text Sounds Like an Emergency - How to Set Rental Rules, Document Agreements, and Respond to Problems Without Becoming a 24/7 Leaky-Faucet HotlineMax Paradox6h 35m$7.70 · $0.00
I Got an Inheritance and I'm Afraid to Touch It - How to Give Yourself Time, Set Goals, and Make Big Financial Decisions Calmly Without Spending Everything or Locking the Money Away ForeverMax Paradox6h 35m$7.70 · $0.00
I'm Flying Solo and Have No One Else to Blame for the Plan - How to Plan a Solo Trip, Stay Safe, and Have a Great Time Without Waiting for Someone Else to Finally Have the Same Days OffMax Paradox6h 30m$7.70 · $0.00
Never Split the DifferenceChris Voss, Tahl Raz8h 7m4.4 (277.7K)$26 · $0.00
The Intelligent Investor Rev Ed.Benjamin Graham17h 48m4.3 (191.5K)$40 · $0.00
The Hard Thing About Hard ThingsBen Horowitz7h 57m4.2 (134.3K)$26 · $0.00
Boundaries for LeadersHenry Cloud7h 36m4.3 (3.6K)$26 · $0.00
Basic EconomicsThomas Sowell18h 32m4.5 (29.3K)$28 · $0.00
Poor Charlie’s AlmanackGrover Gardener, Charles T. Munger13h 9m4.5 (24.7K)$18 · $0.00
The Ambuja StoryNarotam Sekhsaria13h 59m4.5 (830)$33 · $0.00
The Secret Door to SuccessFlorence Scovel Shinn2h 25m4.5 (2.1K)$1.20 · $0.00
This Is Going to HurtAdam Kay5h 47m4.4 (444.7K)$24 · $0.00
Big TrustShadé Zahrai, Fayçal Sekkouah8h 36m4.6 (406)$26 · $0.00
The Intelligent Investor Third EditionBenjamin Graham, Jason Zweig20h4.4 (156.6K)$46 · $0.00
Bottle of LiesKatherine Eban14h 25m4.4 (12K)$33 · $0.00
The Antiracist Business BookTrudi Lebrón6h 10m4.6 (275)$17 · $0.00
The FormulaJoshua Robinson, Jonathan Clegg10h 41m4.4 (6.9K)$29 · $0.00
Let Them LeadJohn U. Bacon7h 10m4.5 (1.4K)$24 · $0.00
Secrets of the Millionaire MindT. Harv Eker5h 11m4.4 (301.4K)$24 · $0.00
The Person You Mean to BeDolly Chugh9h 6m4.4 (7.2K)$29 · $0.00
BoundlessNick Kostov, Sean McLain9h 17m4.5 (1.1K)$29 · $0.00
Everyday DharmaSuneel Gupta5h 2m4.5 (761)$20 · $0.00
Let's Talk Mutual FundsMonika Halan7h 5m4.4 (2.4K)$16 · $0.00
Learning to PrayJames Martin13h 24m4.5 (3.4K)$33 · $0.00
The Happiest Man on EarthEddie Jaku3h 48m4.6 (178K)$7 · $0.00
Finding MeViola Davis9h 15m4.6 (256.4K)$29 · $0.00
Spiritual AnatomyDaaji Kamlesh D. Patel9h 47m4.7 (319)$29 · $0.00
The Dangerous Truth about Today’s MarijuanaLaura Stack CSP, MBA9h 57m4.7 (385)$20 · $0.00
The Gospel according to Spiritualism (Translated)Allan Kardec14h 39m4.6 (3.9K)$5.70 · $0.00
Birdie & HarlowTaylor Wolfe7h 50m4.6 (6.5K)$26 · $0.00
CrossroadsKaleb Dahlgren7h 56m4.6 (4.9K)$26 · $0.00
Life on the BridgeKaelynn Partlow5h 40m4.6 (1.1K)$24 · $0.00
Keep Your Love OnDanny Silk9h 4m4.6 (8.1K)$10 · $0.00
The Tao of Joy Every DayDerek Lin10h 24m4.6 (762)$20 · $0.00
UndividedVicky Beeching9h 2m4.6 (1.3K)$29 · $0.00
HE CAN WHO THINKS HE CAN & OTHER BOOKS ON SUCCESSOrison Swett Marden5h 54m4.6 (1.2K)$1.99 · $0.00
Level UpRob Dial7h 42m4.6 (3.3K)$26 · $0.00
Burn the HaystackJennie Young, PhD9h 30m4.6 (543)$29 · $0.00
ACRES OF DIAMONDS: Our Every-day Opportunities (Wisdom & Empowerment Series) (Annotated)Russell Conwell2h 26m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
Good InsideBecky Kennedy9h 55m4.5 (59.3K)$29 · $0.00
The Lost VoiceGreta Morgan8h 30m4.7 (285)$26 · $0.00
Stripped DownBunnie Xo8h 25m4.5 (32.9K)$26 · $0.00
UnthinkableJamie Raskin15h 8m4.5 (9.3K)$8 · $0.00

You may also like

You Learn by LivingEleanor Roosevelt5h 29m4.2 (6.5K)$24 · $0.00
Self-DisciplineSteve Pavlina11m4.1 (322)$4 · $0.00
How to Analyze People on Sight - Through the Science of Human Analysis: The Five Human Types (Annotated)Ralph Paine Benedict, Elsie Lincoln Benedict7h 28m3.6 (4.1K)$0.99 · $0.00
I'm Working My Notice, and My Motivation Has Already Left - How to Survive Your Notice Period, Wrap Up What Matters, and Avoid Choosing Between Sabotage and Heroically Saving the Company Until the Last MinuteMax Paradox6h 33m$7.70 · $0.00
My Partner Retired and Suddenly We're Together 24/7 - How to Create a New Daily Rhythm, Share Space and Divide Responsibilities When One Person Stops Working and Your Relationship Suddenly Gets Eight Extra Hours Together Every DayMax Paradox6h 32m$7.70 · $0.00
23 Simple Questions To Get To Know YourselfWillian Campbell42m$5 · $0.00
We're Together, but We Have Completely Different Ambitions - How to Balance Different Career Paces, Risk Tolerance, and Financial Needs, Support Each Other Without Dragging Your Partner Along or Holding Them Back Just to Keep the PeaceMax Paradox6h 32m$7.70 · $0.00
Retirement Was Supposed to Be Freedom, Not an Endless Sunday - How to Build a Daily Rhythm, Stay Connected, and Find Purpose When Work No Longer Sets Your ScheduleMax Paradox4h 7m$7.80 · $0.00
How to Get Through a Midlife CrisisMax Paradox6h 56m$7.80 · $0.00
From Paycheck to ProsperityPenelope I. Westwood4h 12m$4 · $0.00
I Feel Too Old for the Job Market and Too Young for Retirement - How to Plan Your Next Career Chapter, Update Your Skills, and Find Work in Your Forties or Fifties Without Pretending to Be TwentyMax Paradox6h 36m$7.70 · $0.00
a Rich Mind, a Prosperous LifeDanniel Silva3h 20m$1.80 · $0.00
I’m Going Back to Work and Feel Like an Intern in My Own Profession - How to Return After a Longer Break, Rebuild Your Confidence, Catch Up on Changes, and Not Try to Prove Everything in the First Three DaysMax Paradox5h 19m$7.70 · $0.00
The ConfidenceBianca Saavedra9h 20m$8
My Home Is a Warehouse for “Someday” - How to Let Go of Excess Stuff, Make Decisions, and Reclaim Your Space Without Purging Your Life in One WeekendMax Paradox3h 7m$7.80 · $0.00
Reinvent Yourself After 40Diletta Armstrong1h 42m$7.90 · $0.00
We Love Each Other, But We Don't Have to Do Everything Together - How to Keep Your Own Interests, Your People, and Your Space in a Relationship Without Treating Separate Saturday Plans as a Red FlagMax Paradox6h 30m$7.70 · $0.00
Reprogram Your IdentityNicholas B. Sheffield5h 44m$12 · $0.00
The Psychology of AlmostLuciana Priscila7h 53m$5.10 · $0.00
Permanent MarkersEmma K. Lawson4h 15m$4 · $0.00