Ever lie in bed with your mind racing, even though you're completely wiped out? In this episode of Hard Hat CEO, Chris G chats with Irina Alexander, a former HVAC business owner who now helps people handle stress and build emotional strength. She talks about hitting burnout, how she turned things around, and what she wishes she knew back then. They get real about why sleep can be tough, how stress shows up at home and on the job, and what it takes to stay clear-headed when life gets messy. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin but still want to show up strong for your family and your team, this episode is for you.

Irina Alexander is a former HVAC business owner turned emotional resilience coach and trainer. Originally from Russia, she moved to the U.S. about 17 years ago and built a successful service-based company, but eventually faced burnout. That experience led her to study neuroscience, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), and personal development in order to improve not just her business life, but her role as a mom, spouse, and human being.

Today, Irina runs MotivAction Academy, where she trains high-stress professionals, including first responders, on emotional resilience, communication, self-awareness, and stress management. Her mission is to help people build healthier habits, lead with intention, and show up better in every part of life.

Connect with Irina: https://motivaction.academy/

Episode highlights:
(0:00 ) Intro
(1:24 ) Irina's burnout story
(3:02 ) What she would’ve done differently as a business leader
(4:58 ) How to manage stress better
(7:56 ) A simple, real-world definition of mental health
(13:11 ) How to stop reacting and start making better choices
(18:43 ) Breaking down stress
(21:51 ) Setting boundaries with work, phones, and people’s expectations
(26:36 ) Learning from mistakes vs. paying for the right help
(33:07 ) Why knowledge isn’t enough
(37:42 ) Outro



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