I love women in trades.
I love talking about trades, encouraging women to give them a go, going to events, speaking at schools, doing careers expos, sharing my story and showing people what’s possible.
And I know I’m not the only one.
When you’re passionate about something, it can feel good to become the person who says, “Hey, you can do this too.”
But there’s a point where giving back can start taking too much from you.
That’s what I call ambassador burnout.
What Is Ambassador Burnout?
An ambassador can be anyone who represents something they’re passionate about.
For women in trades, this might mean being the first woman in your workplace, speaking at events, visiting schools, doing workplace tours, attending careers expos, sharing your story online or encouraging other women to consider a trade.
It’s fantastic.
Until you’re doing so much of it that you start thinking:
“Fuck, not again.”
And honestly, that’s probably one of the biggest warning signs.
You used to be excited about the next event.
Now you’re exhausted before you’ve even arrived.
When Does It Start Becoming Too Much?
There are a few different ways ambassador work can happen.
Sometimes your workplace pays you to do it. You’re attending events during work hours, your normal salary continues, and you’re not using your annual leave.
That’s bloody good.
But even then, there can be downsides.
Your coworkers might wonder why you’re constantly leaving the workshop.
Your supervisor might feel like you’re away from your normal duties too often.
And if you’re an apprentice, you need to make sure all of this isn’t getting in the way of your actual learning.
Then there’s the other side.
You’re doing it on your own time.
You’re using your weekends.
You’re taking annual leave.
You’re paying for fuel, tolls, parking or accommodation.
And you’re not getting paid for any of it.
Doing one event like that might be completely fine.
Doing it every second week?
That’s when you need to start looking at the numbers.
Passion Doesn’t Pay Your Bills
I think sometimes women feel guilty asking for money or expenses because we’re passionate about what we’re doing.
We’re thinking:
“But I love doing this.”
Cool.
You can love something and still value your time.
You can be passionate and still have boundaries.
You can want to encourage the next generation of women in trades and still say:
“I can’t do that every weekend.”
Or:
“Can you cover my travel expenses?”
Or even:
“What’s the budget for this event?”
Those aren’t unreasonable questions.
They’re boundaries.
Start With Your Time
One of the easiest ways to prevent ambassador burnout is to decide how much time you’re actually willing to give.
Maybe that’s one event a month.
Maybe it’s one a quarter.
Maybe you only do school visits during work hours.
Maybe you don’t do Friday nights because that’s your personal time.
There isn’t a magic number.
The point is to decide what works for you before you’re completely exhausted.
And remember, your boundary can change.
You might do three events in one week and then nothing for three months.
You get to decide.
Don’t Forget the Expenses
If you’re travelling to events, those little expenses can add up bloody quickly.
Fuel.
Tolls.
Parking.
Flights.
Accommodation.
Food.
It might feel like “it’s only one little expense,” but if you’re doing this regularly, suddenly you’re spending a decent chunk of your own money to represent something that benefits other people too.
So ask.
“Is parking covered?”
“Can you reimburse my fuel?”
“Is there a travel allowance?”
“Is accommodation provided?”
You don’t have to demand a huge fee straight away.
Getting your expenses covered can be a good first step towards recognising the value of your time.
You Can Also Negotiate
I’ve actually negotiated extra leave in the past specifically for the ambassador work I was doing.
I was heavily involved in WorldSkills and also doing workshops and school visits, so I negotiated additional paid leave that I could use for those specific activities.
It worked really well for me.
And that’s the thing.
Sometimes the solution isn’t saying no.
Sometimes it’s having a conversation and finding a better arrangement.
Talk to your supervisor.
Talk to whoever manages your apprenticeship.
Talk to your workplace.
Talk to your partner if this is affecting your shared time or finances.
And most importantly, check in with yourself.
You Don’t Have to Say Yes to Everything
This is probably the biggest thing I want you to take away.
Just because someone asks you doesn’t mean you have to say yes.
You’re allowed to say no.
You’re allowed to say, “I don’t have capacity for that right now.”
You’re allowed to choose the events that actually matter to you.
And you’re allowed to stop.
I know how easy it is to get caught up in it.
I’ve done eight events in one week before.
For free.
And by the end of it, I was bloody bitter.
I was looking around thinking, “Why am I doing all of this for free when other people are getting paid to organise it?”
And that bitterness was a pretty bloody good sign that something needed to change.
Giving Back Should Still Feel Good
We want to be able to give back with enthusiasm.
With energy.
With passion.
Because honestly, I think we have a much bigger impact when we want to be there.
If you cut eight events down to four but show up to those four with energy, excitement and genuine enthusiasm, you might make more of an impact than turning up exhausted to eight.
You don’t have to burn yourself out to prove that you care.
Final Thoughts
Being an ambassador can be bloody awesome.
You can inspire someone to start an apprenticeship.
You can be the person who makes another woman think, “Maybe I can do this.”
You can open someone’s eyes to a career they didn’t know existed.
That’s powerful stuff.
But you don’t have to sacrifice yourself to do it.
Your time matters.
Your energy matters.
Your money matters.
Your learning matters.
Your personal life matters.
So check in with yourself.
Are you still enjoying it?
Are you doing too much?
Is it affecting your work, you’re learning, your relationships or your finances?
If the answer is yes, it’s probably time to put some boundaries in place.
You can still give back.
You can still be passionate.
You can still be an amazing ambassador.
Just don’t give so much of yourself that there’s nothing left for you.
And if no one’s told you today, I believe in you.
You’re doing amazing things.
Just remember to look after the person doing them.
Thank you for reading along, if you are a tradeswoman and would like some help or support with this please book in a time to chat here – https://calendly.com/louise-azzopardi/coaching_consult“
