The system that prevents me from burning out as a founder
Like many entrepreneurs, I’m wired to constantly operate at full throttle. Growing up, I played quarterback. From fifth grade through my senior year of college, my coaches gave me the same feedback: I threw passes too hard. They wanted more touch on the ball, especially on short distance routes. My receivers usually agreed—not every throw needed all of my mustard. Looking back, football wasn’t…
Founders often possess an intense drive, pushing themselves to work non-stop. This tendency is rooted in their desire to achieve their goals, no matter the obstacles in their path. However, this relentless pursuit can lead to burnout and negatively impact decision-making. To combat this, the author developed a system to maintain their focus and physical health during strenuous periods.
When the signs of burnout appear, they prioritize three fundamentals: sleep, exercise, and nutrition. They make sure to get an early night, exercise for at least an hour, and eat balanced meals. They even rely on AI tools like ChatGPT to ensure they're meeting their nutritional needs. After this period, they reassess their calendar, rating each commitment from one to ten.
If a task scores below a nine, they pause it, rather than eliminating it. This allows for a more objective evaluation of priorities. Finally, they identify their single most important goal, writing it down and referring to it throughout the day. This helps them remember that leadership isn't about doing everything, but making sure the right things get done.
The author shares this system with their team, hoping it will inspire them to create their own strategies for managing rest and self-care. Despite his natural inclination towards full-speed operation, he understands that a marathon requires discipline, habits, and systems for both the leader and the team to succeed sustainably.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
