burn out

A very powerful man on burn out (campus speech)

 

Once upon a time – great story, by the way, tremendous story – there was a meeting. A simple meeting. Should have been quick. But guess what? It lasted… maybe three years. Could’ve been four. Nobody knows.

 

Now, everybody’s talking about productivity. So many books – some of them terrible, by the way – videos on TikTok with kids yelling "hustle, hustle, hustle." And the KPIs? Changing faster than Biden forgets a sentence. It’s a mess.

 

But here’s the thing – what happens when you just stop? You send that “one last email,” and boom – you’re done. No energy, no drive. The “quick project wrap-up”? Total fantasy. Like windmills stopping climate change – never gonna happen.

 

Some people – they just give in. Others? They pretend to stay professional. Very professional. But some, and I mean the real ones, they just lay there. They don’t even fight gravity anymore. Sad!

 

Exhaustion has many faces. Trust me, I’ve seen them all. I’ve hired them, fired them, some even wrote books about me. But one thing I know – the world keeps spinning. It doesn’t wait. Reality doesn’t care. Creativity? That takes breaks. Beautiful breaks. The best breaks. Sometimes, in the weirdest positions. Upside down on a couch? Could be genius. Who’s to say?

 

So before you run after your next “big idea,” remember this:
Bravery isn’t about never stopping. It’s about knowing when to hang upside down and look like a total maniac – because sometimes, that’s when you think best. Believe me. I’ve done it. A lot.

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Expect the Unexpected.