Burnout ➜ A Five-Step Recovery Guide

Designed for Founders & Entrepreneurs to Prioritize Their Emotional Well-being for Greater Business Success

Feb 11, 2024

I'm Manuel Saez, I write to help founders master emotional intelligence to make decisions with clarity 🌻 EQ coach, 2X-founder & award-winning designer ➜ I love fixing old motorcycles 🛵 🏍

Behind Every Founder, There is a Burnout Story.

Burnout is at the heart of entrepreneurship; it is the silent challenge all founders will face sooner or later.

What puzzles me is why there is so little information and resources for founders to prevent and overcome burnout.

After burning out myself and finding a healthy recovery, I have developed a process that helped me, and I want to share it with you.

I have compiled my personal experiences and everything I learned about burnout and am giving it away for free.

This Five-Day Recovery Guide "Founders Fighting Burnout" isn't just an educational course; it's a journey towards emotional resilience and renewed vigor, explicitly designed for founders' unique challenges.

It aims to equip founders with the skills to combat burnout by mastering emotional intelligence (EQ) and rekindling their inner fire.

This Five-day recovery guide is completely FREE - a $99 Value - to all “Advise Myself” subscribers and their friends.
Please share this post with anyone who is looking to prioritize their emotional well-being as much as their business's growth.

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My Journey

After 15 years in the entrepreneurial trenches, founding and nurturing two startups, the self-imposed pressure I put on myself led me to crack, and a few years back, burnout crept up on me.

The 'win-at-all-costs' hustle mentality was how I played the game for most of my life. I even got a tattoo saying, "OUTWORK THEM." – although I feel silly about it now, I realize this mindset is not just flawed; it's dangerous.

The idea that working around the clock is not just necessary but commendable is deeply ingrained in our culture.

I pushed myself far beyond any reasonably healthy limit; if they did 10, I had to do 100 – doing more was my answer. Well, I was wrong…

In my journey, I discovered that developing emotional intelligence (EQ) was essential to surviving and thriving amidst these challenges.

This helped me reconsider my relationship with work that didn't revolve around working myself into exhaustion with an over-competitive mindset.

Instead, I was seeking joy in the work, focusing on being in harmony with myself – ultimately, making me realize that that was how I produced my best work.

Understanding the Causes of Burnout

Founder burnout is a multifaceted issue, far beyond mere long hours. It is shaped by intense pressures, the solitude of leadership, the demanding pace of startup culture, lofty self-expectations, and the constant navigation of uncertainty.

Pressure to Perform: Constant pressure from investors, customers, and oneself erodes well-being, pushing founders towards burnout.
Loneliness of Leadership: The isolating journey of decision-making and responsibility heightens stress, contributing to emotional exhaustion.
Relentless Startup Pace: The startup culture's fast pace demands long hours, minimizing rest and increasing burnout risk.
Self-Imposed Expectations: Founders often set unattainably high standards, leading to overwork and a persistent sense of inadequacy.
Navigating Uncertainty: The inherent unpredictability of startups, combined with frequent setbacks, intensifies stress and leads to burnout.

Whatever the cause, in this Five-Day Recovery Guide, you will find information to identify the causes that relate to you and get guidance on how to address your situation better.

Symptoms of Burnout ➜ Recognizing the Red Flags

The signs of burnout can be subtle, manifesting in different ways depending on the person and circumstances.

In my case, it was an apparent lack of motivation; the work that made me happy became a drag. I started underperforming in simple tasks such as sending well-written emails or talking to customers.

Here are a few symptoms that may resonate with you:

Persistent Fatigue: More than tiredness, it's a profound, unrelenting exhaustion that doesn't improve with rest.
Diminished Passion: Once vibrant enthusiasm for your work fades into indifference or lack of motivation.
Irritability: Minor frustrations lead to disproportionate annoyance or anger, affecting relationships and decision-making.
Sense of Stagnation: Feeling stuck, as if progress has halted, despite ongoing efforts and time investment.
Difficulty Acknowledging Vulnerability: A reluctance to admit struggles, fearing it undermines leadership or personal strength.

Acknowledging these symptoms can be challenging for those accustomed to pushing through barriers.

In the "Recovery Guide," you will learn to take a step back, recognize the signs, and understand that acknowledging vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

Why This Five-Day Recovery Guide?

This Five-Day Recovery Guide ––"Founders Fighting Burnout," offers more than strategies; it's a transformative journey for founders. Moving beyond mere productivity hacks, it delves deep into emotional intelligence, an essential element for lasting success and well-being.

It aims to empower founders to prioritize self-care and mindfulness, recognizing these as vital for sustained productivity and innovation and shifting the focus from relentless grind to finding joy and fulfillment in the entrepreneurial journey, challenging the notion that success comes at the cost of well-being.

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What Can You Expect Each Day

The "Founders Fighting Burnout Recovery Guide" unfolds as a journey of self-discovery and revitalization.

Each day, tailored activities and insights will guide you through the pivotal stages of recovery, from understanding burnout to embracing joy in your work and life.

Day 1: (Awareness) → Understanding burnout's causes, symptoms, and consequences. This will give you the tools to recognize moving forward.
Day 2: (Self-Love) → All starts with you; you must do well for your business to succeed. We will explore techniques for self-care
Day 3: (Acceptance) → Learning to accept ourselves, our circumstances, and how we feel about them.
Day 4: (Gratitude) → Harnessing the power of a positive mindset, we will develop tools and strategies to practice gratitude.
Day 5: (Joy) → Joy is the ultimate goal. It is our natural state as humans. We will explore tools to help you find what makes life worth living.

Each day ends with an activity – actionable strategies I implemented in my daily routine that helped me navigate burnout.

Each activity is designed to be practical and impactful, ranging from simple mindfulness exercises to practical EQ-building techniques that you can seamlessly integrate into your daily routine as a founder.

My Invitation to Find Balance and Joy

This Five-Day Recovery Guide ––"Founders Fighting Burnout" is more than just a course; it's a call to action for founders to prioritize their emotional well-being as much as their business's growth.

As someone who has walked the path from burnout to balance, I invite you to embark on this journey with me. Together, let's turn the tide against burnout, embracing a future where success is measured by outcomes and the joy and balance we maintain in pursuit of our visions.

Sign up for the "Founders Fighting Burnout: A Five-Day Recovery Guide."

It's a step towards recovery and a reimagined approach to entrepreneurship, one where emotional intelligence, balance, and joy are at the heart of success.

Sending you good vibes 🌻

Manuel