Learn how to lead effortlessly by establishing boundaries, collaborting with people with different work styles, and making delegation easier, all while lowering stress and feeling confident in any role, based on my experience as both a long-time executive and a certified executive and leadership coach.
What I wish I knew before I burned out
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Dear Reader, On paper, I was thriving. In reality? I was really, really stressed. (And oh so tired). Looking back on my corporate career, I see it so clearly: I wasn’t just ambitious, I was anxious. And because the results looked “successful,” I ignored the warning signs of burnout. Here are 3 big red flags 🚩 I missed: 1️⃣ I Mistook Busyness for Importance I said yes to everything. Meetings, side projects, “quick” favors. I felt valuable because I was busy and felt needed. But busy and effective aren’t the same thing. 👉 Reality check: Ambition prioritizes; anxiety grabs at everything. 2️⃣ I Had a Hard Time Celebrating Wins No matter what I achieved, it never felt like enough. I immediately moved the goalpost, telling myself I was just “driven.” 👉 Reality check: Ambition fuels growth; anxiety erases satisfaction. 3️⃣ I Feared Stillness If my calendar had white space, I filled it. Quiet moments felt wrong. I called it productivity, but it was really my discomfort with rest. 👉 Reality check: Ambition makes room for recovery; anxiety avoids it. 💡 Here’s What I Know Now: Sustainable success feels focused, spacious, and energizing, not frantic, scattered, or exhausting. Ambition can be powerful, but when anxiety is in charge, burnout isn’t far behind. 🪞 Your Reflection: ➝ Where might anxiety be masquerading as ambition in your work or life? ➝ What’s one small shift you can make to prioritize ambition without the anxiety? 🛠️ A Tool to Try: Spend a week tracking which tasks fuel you vs. drain you, and take note of any patterns. Are you saying yes to things out of true ambition, or out of anxious habit? Small shifts here can make a big difference. With ease, Tracy Forwarded from a friend? Subscribe to With Ease Bi-Weekly Newsletter here! I offer 1:1 coaching, group coaching, team facilitation, and public speaking, and tailor offerings to the specific needs of you/your workplace. Contact me to learn more. |
Hi! I'm Tracy, an Executive and Leadership Coach.
Learn how to lead effortlessly by establishing boundaries, collaborting with people with different work styles, and making delegation easier, all while lowering stress and feeling confident in any role, based on my experience as both a long-time executive and a certified executive and leadership coach.
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