Being a Go-Getter Nearly Broke Me

I’ve always been a go-getter - the kind of person who rushes in, gives 100%, and never backs down from a challenge. In my mind, doing my best meant giving my all, every single time.

But here’s the truth I’ve had to relearn (the hard way): I’m not a machine. I’m not AI. I’m not some movie cyborg who can go full throttle forever. I’m human. And humans need rest, even if we hate admitting it.

Burnout has visited me before, but like so many overachievers, I forget just how painful it can be until I’m in it again. It doesn’t matter how good you are, how strong your work ethic is, or how much you care - there’s always a limit.

The Myth of Running 24/7

When we’re younger, we bounce back quickly. We stay out late, live off little sleep, push our bodies to their limits, and still manage to show up the next day. Stress? We can take it. Exhaustion? We ignore it.

But eventually, your body and soul come knocking, asking you to pay back the debt you’ve accumulated - and they don’t accept partial payments.

The Break That Changed Everything

I recently took a 9-day trip to the southernmost part of our country - a place so remote from my place, even my own language couldn’t help me there. At first, I didn’t want to fully unplug. My incredible operator, Nicole, told me not to respond to anything.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

She was. And so I let go.

For nine full days, I wasn’t anyone’s operations manager - I wasn’t handling problems or putting out fires. I got to just be a person. And what I found surprised me:

I felt alive again.

Being with my closest friends, far from the expectations and roles I usually carry, I let my guard down. I laughed. I explored. I even faced danger (the good kind) and felt joy and adrenaline I hadn’t touched in years.

I remembered what it’s like to feel deeply. To want adventure. To chase life not because of a deadline - but because of desire.

What I’m Taking With Me - and What I Hope You’ll Hear

I’ll protect this version of myself for as long as I can - the one who knows how to rest, how to feel, how to live with heart and not just hustle.

And I want you to ask yourself the same thing I did:

When was the last time you felt truly alive?
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to step away?

You don’t have to earn your rest. You just have to remember you’re human.

A Takeaway For All of Us Who Try to Do It All

This isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us - friends, clients, partners - who push hard, strive for excellence, and forget we’re not built to run nonstop.

So if you’re reading this and feeling the edges of burnout, or maybe just wondering why things feel so “flat,” this is your gentle reminder:

• You don’t need to be everything for everyone.
  
  
• You don’t need to be available 24/7.
  
  
• You do need to feel alive - and that often starts with rest.
  
  

  A Challenge for You This Week

  Take a break. A real one.
  Even just 15 minutes (no screens, no pressure, no expectations).
  Step outside. Breathe. Feel something.
  
  And maybe, like me, you’ll find a part of yourself that’s been waiting patiently for you to return.
  
  
  Whether you’re building a business, raising a family, leading a team, or just trying to stay afloat - we see you. And we’re cheering you on.