I Was Wrong About Burnout — Here’s What I’ve Learned After Working With 5,000+ of You

Let me start with this: I used to think burnout was nonsense.

I’m Jamaican. We’re built different. Growing up, the idea of being “tired” was laughable. You worked. Period. You juggled 3 jobs, 4 side hustles, raised a family, built a house, and STILL made it to church on Sunday.

So yeah, when people used to tell me they were “burnt out” working 45 hours a week?

I’d roll my eyes.

But after working with over 5,000 of you in the Smart Success Healthcare movement—and hitting a wall myself—I’ve come to realize...

Burnout is real. And it comes in more than one form.

THE REALITY CHECK: MY BURNOUT MOMENT

Let me paint a quick picture.

I’m leading my inner circle in a 3-day book-building workshop—people flew in for this, it’s BIG. But I also had folks sliding in my DMs asking if I could hop on calls in between sessions. And for a second, I almost said yes.

Then it hit me…

That’s how you hit burnout.

Not because you’re lazy. Not because you’re “weak.” But because you’re saying “yes” to everything and everyone… except your energy, your mind, and your body.

THE 3 TYPES OF BURNOUT NO ONE TALKS ABOUT

After coaching thousands of healthcare pros (and coaching myself too), I’ve seen burnout show up in 3 main ways:

1. Overexertion Burnout

This is the obvious one. You're doing too much. Your schedule’s packed like a TSA suitcase. You're saying yes to every opportunity, every event, every request. You’re overbooked, overstretched, and overwhelmed.

But here’s the truth: Most people don’t overexert because they love chaos. They overexert because they’re scared.

Scared to say no. Scared they’ll miss out. Scared they won’t get another shot.

So they say yes… and then feel bitter, tired, and resentful.

You can’t pour into others from an empty cup. Period.

2. Depletion Burnout

This one’s sneaky.

You’re doing work you love, but you’re not giving yourself anything back.

You're not sleeping. Not eating right. Not taking breaks. Not hydrating. (Yes, I cramped up watching a Knicks game—don’t judge me.)

Eventually your body and brain tap out. And even though you “should” feel good—you don’t.

Because you’re drained.

Depletion burnout is when you’re always “on”… but never taking time to recharge.

3. Misalignment Burnout

This one is the silent killer. You're doing work, but it doesn’t mean anything to you.

You’re showing up, clocking in, getting paid… but inside? You’re checked out.

There’s no fire. No fulfillment. You don’t feel connected to the mission anymore. You’re just… existing.

And I’ve seen it crush some of the most talented people I know.

Misalignment burnout is when your work pays the bills—but starves your soul.

SO WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

You gotta get honest with yourself.

Which type of burnout are you dealing with right now?

Because if you don’t know, you’ll keep pushing through until you hit a wall. And sometimes, that wall costs you your health, your relationships, or your purpose.

Here’s the good news: Burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means it’s time to make a shift.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Burnout isn’t a weakness—it’s a signal.

A signal that something’s off. Whether it's your schedule, your habits, or your alignment… you can’t afford to ignore it anymore.

If you’ve been feeling it lately, I promise you’re not alone.

I’ve been there too.

And the sooner you call it what it is, the sooner you can start building a work-life that doesn’t drain you… but actually fills you up.

Much love,
Greg Todd

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