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From Burnout to Breakthrough

 A Business Burnout Love Story: 5 Ways To Fall Back in Love with Your Business


The old adage says, “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Hard pass. Running a business is like being in a long-term relationship. Some days, you’re deeply in love; other days, you’re contemplating the business equivalent of ghosting. And that’s normal. What isn’t normal (or sustainable) is when that frustration turns into burnout.





The Signs of Business Burnout

  • Resenting tasks you once enjoyed

  • Dreading work—even the fun parts

  • Operating on autopilot

  • Losing creativity and motivation

  • Questioning why you started in the first place

  • Constantly thinking about quitting

  • Feeling like you can never get ahead


If this sounds familiar, don’t panic. You don’t necessarily need a new business, a drastic life change, or another vacation. What you need is to get present, pay attention, and make adjustments.


 

5 Ways to Fall Back in Love with Your Business


1. Remember Your WHY

This isn’t fluff—your business exists for a reason. Reconnect with your purpose. Ask yourself: What impact do I want to have? What keeps me going? Book Recommendation: "Find Your Why" by Simon Sinek.


2. Give Yourself CEO Time

If corporate finance bros can demand office returns and still fit in golf, you can block an hour for CEO work. Whether it's strategizing, goal-setting, or brain-dumping ideas—schedule the time. Book Recommendation: "Essentialism" by Greg McKeown (cut out what doesn’t serve you anymore).


3. Interrupt Your Pattern

Change your environment. Work from a coffee shop, take a walk, or shift your schedule. Sometimes, shaking things up is all it takes to break free from burnout.


4. Audit Your Offers

Talk to your actual customers. What do they truly value? If certain offers drain you but pay the bills, take a CEO day to strategize how to refresh, phase out, or evolve them. Book Recommendation: "Company of One" by Paul Jarvis (rethinking business growth on your terms).


5. Fire the Wrong Clients

Bad clients exist. They drain your energy, cross boundaries, and make business miserable. If you can fire an employee or leave a bad relationship, you can offload a toxic client. Book Recommendation: "The Pumpkin Plan" by Mike Michalowicz (pruning the wrong clients for growth).


 

Reality Inventory: The Love/Hate/Tolerate Audit


Not all aspects of your business are created equal. Some energize you, some drain you, and some days… you might be the problem. Recognizing when you’re shifting from frustration to burnout is key.


Use the Love/Hate/Tolerate Audit:

  • Love it: Energizes and excites me

  • Tolerate it: Necessary, but manageable

  • Hate it: Soul-draining (and needs boundaries or delegation)


Delegate your "Hate It" tasks, set boundaries, or knock them out in time-blocked sessions to get them over with.


Final Thoughts

Falling out of love with your business doesn’t mean it’s time to quit—it means it’s time to adjust. Every long-term relationship has ups and downs. The key isn’t hoping things magically improve; it’s taking intentional action.


You can build a business that works for you, not just a business you work for. And you are fully capable of making the shifts needed to create something sustainable, fulfilling, and worth it. Stay courageous, stay capable, and most of all—stay strong.



 

*FYI this post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase a product I recommend. It's no additional cost to you and I only recommend something I've used or truly believe is useful.


Read Erin's full version of this blog on her SUBSTACK.

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