There are moments in a career that don’t arrive with drama or obvious warning signs.

You’re still doing your job well. You’re still trusted. On paper, nothing has gone wrong.
And yet, something feels different.

• Work takes more effort than it used to.
• Decisions feel exhausting.
• The sense of satisfaction you once had isn’t there in the same way.

When this happens, many people assume it’s a motivation issue, a resilience gap, or something they simply need to push through.

In my experience, it’s often something else entirely.

Several years ago, I found myself in that exact place. After more than two decades in senior HR and leadership roles, I was burnt out, not because I wasn’t capable, but because I’d slowly drifted out of alignment with who I am and how I work best.

I didn’t understand that at the time. I just knew that carrying on as I was wasn’t sustainable.

I recently shared this story on stage, and now you can watch the full 5-minute reflection. It’s not a talk filled with advice or frameworks. It’s an honest account of what burnout taught me about misalignment, identity, and why success can sometimes stop feeling like it belongs to us.

👉 Watch the video: From Burnout to Breakthrough – A Leadership Story About Misalignment

I’m sharing this because many of the senior professionals I now work with describe a similar quiet unease. They are capable, committed, and conscientious, yet feel drained, stuck, or unsure of what they need next.

Often, they assume something is wrong with them.

It rarely is.

Burnout is not always a failure or a breaking point. Sometimes, it’s information. A signal that something in our work, values, or environment needs attention.

If this story resonates, take it as an invitation to pause rather than push. Insight and clarity usually begin there.