Gary Vaynerchuk’s recent LinkedIn post claims that burnout happens because people want to look successful rather than being successful.

My response: “Respectfully, this is crap!”

I’ll acknowledge the nugget of truth in his post. In the age of social media, there’s an undeniable pressure to curate an image of success. The endless hustle, the need to showcase achievements, and the relentless pursuit of likes and validation can indeed be exhausting. Gary’s comment highlights this superficial aspect of burnout, which is valid to some extent.

However, attributing burnout primarily to the desire to look successful oversimplifies a deeply complex issue. Burnout is far more intricate, rooted in chronic work stress, lack of control, insufficient rewards, and poor work-life balance, among other factors. By focusing on the facade, we ignore the substantial and systemic problems that truly drive burnout.

Moreover, Gary’s post is anywhere on the continuum of lazy to classic link-baiting. The provocative statement is designed to generate engagement, and it’s effective – the post has garnered tens of thousands of likes and comments. But, in aiming for virality, the message risks trivializing a serious issue that affects countless professionals and entrepreneurs.

While Gary Vee’s post touches on an element of truth, it falls short of addressing the real, multifaceted causes of burnout. It’s essential to look beyond the surface and understand the deeper, more systemic issues at play to genuinely combat burnout and foster sustainable success.

Here are 10 causes of burnout other than “wanting to look successful” (sheesh):

  1. Chronic Work Stress: Constant pressure, unrealistic deadlines, and overwhelming workloads are primary contributors to burnout. When stress becomes a permanent fixture, it depletes energy and motivation. Stress is a permanent fixture that depletes energy and motivation. It’s like starting an engine with a depleted battery; eventually, it just clicks without starting. Chronic stress makes you feel like you’re always chasing a bus downhill, never catching it, which inevitably leads to burnout.
  2. Lack of Control: Feeling powerless and unable to influence decisions that affect your job can lead to frustration and burnout. Autonomy is crucial for job satisfaction and mental well-being. This is about whether you are running your business or your business is running you. Feeling powerless, like you’re chasing the bus but not on it, creates immense frustration. Autonomy and control over decisions are essential for job satisfaction and mental health.
  3. Insufficient Rewards: Both financial and non-financial rewards matter. When the effort isn’t matched by recognition or compensation, it diminishes motivation and can lead to burnout. Recognition is vital. Napoleon Bonaparte said, ‘No amount of money will induce someone to lay down their life, but they will gladly do so for a bit of yellow ribbon.’ When hard work isn’t acknowledged, motivation drops, accelerating the decline into burnout.”
  4. Poor Work-Life Balance: The inability to separate work from personal life can lead to exhaustion. Continuous connectivity through technology blurs these boundaries, exacerbating burnout. Work and home boundaries are essential. Technology has made it hard to separate work from personal life, leading to exhaustion. We need rules of engagement to maintain balance and prevent burnout, especially with more people working from home.
  5. Lack of Community: Isolation and lack of support from colleagues or managers can make work feel lonely and stressful. A supportive work environment is essential for mental health. Isolation at work increases stress. Creating a sense of community, like we do in the Collective Cafe, where employees can connect and support each other, is crucial for mental health and preventing burnout.
  6. Unclear Job Expectations: Ambiguity in roles and responsibilities can create confusion and stress. Clear expectations and communication are vital to avoid burnout. Ambiguity in job roles leads to confusion and stress. Clear expectations and communication are critical. As George Bernard Shaw said, ‘The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.’ Ensure everyone is on the same page to prevent burnout.
  7. Values Conflict: When personal values don’t align with the company’s values, it creates internal conflict and dissatisfaction, leading to burnout. Misalignment of values creates internal conflict. Just like the body rejecting an organ transplant, employees whose values don’t align with their company’s will struggle, leading to dissatisfaction and burnout. Hire based on core values to ensure a good fit.
  8. Poor Leadership: Ineffective leadership that lacks empathy and fails to provide support can significantly contribute to burnout. Good leadership fosters a positive and healthy work environment. ‘Leadership is about more than just getting the message across; a leader is the message.’ – Warren Bennis Ineffective, unsupportive leadership can significantly contribute to burnout. Empathetic, supportive leadership is essential for a healthy work environment.
  9. Constant Change: Frequent changes in the workplace, whether it’s restructuring, changing priorities, or new technologies, can create instability and stress. Constant change creates instability and stress. While some thrive on change, most people resist it. Control the controllables to minimize the impact of constant change and reduce burnout.
  10. Physical Environment: Poor working conditions, such as inadequate lighting, noise, and uncomfortable workspaces, can contribute to stress and burnout. The physical work environment matters. Poor conditions like inadequate lighting and noise contribute to stress. Creating a meaningful workplace experience can offset the negatives and help prevent burnout.

Bonus: Endurance and Energy Management (available to Substack Subscribers only)

To avoid burnout, we need to active and build our endurance muscle. Stamina. Energy. The Long Game. Resilience. Grit.

Here’s how…

EOS Worldwide is a system for harnessing human energy and avoiding the burnout that comes from hitting the ceiling. To find out more about how this proven operating system can help your growing business, visit www.eosworldwide.com/joseph-jaffe

-Joseph Jaffe