How do you know when you are burned out?

[somethingcreative]

I think I am burned out, and that's pretty bad, because my business is still profitable and can grow. How do you know when you are burned out, and it's time to change career? Here are my symptoms:

a) For the first time I truly feel bored with it.
b) I no longer care whether or not I close a deal. I still have a little interest in closing large accounts but not very motivated to close the rest.
c) I really really want to change career. I don't really know what happend but I have become really unhappy.

I think I may have just answered my own question, but please feel free to share your thoughts. As far as my plan goes, I am going to take a few days off, and force myself to persist until I have transitioned into a new career. You think that's a good plan?

[onlinestockforum]

I think you just answered your own question. This "For the first time I truly feel bored with it."

I feel the same way working on a project or business. It doesn't matter. When the motivation no longer is there, business or career wise no longer prosper.

[somethingcreative]

Thank you. You are right. I'm so done with this business.

[theofficeescape]

I used to be in your position last year. My virtual assistant business is going on circles for the past 4 years, and I started loosing interest and even at a point where I wanted to just stop and change careers. But something inside me is not just ready to let go. So at a breaking point, I confronted myself with questions that I asked myself what was missing and what is it that I was doing wrong with my business. I decided its time I get a business coach to help me turn the wheel and I never regret I did. I just launched a new brand for my VA biz last week and I have never felt happier. If I let myself just burn out then I would've regret changing careers.

Take a break, and reflect... maybe you can also look for a mentor that will guide you along the way... but only you can actually make that decision of giving up and changing careers. Wishing you the best of luck!

[GlamGirl]

You will experience burn out if your only goal is to make money - seek a deeper purpose for your company. I will put it like this, if you came across a burning building and i told you that up on the 3rd floor, under the bed was a bag of money equaling 250,000 would you go for it? Now if i said someone dear to you was up there how would you feel?

[somethingcreative]

Thank you. My business is still up and running, but I am settling for stability, less profit, and no more expansion plan. I feel that I am rewarded for adding value but my heart is just not in it anymore. No passion, just commitment, until my brain can come up with a better business idea (which it hasn't been able to, but wish me luck... I really want to change career.)

[WhoIsRicardo]

Why not come up with a new product? new line? something new?


What do you do by the way?

[PennyBartlow]

I can relate to what you are going through. A few years ago I was in a similar situation. I had owned my business for almost 10 years, I had been working long hours over the years and enjoying it, but suddenly I just wasn't happy anymore and had lost my drive and passion for what I was doing. I felt trapped. I didn't know what to do or how to change my situation. What I realized is that I had created the wrong business model for what I truly wanted in my life. I had built my business around me, instead of building a model that would run with or without me. So I made major changes and transitioned from being the key employee in my business to being the business owner. I was then able to take significant time off and spend more time on my other businesses and things I had new passion for. I now look forward to the one day a week I go to that office!

Will your business run without you in the day to day operations so you can take time to pursue other things? If so, allow that business to keep paying you an income while you find other passions. I don't believe that it has to be an "either or" situation. You can keep this business and take on other interersts. If it won't run without you right now, what would you have to do to make that happen? At first I couldn't even imagine that my business could run without me. It took talking to other successful people to help me see the possibilities. And now my life is completely different.

Penny Bartlow
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[jgo]

To me burned out is a different. I feel it's the fact that youc an't sleep - anymore. You're stressing out - that is burning out.

[GP4867]

Hmmm.....I am no expert here, but I know the feelings well. I think the challenge when you have a business of your own, it sucks every moment of your time and (speaking from experience), you have to force yourself to find other things that are totally different from what you do day to day - whether it be sports, going to a movie, meetings friends etc - i.e. you need a no strings attached outlet to what you do. I am currently experiencing similar feelings, even though my business has never been better, but I am struggling on a daily basis from constant travel and jet lag to many long-haul destinations, so I know that I am not sleeping well and I have been on the road for at least 3 weeks. I know what I should be doing, the question is why aren't I doing it? Today is a classic example, I have a pile of emails and work to focus on, but I have become so engrossed in day to day elements of my business I am no longer enjoying myself. What I think I should be doing is going and sitting by a beautiful pool in my hotel and listening to some great relaxing music and reading a book - can't remember when was the last time I did this. This answer was not intended to drag you down, but to help you understand that many others (I believe) especially in today's very shaky economy are all going through the same levels of stress and burn out. Reach out and talk to someone - you may be surprised to realize that you are not so unique after all - hang in there, if your business is truly profitable, why give it up, money aside, the most valuable commodity you have given to your business as and is the sheer effort, blood, sweat and tears - you will succeed, but take your foot of the gas once in a while.........Hmmmm, maybe I should give my biz up and become a shrink

[Gary Barzel]

Do you feel that way specifically relating to the current business you're in, or with regard to everything else going on in your life? People sometimes mistaken a bout of depression with being burned out in their career. I'm not suggesting you aren't burned out, I'm merely trying to decipher your situation. Do you have anything that you feel passionate about. If yes is there anything that you can do business wise with your passion. If you are burned out then it is extremely important for you to change course in your career. You're feelings won't change on this and if your sales aren't doing as well they are currently then these feelings will only intensify.

[somethingcreative]

Hi, for me being bored and being burned out tend to happen at the same time, and if I don't find a way to fix it it probably will lead to depression. I know I said a few months ago I was going to take a vacation, but I never got a chance. I worked close to 6 months straight without a day off - fortunately yesterday I simply couldn't take it anymore and finally shut off my phone/computer so I can rest. If you suspect there was some kind of psychological block that prevented me from taking a needed vacation, you were right. It was fear. I am working on myself. Don't know how long it will take...wish me luck. Thank you everyone. Really appreciated your help. I probably will keep the business going until I build another one though.