Here's what nobody tells you about burnout...

It doesn't start with exhaustion. It doesn't even start with stress.

It starts the moment you lose control of your own story.

Let me paint you a picture. You wake up tomorrow morning and something feels... off. You've got that same job, same responsibilities, same life. But somewhere along the way, you stopped being the hero of your own story.

Instead, you became a victim.

Sound familiar?

Look, I've been where you are right now. Hell, I've been worse than where you are.

Picture this: I'm the medical director of the World Trade Center Mental Health Program. I'm dealing with people who survived one of the most traumatic events in modern history. And you know what I discovered?

The same thing that was happening to those trauma survivors... it's happening to you right now.

Your everyday stress is literally rewiring your brain the same way mass disasters do.

I know that sounds crazy. But stick with me here.

See, when I was working with those survivors, I noticed something terrifying. The stress didn't just make them tired or anxious. It did something much worse...

It stole their sense of agency. Their belief that they could control what happened next.

And that's exactly what's happening to you every single day you let burnout creep in.

Here's The Scary Part...

You probably don't even realize it's happening. Because burnout is sneaky like that.

It starts small. Maybe you wake up exhausted even after eight hours of sleep. Maybe you snap at your kids over something stupid. Maybe that project you used to love now feels like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops.

But here's what's really going on underneath...

Your brain is slowly convincing you that nothing you do matters. That you're powerless. That this is just "how life is" now.

The 3 Ps of Pessimism are taking over:

• Permanent: "This will never get better"

• Pervasive: "Everything in my life sucks"

• Personal: "It's all my fault"

And I've added a 4th P that's even deadlier:

• Passive: You stop fighting back.

Sound like anyone you know?

But Here's The Good News...

Remember how I said this all starts when you lose your agency? Well, guess what happens when you get it back?

Everything changes.

See, I've spent the last two decades helping people reclaim their stories. And I've discovered something that'll blow your mind...

You're already closer to the solution than you think.

You don't need to quit your job. You don't need to move to Bali. You don't need to become a meditation guru.

You just need to remember that you're still the one writing your story.

Here's How You Take Back Control:

Step 1: Become The Boundary Warrior

Starting tomorrow, you're going to do something radical. You're going to say "no" to one thing that doesn't serve you. Just one. Watch how that feels. That's your agency coming back online.

Step 2: Create Your "Oasis Moments"

Every day, you're going to steal back 10 minutes that belong to YOU. Not your boss. Not your family. YOU. Walk outside. Sit quietly. No phone. This isn't selfish it's survival.

Step 3: Enter The "Low Stakes Flow State"

Find something – anything – that requires focus but brings you joy. Cooking. Drawing. Building something with your hands. When you're in flow, your brain literally can't worry. It's like a vacation from your own thoughts.

Step 4: Remember Your Civic Duty

Here's something that'll flip your whole perspective: Taking care of your mental health isn't selfish. It's your duty to everyone around you. When you show up burned out and depleted, you're cheating everyone who depends on you.

The Bottom Line?

Your job is not your identity. Say it with me: "My job is not my identity."

You are not a victim of your circumstances. You're the author of your next chapter.

And burnout? It's not inevitable. It's preventable.

But only if you act before it's too late.

The choice is yours. The agency is yours. The story is yours.

What are you going to write next?

🔥 Call to Action:
If this hit home, it’s because you’re ready to reclaim your role as the author—not the afterthought. Start by joining the next Success Trap Webinar or taking the Self-Reclamation Quiz. Don’t just nod. Move. Click below and choose your next chapter.
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About Baz Porter

When you're drowning in your own success, feeling like a fraud despite all your achievements, or wondering if there's more to life than just surviving your next deadline... that's exactly when you need someone who's been to hell and found the way back.

I'm Baz Porter, and I help high-achieving leaders like you stop surviving your success and start thriving in it.

Here's what I do for you:
I take everything that's burning you out, overwhelming you, or making you feel like you're living someone else's life... and I help you transform it into the foundation for authentic leadership and lasting fulfillment.

Why I Can Help You When Others Can't:
I've been where you are. Actually, I've been worse. I went from British Army service to homelessness, from PTSD to breakthrough, from having $360 and a one-way ticket to America to helping generate over $100 million in client revenue impact across 97 countries.

But here's what matters for you: I didn't just survive my collapse. I reverse-engineered it into a proven methodology that's helped thousands of leaders reclaim their lives, their purpose, and their power.

What You Get When We Work Together:
My RAMS™ Methodology isn't just another leadership framework. It's your roadmap home to who you really are beneath all the performance, pressure, and people-pleasing. With a 94% documented success rate, it's specifically designed for high-achievers who are tired of feeling empty despite their external success.

Whether you're a Fortune 100 executive, a burned-out entrepreneur, or a high-achieving woman leader facing imposter syndrome, I help you:

• Transform your breaking points into breakthroughs

• Eliminate the silent success-killers that are draining your life force

• Create boundaries without guilt or apology

• Master the mindset for playing all-in without burning out

The Bottom Line:
You didn't climb this high just to feel this empty. You have everything it takes to not just succeed, but to thrive with purpose, authenticity, and inner peace.

My job isn't to add more to your already overwhelming life. It's to help you strip away everything that isn't truly you, so you can lead from a place of strength, clarity, and genuine fulfillment.

International bestselling author of "Die Empty Live Full" and "Cracking the Rich Code."

Featured in Yahoo Finance, Thrive Global, and recognized speaker at Princeton University, Excel Arena London, and global leadership conferences.