Burnout doesn’t hit all at once—it sneaks up on you. One day, you’re just tired. The next, you’re completely drained, dreading work, and running on empty. And by the time you realize what’s happening, it’s already taken a toll. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to wait until you’re burned out to do something about it.

Companies claim they want the best talent, but when they have rockstar employees, they force them to fit the status quo instead of letting them shine. Meanwhile, the wrong people—performative leaders, office "Karens," and gatekeepers—get promoted while true innovators are ignored. These companies don’t just lose great employees; they create their own competition. An empire isn’t built by controlling workers—it’s built when people take pride in what they’ve built. If companies don’t start recognizing real talent, someone else will.