Growth That Costs You Everything Isn’t Success

Many leaders quietly ask themselves a hard question:
“I can do this… but can I keep doing this?”

If your growth model requires constant exhaustion, endless sacrifice, and operating at full capacity all the time, it isn’t sustainable. It’s temporary and bound to cause burnout.

Too often, burnout is normalized in mission-driven work. Leaders carry the weight of responsibility, impact, and expectation without space to pause or recalibrate. But exhausted leaders can’t lead well, and burned-out teams can’t build strong organizations.

Sustainability isn’t just about rest. It’s about alignment, boundaries, and capacity.

When sustainability is missing:

• Turnover increases

• Creativity declines

• Decision-making suffers

• Health declines

When sustainability is prioritized:

• Leaders stay engaged

• Teams perform better

• Impact lasts longer

• Well-being improves

Here’s a simple reflection to try this week:

The Capacity Check
Ask yourself:

• What drains my energy most each week?

• What consistently fuels me?

• Where am I operating outside my zone of genius?

Choose one adjustment to make this month. One boundary. One meeting to rework. One responsibility to shift.

At Alo Civitas Consulting, we believe burnout is not a requirement for impact. Our work is centered on helping leaders and organizations grow in ways that are aligned, sustainable, and human. Because the goal isn’t just growth, its sustainable impact. Leaders who build sustainably create organizations that last. How have you allowed burnout to become your badge of honor?

Many of you all know that I have struggled with burnout over the course of my professional life. I used to carry it like this “badge of honor” but now know that I was building my life and business in a way that were not sustainable. I now am on a mission to help other leaders reimagine the way they build, in a way that is aligned, sustainable, and fueling to them. If this speaks to you and you need to find ways to reduce your burnout and sustain your life, grab a time to chat here.