Burnout Doesn't Always Look Dramatic

I’ll never forget the moment that broke me — and changed everything.

This Week’s Insight:
Your “last straw” moment might be your most valuable asset

What You Need to Know:
A while back, I was working a demanding engineering job, trying to balance health, career, and the kind of life I thought success was supposed to bring. But I was running on fumes.

One Friday night, after back-to-back meetings and nonstop Teams messages, I was in the middle of a “quick” client call that dragged on late into the evening. Meanwhile, my wife was waiting at the dinner table — our plates going cold.

That was it.

Not a blow-up. Not a dramatic event. Just a quiet, frustrating moment of clarity. I realized I’d built a life where other people’s priorities always came first. Time wasn’t mine. Energy wasn’t mine. And freedom? That felt like a myth. So I stopped trying to tweak the system. I started building something outside of it.

Why It Matters:
You don’t have to wait for a burnout crash or crisis to course-correct. Sometimes, all it takes is noticing the small moments that don't sit right — and deciding you're no longer available for them. That kind of awareness is where real freedom starts.

Context:
Today, the job market is rewarding speed and availability — but punishing long-term peace of mind. High earners are burning out. Calendar control is becoming the new currency. That’s why many engineers are quietly shifting gears.

Takeaway:
You don’t need to abandon your career to create space. But you do need a system outside your job that grows while you work — and gives you options when the time is right. Passive investing in syndications became that system for me. Maybe it could be for you, too.

Talk soon,

Tony