Henry Ford once said he didn’t want executives who had to work all the time. He insisted that those who were always in a flurry of activity at their desks were not being the most productive. He wanted people who would clear their desks, prop their feet up and dream some fresh dreams. His philosophy was that only he who has the luxury of time can originate a creative thought.
Wow! When’s the last time your boss told you to quit working and do more dreaming? Unfortunately, our culture glamorizes being under time pressure. Having too much to do with too little time is a badge of “success.” Or is it?
This week I heard from a gentleman who has spent the last three years hiking and living in an isolated old farm house. He said he had experienced the “perfect storm” – divorce, unfulfilling job, nasty boss and a 33 year dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail. After three years of “sitting” his thinking is now clear, his energy is renewed, his anger is gone, his creativity has been revived and he is ready to map out the next season of his life.
The Apostle Paul took long walks between cities, using the time to think and talk. Even when shipwrecked, instead of calling in a helicopter to get him to his next gig, he simply used the unexpected time to create with his mind. Andrew Carnegie would go into an empty room for hours at a time, not allowing any interruptions, as he was “sitting for ideas.”
Thomas Edison would go down to the water’s edge each morning, throw out his line – with no bait – and then watch the bobber for an hour until his thinking was ready for the day. Without long walks, an hour here and there of bush hogging, tinkering with my cars, or playing with a grandchild, my writing to bring inspiration to others would very quickly be reduced to dry theories and lifeless words.
In the last 30 days I’ve come to realize how “busy” I am. I do love my work but have found that I have the classic symptoms of burnout. Yeah, even me, the guy who talks about finding your passion and living out your dream. I’ve been struggling with fatigue, headaches, irritability, shaky hands, fitful sleep, convinced I’m sick, decreased appetite, cynicism, questioning everything I’m doing, and pulling back from engagement. I’ve had blood tests, heart scans, and much more. Guess what? There’s nothing wrong that can be cured from the outside. And all this while business has never been better – revenues are up, the all new 48 Days Seminar is being released this week, speaking requests are pouring in, and our Coaching Mastery Program is growing exponentially.
I’m actually very relieved to recognize it for what it is. Now I can correct it – delegate more effectively, let things rest when they are “good enough,” walk away from work more, spend more time on hobbies, sleep when I need it, meditate and do yoga every day. I don’t need pills, surgery or psychotherapy. I’ve got this! Yesterday, my “power lunch” was with my youngest board of advisors. I just gave them open access to the Slushie bar, the ideas started to flow and I came away feeling refreshed and energized.
If you’re feeling stuck, your solution may not be in doing more, but in taking a break from the “busyness” of life. Want to be more productive — join me in doing less. Let’s go “sit” somewhere for a while!”
Looking for a change? Here’s my five-step process you can follow.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” — Henry David Thoreau
None of are immune, are we? Sometimes we refuse to recognize our stress and burnout because we don’t feel as we have a right to those feelings. “I make great money!” “The boss loves me!” “I’m really fortunate.” It’s easy to admit things are off when we have somewhere to place blame… a bad boss, a tough break, hard times. But, we feel like whiners to accept the “symptoms” of something being off when things should be great.
My take, and something I remind myself of often, is that we are not designed simply to survive or even to “do well.” We are each purpose-built, and when we are not on the path to or living our highest purpose, we feel the wear and fatigue. One can “succeed” and still not be living their potential or truest self. So, I try to be open to myself when I feel those feelings, not because I want to complain, but because a wise person listens to their pain so that they may remedy their ailment. Thanks for the post!
Jared,
No we are not. I rationalized that if I’m doing work I Iove then there could not be too much. Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for this post Dan. It has been a very recent thing for me that rest has not felt guilty. I am calling it the redefinition of hustle. Thanks for leading the way Dan!
Zechariah,
I like that – a redefinition of hustle. Thanks for adding that.
Dan, I’m so glad you recognized your symptoms for what they were and are addressing them. Burnout is a MAJOR problem for creative people, but it doesn’t have to be. I attended your “Write to the Bank” workshop back in 2011 (when Jen McDonogh attended for the first time!) and it inspired me to write a book called “Burnout Sucks! How to be wildly creative and live to enjoy it!” It was published in July of this year through Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Sucks-wildly-creative-enjoy-ebook/dp/B010W01DUS) I’ve been a creative professional for over 30 years and experienced severe burnout in the fall of 2007. But by the grace of God (and the help of a lot of people!) I have found my way back from the edge. The book tells the story of that journey and shares the principles (beHABITS!) that continue to keep me contributing creatively at a high level. My website (http://www.burnoutsucks.com/) has more information and my weekly blog. Dan, thank you, thank you, thank you for always being so transparent with this community and providing inspiration to so many! God bless you!
Jim – congrats on your book – that is so awesome! I just went and picked up my copy this morning from Amazon (link wasn’t working above so used: http://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Sucks-wildly-creative-enjoy/dp/0996493808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442511079&sr=8-1&keywords=jim+hough+books)
Oh my gosh I will never forget that conference – such a turning point in my whole family’s lives. It is hard to describe to people what being at one of Dan’s live events is like – truly a place where amazing things happen.
Again congrats!!!!!!!!
Thanks Jen! Let me know what you think of the book. That conference was a turning point for me as well. Dan is a special guy! All the best to you!!
Jim,
Ah thanks for your input here. I just ordered your book as well. Sounds like I need it right now. And congratulations on bringing your book to life!
Oh Dan, you are SO welcome! I was waiting to send you a book until the flurry of activity around the twins had settled a bit. (We had boy/girl twins that are now 24! What a treat!) This book, not to mention the path my life is on, would not have happened if it weren’t for you and the 48 Days Community that you’ve built. I’m really thankful to God for you and the work you do my friend!
Dan,
Way to go on becoming self aware – this is so painful and difficult at times to do as it can make us feel incredibly vulnerable. Want to say way to go with leading by example. So honored to have you as one of my dearest mentors. Wishing you great health and rejuvenation as you explore what works in creating that energy and joy in your life. Thank you so much for sharing! It helps to see our own struggles in that they become much more easier to overcome when we can share with others. THANK YOU.
p.s. What a FUN bunch of directors!!! LOVE IT!
Jen – yeah that little group of directors is not short on ideas. And they’re not short on just showing me ways to thoroughly life as it comes. Thanks for your comments.
I find I feel that way the most after I’ve been pushing for a few weeks and accomplishing the most, but I haven’t taken time to refresh my inner self. Wishing you success in the rest area, too.
Eva,
Thanks so much. I pretty well know what I need – and it’s that refreshing of my inner self.
This is an excellent story. I need to do this but more importantly, with me being the boss, I need to give my sometimes overstressed and overworked team the needed time to clear their heads. I hope I can remember to tell them to go home when they come into my office and tell me that they are stressed and they have so much work to do. I will tell them to go home and go to a movie or something to take their mind off work. The work will still be there, yes, but they will be more relaxed and probably can get more done in less time when they return later that day or the next day than if I tell them to just work thru it.
Bob – very important point. And I’m very guilty of expecting everyone around me to produce at consistently high levels as well. Time to back off!
You are awesome for not only taking the time to acknowledge this and invest in yourself, but to be open with others and to give your granddaughters the love and attention you do – they adore their Papa and love their lunch dates, and so do I!
Ashley – yep, those power lunches are always memorable. I love seeing your little girls finding their own passion and talent. And yes, I’m being way more intentional about backing off and investing in things other than work.
Thank you, Dan, for your transparency and excellent example of how to take control and make the necessary changes. How soul-lightening it is to realize we really do have control of our well-being.
Erin – ah thanks so much for your comments. I can’t believe how far down the rabbit hole I allowed myself to go.
Can you please elaborate – “the rabbit hole”? Mentally or a physical place? Thanks for openess.
Hey Brother, I always appreciate your authenticity! Even the mighty eagle takes time to rest and recharge. And when that beautiful young Board of Directors is done with you, give me a shout and we will grab some Garcia’s – that will fix burnout and a whole host of other ailments! 🙂
Mike – hey I like that – the eagle is an excellent model of taking time to recharge. I think I hear the ones on my property speaking to me now.
I can still envision Clara burying her frog at the January CWE and now she is slurping slushies at TB. Life is good. It’s even better when you’re with those you deeply care about and who can brighten your day – your wonderful grandchildren. Thanks for being real, Dan.
Thanks for your authenticity Dan! I know all of us entrepreneurs can relate here!! 😉 Praying your times away bring deep healing and refreshment!
I hate racing. I’ve always hated it. On my way home from my “Education” job (no worries…carrying out an exit strategy), my car battery quit. I can only assume it was worried that my battery had quit as well. I sat there safely in a parking lot for an hour and a half waiting for AAA and the most glorious gift coalesced out of thin air: Abject silence. Closed my eyes and opened them perhaps fifteen minutes later and realized the trees had begun to change color. I felt like I had given myself a brain heimlech, and my amygdala no longer had that look of terror in its eyes.
Dan, thank you for your honesty here. You are a shining example of excellence to all of us. This is a very real issue and one that I’ve dealt with many, many times as well. Once I get on that momentum train, I don’t want it to stop. But I have to give myself the permission to not only slow down and enjoy the ride, but to take care of my own health so that I can add value to others. It’s so important that we take that time to recharge and say “no” even to ourselves with the next big project or event when we want to keep working because we love it so much. I gladly join you in doing less, and taking a break from the busyness of life.
Thanks for sharing your feelings, Dan. I think we often have an image that people in a growing business can only be super content. Often it doesn’t matter WHAT is going well, your body, mind and soul just seek something else. Usually it IS nothing a little time away or “distraction time” can’t resolve. I give myself one full day every month to just have “fun” and gain back my perspective for what I know I love.
This is timely for me! I’ve grown sick of hearing myself say to people, “I’ve been so busy,” when they asked what I’m up to or how I’ve been. It feels like an excuse, and a very unproductive one at that. At one point I wore it like a badge of honor, now it’s almost a badge of shame. I think I need to give myself permission to not be so “busy!” Thanks for sharing this, Dan!
Jackie,
Ah yes, funny how our perspective can change on that. When we realize we make the choices about our time it does feel embarrassing to admit we’ve “been so busy.”
How often I have thought to myself, “Push through, Julie!” In an effort to be more productive. This post spoke to the depths of my very soul allowing permission to reflect on who I am at my very core. We can become so “busy” and so very unaware as the best parts of who we are created to be slip away, minute by hectic minute.
Great post!
Julie – that’s a great image – to be so busy the best parts of who we were created to be slip away – ouch!
A great reminder to us all that it’s easy, even when knowing how important rest and doing nothing is, to get caught up in the busyness of life. I’m happy to hear you’re feeling better and taking steps to avoid burnout.
Camilla – thanks so much. Yeah, I’m feeling better but am being reminded daily of how those little negative habits grew over time.
Over the last month, I’ve been taking an hour and a half walk. It’s been refreshing and found I need to carry pen and paper with me since that is where I am generating ideas. I didn’t anticipate the ideas. I just wanted to get away and be solitary for a time to reset. However walking has generated another level of creativity. I also find running allows me to clear my thoughts and meditate on an idea. By the time I am done I have covered it front, back, inside out and back around again. Regular breaks are great for us even if it is daily or taking that four day weekend every few months to recharge and dream.
Excellent post! I know that I am in burnout. There are so many factors but I know if I can slow just one of those factors down that I will gain some new refreshment to slow down the next factor. It almost sounds like paying down debt! It is overwhelming if I look from too high up, but if I pick one and ‘pay it down’ then it is one less.