We love a good hustle. The all-nighter. The back-to-back Zooms. The inbox zero badge of honor. In many professional spaces, exhaustion has become a status symbol. If you're not running on fumes, are you even trying?

But here's the catch: burnout isn't a badge. It's a warning light. And leaders (especially the most passionate, purpose-driven ones) are often the last to see it flashing.

At DCH Coaching, I've seen the pattern play out across industries. Leaders who once led with fire now run on smoke. Teams that once thrived now barely survive. And behind it all? A culture that confuses depletion with dedication.