From Burnout to Breakthrough: Using an Athlete’s Mindset to Lead in Business
Burnout is one of the most talked about topics in business today. CEOs, entrepreneurs, managers, and rising professionals all face the same creeping feeling: the fatigue of constant demands, unclear direction, and the pressure to always do more.
But what if we’ve been approaching burnout the wrong way?
After 20+ years coaching both elite athletes and high-performing professionals, I’ve learned that burnout isn’t just about being overworked. It’s about being misaligned mentally, emotionally, and purposefully. And it’s something I’ve seen athletes overcome using the exact same tools that can transform your approach to business.
🎯 Shift the Perspective: Burnout Isn't Just Exhaustion—It's Identity Conflict
In sports psychology, when an athlete “burns out,” it’s often not because they’re tired from physical exertion, it’s because their internal identity no longer matches the pressure they're under or the story they’re telling themselves.
The same happens in business.
Take the example of a startup founder I coached recently. Revenue was up, the team was growing, but he felt miserable. Why? His identity had been built around the hustle. He thrived on being the underdog, building from scratch. Now that the business was scaling, he didn’t feel like himself. He wasn’t burnt out from effort, he was burnt out from misalignment.
Sports psychology solution: In athletics, we teach competitors to build a performance identity, a version of themselves they can step into with purpose. That identity isn’t just about winning; it’s about knowing who you are when it matters most.
Business application: I helped that founder create a new identity: “The Visionary CEO.” We built routines, decision frameworks, and self-talk strategies around this identity. Within 30 days, he wasn’t just more energized—he was leading with clarity and confidence.
💡 Practical Tip #1: Create Your Business Identity
Ask yourself:
Who do I need to be to lead this next stage?
What behaviors, language, and energy does that version of me bring?
Where am I still operating from an outdated version of myself?
Write down your Performance Identity for this season of business and refer back to it daily, especially in high-pressure situations.
🧘♂️ Regain Control: Focus on What You Can Control (and Let Go of the Rest)
Athletes are trained to separate “controllables” from distractions. They can’t control the ref’s call, the crowd noise, or the opponent’s game plan. They can only control their attitude, preparation, focus, and response.
In business, we often burn out trying to control things we can’t: market shifts, team dynamics, even what people think of us.
Sports psychology solution: The Circle of Control exercise is foundational in coaching athletes. It brings them back to center.
Business application: A client running a mid-sized company was spiraling because of inconsistent sales numbers and team turnover. We built a “mental reset plan” using this principle: each morning he focused on 3 controllables—his mindset, his communication, and his preparation. Everything else? Background noise.
He said it changed his stress level immediately and within weeks, his team reported he seemed like a different leader.
💡 Practical Tip #2: Run the Circle of Control Exercise
Each day, write down:
3 things you can control today
3 things you’re worried about but can’t control
Commit to taking action only on what you can control. This reduces overwhelm and helps you refocus your energy where it matters most.
🔄 Reframe Adversity: Pressure is a Privilege
In sports, pressure is not something to avoid—it’s something to train for.
Athletes visualize game-winning shots. They simulate last second scenarios. Why? Because they know pressure is where champions are made.
In business, we often run from pressure or view it as a threat.
Sports psychology solution: Train your response to pressure. Reframe it from a threat into a signal that you're in a position of influence and impact.
Business application: A leader preparing for a critical investor pitch told me she felt “crippling anxiety.” We used pre-performance routines from sports to prepare her—breathing, focus triggers, mental rehearsal. She didn’t just survive the pitch she owned it.
Her words: “I felt like I stepped into an entirely different version of myself.”
💡 Practical Tip #3: Build a Pre-Performance Routine
Before a big moment presentation, meeting, or decision, do the following:
Breathe deeply for 2 minutes
Visualize success (see yourself focused and performing)
Use a focus cue or phrase (e.g., “Let’s compete.” or “I’m built for this.”)
Step into your performance identity
Pressure isn’t the enemy. Unpreparedness is.
💬 Final Thought: The Mental Game Is the Business Game
The tools that help athletes perform under bright lights are the same ones that can help business leaders rise above burnout, pressure, and self-doubt.
When you train your mind like a pro, you gain more than confidence, you gain control.
More clarity. More direction. More wins.
It’s not about motivation.
It’s about mental performance.
If you want to bring this perspective to your organization or team, or need help building your own performance identity as a leader, let’s connect.
Let’s make mindset your greatest business advantage.
