?? Cold Sweats and Tissues: Surviving My Workplace Burnout

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?? This week’s edition:

?? Cold Sweats and Tissues: Surviving My Workplace Burnout

?? The Financial Coconut - Solopreneur Guide: Build a Successful Business to Quit Your Corporate Job [W&S 81 ft Adrian Tan]

?? 40 Voices, One Mission: Ricky Foo's Job-Hunting Revolution

?? Cold Sweats and Tissues: Surviving My Workplace Burnout

What's your worst burnout moment?

Let me share mine while you ponder.

It was 2013, a year before I finally exited the recruitment business I'd cofounded in 2004.

What began as an escape from early corporate nonsense (I was facing a potential hat-trick in retrenchments) became a legitimate business despite our inexperience.

At our peak, we were making $5m annual revenue with nearly 30 employees. But good times don't last, especially when you lack the gumption and experience to make it work.

The slope got slippery. Before I knew it, I had a new business partner and two investors. With conflicting interests and a backstabbing partner, things took their toll.

I drank and smoked heavily, dreading sleep because I knew I'd wake up to face the same office nonsense again.

I'd wake in cold sweats, something I thought only happened on TV.

The breaking point came during a private chat with my Office Manager. Sharing the state of the business, I started to cry.

No, "cry" doesn't cut it. I was bawling, full-blown.

It was the first time someone handed me a tissue box for tears.

The next day, I knew I needed out, or this situation would do me in.

In my book No More Bosses , I share other burnout examples—not mine, but others who experienced their own torments.

I mention Nancy Lai 's story. She ran a startup when that term was barely coined. Investor pressure and partner conflicts culminated in a tough moment for her.

Fortunately, she faced this early in life when we were best equipped to confront such difficulties.

For those closer to my mid-career age, the mind might be willing, but the body isn't.

Examples?

There's the former Global HR Director whose asthma relapsed after endless 20-hour workdays.

The Head of Data Science was hospitalised for a month after wearing seven hats at work for too long.

The Sales Director whose eczema flared as markets shrank and sales dwindled.

And you know what?

These are the happy endings.

We noticed the sirens and moved inland before the tsunami hit.

Since my exit, I haven't had another cold-sweat morning, and the HR Director hasn't had more asthma attacks since quitting her demanding role.

And the data scientist's only hospital visits now are to accompany his grandma for checkups.

A healthy person wants a million things: the newest car, the biggest house, the latest gadgets, the trendiest clothes, bi-annual transcontinental trips, and the richest, most diverse cuisines Instagram showcases.

An unhealthy person wants one thing - health. Without it, everything else is immaterial. You lack the quality of life to enjoy them.

Like my friend battling a suspected case of Parkinson's, I wrote about recently.

By now, you should recall your worst burnout moment.

Let that be your wake-up call. Act now, and you might join the ranks of these happy endings, too.

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?? The Financial Coconut - Solopreneur Guide: Build a Successful Business to Quit Your Corporate Job [W&S 81 ft Adrian Tan]

Feeling trapped in the 9-to-5 grind? Dreaming of being your own boss? Well, you're in for a treat! ??

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with the awesome folks at The Financial Coconut podcast about my journey from corporate life to sustainable self-employment. We dive deep into the nitty-gritty of going solo - from dealing with family expectations to finding your niche (spoiler: mine's HR tech marketing ??).

You won't want to miss this if you're an aspiring solopreneur! I spill the tea on:

• Validating your business idea (because not all ideas are created equal!)
• Standing out in a crowded market (it's a jungle out there!)
• Developing that crucial "be your own boss" mindset

Plus, I lay out my step-by-step guide to self-employment. Trust me, I've been there, done that, and even wrote the book on it (literally - check out "No More Bosses " on Amazon ??).

Whether you're just toying with the idea or ready to take the plunge, this episode is packed with insights to help you on your journey.

Ready to say "No More Bosses"? Tune in, get inspired, and let's kick-start your self-employment adventure together! ??

?? 40 Voices, One Mission: Ricky Foo's Job-Hunting Revolution

During the peak of COVID-19, when lockdowns seemed endless, my brighter days came from meeting random people over Zoom calls.

This was facilitated by Lunchclub . You input your interests and location preferences, and they match you with like-minded individuals. No agenda is required; it’s just a chance to meet someone new.

I've continued this practice, almost always accepting meetups with those who contact me.

Last week, I met Ricky Foo . He's been running 智瑞 's (I bet my net worth of $10 that you will get the pronunciation wrong on the first try) Singapore practice for the past decade and is wrapping up a book on job hunting.

His work draws from his extensive headhunting experience and includes insights from 40(!) unique individuals he interviewed specifically for the book.

Some people you meet for the first time and instantly click with. Ricky was one of them for me. Our commonalities helped:

We both have four kids, I was in the same industry a decade ago, and we live on the outskirts—him west, me east.

From our conversation, I'm confident his book will be invaluable for corporate professionals.

Although it's outside the self-employment realm I'm passionate about, there will always be folks who prefer the corporate path.

To each their own.

Regardless, the experiences, lessons, insights, and strategies of those a few steps ahead of you are always beneficial.

Follow Ricky Foo on LinkedIn for future updates on his job-hunting book.

Know someone who might benefit from my weekly insights? Please forward them this email so they can sign up at adriantan.com.sg

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?? CHECK OUT MY BOOK "NO MORE BOSSES"

Your guide to sustainable self-employment. Order from Kinokuniya or Amazon .