Burned Out by the Fast Track?

As a (admittedly slow) runner, I tend to see a higher priority for speed over endurance.

“Run a faster 5K! Run a faster marathon!”

Hey, gotta get to the finish line faster, right?

Sometimes in our work that we do, it can feel the same way. Finish the project faster. Get the promotion faster. Climb the ladder faster.

We may be faster at our jobs, but are we better at our jobs? And what price do we pay for it?

The idea of getting there faster comes from a place of fear. “If I don’t complete the project/get the promotion/be the leader NOW, I’ll be left behind.”

That belief is the path to burnout. You get the project, the promotion, move up the ladder—but you also risk career burnout and disillusionment if the pace isn't sustainable.

Here’s what I want you to know: You can be successful in your career and still run the long race. At a pace that suits you.

So how do we reset our careers in a way that avoids burnout and sets us up for long-term success?

Widen Your Timeline

The biggest gift you can give yourself right now is the gift of more time.

It’s awfully tempting to scroll through LinkedIn and think, “Hang on—they’re already a VP? How did they get there so fast?” But your career journey doesn’t follow someone else’s GPS. Your values, your pace, your detours you’ve had to take—it all matters. And they don’t have to match anyone else’s.

When you broaden out your timeline, you take the pressure off your next move needing to be instant and dramatic. You give yourself space for exploration, discovery, and a little bit of messiness. And that’s where the clouds start to part—not in racing to the next title, but in moving toward the right fit.

Sometimes career growth looks like a winding trail through the woods. A bit slower, yes—but with a lot of insight if you’re paying attention.

Give yourself permission to shift the clock. Instead of asking “How can I fix this by next month?”, ask “What direction do I want to move in this year?”

You can’t build lasting success by just sprinting—you build it in sustainable, steady steps. And at the pace you decide.

Reconnect to What’s Meaningful

Speed can disconnect you from meaning.

When you’re racing from task to task, project to project, the deeper "why" behind your work gets in the shuffle. And that’s when success starts to feel empty.

It’s not that you’re not capable—you totally are. But capability without connection wears thin after awhile. And at some point, just checking the boxes is not satisfying anymore.

So what can you do? You can stop and ask, What part of my work do I still enjoy? Maybe it’s mentoring, solving complex problems, or building something from scratch. These are breadcrumbs—they help you find your way back to the path that lights you up.

But what if nothing feels meaningful for you right now? That’s a really valuable piece of information. It could mean that your values have shifted. But don’t view that as a failure. See it as growth. And see it as an invitation to explore what feels aligned for you now.

When you reconnect to meaningful work, it becomes easier to stay motivated and resilient—even during a career transition.

The goal isn’t to fall in love with your job overnight. It’s to move closer to what feels true. A little more alignment can go a long way toward momentum—and meaning.

Redefine What Progress Looks Like

I have a question for you: How are you measuring your progress?

Most of us default to the big, visible markers—a new job, a higher salary, and more recognition.  Those are great when they show up. But when you’re in the middle of a transition, those external wins might feel few and far between. When that happens, you can feel stuck or behind.

Here’s the thing: just because progress isn’t loud doesn’t mean it’s not happening for you.

What if progress meant keeping a promise to yourself? That mindset shift is key for anyone navigating a professional transition or recovering from burnout at work. Like setting boundaries at work or spending an hour exploring something that genuinely interests you? What if it meant showing up, even when motivation is low? Or choosing to rest so you don’t burn out?

These may not feel résumé-worthy bullet points, but they do matter. They build momentum from the inside out.

Redefining progress helps you stay grounded when everything around you feels uncertain. It brings the focus back to what you can control—and that’s where your power is.

Pushing reset doesn’t mean you’re starting over. It means stepping back, choosing a wiser pace, and making sure the race you’re running actually leads you to where you want to go.

Because in the long game of work, how you run matters just as much as where you’re headed.

I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career and health coach specializing in helping mid-stage professionals gain clarity on their career journey. I’ve written a guide on how to escape the work hamster wheel. Click here to download yours.