For the young rockstars burning bright(out)…

A lot of high-potential people fall into a trap early in their careers. They become the go-to for everything. It feels good at first. Word spreads that you are the one who figures things out, so every project manager wants you, every urgent request finds you, every dumpster fire pulls you in. It all stacks up fast, doesn’t it?

You get the rockstar high, right up until you start burning up on re-entry. You carry every hot potato like it is the top priority. You take on too much because you don’t want to disappoint anyone. You smile and say you are on it, even when that person is number nine in line. You spread yourself thin. You miss things. Deadlines slip. The cracks get wider. Your reputation takes the hit. Burnout lands hard and there is no applause on the way down.

This isn’t happening because you lack talent. It happens because you are wired to help. You’re young and you have skill, drive, and you want to be a team player. And don’t you just love to be needed (be honest)? But if you carry yourself like a golden retriever chasing every tennis ball someone tosses into your field of view, people will keep throwing them. And they won’t respect your capacity because you never gave them a reason to. That’s on you.

You need intent. You need a plan. You need to manage your time like it matters. If the chaos is coming from your inability to protect your own hours, then you aren’t performing at the level you think you are. You also need to communicate. The people who rely on you need to know what is on your plate. They will help you prioritize if you let them. They will reassign the work that doesn’t need your touch. They will guard your bandwidth if you show them it is worth guarding.

This is where mentors show up. The leaders who trust you and keep giving you opportunities were you once. They burned hot and fast. They broke orbit. Then they figured it out. If you ask for guidance, they will give it… gladly (they love to be needed too). They will help you grow, manage up, and make the jump you want to make.

Stop being the default catcher of every flying object. Start being intentional with your work, your communication, and your time. That is how you stay great without burning out.