Dustin Lemick, founder and CEO of BriteCo, an innovative insurance technology company transforming the retail jewelry insurance experience.
Burnout is a word that every startup founder becomes familiar with at some point due to the long hours, stress and dedication needed at this early stage.
In my time as CEO of an insurance technology company, I have come to understand burnout not as a failure but as a warning that it’s time to adjust, reflect and take action.
Learning To Let Go
In the early days of building my company, I admit I wasn’t great at managing burnout. The pressure to get everything done was overwhelming, and I felt like I couldn’t stop until every last detail was handled. Over time, I’ve learned that’s not sustainable—or necessary.
Managing burnout is also about maintaining perspective and realizing that you won’t get everything done. I have learned it’s necessary to rely on your team members and co-founders. Sometimes, you’ll have to leave things, put them down and end the day without closing all the loops—and that’s okay.
A big part of this lesson was learning to prioritize efficiency. Building processes and leveraging technology helped me streamline work and manage tasks more effectively. The more processes you have in place, especially those powered by technology, the more efficiently you can operate.
Creating Space For The Team
As founders, we’re not just responsible for our well-being. We must also create an environment where our teams can thrive without burning out. My company encourages employees to take time off and step away when needed. We have an unlimited vacation policy, but everyone still works really hard, and sometimes, we have to encourage them to take a break and refresh.
Celebrating wins is another powerful way to combat burnout. Recognizing achievements—big and small—can help people recharge. It can be a whole team celebration or as simple as taking a moment to be proud of yourself for completing a difficult task.
Additionally, we have implemented practices to make work more manageable and supportive, such as a hybrid work policy. Employees know they can work from home on a day when they just need to focus or have a quieter space. We also have mid-day meditations in the office. These are optional, but the team often takes advantage of them and finds them helpful. With everyone working intensively throughout the day, it helps to have a mindful break where they can unwind.
The Fundraising Grind
If I had to pinpoint the most stressful aspect of running a startup, raising capital would top the list. It’s not just the long hours; it’s very difficult and draining to face the constant rejection, drawn-out timelines and uncertainty.
During those early days, burnout often felt inevitable. But sometimes, there’s no other choice than to push through.
The key to surviving these moments is to put on blinders. The best founders I know are unstoppable. They’ll run through brick walls. For me, focusing intently on the most critical tasks and tuning out distractions was the only way to move forward.
Finding Joy In The Work
Burnout isn’t just a result of long hours or hard work—it’s also about your relationship to the work. I’ve found that burnout is less likely when you do something you enjoy.
Fundraising burns me out because I don’t enjoy it, but building and launching new products energizes me. This isn’t unique to startups. If you love what you’re doing in any field, there’s less likelihood you’ll experience burnout. I see it in people who love golfing. They could golf every day and not burn out because of their passion.
It doesn’t mean you’ll never experience burnout doing what you love, but it’s less likely to hit you as hard or as often.
The Hard Lessons
Looking back, I wouldn’t say there’s a magic formula I wish I’d known earlier. You must experience that to learn and grow as a founder and business leader. There’s no shortcut.
However, I strongly recommend all founders and their teams stay consistent with the basics: sleep, healthy eating, and exercise. Founders are notorious for pulling all-nighters and ordering pizza for weeks on end for productivity, but that’s the fastest route to burnout. I make it a point to exercise a few times a week and incorporate small routines into my life to support my mental and physical health.
Recognizing And Responding To Burnout
Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned is this: Burnout is normal, but it’s not something you can ignore. Just pushing through forever is not a solution. Eventually, you’ll hit maximum burnout, and that’s the most counterproductive state possible.
Recognizing burnout is the first step to addressing it. Whether it’s through rest, reflection, or seeking support, taking deliberate steps to recover is critical.
Burnout As Part Of The Journey
Burnout is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey, and there’s no shame in admitting it. What’s important is recognizing the signs, taking action, and creating habits that support long-term well-being—for ourselves and our teams.
By staying aware of our mental and physical states, leaning on our teams, and embracing a healthier approach to work, we can not only survive but thrive—even in the intensity of the startup world.
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