Running on Empty: Why You're Burned Out by Wednesday (Part 1 of 3)

Nearly half of Gen Z workers report feeling burned out — not because the work is too hard, but because no one taught them how to train for it. In this episode, we begin to give you a roadmap for understanding the difference between legitimate exhaustion and undeveloped stamina, and why that distinction changes everything.

David, Jon, and Phillip dig into the real numbers: a Deloitte survey showing 46% of Gen Z workers report burnout from work intensity, and the documented mental health impact of entering the workforce during the COVID era. But this episode is not a sympathy session. It is an honest conversation about what it actually takes to build the endurance to survive — and win — in the modern workplace.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on stamina. Over the next three weeks, we will tackle mental stamina, emotional stamina, and physical stamina. Today is about understanding the problem and getting honest about where you are.

The big idea: stamina is a skill, not a personality trait. You can build it. But you have to stop treating tiredness as a verdict on your career and start treating it as a problem to solve.

Key topics covered:
- Why burnout statistics in Gen Z are real — and what they actually mean
- The COVID factor: how entering the workforce during a mental health crisis left a mark
- Legitimate exhaustion vs. undeveloped stamina — how to know the difference
- The soft skill no one is developing: workplace stamina
- A preview of the 3-part series roadmap ahead

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