I was mentoring a young, ambitious leader the other day. We were deep in conversation about success, career moves, and—let’s be honest—when it’s time to throw in the towel and find a new job. They were exhausted, feeling underappreciated and frustrated by compensation changes outside their control. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

It’s not unusual for high performers to get into a headspace where they feel like they are working like a dog putting in extra hours and still feel stuck. Your mind starts whispering, 'Maybe the grass is greener elsewhere.' Before you go updating your LinkedIn status to Open to Work, let’s take a step back and think through a few critical points.

The Grind is Real (But It Shouldn’t Be Forever)

There’s been a lot of noise about work-life balance lately—especially after the leaked Google CEO email suggesting that 40 hours a week might not cut it. Working 60 hours a week and being in the office everyday was the call to action for staying competitive in the AI field. Some cried foul citing mental health, burnout and work-life balance concerns. While I fully support boundaries, I also believe there are seasons in life where high performers have to grind.

Think of it like an athlete training for the Olympics. You don’t see sprinters waltzing into practice saying, “You know what, Coach? I’m feeling a light 30-minute jog today.” No! They push themselves when it matters most. The same goes for young professionals. Accountants brace for tax season. Tech teams pull all-nighters before a big product launch. Professional coaches and athletes basically sleep standing up during pre-season.

Even Jeff Bezos admitted that in Amazon’s early days, he and his team worked crazy hours. Here’s the key: They didn’t do it forever. High-performing executives who now enjoy balance earned it by putting in the time early. You don’t have to grind 24/7 for the rest of your life, but be ready to step up when the moment calls for it.

Research Says...

A study from Harvard Business Review found that professionals who strategically invest extra effort during career-defining moments—rather than overworking indefinitely—are more likely to get promoted and achieve long-term job satisfaction. The trick is knowing when to push and when to recover. In sports we call this macrocycles, and all top performers go through them.

Ask for Help Before You Collapse

Let’s get one thing straight: Working hard is great, but suffering in silence is not a leadership trait. I once worked with a young leader putting in 70-80 hours a week because of a staffing shortage. He was exhausted but didn’t want to speak up—until I told him, “You are going be too burnt out to even enjoy that promotion you’re chasing.”

High performers often get more work because they can handle it. Ironically, that makes them their own worst enemy. Here’s the deal: Top organizations don’t want to lose their best people. If you’re drowning, raise your hand. When you do, try bringing a solution:

• “Hey, I’ve been taking on a lot—could we prioritize tasks so I’m working on the highest-impact projects?”
• “Would it be possible to redistribute some of these responsibilities?”
• “Can we discuss temporary support until we hire more staff?”

I guarantee you that smart leaders will listen. What’s the worst-case scenario? They say no. The best case is they realize they need to actually invest in keeping you happy.

Leaders, Check on Your People

Finally, if you are in a leadership role, don’t assume everything’s fine just because no one is complaining. In a hybrid world where we don’t always see people’s stress levels, it’s more important than ever to check in.

Make it a habit to ask:

• “How’s your workload feeling lately?”
• “What’s been energizing vs. draining you?”
• “What support would make your job more manageable?”

High performers might look like they have it all together, but if they burn out and leave, you’ll be scrambling to replace them. The best workplaces reward effort differently than they reward mediocrity. Make sure your top people feel seen, valued and supported before they start Googling ‘jobs with less stress and more beach days.’

You’ve Got This

If you’re reading this and feeling undervalued, overworked or at a crossroads: pause, breathe and reflect.

Success isn’t about sprinting nonstop. To operate at peak performance, you’ll need to find your macrocycles: phases of pushing your limits to grow and develop; phases of steady work life balance maintenance; and, phases of recovery when you find your personal flow and connect with family and friends. It’s about knowing when to push, when to pivot, and when to ask for help.