The Sentence that MADE ME QUIT
I was responsible for creative direction, fashion design, and marketing. From conceptualising collections and overseeing product development, to planning campaigns, managing agencies, creating content, and redesigning the website.
During my review, I was told that my marketing efforts weren’t in-depth enough compared to a newly hired marketing team whose only responsibility was marketing.
And that’s when it clicked.
I wasn’t being compared to someone doing the same job.
I was being compared to an entire team.
That was the moment I realised no amount of effort would ever feel like enough.
Not because I wasn’t capable.
But because the expectations were no longer realistic.
Sometimes burnout doesn’t come from working hard.
It comes from constantly trying to prove your worth in a place that has already decided how much it’s willing to value you.
From my time handling creative direction, fashion design, and marketing simultaneously, I learned firsthand how overwhelming it can be to juggle multiple high-stakes roles alone. Managing everything from conceptualising collections to redesigning a website requires a diverse skill set and immense dedication, but it can also blur boundaries and lead to burnout. What struck me most was the feeling of constantly being measured against an entire team rather than an individual. It created a pressure cooker environment where no matter how much I achieved, it was never deemed enough. This comparison made me question not my capabilities but the fairness and feasibility of the expectations placed on me. In my experience, burnout is not merely about workload but about recognition and realistic valuation. When an organization has pre-decided how much it values you, your efforts to prove yourself become exhausting and disheartening. I realized that to preserve my mental health and professional integrity, stepping away was necessary. For anyone managing multiple roles or feeling undervalued, know that burnout often stems from systemic issues rather than personal shortcomings. Setting boundaries, seeking support, and assessing whether your environment values you fairly can be crucial steps to sustain your passion and performance over time. Ultimately, quitting was less about failure and more about reclaiming control over my career path and wellbeing. It taught me that sometimes, the bravest decision is to walk away from roles that no longer serve your growth or respect your worth.
Wahhh, this is PUA! Ur boss is a mean person