CEO of Resilience™️ Burnout Test
The Burnout Baseline: A CEO Stress-Test
Instruction: Rate each statement from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always).
Be unapologetically honest.
This is for your eyes only.
Category 1: The Mental Silt (Cognitive Load)
1. I wake up feeling "behind" before I’ve even checked my phone.
2. I find myself staring at my screen for 20+ minutes unable to start a simple task.
3. My decision-making feels sluggish; I’m suffering from "choice paralysis."
4. I have forgotten important personal or professional commitments in the last 14 days.
Category 2: The Structural Cracks (Operational Friction)
1. I am doing tasks daily that I know a $20/hr assistant or a piece of software could do.
2. My business would "stop" if I took a 48-hour break without my laptop.
3. I feel resentful toward my clients or my audience when they ask for my time.
4. I am "firefighting" (reacting to crises) more than I am "architecting" (building the future).
Category 3: The Spark Quench (Passion Depletion)
1. The thought of "Going Live" or creating content feels like a chore rather than a joy.
2. I find myself looking at job boards or fantasizing about an "easy" 9-to-5.
3. I feel isolated in my professional struggle, like no one understands the weight I’m carrying.
4. I have lost sight of why I started this business in the first place.
Now add up your score and see where you are.
1–3 Checks: [1. FUNCTIONAL]
• PRESCRIPTION: You have minor cracks. Focus on standardizing your "War Morning" and "Recovery Evening" to prevent further erosion.
4–8 Checks: [2. BRITTLE]
• PRESCRIPTION: Red Line Alert. We need immediate "Energy Triage." We will pause all non-essential work and implement Phase 2 automation next week.
9–12 Checks: [3. POINT OF FAILURE]
• PRESCRIPTION: Total Reset Required. Your system is failing. To save the brand, we must rebuild your foundational systems from the Earth up, immediately.
As a CEO, burnout can stealthily erode not only your wellbeing but also the foundation of your business. This burnout test highlights three critical areas: Mental Silt (cognitive overload), Structural Cracks (operational inefficiencies), and Spark Quench (passion loss). From personal experience, recognizing early warning signs is crucial. For example, waking up already feeling behind or staring blankly at your screen indicates your brain needs a reset, not just more to-do’s. Incorporating daily routines like a structured "War Morning"—a focused start with prioritized tasks—and a "Recovery Evening" that encourages detachment from work can significantly reduce cognitive load over time. Delegation is another practical fix; if you find yourself doing repetitive tasks a $20/hr assistant could handle, it’s a sign to streamline your operations to avoid crashing when you step away. Passion depletion is often underestimated. When "Going Live" or content creation feels like a chore, it’s not just fatigue but a deep symptom of disconnect from your mission. Sharing struggles with other CEOs or mentors can mitigate feelings of isolation and recharge your drive. If your score places you in the brittle or point-of-failure zones, urgent energy triage and foundational rebuilding are necessary. Resetting systems, automating processes, and taking extended breaks might seem risky but are essential for long-term survival. Remember, honest self-assessment is powerful. Use this quiz as a tool to diagnose where you stand and adopt clear, actionable prescriptions to protect your mental health and sustain your leadership. Burnout doesn’t just impact you; it ripples through your entire organization. Prioritize resilience now to keep building the future you envisioned.