How One Leader Beat Burnout—and Transformed His Company in the Process
Burnout in the workplace is at an all-time high.
Nearly 50% of employees report feeling exhausted, disengaged, or on the verge of quitting altogether. Despite a surge in corporate wellness programs and leadership retreats, burnout remains one of the most expensive and persistent issues in modern organizations.
So why aren’t the typical “solutions” working?
Because most don’t address the real root cause:
The lack of an authentically resilient culture.
The Story of a Leader on the Brink
Let me tell you about a leader we recently worked with.
He was a dedicated, respected professional. For nearly 20 years, he poured his heart into his company—a place he once called his “dream job.”
But over time, something shifted.
He became overwhelmed by constant stress, frustrated by an underperforming team member, and trapped in a cycle of conflict avoidance. He wasn’t sleeping. His mental and physical health were declining. Even his personal relationships were suffering.
He was close to walking away from it all.
And he would have—if his CEO hadn’t stepped in and offered him a lifeline.
Radical Resilience: The Turning Point
Instead of quitting, this leader attended our Radical Resilience Workshop here at True North, alongside other key leaders in his organization.
It was there that he learned one of the most powerful metaphors we teach:
🐄 Cows vs. 🦬 Buffalo
Cows run away from storms, only to remain in them longer.
Buffalo run into the storm—together—and emerge on the other side, faster and stronger.
This simple lesson reframed everything.
He gained tools to deal with adversity head-on.
He strengthened his mindset.
He built new strategies to respond to challenges with clarity and confidence.
Most importantly, he became a Radically Resilient Leader.
Three Months Later: A New Leader Emerged
Not long after the workshop, he was once again faced with a tough situation—the very same difficult employee issue.
But this time, he didn’t avoid it.
Instead, he addressed the problem directly, letting the employee go in a way that was both values-driven and empowering to the rest of his team.
The result?
Stress down
Team performance up
Morale, trust, and culture transformed
Eighteen months later, this leader’s team is now breaking sales records.
He’s more energized, engaged, and inspired than ever.
And his personal life? Also transformed.
Less stress. Better relationships. Renewed energy.
The Real Cost of Burnout
If you’re a business owner, executive, or HR leader, here’s what you need to know:
$322 billion is lost annually due to burnout (Deloitte)
34% of a disengaged employee’s salary is wasted in lost productivity (Gallup)
Despite record spending on wellness, employee well-being is at an all-time low (APA)
And yet—most burnout programs fail.
They treat the symptoms, not the source.
Why True North Works
At True North, we do things differently.
Our Radical Resilience framework equips leaders and teams to:
Respond to challenges proactively
Build cultures of trust, ownership, and performance
Protect their energy while amplifying results
With a 400%+ ROI, our workshops don’t just pay for themselves—they help your people thrive.
Imagine if your top performers weren’t just surviving…
But actually thriving.
Resilient. Energized. Unstoppable.
That’s the True North difference.
Ready to Build a Burnout-Proof Culture?
The future of your organization depends on the resilience of your people.
Let’s build a culture that storms don’t shake.
🦬 Be the buffalo.
In your corner,
Dr. Andy Garrett