Ladies and gentlemen, I want to share a poignant story with you today – a story that underscores the real and devastating impact of burnout. A few years ago, a man found himself in the ER, on the brink of taking his own life. His brother, acting on a gut feeling, overheard him planning to buy a gun to end it all. That intervention, that simple act of listening, saved his life.

Let me take you back a few years before that desperate night. This man had it all – a thriving career in the tech industry, a loving fiancée, and dreams of a future together. They had their house planned, their lives mapped out, and everything seemed bright. Yet, behind this facade of success, the shadows of stress began to gather at his workplace.

As the demands mounted, he found himself unable to cope, and in his desperation, he turned to alcohol for relief. But, as we all know, that's a slippery slope. The more stress piled on, the more he drank. It became a vicious cycle. Until, inevitably, he found himself teetering on the edge of burnout.

The toll was tremendous. He lost his job, the very foundation of his stability. Subsequently, his fiancée, the love he thought would weather any storm, left. The house they planned together slipped away like sand through his fingers. He had lost it all.

In the aftermath of this downward spiral, he moved in with his brother – a last refuge, a place of comfort amidst the wreckage. This story is a stark reminder that burnout isn't just about stress at work; it's about the cascading effect it can have on every aspect of our lives. It's a silent thief that steals not just jobs but relationships, homes, and sometimes, the will to live.

We must recognize the signs and understand that the impact of burnout is not confined to the workplace. It infiltrates every corner of our existence. Let this be a call for empathy, for understanding, and for a collective effort to create environments where individuals can thrive, not just survive.

Having served as an emergency medicine physician for over 15 years, my journey took a pivotal turn on the frontlines in March 2020.

It marked the most challenging period in my professional career.

The hospital brimmed with patients, fear pervaded the atmosphere, and misinformation compounded the stress.

During that trying time, many lives were lost – parents mourned their children, children grieved for their parents, and too many departed alone. It was a traumatic chapter for the world, particularly for healthcare professionals.

Amid it all, I had two choices: give up or figure out how to make it work. I chose the latter and promised to navigate the crisis without burning out.

Afterward, everyone wanted to know how I did it. In response, I decided to share my experience and help others.

That led me to start a business aimed at assisting companies to reduce employee burnout and stress.

My simple goal is to serve and support, using what I learned to make workplaces better for everyone.