Discipline... or Burnout? When Doing More Isn't Leading Better

Recently, fitness influencer Ashton Hall captivated (and perplexed) the internet with a meticulously choreographed video detailing his morning routine. Beginning before 4am, the video includes mouth taping, ice water face dunks (complete with conveniently placed water brands), pushups on a balcony, study and journaling, swimming, working out, and – strangely enough - wiping a banana peel across his face. All of this happens before his workday begins.

His videos have since amassed over a billion combined views and sparked both admiration and satire.

While Hall's routine may be intentionally exaggerated, I see this highlighting a broader cultural shift: the explosion of the "hustle and grind" culture. In an era where doing more is often equated with success, such unrealistic portrayals can blur the line between discipline and burnout.

I recently wrote about Steph Curry and how true growth comes when we put in the reps. It's the less "sexy" part of the work, but the consistency is where true growth occurs – both personally and professionally.

But at what point does the grind become unsustainable?

There’s nothing wrong with working hard, challenging yourself, building discipline, or pushing yourself to grow. But we seem to have reached a point where rest has been replaced with guilt, stillness with shame, and balance with perceived weakness.

Somewhere along the way, this hustle culture became something of a badge of honor.

Now it feels like if you’re not up at 4am, crushing a workout, journaling your intentions and to-do list, working a day job and a side hustle, volunteering, meal-prepping, doing another workout, and building a personal brand – you’re falling behind.

We’ve created a culture where doing more isn’t just admired – it’s expected. And naturally, that expectation has bled deep into the workplace. Leaders, in particular, can fall into the trap of overcommitment. With good intentions, we work longer hours, take on extra projects, and push ourselves harder – hoping to set a good example for our teams.

But here’s the danger:

What leaders normalize, teams adopt.

If your team sees you skipping meals, working through breaks, or never unplugging, they’ll assume that’s the expectation for them too.

 You didn’t have to tell them, you showed them.

It’s why I’ve long been critical of certain Silicon Valley tech companies that offer “perks” like unlimited PTO (which often results in no PTO), catered meals (so you never leave your desk), or onsite laundry and gyms (so you never need to go home). These aren’t perks – they’re tactics to keep people grinding longer.

Eventually, the grind catches up. It shows up in the form of quiet quitting, turnover, disillusionment, and disengagement.

Burned out leaders build burned out teams.

Let me be clear – discipline matters. But sustainable leadership requires something even more powerful: the ability to say no to what doesn’t matter, and yes to what actually does (A great book on this is “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown).

I say all this not from a place of judgment – but from experience. I’m busy.

I have a demanding career. I’m promoting my book and finalizing my audiobook release. I’m trying to keep up with my home and property needs (fire season is right around the corner). I’ve been heavily involved in a group focused on self-improvement for over two years. I’m married. I have two kids. I’m trying to stay in shape, maintain friendships, and not lose my mind.

But through all of that – I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about doing everything – it’s about doing the right things, consistently, over time. This includes prioritizing rest (because well-rested people lead better). It means setting boundaries that protect your time, energy, and focus. And it means modeling balance - not preaching self-care while you silently burn out.

At the end of the day, the world doesn’t need more overextended influencers or overworked leaders. It needs leaders who are present and grounded. Leaders that know how to work hard – but also when to stop.

Lead well. Rest often. Your team is watching.

Check out my book It’s Not the Tech for more practical leadership insights!