The High Achiever's Guide to Overcoming Burnout

The High Achiever's Guide to Overcoming Burnout with Charlene Giselle

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Alright, welcome back to The Daily Mastermind, George Wright III with your daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and education. And we've got a great topic for you today. You guys are gonna be super excited. We've got Charlene Gisele in the house. How are you, Charlene?

I'm so excited to be here with you, George.

It’s a couple planets aligned because our schedules are so crazy. And you’re in Europe, I’m in the U.S. And so before we get started, let me give everybody a little bit of your background—because they know that I’m pretty picky when it comes to finding guests—and I know that the topic you have today is gonna help a lot of entrepreneurs and business owners.

So Charlene is a former big law litigator turned high-performance coach. She's the founder of the Charlene Gisele Coaching Method. She focuses on topics like dopamine regulation, burnout recovery, personal growth—all of which are very near and dear to my heart. But most importantly, she helps people optimize recovery rather than just telling them to work less, which is the typical advice.

So Charlene, I’m really glad to have you here today. I love your story. Maybe you could start by giving us a little background and explain what brought you into this field before we dive into some strategies and tactics.

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From Law Firm Stardom to Total Burnout

Thanks, George. The truth is, the reason I'm into wellness now is because I wasn't into wellness earlier in my life.

I did it all wrong and had a complete burnout episode. But I should take you a few steps back. It all started when I was a little girl. I was raised by a hyper-ambitious father—a total Type A. And I remember, I must have been this tall when I thought, “I want to be exactly like him when I grow up.”

I wanted to be successful. My favorite playground was his office. Not the usual childhood. While little girls were dreaming of unicorns or being a princess, I just wanted to be like Daddy.

Fast forward a few years—I studied as hard as I possibly could. I got into Cambridge University, and mind you, I didn’t even speak English very well at the time. That was a challenge in itself. Then I applied to what was, back then, my dream law firm. I wanted to be a litigator in oil and gas. Very specific. Very high-octane.

Now usually this is the part of the story where people say, “Oh, she hated the job, the long hours, the pressure…” but it was the opposite.

I loved it. I became obsessed. I loved every minute of it. And I developed addictive traits. I was a total workaholic. I neglected everything else. I got married relatively young in my career, but even that wasn’t as important as billing. I just wanted to work more and more.

To give you a sense of my mindset—when I got diagnosed with insomnia, my first reaction was, “Oh, good. More all-nighters! More time to work.”

Yeah, exactly.

Exactly. And as shameful as it is, that was also my mindset when I got divorced. One of the last things my ex-husband said to me was, “You’re not married to me. You’re married to work.” And he was 100% right.

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A Shocking Wake-Up Call

I honestly think I would’ve continued to work at that pace if not for what happened a few years into my career. My mother called the office and said my father—my hero—had suffered a burnout-induced heart attack.

And George, I’d love to say I immediately packed up and left. But I remember thinking, “The reason I do what I do is because he’s so proud of me.” I believed that if he could tell me what to do, he’d say, “Keep going.”

But instead, I walked.

Wow.

By Friday night, my mother called again and said, “Sweetie, we don’t think he’s going to make it through the night. You need to come home.” When I arrived at the hospital, he’d been admitted to intensive care. And right in front of my eyes—he had a stroke.

That was the moment I realized what was waiting for me if I didn’t change.

My father—my hero—still successful, still powerful from a career perspective, was on the brink of death. What does that say about success if you can’t survive it?

How do you define success when the price is your life?

That day, I shifted my definition. From that point on, “sustainable success” meant surviving your success. I asked myself, “Am I setting myself on a path to survive? Or am I going to end up like my father, facing a heart attack at a relatively young age?”

And George, it’s not just about my father. We all know stories of early death and burnout. I know it’s a morbid topic, but we need to talk about it.

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The 3 D’s That Drive Burnout Recovery

In my field, people typically come to see a burnout advisor for one of three reasons. I call them the 3 D’s.

The first is Divorce. A spouse is threatening to leave. “My wife hates how much I work.” Or “My husband can’t take it anymore.”

The second is Diagnosis. A new diagnosis like type 2 diabetes or cancer that finally forces them to reassess.

And the third D is Death. Either someone close dies, or they themselves face imminent death.

It’s astonishing that we work so hard to acquire such incredible skills—becoming powerful in our careers—yet we become weak in our health.

My mission is to bridge the gap between wellbeing and high-powered careers. I’m not an advocate of quitting everything and going off the grid. I deeply believe in high achievement. But not at the expense of your health, your marriage, your children.

Wow. That is amazing. And if you're listening to this, you now understand why I wanted to have this conversation.

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Burnout Isn’t Always Obvious

Now, you said a couple of things that really caught me—and that I hadn't thought about even before this conversation.

The first was that people assume burnout means hating the work, but a lot of founders and entrepreneurs love the pressure. They’re addicted to the stress. They don’t see stress as a problem—they like intense environments. I’m that way. I love to get into the boardroom and negotiate, chase deadlines. I thrive on that.

Now, everyone around me doesn’t necessarily love that like I do, and that’s part of the problem. But I think you’re absolutely right. There are many people who love that level of intensity—even though it’s damaging them.

And I love your “Three D’s” because I’ve seen the same thing. Whether it’s a business owner or even just in relationships, people don’t usually make changes until something drastic happens.

In personal development, we always tried to motivate people before they had that event, but it was hard. Until something broke—people wouldn’t pay attention. So I really appreciate you framing it this way.

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Spotting the Signals: Behavioral Shifts

Most people I work with feel overwhelmed but don’t see a way out. And it’s true—if you’re in a high-stress environment, you probably already know that.

But what’s worse is, people don’t think they have any options. They feel like they’re in front of a runaway train. You can’t just stop. You can’t just hit pause and regroup.

Exactly. That’s a great topic. Where do you begin with people in that state? Because you changed careers. You made a pivot. How did you start making that shift—and how do you help people make their first step?

First, I recommend not doing what I did. Then I explain the psychological reason why.

When you’re deeply burned out, your brain is not equipped to make brilliant decisions. And I say that with a lot of love for my former self. But it’s important to understand: from a neuroscience perspective, your brain has changed.

Let’s acknowledge that. The very brain you’re getting paid for—your brilliance, your ideas, your execution—has changed.

Your prefrontal cortex has thinned. Your amygdala is hyper-activated. Your hippocampus has shrunk.

These are not good developments.

But the good news is—your brain wants to heal. It wants to restore and repair itself. Your hippocampus can regrow. You can bring your brain back into balance.

Still, what I did when I burned out was way too radical. And that’s often what burned-out people do—they make radical decisions. We don’t think rationally or with nuance.

So, I packed up and left. I left my life, my career. I flew to India and went to an ashram.

Now in hindsight, I’m grateful. I learned so much. I became a meditation teacher. I studied the brain and hypnotherapy. It led me to where I am.

But it was too extreme. And it was a symptom of my burnout.

Some of you listening might relate. You wake up one morning and think, “I want to burn this all down. I hate my business. I want to leave my spouse. I don’t even want to go to therapy—I just want to quit.”

Sometimes those decisions are the right ones. But if you’re in deep burnout, hold off.

Your brain is in fight, flight, or freeze. You’re not making decisions from a calm place. So the best thing you can do is—don’t go radical.

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The Slippery Slope Toward Burnout

You don’t have to wait until the house is on fire. Look for behavior changes.

For example—let’s talk about alcohol. You used to enjoy a nice glass of wine with your spouse. Now, you’re reaching for a bottle on Monday night just to cope with your job.

You used to enjoy going out to a nice restaurant. Now you’re eating a bag of cress on the couch in your pajamas. You’ve put on 15 pounds. You used to go golfing on Saturdays or fishing with friends. Now you just veg out with Netflix, trying to numb your mind.

Those are behavioral shifts.

And just to clarify—these are signs that you’re approaching burnout, right? These are the changes you notice that indicate something deeper is happening?

Totally. These are the signs you’re drifting toward burnout.

Another big one is excuses.

You’ll say things like, “I’m doing it all for my family. My wife and daughters come first. That’s why I work so much—I want to be a provider.”

And then you get home, and you snap at your wife. You yell at your daughter. You’re not present. You’re on your phone, anxious. You tell her to get off her phone, but you’re glued to yours.

You claim to be doing it for your family—but the people you treat worst are your family.

You say you want to be father of the year, but your wife is one foot out the door. She’s already met with divorce attorneys. You’re not in alignment.

That makes a lot of sense. And I’ve been there. It cost me a marriage. I get it.

I’m happily remarried now. But I’ve learned that my commitment to my spouse needs to be as strong as my commitment to my business.

I still work hard. I don’t believe in “working less.” I believe in working hard—but not in a way that hurts the people I love.

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Burnout Meets Brain Science

I want to go back to something you said earlier because I think this is huge. You mentioned how personal development and neuroscience connect.

Most entrepreneurs don’t want to admit it’s them. Or they don’t know what to do. But you said something so important—you have to recognize that your brain is not currently equipped to deal with the burnout.

In personal development, we always say, “You’re not the best person to coach yourself.” But you’re talking about literal neuroscience here.

Exactly. And you can notice it most clearly at night.

Let’s say it’s 1 a.m. You’ve had three board meetings, client calls, tons of pressure. You’re physically exhausted. But you can’t fall asleep.

You’re ruminating. Your mind won’t turn off. You’re replaying everything you should’ve done differently.

That’s a clue: your default thinking has shifted to the negative.

You’re no longer in control of your thoughts. Your brain can’t compartmentalize. You’ve lost the ability to switch gears mentally.

I’ve totally had that happen. You’re working deals in your sleep—or waking up in the middle of the night stuck in the loop. You can’t even understand why your brain won’t shut off.

And you’re saying this is actual neuroscience. That our brains are firing differently when we’re burned out?

A hundred percent. Your brain becomes more wired for anxiety, stress, and negativity.

Is that like an addiction? Is it neurological in the way that, say, caffeine is addictive? Or can it be retrained?

Great question. It’s both.

There are physical changes that happen—especially when you live a sedentary lifestyle.

That’s why burnout is so prevalent among white-collar professionals. You’re rewarded and promoted the more you sit at a desk. Unless you’re an athlete, your physical body doesn’t factor in.

You work 12–14 hours a day. You don’t move much. You ignore your body. You think you’re being paid for your brain—but in reality, that brain is shrinking.

And it's a specific part of the brain, right? Which one?

Yes, the hippocampus. That’s your memory center.

When you’re burned out, the hippocampus shrinks. You experience anxiety. You procrastinate. You hesitate. You lose confidence. You stop making sharp decisions.

I’ve seen C-level executives at the peak of their careers, in the boardroom—but privately, they’re struggling with low self-esteem, even suicidal thoughts.

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The Hidden Danger of Escape Fantasies

We call it “escape fantasies” in my field. It might sound glamorous, but it’s really not.

An escape fantasy is not just booking a one-way flight to Bali. It’s the mental rehearsal of checking out. It’s imagining being hit by a bus. It’s hoping you won’t make it home tonight. It’s running life insurance numbers in your head and wondering if your family would be better off without you.

These are real, serious, and tragically common among high performers.

That’s intense. But I believe it. I’ve known people in that place. And I’ve seen people push themselves so far that even subconsciously, they put themselves in danger. Like driving sleep-deprived, not caring if they crash.

Exactly. I had a client do just that. He drove in a complete sleep deficit. He didn’t actively try to crash, but he hoped something would happen so he didn’t have to keep going.

That’s the power burnout has when it takes over.

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Dopamine Hijacking and the Seduction of Cheap Rewards

So all this—the hippocampus shrinking, the emotional breakdowns—that’s one part. But what about dopamine? You mentioned earlier that burnout also hijacks dopamine. How does that tie in?

Right. That’s the other major system being impacted—your dopamine regulation.

Dopamine is your motivation molecule. It’s not bad. It’s essential. The problem is how we access it.

You get a big hit of dopamine from things like porn, donuts, TikTok—things that are high-reward and low-effort. That’s what we call “cheap dopamine.”

And cheap dopamine feels good. That’s why we keep doing it. You scroll Netflix, click “next episode,” and boom—dopamine hit.

Compare that to walking your dog on a Monday morning. You throw a ball, get fresh air, cuddle your dog. That’s dopamine, too—but it’s moderate. It comes from a high-effort, more natural experience.

Same with going on a hike with your wife. You sweat. You’re tired. But then you watch the sunset, holding hands. That’s beautiful dopamine.

But you don’t finish that moment and go, “Where’s my next sunset?” It’s not addictive. It’s balanced.

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Work: The Most Addictive Drug in Disguise

You didn’t mention work in any of those examples—but I think that’s the real kicker, right? People don’t talk about work when they talk about dopamine addiction.

Exactly. And that’s where I come in.

Work is one of the most addictive substances out there. But no one sees it that way.

Because work is seen as noble. Productive. Successful.

Right. It’s even rewarded.

Let’s say you go to a networking event and have one too many drinks. Maybe your boss pulls you aside and says, “Hey, maybe slow down.” Or your wife expresses concern.

But if you land another promotion or hit a revenue goal, no one warns you. They celebrate you. Even if it’s destroying your health.

You’re right. No one’s going to say, “You’ve had enough success—take it easy.” They’ll say, “Go get more!”

Exactly. You made a million? Go make two. Got a promotion? Get another. Bonuses? Triple them.

And it’s not just strangers—it’s the people who love you. They encourage it. Not because they want you to burn out, but because they don’t understand the consequences.

They don’t see what it’s doing to your body, your brain, your marriage.

And even if they do, they don’t know how to bring it up. High achievers aren’t easy to confront. I know I’m not.

That’s true. It’s a difficult conversation. And it’s even harder when you’re the provider. When you say, “I’m doing this for the family,” who’s going to argue?

Okay, so let’s shift gears a little. Let’s say someone hears this and they’re thinking, “This is me. I see the signs.” Where do they start? What should they do first?

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Where Real Recovery Begins

Okay, so let’s shift gears a little. Let’s say someone hears this and they’re thinking, “This is me. I see the signs.” Where do they start? What should they do first?

This isn’t going to be a popular answer, so listener—please forgive me. But I’m going to give it to you straight.

You need external help.

The belief that you can “fix yourself” out of burnout is seductive. I get it. We’re high performers. We’ve solved every other problem in our lives. But this one’s different.

When you’re in burnout, your brain has changed. Your anxiety is high-functioning. Your physiology has shifted. Your hormones are imbalanced. Your testosterone is probably tanked.

So what you need is someone who understands the physiology of burnout—not someone handing you a cookie-cutter plan that says, “Work less and work out more.”

Right. It’s not about saying no to meetings and hitting the gym.

Exactly. You need someone who’s going to say, “Here’s the bloodwork we need to look at. Let’s test your thyroid. Let’s check your cortisol levels, your testosterone. Let’s measure how much REM sleep you’re getting.”

You need a full-body inventory. You’re a Formula One car. If you’re breaking down, we don’t just swap the tires. We tear down the whole engine and find the root cause.

I love that analogy. You are the machine—and you can’t just trade in your body like a busted vehicle.

Yes. So work with someone who will investigate—like a detective. That’s how I work with clients. And I always warn them in advance: this will get intimate. I’ll ask about how you think, how you sleep, how you love, how you eat, how you go to the toilet, how you drink coffee.

I’ll ask if you’ve been exposed to mold or microplastics. I want to know your environment, your inputs, your outputs—everything.

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A Holistic Strategy for High Performers

From there, we look at how you work, how you pace yourself, and what your mindset is.

My specialty is not workload reduction. If you’re the founder or the CEO, only you can do that. But I can help you change how you approach your work.

And that’s where clinical hypnotherapy or NLP comes in—tools that help you rewrite the story you’re telling yourself about success.

Because burnout is simply this: doing too much, with too little recovery, for too long.

It’s not your fault. But it is your responsibility.

Wow. That’s powerful. And I love that you’re not just making it about "less work," but about different thinking. So you’re saying burnout isn’t just mental or emotional—it’s physical. It’s chemical. And it requires retraining.

Absolutely. And people often come to me saying, “I’ve been in therapy for two years.” And I say, “That’s great. But has anyone looked at your labs?”

If you’ve been with a therapist talking about your childhood for years, but no one’s checked your hormones, your neurotransmitters, or your sleep patterns—you’re missing huge pieces of the puzzle.

Talk therapy has its place. I use it. I love it. But if your “engine” is on fire, you don’t talk about the fire. You put it out.

So we work on body, brain, and then mindset.

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The Illusion of Self-Help

That’s probably why people struggle with solutions like meditation or journaling. If your body’s shot, you can’t just will your way to peace of mind.

Exactly. People try to meditate but can’t focus. They try to work out but their energy’s depleted. They can’t stick with it.

That’s because they haven’t addressed the foundational issues—physical recovery, brain repair, hormone regulation.

Once that’s in place, then the personal growth tools work. Not before.

That’s so important. And I think our audience needs to hear that because they’re always in “fix it” mode. We try to brute-force every problem.

Yes—and that’s a burnout trap in itself. Some of my clients take recovery so far that it becomes a new obsession. They go from overworking their business to overworking their wellness.

They say, “I’m going to do ice baths, breathwork, sound healing, a retreat, a cleanse, a juice fast, a vision board…”

And I say—hold on.

Let’s slow it down. One step at a time. Otherwise, you're just creating a new cycle of overwhelm.

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Free Tools and First Steps

You mentioned that you have resources—even for people who aren’t full-time clients. So let’s say someone is just starting down this path. Where should they begin? Where can they connect with you or get more insight?

The very first step is gaining awareness. Knowledge is power. And most people don’t know where they truly stand with burnout.

So I’ve created a free burnout assessment quiz. It’s not a diagnosis, but it’s a really helpful tool to understand where you fall on the burnout spectrum. If you Google my name along with “challenges,” you’ll find it right away.

Again, it’s not medical advice, but it helps you see the early signals or even late-stage symptoms.

That’s a great starting point. And if someone takes the quiz and sees that they’re at high risk—what then?

Talk to someone who knows what they’re doing when it comes to burnout. We exist—even if it’s not a mainstream profession yet.

I’m a full-time burnout advisor. I specialize in everything from mindset to marriages, from nutrition to sleep to what’s showing up in your blood panels. I became the coach I needed but couldn’t find when I was burnt out.

You don’t need to figure it all out alone. You just need to talk to someone who can save you years of trial and error.

And if sleep is your biggest struggle—which it often is—I have a sleepcast as well. It’s a downloadable audio file that uses hypnotic cues in a very safe, gentle way. It’s designed to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Please don’t listen to it while driving. Especially if you’re already sleep deprived. It will put you to sleep.

That’s huge. I think a lot of people underestimate how one night of good sleep can give them enough clarity to see the next right step.

Exactly. A rested brain sees solutions. A burnt-out brain only sees threats.

That’s why my advice is always: pace yourself. Especially if you’re a Type A high achiever. We tend to want to solve everything immediately. Fix it all in one day. That’s another burnout pattern.

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A Personal Invitation

As a gift to your listeners, I’d love to offer a complimentary conversation—what I call a “candidate conversation.” You can grab a virtual coffee or strategy session with me. Just mention this show, and we’ll talk about where you’re at and what we can do to help.

I love it. That’s incredibly generous. Because it gives people a way to start the conversation without pressure or commitment.

Absolutely. Because healing burnout isn’t an overnight fix. You’ve likely spent 10, 20, or even 40 years building the habits and systems that led you here.

You won’t unwind it in a weekend. But you can start today. And you should—because this isn’t just about you. It’s about your family, your future, your life.

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Final Thoughts

This has been incredibly helpful. I think for anyone listening—if you’re feeling the signs of burnout, or anything we’ve talked about resonates with you—the key is to prioritize yourself.

That doesn’t mean being selfish. It means recognizing that you are the foundation of everything you build. If you collapse, so does your family life, your health, your business.

You’ve got to be patient. You’ve got to take action. But most of all, you have to realize—it’s not just about working harder. It’s about working smarter and recovering fully.

Charlene, I can’t thank you enough for being with us today. We may need to bring you back—I’ve got a list of questions we didn’t even get to!

Thank you so much, George. I love the work you do, and I’m honored to share this space with you today. Your audience is incredibly thoughtful and driven, and I’m grateful to contribute.

If anything in this conversation resonated with you, check out the links in the show notes to connect with Charlene Gisele, take the burnout quiz, or access the sleepcast.

And please—share this episode. You never know who in your circle is quietly struggling and needs to hear this.

Until next time, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube @TheDailyMastermind. Let me know what you're dealing with, what you're navigating, and how we can support your growth.

Have a great day.

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About George Wright III:

George Wright is a Proven, Successful Entrepreneur- and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve Massive Results. With more than 20 years of Executive Management experience and 25 years of Direct Marketing and Sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and Strategies to every Driven and Passionate Entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to Empower Entrepreneurs Globally to create Massive Change and LIVE their Ultimate Destiny.

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About the Guest: Charlène Gisèle

Charlène Gisèle is a former Big Law litigator turned High-Performance Coach and the founder of the Charlène Gisèle® Coaching Method. Her journey from high-pressure legal environments to holistic health and performance coaching has equipped her with deep insight into the modern epidemic of burnout and the tools necessary for sustainable recovery.

After personally experiencing the toll of corporate stress, Charlène transitioned into the wellness space—integrating biohacking, neuroscience, performance psychology, and lifestyle coaching into her signature methodology. Rather than advocating for simply “working less,” she focuses on dopamine regulation, recovery optimization, and personal alignment to help her clients achieve elite-level performance without sacrificing their wellbeing.

Charlène works with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and high-achievers to bridge the gap between ambition and sustainability—empowering clients to achieve more by doing less, with greater intention and balance.

Guest Resources

Website: charlenegisele.com

Instagram: @charlenegisele

LinkedIn: Charlène Gisèle Bourliout

Podcast: The Charlène Gisèle Show

YouTube: Charlène Gisèle on YouTube

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