Your top performer just quit without warning.

That entrepreneur you follow? "Taking a break to focus on mental health."

Your most promising team lead hasn't taken a vacation in 18 months.

If you're building anything meaningful in 2025, whether it's a startup, a team, or a side hustle, you're watching the great unraveling of talent. And no, throwing more money or "wellness perks" at the problem isn't fixing it.

Here's the truth nobody wants to admit: Two leaders face the same shit (crushing deadlines, stakeholder pressure, team conflicts), yet one implodes while the other thrives.

Why?

It's not what the "thought leaders" are selling you.

Not:

• "Hustle harder"
• "Practice mindfulness"
• "Build resilience"
• "Find your work-life balance"
• Or whatever productivity app is trending this week

It's about personal values. Not your organization's mission statement. Not your LinkedIn profile values. Your actual, deep-in-your-gut personal values. The ones that made you step up to build something meaningful in the first place.

This isn't about "following your passion." Passion is for hobby painters. Values are your operating system. When they break, everything crashes.

The Reality Check

Here's what misalignment looks like in real time:

• You started this journey to create impact, now you're chasing metrics that feel hollow
• You valued authenticity, now you're playing politics to keep stakeholders happy
• You wanted to build something different, now you're copying everyone else's playbook
• You promised yourself you'd never be "that boss," now you're sending emails at 11 PM

Value alignment is binary:

Aligned = Long hours feel purposeful because they're spent on what matters
Misaligned = Even small tasks feel exhausting because they violate who you are

The Real Cost

When you're out of alignment, success becomes a cage. Here's what that looks like:

1. Every decision feels like betrayal (of your values or your obligations)
2. Strategy sessions become existential crises ("Is this even the path I wanted to take?")
3. Recovery isn't possible because you're not tired, you're living someone else's definition of success
4. Your imposter syndrome isn't imposter syndrome, it's your integrity trying to stage an intervention

Quick test: Think about your last three major decisions. Did you:

A) Make them based on your personal values
B) Make them based on what others in your field would do
C) Just throw up in your mouth a little thinking about them

The 15-Minute Integrity Reset

Right now, grab your phone. Open your calendar.

Find your three biggest commitments for next week.

Ask yourself:

1. "Would I still do this if no one knew about it?"
2. "Does this energize me or drain me?"
3. "What would my hero think about this?"

Circle the ones that made you hesitate.

Now the fun part:

• Cancel one soul-draining commitment
• Redesign one meeting to align with your values
• Add one activity that feels right but "impractical"

Do this now. Not tomorrow. Not next week.

The answers that made you uncomfortable? That's your integrity talking.

The pit in your stomach? That's your values fighting back.

The resistance you're feeling? That's where your success begins.

The Next Level

Most will read this, nod, and change nothing.

The rare ones, the ones who build lasting success, will take action.

I work with those who are ready to build success that energizes rather than extracts.

Want to explore if this is right for you? Let's talk.

​Schedule Your Call →​

Your values aren't soft. They're your edge.

Stay Curious and Lead A Life of Purpose,

John