The Ambition Trap: Why High Performers Burn Out (and What to Do Instead)
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As burnout becomes the badge of modern success, high performers are stuck in a cycle of striving—without asking whether the goals they’re chasing actually belong to them. On this episode of Great Mondays Radio, host Josh Levine sits down with Kathy Oneto—work strategist, author, and founder of Sustainable Ambition—to explore how we can redefine ambition to thrive in both work and life.
This is a conversation about breaking free from the myth of work–life balance, why burnout often stems from unexamined “shoulds,” and how a simple method—right ambition, right time, right effort—can help leaders align their energy with what truly matters. Kathy shares practical tools to filter external pressure, set boundaries with intention, and pace your ambition so you don’t flame out.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the things and still wondering, “Why am I not fulfilled?”—or if you're ready to lead from a place of clarity instead of chaos—this episode is for you.
About Our Guest:
Kathy Oneto is a work strategist, coach, and author of Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. Through her writing, speaking, and podcast, she helps professionals align their goals with what energizes them—so they can grow with intention, not exhaustion. Learn more at SustainableAmbition.com.
→ Get Kathy’s book Sustainable Ambition wherever books are sold
→ Listen to the Sustainable Ambition podcast
→ Follow Kathy on LinkedIn
About Great Mondays:
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