Losing Myself in Business: How Burnout Led Me Back to Who I Am

Yesterday, I found myself reflecting on a recent experience with business owners. It was an unpleasant encounter, and the way the situation was handled felt deeply personal. In the grand scheme of things, the response seemed extreme, which led me to wonder—was their reaction rooted in a projection of unprocessed emotions?

How I lost myself to my business

Looking back at the person I was before burning out in business, I recognise how often I, too, took business matters personally. If someone didn’t sign up, if a friend questioned my pricing, or if people weren’t supporting my endeavours, I internalised it as a rejection of me. In response, I formed negative judgements about others, unaware of the deeper wounds fuelling my reactions.

I didn’t realise it at the time, but my business had become the vehicle through which my ego sought meaning, validation, and significance. My self-worth was so entangled with my business that when it wasn’t performing well, I felt worthless. That truth became painfully clear when I decided to shut it down. Without the ‘business owner’ identity, I felt lost—unsure of who I was, what I valued, or even what I enjoyed outside of work.

The path to recovery

Recovery has been a journey of self-discovery. It has meant exploring new hobbies, embracing play, and building friendships that aren’t transactional. I’ve learned how to be a true friend and, more importantly, how to receive kindness without immediately wondering, How do I repay them?

One of the greatest lessons from my entrepreneurial journey is this: if you’re not careful, you will lose yourself to your business. Slowly and almost imperceptibly, your identity becomes tied to your business and its results. Before you realise it, you feel disconnected from yourself, your loved ones, and the world around you.

Stepping back and seeing the bigger picture, I’m deeply grateful for my burnout. It forced me to redefine what truly matters. It helped me detach my worth from productivity, reframe my judgements about full-time work, and adopt a more neutral, balanced perspective on life.

Because life isn’t about money. It’s not worth losing the people who matter over business. Your significance, worth, and value don’t need numbers to prove them. Whether you own a business or not, you are no more or less important than anyone else.