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The high achiever's hidden trap:

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Hey Reader,

I had a strategy call this week with someone who feels stuck.

He's brilliant and has been reading everything he can get his hands on to find answers. Yet, despite all this knowledge, he's been feeling more trapped than ever.

The problem? He's been trying to think his way forward whilst running on empty.

For years, he's felt completely out of alignment. The joy has left his life entirely - he's going through the motions, existing rather than living.

And because he's a high achiever with an analytical mind, his natural response has been to intellectualise his way forward.

But here's what I've learned: you cannot think your way out of some problems.

He wants clarity so he can find his next meaningful chapter: to be sure that he chooses wisely and that he's not risking failing those who depend on him.

But clarity isn't going to come from more thinking, more research, or more frameworks; it's going to come from tiny actions that help him feel even a flicker of interest again.

He's stuck in a burnout loop, putting massive pressure on himself to find the 'right' solution whilst completely depleted.

This creates a paradox: the very depletion that's driving his search for meaning is blocking meaning from emerging.

Unbound Shift

The shift here is simple yet profound: move from find your purpose to follow your curiosity.

Passion feels out of reach when you’re depleted. Purpose feels overwhelming. But curiosity? That’s still available, even in burnout.

Research shows passion follows mastery, which follows interest, which begins with curiosity.

So the question isn’t: “What’s my next big career move?”

It’s: “What am I curious enough to try for 30 minutes this week?”

The goal isn't to find your life's work in those 30 minutes.

It's to break the burnout loop by doing 1% more of what energises you and 1% less of what drains you each week.

Unbound Step

This week, try a 10-minute Energy Audit.

Two columns:

• Energises me (even slightly)
• Drains me (completely)

Be honest. Include everything: work tasks, conversations, routines, even what you listen to or scroll through.

Then choose ONE thing to do 1% more of, and ONE thing to do 1% less of.

That’s it. Small, safe, experiments. Not a career pivot, but an energy pivot. And energy is what creates the conditions for clarity to emerge.

The irony? When you stop hunting for 'purpose' and start protecting your energy, purpose often finds you.

What's been keeping you stuck is what happens when an analytical brain tries to solve with thinking what can only be discovered through doing.

Speaking of strategy calls, a member of my community told me this week she didn't actually know I offer them, so I have to ask:

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Well, now you do! 😉

And if this story resonated and you're also feeling stuck, a life design strategy call could be exactly what you need.

Sometimes it can help to have someone outside your head to help you see what you can't see yourself.

One hour. One decision. A life that feels like yours again.

In just 60 minutes, I’ll help you cut through the overthinking and design small, safe experiments that bring energy, clarity and direction back into your life. You’ll leave with a grounded plan and a renewed sense of what’s next.

No more endless research. No more circling the same questions. Just clarity through action.

Ready now? Book your Strategy Call here.

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In your corner always,

Sam 💛

Sam Sheppard Introvert Life Design Strategist I share practical tools to help you design a life that actually fits. ​

Let's connect! 👋🏻 You can find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Threads. Catch up with past editions on my website.
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