You can't build on empty

Nathan Chan warns founders against operating while depleted and lists warning signs of running on empty.

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If you’re dragging yourself toward the end of the year feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and mentally drained, you’re not alone.

This is one of the toughest stretches for founders — you’re still running the business while everyone else is winding down, and the pressure can quietly compound into burnout.

In this episode, I share the exact reset strategies I use whenever I feel my energy dipping or my mindset slipping. These are the practical things that help me slow down, recalibrate, and get back to operating from clarity instead of exhaustion — especially during the chaotic final months of the year.

Here’s what you’ll take away: • How to recognise the early signs of founder burnout before they hit hard • The practical reset routine I use: float tanks, steps, saunas, journaling, grounding, and more • Why taking weekends off, booking holidays, and creating downtime actually improves your performance • How to say no more often without guilt (and why doing less is often the answer) • Why founders can’t build great things when they’re running on fumes — and how to avoid it

If you’re tired, discouraged, or feeling the weight of the year, this episode will help you reset your mind, rebuild your energy, and enter the new year from a grounded, healthy place — not burnout.

This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.

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