Am I a Burnt Out Servant Leader? Mike Mason. Episode 15.

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Episode Takeaways

Mine every season for transferable gold: Even “off-track” jobs are training grounds. Mike shares how banking years prepped him for pastoral work (problem-solving, steadiness, trust). He now treats each role like a field to be mined for skills he can carry forward.

Purpose and community can outweigh the paycheck: He walked away from his highest-paying banking role to earn $25,000 in church work with no benefits, because the work felt more meaningful and provided the community he needed in that life chapter.

Fail forward: Frustration is raw material for growth. After a painful job misstep, Mike adopted a “this is not the end” mindset (inspired by Failing Forward) and began using even bad decisions as learning fuel. He channels frustration into development instead of getting stuck.

Count the real cost of leadership and guard your shadow: People often underestimate the emotional toll of leadership, as you carry others’ gifts, personalities, and pain, while stewarding people, not just hitting metrics. Your strengths can outrun your character if you ignore your shadow side.

Calendar your values & do the inner work before saying “yes.” When weighing a CEO role, Mike mapped his real life, including time with God, family (his daughter’s sports), rest, and fun. Ask whether a job would move you toward or away from the person you hope to be at 75-90.

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