“As an entrepreneur, how do you balance chasing innovation with avoiding burnout?”
Here is what 5 thought leaders had to say.
Schedule Innovation Blocks, Protect Recovery Time
Innovation looks fun but relentless pursuit without a break sucks energy out faster than it gives back results. I would tend to approach new ideas the same way I would approach breakthroughs in therapy with clients, where quiet processing can be just as valuable as active work. I set aside three 90-minute sessions a day to do creative work and I save the remaining time to do work that is less demanding and does not need as much mental effort. After each block I take a complete break for at least 30 minutes. It turns out that the solutions and the new ways of thinking come at the most unexpected times, such as when I am listening to a podcast or cooking with my son and not when I am at my desk working.
I also restrict two big innovation objectives quarterly with time-bound measure like the launching of a new service within 12 weeks or updating a program framework within 8 weeks. This keeps things on track and avoids burn out on too many fronts. The schedule will add structure to my day and respect the recovery time to preserve my energy to be innovative and not compromise my mental health and the quality of work.
Kaila Hattis, Founder and Therapist, Pacific Coast Therapy
Set Benchmarks to Chase Innovation Without Burnout
I am very intentional about goal-setting. I set long-term goals relating to innovation, and I set short-term goals to meet along the way. Doing this helps me to both constantly chase innovation and to do so at a realistic pace. I am always striving forward, but I have time-sensitive benchmarks along the way that keep my efforts at a good but realistic pace so that I neither fall behind or burn out.
Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO, Cabana
Pool Business Success: Maintain Energy Like Water
As the founder of 3G Pool Services, I’ve learned that chasing innovation only works if I protect my own energy along the way. In our business, I’m always looking for new ways to improve efficiency, whether it’s smarter pool maintenance technology or better customer communication systems. But I’ve also realized that constant chasing without pacing leads to burnout. I try to treat my work like pool care itself—regular maintenance beats waiting for a crisis. That means setting boundaries, trusting my team, and making time to step back and recharge so that when I do lean into innovation, I bring fresh ideas and a clear head instead of running on fumes.
Ross Wilbur, Owner, 3G Pool Services
Pauses Power Creativity More Than Endless Hustle
For me, chasing innovation has always felt a bit like running on a treadmill that keeps speeding up. There’s this rush of excitement when you’re building something new, but if you don’t pace yourself, you end up gasping for air. I’ve learned the hard way that constant late nights and endless coffee aren’t a badge of honor—they just drain the joy out of the work.
These days, I balance it by deliberately stepping back. I block time for simple things like walking without my phone, cooking with my family, or even just sitting quietly with a notebook instead of a laptop. Those small pauses give me the headspace to see problems differently. Innovation, at least for me, happens more naturally when I’m rested and curious, not when I’m running on fumes.
I remind myself that building ideas is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout kills creativity, and creativity is the very thing I need to keep moving forward.
Eugene Musienko, CEO, Merehead
Control Your Innovation Fire to Spark Better Ideas
I’m Cody Jensen, and I own a SEM agency called Searchbloom. I’ve learned that chasing every shiny idea is the quickest way to burn out and kill creativity at the same time. Now, I treat innovation like fire. You want it burning hot, but you have to keep it controlled. That means giving myself permission to slow the pace, step back, and choose the sparks worth fanning. The funny thing is, the best ideas usually show up when I’m not forcing them.
Cody Jensen, CEO & Founder, Searchbloom
