Times are tough and I’d like to give back to our community! Let’s join together and share our stories to overcome burnout and offer hope to those struggling to find work!

I’m thrilled to launch “Burnout Stories: How I Recovered and Thrived,” a campaign inviting professionals across various roles to share their personal experiences with burnout. This campaign is designed to foster a conversation about the realities of burnout and the pathways to recovery, resonating deeply with the themes in my book, which focuses on thriving in high-pressure environments without succumbing to burnout.

Why It Matters

Burnout is a pervasive issue that touches everyone who manages projects, whether it’s part of your official role or not. It’s even more real for those struggling to find employment right now! I hope this campaign offers a platform to share stories of overcoming these challenges, providing hope and practical advice to others in similar situations. It’s not just about the struggle—it’s about how we recover, thrive, and help others do the same.

Awards

To encourage a diverse range of submissions and support those who are presently struggling with burnout and unemployment, I’m offering several awards:

• 1st Place:
  • Free paperback edition Burn That Project Down.
    • Ships to any marketplace sold, to include: US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the UK.
  • Kindle edition of Burn That Project Down (US-only).
  • 45-minute virtual session to ask me any of your burning questions
• 2nd Place:
  • Kindle edition of Burn That Project Down (US-only).
• Out-of-Work Heroes: Additionally, 5 out-of-work professionals’ stories will be awarded a free copy of Burn that Project Down. If you’re currently struggling to find employment, I want to showcase your  resilience and journey towards thriving by sharing your tips with our community. I’ll provide a copy of my book in a format of your choosing (paperback or optionally Kindle for US-based residents) to help encourage you during your own journey.

Campaign Details

• Campaign Dates: September 1 – 20
• Submission: There are several ways to share your story:
  • Social Media:
    • Comment on the LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7234740213661462528/
    • Email: Ken [at] ChangeForge.com
    • Website Contact Form
    • Comment on original post (below).
• Permission to Use: By entering, you give me permission to repost your story with credit given to you (or anonymously, as you prefer). Please ensure any names or personal information are altered to protect privacy.
• Judging Criteria:
  • Should be a project manager, product manager, program manager, a leader of such teams, or someone who manages projects without the formal title. Special consideration will be made for submissions by those currently seeking employment.
  • Submissions will be judged based on creativity and the subjective assessment of the story by yours truly (me).
  • I’m looking for stories that are not only honest and impactful but also offer unique perspectives on burnout and recovery. I may employ the help of additional, expert judges of my choosing to help me judge submissions.

Call to Action

I invite all professionals who have faced the challenge of burnout—whether you’re a project manager, product manager, program manager, a leader of such teams, or someone who manages projects without the formal title—to share your story. This is an opportunity to inspire others, share your hard-earned wisdom, and be part of a critical conversation about health, sustainability, and success in our fields. Together, let’s transform the narrative around burnout into one of recovery, growth, and thriving.

Please share this with your network and encourage those who are looking for work to come and join the conversation to encourage each other!

These rules are subject to change at any time for any reason.