Tired of Burning Out? Start Your Next Job as a B-Player
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We glorify A-Players: the best, smartest, most successful workers. Hiring managers never say they want B-Players. It’s always about getting the best.
A-Players are typically the top 10% of performers: self-starters who go above and beyond.
If that’s you, how’s it working out?
If you’re like many high achievers I coach, you may be exhausted, burned out, or quietly wondering when you get to catch your breath.
It starts on day one.
Think about what we’re told when starting a new job:
- Put your best foot forward
- Add value immediately
- Work really hard for your first 90 days
- Prove your worth early
The idea is that after establishing yourself, you can relax. But that’s rarely how it plays out.
Once you train others to expect 100%, anything less starts to look like a problem. You’ve created a high bar you now have to maintain (and often, raise).
That’s how overdelivering turns into overcommitting. And burnout follows.
So what’s the alternative?
Start your next job as a solid B-Player.
Yes, really.
Operate at a sustainable pace. Work hard, but not all-out. Take time to learn, track progress, and observe the culture. Hold a little back.
Then, when the moment calls for it, shift into high gear. People will notice. And when the urgency passes, you return to your baseline, without raising eyebrows or creating impossible expectations.
This approach doesn’t make you lazy. It makes you intentional. You show up when it counts and avoid setting yourself up for constant overextension.
It’s not a new idea. Just a smarter one.
Endurance athletes don’t train at 100%. They follow the 80/20 rule: 80% low intensity, 20% high intensity. That’s what builds capacity and prevents injury. Why not apply the same principle at work?
As a leadership coach for high achievers, I ask clients: What’s your reward for getting everything done?
The answer is usually: More work.
That’s the flaw in the 'prove yourself, then back off' logic. The better you perform, the more people pile on. And suddenly, you’re trapped.
Want another metaphor?
Think of a B-Player as the team’s trusted assist. They’re not always in the spotlight, but when the game’s on the line, they deliver. They don’t burn out. They pace themselves.
Clients push back when I suggest this strategy. I get it. It goes against everything we were taught about success.
But Simon Sinek said it well in his book, 'The Infinite Game': once you reach the top, the only goal is to stay there, and that’s exhausting.
So ask yourself: Do you want to constantly prove your worth just to stay afloat? Or do you want to work at a pace that’s sustainable, satisfying, and smart?
Start your next job as a B-Player. More control. Less stress. Greater fulfillment.
