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Money Matters: From burnout to buy-in – Investing in balance pays dividends

By J’Nel Wright - Special to the Daily Herald | Apr 12, 2025

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If you’re aiming for real growth — career-wise and financially — stop chasing burnout and start investing where it counts: in you.

What if the real secret to long-term success isn’t just working harder but growing smarter, inside and out? Recently, Fullcast Chief Marketing Officer Amy Cook asked some of RevOps’ most innovative thought leaders how they stay at the top of their game. Most responded with a commitment to daily exercise, stress management and mental health, reading about the latest industry trends and networking within work groups.

Their habits illustrate that sustained success doesn’t happen by accident — it’s the product of intentional choices and a well-rounded strategy. Individuals who focus equally on personal development and professional advancement create a strong foundation for long-term achievement. It’s not just about hitting goals or climbing the ladder; it’s about building the mindset, habits and resilience that fuel consistent performance and financial growth over time.

Let’s explore the connection between fiscal growth and opportunity and how employees’ healthy, balanced habits impact their success.

Physical health = higher productivity

When you prioritize physical health, you’re not just boosting energy and focus — you’re incorporating clearer thinking, better decision-making and stronger performance into your workday. Companies should encourage incentives for healthy habits.

An interesting Wellhub study found that exercising at least five times a month decreased company healthcare costs by 35% after one year. A MONTH, people. So, choosing to take the stairs or park farther away from work or the grocery store once a week impacts your health.

“Professionally, well-structured sales ops and adequate pipeline does wonders to reduce stress,” Andrew Conley, senior vice president of revenue at Guideline, said during a “Go To Market” podcast interview with Cook. “On a personal level, I like to hike and mountain bike. Lately, I start every day with a cold plunge. In three minutes, in a cold plunge, your body gets so intense for those three minutes, and then when you get out you get this rush of endorphins and you feel so happy! It’s a super de-stressor.”

Simply encouraging employees to stretch before beginning their shift helped a manufacturing company reduce work-related injuries by half and decrease workers’ compensation costs by $800,000.

Other wellness-focused companies enjoy a lower turnover rate. “Instead of thinking of well-being as a supplemental program that you’ll get around to if you have time/bandwidth, think of it as a business discipline,” Andrew Deutscher, founder of Regenerate, wrote. “When woven into the business, a focus on well-being can create a more sustainable, healthy and productive workforce — one that’s ready to create, innovate and perform.”

However, what keeps these leaders at the top of their game is their commitment to living a healthy lifestyle wherever it is appropriate.

“I focus on work/life blending instead of balance. But find what makes you happy! To reduce stress, I picked up dancing during COVID and I’ve been dancing six days a week ever since,” said Olga Traskova, vice president of operations at Birdeye.

Mental health = clearer decision-making

Mental health isn’t just about feeling good — it’s the backbone of sharp thinking, sound judgment and confident decision-making. In high-pressure moments, a well-balanced mind helps you cut through the noise, weigh options with clarity and take action with purpose.

Studies show that around 68% of companies have added mental health-related employee assistance programs and resources. These measures improve critical thinking, stress management, absenteeism and productivity while also ensuring that well-being stays top of mind for leaders and their teams.

“Make sure you take care of yourself. You need to know when you’re on your A game, and you need to know when you’re stuck on your B or C game,” said Tyler Morrow, assistant vice president of enterprise sales (technology, media and telecommunications) at Qualtrics. “People have perceptions when you are happy or not in a good mood. If I can manage that and show up for my team the way they need me to show up, that’s doing what I can to always stay on top of my game and always be successful.”

Ongoing industry research = future-proofing skills for growth

When you seek new skills, stay curious and embrace continuous learning, you position yourself for fresh opportunities, bigger responsibilities and meaningful growth. It’s not about knowing everything but showing you’re ready for what’s next.

Most of the Go-to-Market (GTM) and RevOps leaders Cook spoke with stay current on industry trends via podcasts, blogs, newsletters, social media, or networking online or at in-person events.

“I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn, connecting with true subject matter experts. I like to stay on top of their content, build relationships,” said Saket Kapoor, client engagement leader of GTM strategy at SBI Growth. “I try to have at least three conversations with RevOps practitioners, learn about their challenges within their organizations and share what I’ve learned that may help.”

Balaji Krish, head of revenue operations at Innovaccer, and Steve Settle, senior director of revenue operations at customer.io, agree.

“Work WITH your team,” Krish said. “Cross-connect with people, especially your AEs, and reach out to the younger team members.”

Settle added, “I am constantly monitoring my teams for any challenges. What is top-of-mind for them? Make the effort to understand the industry through different mediums.”

Socialization = expanding influence and opportunity

“Stay in touch with your community. I attend a lot of revenue operations events,” said Katerina Ostrovsky, vice president of global revenue operations at Workwave. “I make sure that I network within my community via Slack and LinkedIn groups. I am always curious about people’s challenges and how they overcame them.”

Strong social skills don’t just make you a better teammate — they boost your leadership potential and open pathways to high-impact opportunities that can pay off big, both professionally and financially.

“I am a very big believer in having peers and mentors and folks that you can call on to kick around ideas,” said Nick Robin, RevOps advisor and GTM strategist. “One of the fun things about revenue operations and where it’s going is how you can bring all this together and explore how to build through networking.”

Success isn’t reserved for the most overworked. It’s earned by those who play the long game with strategy and self-awareness. The professionals who rise fastest and go furthest aren’t just clocking hours — they’re sharpening their edge across the board. They’re healthy, focused, informed and well connected.

“Financial success is deeply linked to a balance of mind, body and productivity,” said Emily Woll, director of operations at Fullcast. “As both a nutritionist and a business leader, I’ve seen how prioritizing well-being — through reading, meditation, exercise and continuous learning — drives both personal and organizational growth. When individuals thrive holistically, the business naturally follows.”

That’s not luck. That’s balance in action. So if you’re aiming for real growth — career-wise and financially — stop chasing burnout and start investing where it counts: in you.

J’Nel Wright is a content writer at Fullcast, a Silicon Slopes-based, end-to-end RevOps platform that allows companies to design, manage and track the performance of their revenue-generating teams.