My Burnout Story: Why I Walked Away and Rebuilt a Sustainable Business

In this honest and unfiltered episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really looked like to build my first business, Recloseted. From the outside, it looked like a dream—working with fashion brands I admired, traveling the world, and scaling to multiple six figures. But behind the scenes, I was constantly burning out, feeling depleted, and running on fumes.

 

I share how I got to that point, the mistakes I made (like blindly following mentors and not defining my version of success), and what finally caused me to pivot. I also talk about how I’ve rebuilt my business in a way that actually supports my health, lifestyle, and happiness—and how you can too.

 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” but still feel unfulfilled or on the edge of burnout, I hope this episode gives you permission to pause, reassess, and build a business that truly works for you.

 

I discuss:

• How my dream business slowly turned into a nightmare
• The danger of following "grow at all costs" strategies
• Why it’s crucial to define your own version of success (instead of copying someone else's)
• The importance of working with values-aligned mentors
• What to do when your business constantly feels like an uphill battle
• Why I stopped reinvesting every dollar and started paying myself
• How I finally feel healthy, happy, and excited about my business again
• Proof that you can sustainably grow your business and support yourself

 

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Dream Business Turned Nightmare

00:29 The Birth of Recloseted

00:49 The Hustle and Learning Phase

01:26 Investing in Knowledge and Mentors

01:48 Misaligned Mentorship and Values

02:33 Defining Personal Success

04:26 The Importance of Sustainable Growth

05:22 Chasing Personal Fulfillment

07:05 Recognizing the Breaking Point

08:29 Paying Yourself Properly

09:52 Finding Health and Happiness

11:49 Future Strategies and Tactics

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

→ Your Success Roadmap: https://selinaho.com/roadmap

 

SUPPORT TO SUCCEED

→ Confessions of a Conscious CEO newsletter: https://ceo-confessions.beehiiv.com

→ Start a business with the free Build a Sustaining Business program: https://selinaho.com/basb

→ Grow your business with the Sustain Your Success course suite — start with the free Your Success Roadmap: https://selinaho.com/roadmap

→ Secure me as your business advisor to sustainably scale your business: https://selinaho.com/btl

 

LET’S CONNECT

→ Newsletter: https://ceo-confessions.beehiiv.com 

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selinajho   

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selinaho 

→ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@selinajho_