Burnout, Identity & the Founder’s Trap - Benjamin Read - S2 - E15

What happens when your success starts to cost you your sense of self?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Ben Read, a founder, husband, and high-performer who had to unlearn everything he thought he knew about success, ambition, and balance.Ben shares the unfiltered reality of life behind the scenes—how the pressure to perform nearly broke him, and how redefining success around presence and integrity helped him build a life and business that finally feels like his.🎧 In this conversation, we explore:•The emotional toll of constant ambition•Letting go of old definitions of success•Navigating identity, self-worth, and ego as a founder•The power of presence in leadership and life•Why slowing down can be the key to real growth🔥 Whether you’re scaling a business or starting over, this episode will challenge you to pause, reflect, and realign.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro01:35 – Early ambition & building identity around work07:15 – Pressure, performance & emotional disconnection15:45 – Redefining success after burnout22:20 – Being fully present with family30:10 – Letting go of the “need to prove”36:40 – Advice for founders feeling misalignedLearn more about Mercha:https://www.mercha.com.au/Connect with Benjamin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminrread/LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/leogestetnerWebsiteleogestetner.com/leoSubscribe Now!youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1