Mark Jones – A Leadership Story Beneath the Title

This episode contains discussions of suicide, mental health crises, and related topics. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. You can contact [Lifeline: 13 11 14] or your local helpline for help   Burnout does not arrive with a warning. It arrives quietly, after years of carrying pressure, expectation, and identity without pause. In this episode, Kirsty sits down with Mark Jones, author of The Story Code for Leaders, to explore the moment his body said “enough” and how that breaking point became the beginning of a new story. From a panic attack in a Bunnings aisle to rebuilding his life, work, and identity, Mark shares a deeply human conversation about burnout, anxiety, fear, and the stories leaders tell themselves to survive. This is not a conversation about fixing yourself. It is about remembering who you are, separating your identity from your struggle, and learning how to take the pen back. This episode goes beneath the title, beyond success, and into the messy middle where real leadership is formed. Key Highlights 1. The moment the body takes control Mark recounts his “Bunnings moment” – a panic attack that stopped him in his tracks and forced him to confront the cost of years of unrelenting pressure. It is a powerful reminder that burnout often appears after long periods of silent endurance, not visible failure. 2. Burnout is not a workload problem This conversation reframes burnout as an identity issue, not a productivity issue. When work becomes who you are, exhaustion does not just drain energy – it erodes self-worth. Mark explains why losing a sense of self is often more devastating than losing a job. 3. The missing pillar of wellbeing Alongside sleep, movement, and nutrition, Mark introduces the fourth pillar most leaders ignore: self-talk. Through narrative therapy, he learned to identify the inner critic, separate the problem from the person, and replace a story of doom with one of possibility. “The problem is the problem. You are not the problem.” 4. Fear, anxiety and the stories we hide Fear and anxiety are present in many leaders, even when life looks successful from the outside. Mark speaks openly about how anxiety shapes internal narratives, why men in particular struggle to name it, and why prevention begins with asking the second question: Are you really okay? 5. The courage to choose a preferred story Rewriting your story requires stepping into uncertainty. Mark shares the concept of “willingly entering a crisis of faith” – the moment where leaders must choose between staying comfortable or becoming honest. Growth begins when we lean in, not back away. The Story Code Framework Mark breaks down the four steps he now uses to help leaders rewrite their internal narrative: Challenge – Identify the inner critic and limiting beliefs. Overwrite – Define a new, preferred story and personal archetype. Decide – Commit to aligned choices that support well-being and identity. Encode – Build small, repeatable habits that make the new story real. This is not about overnight change. It is about steady alignment between who you are and how you live. True leadership begins when your internal story and external life come back into alignment. As Mark shares, success is not certainty. It is peace. It is living in a way that feels honest, sustainable, and human. If you are feeling tired, disconnected, or quietly questioning the story you are living, this episode offers something rare: permission to pause, reflect, and rewrite. You are not broken. You are not behind. You are allowed to choose a different story. Connect with Mark Jones: LinkedIn | Website  This episode is brought to you by: Naturally Glutenfree Connect with Kirsty Gee:  LinkedIn |  Instagram | Website