The Speed of Survival
This is Part 2 of a 5-Part Series: The Work Culture Energy Scale & The Future of Sustainable Leadership.
If you missed Part 1, start here: If you feel like you’re burning out, read this.
When my husband and I first started dating, about a decade ago, I was running my own business and burning the candle at each end—and usually somewhere in the middle, too.
He would ask how I was doing, and I would respond the same way, over and over: “I’m operating under very tight deadlines and a huge to-do list.”
One day, he handed me a coffee mug that said:
“World’s Best Boss.”
At the time, I was my own boss. And honestly?
I was a JERK of a boss to myself.
I was constantly gaslighting myself—it’s really not that bad.
I was bullying myself—what, do you REALLY want this, or are you just being lazy?
I was stuck in a brutal cycle:
An inordinate amount of work
Followed by complete burnout
Leading to shutting it all down—only to restart again
I had convinced myself this was just how ambition worked. That this was the cost of success.
Until I hit a point where I couldn’t do it anymore.
At a certain point, I decided: I’m done with this pattern.
But breaking it? That was harder than I thought. Because being different required defying my deepest wiring—the part of me that equated success with over-functioning.
Maybe this sounds familiar to you. It certainly sounds familiar to me.
(I wish this were a lesson I just “one and done” learned, but unfortunately, some lessons keep showing up until we finally get them through our thick skulls. Life is long, and capitalism is a constant, after all.)
Most of us don’t realize how fast we’re moving until we hit a wall.
So, let’s check in.
Not where you wish you were.
Not where you think you should be.
Where are you actually?
Are you moving at a pace that feels sustainable?
Or are you just bracing yourself for the inevitable crash?
Because the truth is: Work isn’t just about how much we do—it’s about the pace, pressure, and energy behind it.
And if there’s one thing I want to make abundantly clear in all that I write and share: it’s not entirely our fault.
We don’t operate in a vacuum. The way we work isn’t just shaped by our own habits—it’s reinforced by the systems we exist in.
We exist inside a system that rewards overwork and extraction.
A system that tells us that burnout is a personal failing instead of an inevitable consequence.
A system that whispers: You should be able to handle this.
This isn’t just about individual choices—it’s about the work culture we’re all part of.
And before we can shift anything, we have to start with awareness.
To understand what’s driving our work energy, we need to measure it.
That’s where the Work Culture Energy Scale (WCES) comes in.
It’s a way to gauge not just how much we work, but the speed and intensity behind it—and whether that pace is sustainable.
Most workplace culture conversations focus on how much we work—hours, output, efficiency. But that’s not the real issue.
Imagine your work energy as a dragon (yes, we’re keeping the dragon metaphor going). Some dragons are steady and measured. Others are relentless, fire-breathing forces of destruction. Most of us are somewhere in between.
At a 1, your dragon is Puff the Magic Dragon—gentle, slow-moving, content in its misty land of leisure and creative exploration. Puff takes naps. Puff prioritizes peace over productivity.
At a 10, your dragon is Vhagar—a battle-hardened force of destruction. Vhagar doesn’t rest. She doesn’t wait for orders. She burns everything in her path. She flies hard, fast, and without hesitation—sometimes even against the wishes of her rider. (And if you don’t watch House of the Dragon, just know: this is not the kind of dragon you control. She controls you.)
Are you gliding at a steady rhythm—or white-knuckling your way through every flight, terrified of what happens if you slow down?
The Work Culture Energy Scale: Where Is Your Dragon Flying?
1-3: Slow Living Zone (Puff the Magic Dragon Energy)
Pace: Gentle, slow-moving, low urgency.
Reality Check: You’re prioritizing rest and balance, but maybe struggling with execution.
Feels Like: Creative, exploratory, but sometimes lacking momentum.
Risk: If you stay here too long, you might feel stagnant or disengaged.
4-5: Sustainable Productivity Zone
Pace: Strong, steady, responsive.
Reality Check: You’re moving at a good rhythm—high quality work without burning out.
Feels Like: Engaged, motivated, but with room to breathe.
Risk: Can be disrupted by external pressures to "do more."
6-7: High-Performance Zone
Pace: Fast, goal-oriented, but still somewhat controlled.
Reality Check: You’re operating at high speed, but haven’t fully lost control.
Feels Like: Momentum, achievement, but a growing awareness that you haven’t touched the ground in a while.
Risk: If unchecked, this can slide into over-functioning and exhaustion.
8-9: Hustle Culture Zone
Pace: Relentless, high-stakes, always-on.
Reality Check: You’re constantly in motion, mistaking exhaustion for success.
Feels Like: Urgency, pressure, a never-ending to-do list.
Risk: If you stay here, burnout is inevitable.
10: Burnout Zone (Vhagar Mode)
Pace: Completely unsustainable.
Reality Check: You’re no longer in charge—your work is controlling you.
Feels Like: Exhaustion, depletion, loss of motivation.
Risk: If you don’t stop, something will stop you—your body, your mind, or forces beyond your control.
Where Is Your Dragon Right Now?
Take a moment and self-assess. Grab a piece of paper and a pen (or the Notes app, I won’t judge). You’re about to take a 1990s Cosmo-style quiz—but instead of “Are You More Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda?” we’re asking:
Where is your dragon flying?
And just like with Cosmo, answer honestly.
Not based on what you wish were true.
Not based on what you tell yourself.
But based on how you actually feel right now.
How do you feel at the end of most workdays?
1 point → Good, fulfilled, present. My energy is steady and sustainable.
3 points → Tired but accomplished. I’m productive, but it takes a lot out of me.
5 points → Depleted, wired, or stressed. I crash at the end of the day, but my mind won’t turn off.
If you had to completely unplug for two weeks starting tomorrow, what would happen?
1 point → No problem—things would run fine without me.
3 points → Mild chaos, but ultimately recoverable.
5 points → Absolute collapse. My absence would be a disaster.
What’s your dragon’s internal speed setting—not what you want it to be, but what it actually is?
1 point → I have full control over my pace. I decide when to accelerate or slow down.
3 points → Fast, but mostly manageable. Sometimes I feel pushed too hard, but I can rein it in.
5 points → Everything feels urgent, all the time. Even when I’m exhausted, I can’t seem to slow down. I feel pressure from all sides to meet important deadlines.
What’s your first instinct when you finally have downtime?
1 point → I actually rest. I know how to turn it off without guilt.
3 points → I try to relax, but there’s a voice in my head reminding me of what I “should” be doing.
5 points → I don’t know how to stop. If I’m not working or producing, I feel anxious or unproductive.
When was the last time you made a decision based on ease instead of achievement?
1 point → Recently—I make choices that prioritize sustainability over intensity.
3 points → I’d like to say recently, but honestly? It’s been a while.
5 points → I can’t remember. Every choice feels like it’s tied to progress, results, or proving something.
Your Score: Where’s Your Dragon?
5-8 points → Puff the Magic Dragon Energy (1-3 on the WCES)
You’re operating at a slow, intentional, and sustainable pace. You prioritize well-being over urgency and have found a rhythm that doesn’t drain you.
9-14 points → Sustainable Productivity (4-5 on the WCES)
You move at a steady, strong pace—structured but flexible. You push yourself, but you also recover. This is a great place to be, as long as you don’t start creeping toward overwork.
15-19 points → High-Performance Mode (6-7 on the WCES)
You’re fast-moving and goal-oriented, which can be a huge advantage—until it’s not. You probably feel productive, but check in: Are you recovering enough to keep this up?
20+ points → Hustle & Burnout Mode (8-10 on the WCES)
Your dragon is flying hard, fast, and non-stop—and it’s running the show. You might feel like you have to operate this way, but at what cost? If you keep this up, you’ll either burn out or be forced to stop by something outside of your control. It’s time to recalibrate.
What Your Score Means & What to Do About It
If you’re at a 1-3:
You’re prioritizing balance, but is anything pushing you forward?
Consider what small challenge would re-engage you without disrupting your peace.
If you’re at a 4-5:
You’re in an ideal zone, but how do you protect it from outside demands?
Set clear boundaries before urgency culture drags you into over-functioning.
If you’re at a 6-7:
You’re thriving, but ask yourself: Am I recovering enough to sustain this?
Start tracking your energy levels over time—small warning signs can turn into burnout quickly.
If you’re at an 8-9:
Pause. Your dragon is pushing too hard, and it won’t end well.
Look at what’s driving your urgency—is it external expectations, internal pressure, or both?
What would it take to bring your pace down just one notch?
If you’re at a 10:
You’re in crisis mode. Stop pretending you can keep this up.
Identify what’s non-essential and start removing it immediately.
If you don’t know where to start, start with rest.
What’s Driving Your Speed?
Now that you know where your dragon is flying, let’s talk about why.
Many of us think work pace is just about workload. But in reality, it’s about something deeper:
What are you trying to prove?
What are you afraid will happen if you slow down?
Whose expectations are you carrying?
These are the real questions.
Because for many of us, it’s not just the system pushing us too hard—it’s our own beliefs about accountability, leadership, and over-functioning.
The systems, environments, and people we are entangled with can certainly exacerbate these tendencies—but ultimately, even when it feels hard to admit: we do have agency.
And reclaiming that agency?
That’s the key to confronting the dragon.
Next Up: The Accountability Trap – How Leaders Burn Themselves Out in the Name of Responsibility.
Many of us think we’re being accountable… but we’re actually just overcommitting.
And until we recognize that, we’ll keep running ourselves into the ground.
So, for now—where is your dragon? And more importantly—where do you want it to go?
Talk to a friend, therapist, or peer (or join my newsletter and get in on the convo with me.) Or sit with it. But don’t ignore the answer.
Because the cost of ignoring it? Is everything.
xo,
Brittany
