Revenue Builders Podcast: "Avoiding Burnout with Marcy Stoudt"

Date: November 16, 2025
Hosts: John McMahon & John Kaplan
Guest: Marcy Stoudt, CEO and Co-Founder of Revel

Episode Overview

This episode of Revenue Builders, hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, features Marcy Stoudt, CEO and co-founder of Revel. Marcy is a seasoned coach who specializes in helping leaders avoid burnout and achieve professional and personal balance without sacrificing success. The conversation delves into the reality of burnout, practical exercises to manage it, and actionable strategies for prioritization, with honest reflections from all speakers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Understanding Burnout in Leadership

• Burnout Is Universal: The hosts note that burnout isn’t just for parents or those with heavy personal obligations; it’s especially prevalent and damaging for leaders who "lose themselves" and subsequently the ability to lead effectively. (00:43)

• Emotional Cycles at Year-End: Marcy discusses the cyclical nature of motivation and dread leaders feel at the end of the year—either "game on, I got this," or a wave of anxiety about repeating the grind. Where your energy trends is where burnout can follow. (01:17)

  "You kind of get to this point at year-end and then your attitude or your number for next year, it’s one of two directions, right? It’s like, 'Game on, I got this!' or it’s, 'Oh crap...'"
  —Marcy Stoudt (01:32)

The "Above the Line" Practice

• Defining ‘Above the Line’: Marcy introduces her daily practice of "living above the line," meaning clarity about who you are, your vision, and embodying those traits daily—not delaying personal fulfillment until reaching arbitrary goals. (01:50)

• Visualization Exercise: She recommends getting specific about the person you want to be (e.g., a balanced leader/present parent) and visualizing daily opportunities to embody that vision (e.g., being present when children return home). (02:40)

• Pre-Planning for Triggers: The real challenge is preempting and preparing for the 'below the line' triggers—such as unexpected work conflicts, guilt, or shame—which fuel negative cycles and burnout. (03:35)

  "What negative events and emotions are going to get in the way of you being the person you want to be more often? That’s living below the line."
  —Marcy Stoudt (04:27)

Prioritization and the "To Don't" List

• Establishing Priorities: Marcy advocates for setting not only ‘to-do’ priorities at work and home, but also a ‘to-don’t’ list—commitments or habits that no longer serve your vision or well-being. (05:14)

• Clearing Calendar Clutter: Leaders often stack additional responsibilities (committees, mentorship, unpaid leadership efforts) by default, contributing to burnout long after their purpose has expired. (05:35)

  "Some of the stuff on the calendar isn't serving who you want to be more often—the above the line person of who you are today."
  —Marcy Stoudt (05:41)

• Promoting Others & Letting Go: A powerful tactic is to empower others to take over responsibilities you’ve outgrown, rather than holding on due to habit or ego. (06:20)

The ‘Team’s Addiction to You’

• The Third Addiction: Marcy identifies the "team’s addiction to you" as a hidden risk for executive burnout—leaders create dependency by micromanaging or inserting themselves unnecessarily, preventing growth for the team and themselves. (06:58)

  "A lot of executives... it's actually just a subtle micromanagement. You don't even realize you're doing it."
  —Marcy Stoudt (06:58)

• Self-Reflection: The hosts reflect on their own struggles letting go of calls or meetings that once gave them a sense of relevance or ‘juice.’ Letting go is necessary to scale leadership. (07:31)

  "It became a self-fulfilling prophecy—I couldn't lead more than a small group of people unless I learned how to break that addiction."
  —John McMahon (07:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Defining Above/Below the Line:

  "Above the line to me is you're really clear on who you are, who you want to be, what your vision looks like... Below the line is when you react to negative triggers—that’s where you create a negative mindset."
  —Marcy Stoudt (02:00–04:27)

• On the ‘To Don’t’ List:

  "Sometimes, for instance, we just keep piling on stuff... but it’s not serving you anymore. You just really didn't think through—Am I allowed to step down from this committee?"
  —Marcy Stoudt (05:24)

• Micromanagement as Addiction:

  “That’s pretty profound...and a lot of executives, that’s causing burnout and it’s actually just a subtle micromanagement. You don’t even realize you’re doing it.”
  —Marcy Stoudt (06:58)

• Letting Go as Leadership Growth:

  "My inability to extricate myself from those situations, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy... unless I learned how to break that addiction.”
  —John McMahon (07:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:43] – Discussing the reality and consequences of leader burnout
• [01:17] – Emotional cycles at year-end and its impact on burnout
• [01:50 – 04:27] – Marcy’s “Above the Line/Below the Line” daily practice explained
• [05:14] – Prioritization exercises: To-Do, To-Don’t lists, and calendar decluttering
• [06:58] – The third addiction: Your team’s dependency on the leader
• [07:31 – 07:45] – Host reflections on letting go to scale leadership

Takeaways

• Burnout is a nuanced, personal challenge—awareness and proactive reflection are crucial.
• Living ‘above the line’ is about daily choices aligned with a clear vision of self, not waiting for future milestones.
• Prioritization (including what NOT to do) is a critical skill for leaders trying to sustain high performance and wellbeing.
• Leaders must foster independence and growth in their teams to avoid creating dependencies that feed their own need for validation and contribute to burnout.
• Letting go of unnecessary involvement is essential for both leader and team development.

This episode provides practical guidance and thought-provoking insights for anyone feeling the weight of leadership and responsibility—offering both the philosophy and tactical examples to start breaking the burnout cycle.