There is a particular kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from long hours or high stakes—it comes from maintaining the image of someone who never cracks. The boardroom smile is polished. Controlled. Reliable.
It says: I’ve got this.
But behind it, there is often a different reality—one measured not in wins, but in quiet compromises. Another drink to take the edge off. Another rationalization. Another promise to recalibrate tomorrow.
For high performers, the mask isn’t
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