Marissa Mayer

Burnout, Resentment, and the Hidden Cost of Sacrifice

Mayer’s proposed antidote follows logically: once you know the specific thing you’re giving up, you can stop paying that price automatically. The solution isn’t merely “rest more,” but “change the terms.” That may mean setting a clear cutoff time, delegating a task that drains you, declining low-impact meetings, or explicitly trading one obligation for another rather than adding endlessly. Just as importantly, some sacrifices can be made less resentful by making them explicit and time-bound: “For six weeks I’m choosing to work late for this launch, and then I’m taking Friday afternoons back.” The resentment often softens when the sacrifice is both acknowledged and finite. [...]