Million Dollar Founder Explains How To Avoid Burnout In 2026 | 133

Why did this founder fire himself from his own company? That's what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Steve Kamb, founder of Nerd Fitness. We've known each other for a long time, and I've watched him build an incredible audience and business. But then, to my surprise, he "fired" himself – twice! Steve shares the surprising truth about chasing growth, the pitfalls of wearing the wrong hat in your own business, and how he rediscovered his passion for writing. His journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the true path to fulfillment means stepping away from the very thing you've so diligently built.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:10 Firing myself (twice!) from Nerd Fitness05:37 The five years I spent in the wrong seat07:20 The "If you're not growing, you're shrinking" myth10:37 How I realized writing is what lights me up12:55 When to double down on strengths vs. fix weaknesses18:19 The curated "all I do is win" internet vs. real life20:20 Sharing my failures: cancer, Google changing, divorce23:09 The overwhelming positive response to vulnerability24:06 How my book was born and evolved30:17 My visit to the Museum of Failure33:55 My PACT framework: Pause, Accept, Change, Try40:22 Everything old is new again in content49:00 The value of Craft + Commerce and community56:14 Longevity in creative work: falling in love with the craft1:02:43 How to Try Again: Where to find the bookIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://www.kit.comFollow Steve:How To Try Again (Book): https://howtotryagain.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevekambLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekambYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/stevekambX: https://x.com/SteveKambNerd Fitness: https://www.nerdfitness.comFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comHow to Try Again: https://howtotryagain.comNerd Fitness: https://www.nerdfitness.comThe Museum of Failure: https://failuremuseum.com