REPLAY | Burnout & Balance with Johnny & Nick Gorman (Equilibrium at Work)

This is a replay of one of our most popular episodes. We're bringing it back for those who missed it the first time around — and because the conversation remains as relevant as ever.

Overview: Johnny sits down with Nick Gorman — a former institutional sales trader turned career and wellbeing coach — for a candid chat about burnout, mental health, career transitions, and what it takes to build a sustainable life in high-pressure environments. Nick spent 20+ years on trading floors at Merrill Lynch, Macquarie, and Citigroup while privately battling undiagnosed mental illness. Today, he runs Equilibrium at Work, a coaching business helping professionals navigate burnout, work-life balance, and career challenges.

Key Takeaways:

Know your non-negotiables. Identify the handful of things that truly matter — family, health, close relationships — and protect them ruthlessly. Everything else is negotiable, Burning out is not the same as being burnt out. Burnout is sustained, debilitating, and requires intervention. Learn to recognise the signs early: cognitive impairment, irritability, perpetual exhaustion, lack of empathy, and withdrawal.A proper diagnosis changes everything. Once a psychiatrist gave Nick a framework and treatment path to tackle his diagnosis, the relief was immense. Don't give up if a therapist or medication doesn't work the first time; keep searching for the right fit.External fixes don't solve internal problems. Lasting change comes from daily routines and habits that fill your cup faster than you drain it.Cold water is a circuit breaker. You can't be freezing cold and thinking about something at the same time. Even 30 seconds in a cold shower or pool is enough to interrupt a stress spiral and reset your headspace.The best coaches have lived it. Nick's credibility comes from having been through burnout, bad relationships, and misdiagnosis himself. Clients respond to someone who understands the terrain — not just textbook theory.Honesty is the most powerful coaching tool. The moment of discomfort is where real change happens — solving too early or softening the message robs people of that breakthrough.Solitude is not selfish. Making time to be alone is essential for recharging. Protecting that space — whether it's a walk or an hour in a sauna — is essential for sustained performance.Progressive employers are the future. Companies that genuinely invest in their people's wellbeing — not just on paper but in practice — will win. The ones still stuck