Have you ever worked so hard to build the life you thought you wanted, only to wake up one day and realize you still felt empty inside?

I have. My story started in Romania. I grew up during the Communist era, in a family that didn’t have much. Imagine standing in line for rationed bread when you’re six years old. That memory stayed with me. It taught me what it means to feel hungry, not just for food, but for something more. Something better.

In 2005, I took my shot. I moved to the United States with nothing but two hundred dollars in my pocket and a dream to build a better life. And for a while, I did. Big leap. Scary leap. But filled with hope and possibility.

I worked my way up in the semiconductor industry, starting as a technician, then an engineer, and eventually a program manager.
I bought the house, had the badge number, and had the 401K. I checked every box I thought I was supposed to check.

On the outside, it looked like I had made it. But on the inside, I felt like I was falling apart. Have you ever felt that way? I was silently suffering, feeling the pressure of constantly pushing while the weight kept getting heavier. It was draining me.

And then, one day, I stopped caring. I started going through the motions. I did the bare minimum to get by. I was quiet quitting, not just at my job, but in life. And the worst part? No one could tell.

Have you ever felt that way? Like you’re showing up every day, but deep down you know you have nothing left to give?

That’s where I was. And I knew if I didn’t make a change, I would lose not just my career, but myself. That low point forced me to start searching for something more. Not just for change, but to change. Me. I learned from people like Tom Bilyeu, Lewis Howes, and Les Brown. But it wasn’t their stories that changed me; it was the small actions I started taking every day that slowly brought me back to life.

I started living again, rebuilt my energy, reconnected with what actually mattered to me, discovered myself, and found a way to keep moving forward without burning out again.

Since then, I have run marathons, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and rebuilt a career I love. Not just one that pays the bills, but one that fills me with joy and purpose. And that journey led me to pivot once again. I’ve always wanted to leave a mark in the world. This led me to become a speaker. Not because I have all the answers, but because I know what it feels like to carry the weight of burnout alone. I know what it feels like to wonder if it will ever get better. And I knew I had to share what I’ve learned so others wouldn’t have to stay stuck as long as I did.

Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering the same thing I once did.
Is there something more waiting on the other side of all this pressure?
Is it really possible to rebuild your energy, your focus, and your sense of purpose without walking away from everything you’ve worked so hard for?

I believe the answer is yes. Not because it’s easy, but because I’ve lived it. And if you’ve ever asked yourself that same quiet question, I just want you to know you are not alone. And it is never too late to start burning bright again.

And when you are ready, I’m here to help. I believe you to can go from burned out to burning bright!