I type this from a chair, next to crystal clear water, in the Florida Keys. I and my family make a point of traveling to different places every few months. I fi

I type this from a chair, next to crystal clear water, in the Florida Keys. I and my family make a point of traveling to different places every few months. I find that it makes me more productive to provide myself with a change of environments every now and then. I do believe that time away will provide you with inspiration and the needed relaxation to get back to normal. We started doing what we do now. Because I suffered a very bad case of burn out. I was in an executive role and the company was a mess. The incompetent had become entrenched in the company I was working for and the more you tried to fix the more they resented you and tried to discredit you behind your back. It got to the point where I would tell people, "look I will fix your department and you can take all the credit for it, just get out of my way so I can improve things for my group". They where so jaded and entrenched into protecting their incompetence that they figured I had to have an agenda beyond what I was telling them. The politics where so bad that I became increasingly combative to the extent that I was becoming hostile. Here was a guy that worked his way from the bottom to the top, next in line for the vacant CTO spot and I had literally been driven mad due to the lack of any passion in most departments and the fact that the incompetent had become like a unorganized union, formed to protect the incompetent. Finally, I spoke with the CIO and we agreed that is was probably best if we parted ways. They where setting up the paperwork to terminate me and I just told them dont bother with the formalities, I am not going to sue, just give me the exit package and send me on my way. Anyway, I am rambling the point is, burn out can beat you down to the point that you don't care what happens. When that happens you, it is tough to even muster the fortitude to change things. Getting out was the best thing that I could have done, I started freelancing where the projects change faster and hold your interest. Generally you have more freedom and less involvement in the politics. This can really help to avoid burn out. My wife an I agreed that we will go somewhere for a week every 2 months to avoid that ever happening to me again. The worst part about it is that burn-out takes motivation to fight and unfortunately motivation is one of the hardest things to muster when you are burnt out. I feel for you and if you ever need to talk or need someone to listen you can email me (in my profile). I have been there and it sucks.