I was on a call recently, and a story came up that helped define my career.

Years ago, I worked at a small church where any new idea I brought forward was met with the same two responses:
“We tried that before and it didn’t work.”
Or worse: “That sounds like a lot of trouble and expense.”

Sound familiar?

At some point, I stopped pushing. I told myself, Just keep things going. Don’t stir the pot. Ride it out while you focus your energy elsewhere.

So I did. For a few weeks.

But I couldn’t keep phoning it in. It’s just not in my DNA. I’d rather try something bold and fail than slowly wither while doing “just enough.”

That season taught me something I’ve seen play out again and again—for myself and for the leaders I work with:

Sometimes what we call burnout is actually boredom.

The Hidden Cost of Playing It Safe

Here’s the problem with staying in “maintenance mode” too long: you lose more than your spark. You start losing your edge. Your people can feel it. Your audience can feel it. Your mission drifts.

In a business or nonprofit, that’s not just a cultural issue—it’s a financial one.

Innovation slows. Growth stalls. Giving declines. Your best team members lose motivation. Because no one gets excited about surviving. People want to be part of something that’s moving.

And that’s not just a leadership problem. That’s a leadership responsibility.

What If You're Just... Bored?

If any of this sounds uncomfortably familiar, here’s something to consider:

You may not be tired. You may just be under-challenged.

When we stop taking risks, stop chasing the next thing, or stop allowing ourselves to dream big because it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable—we plateau.

And plateauing is a dangerous place for visionaries. It kills momentum. Quietly. Slowly. Almost invisibly.

Until you wake up one day and realize you don’t recognize the organization anymore—or yourself.

So What Now?

Here’s a powerful question I’ve used with clients (and myself):

What’s the bold move I’ve been avoiding?

• Is it a rebrand?

• Launching a new initiative?

• Ending something that no longer works?

• Hiring someone stronger than you in a critical area?

Whatever it is, that bold move is probably the thing that will reignite your passion—and your growth.