From Burnout to Breakthrough: Rich Ellis on Energy Management for Leaders. Ep 58

Written By Amanda Campbell

A conversation with 'The Energy Coach' about sustainable high performance and why resilience starts with one small change

Welcome to The Bend Like Bamboo Resilience Show
We discover that our greatest challenges often become our greatest strengths.

Each month, I sit down with remarkable leaders who've transformed adversity into triumph, sharing their inspiring journeys of resilience and renewal. Together, we explore the mindset shifts, practical strategies, and breakthrough moments that turned their setbacks into comebacks.

What you'll discover:
Real stories of people who've learned to bend without breaking, actionable tools to transform stress into strength, and evidence that when we change our story, we change what's possible for our health, relationships, and future.

Like bamboo, we're designed to be flexible.
When we embrace this truth, we don't just survive life's storms - we use them to grow stronger, wiser, and more resilient than ever before.

Join me as we explore how flexibility builds unshakeable resilience.

Rich Ellis, The Energy Coach

The Energy Coach.

When someone who calls themselves 'The Energy Coach' admits to burning out, it carries weight. Rich Ellis doesn't just teach energy management from theory—he speaks from the hard-earned wisdom of someone who normalised working long days, over-relying on coffee, and burning the candle at both ends until a cortisol test showed his daily levels at just 10% of where they should be.

In our recent podcast conversation, Rich shared insights that perfectly align with the principles of our philosophy at Bend Like Bamboo, revealing why true leadership strength comes not from pushing through, but from learning to bend without breaking.

Rich Ellis, The Energy Coach

The Wake-Up Call: When Data Meets Reality

"I was burning the candle at both ends, in a good way, but a naive way," Rich reflected. The wake-up call came through numbers—something this self-described "data kind of guy" couldn't ignore. His cortisol test results were a reality check that forced him to reverse-engineer how he'd gotten to that point.

One of his earliest signs was an over-reliance on coffee. When someone asked him what his natural energy levels were like, he realised he didn't know—he couldn't remember the last time he'd operated without caffeine support. That moment of recognition led him to experiment with weaning himself off coffee through decaf, eventually discovering herbal teas and understanding just how depleted his natural energy reserves had become.

The irritability followed—becoming snappy, having a short fuse, and frankly, not being very nice to be around. These weren't just personality quirks; they were symptoms of a system running on empty.

The Intersection of Energy and Resilience

During our conversation, we explored how energy management and resilience building work together. As Rich explained, when you're already stressed and throwing multiple cups of coffee into your system daily, you're firing up adrenaline and cortisol—your stress response systems. For someone already operating in a high-stress state, this can push you over the edge.

Rich's approach aligns beautifully with the Bend Like Bamboo philosophy: instead of forcing our way through with sheer willpower, there's a different kind of strength available. A strength that comes from understanding what our bodies and minds need to perform sustainably.

Small Changes, Massive Impact: The Blood Pressure Story

One of Rich's most compelling success stories involved working with a dairy company startup where he helped an employee drop their blood pressure from 140/90 to 110/70. The transformation didn't come from dramatic lifestyle overhauls—it came from identifying and addressing specific lifestyle factors.

Through careful questioning and building trust, Rich discovered this person was consuming high amounts of sugar, under sleeping, hitting the gym twice a day (thinking more was better, when overdoing it can push someone further into a stress response), and had an unaddressed dairy sensitivity. The solution wasn't to do more—it was to do less, but more strategically.

They addressed the dairy sensitivity, reduced the excessive gym sessions (recognising that too much exercise when already stressed drives cortisol higher), and focused on better sleep quality. As these small changes compounded, the need for extra coffee decreased naturally, and the blood pressure dropped significantly.

"The doctor had said, 'I've never seen it this low before,'" Rich shared. The client was thrilled, and importantly, they volunteered the testimonial—Rich didn't need to ask for it.

From FOMO to JOMO: A Leadership Mindset Revolution

One of the most powerful concepts Rich shared was transforming FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) into JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). For driven leaders constantly worried about missing opportunities, this mindset shift is revolutionary.

JOMO isn't about becoming complacent—it's about becoming strategic. It's the ability to say "No, I can't come to that party because I'm doing something else" and being genuinely comfortable with that choice. You're buying yourself time, calm, and the recognition that you don't have to do all the things.

This concept perfectly embodies what we teach in Bend Like Bamboo: true strength comes from knowing when to bend and when to stand firm. Leaders who embrace JOMO aren't missing out—they're conserving their energy for what truly matters.

The Values Conflict: Understanding Internal Tension

Rich recently qualified as a personal values coach, adding another layer to his toolkit. Through this work, he discovered something profound about his own internal landscape: he has two values that directly oppose each other, creating natural internal conflict.

"Sometimes I'm driven by this, and sometimes I'm driven by that, but they're quite opposite to each other," he explained. This internal conflict isn't just personal—it happens in teams and organisations too, and when you're constantly butting up against values you can't align with, it can be a direct path to burnout.

This insight connects directly to our work in resilience coaching. Often, the stress we experience isn't just from external pressures—it's from internal conflicts between what we think we should do and what we value or need.

Building High-Energy Cultures

Rich's work extends beyond individual transformation to organisational culture. Using tools like the Maori health model Te Whare Tapa Whā, which has four pillars—spiritual health, physical health, mental health, and family/community—he helps teams understand that if one pillar isn't strong, the whole structure suffers.

His approach is beautifully client driven. "I don't know their life, they know their life. They are the expert of their life," he explains. His role as a coach is asking the right questions to help people identify what they're prepared to do to make meaningful changes.

The Power of Slowing Down

One of Rich's most personal revelations was discovering that yoga became his friend—ironic, considering his mother was a yoga teacher. But like many high achievers, he'd initially dismissed anything that looked like slowing down.

"As to what you just referred to, Amanda, in terms of slowing down can be the most useful thing. That was one of the key components to my recovery, was to do two yoga sessions a week for a considerable amount of time," he shared.

The Transformation Story: Trish's Journey

Rich shared a detailed case study of his first official coaching client, Trish—a bookkeeper/accountant who was managing her own business while going through a divorce and raising two kids. She was caught in the classic entrepreneurial trap: always on the treadmill, trying to catch up with clients, never feeling in control.

Rich helped Trish move from burnout to balance. The solution involved a shift in mindset that led to her bringing in more contractors so she could delegate work, addressing the background stress of always feeling behind, and finding a sustainable work-life integration.

"We got to the place where she felt on top of things," Rich recalled. Trish found her energy again, entered a new relationship, and created a profitable business that didn't consume her life. "It was really rewarding for me, because it was like, yes, pat on the back, you've done all the right things, Rich."

The One Thing Philosophy

When I asked Rich for his key advice for someone at the beginning of their burnout recovery journey, his answer was beautifully simple: "What's the one thing?"

"It's always about making it as small and as achievable as it possibly can be at the beginning of the journey," he explained. The question becomes: what's one thing you can do today, tomorrow, or by the end of the week that will step you in the right direction?

This approach is backed by experts like BJ Fogg at Stanford, who wrote "Tiny Habits" and taught James Clear (author of "Atomic Habits"). The science is clear: small, sustainable changes create the foundation for lasting transformation.

"Once that person can commit to the one thing and complete the one thing, they get that little dopamine hit, they are motivated by the success, and then that success will help them do the next thing," Rich explains. "That's really where the journey starts, is what's one thing? Because then the belief is there."

Beyond Skill-Based Development

Rich made a crucial distinction during our conversation about why so many leadership development programs fall short: "People and organisations are really good at asking how can we make our people better?  It is not just about skill-based development. You can keep investing in that skill-based development until you're blue in the face, but if the person doing it doesn't change, then the outcome's going to be the same."

This insight aligns perfectly with our Bend Like Bamboo approach. True resilience isn't just about learning new techniques—it's about that deeper personal development work of understanding who you are, what you value, and what shifts within you need to occur to thrive more in our lives. This is a time when coaching and support can be very valuable to an individual and organisation.

The Courage to Be Disliked

Our conversation touched on the book "The Courage to Be Disliked," which Rich connected to the JOMO concept. Both he and I share a passion for personal development reading because we're always seeking to learn and grow.

This hunger for knowledge and self-understanding is part of what makes effective coaches: we're constantly working on ourselves while helping others do the same. "The better we know ourselves, the better equipped we are to deal with anything that comes our way," Rich observed.

Your Next Step

Rich's message is clear: start with one thing. Not ten things. Not a complete life overhaul. One sustainable change that builds your confidence and proves that transformation is possible.

Whether that's examining your relationship with caffeine, committing to better sleep, saying no to one unnecessary commitment, or simply taking a few minutes each day to check in with your actual energy levels rather than your stimulant-supported ones—the key is consistency over intensity.

The question isn't whether you have time to focus on your energy and resilience. As Rich's own journey proves, the question is whether you can afford not to.

Rich Ellis, known as 'The Energy Coach,' has worked with leaders for almost two decades, specialising in helping business owners, corporate leaders, and teams unlock their full potential through optimal health and performance. His approach focuses on making small, sustainable changes that lead to massive shifts in energy, focus, and overall performance.

Connect with Rich Ellis:

To learn more about building resilience through our Bend Like Bamboo program for leaders, founders, and CEOs, and to listen to the full podcast conversation, visit our website.

Watch the full podcast episode on YouTube

 
 

Connect with Rich Ellis

LinkedIn: Richard Ellis (search for Richard Ellis if Rich doesn't show up)

Work with Amanda

Connect with Amanda
Amanda Campbell is a Sports Kinesiologist, Speaker, and Author who helps CEOs and leaders build resilience to thrive through life's challenges. She hosts the Bend Like Bamboo Resilience Podcast and offers programs designed to maximise performance whilst reducing stress and preventing burnout.

You are welcome to book a complimentary discovery call to explore how we can work together: ​https://calendly.com/amanda_campbell_/15min?month=2025-01​

 

Speaking & Events: Amanda delivers wellness workshops and keynotes both in-person and virtually. To book: hello@amandacampbell.com.au | www.amandacampbell.com.au

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