Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth

When enough is enough | Andy Johns (ex-FB, Twitter, Quora)

September 10, 2023

AI Summary

5 min read

Andy Johns, a former growth leader at Facebook, Twitter, Quora, and Wealthfront, shares his path from career peak—including a near-CEO role and high-six-figure VC partnership—to burnout, a heart scare at 35, and a 45-day mental health stay. He left it all behind after linking his achievement addiction to childhood trauma from his mother's death at age 10 amid her mental illness. Now a mental health advocate for high achievers and veterans, he outlines when distress signals real problems and a four-step process for deep change.

Red Flags Beyond Normal Stress

Day-to-day work pressures are common, but flashing alarms appear when core functions disrupt: poor sleep, strained relationships, failing physical health like teeth grinding or heart issues. Johns notes his body "kept the score" through years of ignored signals, echoing Bessel van der Kolk's book. He estimates 50-60% of tech workers with 5-7 years experience face significant emotional distress, often creeping up slowly like a boiling frog.

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What you'll learn

1 **(00:00:27) Burnout Warning Signs**
2 **(00:05:48) Andy's High-Achieving Career and Early Breakdown**
3 **(00:09:38) Roots in Childhood Trauma and Achievement Addiction**
4 **(00:13:16) Tech Burnout Prevalence and Quitting VC Peak**
5 **(00:20:52) Current Work and Clues.Life**
6 **(00:23:47) Four Steps of Deep Personal Transformation**
7 **(00:33:45) Practical Steps to Seek Truth**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

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Andy Johns is a former tech exec and VC who had a successful run at several startups—including Facebook, Twitter, Wealthfront, and Quora—but left it all behind a few years ago to take a new direction in life. Now a mental health advocate, he aids military veterans with PTSD, guides burnt-out high achievers to new paths, and shares his healing journey from childhood trauma and mental illness through his newsletter, Clues Dot Life. In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Andy left his seven-figure VC career behind

• The four-step process of deep personal transformation

• When suffering is necessary vs. unnecessary

• Tips for finding a good therapist

• How a writing practice can help you heal

• When you’re in need of radical transformation

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Find the full transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/when-enough-is-enough-andy-johns

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Where to find Andy Johns:

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cluesdotlife

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjohns/