The Pain That Changed Everything: A Leader’s Wake-Up Call

What if your greatest leadership lesson came from what broke you, not what built you?

For years, Justin Mink had all the markings of success. He helped scale companies to thousands of employees, raised millions in funding, and built billion-dollar valuations. On paper, it looked like he’d won.

But off paper, something else was unraveling.

The Disruption: When Success Isn’t Sustainable

It wasn’t burnout. It was a breakdown.

While launching a new company, Justin fell mysteriously ill. Diagnosed with chronic Epstein-Barr after a battle with mono, his body entered a state of constant pain (8 to 10 on the pain scale) for nearly a decade. He lost weight, energy, hope. Doctors were puzzled. He was hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic. Nothing helped.

His ambition, the very thing that built his career, was now driving him toward collapse.

“I used to power through everything. But no matter what I threw at this, I couldn’t outwork the pain.”

The Inner Work:  From Control to Curiosity

When nothing worked, Justin did something radical: he stopped trying to fix it.

Instead of fighting the pain, he got curious about it. Beneath the surface, he found something deeper; old wounds, unresolved grief, pressure he’d carried since childhood. The chronic pain wasn’t just physical. It was emotional truth asking to be acknowledged.

“I was filling an empty cup. Now, I let it overflow.”

This shift didn’t just change how he felt, it transformed how he led. As an EOS Implementer, Justin began guiding leadership teams through more than just systems. He started holding space for real growth: emotional accountability, team healing, and leadership that begins on the inside.

The Rebuild: Clean Energy and Conscious Growth

Justin’s leadership philosophy now runs on what he calls “clean fuel.” It’s the opposite of hustle culture. It’s presence over pressure. It’s curiosity over control.

Whether implementing EOS or advising companies through Outgrow, Justin helps teams align their values, systems, and energy in service of sustainable results. But the biggest change? His success no longer costs him his well-being.

“I used to chase clients. Now, I attract the ones who align with how I work and who I am.”

His business has grown, and so has his peace.

What I Know Now: You Can’t Scale What You Haven’t Healed

Justin’s journey is more than a health story, it’s a mirror for modern leadership.

“Wherever you go, there you are.”
“The way you do anything is the way you do everything.”
“You can’t outwork your pain, but you can listen to it.”

His story is a wake-up call to all leaders who feel like they’re running on empty, ignoring the signs, or pushing through silent burnout. 

The truth? Real leadership starts inside.

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