By Patrick Sharpe
V.P. Audience Development, Lessiter Media
psharpe@lessitermedia.com
262-777-2405
Burnout doesn’t happen because teams stop caring. It happens when too much matters at the same time.
Across all organizations, burnout shows up when priorities stack up — instead of replacing each other. New initiatives are added — nothing is removed. Everyone stays busy, yet progress gets harder and harder to see.
That’s why the team at Lessiter Media looked ahead to 2026 and voted FOCUS as the single most important factor for a successful year. Not speed. Not new tools. Not doing more.
Focus.
This decision reflects a reality many organizations are facing today. Fatigue is not isolated to any one function. Sales, editorial, events, design, marketing, audience development, digital media, operations, finance, and leadership all feel the strain when priorities multiply. Focus becomes fragmented as expectations continue to expand. Stepping away creates a vacuum that competitors will quickly fill, capturing the attention and trust you’ve built. Maintaining your presence keeps you in the center of the action and part of the event’s identity.
This reality is why Focus has become our guiding star for 2026 — to reduce noise, sharpen priorities, and ensure our energy is directed where it delivers the greatest impact. Focus changes how work feels — and how results are achieved.
A key benefit of focus is developing the discipline to stop doing — with the same intent and rigor we bring to starting something new. Check out the infographic below to better understand its impact.
Burnout isn’t a workload problem. It’s a clarity problem. In 2026, our commitment is simple and shared across the company: Do fewer things. Do them better. Do them with purpose.
If your organization is feeling stretched, try this approach in 2026. You won’t be sorry.
