Cyrus Ausar

I recently went back to the place where I had my very first job.

At 11 years old, I worked at The Batter’s Box in Massillon, picking up baseballs and softballs and keeping the pitching machines full. I made $5 an hour and got to pick out a candy bar. The only rule was simple: don’t let the machines run out of balls.

Looking back, it wasn’t just a job. It was where I learned responsibility, work ethic, and one of my first lessons about money. I remember wanting to buy something that cost $2. Most people would think, “That’s cheap.” But to me, that was almost 25 minutes of work. Suddenly, I didn’t want it that bad.

Standing there all these years later was bittersweet. The place is older. The machines are gone. But I wasn’t looking at an old batting cage. I was looking at the beginning.

Before the businesses. Before the speaking engagements. Before the awards.

Just a kid making $5 an hour and learning lessons that would stay with him for life.

We all have a place like that.

This was one of mine.

Lately, I’ve had more and more organizations reaching out to bring me in to speak with their teams about burnout recovery.

Not because burnout is trendy… But because it’s real, it’s showing up in performance, and it’s costing people more than they realize.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with organizations ranging from Massachusetts Institute of Technology to NASA, as well as groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and New York University.

Non-profits, businesses, and colleges all have one thing in common.

High-performing people who are quietly running on empty.

If your team is feeling the pressure, mentally overloaded, or just not operating at the level they should be… let’s have a conversation.

I’m currently booking speaking engagements and burnout reset sessions.

Reach out and let’s get something on the calendar.