In this solo episode, April Smith takes a direct and nuanced look at burnout in the ABA industry, and challenges the way we talk about it. 

Rather than accepting burnout as an inevitable byproduct of leadership, April explores the illusion of burnout and how it shows up specifically for ABA business owners. She unpacks the subtle ways leaders can feel trapped: by their standards of excellence, by financial pressure, and by the belief that exhaustion is simply “part of the job.” 

This episode goes beyond surface-level self-care advice. April examines how a lack of operational options—limited margin, no leadership depth, unclear systems—creates the emotional experience we label as burnout. When you don’t have choices, everything feels heavy. When you can’t step away, every problem feels personal. 

If you’re an ABA owner who feels constantly behind, stretched thin, or questioning the reason you built your business, this conversation will resonate.

Have a question for Stephen and April? 

Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432 

Resources & Links 

Free ABA Business Leaders Support Group

https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC

Business Essentials List 
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24 

Schedule a consultation with Stephen 
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page 

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment 
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment 

ABA Billing Tips Guide 
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips