What happens when success stops feeling like success? On this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with Dr. Shaoqing Sun, founder and chief geoscientist of C&C Reservoirs, for a raw conversation about ambition, burnout, ego, and rebuilding a life from the inside out. Dr. Sun grew up in a small rural village in China where survival depended on relentless work. By age twelve, he earned more money than his father. That mindset followed him into adulthood, entrepreneurship, and a global career in geoscience. It also pushed him to physical collapse, family strain, and a deep loss of purpose. In this episode, Dr. Sun shares the moments where drive turned destructive. He opens up about missed time with his family, anger toward employees, and the wake up calls that forced him to confront the cost of his obsession. He also walks through the ten year internal struggle that followed, and the spiritual shift that helped him dissolve ego and redefine success. This conversation explores leadership beyond performance. It looks at what happens when identity gets tied to work, why achievement alone never delivers fulfillment, and how clarity, calm, and creativity return once ego steps aside. If you lead a business, build companies, or feel trapped by your own drive, this episode offers a grounded look at what comes after burnout, and what real leadership looks like on the other side.