In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James is joined by Tom Burgess for a frank and necessary conversation about pressure, identity, mental health, and responsibility.

Tom opens up about life under constant scrutiny, and how easily struggles can be hidden behind strength, success, and status. He speaks honestly about moments of poor decision-making, accountability, and the importance of confronting issues head-on rather than burying them.

This episode isn’t about excuses — it’s about owning your actions, understanding mental health in high-pressure environments, and learning how to ask for help before things spiral.

Takeaways

1. High performance doesn’t protect you from mental health struggles.
2. Success and status don’t equal stability.
3. Silence makes everything worse.
4. Bottling things up allows pressure to build until it spills over.
5. Accountability matters.
6. Owning mistakes is uncomfortable — but essential for growth.
7. Strength isn’t pretending you’re fine.
8. Real strength is admitting when you’re not.
9. Pressure compounds quietly.
10. If it’s not addressed early, it eventually finds a way out.
11. Support systems only work if you use them.
12. Help exists — but you have to reach for it.
13. You’re more than your performance.
14. Identity can’t rely solely on results, contracts, or public opinion.

Sound Bites

1. “People see the performance — not what’s going on behind it.”
2. “You can be winning on the outside and struggling inside.”
3. “Pressure doesn’t disappear — it builds.”
4. “I didn’t talk when I should have.”
5. “Bottling it up was the worst thing I could’ve done.”
6. “Asking for help came too late — but it mattered.”
7. “Speak up earlier than you think you need to.”
8. “You don’t lose respect by being honest.”

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