Hey there,
Ever find yourself in a season where everything feels just a little… heavier? The schedule’s tighter, the to-dos are louder, and the margin for enjoyment or connection feels slimmer than it used to. You’re not alone. Whether it’s leading a team or trying to manage life stuff behind the scenes, we all carry things others can’t always see. That’s exactly what I’ve been reflecting on lately—and I wanted to share it with you here.
Leadership: Everybody’s Got a Thing
Maybe it’s raising kids.
Caring for aging parents.
Navigating a chronic illness.
Supporting a spouse.
Going through a breakup.
Or just trying to stay afloat during a hard season.
We’ve all got something in our lives that quietly (or loudly) demands something from us. And as leaders, one of the most powerful things we can do is know what that thing is for the people we lead.
I remember a team member who started showing up late to work. I jumped straight to assumptions:
“She’s disengaged.”
“She’s probably looking for another job.”
But when I actually asked what was going on, she shared that she was helping her mom through cancer treatments—checking in each morning to manage medications and get her settled before heading into the office.
Her tardiness had nothing to do with her work ethic.
It had everything to do with life.
That moment reminded me of something I’ll never forget:
Connection and collaboration drive performance.
When we understand the humans behind the job titles, we lead better.
We support better.
And we get better outcomes.
Leadership isn’t just tasks and timelines.
It’s empathy. Curiosity. Humanity.
And giving people the space to show up fully human.
Life: It’s Not Gone—It Just Changed Shape
A friend and I were recently talking about how life has shifted.
How things that once felt simple now feel luxurious.
A girls weekend? Spontaneous date night?
Now it’s 15-minute calls squeezed between carpools or one-hour dinners that wrap before the bedtime routines kick in.
There was a little sadness in that realization… but also a lot of pride.
Pride in how we’ve adapted.
Pride in how we’ve continued to show up.
And an understanding that while some things look different now… they’re not gone.
They’ve just changed shape.
So if you’re in a phase like that—a season where the big version of something you love feels out of reach—I hope you can still grab a tiny version of it.
Maybe it’s not a full-on getaway.
But it’s a walk.
A voice memo to a friend.
A belly laugh with someone who really gets you.
It may look different.
But it can still be present.
Here’s to leading with curiosity, living flexibly, and finding the joy in the tiny versions.
Out there happening to the world,
Lisa
P.S. Hit reply anytime to share your stories, ask questions, or celebrate your latest win—I’d love to hear from you!