Create, Play, Lead

The Myth of Perpetual Motion Early in my career I believed that good leaders were the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the ones who could push through exhaustion without complaint. It looked impressive from the outside, but inside I was running on fumes. My creativity dulled, my patience thinned, and my judgment suffered.  From my early twenties until I was about to turn forty, I regularly worked 60-100 hour weeks.  As I was staring at the entrance to my 4th decade on Earth, I realized that something had to change. It took hitting that wall to realize that leadership isn’t a marathon run without water breaks. It’s more like a relay, you have to pace yourself, hand off when needed, and actually breathe between sprints. Rest isn’t a reward for leaders. It’s a requirement. Learning to Switch Off Switching off is harder than it sounds, especially when your work is people-focused. Even after hours you’re still thinking about the meeting tomorrow, the hiring decision nex...