Hey Leader,
Plot twist: the thing that finally moved the needle in my career wasn’t another certification, a new planner, or magically “getting more efficient.”
It was realizing how quickly my mornings were disappearing into Slack before I even had a chance to think.
I wasn’t tired because I was doing too much.
I was tired because I was leaking energy in tiny, constant ways that kept me operating below the leader I knew I was (and 5 am Slack checks weren't the only leak!).
Here are the 5 energy leaks I had to eliminate to stop living in reactive mode, and actually lead at a Managing Director level:
Leak #1: Morning Slack spirals.
I used to check Slack before my feet hit the floor and, as a result, was exhausted before my day started. I’d go down reactive rabbit holes instead of focusing on my needle-moving projects.
My solve: I stopped checking Slack before work, and then graduated to not checking it for the first full hour of work because I do my best deep work in the morning. I got my top priorities done first thing and felt like I was on top of the world.
Leak #2: Solving problems that weren’t mine.
“Got a minute?” always got a yes. Every fire became my fire. I wasn’t leading, I was firefighting with a smile.
My solve: Two things! I stopped responding to emails as fast, which means my team started answering their own questions. And, each time I got a question, I paused and asked myself, “Is this really mine to take on?”
Leak #3: Perfectionism disguised as ‘high standards.’
Every deck needed one more pass. Every email had to be perfect. I labeled it excellence, but it was actually fear.
My solve: I started shipping work at 80% instead of polishing it to death. And here’s what shocked me: everyone still thought it was A+ work, while I finally got my time and sanity back.
Leak #4: Saying yes to prove I could handle it.
New project? Yes. A 6 pm emergency meeting? Yes. I thought capacity = capability. It really meant I had no boundaries and wasn’t focused on our top priorities.
My solve: I began mapping out my top 3 priorities for the week and checked those before I said yes or no to anything. Saying, “Let me check my schedule and get back to you,” became the pause I didn’t know I needed, and it stopped the reflex‑yes’ing cold.
Leak #5: Waiting for permission to operate differently.
I kept waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say, “You can stop doing all that now.” Nobody ever did. That was the point.
My solve: I gave myself the green light. I just started doing things differently, handing off another project, shifting how I operated, choosing the moves that actually supported the leader I wanted to be. The moment I stopped waiting for approval, everything got a lot lighter.
Six months later, that shift showed up in a promotion. Not because I was doing more… but because I was leading differently.
When you stop treating yourself like an on‑call surgeon, you start leading like the person you were hired to be.
If this hit a nerve and you’re rethinking the energy leaks you’ve been quietly tolerating, reply ‘Yes’ and tell me one thing you’re done giving your energy away to.
Lead boldly, live fully, & don’t forget to breathe.
In your corner,
Were you forwarded this email?
Subscribe below to get The Thrive Report every Sunday.
Scroll-Stoppers
This week’s most valuable scroll-worthy stuff, from tools to truth bombs!
Forget Resolutions. Do a Past Year Review Instead. Tim Ferriss’s simple calendar exercise to double down on what energizes you (and cut what drains you).
The Weird Productivity Hacks People Swear By. A light, fun read on unconventional habits that (surprisingly) help people protect their time and energy.
Stop Waiting for Permission: How to Be Strategic at Any Level. A sharp reminder that leadership isn’t granted, it’s practiced.
Try This Today
3 simple moves to help you plug the energy leaks that are draining your leadership:
Start your day on your terms.
Before opening any inbox, pick one thing that actually moves your work forward and give it 20 focused minutes. That tiny shift is what helped me stop sliding into reactive mode before I even had tea, and reminded me I’m allowed to set the tone for my own day.
Return one task to its rightful owner.
If it landed on your plate by habit (not necessity), hand it back with kindness, not apology. This was the shift that stopped every “got a minute?” from becoming my responsibility, and slowly retrained my team and peers to solve their own fires first.
Contain the drains.
Batch approvals, admin, and quick reviews into two afternoon windows, stop letting them cannibalize your prime thinking hours. Once I contained the drains, my brain finally had space to do the work I was hired for.
Mini Interview
Interviews I recorded with women leaders at CultureCon who are redefining what leadership looks like.
Clara Stroude Vazquez
Chief of Culture and Inclusion, Miami HEAT
Q: What do you wish more women in leadership knew?
“Stop devaluing yourself. Stop undermining yourself.”
Clara acted it out, the exact ways we shrink ourselves:
“Can I ask this question?”
“I think…”
“Just…”
“I have this idea, can I tell you?”
Q: How do you actually protect your energy as a leader and a parent?
Morning HIIT workouts and thinking time
Girlfriend dinners with deep questions
Actively choosing which voices get space in her head
Leaning on her people (special shoutout to her work bestie “SVP Barbie”)
Clara isn’t just leading culture, she’s modeling what it looks like to take up space without apologizing for it.
When women stop shrinking, teams expand their sense of what’s possible.
Your Power Reframe
Because what you believe shapes how you live & lead.
This Sparked Something
Little joys, leadership sparks, & random things we’re loving this week!
Unexpected joy: I’ve fallen in love with Olipop, my favorite sober‑day swap when I want something fun without the wine (and yes, I still pour it in a wine glass). ~Alli
Reminder I needed: I got into a car accident last weekend (everybody was okay!), my car was too damaged to drive, and ended up at the police station. Even though it wasn’t my fault, I surprised myself by staying calm. It’s just a car. Humans matter more. ~Pau
Little win that felt like a big one: I fully embrace my holiday planning each year… yes, I have a spreadsheet tracking all Christmas gifts. And yes, it has multiple tabs! Zero shame 😂 ~Alli