Hey Leader!
Let’s get one thing straight: You don’t have to earn your humanity.
Not by skipping lunch.
Not by saying yes to every request.
Not by pretending your life doesn't exist outside of Slack.
And yet—so many high-achieving leaders still carry guilt about setting human boundaries. Especially if they can do more, or used to do it all.
But here’s the catch: The guilt you carry quietly becomes the culture you create.
So this week, I’m sharing 10 things you should never feel guilty about—as a leader, as a teammate, as a person.
And yes, this list is personal. I've been there too.
Lead boldly, live fully, & don’t forget to breathe.
In your corner,
Lead Boldly & Live Fully
You Don’t Have to Earn Your Humanity: 10 Guilt-Free Leadership Moves
“Ignoring” work & enjoying a real weekend
Taking unplugged PTO
Not checking email/Slack first thing in the morning
Leaving early to pick up your kid
Wanting something different
Not attending every meeting you're invited to
Delegating (even if you could do it “faster yourself”)
Resting when you’re sick—without guilt or apology
Sharing feedback (thoughtfully)
Saying no to projects that don’t align with your role/team capacity
Protecting time for your kids, partner, or yourself—even if others work late
Try This Today
Pick: Pick one thing from the list above that you don’t yet feel guilt-free about.
Ask: Where did that guilt come from? Whose voice is that? Is it helpful?
Then Ask: How can I model something different this week—for my team, my family, or myself?
Quick Reminder:
“You are not required to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.”
—Unknown
Behind The Scenes
A peek inside what I’m building — at work & in life!
Work in Progress
ICYMI: I’m writing a book! My publisher asked me to pull together a folder of non-fiction covers I like so the designer can get a feel for the visual direction I’m drawn to!
(There’s a lot of blue, green, and purple/pink 😂)
If you have a favorite non-fiction cover you think I should see, hit reply and send it over!
Life in Progress
My husband and I wanted to go camping this weekend — but we’ve been gone a lot and we leave on Friday for our first RV trip (!!!). So, in true Alli & TJ fashion, we decided to camp in our backyard.
Bonus points that Moose, our Boston Terrier, got to experience tent life for the first time!
My Thought or Fuel from the Week
Getting back into running fueled me last week! I took a week off to give my calves a break… and I was itching to run (something I never thought I’d say!).
T-19 Days ‘til my first triathlon!
What are you prioritizing as your “fuel” for the coming week? If you’re not sure yet —> take 3 minutes now to add one thing for YOU to your calendar.
In Case You Missed It
📊 Companies that prioritize wellbeing have 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦&𝗣 𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝘄 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬% since 2021. Get more stats!
Grown-ups need recess, too. What would 8-year-old-you think?
The most important meeting of my week is Wed @ 5:30am. Wait, what?