ACTSHEON™: Why Personal Growth Is the New Leadership Strategy

Hey Friend, 

Let me just start by saying what a lot of us already know but rarely admit out loud. 

We are exhausted. 

Not regular tired. I’m talking bone-deep, mind-numbing, can’t-remember-the-last-time-you-exhaled kind of tired. 

And the wild part is—we’re not just tired from the workload. 

We’re tired of chasing a version of success that keeps moving the goalpost. 

We’ve been sold the idea that the way to get ahead is to work harder, stay later, out-produce, out-perfect, and outrun everyone else. That if we just give a little more, we’ll finally arrive. 

Except… many of us have been giving more for years.

And we’re still feeling stuck.
Still overlooked.
Still wondering when it's our turn. 

Or worse—we’re sick. 

The Trap of “More Hours = More Success” 

Let’s talk about the hustle myth. 

At some point, we bought the lie that leadership equals sacrifice. That if we’re not bleeding, sweating, or crying behind closed doors, we’re not doing it right. 

We’ve glorified burnout.
We’ve worn exhaustion like a badge of honor.
We’ve confused depletion with dedication. 

But let me ask you the obvious:

If overworking was the key to success… wouldn’t you be further along by now? 

Let’s be clear: hard work has its place. This isn’t a call to laziness. I, too, am ambitious. I respect discipline. It’s a part of how we advance. 

But if your hustle is costing you your health, your joy, your sense of self—then Sis, the price is too high. 

Because the truth is, the next level doesn’t always come from doing more. 

Many times, it stems from becoming more.

More grounded. More aligned. More aware. 

That’s not hustle. That’s healing. 

Burnout Is Not a Badge 

Here’s the thing no one’s telling you in those back-to-back Zooms:
Burnout isn’t a productivity issue. It’s a boundary issue. 

It’s a sign that something in your strategy—or your self-worth—is misaligned. 

A 2022 McKinsey & LeanIn.org study showed that “43% of women leaders are burned out, compared to only 31% of men at their level.” 

And yet, we keep pushing. 

We tell ourselves to “hold on just a little longer,” “push through the fatigue,” “prove we belong.” 

But who the heck are we proving this to? 

The most dangerous thing about overworking isn’t just the physical toll, though yes, chronic stress leads to migraines, insomnia, and long-term illness. 

The deeper danger?

You start to believe your worth is in your output.

That if you stop pushing, you stop mattering. 

And, Friend, that is a lie. 

Personal Development Is the New Power Play 

Now let me flip this. 

Imagine if you spent even half the energy you give to everyone else… on you. 

What if you invested in your mindset like you do your meetings? 

What if you prioritized healing the way you prioritize hustle? 

What if, instead of asking, “What’s next on the agenda?” you started asking,
“What kind of woman am I becoming?”

Because honestly, your next level doesn’t need a new plan. It needs a new you. 

Here’s what I know for sure: the women who live well, lead well.

They’ve done the inner work. They’ve looked themselves in the mirror and asked the hard questions. They’ve stopped chasing approval and started chasing alignment. 

And you know what happens when you start doing that kind of growth work? 

• You stop second-guessing yourself.
• You stop over-explaining.
• You stop managing people’s comfort and start owning your voice.
• You stop pouring from an empty cup. 

Personal development is the most transferable skill set you have.

It travels with you from job to job. Boardroom to business, and into every decision you make. 

That’s why it matters. 

And that’s especially why it must be prioritized. 

You Are Your Most Worthy Project 

Let me say this clearly, because you may need to read it again: You are not a machine. 

You’re not here to produce, perfect, and perform until you collapse.

You’re a living, evolving, powerful woman—one who deserves rest, space, clarity, and fulfillment. 

Working on yourself is not a luxury. It’s not selfish.

It’s a strategy. 

It looks like: 

• Finally, scheduling that therapy session.
• Investing in a coach who holds you accountable.
• Journaling in the morning instead of diving straight into email.
• Saying “no” without apologizing.
• Asking, What do I want next? And who do I need to become to step into it? 

Because most high-achieving women ignore grinding harder on a path that no longer suits their trajectory. It’s not noble. It’s misalignment.

And you're allowed to pause. To pivot. To realign your life with your values and vision. 

Growth Is the New Grind 

Let’s not sugarcoat it. Personal development is work. 

But it’s a different kind of work—the quiet kind. The hard kind. The soul-shifting kind. 

It’s: 

• Sitting with discomfort instead of distracting yourself with deadlines
• Naming your fear before it hijacks your leadership
• Unlearning the lie that worth must be earned through exhaustion 

And I won’t lie to you—this work is harder than pulling an all-nighter.

But it’s also more sustainable. More fulfilling. More life-giving. 

Because when you start choosing growth over grind, you stop: 

• Tolerating toxic teams
• Shrinking in rooms you were born to lead in
• Outsourcing your confidence to your performance 

You start leading yourself first. And that is the foundation of true, lasting leadership. 

This Isn’t About Quitting. It’s About Reclaiming. 

Let me be clear: I’m not telling you to storm into your boss’s office and call it quits (tempting, I know). 

I’m saying: reclaim your strategy. Reclaim your energy. Reclaim your voice. 

Ask yourself: 

• Am I working hard—or working myself to the bone?
• Is this effort actually building something meaningful, or just keeping me distracted?
• Am I growing—or just performing? 

You’re allowed to choose a better rhythm. You’re allowed to prioritize you. You’re allowed to decide that you are the most important project you’ll ever manage. 

Your Call to ACTSHEON™

We talk so much about legacy in leadership. What we build. Who we impact. What we leave behind. 

But here’s the real legacy: your life. Your joy. Your growth. 

You can be successful and soft. You can be productive and peaceful. You can be ambitious without being consumed. 

So if you’ve been grinding, striving, sacrificing, and wondering why it still doesn’t feel like enough, this is your reminder: you are enough. Right now. Right where you are. 

And your next level?

It’s not waiting on more hustle. It’s waiting on more healing. 

So take the next step. Not toward more work.

But toward more you. 

You’ve got this, and I’m walking with you. Every bold step of the way.