Hi friends,
It's only two full weeks into the new year, and for many people, things already feel full.
Some of that fullness is exciting and motivating.
New ideas. Momentum. Building what's next.
And some of it feels like you never quite get to put things down.
Not busy in the "wow, I'm getting so much done" way, but full in the too many things pulling at you at once way.
The kind of full where:
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Your mind never really shuts off
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You're jumping from one thing to the next
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And even when you stop working, you still feel tired
Here's what many people don't hear often enough:
Most leaders assume this feeling means they're behind.
It doesn't.
It means the way we've been taught to lead and work no longer matches the reality we're in.
This week was a good reminder of that for me.
I've been deep in the weeds onboarding support; setting up systems, access, guardrails, workflows.
It's not glamorous work, but it matters.
And yes, sometimes you do have to dig in to dig out.
You put in the effort now so the future gets easier and the mission gets stronger.
But here's the part many leaders miss:
Not everything needs that level of attention.
And not everything is important just because it's loud or urgent.
I see this with nearly every leader I talk to.
They're not unclear about their goals.
They're not lacking discipline. Definitely not lazy.
They're operating in a reality where the leadership load has quietly doubled, without anyone really talking about it.
Leadership today is about reducing the noise, making clearer decisions, and helping people move in the same direction.
The old advice of "just push through" doesn't work anymore.
So what does work?
Here are three things we're helping leaders do differently right now:
1. Decide what needs attention in this season in your business.
Not everything at once. Not everything perfectly. Just the next one or two steps that move things forward.
2. Reduce the noise around decisions.
Fewer spinning plates. Less reacting. More clarity about what deserves energy and what can wait.
3. Lead in a way that brings people with you.
Clear direction. Fewer mixed signals. Less carrying everything alone in your head.
What I see over and over again is this:
When leaders slow down just enough to choose the next one or two steps to focus on, everything else starts to feel more manageable.
That's why the work I'm doing now, and inside the Modern Leadership Collective, focuses on how leaders think and decide in the middle of real life.
Not perfect decisions.
Not all the decisions.
Just the next ones that matter today for what you’re building next.
So here's a simple question to sit with this week:
What needs your attention right now for what you are building in this season, and what can wait without throwing things off course?
Leadership often feels lighter when you stop trying to carry everything and choose the next best step for where you're headed.
More soon,
Amy
How Balanced Meals Change Not Just Energy, But How We Show Up for Others
We tend to talk about food in terms of energy.
More fuel equals more productivity. More protein equals fewer crashes. Eat better, feel better.
That's true, but incomplete.
What I've learned over time is this: balanced meals don't just change how much energy we have. They change how we relate to the people around us.
When someone is under-fueled, it rarely shows up as hunger alone. It shows up as impatience. Shorter emails. Less tolerance for ambiguity. Faster frustration.
Low blood sugar doesn't announce itself politely. It often masquerades as mood, tone, or temperament.
This matters, especially for leaders, caregivers, parents, and anyone holding responsibility for others.
When we don't eat enough, or we eat in a way that spikes and crashes our system, our nervous system stays closer to the edge. That edge shows up in meetings, conversations, and decision-making. We're quicker to interrupt. Slower to listen. More likely to react than respond.
Balanced meals create steadiness.
Steadiness creates presence.
Presence changes everything.
When the body feels supported, the nervous system doesn't have to work as hard to maintain baseline stability. There's more room for curiosity instead of defensiveness. More patience instead of urgency. More capactiy to hold someone else's emotion without immediately needing to fix, control, or escape it.
This is why food isn't just a personal wellness choice.
I've seen this repeatedly: when people eat consistently and in a balanced way, they don't just report better energy. They report being "less snappy." More available with their kids. More thoughtful with their teams. More grounded during hard conversations.
Balanced meals aren't about perfection or control. They're about reducing unnecessary strain on a system that already carries a lot.
When we eat in a way that supports us, we show up differently. We listen longer. We pause before reacting. We lead with steadiness and less force.
And that ripple effect matters far beyond the plate.
Because how we feed ourselves shapes how we show up for everyone else.
One-Pan Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs
Enjoy a flavorful, easy weeknight meal that feels elevated without extra work. It's forgiving, cozy, and pairs well with almost anything!
Ingredients:
4-6 boneless/skinless chicken thighs
Salt & pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari)
1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
Optional: crushed red pepper flake & green onion for garnish
Directions:
1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Sear chicken thighs for 5-6 minutes until golden. Flip and cook 3-4 more minutes. Remove to a plate.
4. Lower heat to medium. Add garlic to the pan and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Stir in honey, soy sauce, vinegar, paprika, and red pepper flake (if using).
6. Return chicken to the pan, spoon the sauce over the top.
7. Simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes, flipping once, until chicken is cooked through and temps at 165F.
8. Garnish and serve!
Easy Sides
Steamed rice or coconut rice
Roasted broccoli or green beans
Simple cucumber salad
Make It Your Own Swaps
- Add sliced bell peppers or snap peas in the last 5 minutes
- Use maple syrup instead of honey
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon for brightness
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