Self-awareness isn’t a soft skill—it’s a leadership essential. Learn how turning inward fuels growth through Awareness, Willingness, and Energy.
The Lie of Unlimited Access and Non-Stop Activity
For years, I believed that being a great leader meant being relentlessly available. Always on. Consistently producing and constantly holding it all together for everyone else. And for a while, it worked.
Until it didn’t.
Then came 2009. The global financial crisis hit. Ad dollars vanished. As a senior media exec, I was forced to make difficult decisions, including reorganizing my team, reducing headcount, and taking a personal pay cut. At the same time, my husband had just suffered a catastrophic fall. He wouldn’t walk again for 10 months. And then my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Professionally and personally, it felt like everything was crumbling. And honestly? I was, too.
I don’t think I appeared “strong” or “pulled together.” There were cracks. I was short-tempered. Tired. Sometimes shut down. I know my team and colleagues noticed. I was trying to keep everything afloat—but the cost was showing. My cape kept falling off. I didn’t need to fake strength. I needed support. And I didn’t yet know how to ask for it.
The Turning Point
Eventually, I did something that felt vulnerable but vital: I asked for help.
I hired a coach.
It was the first time I allowed myself to turn inward with intention and invest in myself—not to fix something, but to discover what thriving looks like in the messy middle. That decision changed everything.
It taught me this: I am the most worthwhile project I’ll ever work on.
And I don’t just say that now as a coach. I say it as someone who has lived it.
Signs You’ve Lost Sight of Yourself
If any of these feel familiar, I’ve been there:
- You’re exhausted but can’t stop.
- You’re productive but disconnected.
- You say yes when your soul is screaming no.
- You question your path.
- You never take time for yourself.
These aren’t flaws. They’re signals. And they deserve your attention—not judgment.
From Burnout to Alignment
When I finally slowed down and began doing the inner work—through coaching, reflection, and support—I started to lead and live differently:
- With more calm and clarity when it mattered most.
- With a steadier presence that created safety for others and a path forward for collaboration with colleagues.
- With boundaries that honored my energy—not just my obligations.
- With a purpose that felt aligned, not performative.
This isn’t about self-indulgence. It’s about sustainability. Because when you crumble, so does your leadership. But when you rise, everyone around you rises too.
AWE: The Shift That Starts with Self-Awareness
When everything around me felt like it was falling apart, what saved me wasn’t pushing harder. It was pausing, reflecting, and getting radically honest about how I was doing—on the inside.
That moment of self-awareness became a turning point. And it’s what gave birth to a framework I now live and coach by:
AWE—Awareness, Willingness, and Energy.
It always starts with awareness. But real growth comes when you’re also willing to do the work to shift—and resourced with the energy to sustain it. AWE is the quiet foundation behind every meaningful shift I’ve made since.
A Moment for You
Let’s pause:
- Where in your life have you been surviving instead of thriving?
- What’s one small way you could honor yourself this week—without guilt or apology?
Write it down. Make space for it. Follow through. You are worth the follow-through.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re in a messy middle right now—navigating uncertainty, juggling too much, or questioning what’s next—know this:
- Support is not a luxury. It’s essential.
- You don’t have to do this alone.
- You are not broken. You are becoming.
Start here:
- Take the Messy Middle Archetype Assessment – Discover where you are in your journey.
- Read the Messy Middle Archetype Blog – Learn more about what your current season may be teaching you.
- Schedule a Call with Me – Let’s explore what’s possible when you put yourself in the center.
