It wasn't fine.

A few years ago, I looked completely fine.

People thought I had it all.

Sitting in the Assistant Head of School role.

Showing up.

Delivering.

Saying yes.

Taking on more.

But underneath it all, I was running on empty.

Nobody could tell.

And that was exactly the problem.

I'd gotten very good at performing.

So when I made the decision to walk away, people were surprised.

Because who leaves when they look like they're on top?

What I know now, that I didn't fully appreciate then:

A leader who's depleted can't actually lead.

They can only cope, convincingly, for a while.

The work I do now grew straight out of that season.

Helping people build a way of leading they can actually sustain.

Not just survive.

If you're reading this while quietly running on fumes, I see you.

Your leadership doesn't have to cost you your energy.