Q4 crunch. Holiday pressure. Next year’s planning. The weight of so many decisions…

I get it. I’ve been there.

When the Covid workplace shutdowns hit in 2020, I thought stress would kill me before cancer did.

Spoiler: Neither won.

Here’s what I learned about sustainable performance after 25+ years of high-pressure leadership:

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a system failure.

The execs who last aren’t the ones who push hardest. They’re the ones who build resilience into their operating system.

3 strategies that kept me going:

#1. Protect your recovery time

Calendar non-negotiable blocks for actual rest. Not “work from home.” Not “email catchup.” Real recovery.

#2. Build emotional circuit breakers

When stress spikes, develop automatic responses. Mine: a 10-minute prayer walk before major decisions. Simple. Changed everything.

#3. Reframe and release pressure

Stress response is information. Listen before it screams. Release through prayer, meditation, or exercise.

Surviving three cancer diagnoses taught me this: resilience isn’t about being tough enough to ignore the warning signs.

It’s about being smart enough to respond to them.

You can’t lead well if you’re barely functioning.

Take care of yourself with the same intensity you bring to taking care of your business.