Every holiday, people post gratitude lists while quietly drowning in expectations, exhaustion, and the pressure to “hold it all together.” Last year, a client called me from the frozen aisle at Whole Foods—crying between the turkeys and ice cream—because she was hosting a Thanksgiving she didn’t want. She’s not alone. Whether at home or at work, we perform gratitude instead of honoring what we actually need. This season, remember: you’re allowed to choose rest over performance.

Discover why treating emotions as data—not weakness—makes you a more effective tech leader. Learn the 4-step framework top performers use to leverage emotional intelligence for better decisions, stronger teams, and career breakthroughs.

Success can be deceiving. You’ve earned the title, built the reputation, and mastered the role; yet somehow, it feels like you’re running in place. The truth is, many leaders don’t get stuck because of a lack of skill or ambition. They get stuck because they’re clinging to an outdated version of themselves.

High-performing teams don’t move faster because they have more confidence—they move faster because they’ve learned to trust something deeper. After working with hundreds of leadership teams, I’ve seen that the real differentiator between teams stuck in analysis paralysis and those making bold, timely moves isn’t data, certainty, or buy-in. It comes down to asking a single question that unlocks momentum almost instantly—a question I reveal (along with the full framework) in this week’s issue of The Activated Leader newsletter.