Are You Trading the Future for Today? (#253)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
A founder recently told me, “I’m not a workaholic. But I’m all in—and everything else in my life is quietly fading.”
He paused. “It doesn’t feel wrong. But it doesn’t feel sustainable either.”
That tension? That’s leadership honesty. Let’s talk about it.
“You can’t truly be successful in your business if you’re failing in your life.” – Jim Rohn
This Week’s Edition
Are you building something today that will cost you everything tomorrow? One Harvard study found that close relationships are the number one predictor of lifelong well-being.
Clarify Your Thinking
Leadership often demands an “all in” mindset—and many leaders don’t mind. They love the work. They love the challenge. They feel alive when they’re building something meaningful.
But if you’re not careful, “all in” becomes “all consumed.”
I had a CEO tell me, “Work feels like the most energizing place in my life right now. So I just stay there.”
It wasn’t burnout—it was all-consuming. And here’s the kicker: he wasn’t neglecting everything else because he hated it. He neglected it because it didn’t compete with the adrenaline, affirmation, and clarity he found at work.
That kind of tradeoff doesn’t feel urgent—until it becomes permanent.
Because when you consistently choose today’s progress over tomorrow’s peace, you start to erode your future. Relationships weaken. Health slips. Identity outside of work blurs.
You tell yourself, “It’s just for this season.” But seasons don’t end on their own. They end when you draw the line.
This isn’t about balance as a time ratio. It’s about assessing priorities as a leadership responsibility. You are not just building a business—you are building a life.
Old Thinking
I’m not a workaholic—I just love what I do. If something has to give, it’ll be later. I’ll make it up eventually.
New Thinking
Work is important, but it’s not everything. If I ignore the rest of my life, I’m not just trading time—I’m trading identity. I want success that’s sustainable, not success I’ll regret.
Thoughts Lead to Actions
It’s easy to say, “I’ll make it up later.” But you can’t retroactively invest in your health, your marriage, or your kids’ childhood.
Your thoughts shape what you prioritize. If your default is “work matters most,” then your calendar will follow. And slowly, you’ll become a leader who’s successful and silently isolated.
Here’s how to lead yourself toward a more durable life:
➤ Name What’s Being Traded
List what’s been getting your leftover energy: spouse, health, friendships, faith, creativity. Don’t guilt yourself—just get honest.
➤ Rebalance the Rewards
Ask: “What do I feel at work that I’m not getting elsewhere?” If it’s affirmation, challenge, or clarity—those are clues. Now ask, “How can I build those into other parts of my life?”
➤ Schedule What Matters
If you calendar everything else but don’t calendar connection, reflection, or rest—it won’t happen. Protect time for the life you want to keep. Show your calendar who’s boss.
➤ Build a Legacy, Not Just a Business
Ask: “Would I be proud of this rhythm 10 years from now?” If not, course-correct now. Prioritization isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
You don’t have to quit being excellent at work. You just have to stop outsourcing your entire identity to it.
Boost Your Performance
What’s Your Opinion?
What’s one part of your life you’ve been unintentionally trading away? Share it with me at robin.pou@robinpou.com.
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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What is “The Confident Leader”?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.
