Awards, moving, unpacked boxes and guests are coming!
The past month has been one of the busiest, and most rewarding, seasons of my life and that says a lot I know. .
Ferd and I received the MSU Marathon Award, we moved into a new home and office space, welcomed house guests in the middle of the move, launched my new children’s book, The Brick and the Sponge, and prepared for a two-week trip to Europe.
When I list it all out, it sounds exciting. And it has been.
But it has also been exhausting.
As I reflect on everything that has happened, one leadership lesson keeps coming to mind: leadership isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up.
We live in a culture that celebrates polished success stories. We see the award, the new book, the beautiful office, the exciting travel plans. What we don’t always see are the boxes stacked in every room, the late nights, the changing schedules, and the moments when we’re simply trying to keep all the balls in the air.
The truth is, leadership rarely looks as perfect as people imagine.
Leadership Happens in the Messy Middle
One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is that it begins when everything is figured out.
In reality, leadership often happens in the middle of uncertainty.
It happens when you’re making decisions without having all the answers.
It happens when you’re balancing competing priorities.
It happens when you’re tired but still committed to moving forward.
This past month reminded me that growth and discomfort often travel together. Every meaningful opportunity I’ve experienced recently required me to stretch beyond what felt comfortable.
The award was an incredible honor.
The move represents a new chapter.
The launch of The Brick and the Sponge is the realization of a dream.
But none of those things happened without effort, uncertainty, and a willingness to keep going even when life felt overwhelming.
The Illusion of Perfection
Here’s the truth bomb I’ve been thinking about lately:
Perfection is an illusion.
In fact, I think perfection is one of the biggest obstacles standing between people and their purpose.
Too many talented people delay taking action because they’re waiting for the perfect moment.
The perfect plan.
The perfect timing.
The perfect version of themselves.
Meanwhile, life keeps moving.
If I had waited for everything to be perfect, I might still be waiting to move. The book might still be sitting on my computer. Opportunities would have passed by while I was trying to make everything flawless.
Perfection promises certainty, but growth requires action.
The leaders who create impact aren’t perfect. They’re willing.
They’re willing to take the next step before they feel completely ready.
They’re willing to learn as they go.
They’re willing to be seen in the process instead of waiting until the process is over.
Impact Over Appearance
Receiving recognition this month caused me to think about what impact really means.
Awards are wonderful. They remind us that our work matters.
But impact isn’t measured by trophies, titles, or applause.
Impact happens when someone’s life changes because of a conversation, a lesson, a book, or an act of encouragement.
It’s the woman who finds her voice.
It’s the entrepreneur who decides to bet on herself.
It’s the person who realizes it’s not too late to begin again.
That’s the kind of impact that lasts.
And it rarely comes from perfection.
It comes from authenticity.
People don’t connect with perfect. They connect with real.
The Leadership Lesson I’m Learning
Perhaps the most important lesson from this season is one I don’t talk about enough.
Rest is part of leadership.
For years, many of us have been conditioned to believe that success requires constant motion. We celebrate busy schedules and packed calendars as badges of honor.
But after the month I’ve had, I’m reminded that sustainable leadership requires recovery.
The reality is simple:
I’m tired.
Not discouraged.
Not burned out.
Just tired.
And instead of immediately filling every available moment with more commitments, I’ve decided to take a break during the month of June.
Not because I’m stepping away from my purpose.
Because I want to return to it refreshed.
I believe some of our best ideas come when we create space to hear them.
Some of our greatest clarity comes when we stop rushing.
And some of our strongest leadership emerges when we recognize our own humanity.
Moving Forward
As I prepare for Europe and look ahead to the next chapter, I’m carrying a renewed appreciation for progress over perfection.
This season has reminded me that leadership isn’t about having everything under control.
It’s about continuing to move forward with courage, even when life feels full.
It’s about embracing growth while accepting that growth is rarely neat and tidy.
It’s about creating impact rather than chasing appearances.
Most importantly, it’s about understanding that we don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.
So if you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to start something, launch something, change something, or become something, consider this your reminder:
The perfect moment may never come.
Start anyway.
Take the next step anyway.
Trust yourself anyway.
Because leadership isn’t found in perfection.
It’s found in action.
And that’s where real impact begins.
