I never imagined that leading my own business would mean carrying so much weight on my shoulders—weight that doesn’t just come from deadlines and decision-making, but also from the unseen battles I fight inside my own body.
I live with an invisible illness. Some days, I can push through the fatigue, the brain fog, the pain. Other days, even opening my laptop feels like climbing a mountain. Yet, as a CEO, I often feel like I don’t have permission to slow down. The world looks at me as strong, capable, and endlessly available. The truth is, I’m exhausted.
I’ve learned that burnout doesn’t just come from working long hours. For me, burnout comes from pretending—pretending that I’m fine when I’m not, pretending that the weight of grief hasn’t impacted every corner of my business. I grieve the energy I used to have. I grieve the version of myself who could power through late nights without a second thought. I grieve the illusion of being “superhuman,” because my illness constantly reminds me that I’m not.
I’ve had to admit that I can’t run my company the way I used to. And that admission initially felt like a failure. I told myself stories like: “If you need rest, you’re weak. If you delegate, you’re lazy. If you step back, your business will crumble.” These stories weren’t true, but they ran through my mind on repeat.
What’s real is that my body requires me to lead differently. I now make rest a non-negotiable part of my schedule. I say no more often, even when opportunities sound exciting. I delegate not because I want to, but because I have to. And in the process, I’ve discovered that empowering my team actually strengthens my business.
Still, the grief is there. I can take pride in my resilience and still mourn the reality that my path is unique. I can celebrate my company’s growth and still feel the sting of knowing I had to sacrifice parts of my health to get here.
Burnout and invisible illness have taught me to reimagine success. Success isn’t just revenue or recognition—it’s being able to wake up, move slowly if I need to, and still lead with vision and integrity. It’s finding balance between honoring my limits and staying connected to my purpose. It’s learning to ask for help without shame.
I share this not for pity, but for solidarity. If you’re a leader carrying invisible struggles, you are not alone. You don’t have to choose between your health and your dreams—you just have to create a new way of leading that honors both.
For me, grief and burnout will always be part of the story. But they don’t define me. They remind me that even in the hardest seasons, I’m still showing up. And that, in itself, is a victory.
Click the link below to WATCH as I share my Wellness journey..