Story

The Quiet Power of a Life Team

A few years ago, I hit a wall.

Not the kind you can muscle through with a strong cup of coffee and a tighter to-do list. The kind that knocks the breath out of you. Work was overwhelming, personal relationships were fraying, and the internal compass I had relied on for years was spinning without direction.

That’s when someone asked me a simple question: “Who’s on your Life Team?”

At first, I didn’t know what they meant. I had friends. I had colleagues. I had a calendar packed with networking calls and meetings. But as I looked closer, I realized I was missing something essential—a system of relationships intentionally designed to hold me up when I couldn’t hold myself.

A Life Team isn’t a convenience; it’s a commitment. It’s not a single person with all the answers. It’s an ecosystem, cultivated with care. Mine now includes a therapist who helps me unpack the narratives that shape my choices, a coach who reflects blind spots I’d never see on my own, a friend who listens without rushing to solve, and a small circle of peers who get the unique pressures of leadership.

What I’ve learned is this: a Life Team isn’t about adding more people to your life—it’s about choosing the right people. The ones who speak into your life with wisdom, consistency, and care. The ones who remind you of your values when stress clouds your vision. The ones who offer you presence when solutions fall short.

It’s not always dramatic. Sometimes it’s just a text that says, “Thinking of you.” Sometimes it’s a nudge to slow down, breathe, and recalibrate. But over time, those moments compound.

And when life gets messy—as it inevitably will—that scaffolding doesn’t just help you survive. It helps you rebuild.

Deep Dive

Interdependence is the Leadership Advantage

We often celebrate independence as the ultimate sign of success—especially in leadership. The solo visionary. The self-made founder. The executive who always has the answer.

But here’s the truth behind the myth: great leaders aren’t independent. They’re interdependent.

At first, that might sound counterintuitive. Isn’t the goal to become so grounded, so competent, so self-aware that you no longer need support?

Actually, no. Because real leadership isn’t about doing it alone—it’s about knowing when not to.

When leaders practice deep self-ownership, they stop using independence as a defense mechanism. They no longer hide behind blame or avoidance. They get clear about what’s theirs to carry and what isn’t.

That clarity creates space for something stronger than self-sufficiency: strategic connection.

This is where the concept of a Life Team comes in. It’s the antidote to the cultural script that says “If I need help, I’ve failed.” A Life Team isn’t about rescue—it’s about reflection, recalibration, and resilience. It’s about designing a system of people who speak into your life with clarity, honesty, and care.

The leaders who scale their impact the furthest? They build Life Teams before they hit the wall. They don’t wait until they’re exhausted or isolated. They don’t delegate emotional labor to their spouse or expect their team to fill every gap.

They build a system that supports sustainable leadership.

This is the secret thread. The edge no one talks about. And once you learn to follow it, everything changes.

Putting Into Practice

Putting It into Practice: Build Your Interdependence Engine

If the idea of a Life Team feels new—or even a little uncomfortable—you’re not alone. Most of us were taught to handle things ourselves, especially in leadership. But interdependence isn’t a soft skill. It’s a strategic edge. And like any system, it starts with design.

Here are three simple steps to begin:

1. Audit Your Support System

Take out a blank page or open a new doc. Make three columns:

• People who energize me

• People I process strategy with

• People who reflect my deeper purpose

Now reflect:

• Who do I need more access to?

• Who do I need to ask for something different from?

• Who’s missing?

This isn’t a social inventory—it’s a blueprint. These are the roles that form the backbone of your Life Team.

2. Initiate One New Relational Rhythm

Don’t try to build the whole team at once. Start with one new connection cadence:

• A 45-minute monthly check-in with a coach

• A walk-and-talk call with a peer every Friday

• A short Sunday night voice memo exchange with a mentor

Consistency matters more than frequency. Keep it simple. Keep it human. Keep it going.

3. Practice Visible Interdependence at Work

Interdependence becomes culture when it’s modeled out loud. Start using language like:

• “I processed this with someone I trust and got clearer.”

• “I asked for help and it made the work better.”

• “I don’t have the answer yet, so I reached out to my support circle.”

Your willingness to show how you receive support gives others permission to do the same.

Updates

Designing the Spiritual Retreat 

Lately, my focus has been on shaping a space for deep renewal—our upcoming Resilience During Chaos retreat, happening September 26–28, 2025 at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, NC.

We chose this date intentionally: the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, a storm that disrupted lives across North Carolina. But this isn’t about rebuilding homes. It’s about rebuilding ourselves—from the inside out.

This retreat is for high-performing leaders who are holding it together externally while quietly unraveling internally. Over three immersive days, we’ll work through The Resilience Stack™, a layered system designed to restore clarity, renew energy, and reset how we lead under pressure.

You’ll experience:

• Guided breathwork each morning to reset your nervous system

• Deep dives into The Resilience Stack™ for real-time transformation

• Honest conversations about burnout, leadership, and purpose

• Stillness, nature, and tools you’ll carry home with you

You’ll walk away with a clear, calm mind, a custom transformation plan, and the inner scaffolding to sustain aligned leadership.

We’ve intentionally limited this to 15 participants to keep it intimate and high-impact. No payment required to reserve your spot—just a commitment to your own renewal.

If this resonates, hold your place here or reach out for the full retreat guide.

Content Updates

Stay Connected

• 3 new Substack post’s this week

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