Let’s be honest — this kind of moment doesn’t come easy to me.

As a sole parent and entrepreneur of the Executive Coaching firm Potential Unlimited, I’m used to being the one holding it all together. The one who keeps going, even when the tank is running low. Rest? That used to feel like something I had to earn.

But here’s what I’ve come to realize:

You don’t have to earn your rest. You need it — because the world needs the best version of you.

Last week, two icons from different worlds – professional wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan and heavy‑metal frontman Ozzy Osbourne – passed away. Both men lived hard and fast; their bodies took abuse, and each navigated controversy. Yet they became cultural touchstones because of who they became, not just what they did. Their stories contain powerful lessons for leaders about purpose, resilience, and reinvention.

This weekend, what started as a simple grocery run with my eldest daughter turned into one of those moments that shifted my perspective, and I am still carrying it with me.

If you have been feeling worried about scarcity or struggling with your own direction and purpose in the midst of chaotic times, this article is for you!

As my youngest daughter wraps up Grade 8, I find myself at the edge of an emotional threshold — the same kind we often encounter in leadership: when change calls us to pause, realign, and lead with heart.

This month marks the end of an era in our family: the final elementary school sports tournament, the last-minute grad dress fittings, the bittersweet moments of watching my daughter grow into the young woman I’ve been raising her to be — strong, independent, kind, and resilient.

It’s a deeply personal transition, but one that mirrors the very journey I often coach leaders through. Whether in parenting or leadership, growth is not just about milestones — it’s about letting go of one chapter to step into the unknown of the next.

And that next chapter? It often begins with grief.

Yes — grief. Even in leadership.

When I Executive Coach a Leader, we need to define in the beginning exactly what they are trying to achieve. We need to be clear on our goals and make sure we are both moving in the same direction.

So, I would like to take a moment at the beginning of our journey together through this blog series to define what my blogs overarching theme of Leading and Living with Purpose really means.

What does it look like to lead and live with purpose?

To see a picture of my family on social media, we looked almost perfect. Two beautiful little girls, an athletic, handsome husband, the quintessential golden retriever puppy, and me. Social media is this century’s biggest PR machine. But social media often doesn’t tell the story behind the photo.

My family is amazing, but we have been broken time and time again.

Today is my birthday! I am now 49 years of age.  You will never hear me complain about turning another year older.  Each year is a gift.  My husband, Jeff, died of esophageal cancer at the age of 46. I have gotten the gift of three extra years (and counting!) more than Jeff did on this Earth.