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.

Recently, I had one of those A-ha moments—the kind that makes you pause in your tracks and question something that’s been running silently in the background of your life.

I realized that almost everything I do has a purpose. A goal. An outcome.

Even when I think I’m doing something for me—like going to the gym or walking the dog—it’s often tied to a broader objective. Health. Productivity. Routine. Performance.

And while those are noble pursuits, I found myself asking: When was the last time I did something just for the joy of it?

Have you ever felt like a fraud? Are you just waiting for someone to figure out that you're not as capable, smart, or worthy as others think you are? Or maybe you are saying one thing to your colleagues, clients or even your kids, but then you don’t always 'walk the talk' on it yourself?

That feeling has a name — Imposter Syndrome — and you're far from alone.