Monday hit me with a summer cold and, naturally, a full roster of coaching clients, including two three-hour blocks with no breaks, plus our Authentic Leadership Alumni Zoom with leaders from the first three cohorts of our in-person workshop.
💄 No makeup except my signature red lipstick. Jammies instead of blazers. And so much gratitude that I get to work from home, sore throat and all.
Here’s what surprised me: being sick narrowed my world in the best way. I slept. I watched true crime. I ate Thai curry and apple pie (thank you to my boyfriend for the leftovers). And when it was time to show up, I showed up for the one person or group in front of me.
🤧 Coaching with a cough and a runny nose is hard. But I delivered solid sessions and facilitated a genuinely impactful conversation with the new authentic leadership community I’m building. Turns out presence doesn’t require perfect health. It just requires focus.
If you’re in Vancouver: our early bird rate for the September 19 Authentic Leadership workshop ends this Friday. [Grab your ticket here →]
🤠By Thursday, I was feeling better. Good enough to trade jammies for cowgirl boots and head to a garden party hosted by my women in business networking group, Alliance 360, at a stunning winery. I spent the evening connecting with powerhouse businesswomen, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones. It was the kind of night that reminds you why community matters.
🌄 Then came my Friday reset: hiking the Grouse Grind, lingering sniffles and all. Every step up that mountain felt like proof that I was healing, and proof of the life I’ve built. I got to the top tired, a little proud, and completely grateful.
A summer cold isn’t exactly a life lesson wrapped in a bow. But this one taught me something real: health isn’t something you notice until it wobbles. The work I get to do, sitting with leaders in their hardest moments, building a community around authenticity, is a privilege even when my throat hurts to talk.
So here’s to narrowed focus, leftover pie, red lipstick as armor, and showing up anyway.
See you at the workshop, or on the trail.
Lots of love,
-Anna
P.S. Early bird pricing for the September 19 Authentic Leadership workshop ends Friday. If you’ve been on the fence, this is your nudge. [Grab your ticket here →]
