Why the C-suite won’t make us happy
Why the C-suite won’t make us happy January 14, 2026 This week, Alex and Emily dig into the first of five false beliefs that quietly set executives up for burnout—the seductive idea that reaching the C-suite will finally make you happy. They explore the “honeymoon phase” that tricks high performers into thinking they’ve finally arrived, […]
The Lie That Almost Destroyed Me: Why the C-Suite Won’t Make You
The Lie That Almost Destroyed Me: Why the C-Suite Won’t Make You January 14, 2026 I spent two decades chasing a seat at the table. Every promotion, every late night, every missed family dinner—all investments in a future I was certain would pay off. Then I got the CEO title. And I was thrilled. Proud. […]
Why the C-Suite Won’t Make Us Happy: The Deep Dive
Why the C-Suite Won’t Make Us Happy: The Deep Dive January 14, 2026 This week, Alex and Emily dig into the first of five false beliefs that quietly set executives up for burnout, the seductive idea that reaching the C-suite will finally make you happy. They explore the “honeymoon phase” that tricks high performers into […]
My Experience Writing My First Book
My Experience Writing My First Book January 7, 2026 The Graveyard of Unwritten Ideas Many times throughout my life I thought, “I should write a book about that.” The excitement would hit like a shot of espresso. Ideas would swirl. Possibilities would multiply. And then, predictably, the pattern would repeat itself. Self-doubt would creep in. […]
False Summits: The Deep Dive
False Summits: The Deep Dive January 7, 2026 This week, Alex and Emily explore what it really takes to go from “I should write a book about that” to actually holding a finished manuscript in your hands. Julien opens up about the graveyard of unwritten ideas that haunted him for years—and the unexpected conversation over […]
The Isolation Trap: The Deep Dive
The Isolation Trap: The Deep Dive December 31, 2025 This week Alex and Emily are discussing one of the most overlooked blind spots in executive leadership — the Isolation Trap. Why do the most successful leaders often feel the loneliest? What’s the difference between being alone and being isolated? And how does the “Atlas Syndrome” […]
The Isolation Trap
The Isolation Trap December 31, 2025 There’s a moment I remember too clearly. I was sitting in my office after everyone had left. The parking lot was empty. The building was quiet. And I was staring at a wall of problems I couldn’t tell anyone about. Not my board. Not my team. Not even my […]
The Ratchet Effect
The Ratchet Effect December 24, 2025 Why Your Stress Baseline Only Moves One Direction I used to think stress was something you just pushed through. You know the drill. Big deadline hits. Pressure mounts. You dig deep, power through, deliver. Then you exhale, maybe grab a drink, maybe take a weekend off. Reset complete. Except […]
Ratchet Effect: The Deep Dive
Ratchet Effect: The Deep Dive December 24, 2025 This week, Alex and Emily dig into one of the most misunderstood dynamics in executive burnout—the incomplete stress cycle. Why does pushing through actually make things worse? How does your nervous system keep score long after you’ve “moved on”? And what does a mechanical ratchet have to […]
The Oscar-Worthy Performance That’s Killing You
The Oscar-Worthy Performance That’s Killing You December 18, 2025 Hey there, I used to be magnificent at Success Theater. Board meetings? Standing ovation performance. Investor calls? Five stars. Company all-hands? Academy Award material. Meanwhile, backstage? Towards the end it was brutal and I was struggling. But nobody knew. Because I’d perfected the art of looking […]