A Leadership Reset: Redefining Success for the Season You’re In
Sometimes clarity arrives wrapped in disruption.
I didn’t plan to record this episode or write this article. My guest had to reschedule, and I had just spent two weeks sick, exhausted, and forced into stillness. After finally getting medical help—and right before heading to Cancun for my annual best-friend getaway—I did something I rarely allow myself to do:
I powered down.
And in that slowing, something became incredibly clear…
Sometimes you have to stop moving to see where you're really going.
Most nonprofit leaders don’t choose that pause—we wait until life forces us into it. But what if we intentionally created space to reset, realign, and rethink what success means for the season we’re actually in?
Because here's the truth:
Burnout rarely comes from doing too much.
It comes from doing what no longer serves you.
Let’s talk about what it means to redefine success as a leader—one who is evolving, growing, and deserving of a version of success that fits who you are now, not who you were years ago.
Why So Many Leaders Outgrow Their Definition of Success
Most of us are operating from outdated metrics we absorbed early in our careers:
“Be productive at all times.”
“Say yes to everything.”
“Busy equals important.”
“Push, hustle, grind.”
But here’s the catch:
Those goals were created by an earlier version of you.
Maybe the scrappy startup leader.
Maybe the overachiever.
Maybe the version of you who just needed to keep the doors open.
But as you evolve, your definition of success must evolve too.
If you’re feeling:
✔ tired
✔ resentful
✔ disconnected from your work
✔ unmotivated even though “everything looks good on paper”
…it’s a sign you’ve outgrown your old definition of success.
So let’s craft a new one.
Success Has Seasons (And You’re Not Meant to Live in Summer All Year)
I talk a lot about rhythms—because every healthy system has them.
Spring = planting and beginnings
Summer = growth and expansion
Fall = refinement and pruning
Winter = rest and reflection
But our leadership culture expects us to be in summer all the time: visible, productive, blooming, doing.
It’s not sustainable.
It’s not healthy.
And it’s not realistic.
You’re not supposed to be “in bloom” 12 months a year.
Healthy leaders honor their season—not just their schedule.
So let’s explore the six modern pillars of success that matter far more than “busyness.”
1. Alignment & Integrity: Success Is When Your Calendar Reflects Your Values
Old success:
“How much can I get done today?”
New success:
“Are the things I’m doing aligned with who I am and what matters?”
A quick test:
Does your calendar reflect your values—or everyone else’s demands?
You are not required to turn cartwheels to accommodate every request.
You are allowed to say:
“Tomorrow works better for me.”
New mantra:
👉 Success is when my calendar reflects my values.
2. Energy & Sustainability: Leading Without Burning Out
The old paradigm glorifies exhaustion.
“How much can I carry?”
“How much can I manage?”
But leadership isn’t about how much weight you can hold.
It’s about how well you can sustain what matters.
When you can step away and your team thrives—that is leadership.
New mantra:
👉 Success is when I end more weeks energized than exhausted.
3. Relationships & Culture: Focus on Vibrancy, Not Visibility
Success is not about collecting people like LinkedIn connections.
It’s about creating environments where people feel:
✔ seen
✔ valued
✔ safe
✔ energized
Whether they’re staff, donors, board members, or volunteers—your leadership sets the emotional tone.
New mantra:
👉 Success is when people feel better after interacting with me or my organization.
4. Impact & Legacy: Create Change That Outlives You
A lot of leaders chase volume—more donors, more money, more output.
But real legacy is measured in:
⭐ transformation
⭐ systems
⭐ what continues after you step away
If your absence causes collapse, that isn’t success.
It’s codependence.
New mantra:
👉 Success is when change continues after I’ve stepped away.
5. Joy & Fulfillment: Joy Is Not Optional—It’s a Leadership Strategy
I say it all the time:
You set the temperature.
If you lead with panic, your team follows.
If you lead with joy, confidence, and grounded energy—they rise with you.
Before walking into a room, pause.
Reset.
Clear your energy.
Choose how you want to show up.
New mantra:
👉 Success is when I love the way I show up.
6. Growth Reimagined: Depth Over Reach
Growth isn’t disappearing—it’s transforming.
It’s less about scaling your budget…
…and more about scaling your wisdom.
Growth now means:
expanding your emotional intelligence
deepening your relationships
strengthening your boundaries
modeling leadership you want others to embody
And here’s a big one:
Stop defining donor value by the size of their gift.
Honor longevity. Honor loyalty. Honor passion.
People aren’t ATMs.
New mantra:
👉 Success is when I’m expanding in wisdom, not just reach.
A Quick Reflection Exercise
Ask yourself:
What did success mean to me two years ago?
What does success feel like now?
What no longer feels like success—even if I’m still chasing it?
You may be surprised what comes up.
Redefining success doesn’t make you “less ambitious.”
It makes you more aligned, more grounded, and more effective.
Redefining Leadership for the Season You’re In
Leadership isn’t about hyper-productivity or nonstop visibility.
It’s about:
- alignment
- sustainability
- vibrancy
- wisdom
- influence built on connection—not pressure
When you honor your season, you lead with more clarity, confidence, and compassion.
And that’s what creates long-term, meaningful impact.
Ready for Support? Let's Redefine Your Leadership Together
If this resonated—and you want help integrating these shifts—I’m offering a mini coaching package where we walk through your donor pipeline, leadership habits, and energy alignment so you can enter your next season strong, supported, and in sync.
You’ll find the link in the show notes—or reach out directly.
Because you deserve to lead from peace, not pressure.
And if no one told you today…
You’re doing beautifully. Keep going.