For the last eight summers, my husband and I have spent 4–6 weeks in Germany. It’s become a tradition, a time to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy a slower rhythm of life.
But this summer was different.
I cut our trip short to attend the National Speakers Association’s annual conference, an event I’d never been to before, but one I’d heard so much about from peers and mentors in my industry.
And along with their glowing endorsements came the same warning:
“It’s amazing… but it can be incredibly overwhelming.”
They weren’t wrong.
Travel, Transitions, and the Perfect Storm for Overwhelm
To get there, I had to travel over 20 hours across time zones:
Berlin → Frankfurt → Seattle → Phoenix.
Each leg required retrieving luggage, clearing customs, and checking in again. One delay could have derailed everything.
And yet, miraculously, it all worked. No delays. No lost bags. No missed connections.
But let me be clear: it was exhausting. Frankfurt Airport alone felt like walking 40 miles. And the 9-hour time difference? A recipe for serious jet lag.
Now layer on the fact that I was about to step into a massive conference, filled with high-energy networking, breakout sessions, and sensory overload.
Overwhelm was ready and waiting. But I didn’t let it take over.
Instead of giving in to the exhaustion and stress, I made a conscious choice:
I set the intention to protect my energy and design my own experience.
That meant:
- Prioritizing sleep and rest when I needed it.
- Being selective about the sessions I attended.
- Giving myself full permission to opt out without guilt.
- Staying grounded in presence not pressure.
As a result, I didn’t just survive the experience, I truly enjoyed it. I was able to connect, learn, and show up as my best self.
Why This Matters for You
This isn’t just about travel or conferences. This is about how we move through life, business, and leadership.
We are constantly being fed narratives about what’s “too much,” what’s “hard,” and what’s “realistic.”
But here’s the truth:
Overwhelm is often a story we accept without questioning.
Someone else’s overwhelm doesn’t have to become your reality.
Your dream, your business, your leadership path doesn’t have to be hard just because it was hard for someone else.
You have agency. You have choice. You can design your own experience.
Intentional Leadership Starts With You
We talk a lot about strategy and systems, but true transformation starts with mindset and habits. The way you lead yourself determines how you lead others and how you experience success.
You don’t have to hustle your way to burnout. You don’t have to accept chaos as the cost of growth.
You can choose clarity, alignment, and intentional success.
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