From Survival Mode to Intentional Leadership: A New Way Forward for Women

By Norma Serena Hogan, Leadership Coach and Member of The Prosper Network

For years, I moved through life the way many high-achieving women do. 

I handled everything for everyone, pushed through stress, and told myself I was fine even when my body and mind were saying the opposite. At the time, I believed that needing rest or support was indulgent. I believed calm was something you earned after the work was done. I believed exhaustion was simply part of leadership. And if someone had called me high-achieving, I would have brushed it off. I was just doing my job!

Eventually, the pressure caught up with me. 

I was tired, reactive, overwhelmed, and running on fumes. Multiple health concerns, from high blood pressure and high cholesterol to pre-diabetes, finally forced me to slow down and go inward. I couldn't ignore the fact that the stress was impacting me negatively any longer. I began to see that pushing harder was not strength. It was survival mode. And staying in that mode for too long is detrimental.

A year ago, I took two days off to finally finish my mindfulness certification, something I had put off for years. 

I felt deeply that mindfulness was the solution, but I just couldn't make it a priority. Because I couldn't make myself a priority. But including mindfulness into my day was the turning point, and not the trending or 3-day silent retreat version, but the grounded, practical skill of regulating my nervous system, listening to my body, and leading from clarity instead of urgency. 

With time, I began to sleep better, think more clearly, and make decisions that aligned with my values instead of from a place of urgency. I no longer feel constantly stressed, anxious, or like I’m always 2 steps behind. A year later, I even have new hair growth! Wild, right?

I learned that presence is not a personality trait.
It is a practice. 

It is the choice to pause before reacting. It is the willingness to be honest about how you feel instead of hiding behind the words "I'm fine". It is the foundation for what I call Intentional Leadership, my signature coaching for women who are carrying invisible mental loads at home and organizational weight at work.

I also learned that many women are facing the same experience in silence. 

The research is clear: Burnout among women leaders is rising, and the pattern is not a personal failure. It is a systemic issue that requires new tools and new ways of leading.

The next time you hear yourself say "I'm fine", pause. 

Ask yourself what is actually true. Ask what your body needs. Ask what you are avoiding by staying busy. This small moment of honesty can interrupt the burnout cycle long before it becomes a crisis.

Give yourself five quiet minutes today. Put your phone down. Sit, breathe, and notice what is here. Not what is urgent, not what is expected, but what is true. This is how you begin again. This is how you shift from reactivity to intention. This is how you lead with presence in a way that supports both your well-being and your impact.

If this speaks to you, this is the work I do with women. Mindfulness, intentional (self-)leadership, and sustainable success are not just ideas.

They are skills that can change your life.
One intentional moment at a time. 

If this reflection resonates with you, you are not alone—and you don’t have to navigate the path back to presence and sustainability on your own, either. 

Inside The Prosper Network, you’ll find a community of women who are rewriting what leadership looks and feels like. Women who value generosity, reciprocity, and growth. Women who understand the invisible load—and are choosing more intentional, more supported, more regenerative ways of doing business and life.

If you’re craving a space where you can be honest, be held, and be inspired as you build a business that supports your well-being rather than drains it, we’d love to have you.

Join The Prosper Network and surround yourself with women who will walk this journey with you—one intentional moment at a time.

Norma Serena Hogan is a Leadership Coach who teaches that mindfulness, intentional (self-)leadership, and sustainable success are not just ideas. They are skills that can change your life. One intentional moment at a time.

Connect with Norma:

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