How to Lead with Strength When Life Feels Unbearable

Let’s get real — life doesn’t wait for perfect timing.

Maybe you're feeling the pressure from a revenue dip, the weight of tension at home, or just that gut-punch moment of “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”

Here’s the truth: you’re not alone. And more importantly, how you choose to show up in these hard moments? That’s where real leadership lives.

I’ve coached hundreds of entrepreneurs through seasons of chaos — near-bankruptcies, divorces, grief, burnout, betrayals — and here’s what I’ve learned:

Crisis is the ultimate mirror.

It doesn’t care about your résumé.

It demands your presence.

How to Show Up as Your Best Self When Everything Feels Hard:

Be real, not right.

Your team doesn’t need a flawless leader. Your spouse doesn’t need you to fix it. What they do need is your honesty.

One of my clients, a founder, was navigating the uncertainty of COVID. Her business was hanging on by a thread. Her team kept asking for updates, but what she heard was pressure for certainty — and she had none. She wanted to hide behind a company-wide email.

As her coach, I challenged her to send a short video instead. Just show up. Be seen. Be heard. In it, she said, “I don’t have the answers right now — but I’m doing everything I can to get them. And I’m here to talk if you need me.”

Her team flooded her with calls. They didn’t want guarantees — they wanted connection. They wanted to check in on her. They wanted to tell her they believed in her. That single act of vulnerable leadership changed everything.

Create safety before strategy.

Business challenges are rarely just about numbers — they’re about people. And people need to feel emotionally safe before they can perform. Listen first. Validate often. Don’t rush to solve. Your presence is the strategy. Lead with curiosity instead of control.

Shrink the game.

When I was leading Diversified Industrial Staffing through the Great Recession, we had to pivot hard. Growth goals went out the window. Instead, we focused on daily activity goals — one call, one connection, one win at a time. We had to pivot from “thrive-mode” into “Survive-Mode”. Staying in business, not growing the business, was the win.

Big goals can paralyze. Small wins build momentum. So, send the tough email. Take the walk. Book the therapy appointment. Just win the next moment.

Protect the asset — you.

You can’t pour from an empty cup. You are the asset.

That means self-care isn’t a reward — it’s a requirement. Walks in the daylight. Boundaries around your time. Saying “no” when your tank is empty. Maybe even taking the retreat, you keep saying you’ll take “when things calm down.”

Don’t go it alone.

An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk.

Sometimes, you don’t need more tools — you need a trusted partner to walk the path with you. Someone to help you think clearly, see yourself more honestly, and reconnect with the part of you that already knows the way forward. That’s what I do in coaching.

Key Reminders:

• Presence > Perfection
• Safety fuels performance
• Small wins = big change
• Your emotional fuel tank matters

Reflection Prompt:

Where in your life are you performing instead of being present?

Action Step:

Pick one strategy above and put it into action today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.

If this season feels like too much — let’s talk. You don’t have to carry it alone. Coaching isn’t about fixing you. It’s about walking beside you as you reclaim your clarity, your energy, and your confidence.

You’ve got what it takes. And I’ve got your back.

To your growth,

Todd

P.S. Know someone who’s in the thick of it right now? Forward this message their way. It might be the encouragement they didn’t know they needed today.