It's easy to view work and life as separate, competing entities. You often hear about the elusive goal of "work-life balance," as if it's a perfect 50/50 split between your professional and personal lives. However, this perspective doesn't capture the nuances and complexities of real life. Instead of striving for balance, what if you aimed for something more holistic and fulfilling? Something like work-life harmony®.

Do you ever feel like you're constantly trying to keep up with the pressures of the outside world? Does it seem like you can't catch a break or get a moment of peace?

Followers--not only leaders--are the foundation for success in every business.

In a recent Breaking Beliefs conversation, I sat down with Elise Powers and uncovered something fascinating about building authentic connections. It's a skill that can be taught from an incredibly young age. When Elise was just three years old, her parents had an unusual rule: she couldn't hand over the phone until she'd asked the caller at least three questions, with one being a follow-up to show she was really listening.

Changing a habit feels straightforward: set a goal, create a plan, follow through. Yet, despite our best intentions and carefully crafted systems, old patterns keep emerging. Why? Because true transformation runs deeper than behavior change—it starts with identity. 

Welcome to article four, the final article of our monthly series that dives deep into the world of taxes and employee retention. This series, sponsored by ADP, explores what is genuinely valuable, practical, and applicable advice to any leader looking to create a workplace where talent flourishes.

As a young CPA, success meant being always available. I started my days before dawn and worked late into the evenings. Everything blurred into an endless cycle of client responses and deadlines. My colleagues praised how hard I worked. But beneath my busy schedule, I was burning out. I didn't see it then, but my work habits kept me from reaching my full potential.

Remember that feeling when you just know something isn't right? Maybe it's a pit in your stomach during a client meeting, or that nagging sensation when you're about to make a business decision. I spent years pushing those feelings aside, convinced that being a "good leader" meant being available 24/7.

The signals are everywhere—racing thoughts during meetings, tension headaches by noon, checking emails at midnight. Overwhelm has become so common we almost see it as normal. But what if our bodies are trying to tell us something different?

Many professionals pride themselves on being excellent problem-solvers, but not enough pride themselves on being proactive. In my early career, my inbox overflowed with urgent requests, and I measured success by rapid responses and issues resolved. This reactive approach worked—until it didn't.