The CEO mindset: how to be the leader of your own life

Follow the show:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Everywhere else 

 

In this week's episode, we’re talking about stepping out of constant task execution mode and into CEO energy - where you take control of your time, your priorities, and your work-life balance. If you feel like you're always reacting to what’s thrown at you rather than proactively shaping your days, this episode is for you. I’ll break down exactly how to shift into CEO energy so you stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling powerful in your decisions. Let’s get to it!

Topics in this episode:

  • Why balancing both is key to sustainable work-life balance. 

  • How CEOs think long-term and make decisions proactively. 

  • Start and end your workday to set the tone for success. 

  • How my clients have shifted into CEO energy to reclaim time and confidence. 

  • Techniques to stop reacting and start making intentional, empowered choices. 

Show Notes & References:

Enjoying the podcast?

Transcript

Introduction

You cannot continue to be just the manager of your life. At some point, you have to zoom out and start living life based on your priorities and your goals, just like a CEO would. You have to make hard decisions on what to prioritize and what to say no to. You have to start thinking long term about the things that truly matter to you and then make decisions today to actually prioritize those. As a manager, you execute on the vision given to you by your boss. But as the CEO, you cast your own vision, you set your own goals, you schedule your own, priorities based on your values, your purpose, and your future goals. If you don't learn how to step intentionally into your own CEO energy, you will always be living somebody else's vision. But not anymore. My friends, it is time to become the CEO of your life. And I'm going to explain exactly how to do that right here. Are you ready? Let's get to it.

Welcome to the ambitious imbalanced working moms podcast, your go to resource for integrating your career ambitions with life as a mom. I'm distilling down thousands of coaching conversations I've had with working moms just like you, along with my own personal experience as a mom of two and sharing the most effective tools and strategies to help you quickly feel calm, confident, and in control of your ambitious working mom life. You ready? Let's get to it.

Back from Ski Week and Ready to Dive In

Hello, friends. Gosh, so much is going on in my world right now. But I’m really excited to be here with you today, getting back into full swing.

My kids just went through midwinter break. I don’t know where you are in the country or the world, but this is fairly new to us—only the second year we’ve ever had it. I think people affectionately call it Ski Week.

Now, I live about three hours from the snow, but even so, it’s still called Ski Week. For us, it meant midwinter break…and we took the family to Disneyland.

Why Presence Matters: Lessons from Disneyland

We spent almost five days there. The kids were at the perfect age to go—it was so much fun. We made so many great memories together.

And I was really able to shut down my work brain, to fully invest and be present with my family. That’s exactly what I want for all of you: the ability to step away from work, to turn it off, and to really be with the people you love.

Ambitious and Balanced: A Life Beyond Work

At the same time, my next cohort of Ambitious and Balanced has officially closed. I have my final group of women in this cohort, and I am so excited for them.

I’m on fire about what they’re going to create this year. They’re no longer going to let work consume all of their energy. They’re going to have a life outside of work. They’re going to be so much more present.

They are literally going to gain back hours—hours they can spend on themselves, with their families, or just getting more done in less time. Because they’re gaining back control of their time.

I love it so much, and I can’t wait for them to start.

Want In? Join the Waitlist for the Next Cohort

The next Ambitious and Balanced cohort launches in May and runs through the summer.

If you want to stay up to speed and be the first to know when the doors open, you’re going to want to join the waitlist. I always offer something extra special to the people on that list.

So, make sure you get on it—I’ll drop the link in the show notes so you can sign up today.

Why This Episode Feels Like a Fresh Start

All right, let’s dive into today’s topic. I have so much energy around this right now. Honestly, it feels like the beginning of the year for me.

I’m rested, I’m ready, and I’m on fire for this next cohort. You know that New Year’s energy—when nothing is going to stop you from hitting your goals? That’s exactly what I feel like I have, even though we’re already two months into 2025.

And if you’re not feeling that way—if you’ve lost sight of your goals, your habits, or the rhythms you wanted this year—this is going to be the perfect episode for you. You’ll be able to draw on my energy and use it to get right back into the swing of things.

Work-Life Balance Requires More Than Boundaries

Today we’re going to talk about something that has come up in several of the workshops I’ve given recently. Companies, ERGs, and community groups have been bringing me in to teach about work-life balance and effective boundary-setting.

And out of those conversations came today’s topic: the difference between being in CEO energy and being in managerial energy.

This is such an important concept, because here’s the truth: you cannot create sustainable work-life balance if you don’t know how to tap into your CEO energy.

CEO Energy vs. Managerial Energy

Here’s why: If you don’t know how to vision-cast, step out of the weeds of your to-do list, and prioritize effectively—the way a CEO does—you will stay stuck in overwork and imbalance.

You need CEO energy to guide the bigger picture. Without it, balance becomes impossible.

So today, I’m going to break down:

The difference between these two energies

Why both are important

How to intentionally shift into CEO energy in the crucial moments that matter most

A Disclaimer Before We Begin: You Need Both

Before I even define these two energies, I want you to understand one thing clearly: both are needed.

This is not about one being better than the other. There are absolutely times in your day when you need your managerial, execution energy—when you just need to get things done.

And there are other moments when you need to be in CEO energy—when you have to make confident decisions, shift priorities, shut down work fully, or decide what matters most.

The problem is that most people listening to this podcast live almost entirely in managerial mode. That’s where they feel strongest. That’s what makes them effective and productive.

But if you don’t also know how—and when—to step into your CEO energy, you will keep running on the treadmill of doing, never stepping back to decide what really matters.

That’s what we’re going to work through together today.

What Is Managerial Energy?

Let’s start with talking about managerial energy.

Based on the word itself, I’m sure you can guess what this means. It’s the energy you have as a manager. And not just a manager of people—because not everyone listening manages a team at work—but you absolutely manage a family, right?

You manage a household, as most women do. You manage tasks. You manage lists. You manage schedules.

Managerial energy is all about getting things done. But it’s not just checking off tasks like an individual contributor would—it’s executing your list at a high level and getting the people around you to execute at a high level.

That might mean:

Getting your kids out the door or helping with homework

Having strategic conversations with your spouse about who’s doing what

Training your team at work and making sure they’re aligned on expectations

You know you’re in managerial energy when you’re executing your plan for the day, moving through meetings, and keeping your daily rhythms on track.

What Is CEO Energy?

Now, contrast that with CEO energy.

Just like the CEO of a company, you tap into this energy when you zoom out, vision-cast, and prioritize from a bigger-picture perspective.

A CEO isn’t focused on the next meeting or even the next month. They’re asking: What’s the strategy for the next year? The next five years? Are we moving the company in the right direction?

In your world, CEO energy might look like:

Taking a moment to zoom out and ask: Is this the best use of my time?

Setting goals for your day, week, or season based on priorities—not just what feels urgent

Evaluating what’s working (and not working) in your household, and making a plan to fix it

Staying calm and grounded when your child has a meltdown, instead of reacting

Anytime you pause, breathe, and make a decision rooted in priorities, strategy, or values—you’re in CEO energy.

Manager vs. CEO Energy: Why Both Matter for Work-Life Balance

Both energies are essential. A manager thinks micro: the day, the week, the month, maybe the quarter. A CEO thinks macro: the direction, the long-term, the strategy.

As ambitious working moms, you need both. You need the managerial energy to execute, and you need CEO energy to prioritize and set boundaries.

My work as a coach is often about helping women tap into their CEO energy on demand. To not only recognize that CEO voice inside of you, but also to trust her—to let her strength shine and guide you toward sustainable balance.

From Frustration to Strategy at Work

I had a client in the last Ambitious and Balanced cohort who was working on a very important, time-sensitive project. She was part of a team, managing one or two direct reports while collaborating with colleagues who also managed people.

She often disagreed with how her colleagues wanted to execute the project. She had her own ideas—ones she believed would make the project better, more efficient, and faster. But in her managerial energy, she kept showing up to meetings trying to be a good team player, even as her frustration grew.

In one of our sessions, I asked her a CEO-style question: “What would need to happen in order for you to stop being so frustrated in these meetings and help the whole team reach consensus faster?”

That’s a CEO question—evaluating what’s working, identifying inefficiencies, and creating a proactive plan to move forward.

By the end of our session, she had a new mindset and a clear plan for tackling her next meeting. Instead of reacting in frustration, she stepped into her CEO energy—shifting from reactive mode to proactive mode.

How CEO Energy Transforms Relationships at Home

Another client in this cohort struggled at home. Her spouse worked odd hours, and she found herself exhausted—juggling childcare, groceries, household tasks, and her own demanding job.

In her managerial energy, she kept everything moving. Nothing fell through the cracks. But she was drained, resentful, and frustrated.

So I asked her: “How do you know that you and your spouse are on the same team?”

At first, she said, “I don’t feel like we’re on the same team at all.” But as she reflected, she began to identify small ways they were united. That’s CEO energy—it forces you to zoom out and look at the bigger picture instead of only focusing on what’s wrong.

From there, we strategized a conversation she could have with her spouse. Instead of an accusatory fight, it became a collaborative discussion about managing their household and schedules as a team. That shift only happened because she stepped into CEO energy.

Why Goal Setting Requires CEO Energy

Earlier this year, I led a session for my Ambitious and Balanced cohort on evaluating and goal-setting. We looked back at 2024: what went well, what didn’t, and what they wanted to create in 2025.

That exercise required CEO energy. Evaluating, vision-casting, and creating a proactive plan are CEO tasks. And for many women, it was a turning point—they walked away with clear priorities and a practical roadmap for the year ahead.

Without that work, they would have stayed stuck in managerial energy—thinking about goals as “nice to have” or “if I can get to it.” But instead, they proactively built plans, scheduled them, and committed to execution.

Managers Prioritize Urgency. CEOs Prioritize Importance.

Here’s the distinction:

Managers prioritize based on urgency—deadlines, requests, the needs of others.

CEOs prioritize based on importance—end results, long-term goals, vision.

That’s why evaluation and goal-setting matter so much. They’re CEO practices. And when you embrace them, you stop reacting and start leading—at work, at home, and in your own life.

Drowning in Meetings: A Shift Into CEO Energy

I have another client who manages a huge team—frankly, far too many people to manage effectively. Together, we’re working on a plan to restructure her department so she doesn’t directly manage so many people.

In the meantime, though, her weeks were completely inundated with one-on-one meetings. From Monday morning to Friday afternoon, her calendar was jam-packed—team meetings, check-ins, updates, requests. And when you’re in back-to-back meetings all the time, it’s nearly impossible to get your own work done.

So in coaching, I helped her step into her CEO energy. She began zooming out and questioning every single meeting request:

Do I really need to be in this meeting?

Could someone else on my team attend instead?

Could I simply get briefed instead of spending 30 minutes to an hour?

Am I the decision-maker here—or can I delegate this?

Is this truly the highest and best use of my time?

We created her “yes criteria” for meetings. Now, if a meeting request doesn’t meet that pre-determined list, she says no. And in doing so, she has literally gained back hours each week—time she now spends on strategy, meaningful work, and showing up powerfully for her team.

The Two Most Crucial CEO Moments in Your Workday

If you stay in managerial energy all the time, you’ll remain in reactive mode. That’s where most people live. The real question is: How do you intentionally step into vision-casting mode?

There are two key moments in your workday that are absolutely crucial for CEO energy: The start of your day. The end of your day

If you are not strategically beginning and ending your workday in CEO energy, you are leaving massive amounts of time and energy on the table.

How to Start Your Day in CEO Energy

At the beginning of your workday, you need to do two things:

Decide your priorities. Write them down. Put your to-do list away and make sure you’re leading your day with clarity.

Get your mindset in order. Stop starting your day in reaction mode—second guessing, doubting, stressing. That mental spiral wastes your time and energy before you even begin.

For my clients, I teach a 10-minute exercise called The Daily Work. It puts their brain in the right headspace, sets priorities, and ensures they walk away from their day feeling confident, satisfied, and accomplished.

How to End Your Day in CEO Energy

The end of your workday is just as important. The last 15–30 minutes should not be about “one more thing” on the list. Instead, this is your CEO moment to:Evaluate progress, Identify what needs to get done tomorrow, Close out emotional, mental, and time leaks

This is how you end your day satisfied and valuable, so you can walk into your evening feeling accomplished instead of drained. When you leave work confident in what you’ve done, you’re far less likely to log back on later, stay “available,” or let boundaries slide.

For my clients, I teach a tool called The Work-to-Home Transition—a set of reflection questions that closes the day powerfully so they can step into family time feeling present and whole.

Other Crucial CEO Moments for Working Moms

Beyond starting and ending your day, there are other moments that require CEO energy:

When your child has a meltdown. Instead of reacting, you step back, stay calm, and show up as the intentional parent you want to be.

When a last-minute request comes in. Instead of automatically saying yes like a manager would, you pause and ask: Is this truly important? Is this my priority, or someone else’s urgency?

Your colleague’s panic or your client’s rush request is not necessarily your priority. Stepping into CEO energy means making proactive decisions instead of reactive ones.

Working Moms: It’s Time to Be the CEO of Your Life

Right now, your goal is a life that isn’t consumed by work. A life where you’re living proactively—with clear vision, purposeful time, and intentional space for your family, your hobbies, and your career.

And when you commit to that vision, you’ll find it so much easier to step into your CEO energy with confidence and ease.

Working moms, you already know how to be a manager. Now it’s time to be the CEO.

Book Your Free Breakthrough Call

I’d love to walk you through this process in a free breakthrough call. In this 1:1 strategy session, we’ll talk about what you need to step into your CEO energy, set boundaries, and make decisions that align with your purpose, values, and goals.

You can book your call at www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/book. Fill out a quick prep form, then schedule a time that works for you.

Working moms—you are powerful, you are capable, and you can do this. I know it.

Join the Next Ambitious and Balanced Cohort

The next cohort of my group coaching program, Ambitious and Balanced, is starting soon. This is the year to not only learn how to create sustainable work-life balance, but to actually live it—putting yourself and your family first without sacrificing your career.

I’m only taking 10 women into this next group, and you don’t want to miss this opportunity.

You can learn more at www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced.

This is the year you feel successful both at work and at home. I can’t wait to walk you through it.

Rebecca Olson