Are you getting things done? Or moving things forward?
“I’m working too much.”
“But there’s so much to do!”
I hear this every week from nonprofit leaders. They know it’s not sustainable: Not for them.
Not for their families. Not for their staff—who feel the pressure to match their pace.
But I’ve seen another way. Clients who rewrite the rules they’ve built for themselves do find more ease. And they don’t fall apart. The funding doesn’t collapse. Their teams thrive.
Today we’ll focus on what it means to strategize instead of just checking things off the list, so you can truly LEAD.
Practice: Protect Your Focus Time
Here’s the truth: focus time is your real work.
It’s where vision happens. Direction. Innovation.
Without it, you’re reacting—not leading.
Before you figure out how to carve out focus time, ask why it matters:
What will this make possible for your organization?
What’s the cost of NOT doing it?
What will you need to say no to—and is it worth it?
Once you’re grounded in the why, the how gets easier:
Block protected time (and treat it like a funder meeting)
Tell your team—it’s leadership work, not time off
Turn off notifications, close the door
Appoint someone who can interrupt you only in a real emergency
Set up your ideal focus zone: snacks, music, no distractions
Don’t cancel—reschedule if absolutely needed
You don’t owe your organization constant access.
You owe it to your best thinking.
What helps you hold space for your most important work?
A Leader's Testimonial:
“Rachel helped me reframe challenges—what once felt like frustrating setbacks became powerful opportunities.”
– Nicole Heller
Want more?
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