What if the most powerful leadership move you could make today… is to pause?
In this episode of Coffee with Mike, Mike Viney dives into a reality many leaders are quietly facing: mental and emotional exhaustion. Recent research shows that nearly half of leaders — and more than half of CEOs — reported struggling with mental health in the past year. The pressure is real. The pace is relentless. And the “always on” expectation is taking a toll.
Mike shares his own story of living in what he calls “rocket boots” mode — constantly moving, building, producing — until his body forced him to confront the cost of nonstop hustle. What he discovered changed everything: our brains and nervous systems are not designed for continuous go-go-go. Without intentional pauses, stress compounds, emotions get buried, and performance eventually suffers.
This episode explores:
- Why hustle can quietly become an emotional escape
- What chronic stress actually does to your brain and body
- The connection between pausing and sustainable high performance
- A simple 60-second reset you can start using today
- The three questions that build emotional awareness and resilience
Mike also shares how learning Transcendental Meditation — and committing to 20 minutes twice a day — didn’t slow him down… it multiplied his effectiveness, deepened his relationships, and clarified his leadership.
If you lead people, this conversation matters. Because sustainable leadership isn’t built on constant acceleration. It’s built on awareness, regulation, and intentional recovery.
Pause isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.
Resources Mentioned
- Business Solver 2024 State of Workplace Empathy Study
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- Greenwood Lake Roasters Coffee
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