How much control do you really have over your time—and your mindset? In this episode, LaVonna Roth joins Dawn to talk about the tension between productivity and presence, guilt and growth.

They dive into boundary-setting as an act of self-trust, rethinking what makes a “successful” day, and why perfectionism still shows up even when we think we’ve conquered it.

From the power of pause to the reality of menopause, this episode is packed with real talk, self-awareness, and strategies for honoring your capacity without losing your spark. If you’ve ever struggled with saying no, managing your energy, or fighting the feeling that it’s never enough, this one’s for you.

🌟 Topics include:

• Control as both a boundary and a burden
• What to-do lists reveal about us
• Managing perfectionism as a recovering perfectionist
• Travel, motherhood, and the power of presence
• How nature, sleep, and stillness restore us

🎧 Listen in—and take what you need.

Keywords

hope, control, mindfulness, productivity, perfectionism,work-life balance, travel, leadership, self-care, boundaries

Takeaways

• Pausing to reflect can lead to better decision-making.
• Perfectionism can hinder leadership effectiveness.
• Traveling intentionally enhances personal experiences.
• Self-care practices, like exercise and mindfulness, arevital.
• It's important to prioritize tasks effectively to avoidoverwhelm.
• Embracing new experiences can lead to personal growth.
• Control can be both a positive and negative force in ourlives.

📂 Section Markers

01:07 Section 1: Control, Grounding, and the Art of the Pause

34:15 Section 2: Routines, Rest, and Redefining Productivity

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 Embracing Hope in Uncertainty

02:27 The Power of Control and Boundaries

04:56 Finding Presence in Nature

07:55 The Importance of Pausing and Stillness

10:01 Navigating Sleep and Productivity

12:55 Managing Tasks and Priorities

15:32 The Visionary vs. Integrator Dynamic

18:20 Trusting Your Team and Letting Go of Perfection

34:12 Language Matters: The Power of Words

36:58 Embracing Imperfection: A Leadership Journey

38:17 Vulnerability in Leadership: Learning from Mistakes

39:44 Finding Balance: Work, Family, and Self-Care

42:12 Redefining Success: The Role of a Working Mom

44:38 Traveling with Intention: Experiences Over Obligations

51:02 New Experiences: Embracing Life's Adventures

55:08 Setting Boundaries: The Challenge of Saying No

55:21 Control: A Double-Edged Sword

57:52 Redefining Control and Boundaries

57:54 Balancing Productivity and Rest

💬 Quotes to hold on to:

• “What I can control is what I can also take action on—and that just really guides me.”
•  “I realized I was wasting so much brainpower trying to control things I couldn’t.”
• “Presence is where I feel like I can breathe.”
• “The to-do list started to feel like a way to fail every day.”
• “You’re showing me that you have a dream and you go for it. You’re teaching me the same.” — LaVonna’s daughter

Let’s Stay Connected

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📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife