Episode Summary: In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares a pivotal story from his leadership journey that became a wake-up call about the importance of self-care. Reflecting on an experience during his second year as a principal—missing his best friend's wedding due to burnout and exhaustion—Dr. Peppard delves into the lessons he learned about prioritizing health and well-being as a leader. He provides practical strategies for leaders to avoid burnout, set boundaries, and invest in themselves, so they can lead with clarity, focus, and purpose.

Whether you’re a school leader or any professional striving to balance the demands of leadership, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped with actionable steps to show up as your best self in 2025.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

1. A Personal Leadership Wake-Up Call: Dr. Peppard recounts how missing his best friend’s wedding due to illness and overwhelm served as a life-changing moment.
2. The Cost of Neglecting Self-Care: How a “superhero” mindset can lead to burnout and missed opportunities.
3. Practical Changes for Leaders:

• Creating systems for healthy eating and exercise.
• Setting boundaries for work and personal time.
• Building clarity around priorities as a school leader.

1. Why Self-Care is Essential for Leadership: Learn how taking care of yourself positively impacts your effectiveness as a leader and your ability to inspire those around you.
2. Actionable Steps for 2025: Tips to reflect, adjust, and prioritize self-care and high-leverage leadership activities in the new year.

Resources Mentioned:

• Blog Post: The Turning Point: Why Leaders Must Take Care of Themselves 
• Free Webinar: Join Dr. Peppard on December 30, 2024, at 4 PM ET for a free webinar on priorities, time management, and intentional leadership. Register here: https://www.theprincipalacademy.com/realresults

Take Action:

• Reflect on your leadership practices over the past year. Are you showing up as your best self? What can you change?
• Implement one of the strategies shared in this episode to improve your self-care and leadership in 2025.
• Share this episode with a fellow leader who might need the reminder to prioritize themselves.

Let’s Connect:

• Website: Road to Awesome
• LinkedIn: Dr. Darrin Peppard

Help the Podcast Grow: If you enjoy the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast, please leave a five-star review on your favorite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more leaders and continue providing valuable content.

Happy New Year! Thank you for joining me for this special episode. Wishing you clarity, purpose, and an incredible year ahead. Let’s make 2025 the year of intentional leadership!