Snorkel and Goggles — Learning to Lead When You're Underwater

In this episode, Dr. JBT shares a deeply personal leadership story about a season in her career when she felt completely underwater. The story begins with a moment in her office — a team member sighs, "I need a snorkel." That simple statement sparks a memory from over a decade ago, when Jamie herself was newly promoted into a role that felt like moving from a step stool to a 20-foot ladder. Everything was new. Everything was hard. And every day, she felt like she needed a snorkel just to breathe.

Through this story, Jamie unpacks two powerful leadership metaphors — the snorkel and the goggles — and how they shaped her growth and perspective as a leader.

• The Snorkel: Why feeling underwater isn't failure — it's where resilience, grit, and growth are built.

• The Goggles: How narrowing your focus helps you see clearly amid distractions and competing priorities.

• The Reality of Growth: Leadership isn't about always being in control. It's about learning to breathe and see clearly even when the water feels rough.

"Great leaders aren't the ones who never struggle; they're the ones who learn how to breathe and see clearly while they do."

Growth rarely happens in calm, shallow waters. It happens when you're stretched, uncertain, and learning to stay afloat. So if you're in deep water right now — breathe, focus, and keep going. You're becoming the kind of leader who thrives in the deep end.