Learning to Swim & Leading Yourself Well

Last week, I took my very first swim class—and it was everything I didn’t know I needed. While I’m far from mastering the water, just showing up was a huge step in learning to lead myself well.

In that one class, I learned to:

• Repeatedly put my head underwater until it felt familiar (because when you’re uncomfortable in the water, you fight it).

• Practice breathing techniques—without holding my nose (can you blow bubbles underwater?).

• Float on my back.

• Kick with proper technique and begin learning the breaststroke.

• Use a kickboard to practice moving through the water.

• Build strength by learning how to keep by body lifted in the pool.

And that’s just the beginning. Swimming is no joke—it works your entire body, and let me tell you, I felt it the next day! But beyond the physical workout, it was a reminder: hard things are often the most necessary.

Learning to swim might one day save my life or someone else’s. It’s not just about technique—it’s about leadership. If I want to lead others well, I first have to lead myself. That means facing discomfort, pushing past fear, and showing up even when it’s hard.

If this resonates with you, I want to invite you to The Business Brunch Conference on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 11AM at Fretz Park Library. We’ll be talking about life, leadership, and what it means to lead ourselves well—especially when it’s uncomfortable.

Leaders do hard things. So ask yourself: Are you leading yourself well? Let’s talk about it together.