Written by Deirdre Slattery, CPT, Fitness Model, Best Selling Author
Photography by Izzie Yaakub
For years, I believed that “hustle” was synonymous with “sacrifice.” And so, I wore my busy schedule like a badge of honor, juggling my career, side gig, family, and commitments simultaneously. Though exhausted, I told myself I was “doing it all,” when in reality I was actually running on empty.
Then one day, I stood in front of a mirror and didn’t recognize myself. It wasn’t just about my body; it was my energy, my confidence, my spark. I had lost me in the process of taking care of everything and everyone else.
That was the moment that everything changed. I realized that if I wanted to lead in my life, in my business, and in my relationships, I had to start leading myself first. I had been running my career like any self-made CEO should: making strategic decisions, planning for growth, and building for sustainability. Meanwhile, I had been treating my own self-care and health as an afterthought—and that had to change.
So, I decided to take charge of myself and make a shift. And that shift changed everything.
From Burnout to Balance
Women today come from a long line of women who always put themselves last. Our mothers and grandmothers gave everything to their families, often at the expense of their own health. Then came the 2000s hustle culture, when women proved they could “do it all.” But at what cost? We ran businesses, raised families, and crushed goals, yet felt depleted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from ourselves.
But today’s high-performing woman—she can rewrite the rules.
✓ She doesn’t burn out—she builds up.
✓ She doesn’t train to be smaller—she trains to be stronger.
✓ She doesn’t hustle harder—she works smarter.
True success isn’t about grinding yourself into the ground. It’s about longevity, thriving, increased energy, and showing up fully for the things that matter most.
Lead Yourself First
If you ran your health the way you run your family, career, or business, how different would your life look?
In business, you don’t:
x Ignore key performance indicators (KPIs) and hope for the best.
x Expect growth without investment.
x Skip strategic planning and wing it.
Yet so many women do this with their health, waiting for motivation, relying on inconsistent willpower, and hoping things will change someday.
The truth? Your body is your business. And high performers don’t leave success to chance.
The CEO Framework
Here’s how to start leading your health like a CEO.
1. Know your KPIs. Track what actually matters: your strength, energy, mood, sleep, digestion, and stress levels—not just the scale.
2. Invest in your energy. Fuel yourself properly. Would you under-resource a major project? No—so don’t under-fuel your body.
3. Build a sustainable system. Consistency beats intensity. Small, daily habits create massive results over time.
4. Train for performance, not just aesthetics. Strong is the goal; longevity is the mission!
5. Make decisions like a boss. Treat workouts, nutrition, rest, and recovery as non-negotiables—just like board meetings.
Remember that when you lead yourself first, you show up better everywhere else. This isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about shifting how you see your health. You’ve already built success in your career, your family, and your life. Now it’s time to channel that same energy into you—because when you lead yourself first, everything else follows.
Train Like a CEO—Anywhere
As a busy woman, you need an effective, efficient strategy that fits into your life—which is where this 30- to 40-minute workout comes in. Do each exercise in order, resting 30 to 60 seconds between sets.
Lower-Body Power
Goblet squat
3 sets x 12 reps
Step-through reverse lunge
3 sets x 12 reps per side
Single-leg glute bridge
3 sets x 12 reps per side
Upper-Body and Core Strength
Shoulder press
3 sets x 12 reps
Bent-over row
3 sets x 12 reps
Side plank with reach-through
3 sets x 10 reps per side
Metabolic Boost
Kettlebell swing
3 sets x 20 reps
Farmer’s carry with heavy weight
3 sets x 30 secs
Jump squat or step-up
3 sets x 12 reps
