What a Weighted Vest Taught Me About Leadership
Sometimes the most unexpected parts of life hold the biggest leadership lessons. For me, one of those lessons came from a fifteen-pound weighted vest. What started as a simple way to add challenge to my daily walks turned into a powerful reminder about growth, resilience, and the choices we make about what to carry.
Weighted Vest
I heard a podcast recently that said people my age tend to fall into one of three camps: Pickleball, sourdough, or weighted vest.
I am, without question, a weighted vest warrior. And not by accident. I asked for it as my Mother’s Day gift.
While some moms were unwrapping spa certificates and flower arrangements, I was strapping on fifteen extra pounds and hitting the pavement. Restorative? Not exactly. Transformative? Absolutely.
My health journey has been exactly that… a journey. I was an overweight kid who spent years trying to figure out what balance looked like. My relationship with my body was complicated for a long time, and body image is something I still wrestle with more than I care to, but I am getting better.
The irony of wearing a weighted vest now isn’t lost on me. Years ago, I carried that weight plus more without choice. It was just part of me. Today, I choose it intentionally. That shift matters.
The first time I put the vest on, I could feel the extra weight immediately. My pace slowed. My breathing changed. It felt harder to move forward.
But something else happened too. With each walk, I got stronger. My steps became more deliberate. My posture shifted. I became aware of how my body moved and adapted.
It reminded me that real strength doesn’t always come from lightening the load. Sometimes it comes from adding the right kind of resistance.
It’s a powerful reminder about how we approach growth.
Many leaders are exhausted, not because they’re weak, but because they’re carrying the wrong kind of weight. They’ve taken on expectations, responsibilities, and patterns that drain them instead of strengthening them.
The goal isn’t to strip everything away. It’s to choose what challenges will make you stronger, more focused, and more resilient. Like a weighted vest, the right kind of resistance can build endurance and clarity when it’s chosen intentionally.
Now, it’s your turn. Think about the weight you’re carrying right now.
Which parts are helping you grow?
Which parts are simply holding you back?
This is exactly the kind of reflection we do in The Executive Reset. It’s designed to help high-performing leaders identify what to keep, what to release, and how to build sustainable strength that doesn’t come at the expense of their energy or well-being.
These days, I’m walking a little faster and finishing with more energy than when I started back in May. I can feel my strength building, one step at a time. And yes, there’s a good chance a twenty-pound vest might find its way under the Christmas tree this year.
Because this journey has reminded me that growth isn’t about shedding every burden. It’s about choosing the kind of weight that challenges you to rise.
That’s a lesson I plan to keep carrying with me.
Ready to take a closer look at what you’re carrying? Let’s talk. Book a free clarity call and let’s build something great together.