When Leadership Meets the Hospital Room

It’s easy to talk about harmony when everything’s going right. But real leadership? It’s tested when life knocks you off schedule, when the to-do list fades, and the only thing that matters is your family’s well-being.

Last June, my world slowed to a crawl. My youngest daughter was in the ER — IV in her arm, her little body exhausted and hurting. My oldest daughter, was staying with family friends while we tried to figure out what was wrong. I remember sitting there in that emergency room, unable to fix what was in front of me. That’s a hard truth for any parent; especially one who’s used to leading, fixing, and solving.

But that week became one of the most defining lessons of intentional leadership I’ve ever had. It reminded me of something I had forgotten: that presence is the purest form of leadership.

Between hospital visits, therapy sessions, and late-night prayers, my journal filled with small victories — the kind most people would miss.

My daughter asking for a kiss on the cheek after the doctor explained the plan.
Our oldest brushing her teeth on her own for the first time.
My girls laughing together over Pancit Canton (Filipino noodles) at the dinner table.

None of those moments made me money. But they filled me with something I had been missing — gratitude, clarity, and peace.

In leadership, it’s easy to fall into the trap of chasing profit over presence. We justify it with words like providing or security. But what happens when your drive to perform overshadows the people you’re doing it for?

That’s when burnout shows up. Relationships fade. Purpose blurs.

So I revisited one of my 8 Pillars of Intentional Leadership — the PILLAR: REVITALIZE, and its framework, the REVIVE Method:

REVIVE Method for Intentional Renewal

R – Rest: Step back before your body or relationships force you to. That week in the hospital wasn’t optional rest — it was demanded rest. But it taught me that strategic rest prevents reactive burnout.

E – Evaluate: Ask, “What truly matters right now?” For me, it was my girls’ health and emotional safety. For you, it might be your team’s morale, your family, or your inner peace.

V – Visualize: Picture what a fulfilled, balanced leader looks like — not the busiest one, but the most aligned one.

I – Implement: Adjust your schedule, your focus, or your boundaries to match that vision. Presence requires planning.

V – Validate: Reflect daily — even for 5 minutes — to see if your actions align with your values.

E – Evolve: Growth means change. You can’t stay who you were and lead who you’re becoming.

Lesson for Leaders and Parentpreneurs:

Your business or career will always ask for more. But your family, your health, and your peace? They whisper; until they can’t anymore.

I’m not saying to stop pushing for excellence. I’m saying to be intentional with what excellence means for you. Maybe it’s leaving the laptop closed at dinner. Maybe it’s scheduling that hard conversation you’ve been avoiding. Or maybe it’s recognizing that leadership isn’t about how loud you speak, it’s about how fully you show up.

Because presence creates impact.

Closing Thought:

As I laid my daughters down one night, my oldest turned off the lamp, turned down her iPad, and laid next to her little sister. No words — just presence.

That’s when I realized; my girls are learning leadership, too. Not from my speeches, but from my example.

So here’s my challenge to you:
This week, lead with presence.
Not perfection. Not pressure. Just presence.

Call to Action:

If this message hit home for you — if you’re ready to align your leadership with what truly matters — download my free resource:
🎯 The Intentional Leader Roadmap — a step-by-step guide to help you create clarity, alignment, and meaningful impact in your work and life.