Most leaders I know do not lack commitment, talent, or work ethic.
They lack margin.
Their calendars are full. Their inboxes are overflowing. Their days are packed wall to wall with meetings, decisions, and demands. They are productive, but no longer effective. I was reminded of this again while revisiting Lead Every Day by Mark Miller and Randy Gravitt, a book that continues to shape how I think about leadership, energy, and sustainability.
At one point, the authors put words to something I have seen play out again and again with leaders:
“If you’re in survival mode, you’re not doing the right things. You’re printing counterfeit bills, expending energy with no value to show for it.” – Lead Every Day
That line stopped me in my tracks. Survival mode feels productive. It feels necessary. But it quietly drains leaders of clarity, creativity, and long-term impact. You are busy all day, exhausted at night, and somehow still behind.
One of the core ideas from the book is that margin is not a luxury. It is a leadership necessity. Margin is the space between what is and what could be. It is the breathing room leaders need to think clearly, see the future, and lead with intention instead of reaction.
Without margin, leaders get stuck in quicksand. Everything feels urgent. Every problem feels equal. Today crowds out tomorrow. And slowly, survival mode becomes the norm. That is when energy gets spent without real return.
Margin creates something different. Better decisions. Stronger relationships. Sustainable performance. It creates room for insight, not just answers. Vision, not just motion.
Margin does not magically appear. Leaders have to choose it, protect it, and model it. That may mean saying no to good opportunities, leaving intentional white space on your calendar, or resisting the urge to fill every quiet moment with noise.
So here is your Monday question.
Where do you need more margin in order to lead better right now?
Not to do less. But to stop printing counterfeit bills and start investing your energy where it actually matters.
Micah Foster, Co-Owner
Micah Foster is a partner at Dream Support LLC who has been providing remote executive assistants to busy leaders who need administrative and organizational help for over five years.
He has a passion for creating and maintaining positive and productive work environments and empowering people to reach their full potential.