For years, I thought high performance meant looking like I was spinning a million plates. 

I believed my team needed to see me working just as hard as they were across everything, ticking every box, and never slowing down.

Sound familiar?

The problem?

I was setting unrealistic expectations. My team was burning out trying to keep up with me, and I was burning out trying to stay on top of it all.

What I didn’t realise back then is that high performance isn’t about doing more. It’s about sustaining energy over time.

The Myth of Hustle

I used to pride myself on being responsive, arrive early, work til late, and always across everything. 

From the outside, it looked like I was delivering. 

Inside, exhaustion was eroding my creativity and clouding my decision-making.

It’s like revving your car engine at full speed in neutral, you burn through fuel, but you don’t move forward.

More hours didn’t mean more impact. It often meant more mistakes.

Energy Is the True Currency of Performance

When I finally started working with a coach, everything changed. They taught me the importance of saying no, blocking my calendar, and building healthier daily routines.

That shift moved me from being an exhausted plate-spinner to a focused, energised leader. I still got everything done, but with clarity, presence, and energy left over to play with my kids in the afternoons.

That’s when I realised: energy is the true currency of performance.

Just like top athletes obsess over recovery, nutrition, and mindset, leaders need to manage their energy as carefully as their time. Because performance rises and falls with energy, not hours logged.

Three Strategies for Sustaining Peak Performance

So how do you move from hustle to true, sustainable performance? Here are three strategies that worked for me and my clients:

1. Sleep + Recovery
   Don’t push through with coffee. Build in rest. A clear mind solves problems ten times faster than a foggy one.
   
   
2. Boundaries + Focus
   Saying no to low-value tasks creates space for deep work. I’ve seen leaders cut their meetings by 30% and suddenly deliver higher results with less stress.
   
   
3. Emotional Regulation Practices
   Breathwork, reflection, gratitude — these aren’t “soft skills.” They’re resilience habits that stop emotional hijacks and keep you performing at your best.
   
   

Spotting Energy Leaks

In my Emotional Energy Reset Diagnostic, I call this Zone 2: Energy Leaks.

It looks like saying yes when you should say no, numbing with caffeine or scrolling, or feeling drained after every conversation.

If you’re leaking energy faster than you’re replenishing it, your performance won’t last, no matter how many hours you work.

👉 Download the Emotional Energy Reset Diagnostic here to find your leaks before they cost you your performance.

Final Thought

Sustaining peak performance isn’t about doing more. It’s about showing up at your best — consistently.

Protect your energy, and you’ll not only perform better, but inspire your team to do the same.

And if you’re ready for the full system to master stamina, influence, and energy, that’s exactly what I teach inside my online course Be Exceptional.