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When Caring Turns Into Carrying

Nov 08, 2026
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The long lunch I couldn't have enjoyed back when I was carrying everyone  β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ β€Œ
Edge of Possibilities Coaching Β· Speaking Β· The Leadership Mirror Β· Contact
 
Liz Murray smiling with a glass of champagne at a long lunch, wearing a pink floral dress and jewelled headband beside a big floral arrangement
A long lunch, and being present for every minute of it
Hi {{ first_name | default: "there" }},
This is me enjoying a long lunch, glass in hand and in no hurry to be anywhere else.

There was a time I couldn't have done that. As a new leader I took on everyone's stress, solved work problems in my sleep and did my own work late at night. My team was happy. I was running on empty, and I wasn't present for my toddler or my partner.

That's the story in this week's Take 5, along with the shift that let me hand it back. These days I can sit at a long lunch and be there for all of it, because I'm not busy carrying everyone else.
?
REFLECTION QUESTION
β€œWhat are you carrying right now that was never yours to carry?”
β˜…
THIS WEEK'S TIP
Next time someone brings you a problem, ask β€œWhat do you think we should do?” and let them have a go.
”
QUOTE I'M SITTING WITH
β€œEvery time you hand it back, you're building their confidence and giving yourself room to breathe.”
Liz Murray
This week, from me to you
β–Ά
Watch Take 5 With Me
Leadership burnout: when caring turns into carrying
My own story of carrying everyone as a new leader, and what changed.
Watch the video β†’
B
Read Beyond Boundaries Blog
Leadership burnout: when caring turns into carrying
The signs I missed, and how to hand a problem back to your team.
Read the blog β†’
P
Listen Leading From The Edge Podcast
Leadership burnout: when caring turns into carrying
The same story, ready for your walk or your drive.
Listen now β†’
Finish the Year Without Running on Empty
A live one hour session on Zoom, Thursday 19 November, 12pm AEDT. For leaders who've carried their team all year and want to finish strong.
Get the invite β†’
SELF-PACED COURSE
Be Exceptional: The Leadership Edge
Five modules to master your mindset, find your authentic leadership identity, and lead from confidence instead of performance. Work through it at your own pace.
Explore Be Exceptional β†’
Liz xx
Edge of Possibilities
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